Pairings: Elijah/Finn (M/m) paddle-mild
Klaus/Marcel (M/M) hand-mild
"Jeremy, can you go tell Finn that it is time for dinner please?" Elijah asked opening the pizza boxes on the counter.
"Henrik, here's a plain piece," Elijah said giving him a piece to try.
Elijah hadn't ordered pizza before. Matt had arranged it, all Elijah done had paid.
"Yeah, sure," Jeremy said going to the foot of the stairs and shouting "Finn! DINNER!"
"Jeremy, I meant go get him. I could have done that," Elijah said.
"Yeah, tell him he better take advantage of us not having like totally healthy food tonight," Matt laughed.
"Yeah, man, before you lived here you lived on pizza!" Tyler replied.
"Sorry, I didn't have a housekeeper or a mom who didn't have to work," Matt retorted.
"Whoa, calm down. I was just joking. What's gotten into today?" Tyler said a little quieter.
Matt shook his head, "I'm flunking English. We got that test back today and I bombed it. Miss Monroe offered to help me study and I blew her off. Man, I have like a low F. I also...,"
Tyler looked around, "What? Robbed a bank? What did Matt Donovan do that was so bad?"
"I got caught cheating in Alaric's class. It was on that civics quiz," Matt said softly.
"You dumb ass! What happened?" Tyler hissed hotly.
"I made a cheat sheet to study from and then I realized I couldn't remember shit. Alaric caught me red handed, it was right at the end of class today. He said he was going to call if I didn't tell Uncle Elijah what I did. Dude, you know I'm getting it on my bare ass tonight! What should I do?" Matt hissed.
"Confess, cry, I don't know, fucking study for once. Matt, buddy, you know I love you but you kinda brought this on yourself. How many times how I said come to me for help?" Tyler scolded him.
"I know. I'm just going to see if I can ask to talk to Uncle Elijah in his study," Matt said blushing.
"And Alaric whupped my butt with some historic yardstick that one time at school. My dad gave him permission, but the man did not hold back. It hurt and I've been watching myself around him ever since. If Uncle Elijah gives him permission, boy, you going be siting on freaking pillows this weekend," Tyler warned.
"Great," Matt groaned.
"Uncle Elijah, Finn said he's not hungry and he's not coming down," Jeremy reported.
"It's okay, Jeremy. I'll go up. Pizza is on the counter. Can you help with the drinks? Vanessa is on a phone call downstairs. Thanks," Elijah said before jogging upstairs.
"Finn, what's wrong? It's time for dinner," Elijah said to the boy on his side on the boy.
"Not hungry," Finn said.
Elijah sat down next to him, "Come on buddy, are you still upset because of earlier? Do you know why I smacked you?"
Finn nodded, "Yes! But we were just going to watch for a couple of minutes."
"Young man, that is still disobeying. You were acting up with the tutoring all morning, then misbehaving in the afternoon. Then, during your rest time, you were not resting," Elijah explained.
"I know," Finn replied.
"I don't like spanking you like that today, but you were not listening at all," Elijah said rubbing Finn's back.
"It's not fair," Finn whispered. He had turned away from Elijah.
"Tell me what has you upset. Is it because I threatened you with the paddle before you go to bed?" Elijah asked.
"I don't want to get the paddle. Henrik said it's worse," Finn cried.
"I know, but I can't have you fighting me like that. When you have earned yourself a trip over my knee, you need to learn that if you don't accept it, you will get another spanking. A harder one. Understand?" Elijah said.
Finn wouldn't answer him. He took a deep breath. He went and got the ping pong paddle from the top drawer of the dresser.
Finn turned and saw what he was getting and started to panic.
"This is what I'm talking about, Finn. I'm going to give you a few swats and then you come down and eat dinner. All will be forgiven," Elijah said gently. Finn was already covering his backside.
"I want you to stand up and pull down your pants, if you can do that, you will get three swats. If you can't, you are going over my knee until you obey me. Now, what is it going to be?" Elijah said firmly.
Finn cried in dismay, "I'll stand!" Elijah was giving him no choice.
"Okay, come on, now. Don't make this worse," Elijah said brandishing the paddle.
Finn wiped at his eyes and stood in front of Elijah. With a groan and cry, he pulled down his sweatpants, careful to leave his underwear up. Elijah turned him a little to the side.
"Why are you getting paddled?" Elijah said lining up the paddle with his cloth covered backside.
"Because I wasn't listening when I got spanked before," Finn admitted. Vanessa was right, this boy was very clever.
"That's right. Hands to your hand. You ready?" Elijah said.
"Yeah," Finn replied.
"You mean, 'yes,'" Elijah corrected. He smacked him hard on the center of the left check. Pop!
"That's one," Elijah said as Finn gasped.
Pop! The second whack was on his left cheek.
"Owww!" Finn exclaimed.
Pop! The third caught him on both cheeks.
Finn's hands went to his face where he sobbed.
"Oh Finn, that's it," Elijah said pulling his pants back up. He didn't think that could have stung much over the protection of his briefs.
"Can I have a hug?" Elijah asked the boy. Finn nodded and let Elijah pull him into his arms.
"It's not fair," Finn sobbed into Elijah's shoulder.
"Finn, what isn't? Little brother, tell me," Elijah asked again.
"The other boys have Niklaus for a dad, but Henrik and I don't have anybody," Finn wailed. Elijah was stunned into silence for a moment. Finn really had been his other brother, but when he was reborn into this body, he seemed to have forgotten most of his own life bit by bit. It seemed like the old Finn was gone and this was just a boy.
"Honey, what do you mean? You have me, Freya, Niklaus, Kol, and Rebekah. We love you so much," Elijah reassured him.
"It's not the same," Finn cried.
"Finn, look at me! Do you want a father of your own? Is that what you are saying? Because I used to think of you as my brother, but it doesn't really feel like that anymore, if you like, you could be my sons," Elijah promised. Freya was already like a mother to them, and Klaus at times a father, but if Elijah could see it in his heart...he could be more to them.
"Yes, that's what we want. We want our own dad, like the older boys have. Can we call you Dad, and you can call us your sons," Finn insisted. Elijah wondered how long they had been feeling bereft of a father of their own.
"Okay, 'son.' Let me talk to the others. But if this is what you want, you know I'm going to be much stricter with you, right?" Elijah said tickling him under the arms.
Finn giggled and said, "Yes, we know."
"Good, now let's go down and eat before the pizza is all gone," Elijah said, wiping a stray tear of his own away.
"Okay, Dad!" Finn grinned.
"Finn, I love you, always and forever," Elijah said hugging him again.
By the time, Finn and Elijah came down, the others were done with their pizza. Vanessa went back upstairs to help Finn and Henrik bathe as Matt asked Elijah to talk privately.
"Yes, Matt, let's talk in Freya's room," Elijah suggested.
Matt wanted to cry, but knew that nothing could help him.
"Dad, I got in trouble at school today. I'm flunking English and...," Matt started. Matt did have a few tears running down his face, he was ashamed at what he had done.
"I cheated in Alaric's class and I got caught. I'm really sorry! I swear I've never done anything like this before," Matt said with his head down.
Elijah put his fingers gently under Matt's chin, "Matthew, look at me. I already knew about the cheating because Alaric called. What I am concerned with is why you cheated. Remember, the doctor does not think you have ADD or ADHD."
"Uncle Elijah, I think I was just taking the easy way out. I really have no excuses," Matt admitted. He didn't know why he was surprised that Alaric called Elijah already.
"What do you think your father would do?" Elijah asked.
"Probably march me out to the kitchen to pick up the paddle, then up to his room for a pretty good spanking. Then, I'd probably get to sit on my sore butt to write an apology letter and do my make-up assignments-crying," Matt said realizing he may have answered the question too throughly.
"You won't be surprised to hear that Alaric has permission to punish you at school tomorrow. He doesn't know if he's going to give you a sore backside, extra assignments, detention or all three, so prepare yourself," Elijah warned.
"I will," Matt said red-faced and now sweating with nerves.
"Matthew, I can't say that I'm not disappointed in you behavior, not you, but your actions," Elijah said carefully. He knew Matt tended to be harder on himself than anyone else.
More heavy tears ran down Matt's face, Elijah knew that he had to deal with this or the boy would torture himself with his guilt.
"I'll take a page from your father's book. You go take your shower and get ready for bed and then go to my quarters. We'll take care of this. I'm going to make sure you sleep on your stomach tonight, but I think you will feel a little better. We can talk to Vanessa tomorrow about the English and Alaric will work with you about the history. Matthew, it's going to be okay," Elijah said putting his hand on Matt's shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
"Is Miss Monroe going to be there when I...," Matt started to ask.
"When I punish you? No, Matthew, of course not. I promise you I won't even tell her about this, unless you want me to do so. You can ask her for help on your own terms," Elijah promised gently.
Elijah's kindness made Matt want to cry more. He didn't deserve to be spared the mortification of his old favorite teacher knowing he was failing and lied. Matt wanted to kick himself for thinking that he could take care of this all on his own, he wasn't alone anymore. He didn't have to.
Matt croaked out a thank you and went to get ready for bed. Elijah went to tell Vanessa that he would need some privacy tonight. He would make it up to her tomorrow.
"Marcellus, can you wrap everything up by the end of the week? I'll like to get back to Mystic Falls soon now that Davina back," Klaus said lightly as they were walking to get beignets.
"Klaus, why do you keep assuming we're going back? Isn't it clear that the city needs me here?" Marcel snapped. He couldn't stop seeing Monique dead with her throat cut.
"Son, your family needs you, too. Your men are capable of handling things for a few months without you physically being here. You've said that many times. You can fly back and forth as needed," Klaus expanded.
"That's not the damn point! It's my decision and Rebekah's to make and we don't need you pressuring us. Now back off," Marcel shouted in the street causing several people walking by to glance at the pair.
"Young man, there was a time when if you spoke to me that way you would be staring at the ground right now getting your bottom tanned, in public or not," Klaus growled. They had been walking past an iron bench that Klaus could have easily sat down on and tossed him over his lap. Marcel glanced at it nervously and then remembered that the king of the city couldn't be spanked in public anymore, even by Klaus.
"Whatever, Klaus. Take your threats and enjoy them alone with your beignets," Marcel said turning on his heel and walking back to the compound. Klaus just stared after him and wondered where he had gone wrong.
Kol felt like he was dreaming. She was back. That was all that mattered.
"Darling, can I get you anything?" Kol smiled, holding her hand.
"Kol, can you get me another blanket? I'm still freezing," Davina asked shivering.
"Of course, luv," Kol said going off to find one.
Davina was trying to act normally, but she was haunted. She had been in the darkness the whole time she was gone. No one was there, it was cold and she was alone. The ancestors had shunned her. Time passed slowly. It was like she had been in a gray hell. Every time she shut her eyes, she was back there.
A part of her was gone, in that place. Perhaps never to be returned. Kol and everyone was so happy, but a part of Davina just felt nothing. No emotion, she would just have to keep pretending.
"Marcel, does Davina seem okay to you?" Rebekah asked quietly.
Marcel was thinking about the latest argument he had had with Klaus. He knew he was pushing it and hurting him with his insinuations that he wasn't returning to Mystic Falls.
"Marcel, are you listening to me?" Rebekah asked sharply.
"Oh, sorry, what?" Marcel said.
"Marcel, I'm worried about Davina. But I'm also worried about you. You and Klaus have been bickering like you did when you left for the Great War in 1914! I guess it is true that history repeats itself," Rebekah mused mostly to herself.
"Rebekah, do you think he will ever treat me like I'm a grown up? I mean, I swear to god, this morning when I told him off, he was ready to...," Marcel stopped and flushed.
"Put you over his knee? Marcel, he and Elijah are both old-fashioned, but well-meaning. I mean they treat us both like this. Not because they want to, but because they are desperate to keep us all together and safe. Think about how we feel when Davina put her life in danger or is getting out of control. It's the same. We can't criticize them for doing the same thing we do, or would do," Rebekah insisted.
"Yeah, I guess you are right. I don't know why I push Klaus so hard. It's like there is this rebellious voice inside me always testing him, always seeing how far I can go before I end up making him snap. I guess I should go apologize, he really doesn't deserve it," Marcel admitted.
"Go, please. Nik was in such a terrible mood, this explains it," Rebekah smiled.
"Papa, can I talk to you?" Marcel almost whispered.
"Of course, Marcellus," Klaus replied with a smile. He was painting in his old quarters. A painting of the moon hanging over New Orleans at night.
"I'm sorry about saying that we wouldn't return with you," Marcel muttered. He hated apologizing and felt stupid and childish.
"Is that all you are sorry for, Marcel?" Klaus said softly turning back to his painting.
"No, sir," Marcel admitted, his eyes filling with tears.
Klaus put his paintbrush down, he had been filling the moon with a warm Naples yellow.
"Come here, my son," Klaus said opening his arms to Marcel.
Marcel became a boy again and leaned his head against his father's chest, soaking it in tears.
"I was rude and disrespectful. I'm sorry," Marcel cried.
"Shh, thank you, son. I shouldn't have assumed anything. You are right. You and Rebekah are adults and I have no right to assume anything. I mean that, Marcellus," Klaus said feeling his heart cleave in two.
"No, Papa, you were right. My guys can handle things here a while. We'll come home with you," Marcel promised.
Klaus breathed a sigh of relief.
"You know how much this means to me," Klaus admitted.
"Does this mean I'm not getting my butt whupped?" Marcel grinned.
"Not a chance," Klaus said as he smacked Marcel's rump smartly three times. Smack! Smack! Smack!
"Ouch!" Marcel whined.
"There. Not off you go before I change my mind. Go pack. I'll like to get back to Mystic Falls before the weekend," Klaus smiled.