Pairing: none
Sunday, January 7, 2011
After the architects left, Klaus and Elijah called everyone in for a family meeting.
"So, the architects just left and we have some plans that we would like to share," Klaus smiled.
"The indoor/outdoor pool is a go, there will be a waterslide, diving board, jacuzzi area, sauna, and small pool house," Elijah started as the kids cheered.
"Freya, your greenhouse will be near your current greenhouse. It will be automated and have an irrigation system second to none. I think you will be pleased," Klaus shared.
"Thank you. This means more herbs, more salve. Kai and I were just discussing a business plan for my new salve. Watch out, world," Freya added. Some of the older kids groaned and Tyler threw a used napkin at Kai.
"Gross," Kai laughed. He was starting to feel more at home each day.
"Some of you are wondering about the bedroom situation. Let me lay it out and then you all can give us your input. So, the new 4th floor will be divided into a bedroom for all of you boys: Tyler, Matt, Jeremy, Connor, Erik, and Kai. There will be a divider wall so you can make it two separate rooms if you choose or one large one. All of your devices and game systems will be houses in the new game room and movie theater. We'll also more the weight and work out room up there. Kol has agreed to move up there to a new, much grander suite, where he will can also supervise," Klaus announced.
"That means I'm in charge up there, lads. No shenanigans, unless I'm involved, or ya know what I'll do with your disobedient hides," Kol joked.
"You don't need to tell me twice," Kai muttered under his breath.
"Vampire hearing!" Erik prodded him.
Kai flushed, "Oh yeah." Everyone laughed. Rachael rolled her eyes and looked at Dana. It was clear that that family was quickly accepting Kai as a member. With his quick wit, charm, and good looks, she supposed it was inevitable, but she was a little envious all the same.
"What about us, Daddy? Do we have to live in the basement?" Penny scoffed.
"No, Miss Penelope, you do not have to live in the basement. The architects are going to turn the game room into a new, more appropriate bedroom, for you. The twins and you can stay in there. Or one of you can move in with Davina. Both rooms are large enough. I know you enjoyed the rotating shoe closet so that will be a feature of the closet. We will also add a laundry room to each floor. That will be expensive, but it will save Uncle Elijah from having a nervous breakdown at some point," Klaus shared.
"Thank you! None of you have any idea the amount of laundry that goes through this house. Now, you can all start doing your own!" Elijah smirked happily.
"We will turn Kol's current room into a guest room and Matt and Jeremy's room into a possible nursery. Tyler, if you and Caroline want, you can either take the guesthouse or your current room on the second floor. Uncle Elijah and Vanessa are going to take over the girls' current room. Henrik and Finn can come their room. In time, they can move up to the 4th floor as there is still room up there. Our art studio will stay on the 3rd floor. Aunt Freya has an announcement, I believe," Klaus shared.
"Ah, yes. So Keelin has agreed to move in. I'd like to keep my current room as a work room, rest area from when you all have me slaving away in the kitchen and we'll stay in Elijah and Vanessa's old room," Freya shared.
"Is this all so you can get the chili recipe? If so, go Aunt Freya! It's worth it!" Matt shouted out.
"No, stop it. Keelin is really excited to be moving in. She's far from her family and being a doctor at the clinic has crazy hours so I'm not sure how much she'll be around. But please know that she thinks the world of all of you and...we're just really happy," Freya gushed with a slight blush to her cheeks.
Elijah and Vanessa whispered to each other.
"Sister, Vanessa and I would like you and Keelin to just take the girls' bedroom. We are fine where we are and we are probably closer to the boy's room," Elijah stated.
"Really? Are you sure, Elijah? That's very generous of you," Freya conceded.
"It would be our pleasure," Vanessa added.
"So, what you you kids think?" Klaus asked looking around.
"Could us girls all share one room if we wanted to put our stuff in Davina's room, like as a big closet?" Rachael asked.
"We could just our own sets of bunk beds, right girls?" Dana added.
Penny clapped, "Then, it would be four girls and NO boys even allowed!"
Finn sneered, "Dad! That's not fair. She comes in our room."
Henrik pipes up, "Yeah!"
Dana reassured him, "It's okay. We'll let nice boys in. Just no whiners."
"And can we get all those game systems? Why do they get like three tvs?" Penny pressed.
"Penny, we brought stuff from our old houses," Jeremy informed her.
Tyler thought, "We could probably give you an Xbox or something. But only if you let us come up and play sometimes."
Penny thought, "Yeah, okay. But only if you ask first. Sometimes you guys smell like old socks."
"We smell?" Connor laughed, "Girl, all that perfume you coat yourself in...half the time you smell like a French...never mind. Dad, I ain't saying nothing everybody ain't thought."
"Connor, I'm not addressing that-ever. So this will be a few months in the making and it will be quite hectic. They will be doing a lot of construction, but children most of it while you are at school. While we are all here and behaving so nicely, we wanted to clear up a few things," Klaus started
Freya continued, "Yes, from now on. We expect all of you to ride the bus to or from school. If you have an activity or something you must clear it with us first. I'm sorry, but the frantic days of calling for permission needs to end unless it is an emergency. Same with permission slips and forms, we ask you all every night what is going on. From now on, you get home from school and give us all the paperwork and things we need to look at."
Elijah added, "I hate to be a nag, but I will be one, once again. You come in from the bus and remove your shoes at the door. Where do your jackets, coats, and backpacks go?"
"Coats in closet and bags in our rooms. We know this," Jeremy groaned.
"Yes, Jeremy, watch the tone please. You know it, but often fail to do it because you don't feel like it. We have too many children here for all of you to be throwing your things around. Lunch boxes and bags go in the kitchen. School clothes go in the hampers," Elijah reminded them.
"Tyler, are you paying attention?" Klaus scolded.
"Not really," Tyler laughed.
Matt smirked, "Dad, he never pays attention to these rule talks-ever!"
"Well, I think you ought to because every violation is now going to be a strike. Three strikes and need I remind you what I am going to do?" Klaus asked pointedly.
"No, sir," Tyler said straightening up and sighing.
"What happens, Uncle Klaus?" Henrik asked in a scared voice.
"Oh sweetheart, I think it's a bit different for you, but if you are naughty three times...," Klaus started, looking at Elijah.
"You'll go to your room and no tv or ipad that night," Elijah announced.
"Not me, too?" Penny said horrified. She needed her iPad for her games. If she couldn't play, then they would be all messed up. This wasn't fair.
"Yes, luv. You can start doing your part around here. You're old enough. Now, Finn, Henrik, and Penny, why don't you run along while we talk to the older kids," Klaus suggested.
Elijah stood, "We'll take them. Come, my dear." Vanessa took Elijah's hand. Kol told Kai to come find him when they were done and he'd take him to get his hair cut.
Freya looked at Klaus and Kol, "As Niklaus said, there are now eight of you. Nine teenagers when Davina is here. With all of us living here, we really need you all to step it up. If you take something out, put it back. If you make a mess, clean it up. Guys, I love all of you, dearly. But when I come out in the kitchen and see the wrappers and cups all over the counter, it makes me crazy. We have a dishwasher and a garbage can, use them. If I catch you not cleaning up, that's a strike. Three strikes and I'm sorry, but you are getting the paddle," Freya said with resolve.
Kai's eyes widened in surprise, "Paddled? Really? For leaving a wrapper out?"
"No, Kai, not for one time, or twice. But if you do it three times and cannot get it through your head that you have responsibilities and a civil duty to the rest of us, then yes. We have 13 people now living here and at times three more. That is 16 people. If everyone makes a mess, it becomes untenable. Believe me, this is a last resort. Children, look me in the eye and tell me that you haven't blown off every rule we have about cleaning or doing your chores period," Klaus said looking at them. Even Connor and Erik, who used to be pretty good about that kind of thing looked guilty.
Matt nodded. "Dad, you're totally right. You've given us everything we could possibly want and hardly anything to do chore wise. I don't think you're being unfair at all. Guys, seriously, this isn't something to complain about."
"Dude, I'm not complaining. It's just we get busy, too. Forget sh-stuff... I mean,..." Tyler drifted off. "Fine, you're right."
"But I am adding one new caveat, the three strikes are going to be for the week. I'm going to mark them down in this little notebook. I vowed to do this when I tripped over someone's backpack again on Friday," Klaus mentioned.
"Whoa, so we get three strikes in the school week and that's it. We basically get our asses, I mean, -butts beat," Jeremy clarified.
"Indeed, I'm sorry I really wish we didn't have to resort to swatting you to get your attention, but we do. And cursing is going to be one strike each. I've tried grounding you, taking your phones, and keeping you from the electronics and all of those things just cause more trouble. You get angry, sullen, argumentative, and defiant. So we'll go with what works. You don't want to be reprimanded, do as we ask and you will be fine," Klaus clarified.
"This doesn't go for us, too, right?" Rachael spat standing in defiance, her hands on her hips.
"It most certainly does, young lady. And you can have a seat," Freya directed. Dana reached up and pulled her twin down to her seat with a pressing look.
"Oh, and bedtime is still 10pm. That means you are in the bed at 10pm properly dressed for bed. And that's not a strike, but a real spanking if I catch you anywhere other than the bathroom or your bed," Klaus reminded them.
"In bed at 10pm? Or we get...Really?" Kai gasped. He was horrified. He couldn't imagine getting it again for something so small, but he had to admit that he feel into a deep and dreamless sleep last night after Kol had smacked him. His face reddened at the thought of it happening again.
"Yes, Kai. You need to be up early for school. We make sure that everyone eats, looks presentable, has a lunch or lunch money, has all their school work and is ready to go. And again, we hate to be so rigid about this but when we weren't, you guys were up half the night," Freya specified.
Matt and Tyler looked at each other and tried to prompt the other to ask.
"Boys, I know what you want to ask. When can you drive again, right?" Klaus shared. "I really don't know. I know that Friday's incident was isolated and the Thursday speeding thing was also not your usual behavior. I do trust you all, but give me a little time to think about it, okay?"
Matt agreed. Tyler spoke for them. "Okay, we won't ask again."
Klaus smiled sadly, "Thank you. You know, this isn't easy for us either. I know how much you liked driving and having some freedom. However, I hate to bring this up, but we have some safety concerns. We don't know where the siphon vampires from Kai's prison world are exactly right now. They could be close."
"If any of them approach you, we need you to contact us right away. Do you all understand? Do not engage? Kai, they could try to kidnap you or worse? No revenge, let us deal with it. Girls, I don't want you to siphon from yourselves. Call one of us or get Alaric from school and we will be there fast. Can we trust you on this?" Freya pressed.
"Yeah, you know, some of us can take care of ourselves?" Dana said in a mockingly sweet voice.
"Dana, I know you have been through a lot, but the point is that you don't have to take of yourself anymore. Let us help you," Klaus pleaded.
"Or else? Right?" Dana pushed.
"Dana, Freya and my siblings and I were born a thousand years ago. Forgive us for being a tad behind the times. We will protect you and give you all the advantages, but we do also want to help guide you into becoming decent adults. It's also a little more imperative that we are strict with the number of children here and your supernatural needs. If you feel like we are being unfair to you, you can talk to us privately and air your concerns," Klaus offered.
"Niklaus, maybe I better have a word with these three in the kitchen? Thank you, Brother," Freya said smiling.
"Also, remember homework right after you have something to eat or some blood when you get home. No excuses. That's all. Boys, you are dismissed. Thank you," Klaus said grandly.
"Dad, can I go get my hair cut with Kol and Kai?" Connor asked politely.
"Of course, Son. Do you need money?" Klaus said pulling out his wallet.
Connor would never get used to someone taking care of him like this.
"No, sir. I have money, thanks," Connor replied. Klaus shoved a hundred dollar bill into his hand like it was a dollar.
"Hey Connor, have you talked to Penny recently?" Klaus asked quietly.
"No, Dad. About what?" Connor inquired.
"She wanted Camille to adopt her, to be her mother, when we marry. How would you feel about that?" Klaus wondered.
"Wow! I'm surprised. I mean, Cami's been real nice. She's always trying to get me to talk. I guess I'd like that, if she was my mama. It would take some getting used to, I reckon. Yeah, I mean, yes, sir, I think it would be a good thing," Connor finished.
"Thanks, Son. What about Erik? I know it might be a little more difficult for him. Truth be told, I'm a little apprehensive about bringing it up," Klaus admitted.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Connor suggested.
"Only if you are comfortable with it. I don't want you boys fighting over it, alright?" Klaus said with emotion.
"It's fine, Dad. I'm real pleased Penny wants a mama. Sometimes you never know with that girl," Connor smiled.
"She's a spitfire, alright. Okay, Son, I don't want to keep you, have fun. I love you," Klaus said hugging him goodbye. He was glad that Connor was getting out of the house with his brother and Kai. He knew that Connor liked cars and sports and talking about that kind of stuff with Kol.
Klaus need to rest for a while. He felt like he had put in a full day already.
Kitchen
"So just get out your complaints now," Freya said as the teens sat at the island.
"I feel like we are just getting lumped in with Klaus' kids because it is convenient. It's really not fair," Dana complained.
"Dana, what's not fair. These are basic rules like clean up after yourself, don't curse, and check in so we know where you are," Freya explained.
"We have to be in the bed at 10pm or we get fucking beat? Are we four? That's literally insulting," Rachael sighed.
"Language. You can speak respectfully or not at all," Freya corrected firmly.
"I just think it's too early," Rachael explained.
"Rachael, first of all, a few smacks on your backside are not a real beating and I think you know that. Secondly, you need to get up early. Thirdly, if you don't want the spanking, follow the rules. Simple," Freya said plainly.
"I disagree," Rachael pushed.
"Disagreement noted," Freya said. "What else?"
Kai opened his mouth, "I guess. Nothing. Just do what we are told and no problems, right?"
"Right, honey. How do you all feel about Keelin moving in? I never expected to find love like this and so quickly. But I know she will love all of you, like I do, and be there for you when you need her," Freya added.
"No, she's cool. Nice to have a doctor around. I actually used to want to be a doctor," Kai admitted.
"Used to? What do you mean? You always wanted to be a doctor. What happened?" Dana asked Kai.
"I'm just so behind in science that I don't know if I can catch up. It's too late for me," Kai said sadly.
"Nonsense, Kai. I told you. We'll do what it takes. If you need a different tutor or special classes, we'll get that for you, okay? The sky is the limit here...Just be in bed on time and don't like Niklaus trip over your backpack!" Freya laughed.
"Really? Wow, okay, I mean, I never imagined that I would be free again, so if possible, I'll get back on track with my studies. Thanks," Kai said sincerely.
Freya grimaced, "One more thing, it's what we call Russian Christmas...December 7th. This is the day we take down all the Christmas decorations. I promised Uncle Elijah that I'd help. So, if you guys don't have anything better to do. You can help."
All three cringed a little, but started to help. There were several trees and decorations everywhere, but they didn't have anything better to do.
Elijah came in, "Thanks so much for helping. You know helpers will get a little tip. I pay $100 an hour so get cracking. Sister, would you join Niklaus and I at the mall tomorrow. We're going to order new beds and furniture for the bedrooms and we need your input."
Freya loaded another box with lights, "Of course, but the last time I went shopping with Niklaus, he complained the whole time. Tell him he better be on his best behavior!"
"I will. He's used to Rebekah doing all the shopping and me doing all the paying. We'll need quite a few things I surmise. The things he bought originally didn't hold up that well," Elijah admitted.
"No problem. Kids, make a list of things you need. Kai, everything from a cell phone to socks and I'll get it tomorrow while you're at school," Freya announced.
Elijah muttered, "I might need to open up one of the credit cards."