Pairing: Rebekah/Stefan-(F/m) hand
"A child is a curly dimpled lunatic." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Mystic Falls, Virginia
Mikaelson Guest House
Sunday Afternoon
May 6, 1855
Klaus had just revealed to Elijah that Lily Salvatore had been dead of consumption for month. Mr. Salvatore had not deigned to inform his children. For what reason, they did not entirely know.
Klaus frowned, "Their bloody father is not only a drunkard and a brute, but a liar. Brother, let us give them a few days to settle in before breaking the news. Poor lads."
Elijah nodded, "I am not sure our sister can handle these boys herself. The little tyke ran off in a coach when Damon was supposed to be watching him for a moment in town. Rebekah said Damon gave him a few swats, but I think these boys are going to need a firm hard."
"Speaking of, did you take the ruler to Kol again? I have warned him about feeding off of the servants more times than I can count!" Klaus scoffed.
"No, I put him in the corner and had him write lines after a firm talking-to, which he detests. He did it without complaint, well much complaint, so I feel like he learned his lesson. Perhaps I went too easy on him before services yesterday? I know how hard this move has been on him," Elijah said bringing his hand to his head.
"So our new human wards? You want me to punish the eldest and you do the youngest? I doubt Rebekah has the heart to smack the little one's tender backside hard enough to make an impression," Klaus smiled.
"She has a soft heart when it comes to children," Elijah agreed.
"As does Marcel," Klaus replied.
"As do you when it when it comes to young Marcellus!" Elijah laughed lightly.
"He is my son. And you must admit he has been awfully well behaved of late. I mean, of course, for a young vampire," Klaus added hastily.
Elijah rubbed his temples again and went to to pour a draught of liquor. "Nay, we should be clearheaded. It has been a good while since either of us disciplined a human child."
"Aye, we will have to be more careful. Oh, but perhaps we should give them a pass. Their mum is gone and they do not even know it. They hardly know us. After a few weeks to settle in and I am sure they will behave properly," Klaus waffled.
"Brother," Elijah said firmly, "Do recall the mistakes we made with Marcellus. We gave him several months to settle in and develop into a right hellion. By then, it took quite a bit more effort to get him to mind. Let us not repeat that cycle with these boys. If we are firm, fair, and caring from the start, they will feel safe and loved. Hmm?" Elijah said looking Klaus in the eyes.
"You mean the mistakes I made with Marcellus. Dammit, I detest how you are always correct in your assessments. I shall do my duty. I just do not care to do it," Klaus grumbled. "And the next time Kol feeds from the household, I will paddle him myself. We cannot leave bodies buried all over the property when we move in a few months! Plus, we have the best cook in the county...I don't want him draining her because he needs a snack," Klaus said stalking off to find Marcel and Damon. He found them coming back into the entryway from the stables.
"Papa, Damon is an accomplished rider himself. Perhaps we can go riding together soon?" Marcel suggested.
"Aye, Marcellus, that sounds lovely. Would you go and work on those drafts for the new warehouses? Your uncle is in the study. I am going to have a word with Damon here shortly," Klaus said calmly. Marcel nodded and walked off to obey his father.
Damon paled, "Sir, about today. I apologize. I should have been watching my little brother better. I suppose I need to be punished. But strap me, not him. For I am at fault."
"Damon, no one is getting strapped today! Lad, I am going to punish you, though. But I think my hand shall suffice this time," Klaus said in a low voice. There were servants milling around and he did not want to distress the boy.
Damon's neck flushed red, "Your hand, sir? But is that not for children. I have just turned sixteen!" Damon considered that perhaps this man thought he was younger.
"To me, you are a babe. No, I do not mean it like that. I mean that I do not feel you are deserving of a harsh punishment, just a reminder to better supervise your baby brother. I had the same lesson taught to me a few times. Perhaps, not well enough. I can see how terrible you feel. We all make mistakes. The trick is to learn from them and do better. Why do we not arrange for some lunch? You can take a bath and we shall have our talk," Klaus said kindly. He led the anxious boy into the kitchen and directed the staff to feed him lunch. He directed a serving boy to prepare Master Damon a bath upstairs in Klaus' bedroom.
"Is Stefan napping?" Damon asked as the serving girl put down some broth with meat and vegetables in it. A small loaf of bread was put on the table wrapped in a cloth. Klaus ripped it in half and handed Damon the other chunk. It was still warm.
"I believe your little brother is with my sister about to take a nap. As yes, the bread...'tis odd, I know...We sometimes dine in a more European there are meals you and your brother prefer, tell Cook and she will make them for you. Right, Ms. Jennet?" Klaus smiled. Jennet was a thin woman with high cheekbones and a nonsense attitude. She had reddish hair tied back in a scarf and a Irish accent.
"Oh yes, Mister. For this handsome boy, I will make him anything he likes," Jennet agreed.
"Thank you, ma'am," Damon said politely. He missed the people from Veritas Estates.
Klaus waited until the cook stepped away to asked, "Are you worried about your upcoming thrashing? Son, please trust that it will only be as severe as you need. No more, no less. I do have a son and a brother not much older than you and plenty of experience in these matters," Klaus joked.
"No, Mr. Mikaelson. I was just thinking about our staff at Veritas Estates. They are fine people. Especially since Mother was sent off, well, in truth, even before, they have been very good to us. Like family," Damon informed him.
"Oh, Son, you miss them. You know this house is only temporary. We are building a grand home in the style of Greek revival. It will need many servants. What if we would hire them from under your father's nose? Does he treat them well?" Klaus pressed.
"Father drinks and gets awfully cross with the maids especially. He shouts and breaks things. Sometimes he blames them for breaking things that he wrecked while under the influence," Damon admitted.
"Say not another word. I shall speak to Elijah and we will hire your staff," Klaus promised.
"And our animals? My horse? Stefan has a pet turkey. Father made me kill mine for supper, but his is still on the property," Damon shared.
"Your father made you eat your own pet turkey? Bloody hell, that sounds like something my father would do!" Klaus spat. Klaus noticed that Damon had not mentioned missing his father at all.
"Does your father live here?" Damon asked innocently. He had not noticed any older gentleman, but they had barely been here a day.
"No, we do not know where he is. He is not a good sort. Let us not speak of ill things. Does your father employ a tutor for you?" Klaus inquired getting up and getting a thick mug of something from a covered pitcher for himself and milk for the boy.
"Yes, sir. We have several tutors. Are you really going to build a school here?" Damon asked eating the last of his soup.
"Indeed. We are trying to choose a teacher as we speak. We have several applicants," Klaus conceded.
"That sounds interested. I would like for Stefan to be around boys his own age. The tutors are not very patient with him. I have to reteach him everything in the evening, if he is to learn anything," Damon confessed.
"You are a good brother," Klaus said with a smile. Kol came in through the back door of the kitchen.
"Brother, Damon, what is for lunch?" Kol said taking the lid of the pot.
"Beef soup, young master," the cook said yanking the lid from him.
"Lovely. May I have some, darling?" Kol smiled.
"That be Miss Jennet to you, sir! But sit and I will get you some, Jenet sassed as Klaus and Damon laughed.
Kol warily sat and waited to be served.
"Behave yourself today, Brother?" Klaus asked sharply.
"Yes, Nik. I did all my tiresome chores. Damon, did my brother tell you that they forced me to leave New Orleans against my will?" Kol whined.
"No, I thought you were from here?" Damon clarified.
"A thousand years ago!" Kol hollered as Jennet put more bread down.
"Kol, watch yourself. You know why we came here. And family sticks together. Now, Damon is going upstairs to bathe and take a rest. You would be wise to do the same," Klaus suggested.
"Take a nap! Nik, I am...17 years old. Bloody hell," Kol argued.
"Young man, you know how you get when you are overly tired. After lunch, go rest in your room. You have a few weeks before school starts to relax," Klaus grinned.
"School? Are you jesting? I am not going to that school for dullards. Nik, tell me you are jesting," Kol burst out spilling his soup over the white tablecloth.
"Do I look like I am jesting?" Klaus said sternly. "Come, Damon. Let us go before your bath grows cold."
Jennet gave Kol a hard look and waited until he moved back to clean up the soup.
Rebekah's Room
Rebekah undressed Stefan and put him in another cotton night dress.
"But it is too early!" Stefan fumed. "I do not want to take a napppp."
"You are going to take a little rest. But I think we need to wash a little of this grime off you first. The girl is bringing your lunch up here, but you cannot eat with dust all over your face," Rebekah smiled.
"I do not like to wash!" Stefan exclaimed. He yawned and Rebekah giggled.
"Do not laugh at me!" Stefan cried angrily.
"Young man, I do not like your tone. Now, let us get that face clean. Stand still, please," Rebekah said in a firm voice.
The serving girl brought in the soup and bread and a glass of buttermilk.
"Marie gives me sweets at lunch!" Stefan whined.
"Who is Marie, pray tell?" Rebekah said dipping a cotton rag into the bowl of clean water and daubing it on Stefan's dirty face.
"Our cook and one of my best friends! She knows what jam I like and she lets me hide in the pantry during hide and seek," Stefan said sadly.
"She sounds like a wonderful friend," Rebekah said now cleaning his hands.
"Marie says I do not have to wash either!" Stefan added hastily.
"Oh, I can see why you like her so very much. Does she give you cakes for supper?" Rebekah went on.
"Yes, how did you know?" Stefan asked in awe. His blond hair was curly and wild.
"I suppose I am just clever," Rebekah said.
"Father says that clever girls are wicked! Are you wicked?" Stefan asked with wide eyes.
"Oh very! I eat little boys who do not finish their lunch, now hop to it," Rebekah growled steering Stefan to the small round table with his food try on it.
"I told you that I only eat sweets for lunch. These are vegetables," Stefan recoiled in horror.
"Then, eat the bread and drink the milk," Rebekah encouraged. "You must be hungry."
"I am. But only for sweets. Do you not have cakes?" Stefan tried again. His chubby cheeks were pink with anger and his large eyes sharp with accusation.
"Try the soup, please," Rebekah prodded.
Stefan lifted the spoon, there was a knock at the door. Rebekah turned to answer it and Stefan dumped the bowl of soap on the floor. Since he did not get punished for dumping over his milk at breakfast, he figured he could easily get rid of his soup.
"Stefan!" Rebekah chided as her fast Original vampire reflexes caught exactly what Stefan had done.
Elijah stepped in, "Another accident?"
Rebekah growled, "That was no accident, Brother. I think Stefan is asking for a good spanking."
Elijah sighed, "I came up here to have a talk with him about his behavior in town."
Rebekah walked over and knelt down to Stefan's level, "Did you do that on purpose?"
Stefan glanced at Elijah and then back at Rebekah, "No! It was an...accident! I do not want any kind of spankin'...Good or bad!" Stefan popped out of the chair and covered his chubby backside with his hands.
Rebekah waved off Elijah, "Little boys who lie get their bare behinds walloped. Now, tell me the truth, why did you knock over the soup?"
Stefan wailed, "I did not do it! You are lying."
"I guess you are getting another licking today," Rebekah said evenly.
Stefan bellowed out, "No! I already got a spanking from Damon."
Rebekah scooped up the crying child and carried him over to the armless wooden chair at the table. She sat and flipped Stefan over her lap. She lifted his nightshirt to bare his plump white behind and rested her right hand on his upper thigh tapping it. She rolled the material up more to have access to his full behind. She then lifted her left foot and hooked it on the rung of the chair which raised his seat even more.
"Sister, you seem to have the situation well in hand. You will also speak to him about his ill behavior in town? If not, I can come back with my ruler before bedtime tonight," Elijah offered. Stefan heard and let out a whine in his throat that turned into a sob.
"No, Elijah, Stefan is going to get his little paddling and then behave himself," Rebekah insisted.
"See you at supper, Stefan," Elijah said softly.
Stefan began to kick and try to lift himself off Rebekah's lap. Sometimes when Marie tried to spank him he could wiggle off and scamper into a good hiding spot until she forgive him for whatever naughty thing he did. But Rebekah seemed to be holding Stefan in an iron grip with her left arm. His hands could not quite reach the floor and his feet with dangling. He felt helpless and was rethinking his choices today when he felt her hand pat his rear several times in warning.
"You are getting this spanking for lying," Rebekah said lifting her hand and swatting the well-rounded buttocks in front of her energetically. Smack! Smack! Smack!
Rebekah let those spanks sink in and rubbed Stefan's behind softly as he continued to thrash violently and uselessly.
Smack! Smack! Smack! After three more cracks, Rebekah started to notice a little pinkness and more kicking.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Stefan screamed, "I am sorry for lying. I-I spilled the soup!"
Rebekah rewarded him with a pause in the spanks and said, "I know, but why?"
"I do n-not k-nowww," Stefan screeched.
Rebekah continued to spank Stefan's pudgy cheeks slowly, but methodically until his behind was pink.
"What else are you getting a spanking today right on your bare bum, Stefan?" Rebekah said pausing again before resuming the swats.
"Running away in the coach!" Stefan acknowledged. "I was naughty!"
"You were misbehaving, but you are a good boy. Your brother and I were very worried that you would get hurt or lost. What if you could not find your way home? You did not have enough money to pay for the coach," Rebekah said resuming the brisk swats. Crack! Crack!
"You will listen to adults," Rebekah demanded. She went on, "You *smack* will not *smack* even *smack* put your life* in danger *smack* like that *smack* again!" The well-padded bottom in front of her was now pink and looked sore. Stefan seemed to be crying too hard to answer her. She stopped paddling him and began to rub the spanked area lightly.
Stefan continued to bounce and wriggle over Rebekah's lap for a moment until he realized the spanking had paused.
"Sorry, please. I will behave!" Stefan begged.
"I know, sweetheart. We just do not want you to get hurt or starve. You need to try to listen and obey. We love you and want to take good care of you," Rebekah said tenderly. She picked up Stefan and cradled him to her like a smaller child for a moment. She grabbed a linen napkin off the table and dried his tears.
"Can you drink a little of your milk?" Rebekah asked holding the glass to his lips.
"Thank you, Miss," Stefan said politely as he took a few sips. His behind stung fiercely, but he was glad the pretty lady was not vexed with him.
"Can you try some bread?" Rebekah questions, but Stefan just yawned and looked glazed over.
She rocked him as he sniffled and then she let him rub his own backside. Rebekah kissed him and stoked him as she comforted him in soft voice. He still was whimpering a little when she carried him to the bed and lifted his nightshirt to take any additional pressure off of his sore bottom.
"Rest here, little one," Rebekah said laying him flat on his stomach. She continued to rub his back and behind carefully. She sang to him until he fell into a deep nap.
Rebekah shut her eyes and lay beside him, in case he woke up. Elijah came in to clean up the soup mess and found them both sleeping peacefully. He decided to let them sleep another hour or so to sleep.
Elijah was proud of his sister for being firm with the child, despite his cherubic looks. He chuckled thinking how charming the little fellow could be, even when he was extra naughty. From Marcellus, Elijah knew that no good would come out of spoiling the boy rotten. Yet, the ancient Original considered taking him into town himself to let him pick out a new ball or a Bilbo Catcher, if they had one. Every wealthy child in New Orleans had seemed to have some form of the ball and cup toy. If they did not sell them here, Elijah was sure Niklaus could carve the children some.
Elijah wondered how Niklaus was faring with Damon in the other bedroom. He wondered if he shouldn't peek in to lend a hand, if needed.