Over the last year living with Claire and Abbie, Sophie had really hit her stride. She was acing all of her classes, joined the debate team, and even landed a role in the school's production of Hamlet. Abbie really enjoyed having Sophie around again and Claire loved Sophie as though she were her own sister. Of course, Sophie was still spanked from time to time, but truthfully, she managed to stay out of trouble more than her big sister; much to Abbie's chagrin!
It was June and Sophie was finally out of school. She spent her days sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and catching up on what Claire teasingly called "junky reality TV." One afternoon, Abbie came home with news she would need to leave the city that evening. A case she and the FBI had been working jointly cracked and her suspect was up in Toronto.
"I could be gone as long as a week. If you want, I can have another ADA go," said Abbie to Claire as she tossed a salad. Claire understood that Abbie was hesitant to leave Sophie for the first time, but didn't want her girlfriend to step back from such an important case. "No darling, you go ahead and go. Sophie and I can hold down the fort for a week, can't we, Soph?" The two turned toward Sophie, who had up to this point been sneaking tomatoes off the counter. She smiled with an expression of mock-guilt, swallowed, and responded "yes ma'am! We've got everything under control!" Abbie feigned exasperation when she exclaimed "Sophie Kate, those were for the SALAD! What am I going to do with you?" Sophie shrieked in laughter as she fended off playful swats from her sister. Claire couldn't help but laugh as well, feeling lucky beyond belief to be part of this little family.
That evening, Abbie left to hop a train to Toronto. Claire and Sophie watched Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, then retreated to bed. Neither would admit it to the other, but both Claire and Sophie struggled to sleep that night!
On their second day together, Claire had to work. She kissed Sophie on the cheek as she left the apartment, told Sophie to call in case of emergency, and hopped the subway to work. About 2 hours into her morning, Claire's phone rang. She picked up the receiver and answered "D.A. Jack McCoy's office, this is Claire Kincaid speaking." A voice responded from the other end "good morning Ms. Kincaid, sorry to bother you at work. My name is officer Wilson, out at the 3-9. Do you know a minor by the name of Sophie Carmichael?" Claire turned ashen as she feared the worst "Oh my god what happened? What hospital?" Office Wilson quickly interjected "no no no! Sophie is fine! But she's been picked up for vandalism. We need a parent or guardian to come pick her up." Claire shook her head in disbelief, "no, there must be some mistake, Sophie would never..." she trailed off. Officer Wilson waited patiently on the other end of the line as Claire sighed "ok, give me 20 minutes, I'll be right over."
True to her word, 20 minutes later, Claire's heels clicked into the 3-9. She immediately spotted Sophie who was sitting at an officer's desk rather than being placed in holding. As her eyes met Claire's Sophie slumped guiltily into the seat, wishing the floor would swallow her whole. Just then, a man in a police uniform approached Claire. "Hi, Claire Kincaid?" Claire nodded, "yes, you must be officer Wilson?" The man nodded "once again, so sorry to drag you down here in the middle of the work day. I just need you to sign for Sophie and then you two can go." Claire smiled kindly "no need to apologize, you were simply following procedure," she said as she threw a pointed glance in Sophie's direction. Sophie looked at her feet as tears threatened to spill over. Claire walked over to the officer's desk, signed the necessary forms, then turned to Sophie. Knowing what was expected of her, she stood and followed Claire out the door. Once in front of the building, Claire pulled Sophie into a tight hug. Sophie was surprised at this act of mercy, but clung to Claire as tears fell from her eyes. After a few moments, Claire pulled back "Sophie I'm sure you've figured out that we have a LOT to talk about. But I have to get back to work. Since I can't seem to trust you home alone, you'll be coming with me. There will be no computer or phone use. If you're bored, you can read some of the back issues of the law journal I have laying around." Sophie fought the urge to groan, not wanting to make her situation worse. The two then took a cab back to the courthouse, where Sophie did manage to keep herself out of trouble until Claire got off at 5:45. The two then hopped the subway and walked from the stop back to Claire and Abbie's apartment.
Once inside, Claire turned to Sophie, "please go sit on the couch, I'd like to talk to you." Sophie turned silently but obediently and walked over to the couch. A moment later, Claire came and joined her. "Now Sophie, please tell me you have some sort of explanation for all of this." Sophie blurted out "Claire I swear I didn't vandalize ANYTHING! Please! You have to believe me!" Claire lovingly patted Sophie's leg, "ok honey, it's alright, just tell me what happened." Sophie spilled the whole story to Claire, how she had met up with some friends who brought along friends from a different school. Though Sophie tended to befriend the "good" kids, these new acquaintances already had quite a reputation. Sophie was pressured into sneaking into an abandoned recycling station with the group, but drew the line at participating in graffitiing the walls and machines. When the police showed up, Sophie was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Claire listened patiently to Sophie's story, both grateful that Sophie had refused to participate in the vandalism, but still disappointed in her decision to trespass. When Sophie had finished, Claire spoke. "Sophie I believe you when you say you didn't vandalize the building. I have a friend down in the Brooklyn D.A.'s office and tomorrow morning, we will go explain the story to her." Sophie nodded, grateful that Claire believed her. "However," continued Claire, "I think you know that trespassing is against the law. I'm very disappointed in you for giving into peer pressure and joining the other kids." Sophie dropped her gaze as tears spilled down her cheeks. She hated to disappoint Claire. She would rather be spanked every day for a month than let down Abbie's girlfriend.
Claire continued, "Sophie I'm not your sister. So you can absolutely refuse to do this. But I think we both know that if Abbie were here, you'd be getting a sore bottom tonight. If you consent, I am going to punish you for the trespassing, that way we don't have this hanging over our heads. If you refuse, you will be on restriction the rest of the week, and Abbie can deal with your punishment when she returns." Sophie already knew what she'd choose. Abbie would expect her to submit gracefully to punishment, even if she wasn't the one doling it out. Besides, being on restriction was no fun, and Sophie desperately wanted a clean slate with Claire. "I know I deserve to be...s-spanked, ma'am," Sophie stammered. "I consent to my punishment."
Claire leaned over and gave Sophie a reassuring hug. "Good girl, now please go into my bedroom and find a corner to stand in." Sophie obediently stood to do as she was told. Back home, she and Abbie hadn't been made to stand in corners before a spanking. However, she was smart enough to know that arguing with Claire was not in her best interest. After standing in the corner for what seemed like an eternity (but was probably only about 10 minutes), Sophie tensed as she heard Claire walk into the room and sit on the bed. Pleased to see that Sophie had obeyed her, Claire spoke "come here, Sophie." Sophie turned from the corner and walked toward the bed. Upon reaching Claire, Sophie stopped abruptly. She began to cry softly at the sight of Claire's large wooden hairbrush. Abbie had popped her a few times with it last month and even over jeans it burned terribly! Seeing Sophie's distress, Claire gently led her to sit beside her on the bed and discreetly pushed the hairbrush to the side. After giving Sophie a moment to calm down, Claire spoke "Sophie I'm sorry to be so hard on you, but I want to make sure that we never have to have this conversation again. You're far too smart to be breaking the law and getting into trouble. Now take down your jeans, please." Sophie blanched slightly at this instruction. Abbie always started a spanking over Sophie's clothes. Claire had no intention of being quite so lenient. Shakily, Sophie unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, and slid them down past her knees. She carefully draped herself across Claire's lap then squeezed her eyes shut tight. Claire raised her hand, and wasted no time bringing it down on Sophie's upturned backside. Sophie gasped at the impact but tried to remain obediently still.
Claire lectured as she spanked. "Sophie, both Abbie and I care too much for you to allow you to participate in criminal activity. You're brilliant, beautiful, and have a bright future ahead of you. And if I have to spank you every day from now until graduation to help you remember that, I will."
Sophie began to sob, knowing that Claire never made idle threats. At this sign of contrition, Claire slowed down the swats, and then paused to lower Sophie's panties. Sophie sobbed harder, knowing what was coming. Claire reached over and retrieved the hairbrush, and tapped it softly against Sophie's bottom, before raising it and bringing it down sharply.
CRACK SLAP CRACK*
"Sophie Kate Carmichael I do not want to have a repeat conversation on the issue. Are you going to make wise choices from here on out?"
Squirming under the flurry of blows, Sophie choked out "Y-y-yes ma'am! I'll be good! Honest, I will!"
Claire continued to spank, *WHAP CRACK SMACK* "and what's going to happen if I EVER get another call from an officer telling me you've been arrested?" Claire punctuated this question with a hard smack to a tender thigh.
Sophie wailed "I won't sit down for a month!" Claire rolled her eyes at the dramatic nature of Sophie's statement - she was beginning to see the sisterly resemblance.
After 10 more solid snacks to Sophie's sit spots, Claire reached over and placed the hairbrush in the drawer of her nightstand. She rubbed Sophie's heaving back as she praised her. "You were so brave, Soph. You accepted your punishment gracefully and obediently, and I'm so proud of you." Sophie slowly rose to look at Claire "Claire I'm s-s-sorry! Please f-f-forgive m-m-me!" Claire pulled Sophie gently onto her lap "darling you've already been forgiven. The slate's all clean." At this declaration of forgiveness, Sophie leaned into Claire's embrace, growing heavy after a few minutes. Claire smiled as she gently tucked Sophie into her and Abbie's bed, and turned out the light. She figured a quick nap would be good for Sophie; and went into the kitchen to order a pizza.
The rest of the week was uneventful. Sophie still sat tenderly, but the severity of the pain was decreasing. On Friday, Abbie called to tell the pair that she would be returning the following morning. After hanging up, Claire noticed that Sophie had become unusually quiet. She chalked it up to her being tired, and the two watched the customary 2 episodes of Murder, She Wrote and headed to bed.
The next day, Sophie are breakfast in silence, much to Claire's concern. After cleaning up the breakfast dishes, Sophie went and sat in the living room, attempting to read a book but making little progress. Before Claire could say anything, the pair heard the familiar click of the front door lock as the door swung open revealing a tired but happy Abbie. Abbie crossed to the living room to hug Claire and Sophie. "Hi guys! How was your week? Sophie, were you on your best behaviour?" she asked, half-joking. Sophie stood, tears filling her eyes "n-no ma'am. I'm so sorry! I wasn't on my best behaviour. Claire had to punish me - I'm so sorry!" With this exclamation, Sophie turned and ran down the hall to Abbie and Claire's room. Abbie turned to Claire, hoping for an explanation. Claire recounted the tale to Abbie who, though far from pleased at the news of the trespassing, was incredibly proud of Sophie for accepting punishment gracefully. "I told her that everything was forgiven, but I think she's scared that she's disappointed you too. She probably thinks you'll spank her again." Abbie guessed Claire was right. Sophie was a sensitive soul who always strove to please Claire and Abbie. Wanting to comfort Sophie, Abbie turned and walked into the bedroom. She stopped in surprise when she saw Sophie standing in the corner, trying her best not to fidget. Sensing the sincerity of Sophie's remorse, Abbie walked to the corner and gently laid a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Soph?" She spoke softly. Sophie turned toward Abbie, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Honey, will you come sit with me on the bed?" "Yes ma'am," Sophie whispered as she walked with Abbie and sat down. Abbie spoke "honey I am SO proud of you. Claire told me how you accepted your punishment with no argument. I'm also proud of you for telling me the truth, even though you thought it would earn you another spanking." Sophie looked at Abbie, hopefully. "Since you have obviously learned your lesson, there is no benefit to punishing you further. Like Claire said, the slate is clean, you're totally forgiven." At this announcement, Sophie flung her arms gratefully around her big sister, "thank you so much, Abbie! I really am sorry. I promise I'll never behave badly again!" Abbie smiled, knowing that Sophie wouldn't be able to stay out of trouble forever, but not doubting the sincerity of her statement.
Just then, Claire walked in and joined them. Sophie stood, and walked over to her. "Claire, um, I just wanted to say thank you for loving me enough to...to spank me." Sophie looked down, embarrassed to say the word aloud but genuinely grateful to Claire. Claire was shocked - she would never have had the maturity at fifteen years old to acknowledge she deserved being spanked - let alone thank her mother for doing it! Claire pulled Sophie into a hug "well I'm proud of you, kiddo. You're a great kid."
The three of them smiled at one another. Sophie was the first to break the silence "So, who wants to watch The Birds?" She smirked knowingly. Claire laughed and landed a playful swat on Sophie's rear "watch it, young lady! I still haven't slept since we watched Psycho!" The three laughed, then wandered into the living room to find a slightly less traumatizing movie to watch.