Pairing: Hayley/Hank (F/f) yardstick
*Continued thanks to Jazmine F. for Hank storyline
*Thank you to everyone else reading this story. I never had planned to extend it this long.
Mikaelson Estate
Mystic Falls, Virginia
September 1855
After Damon and Elena spoke to their younger brothers a bit harshly, Sage entered with Solomon by her side. Damon had been itching to toss Stefan over her knee again and give him a real spanking. However, he saw the repentance and regret in his eyes and knew he had already learned his lesson. Damon held Stefan a long time and ended up comforting him. He was not so sure about Jeremy. He was upset, but had a poor attitude when Elena reprimanded him for trying so hard to get the ball and picking on Solomon.
Sage said, "Boys, I believe you have something to say to Solomon."
Stefan sniffed and stepped forward, "Sorry, Solomon. We should not have been mean to you. I like to play with you. Will you forgive me?"
Solomon nodded and Stefan rushed forward and the two boys hugged. Jeremy hung back. Elena gave him a little push.
"Jer, tell him you are sorry," Elena said.
Jeremy shrugged, "I am sorry that thou cannot catch a ball!"
Solomon and Stefan turned to him in surprise.
Sage's face grew stern. "Perhaps the hiding you got did not do the trick, but we can remedy that."
"No! No! Solomon, I am s-sorry, too," Jeremy balked, backing up on his bed. "Forgive me."
Solomon nodded, "I just never had time before or children to play with. I will try harder."
Sage put an arm around the smaller boy. "Nay, if Jeremy cannot play nicely, then he can sit in this room and write lines. Mayhaps a few days confined inside will soften his heart?"
"No, please," Jeremy whined. "I said sorry..."
Elena frowned, "Jeremy, your behavior is most appalling. If Mother and Father were here they would be ashamed at you."
Jeremy broke down and flung himself on his bed.
Sage cleared her throat, "Children, I believe I hear Cook calling us to supper. Go on, I shall bring Jeremy down in a moment."
Stefan still felt silly in his night clothes but Damon said it would feel better on his sore rump than tight trousers.
Sage went over and sat on the bed by Jeremy. She patted his back as he cried and then spoke softly to him.
"Honey, tell me what is really going on," Sage said. "I am here to listen. Do you not like it here?"
Jeremy sniffled and wiped his face. "I very much like it here. It tis nice and I like everyone very much. But when Elena and I were on our own, I had to be rough and mean so as to get us food. In addition, we were almost always together. Now, Elena is off with the girls or Damon. All she ever does now is scold me for being naughty. Tis not fair."
Sage nodded, "I know what tis is like to have no one to take you in. When I was but a little older than you, I twas on my own also. But I had no sister nor brother to help me. Elena cares about you more than anyone else. Those things you had to do to survive were fine at the time, but now you have to adjust. That means no more mischief just for the sake of mischief. Look at this grand house. Do you not think we would rather supply you with a new ball rather than drag you half-dead out of the lake?"
Jeremy smiled sheepishly, "Yes, I was being foolish. And I will show Solomon how to throw better. I swear it."
Sage kissed Jeremy on the top of the head, "Aye, but I meant it about you being restricted to your room if you do not behave. This time, I shall let it go but next time means you are on punishment. And believe me, if you are restricted, I will put you to bed each night with a fierce licking with my hairbrush. Now, let us go eat. I do not wish to starve you, child."
Jeremy got up and followed Sage to the dinner table. He was surprised that the family had waited for them. Finn held out his arms and pulled Jeremy into his lap.
"I am gladdened that you are in good health, son," Finn whispered. Jeremy blushed at the attention and Finn sent him to his seat with a small whack to his night shirt.
"Ow!" Jeremy yelped, smirking a bit as he rubbed his seat. The others laughed and Klaus raised a toast to their good health, beginning the meal.
Next Week
Guest House
Evening
Freya worked ceaselessly with Ilayda and Halina on a series of potions and herbal remedies for protection. Dragomir was even sent on a mission to procure some rare stones and supplies in Richmond one night. Sammy, who normally would have thrown a fit to go with his big brother to the capital, remained quiet.
Halina was suspicious. She cornered Croiá that night as they were getting ready for bed.
"Is Sammy really enjoying school as much as he claims?" Halina asked, while brushing her sister's hair out.
"Aye, he does not get on with the older boys much, aside from Kol. But he and a girl named Harriet have become friendly. Her nasty friend Kathy is chasing after George Lockwood, but they have a bit of time to chat at lunch," Croiá said.
"And you? Is Kol still helping you with your stories?" Halina asked, meeting her younger sister's eyes in the mirror. "What of that?"
"I know not," Croiá said. "He is with Hank a great deal...But another boy asked me to the dance."
"The Community Dance? Already? Tis not a bit early for courtship?" Halina asked, putting the brush down.
"Nay, tis not. I would have to have a proper gown," Croiá flushed. "I told him that I did not know."
"Do you like this young man? If so, accept. We shall make you a gown. I am sure Rebekah and her sewing machine can help," Halina said calmly. She knew her sister was growing up and getting more beautiful by the day. It pained her to think of the girl leaving to marry, but she was resigned that one day it would happen.
"He tis kind and good, but...," Croiá drifted.
"He is not Kol," Halina finished.
Croiá nodded as tears filled her eyes. Halina tipped up her sister's chin.
"Child, listen to me. Kol Mikaelson is a vampire. If you wed him or fall in love with him, you will never have a family. You will grow old and he will stay 17 forever. Do you understand that?" Halina said carefully.
"I never thought of it like that," Croiá admitted. "He is filled with mirth and intelligent. He makes me laugh."
"Aye, he is all of those things, but he drinks blood and has lived hundreds of years. I long ago gave up hopes of us all finding wolves worthy of our line, yet I still hope to hold a niece of nephew in my arms some day," Halina finished.
"I had dreamt of children someday. Yet, they would be half wolf. Is that fair to spring on any suitor?" Croiá asked.
"Nothing that happened to our people was ever fair," Halina said sadly. "Blow out the lantern. Tis late."
"Maybe I will go to the dance with Matthew. And if Kol asked me, he will just have to be green with envy," Croiá said firmly.
Halina groaned, "Tis not what I meant, Sister. Now to bed and if you get up late to write and have dropping eyes on the morrow, I will thrash you before school."
"Yes, Sister," Croiá grinned. She knew Halina would do not such thing, but in truth, did not want to push her too far. Yes, she thought, she would speak to Matthew Maxwell in the morning.
Mikaelson Mansion
Parlor
Rebekah listened to Elijah play the piano and clapped when he was finished. She hated to admit it, but Elijah was a much more accomplished player.
"Nicely done, Elijah," Rebekah clapped. The others had dispersed and only the two of them remained in the parlor.
Elijah looked up as Marcel lingered by the door.
"Well, I best find Niklaus. I promised him I would look over some business proposals," Elijah said lightly. "I will let you two speak."
"Elijah, there is no need. You can tell Marcel that I am going abed," Rebekah said smugly.
"Dear Sister, you can tell Marcellus himself. Excuse me," Elijah said. He kissed Rebekah goodnight on the cheek and clapped Marcel on the shoulder as he parted.
Marcel came in and sat at the piano. Rebekah tried not to admire his handsome fan and sparkling brown eyes. She longed to touch him, but he deserved better than her. He deserved a woman who had more self-control, more strength than she...
"Would you like to slam my fingers in the piano? If that will have you forgive me, I shall do it," Marcel said solemnly. A small smirk tugged at his lips.
Rebekah snapped, saying, "Do not be foolish. I am not even angry at you...I am ashamed."
Marcel turned to her and inquired, "Of what? You have nothing to be ashamed about."
Marcel reached out and put a hand on her soft cheek.
Rebekah blushed, "But I do. It turns out that you were right when you refused to flee with me. I do see now that tis not the right time. We are all in danger now. Oh Marcel, why do you even bother with me? I can be shallow, prideful, and pighead-"
Before Rebekah could finish, Marcel silenced her with a kiss.
"Because I love you, you beautiful fool. I would die for you, but I want us to have time to live first, as we wish," Marcel confessed. "Take a walk with me?"
Rebekah smiled and looked around, "Now?"
"Now," Marcel said huskily. He took Rebekah's hand in his and led her outside into the darkness. They could no longer use the old barn, but the estate was vast and Marcel had the key to the wine cellar now.
Tillerman Home
Pace Street
Parlor
Next Day
Mrs. Edna Smith sneered as she watched Hugo Tillerman and his insipid daughter fed her horse outside. She stood at the parlor window with her back straight and arms crossed until the pair headed towards the house. Then, Edna put her "pleasant" mask on and smiled.
"Oh Henrietta, how pretty you look in blue. Your papa has good taste, does he not?" Edna complimented, though it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Thank you, Mrs. Smith," Hank said dutifully. She tried not to complain about the woman because it upset Papa, yet she knew something was not quite right with her. What? She was not sure yet, but something told her the woman was dangerous.
"I wanted to get Hank something nice before I leave for my business trip," Hugo said, taking out his pipe to light. "Thank you again, Mrs. Smith. I would not be comfortable leaving my girl alone."
"It is my pleasure, Mr. Tillerman. Henrietta and I can play checkers and she can learn some needlework. Why, when I was her age, I had been sewing for 12 years," Edna said in a lame attempt at a jest.
"I do not favor sewing," Hank snapped. "Papa said I do not have to learn. Right, Papa?"
"Well, maybe Mrs. Smith is correct and it would do you good to learn? Now Hank, I expect you to behave while I am gone. If Mrs. Smith has to punish you, you will get double when I get back," Hugo warned with a snicker. He knew his daughter could be headstrong and difficult when she did not get her own way. He did not want her to give the older, gray haired woman an angina attack. But Hank knew he never truly punished her. Hugo lacked the will to take a firm stand with his daughter. After all, she had been through much these last few years.
"But my friends said I could stay at their house, Papa," Hank whined. "Elena and Rebekah said I was welcome to stay overnight there anytime. You can ask their brothers, they agreed!"
"Nonsense. There are boys in that home!" Mrs. Smith cut in. "It just would not be proper. Now, Hank, we will have a fine time. I will even share my famous fruit cake recipe with you."
"I do not care about your fruit cake!" Hank hollered, getting up and stomping out of the parlor. "And I detest checkers..."
"Now, you come back here and apologize," Hugo yelled, looking flustered himself. "I am sorry, Mrs. Smith. I spoiled her rotten since my wife passed...I am sure she will not give you much trouble. She was such a precious little thing then, but I know she is growing up. At that age, you know."
Mrs. Smith gave a wane smile, "Twill not be any trouble at all, Mr. Tillerman. We will be just fine. Let me fetch you some port. You relax there."
Hugo shut his eyes and let the older woman fawn over him. He would speak to his daughter when she calmed down a bit.
School House
Next Day
Hank squinted and spied on the paddlings through the small hole in the shutters outside.
Whap! Whap! Whap!
"Oh, now she put Lexi over her knee. Whoa, she is getting it worse than Stefan did," Hank illustrated. "Ouch. Drawers down..."
Whap! Whap! Whap!
Lexi and Stefan had come up with a prank to put a mouse in Rose's lunch pail after morning recess. Rose heard something in her pail and opened it to check. The mouse jumped out and chaos broke out in the school house. Some younger kids were crying and Rose herself almost fainted. No one caught the mouse, but Jeremy said he thought it ran outside as he was coming in from fetching water.
Hayley immediately gave the rest of the students extra recess so she could paddle the two miscreants. This was not their first or probably last prank that they pulled on poor Rose. Hayley let Rose watch as she sat on the bench with a damp rag on her brow.
"Hank, get over here or you will be the next one getting spanked," Kol hissed. He knew that Hank did not have any knowledge of the supernatural or that their teacher was a werewolf.
"Hush, Kol," Hank grinned. "Now, she is smacking Lexi's rump with her bare hand. Laws, that must smart. She is kicking up a storm!"
"Did you not ever get your backside smacked?" Kol said. "Of course it hurts. Now, come over and we will check on the frogs."
"I never got a real spanking. Every time Papa tried to spank me, he started to cry and said he could not bear it," Hank laughed. "But I know that witch Mrs. Smith is aiming to whup me as soon as he leaves. Kol, that woman is...evil."
Kol pulled Hank away by her hand, forgetting about the thrashing going on inside.
"What do you mean? Evil," Kol asked in concern.
Hank's bright green eyes flared, she went on, "We bathe on Saturdays in the kitchen. When Papa's business was waning, we had only but one servant. I learned how to make due myself. I told Mrs. Smith to give me privacy and leave me to finish washing by myself. Yet I caught her trying to watch me through the slats in the kitchen. I threw a wet sea sponge Papa bought me on a holiday at the door and she scattered, but when she thinks we alone, she looks at me strangely. Almost with a lustful glint in her eye, it ain't natural, it tis like she wants to devour me. Oh, never you mind. I am sure you do not believe me. No one else does, not even Papa."
Kol bit his lip. "I have known others with the same evil intent in them. I believe you, Hank. And I fear that some calamity may befall you. Did you bring up the offer that my sister extended thee, to stay with us?"
"Yes, Mrs. Smith said it twas not proper. She has a hold on Papa, something awful," Hank explained. "I told him I do not need a nurse or a housekeeper...yet I am poorly at cleaning. But she makes the kitchen maid do everything when Papa is at work, even her own chores. Kol, I am frightened."
Kol was formulating a plan, but Hayley came out of the side door suddenly.
"Miss Henrietta Tillerman, I should like a word, please," Hayley said sternly. Some of the others smirked, they had learned not to spy on punishments, lest they be next.
Kol went over to speak to Damon, he believed Hank, he just had to figure out how to help. He could tell the girl was terrified. Maybe they could figure out a way to help. As to the licking she was bound to get from Hayley, that, Kol figured, she rightly deserved.
Moments Later
Inside the School House
"Hank, you know you are not permitted to view others' while they are being punished, do you not?" Hayley asked. She had Stefan and Lexi both settling down in the corner. Rose had whispered to Hayley that Hank was watching and gone out the front doors.
"Yes, ma'am," Hank said. "But I was not watching!"
"I saw you," Hayley informed her. "I was just going to give you a warning, but since you insist on lying, I am going to whip you. Bend over."
"No, Miss, please! I never had a whipping before," Hank fretted, skipping from foot to foot.
"That explains much. Now, bend over or it shall be worse. Stefan, Lexi, you may turn around. Since Hank found it fine to watch your punishments, you may view hers," Hayley said. She picked up her yardstick. Hank was much too short to grab the other end of the desk so Hayley pushed the stool toward her and showed her how to grab the rungs.
"If you let go, those do not count," Hayley warned.
Hayley tapped the flat side of the stick over Hank's skirts and raised it swiftly. She knew the girl's slips and petticoats would dampen the sting, but just wished to make a small point to the young voyeur.
Thwack!
"Oafffff," Hank gasped, still holding onto the rung.
"Are you going to peep in where you ought not to again?" Hayley prodded, about to apply another stroke.
Thwack!
"No! Miss, I will not ever spy again," Hank gulped, huffing a bit.
Thwack!
"Or lie about it?" Hayley went on. Tapping Hank's rear through her skirt.
Thwack!
"No, Miss. Sorrry," Hank yelped. "Ouch!"
Thwack!
"Tell Stefan and Lexi that. You violated their privacy," Hayley lectured.
Thwack!
"I am most grievously s-sorry," Hank breathed.
Thwack!
"Very well, we are finished. But Hank, next time, I will raise your skirts and you will actually feel the stick on your bottom," Hayley intoned. "But with your excellent acting skills, perhaps we should put on a play soon."
Hank dropped the pretense of the whipping stinging and grinned back cheekily at her teacher.
Hayley gave the children a small smile and dismissed them, wiping a sheen of sweat from her brow. She heard a sound and saw the mouse out of the corner of her eye flee into the cloakroom. She put down her yardstick and leaned against her desk. The day was not yet half over yet.
