1/3

My plan earlier this year was to have a Christmas-y chapter out by Christmas time this year but alas *sigh* life gets in the way.

Anyway, Happy Holidays.


Warning: Child abuse. Mention of forced intercourse.

Chapter 71

Elijah was awake early despite his late night. Fully dressed in a flannel button down and dark jeans, he appeared in Marcel's doorway. Klaus couldn't help but smirk as he brother shook his head disapprovingly at the sight of him sitting at the head of Marcel's bed with his son's sleeping head in his lap.

"You spoil him," Elijah stated firmly.

Niklaus was careful to ease Marcel's pillow back onto the bed as he slipped soundlessly out of it so as not to wake his tired son.

"Better spoiled than the alternative."

"I am sure the options aren't as limited as you suggest."

Klaus followed Elijah down the hall, peeping into the other bedroom to confirm that everyone else was still asleep before they made their way to the kitchen.

"He has a rough morning ahead of him," said Klaus as he tended to the dishes he'd left in the sink the night before. "The least I could do was help him sleep peacefully."

Elijah grabbed a pan from the cabinets and asked, "And how much did you sleep last night?"

Klaus ignored the question as he continued washing in silence.

-M-

Marcel woke to the peak of the sun's rays peering through his window and the sweet scent of beignets frying in the kitchen. He took in the smell with a deep breath, relaxing in the comfort of his sheets. The last time he remembered being without a bed or hot breakfast was during the war. And before then...

Flashback:

The boy was hoarse from crying, his face, neck, and chest soaked with his own tears as he sat next to the stiff body. He didn't know when the body had gone stiff, sometime during the lonesome day. He woke up in her arms like always, his chest burning from the sickness plaguing his body. He shook her to ask for water, because sometimes drinking helped ease the pain, but she wouldn't wake up.

She didn't wake all day, no matter how much he shook her or how hard he cried, she wouldn't move.

It was around noon when the Overseer finally came to see what had kept the woman from the field when he found them, the boy lying in his own filth next to his mother's dead body.

He left him there with only a 'Damn, another one'.

Hours later he returned with the Governor. The boy was afraid of the Governor, he didn't know why. Maybe it was the way his mother flinched whenever she was around him or the way the others whispered about him when he wasn't around. Whatever the reason was, to be confined with him in the four wall of the rundown shack made only made the boy cry harder.

"Can you shut him up," were the first words out of the Governor's mouth.

The child drew his knees up to his chest as the Overseer withdrew the whip attached to his waist. The boy had seen the whip used countless times, thankfully never on him, but he knew to fear it.

The Overseer didn't bother to unravel the whip, he didn't need to. He'd beaten boys with it before without ever having to slice their backs with the leather, although none where ever so small as this one. Still, he was a slave just like any other.

With a swing of his arm, the Overseer thumped the child across his head with the knot of the whip and shouted, "Quiet!"

The child covered his throbbing head with one hand and his mouth with the other. He couldn't stop himself from crying, but he could muffle it in hopes of avoiding another strike.

Turning his sight to the dead woman lying on the straw bed next to the sobbing boy.

"When did she go?" he asked.

"Saw her coming in from the fields last night so it had to be sometime this morning," the Overseer answered.

"What did it?"

The Overseer pointed his whip at the boy and the child flinched, afraid another strike was coming. "Probably caught something from this one. It's sickly. Nose running every time I see him."

The Governor shook his head. "Most likely not or he'd been dead by now too."

The Governor narrowed his eyes at the boy. He would've prefered to have lost the boy than her. If he was sickly, chances were he wouldn't last long. At least he could still get work out of the woman. One way or another.

It'd been three years since he last forced himself onto her. Not since the boy was born. The boy was always attached to her tit so it was hard for him to find any time to force himself on her again. Since the boy had started weaning, he'd hoped to find time to force himself on her again...but now that was over.

"What's his name?"

The Overseer shrugged. "She never gave him one. Don't think she ever 'xpected him to live this long either."

"Probably best if we keep it that way if he's as sickly as you claim. No use in naming a dead dog. 'Boy' will do for now."

The Overseer snapped the whip back to his waist and then reached for the pistol holster on the other side. "Won't last long without her. Best if we just put him out of his misery now."

The Governor held his hand out, stopping the Overseer from unholstering his pistol. "He's still an investment. Put him to work in the yard. His little hands might be good for digging up worms for Emil to go fishing with. If he lives another few years, we'll put him in the fields."

The Overseer nodded and pointed back at the dead woman. "What should I do with her?"

The Governor turned back to the door more than ready to leave the putrid smelling shack. "Burn her body with the shack just in case it is infection. And scrub the boy down with lye. Don't need him passing on whatever disease his mother had to the other slaves. Then isolate him from the rest for at least a weak until we can be sure he doesn't have anything."

The boy sat on the bed next to his mother as the two men left and then, a little while later, the Overseer came back with a potato sack and a stick.

"Don't wanna catch whatever you got," he grumbled to himself as he held the sack open in front of the child. "Get in!"

The boy hesitated, unsure of what he was supposed to do until he felt the heavy thud of the stick across his back. He screamed as the Overseer ordered him to get in again and when he hesitated, the man struck him again and again until he finally figured out what he was supposed to do.

Once he was in the stack, the Overseer tied it on to the end of the stick, carrying the frightened boy out of the shack over his shoulder, crying and shivering in pain, never to see the woman again.

End Flashback

Marcel opened his eyes to see Kol standing in his doorway, a wicked smirk on his face. "Whatcha thinking?"

Marcel groaned as he sat up in bed, trying to push the awful memory from his mind. "Life without Kol Mikaelson."

"Sounds abysmal."

Marcel smirked. Kol was being facetious but Marcel was sure he didn't know just how right he was.

"Good thing I came to wake you. Do you smell the beignets downstairs?"

"It's torture," Marcel nodded as he slipped out of bed. They're gonna ply us with our favorite foods and then..."

Kol dropped himself on Marcel's bed, staring up at the ceiling. "At least it's better than being out in that forest. Never been one for campfire food and I've always preferred not fighting flies for my breakfast."

Marcel stood over Kol, watching as his friend lounged lazily across his bed in his underwear as if he didn't have a single fear in the world.

Running his hand nervously through his hair, he said, "I'm sorry...for dragging you into all this."

Kol sat up, watching Marcel standing awkwardly in front of him. "Don't be," he muttered. "I drug myself in to this. I could've told my big brothers the truth long ago but...I guess...I was just afraid of what you would think of me if I did. And then, when Josh got dragged into it, I knew I couldn't tell anyone."

"You cared about what I thought?"

Kol rolled his eyes. "Don't let it go to your head, mate, or I may never compliment you again."

Marcel chuckled. "Sorry, it's just...it's been over a century since you last cared about what I thought."

"God, you're gonna make me regret saying that, aren't you."

"Just a little bit."

Walking over to his bag, Marcel pulled out a pair of pants and stared at them for several moments, examining their tightness, wondering what they would feel like over a freshly switched bottom. He shivered at the thought.

Sliding his pants on, he looked over to Kol, sitting back on his bed with his arms crossed lackadaisically behind his head as if he didn't have anywhere to be, and asked, "Aren't you gonna get dressed."

"Oh yeah," Kol scoffed. "Can't wait to rush this morning through."

"The sooner we get started, the sooner we get it over with."

Kol leaned over on his elbow to look Marcel in his eyes. "You've got no idea what you're in for, do ya? Never been switched before."

Marcel ignored the question, choosing to focus on finding a shirt rather than looking up at Kol. He didn't want to let on how much he feared the switch.

But Kol could sniff his fear out like a dog with a bone.

With a wide smile, Kol said, "Oh, sensitive little Marcel. You're not gonna survive the first strike."

"Shut up."

"Seriously. You don't know what you're in for. They start by making you cut your own switch. Psychological torture. My big brothers, they excel in torture."

"Shut up, Kol."

Kol shook his head as he rose to his feet. "And the sting lasts forever WITH the supernatural healing. Without it, well, God help us."

Marcel stood straight, prepared to scream another order of silence when he spotted Niklaus standing against the doorway. Kol's back was to his brother, but he read the look on his face in an instance.

"Little brother." Klaus stepped slowly into the room. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Elijah was very clear about you not leaving your room without permission."

As the sound of Klaus's steps grew closer, Kol spun around to face him. "Sorry," he said, immediately covering his bottom.

"You disobeyed us to come torment my son."

"I-I was just kidding around. Marcel knows I was just kidding, don't you, Marcel?"

Turning his attention to Marcel, Klaus and Kol waited for the young Mikaelson's response.

Every fiber of his being told Marcel to disagree with Kol, to say something to get his friend in trouble after he tried to scare him about the switch. But he couldn't lie to Klaus.

"Yeah," Marcel sighed. "It was a joke, albeit, not a very funny one."

"See," Kol pointed triumphantly at Marcel. "My only crime is telling poor jokes...though the comedic excellence of it is debatable."

Klaus lifted a finger to beckon Kol over to him but his trembling little brother didn't move.

"Come on, big brother," he whined, hating himself for ignoring Marcel's sound advice to start the morning with pants. "I said I was sorry."

Unmoved by Kol's squirming and whining, Klaus said, "Remind me of the rules of this weekend, Kol."

"But, Klaus-"

"Now."

Kol's face turned beet red as she muttered, "St-stay within distance, al-always...always obey and never lie. B-but you'd already left us out of your sight when you left us in our rooms so I-I didn't think it would be a problem."

"Did Elijah tell you you weren't supposed to leave your rooms when he put you to bed last night?"

Kol's gaze dropped to the floor, knowing there was nothing he could do to avoid a smacking this time.

Marcel sighed. He couldn't help but feel bad for friend, even if he was an asshole.

He opened his mouth to say that it was his fault, that he'd called Kol over to his room when he woke as a joke because he knew he wouldn't get the same reaction from Klaus for making a joke as Kol would, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his feet started moving.

Klaus's face strained with anger as Marcel marched over to the bookshelf and retrieved the hairbrush.

"I..." Marcel sucked his lip between his teeth, doing his best to fight Klaus's compulsion as he stood in front of him, tears shimmering in his eyes. "I was going to lie to you. Tell you...that I tricked Kol into leaving his room...so that he wouldn't get smacked. Because...I know I won't get s-spanked for it"

"Do you, now." Klaus closed the bedroom door and stepped closer to Marcel. Holding his hand out to his son, he said, "Give it to me."

Grateful that Klaus's compulsion did not include an order to give over the brush, Marcel gripped it's handle tighter and hid it behind his back, his face heated with shame.

"It was a small lie, Klaus," he reasoned. "I-I lie for Kol all the time."

Marcel knew he'd said too much when Klaus's face hardened.

"I didn't mean all the time. I mean, j-just when he says or does something stupid."

"Well, let's not judge my little brother's foolishness when it has clearly rubbed off on you through the years."

Klaus's eyes moved from Marcel to Kol with quiet judgement.

Focusing on back on Marcel, Klaus said, "I have been against your friendship with Kol from the moment I found the two of you in the courtyard...with dead bodies littering the floor. Back then, my greatest fear was that you would absorb all of his worst traits. All of my worst traits. But, as you never cease to remind me, you're not a ten-year-old boy anymore."

Marcel was shocked by Klaus's speed as he vamped behind him and snatched the brush from his hand. He couldn't get out of Klaus's reach fast enough to avoid the sturdy grasp around his arm.

"You are capable of making your own mistakes without his influence. But...you are still my son."

Marcel flinched after each of the six smacks pummeling his behind. The pain built after each one, growing into a hot fire that brought him to the tips of his toes by the end.

"And I am exhausted by your lies, Marcellus."

"Ahh, okaay!"

Klaus tossed the brush onto the bed and turned Marcel to face him. He could barely look his father in the eyes from embarrassment, but Klaus lifted his chin and forced him to look at him anyway.

"What happens if you lie to me again?"

With a trembling bottom lip, Marcel answered, "I...get spanked."

Klaus cupped his hand around the back of Marcel's head and brought his forehead down for a firm kiss.

"You do not lie to me again," Klaus whispered. "Not for Kol or anyone else. I mean it, Marcellus."

Marcel's voice was soft as he said, "It was a small lie." Klaus's intense glare sent a shiver down his spine. "Fine," he muttered before he could get another six spanks.

Klaus shook his head as he released Marcel. He glanced over at Kol, still standing cautiously off to the side.

Smiling awkwardly, Kol said, "Well...I guess I'll just...go back to my room then."

He backed slowly to the door, keeping his bottom out of Klaus's sight. Speeding over to Kol, Klaus pulled his hands away from his behind and landed four heavy swats on the curve of his underwear clad cheeks.

"There are two days left of this trip," Klaus lectured as the two younger Mikaelsons stood in front of him, tearfully massaging the sting from their bottoms. "Two days can be a very long time for chronically disobedient and dishonest Mikaelsons without supernatural healing."

Marcel barely listened to Klaus. His mind was focused only on the sting of his bottom. The sting that had yet to reside even a little.

"When did you...call Freya?" Marcel dared interrupt.

Klaus cut his eyes at him. "Caught her right before she left the Compound with Hayley."

Kol groaned loudly, realizing the sting he was currently feeling was only the beginning of the end.

Folding his arms over his chest, Klaus continued, "The two of you will finish getting dressed and come down to breakfast. I asked Freya to bring an extra sleeping bag for you, Kol, so we can return to the campsite once she and Hayley pick up the kids. After we set up camp...we will begin managing yesterday's mistakes."

Kol cringed at the thought of going back out to the forest when they had a perfectly good cabin, fully stocked with all their non-perishable necessities. The sharp cut of his brother's eyes forced him to straighten up.

"The children will be gone soon," Klaus reminded them both. "So I suggest the two of you straighten up because this is only Day 2 of the trip and as Kol can attest from previous experience, these trips can be long with supernatural healing," Klaus looked pleadingly to Marcel. "Do make it worse for you without it."

Marcel gave a curt nod but he couldn't hide the pout on his face, nor did he try. He finished getting dressed an he and Klaus walked Kol back to his bedroom and waited for him at the door as he got dressed.

The smell of breakfast grew stronger as they made their way downstairs. Hope and Sebastian sat at the dining table, reaching over each other for syrups and spoons as they piled their plates with food. Finn sat across from them in silence, food already covering his plate thanks to Elijah who sat at the head of the table, a cup of black coffee on one side of his plate and a wine glass filled with blood on the other.

Klaus, Marcel, and Kol entering the kitchen drew everyone's attention up.

Hope gave a broad smile at her dad as he too his seat at the other end of the table. Turning her attention to Finn, she suddenly barked his name, causing the boy to flinch and look hesitantly up at her.

Holding up the bottle of ketchup sitting next to her, she said, "Do you want ketchup for your eggs?"

Finn's eyes narrowed in confusion and he stared at her in contemplation. It had to be a trick. Maybe she poured salt in the ketchup or she loosened the top so one squeeze of the bottle would cover his entire plate in red sauce. Whatever the trick was, he wasn't falling for it.

"N-no," he answered. "I don't need it."

"I do," Sebastian suddenly took the bottle out of Hope's hand and squirted a bit of ketchup on top of his eggs. Finn watched curiously as the top stayed on the bottle and he continued to stare at Sebastian as he took his first bite of eggs. To his surprise, the boy didn't welch. There was nothing wrong with the ketchup. Which only confused him more.

"Finn," Klaus stated firmly, sending a shiver down his brother's back. Finn's quickly adverted his eyes to the table, afraid Klaus was going to scold him because of the contemplative glare he focused on Hope and her friend. "I don't believe I got the chance to properly thank you for your help yesterday," Klaus continued.

Finn looked up to Klaus, his eyes wide with surprise.

"I needed you to keep my daughter safe. And you did. Thank you, brother."

Finn's cheeks went flush. "Y-You're welcome...brother."

"Yeah," Kol suddenly spoke up. "Good job on not letting your niece die. It's only the one goal you should've aimed for all along, but hey, some people are slow learners."

"Kol," Elijah scolded.

"What?" Kol shrugged. "It was a compliment."

"How about we wait until Hope and Sebastian are gone before you start with your...compliments."

Kol frowned and squirmed in his chair as he remembered where nagging Finn might find him once the children were gone.

He returned to his breakfast, eating with a sullen pout in silence until he heard the sound of car wheels rolling across the dirt pathway outside. Marcel, Klaus, and Elijah heard it too and without hesitation, Elijah rose from the table and headed to meet his lover at the front door.

Hope wasn't paying attention to what was going on outside until she noticed her uncle standing to leave. Confused, she watched him through the open kitchen door and when she saw him head for the front door, she knew exactly what he was doing. She shrunk down in her seat as the front door opened, peering over the top of it to see her mother standing on the other side of the door. She hugged Elijah and gave him a passionate kiss to thank him for keeping her daughter safe in her absence before entering the room.

"Hope," Hayley called out and the little girl ducked further behind the seat.

"She's in the kitchen," Elijah answered, pointing to the kitchen door.

Hayley marched through the living room into the kitchen. She barely acknowledged the other Mikaelsons and Sebastian as she beelined to Hope.

Hope was only marginally surprised by Hayley's embrace as she pulled her into a hug, squeezing the girl as if she had to convince herself that her daughter was indeed still alive. For now.

"You are in so much trouble, young lady." Hayley scolded half-heartedly as she continued to hug Hope, lifting the girl off the chair as she sat in her place, cradling her in her arms. "I can't believe you left the city without telling me."

"I'm sorry, mommy," Hope muttered, hoping Sebastian didn't hear her but sure he would understand if he did. Pulling back just enough from her mother's hold to look her in the eyes, but not too far to break her hug, she said, "D-daddy already spanked me and Sebastian for it and we promise not to do it again. Swear."

Hayley steeled herself from giving in to Hope's sweet talk. "We will discuss this when we get home," she said firmly.

The steely look in her eyes was all the confirmation Hope needed. Tears welled in the girl's eyes as Hayley hugged her tighter.

"You had me so worried," Hayley whispered.

As Hope opened her mouth to whisper 'I'm sorry, mommy' again, she heard a familiar voice from the door that wasn't her Aunt Freya.

"You had us all worried."

Hope pulled her face from Hayley's shoulder to see Izzy coming through the dining room with Freya.

Embarrassed, the girl pulled herself from her mom's lap and wiped the tears from her eyes, hoping to look more mature as Izzy entered the kitchen.

"I never should've left you two alone. You always find trouble."

Curling her lip in disgust, Hope spat, "We don't need a babysitter."

Waving her arms at the room, Izzy replied, "Apparently you do."

Hope's eyebrows furrowed deeper, her anger rising.

"Izzy," Elijah said warningly as he came up behind the girl, placing his hand gently on top of her shoulder. Izzy sighed in rolled her eyes but decided to stop pestering Hope. She knew how protected the girl was by her family and didn't want to do anything to get on anyone's bad side. Not that it mattered to her. She liked the Mikaelsons, sure, but she was also certain of her ability to survive on her own. But she didn't want Oliver to have to go through that. He loved the Mikaelsons like they were his own family. So if putting up with Hope's growing attitude was what she had to put up with to keep the peace, she would - for Oliver.

"Why are you even here," Hope bit.

Unmoved by Hope's anger, Izzy folded her arms over her chest and said, "I came to make sure you didn't forget my notebook."

"Notebook?"

"My study notes from Vincent. The one I was reading yesterday that you took from me when you two were being..." she wanted to say brats, the word was on the tip of her tongue, and had Elijah's hand not been there to keep her calm, she would have. "Y'know."

Hope looked down to Sebastian still sitting at the table. They'd forgotten all about Izzy's notebook. The last time they saw it, it was...

Her eyes wide with realization, Hope muttered, "I...I think I put it on a trashcan while we were doing the cloaking spell...and then...I forget. It might still be there...or maybe I left it in the cab. We...definitely didn't have it in the forest...I don't think."

"You forgot where you left it!" Izzy bellowed. Elijah gave her shoulder a soft squeeze but the girl ignored it as she said, "All of my spells were in there! I've been working on them for weeks! This means I'm gonna have to start all the way over not to mention how pissed Vincent is gonna be!"

"Izzy!" The sharp tone of Elijah's voice as he barked her name a second time drew Izzy's attention to his stern face. "Enough. I will speak to Vincent and explain what happened but you will keep this temper under control, do I make myself clear?"

Izzy shrugged Elijah's hand off her shoulder and marched out of the cabin.

Klaus caught Elijah's eye and his older brother sighed as if he could read his mind.

"Finn," Klaus said calmly. "Do you mind escorting Hope and Sebastian out to the car and staying with them while we speak with Freya and Hayley alone for a bit."

Finn bit his lip, unsure how to say 'no' or if he was even allowed to say 'no' to Klaus's request since it was obvious that his request was actually and order in disguise. He hated being alone with Hope. The girl always found a way to bully him and get away with it. He turned worried eyes up to Freya, hoping his sister would intervene and but Freya simply nodded for him to obey.

Freya was amazed that in the span of a few short hours, Klaus had begun to trust Finn enough to allow him to 'baby-sit' the teenagers in their absence. Sure, they would all just be a few feet away but it was a start. She could see the fear in Finn's eyes but she assumed it was their brother he was afraid of, not Hope. She nodded, assuring him that it was alright, that Klaus wouldn't set him up for failure when it came to his daughter so he shouldn't be afraid.

With his head hung low, Finn rose from his seat and started walking towards the kitchen door, Hope and Sebastian at his heels.

Once the teens were out of the cabin, Klaus looked to Elijah and said, "That girl has quite a temper, doesn't she."

"Not more than any other Mikaelson," said Elijah.

"Yes, well, the difference between her and the other Mikaelsons is that we make sure to keep the their tempers in check." Turning his attention to Hayley, he asked, "How is she at home while we're away?"

"She's a teenage girl," Hayley scoffed. "I may not be an Original, Klaus, but I can handle a sixteen-year-old."

"So she has had the same attitude since we've left."

"She has," said Freya. "But it's nothing we can't handle, Klaus. Trust me, little brother. As a witch who went through her adolescence with an actual homicidal rage, I can assure you, Izzy isn't dangerous. She's just being a teenager."

Klaus eyed everyone in the room as if searching for any sign of uncertainty from any of them. But everyone from Marcel to Hayley seemed sure that Izzy was no threat to Hope or anyone else.

Looking back to Freya, he said, "You're the witch delegate of the family. You make sure she stays under control. Or the first time she lets her 'innocent teenage temper' get out of control, I will handle her."

"No," Elijah growled. "I will handle her. You have enough insubordinate Mikaelsons under your care as it is. Though I am certain it will never come to it, should Izzy do anything to put Hope or anyone else in danger, I will take care of her myself. Do we have an understanding?"

Marcel nodded before Klaus could. He brought Izzy into their family and he's the one who's name is signed as her legal guardian, but he had enough on his plate already. If Elijah wanted to take the stress of raising another teenage witch off his hands, he wasn't going to argue.

Klaus nodded his agreement. It didn't really matter to him which of his siblings kept the girl under control so long as it wasn't him. He had his two irrant teenagers to deal with and at times they were more than enough to handle.

"Good." said Elijah as he turned to leave the kitchen. "Freya, would you mind taking me to the spare sleeping bag you brought? The five of us have a lot to get through this morning."

"Oh no," Freya said in feigned exasperation. "Darn. I knew I forgot something." She looked over to Kol to see his eyes light up at the news.

Elijah cut his eyes at her. "You forgot the one thing we asked you to bring?"

Freya shrugged. "What can I say? It's been a busy morning for us all. But...all is not lost. I do have a surprise for Kol, Finn, and Marcel in the car."

Kol was the first to rise out of his seat and follow his sister out of the cabin to the trunk of the car.

The kids were all outside standing around the car when they made it out. Hope and Sebastian sitting on the hood and whispering to each other, Finn leaning against the cabin wall watching from a distance, and Izzy leaning against the back door, her arms folded over her chest as she continued to pout.

"Kids, in the car," Hayley ordered the kids as soon as she came out the cabin. Without hesitation, Hope and Sebastian scurried off the hood and to the back seat.

Izzy rolled her eyes at the insinuation that she was a kid but before she could open the car door, she felt a hand upon her shoulder. She glanced back to see Elijah standing behind her.

"May we have a word?"

She swallowed the lump in her throat and fought to hide the fear creeping up inside of her. She'd been around Hope and Sebastian enough to know that 'a word' tended to be more than just 'a word' when it came to the Mikaelsons.

As Elijah guided Izzy away from the car, Freya motioned for Finn, Kol, and Marcel to follow her over to the trunk.

Marcel's eyes lit with joy as soon as he saw the shopping bags. He recognized where they were from and what was possibly inside before anyone else.

"Clothes?" Kol asked incredulously.

"Not just any clothes," Freya reached into one of the bags and pulled out a pair of soft, comfortable grey sweatpants. "Rebekah thought you all might be needing these."

The three of them couldn't help but blush at the implication that everyone knew what they had in store once they were alone with Klaus and Elijah again, but as they imagined the relief the sweats would bring to their aching behinds, they were also a bit grateful.

Marcel grabbed all of the bags from the trunk and said, "I know she already knows, but don't forget to remind Rebekah that I absolutely love her."

"Will do," she smiled.

As Marcel took off to the front door, Klaus followed him into the cabin so that his overly excited son wouldn't inadvertently break rule one.

Looking to Kol, Freya asked, "You should probably go change too. From what I hear, you both may be in need of a bit of comfortable clothing in a bit."

"Yeah," Kol gave an awkward laugh. "Guess you heard about that. Do me a favor and make sure Davina doesn't get wind of what's going on out here."

"Of course not. Don't worry about home, we've got everything handled back there. And I know I was against you guys coming out here without me at first but it seems to be doing you all some good." Her eyes dropped down to Finn at her side and her smile brightened. Then turning back to Kol, she said, "So go back inside and enjoy that cabin. I'll see you in a couple of days."

Kol had considered following Marcel as soon as he left but he thought he'd wait and see Freya off before he was trapped alone with his stern older brothers again. As she asked him to leave now, with Finn tapered tightly to her side, he realized his mistake.

Freya noticed the moment the light left Kol's eyes.

"Um...yeah," he muttered pointing back at the cabin. "Guess...I should go. See ya...back at home."

Freya grabbed Kol's arm as he turned to leave. "Kol, is something wrong?"

He shook his head. He couldn't possibly tell her that he was jealous. That he missed her. That he wished Finn was still dead and things were back the way they used to be. She wouldn't understand and she would hate him for wishing death on her 'favorite' little brother.

"Something's wrong, brother," she insisted. "I know you. Tell me what's wrong. Did Klaus and Elijah do something?"

Kol rolled his eyes. "I'm fine." He snatched his arm from her hold as he started walking back to the cabin. "See you at home."

Elijah watched from his spot under a tree with Izzy as Kol snatched away from Freya. He was too busy with his conversation with the irritable teenager to listen in on his siblings' conversation but he knew it was going to be something he'd have to take care of later.

Turning his attention back to Izzy, he repeated, "Come now, Izzy. Tell me what has you so upset."

Izzy fought the urge to roll her eyes. She hated being pulled aside by Elijah in front of Hope and Sebastian and scolded for having an attitude. Hope had lost her notebook but she was the one who was in trouble? It was unfair. But it was exactly like everyone in the Quarter said. The Mikaelsons take care of each other. And she was just an outsider.

"I said it was nothing. Can I go now?"

"No." The girl furrowed her brows as Elijah grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him as he spoke. "You are angry that she lost a notebook when all the spells inside can simply be re-written the next time you're with Vincent, so I'm having a hard time understanding this attitude. But I want to."

"It's...nothing."

She tried to pull her chin out of his hold but he pinched his fingers tighter, keeping her in place. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes as Elijah continued to glare down at her as if willing her to tell the truth.

"It's just..." she closed her eyes, refusing to look at him as she spoke. "I'm not...used to it yet."

Elijah finally released his grip on her chin and she let it drop, opening her eyes to stare at his leather boots instead of his eyes.

"Used to what?" Elijah coaxed.

"This...fixed-family-unit thing you all have going on. My mom and dad were never really around. Mom was always off with the witches and dad...he'd leave us for months at a time and when he came back...he barely spoke or looked at me. Like he hated that I existed. And then he'd be gone again. It was always just me. Til Ollie was born. I know it's stupid but...I'm just not used to people touching my stuff or being in my business. But...I'll work on it. I...I'm sorry I snapped."

"It's alright to 'snap'." Elijah sighed, his eyes drifting to the cabin door. "We all 'snap' sometimes. Anger is human."

Izzy looked up to Elijah with confusion on her face. She certainly didn't expect him to say that. Every authority figure in her life so far had always admonished her anger as disrespectful and immature.

Looking back down to the girl's eyes, Elijah continued, "But, I expect you to talk to us about what's making you angry from now on. We can't help you solve the problem if we don't know what's wrong."

A warm feeling spread through Izzy's chest at Elijah's statement, a feeling she tried to ignore. She couldn't allow herself to start liking the Mikaelsons.

"Fine," she grumbled.

"You're going to work on your attitude?"

"I said 'fine'."

The bite in her voice made the palm of Elijah's hand tingle but he decided to let it go for now. If there was one thing he learned from raising Marcellus it was that teenagers went through bouts of truculence and the best way to get through it was to let them work it out on their own and to stand by as support should they need him.

"And I will make sure Hayley speaks to Hope about touching your things. What happened yesterday will not happened again."

Izzy rolled her eyes again. She doubted anyone would say anything to Hope about her things. Hope Mikaelson was the most spoiled girl she knew, the past few weeks she'd spent with the Mikaelsons proved that more than anything. She was sure that if Hope were to start an evil cult of witches and took over the Quarter, the worst her family would do to her was threaten to send her to bed without supper.

Taking Izzy's chin back into his hand, Elijah looked her in the eyes and said, "I promise."

Embarrassed by the comfort she felt at his promise, Izzy said, "Fine."

He moved his hand from her chin to her shoulder, giving her a comforting pat. "Now go on. I will see you bright and early Monday morning."

Before she turned to walk towards the car, Izzy paused and muttered, "Will you...be there early enough to make my lunch?"

Her cheeks tinted pink as Elijah's warm smile.

"I will," he answered. "Leave a note on the kitchen counter for what you'd like and I'll have it bagged up before you wake."

She gave a cool nod before hurrying off to the car, praying that Hope and Sebastian didn't notice her red face.

Freya was staring down at a sheet of parchment she'd brought along as Elijah walked over to her. He peeped over her shoulder and noticed the words written in red. Finn held his thumb in his mouth, a trickle of blood dripping from the tip of it after Freya pricked it for her diagnostic spell.

"I've already given him his morning physical," Elijah said calmly.

Freya smirked, folding the parchment up and sliding it into her pocket. "I know. But, I just wanted to see for myself."

Elijah smirked at his sister's overprotectiveness. As annoying as it was a times...sometimes it was also endearing. He found it comforting to know that he wasn't the only Mikaelson obsessed with keeping his siblings safe.

Nodding towards the cabin, he said, "Kol seems to be in a bit of a mood."

She sighed. "Yes. I think he's irritated that I came."

"Nonsense. He adores you. And I'm sure no one's more grateful than he that you conveniently forgot to bring him a new sleeping bag."

Freya smiled proudly. "He hates the outdoors, Elijah. He's grown accustomed to modern frivolities. If you must drag him out here to bound with you all, at least do it at his comfort level."

"You know him so well," Elijah gave a short laugh. "Why would you ever think he's irritated with you?"

Her smile faded as she remembered the cold look Kol left her with. "Well, something sent him off in anger."

Noticing Finn still clinging to their sister's side, his thumb in his mouth, Elijah felt he knew exactly what sent their youngest brother pouting.

"I will find out what's bugging him," he promised.

"Thank you. I know that this is going to be a rough day for him and I don't want him to get himself in more trouble if he can avoid it."

"Our little brother rarely avoids trouble. In fact, at times I think he attracts it."

"Be kind to him, Elijah," she said softly. "He reacts best to kindness. And...despite his attitude...he deserves it."

Elijah nodded as he looked into her saddened eyes. "I will be kind," he promised. "And fair."

"That's all that I ask."

Freya kissed both of her brothers goodbye before getting in the front seat with Hayley, waving at them on the cabin porch as they drove away.

"Come now," Elijah said with a hand on Finn's shoulder, guiding him into the cabin. "Let's go get a bandage on that thumb. We have enough to worry about this morning as it is."