Nicholas was laying face down on his bed crying his heart out when his brothers walked in. Concern went over Stefan and Damon they looked at each other and went to their brother. Stefan touched Nicholas's back rubbing small circles.

"Hey there, calm down Nicky." He said, picking up the child into his arms. "Shh. You're alright."

"I didn't swat him that hard." Damon stated. Nicholas put him face into his brother's chest. After awhile he stated to calm down more.

"Nicky, do you want to really tell me why you left school?" Stefan asked, still rubbing the child's back. He said nothing. "Nicholas?" Stefan said again softly.

"the other kids they don't like me." Nicholas said softly, if they were human they would have asked him to repeat what he said, however, they are not human.
"What do you mean they don't like you?" Stefan asked.

Nicholas pulled away and looked at him brother, "they don't like me Stef, they don't want to hang out, I get in trouble for things I didn't do, like today Jackson Parker, the kid that sits next to me during recess he told one of the teachers that I stole something, but I didn't and I didn't know what she was talking about and he threaten to call you, but I didn't want you guys mad at me too," fresh tears started again. Stefan just held the boy in his arms trying to comfort him.
"Nicky, why do you think I would be angry at getting called to your school?"

"I don't know, cause I didn't want you to believe them for something I didn't do."

"And if you did do it?" Damon asked. Nicholas looked at the eldest brother.

"If I did then I did, but I didn't."

Damon smiled at his brother. "Then it wouldn't have mattered if we were called. However, that doesn't mean you leave school."

Nicholas looked at his brother with sad eyes, then at Stefan's shirt. He started to play with his hands like he always did when he was upset and trying to turn a conversation.

"You understand you are going to be punished, that is not changing no matter what happen before you left school, however, you need to understand a few things little brother," Damon started, Nicholas looked at his brother a little, " You disobeyed both of us, by leaving school early you put yourself in danger, Stefan told you to stay at school when he dropped you off, and I told you to stay out of the forest, and actually I have told you to stay out of the forest without one of us for along time now and so you understood why you shouldn't have done it."

Nicholas knew that tone and his lip trembled.

"Did you know not to go into the forest Nicholas?"

Nicholas nodded, "But I didn't go far, honest, not even a mile, I promise."

Damon shook his head, "Dear brother, you know what I mean when I say no forest, this is a yes or no answer, did I or did I not tell you not to go into the forest?"

"You did." Nicholas said softly.

"Okay then, because you disobeyed Stefan, he is going to give you a spanking, then after dinner before bedtime I will give you a spanking for going into the forest when you knew not to."

Tears fell from Nicholas's face, but he nodded at his elder brother. Damon smiled and leaned in kissing his youngest brothers head.

"I love you Nicky."

Nicholas looked at Damon, "M'sorry Damy."

"I know, but we need to make sure you remember to not scare us like that."

Damon left the room. Nicholas looked at Stefan.

"Please don't spank me, Stefan, I'm sorry, I just didn't want to be there no more."

"Nicholas Salvatore, you young man, know better, I understand you didn't want to be there, you could have asked to speak with us, instead you ran off campus and went into the woods. For me your punishment isn't just a spanking, if you don't like public school I can put you back in homeschool which is what is going to happen. However, seeing how I cannot stay with you all day. You have an early bedtime for two weeks, no video games, tv, phone, friends nothing."

Nicholas looked down, "Yes brother."

Stefan kissed Nicholas's hair. "you understand why you are getting a spanking right?"

Nicholas nodded, "Alrighy then." Stefan said.
Stefan stood Nicholas up and took down his pajama bottoms and boxers. He put a guiding hand on his younger brothers back and bent him over his knee, trapping his feet.

SMACK. Nicholas jumped a little at the first swat, it was not full force, but Stefan wasn't really holding back since the child did scare the crap out of him. Stefan started to pick up a rhythm. After ten Nicholas was drumming him feet on the floor. The crying started and so did the apologies.

"Stef, please, no more I'm sorry."

Stefan sighed, he was not done, though he was close. He didn't say anything but continued the fire on Nicholas bottom. Nicholas threw his hand back, but Stefan was ready catching the hand and pined it to his back.

Stefan tipped him over to get to his sitting spot, ten more swats and Nicholas stopped struggling and broke into wet sobs, hiccups. Done Stefan picked up his little brother and held him in his arms.

"Shhh. All done, it's alright." Nicholas sobbed into his brother's chest.

"Come on now let's get something to eat, it's not bedtime just yet and I'm not so angry that we can't watch a movie."

He stood Nicholas up, tears still falling, he held out his arms to be picked up. Stefan smiled and picked up his brother. They walked downstairs, Damon took the spaghetti off the stove. He looked at Nicholas.

"time to eat, but I want you to drink your blood alright."

Nicholas glared at the blood. He went to sit but jumped rubbing his bottom. Stefan and Damon laughed. "you can stand and eat if you like." Stefan told him. He ate the spaghetti, and drank down his water.

"All done."

"No, you are not young man," Damon said in his no argument tone, "drink your blood or you will not like the outcome."

Nicholas looked at the blood, not wanting to know the outcome he drank the blood down and glared at it.

Pleased, Damon let him leave the table.

"Do your homework, Stefan picked it up for you."

A heavy sigh Nicholas did as told. It was six, bedtime is at eight, and at the moment it would be at seven for two weeks. He looked from the living room, Damon was talking to someone on the phone. Nicholas thought about what Damon punishment for him was he knew it was a spanking, but he promised something else if he did go into the forest. Seeing how this was not his first time in going into the forest.