I woke up early in bed and everyone was still sleeping. IF I fell back to sleep I would be woken up right when I was falling asleep, and I wasn't tired anyway. But if I stayed awake then I would be here a while. I looked around. Elijah seemed to be awake.

"Lijah." I whispered.

"Yes Niklaus?"

"What time is it?"

"Three hours before we need to wake."

"I'm bored."

"I can't do anything about that."

I shoved him toward the other end of the bed. We were on the edge of the bed anyway. I rolled around to face him. "Let's go outside. We can't be punished for it."

"No. Go to sleep."

"You never wanna do what I want. Don't you want to play with me? I promise to get us home before anyone knows we're gone. Do you realize that Mikael is going to keep us busy for half the day AND more right?"

"And you want to incur his wrath over something so childish?"

"Fine. I'll go myself. Alone."

"No fine. I'll come with you." He said, annoyed. "But if we get in trouble then you must tell them that this was your idea."

"Fine. I'm not afraid. Let's go." I said, eager.

So we got out of bed and I opened the door quietly. I looked out and found no one, just like I thought. I motioned Eli to follow me and snuck to the front door. I waited as Lijah closed the door to our bedroom. He snuck over to me and I quietly opened the front door, but stopped as it began to squeak. We would need to fix the door. The snoring from within our parents' room stopped but after a terrifying short 2 minutes it started up again. We had just enough room to squeeze through, though it wouldn't be that hard because we were skinnier than the door allowed us room for anyway.

I let Elijah go first and snuck out after him, I closed the door, without any problems this time. I snuck us out of sight from the village and then when we were out of ear shot I said: "Yes!. We did it." I high fived Elijah and looked around for what we could possibly do next. I couldn't think of anything however we only had two hours anyway. Before we needed to go home again.

"Any ideas?"

"No. I was thinking you would have an idea because you were the one who wanted to sneak out."

"Well then how bout we race?" I asked.

"Sure. Then we can go back home again. I tell you no good will come of this."

"Be quiet Elijah. If we act like we're supposed to be out here then no questions will be asked."

"And danger? We don't have our swords Niklaus."

I tagged him and ran. He chased me. I was happy that he was playing along. We played that way until we went back and forth from the meadow to the village outskirts. We were out of breath and tired. I walked over to the river and got a drink of water. I had to chase him back and that was harder because I'd already ran out of breath but I just felt pumped.. That also meant I needed more practice. Elijah walked over and had a drink himself.

We had our fun and now it was time to sneak back inside. I walked to the door and Elijah opened it. At least until it creaked open. We snuck in and closed the door. Once again the snoring paused. We stood awfully still until we heard it begin again. I snuck us back into our room and we got into bed. I cuddled up against Elijah.

We ended up falling asleep again and soon we were being shook awake by Mikael.

"I said, GET UP." He said. I waited. Elijah got up first and I followed after him. "Since you boys were so content to stay asleep I'll give you double the work load."

"But Father-" SMACK! I quickly covered my bottom from him.

"DO AS YOUR TOLD BOY!" SMACK! I hid behind Elijah. He moved into a protective stance and I calmed down enough to actually eat my breakfast. As I was doing so I was already regretting the beginning of the day. Mikael was always such a jerk to me. Never wanted to talk about things. I was just the bad kid in every situation. Even Crystals' dad saw me in that way. Parents suck.

When we finished we were ordered to leave the house and go on a hunt. I followed Elijah's lead, not wanting anything to do with Father. We found enough prey for a day and a half and then we were ordered to go collect water. I sighed and headed out. Finn seemed to think that we deserved it… okay fine. He thought I deserved it.

When we were finished with that we were ordered to take a bath. This time I couldn't take it. I said I would but then when I saw my friends at the lake I decided that why not? Just don't leave until I'm bored. Maybe that'd teach them to order me around… Hehe. Teaching my parents to behave.

"Hey what's up?" they asked.

""Nothing much. Just my parents ordering me around nonstop."

"Well show them who's in charge."

"I'm trying to but they are teaching me who is." I complained.

"What are you here for anyway?"

"…. A bath…"

"Okay then, off with your clothes."

I took a bath, and washed my hair seeing as how when I did take my clothes off they shoved me in the water. They took their clothes off and jumped in after me. We played in the water. When we went home we were told to help cook lunch. I groaned and obeyed. Though I moved slowly. Even when Mother asked me speed up the pace.

When we finished eating lunch Mikael finally let us stop working. I ran out the house and didn't stop until I was falling over Kyle and Carr. We were in the village and trying to get the girls to come out and play. They were playing hard to get. I was about to bang on Crystals' door when she came flying at me.

"Oof. Crystal. What the bloody hell is going through your mind?" I groaned at the pain of the impact. She giggled and stood up. "Steven!" she called. They came out and then she declared that we were to play a game since she had 'won' by succeeding in jumping me to the floor.

"We are going to play village versus village like the adults do."

I swiped her feet from under her with my own. "Adults don't play games. Just ask Mikael."

"I bet if I were to talk to Mikael, he'd be nicer than you let on."

"Yes for you're not his kid."

"Okay. Olivia you are going to play chieftain and Carr will be the other chieftain. Am I understood?"

"No. Every chief needs a witch."

"Steven is our witch and… Nik is your witch. We'll all take turns being chiefs and witches." She said and pulled me up to my feet. It was four versus four. We had Kyle, Carr, Maria and I and they had Crystal, Cynthia, Steven and Olivia.

So we played the game until I was chief and my witch was Maria. I'd been putting being the chief off because I didn't want to be one. But now it was finally my turn. They had Crystal as their chief. Then Olivia was their witch.

I walked up to Crystal and said the line. "Hello. Nice weather we are having isn't it?"

"Yes it is. But soon upon you will fall an air of war instead of clear skies."

I laughed and said. "You think your village is better than mine woman?"

"No. I don't think it. I will prove it to you and then you will have to bow at my feet." She said and laughed herself.

"Then by all means, have at you!" I said and drew my stick quickly and she drew hers. We clashed a couple of times and then went back to our 'village'. "Maria. I am declaring war with the Northern Village. Agreed? Or do you think it a wise decision?"

"I think it a wise decision. We have the warriors and a challenge is not to be taken lightly. If we do not strike first then we will be doomed to kiss our opponents feet when they choose."

"Very well then. You are right. A challenge is not to be taken lightly. At dawn we attack." I said. We waited for about two minutes and then charged at the 'Northern Village'. We were charged by them. I chose to fight Crystal and we clashed and I was struck lightly on the head. I fell and quickly made a move and beat her.

"No! I am slain. How could the Western Village win? Was my fathers' teachings wrong all along?" She cried.

"My fathers' teachings have failed me." I cried. We watched as only Maria and Olivia were still alive to fight. They did their lines and fell over. We laughed.

When we were done with the game I was staring at the girl Olivia. Crystal plopped herself on my lap and I jumped.

"Let's go say hi to Kyle and his girl."

"I know who Kyle is. Tomorrow do you mind just keeping everyone away from me? I need to meet her and I'm shy of meeting her with anyone around." She smacked me.

"You're not shy. You're trying to keep a secret Klaus. What is wrong with her?"

"I can't tell you. Let's go say hi."

"Not until you tell me what is going on. I'm supposed to be your wife one day. You will have to learn to do these things."

"Fine. I think my sister has a crush on Kyle and she asked me to get to know her. She wishes for Kyle to love her but I can see that he really likes Olivia and I don't know what the hell I am supposed to do. I said I would learn something nice about her. Actually I promised and I actually want to know her to see if she is the best choice for Kyle." I explained. The only time I would ever actually tell a girl what is on my mind.

"Well Nik you have to believe that Kyle is going to make the right decisions in his life. The only people who can actually say what you're going to do is you so yes you have to listen to other peoples' advice but in the end it is your choice of action. Kyle knows what is right for Kyle and you know what is right for you. Rebekah knows what is right for her. Our parents are here for us to learn guidelines and we girls need you men to be able to do what we want in this world. We might not like it but we have to deal with it. In fact my father is trying to find me a suitor about now. I heard him talking and I hope that I redeem you in his eyes. He is a very picky man."

"When did you get so wise?" I said in response to her earlier talk. "I can't wait to marry you. Now about your father, do you like these men?"

"I've not met one yet. But I shall keep on refusing the men he offers until he sees that you are the right choice for me." She said and gave me a kiss. "So you want to know about Olivia? Let's go talk to her." She said and led me by the hand to go see her. I tried to slip away from her grip but not that hard. I did want this…

"Olivia hey. Nik wants to meet you. Well okay actually I am making him meet you."

"You know that we aren't allowed to make men do what we want. You should ask him if he wants to see me. Well do you wish to meet me sir?" she asked.

"Hey don't call me sir. We were playing a game not too long ago Olivia." I complained.

"Well you certainly are a strange man. So why does Kyle like you?"

"Because we've been friends for a long time. Why don't you ask him for a more detailed reason?"

"Because I already know why I just want to know what you think… sir."

"I think that he likes me because of the fact that we get in trouble most of the time and when we do it is together. I also think that it is because we help each other with things. One way to make a friend is to be a friend. At least that is what my mother always tells me." I said sitting by her.

"Well. Aren't you sweet?" She said and then looked away to Cynthia.

"Well why does Kyle like you?" I asked.

"I don't know why but I certainly enjoy his company. He says that he does anyway. I help take his mind off troubled matters when we are together. He especially likes it when we are alone together. I plan to have kids with him. They shall be as handsome as he is. And one day our kids will be chief of this village. Do you think the whole world is made up of villages like ours?"

"Yes I do. How many kids do you plan on having? We plan on having six. Three girls and three boys."

"What? Have you guys already-"

"No! Olivia we haven't."

"Of course not."

"Do you plan on it anytime soon?"

"No… I don't know."

"Well then we are still –"

"Let's drop the subject of sex please." I said.

"Yes sir. As you wish. Well then what will you have us talk about?"

"How about what your favorite color is?"

"Did Kyle forget again? It is blue. Like the blue bell flower. My favorite flower itself is the bluebell. Time is at –"

"Midnight..." I whispered.

"Well sir I would suppose that to be the perfect time to sneak outside. Considering of what we have heard about you." I looked away and blushed. What have they heard about me? "No worries sir. Nothing too bad. You've not killed a man."

"Nor will he ever. Sorry about her but she can be really messed up in the head sometimes. I wonder myself why Kyle likes her." Crystal said patting my cheek.

"No I have not. I must go. It was nice to talk to you Olivia."

"I'm sorry if I have upset you sir. Come. Let us talk together. I need Kyles' friend to be my friend as well."

"No need. For I am your friend already." I got up and went to sit with Cynthia and Carr. Crystal was scolding her friend. Carr turned to me.

"Yeah. Kyles' girlfriend is sort of a nut job. Isn't she?"

"I should not wish to speak ill of her."

"Yeah well the town gossips about her sanity. Her parents were illfully freighted when they thought that she may never find a suitor until Kyle came along. They say that Kyle was a gift from the gods and Charles says that if Olivia knew how to hold her tongue that she would find more suitors. Besides that tongue is going to get her into a lot of trouble one day."

"Yeah well what about our tongues and tempers?" I asked, he laughed.

"We are men. We need not to worry about our behavior for when we meet a girl, if we wish we settle down with her and then it's her job to deal with our behavior. As in Crystal and you get married? It's her problem on how you behave. Not your parents or Finns' or Elijah's'."

"But I like Elijah." I complained. "I do not wish to own a woman who needs to worry about my behavior. I worry though. You know for Finn. I worry that he is such a daddy and mommy boy that he will not find a lover."

"Yeah. You have a point there mate. You don't have to stop your siblings love for you or the other way around."

"Dinner time!" called one of the women in the village. The girls all got up and ran home. We headed home ourselves. Luckily they'd brought their horses and we got home in less than 15 minutes. I ran home to dinner. For they had dinner earlier than we did. Now was a good time to think on what had been said today. Olivia's favorite things, my behavior and how my parents will be able to throw me away to a girl when I get married and how my siblings will no longer help me be responsible for me. In one way it was good, but on the other hand it was bad. How am I supposed to live without supervision help for my idiocy when it arose? Or the rare times on an occasion that I got angry?

I ate dinner with my family, deep in thought, not listening to Rebekah asking how my day went. When our parents went into their bedroom Rebekah slapped me. I stared at her. She just smiled with innocence. I smiled back.

"What is it Rebekah?"

"What did you learn?"

"I learned that Olivia likes the bluebell flower because it is her favorite color and she likes to sneak out late at night like me. If you tell that to the adults then you risk telling on the rest and me. So don't."

"Did you learn anything I can use against her?"

"Yes. She knows not how to hold her tongue to men. At least that is what her friend said. Or Carr did. He says that she is known for it."

"How come she doesn't get in trouble for not holding her tongue when told?"

"Because she is in trouble. Her parents are more worried about if she is going to get married to someone. They think that Kyle is a gift from the gods. Do you wish for me to speak to Cynthia for something?"

"Yes I do. Please? I only have one secret and it is not a dark secret."

"You expect a dark secret from nowhere?"

"Yes please Niklaus."

"Well then I'll try and just so you know, not everyone has a dark secret. We are not yet old enough for dark secrets. Charles is trying to find suitors for Crystal. I guess he is the village match maker."

"Who cares? We don't even know what the name of the village we live in is called."

"Meaning we are foolish?"

"Well I can tell that one day she is going to be blurting out peoples' secrets." She said.

"Yes. That might end her up being alone."

"Yay." She said and just sat on my lap and played with my hair. "You did a good job Nik. Now go talk to Cynthia."

"Yes Mother." I smirked and she smacked me.

"Bad boy. Go sit in the corner. Think about the secrets that you didn't get me today. You know that you need more."

"You mean you need more." I said and just laid us against the wall in the house. I got comfortable and she laid against me and watched as Kol and Henrik play. Finn however was walking over to us. I glared at him.

"You should learn to behave brother. Maybe then Mikael wouldn't be angry at you so much. Neither would Mother. Have you behaved yourself today brother?"

"Nope. I was naughty as always. You should know better than to ask that question Finn."

"What did you do?" he asked. He sighed as if it was some huge weight on his shoulder.

"I did as I was told."

"You just said-"

"I lied. There you go. I was a horrible child today."

"Then I shall tell mother that you just broke one of the Ten Commandments."

"..What?" I asked.

"Worried that Mother might discipline you?"

"No. I'm not worried. Not one bit."

Finn went and knocked on their door. I got up and snuck into bed. Mother came in and she looked displeased. "Why did you tease Finn, Niklaus?"

"Because… I have no idea. I'm sorry Mother."

"Come here Niklaus."

"Can I apologize?" I asked.

"Come here." I sighed and walked over to her and she of course smacked me. I felt tears spring to my eyes at the third and she stopped. I looked away. She forced me to look at her. I gulped and she kissed my cheek. I kissed her back and she hugged me. "Next time Niklaus please remember that you are supposed to be nice to your siblings."

"Yes Mother." I nodded and hugged her back.

"Now go apologize to your brother." She said gently shoving me. I whined at the thought of even apologizing to Finn. I'd rather be nearly beaten to death. I walked over to Finn and glared at him. He had his arms crossed in expectancy. I wanted to punch that smirk right off his face but instead I spoke kindly to him.

"I am sorry for teasing you Finn. That was very childish of me." I said and he nodded.

"Don't worry brother. I forgive your ugly behavior." He turned and headed off to go talk to Elijah. I wanted to hit him so much but before I could, I heard Mother call.

"Niklaus come get in bed." I glared at Finns' retreating back and went to Mother.

"Ma'am?" I asked.

"Come. Get in bed, my son."

"But Mother I am not yet tired." I whined to her. She just walked over and caressed my cheek.

"Yes I know but this is part of your discipline."

I rolled my eyes and got into bed. She kissed my forehead and held her hand to my cheek. She ran her hand threw my hair. "Close your eyes Niklaus." She said. I obeyed and while she soothed my hair back I fell asleep. It was better than a spanking from Father at least was my last thought before drifting to sleep.