On Monday as Tim was getting the boys out the door to go to school he pulled out Sam's new coat thinking that it had finally gotten cold enough to warrant something warmer. "I don't need that coat Daddy. It's not cold enough yet." Sam explained as he put on his fall jacket that was still hung on the lower hook where he could reach it.

"Sam it is colder today and when you're at playschool you'll go outside for recess and you'll get too cold in that jacket" Tim explained trying to take it off his child. Sam for his part crossed his arm hard across his chest and refused to let it be removed. His face quickly set in a scowl.

"Luc can you please go out to the car and take Sam's backpack with you as well" Tim asked his eldest who complied quickly. First thing Monday morning Luc had little interest in being witness to a 'Sam' fight.

"Sam, you are two years old and you do not yet understand completely the consequences of your decision to wear that jacket. So you are going to take it off right now and put on this one instead." Tim voice was calm but commanding.

"I am NOT" Sam said emphasizing his statement with a stomp of his foot.

Without warning Tim landed two sharp swats to the toddler's backside and when the child instinctively moved his arms to protect his bottom Tim quickly removed the jacket he was wearing. Sam's anger boiled over and he went into full screaming mode. "I AM NOT GOING T O WEAR THAT COAT AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME."

Tim was finished arguing and instead of continuing to talk or react he simply picked Sam up in one hand the coat in the other and took both out to the car. Strapping Sam into his car seat Tim threw the coat on the passenger seat. Luc gently patted Sam's hand as tears of frustration rolled down the littler boy's cheeks.

Luc quickly exited the vehicle when it pulled up in front of his school, grabbing his own bag on the way. "Bye Sam have a good morning at school" he called back to his brother. Sam for his part continued to sit arms folded across his chest with a pout on his face. Luc rolled his eyes and shook his head, his brother could be such an idiot at times.

Driving Sam to playschool Tim remained quiet. In the two years with his youngest son he realized that talking didn't always get through to Sam like it did Luc. Parking the car he took a deep breath and turned to face his angry child. "I know you don't want to wear the coat but sometimes we have to do things we don't like. We are going to walk nicely into school you are going to go into class and when it is time for recess YOU WILL put this coat on" Tim explained holding up the offensive piece of clothing.

"Hmmmpf" was Sam's only response as he tried without success to undo all the buckles of his car seat. Hoping he got his point across Tim got out and helped Sam exit the vehicle as well. Sam didn't say goodbye as he entered the class and Tim was left to hand the coat to the young teacher at the door. "Have a good morning" he called to his son.

xoxoxoxoxoNCISxoxoxoxoxox

Kayla had become the boys "nanny" as it were. She would pick Sam up from playschool, give him his lunch and put him down for a nap in the afternoon. Luc would take the school bus home to find them playing together in the yard waiting for him. Sam loved Kayla and in general didn't give her a hard time, to him she was a playmate and he didn't want to mess that up.

Today was no different. When Kayla arrived to take Sam home from school she held out his coat and he put it on. No muss, no fuss. Even the teachers raised their eyebrows in surprise as it had taken two of them to physically man handle the small child into the coat for recess.

The afternoon passed without incident and when Luc got home he was happy to see that things were calm cool and collected. He didn't mention the morning's difficulties and played with his brother while Kayla started supper. The routine was that after supper Luc would go to his room and complete any homework while Sam played alone and Kayla did up the dishes, tidied the kitchen and if she was felling generous she would throw in a load of laundry so that when the parents got home they had one less thing to think about.

It wasn't until she was finished all the chores that she had found Sam. He was sitting in the living room with a large pair of scissors cutting his new coat into pieces. Well not exactly pieces but he was making a great effort to destroy the hated piece of clothing. Shocked at what she saw Kayla uncharacteristically yelled "Sam what on earth are you doing?"

Having been engrossed in his project he hadn't heard her approach and he jumped. The look of guilt mixed with surprise. "What are you doing?" she scolded.

"I… I… I… was cutting out the tag… it is itchy" he offered quickly.

"Ya, right" she shot back while she grabbed the scissors from his hand and scooped the jacket as well.

"I was" Sam said again.

She gave him a look that suggested that she was both upset and disbelieving all at the same time. Kayla had learned long ago that she was not cut out to be the "bad cop" and so in situations like this simply waited to tell which ever parent walked through the door first. That way her rules were reinforced by the family and she got to stay the "good guy".

Taking the two objects back to the kitchen she set them on the counter before returning to the living room and taking Sam by the hand. She led him up the stairs and into the bathroom. She had also learned that when Sam was in a mischievous mood giving him a bath was a great way to keep him both occupied and contained. When Luc heard the water running so early in the evening he also knew that Sam had gotten himself into some sort of mess. He just smiled to himself and continued to work on his school work.

Sam played in the tub for a long time and it wasn't until he was well wrinkled and the water cold that Kayla rinsed off all the bubbles and got the toddler dressed in his jammies. Calling to Luc as she passed his room she asked "You want a snack or anything? I'm getting Sam something before he goes to bed."

Without answering Luc joined them on the stairs and followed them to the kitchen to part take in evening snack. He saw the coat on the counter, taking it in his hands he looked at the mangled piece of clothing and then at his brother. "You did this?" Luc asked incredulous that his brother who think this would solve his problem.

"Maybe" Sam answered not sure why his brother even cared.

"Maybe? Sam?" Luc said giving the little boy his best "big brother" look. "Daddy is going flip out when he sees this. He wasn't happy with you this morning already."

"I was cutting the tag out and it just happened" Sam tried his excuse out on his brother.

With a snorted laugh Luc answered "If you try that lie on Daddy I guarantee he'll be giving you a spanking…. "and then he continued under his breath "if he doesn't anyway."

"You don't know nothin' "Sam yelled back at Luc angry that his older brother didn't seem to understand and was trying to be a know it all again.

"I know more than you do obviously, because I wouldn't take a pair of scissors to a coat I didn't like" Luc angrily retorted. "I would have 'lost' it" Luc said smirking until Kayla flashed her 'watch it' or I'll be telling on you too look.

After the snack was eaten and cleared away Kayla picked up Sam and took him for story time suggesting as she went that Luc could have some time with the tv until he too had to get ready for bed.

By the time Tim arrived home to relieved Kayla of her duties Sam was asleep and Luc was just about to go to bed. He stood at the top of the stairs and listened as Kayla apologized for not keeping a closer eye on Sam while he destroyed the coat with scissors and she was willing to buy a new one. Luc heard the strained anger in his father's voice as he explained that Kayla was not to blame for the incident and that she need not worry. He would deal with it in the morning and she had no need to replace the coat.

Luc quickly made his way to his bed so that he wasn't caught eavesdropping, his father wouldn't take kindly to it, at least not today. Tim entered Luc's room to say goodnight and ask how his day was. They talked for a few minutes before Tim kissed his son on the head, tucked him in and turned out the light.

Walking the two paces across the hall he quietly opened the door to his youngest room. Laying in his bed curled up with his stuffed elephant nestled in his arms he looked very much like such a sweet little baby. This scene belied the kind of day the boy had been part of. Shaking his head in disbelief Tim shut the door and went to his room to finish up some paperwork on his laptop. Tomorrow morning was not something he was looking forward to.