frkhems prompted "I think it would be fun to see Marcel in some trouble now" + bleausiredx prompted "could you one where marcel slips into his space?"

Klaus balances a laundry basket as he gently kicks open Marcel's door. He groans when he sees the state of the room. Clothes flung everywhere, toys littered on the ground and his desk a mess of papers. He purses his lips and settles the basket onto the ground. He asked all three of his boys to clean their rooms the night before. They promised they would. Jeremy and Tyler's don't look perfect, but they're decent enough.

He pokes his head into the bathroom and finds toothpaste in the sink. Shampoo and body wash are smeared against the side of the shower wall. There's facial hair trimmings brushed against the counter.

Klaus walks back into the bedroom and calls out, "Marcellus!" Nothing. "Marcellus Mikaelson, you have 5 seconds to get your little behind up here. 1…2….3…"

The door swings open and Marcel appears. Klaus realizes he didn't notice how disheveled his son was this morning. He's wearing yesterday's clothes and face is clearly unwashed.

Marcel looks around the room. "I can explain."

"Explain how you didn't follow my instructions?"

"It's my room, Dad. I can do with it how I want."

Klaus arches a brow. "I know you know better than that, Marcellus. You have been with me for quite a while and know the expectations I have for you. Clean room and clean bathroom."

Marcel groans. "I'll get around to it."

"No, you'll do it now."

"I was going to go out with my friends."

"That'll have to wait. You will tend to this mess, then shower and put on fresh clothes."

"What? There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing."

"You represent this family every time you leave the house. Do as I say."

Marcel stands there, folding his arms over his chest. Klaus observes him for a moment. He's not dealing with the adult version of his son. Yet, he also can't tell how young he's dropped.

"Marcellus, clean up this mess, including the one in your bathroom. Then you're getting a bath."

Marcel's mouth drops open. "No!"

"I'm sorry, what part of that was phrased as a question?"

"I told you I'd do it later!"

"Watch your tone, young man."

"You're being ridiculous. I'm not cleaning my stupid room and I'm not taking a bath!"

Marcel begins to vamp out of the room. Klaus is faster and bends him over his arm. He quickly peppers the seat of his jeans with a dozen swats. Marcel yelps.

"Papa!"

"You are being very fresh," Klaus lectures, popping his bottom twice more. "I don't know where this attitude came from but I will not tolerate it."

Klaus continues the spanking for another moment before letting up. Marcel pouts, rubbing his behind and glaring at his father. Klaus shakes his head.

"That was nothing. If you keep it up, you can lose those jeans."

"I hate you."

"I'm sure you do," Klaus says, patting him on the cheek. "Do you want some help?"

Marcel grumbles, pushing past him. "No. G'way."

"As you wish. I shall return to check on you in a bit. I expect everything back where it belongs. Clothing goes in the hamper. I'll run your load."

"I can do my own laundry! Geez!"

Klaus gives him one last warning pat before leaving the room. He doesn't go far, instead heading for his room and grabbing his tablet. He recently synched up all the baby monitors to an app. This allows him to check on all three boys easily. A quick flip to Marcel's shows that he's actually tidying his room, albeit while stomping around and mumbling. Klaus decides to let him be.

After an hour, he returns to the room. All the toys are put away and the desk is tidy. Most of the laundry has hit the basket, though some is still on the floor. Klaus gives him a pass and tosses them into the basket. He walks into the bathroom, where Marcel is finishing sweeping up. Klaus leans in the doorway, watching him for a moment.

"There, isn't that better?"

Marcel glares at him, tossing it away. "You're mean."

"Ah yes, the meanest papa to ever walk the Earth." Klaus smiles. "Let's get you into the tub."

"I don't need a stupid bath. I can take a shower."

"You haven't proven that." Marcel's eyes widen. "Remember our deal, Little Warrior. If you take care of yourself, I'll allow you to be a big boy. But when you start neglecting your health, I'll step in, same as I do with Tyler and Jeremy."

Marcel frowns. "You just want to treat me like a baby."

"No, I know what you need."

Klaus walks past him to the tub and turns on the tap. Over his shoulder, he can see Marcel undressing. Klaus grabs his shea butter body wash and soothing loofah.

"Do you want bubbles?" Klaus asks.

Marcel scoffs. "No."

"You sure?"

A pause. "Fine."

Klaus chuckles. He locates the bottle and squirts some in the filling tub, swirling it around. Marcel walks over and climbs in. Klaus reaches down and grabs some of his old bath toys, sprinkling them in the water. It's very rare he bathes Marcel anymore. After all, his range is older. Still, when Marcel was originally a pre-teen, he fell into the habit of bathing him when he was ill or exhausted.

He goes about scrubbing his body, remaining gentle. Marcel sits there awkwardly for a moment. Eventually, he pushes around the boat and puts the little people inside. Klaus smiles, not calling any attention to it.

"It's very important to remain hygienic," he says instead. "I've taught you that."

"It was just one day."

"It's been a couple of days," Klaus corrects as he scrubs his stomach. "We as vampires forget we can sweat and get dirty, same as humans. Tyler has to bathe too."

"I know, Papa," Marcel mumbles.

"If we have to, we can go back to that chart you have to check off, when you forget things." Marcel frowns. "I want to treat you like a big boy, but you have to show me that I can."

"Yeah," Marcel sighs. "I'll do better."

"That's what I like to hear."

Klaus kisses his forehead before resuming the washing. Marcel doesn't fiddle too much with the toys outside pushing the boat back and forth. He must be old enough to not find them entertaining. Very little water ends up on the floor. Marcel is still.

"You're much easier to bathe than your brothers," Klaus says, his voice light. "They're always squirming around and splashing."

Marcel grins. "'Cause they're babies. I'm a big boy."

"That's right, my big, brave warrior."

Klaus washes all the grime off him. When he's done, he pulls the plus. He grabs a towel off the hook and dries his little boy off, wrapping him up in it and putting him on his hip. Marcel wraps his arms around his neck. Klaus carries him into the nursery and begins to sort through the clothes in his wardrobe.

He finds a gray t-shirt with Star Wars characters splashed across it and a pair of faded jeans. After locating some briefs with Darth Vader on it, he settles Marcel on Jeremy's changing table and goes about getting him dressed. Marcel squirms only a little.

"No diapers, right?"

Klaus chuckles. "No diapers. One, you're a vampire. Two, I know you're not really a baby. You're just Papa's baby."

Marcel nods with a small smile. Klaus does up the jeans and slides the shirt over his head. He consults his watch. If Marcel's dropped, odds are, before the end of the school day, he'll get a call that Jeremy and Tyler have too. He wants to enjoy the one on one time with his eldest son while he can.

Klaus hoists him back on his hip and carries him down to the playroom. He settled Marcel in a chair by the LEGO table and takes out one of the older kits from a higher shelf. Marcel's eyes light up.

"I think today's the day we tackle Disney castle. What do you think?"

"Yes!" Marcel says, his voice excited.

Klaus grins and settles beside him. They take out all the bricks and consult the instructions. Tyler and Jeremy tend to build whatever, the latter usually not having the skills in younger space to use the smaller bricks. Marcel is patient, but Klaus knows he looks forward to the days when he can work on his big projects alone.

Marcel stays close to his papa's side as they work. They don't say much, outside Klaus instructing Alexa to play some Chopin on Spotify. Outside the toy in question, Klaus is brought back to Marcel's first childhood. They wouldn't say much when they played. Instead, they were side by side. There would be times when Klaus would paint or sketch while Marcel laid on a couch nearby, reading. Often, he'd fall asleep as the music box played a soft song.

Klaus doesn't mind the ruckus that comes with the older boys. Yet, he also looks forward to the quiet times with his firstborn.

They work in silence for a good 15 minutes before Marcel speaks up. "Papa?"

Klaus clicks together the mote for the castle. "Yes, my sweet little warrior?"

"Can we go to the park with Jer and Ty when they get done with school?"

Klaus smiles. "Of course we can. It's a beautiful day. The lot of you can run out all your energy."

"You'll play with us? Or are you too old?"

Klaus playfully clicks his tongue. "I'm too old?"

"You're like a zillion."

Klaus smirks and pulls his son onto his lap, tickling his sides. Marcel screeches with glee, kicking his legs. In or out of space, Marcel will never give up a chance to tease him.

"Papaaaa," he giggles.

"You've been very fresh today."

Marcel squeals when Klaus gets him under his arms. "I'll be good."

"No more teasing your papa?"

"Yes! I promise!"

Klaus tickles him for a minute more before stopping. Marcel keeps up his giggles as he's deposited in his seat.

They make it about halfway through the castle before getting the call that Klaus anticipated. He places the structure up high so not even Tyler will reach it. Marcel isn't disappointed as they head out to the car. He doesn't even put up a fuss when his papa makes him sit in his booster seat. It's very rare that Marcel has to use his, but given the vibe of the day, he's not taking any risks. The SUV separates the three backseats enough so the boys have enough room.

The school nurse escorts Jeremy and Tyler out once he arrives. Klaus gets out and gives them big hugs and kisses. Marcel is nearly jumping out of his seat as Klaus straps his brothers in. Any anxiety Tyler's had from dropping at school disappears and he grabs his big brother's hand from his own booster.

"Hi Bubby! Did you and Daddy have fun?"

"Yup! We built LEGOS. And Papa said we can go to the park."

Jeremy grins, wiggling as Klaus tries to do up the clips on his rear facing car seat. "Daddy, are we going to the regular park or the Little park?"

"The Little park, Angel," Klaus confirms. He manages to get one of the clips in. "If you keep squirming though, it may be too tight." Jeremy calms a little. Klaus finishes up the straps. "There, all done. Who's ready for the park?"

All three boys let out an excited "Me!" Klaus grins and gets up front.

The drive to the park is livelier than the few hours at home with just Marcel. Jeremy and Tyler are chatting their mouths off about school. Marcel listens patiently and tells them about his bath. By the time they get to the park, all three boys are excited.

Klaus gets out of the car and unfolds the double stroller. He takes Tyler out first, strapping him in. Jeremy is next. Marcel pipes up as he steps out of the car.

"Can I push?"

"Yes. Just be careful."

Marcel does go faster than his papa would, but Klaus allows it until they reach the park. As it's early afternoon on a weekday, they have it to themselves. Klaus takes out his younger boys.

"Stay where Daddy can see you. Ty, Marcel, you need to…"

"Watch out for Jeremy," they reply in unison.

Klaus grins. "That's my good boys."

The three of them take off around the playground. They spend the time playing hide-and-go-seek, going up and down the slide and taking turns on the teeter-totter. They only require their dad's help getting on the swings, Jeremy going in the baby one. This time, he doesn't even argue and lets his papa push him. Tyler and Marcel pump on their own. All three boys giggle and talk to one another. Klaus is still silent, soaking in the moment of being an owner of three happy little boys.

Next time, we'll get a flashback to Tyler getting just a little jealous of Jeremy.

As always, let me know what you think and feel free to leave prompts!