Prank Night Fall Out

50. In Relief

Pairing: Mason/Tyler (M/m) hand, paddle

Lockwood Mansion

Next Morning

Tyler had fallen asleep miserable and upset. Mason had taken his phone so he never did call Caroline. He still had his laptop for school and could have tried through AIM, but he was too depressed. The fact was that Tyler had stolen the money. All he had had to do to get his allowance was clean his room, but he had been too stubborn. He didn't think he would have been caught. Tyler had been borrowing money from his mom for his entire life and never gotten caught.

Carol had looked in on Tyler when she came home from her events last the night before. He was sleeping with the light on and had books and papers all over the place. She tidied up a little, but forced herself not to actually clean. She covered up Tyler and kissed him, careful not to wake him. Unlike Mason, she wasn't angry, just hurt. As a mother, she also hurt when her son did...Carol couldn't figure out why Tyler was being so stubborn lately. A part of her wondered if she needed to be home more, but in two years, he would be in college, she would be alone. If she quit being mayor, who would do it. No other suitable candidates came to mind, aside from those uppity Fells, that is.

"Mom? Can I talk to you?" Tyler said coming into her room the next morning before school. Carol was already dressed for the day in her pantsuit, pearls, and heels. Tyler was in the basketball shorts and Mystic Falls timberwolves t-shirt that he had slept in.

"Yeah, baby. I came in last night, but you had fallen asleep," Carol said quietly. She held out her gold bracelet for Tyler to secure the snap. Richard used to do those little things for her when they were getting dressed. She never imagined she would be a widow before she was 50.

Tyler snapped the clasp and looked down, "Sorry, Mom, I didn't mean to steal from you."

Carol saw that Tyler was crying and her heart broke again, "I know, Tyler. But you know all you had to do were your chores and you didn't do them. How many times have you taken money from my purse? Tell me the truth, son."

Tyle began to sob, "Always. I've done it since I was a little kid. I guess I didn't think you cared...."

"Tyler Richard Lockwood, you know if that was true, you wouldn't have snuck into my purse. I said the truth!" Carol said more firmly. She saw that Tyler was eaten up with guilt and not ready to come clean without some motivation.

"Fine! I guess I like to throw our money around at school. You know, I used to buy kids ice cream and people gifts so they would like me, think I was cool. Then, when that didn't work, I would just bully them. Mom, I'm sorry. I know that you are disgusted with me. You and Uncle Mason. He told me I am grounded a whole week," Tyler sniffled.

"That's not your only punishment, is it? You and your uncle are going to have a date with the paddle, maybe more than once. Tyler, I love you, but I feel like you are still not taking full responsibility for this," Carol accused. "I'm not disgusted with you, just worried. You are behaving like a complete spoiled brat and I don't know why."

"Uncle Mason made me write it down. I guess I just want to take the easy way out. I got mad when you wouldn't give me the money and so I took it and bought Caroline a necklace because I've been kind of a jerk at school. Mom, sometimes I feel like I don't like myself or the way I act," Tyler confessed.