Josiah sighed as he came downstairs of his home and saw his two boys fist-to-fist, eye-to-eye, standing toe to toe. He wondered what was the cause this time. He headed over them and from the look on Nathan�s face, he could tell that the young man would walk away if given the chance, but knew Ezra would be on him in a second if he did. He stepped up close to them, put a hand on each of their chests and pushed them back from each other. It was as if he had released the spring as Ezra became animated and tried to get to Nathan. Josiah wrapped his arms around him and saw Nathan drop his fists and back off.

�Ezra you need to calm down now.� Josiah spoke into the still struggling teen�s ear.

�I won�t, not until that loathsome curmudgeon takes back what he said about my Mother.� Ezra said his southern accent becoming more pronounced as it always did when he was angry.

�I won�t take it back. It�s true.� Nathan stated.

Josiah was glad he had a firm grip on Ezra as the thirteen-year-old resumed his struggles. He kept a firm grip on Ezra�s left arm and swatted the boy hard with his other hand. He was surprised when Ezra froze and didn�t move at the swat. He hadn�t said a word either. Josiah loosened his grip on Ezra�s arm, as he grew concerned about Ezra�s mute stillness. He realized his mistake too late when Ezra bolted from him and descended upon Nathan knocking the older teen down.

Nathan put his arms up to block the punches from his face. He tried to maneuver Ezra to where he could pin him down, but it was hard when he was trying to protect his face as well. He moved his hands slightly when he felt the weight on his stomach lighten. It was a mistake he regretted instantly as Ezra caught him high on the cheek. He put his one hand to his cheek and reacted instinctively as he slapped Ezra across the face with his open palm and the immediately regretted it. �I�m - I�m sorry Ezra.� Nathan said apologetically as he watched Josiah drag the shocked youth off of him.

Ezra stared open mouthed at Nathan and reached up slowly to his still stinging cheek. It had been a long time since he�d been slapped across the face like that and the last person who�d done it was his mother. His mouth closed slowly, but his hand remained on his cheek.

Josiah kept hold of his little spitfire, just in case, but noticed the difference in the boy now. He looked over at Nathan who was sitting up now, but still looked quite distraught at what he had done. �Nathan, are you alright son?� Josiah asked calmly and patiently.

Nathan nodded as he began to stand slowly. �Yes sir. I - I didn�t - didn�t�I - I mean I�m� Nathan stammered as he wasn�t quite sure which to say first.

�It�s alright son. Go on. Go get something to put on your cheek.� Josiah ordered gently. Once Nathan had gone into the other room, Josiah looked down as the still silent Ezra. �Are you alright Ez?� He asked as he turned the boy around keeping a firm hold on him.

�He-he slapped me.� Ezra said still astonished by what had happened.

�Yes he did, but you punched him� Josiah pointed out.

�He said a horrendous thing about my mother and wouldn�t take it back.� Ezra objected.

�Still no reason to punch your brother. Now is it?� Josiah asked as he stared into the shimmering green eyes.

�At the time it seemed appropriate, but I would imagine that it was not an appropriate reason now.� Ezra said quietly, knowing that he was probably in trouble.

Josiah shook his head. �No son, it�s not. You go upstairs to your room. I�ll be up in a minute.� Josiah said releasing Ezra and pointing towards the stairs.

Ezra stood a minute, and then looked towards the kitchen where Nathan had gone. He looked at Josiah and asked, �Could I�� It was as far as he got when he saw the negative headshake.

�No son. I think you both need to keep your distance at the moment. Go on upstairs.� Josiah said as he gave Ezra a little nudge towards the steps.

�Yes Father.� Ezra said softly as he walked over and trudged slowly up the stairs.

Nathan came out of the kitchen just then with an ice pack wrapped in a kitchen towel held to his cheek. �Dad? I�I�m sorry. I reacted badly.� The older teen said quietly.

�Let�s have a look at your cheek there.� Josiah said, and then whistled at the sight of the bruise that had blossomed on Nathan�s dark cheek as he removed the ice pack. �Well now that is quite the shiner son.� He said then saw the look on Nathan�s face. He sighed and motioned to the dining room table. �Let�s sit and talk son.� Josiah said as he sat down and motioned towards the chair next to him.

Nathan nodded and sat down. He put the ice pack down for a few minutes. He didn�t know what to say. He knew Ezra was in trouble and was pretty sure he was in trouble too. He looked up at his Dad finally and asked, �So, how much trouble am I in?�

Josiah laid his hand on Nathan�s arm and touched the teen�s other cheek with his hand. �You aren�t in any trouble Nathan. Ezra landed the first hit and though you did hit him back, you just slapped him.� Josiah said. �I still hit him. Doesn�t matter if it was a closed fist or an open palm. Hitting is still hitting.� Nathan stated quietly.

A sigh emitted from the large man. He knew his son would feel bad if he weren�t punished as well. Josiah had hoped to avoid it, seeing as Nathan barely got into trouble. He nodded though and moved his hand from the boy�s face to his shoulder. �Alright son. You go on up to your room. I need to talk to Ezra first.� He said patting the teen�s shoulder.

Nathan looked up with relief in his chocolate colored eyes. He nodded at Josiah and got up, taking the ice pack with him. He disappeared at the top of the steps as he rounded the corner.

�Alright Lord, how do I deal with them? You know what happened more than I do and you know both their hearts.� Josiah said quietly with folded on hands on the table and his head bowed. He sat like that quietly for twenty minutes, and then looked up and nodded. �Thank you Lord.� He got up and headed up the stairs to Ezra�s room first.

Ezra sat on his bed and shuffled the deck of cards in his hand for what seemed like the millionth time to the boy. He had heard the lighter footsteps of Nathan come up the stairs a little while ago and the door to his room shut. Ezra thought that meant that his father would be up any minute. When Josiah didn�t appear after five minutes, the thirteen-year-old went back to shuffling his cards. Finally he heard the heavy footsteps on the stairs. He put the cards away in the drawer of the nightstand and took a deep breath to try and calm his rapidly beating heart.

Josiah rapped on the door twice, and then entered the room when he heard the meek words to enter. He looked at the forlorn little figure sitting on the bed and after shutting the door; Josiah walked over and sat next to him. �Let me look at your face son.� He said calmly as he reached his hand out to touch Ezra�s face.

Ezra looked up, turned his head and winced slightly as Josiah�s hand gently caressed the faint red mark still on his cheek.

�Hurt still? Or the memory?� Josiah asked. He knew why Ezra had winced.

�Both. Please Father, may I go and offer my apologies to Nathan before we start in on my chastisement? I wish for him to know that I am sincere, which he may not believe if it is to come afterwards.� Ezra asked quietly as he looked down since he couldn�t very well move his head.

�Ez.� The shortened name had the teen bringing his eyes back up to lock with his father�s. �You can go, but make it fast son. We have things to attend to.� Josiah stated quietly as he moved his hand away from Ezra�s face.

A grave nod and Ezra stood. He brushed his clothes down making sure they were impeccable as always before squaring his shoulders and leaving his room. He stopped outside Nathan�s room and after a moment�s hesitation, he rapped on the door.

Nathan sat up on his bed and figured it was Josiah. �Come in.� He said softly, and then was surprised when Ezra, not Josiah came into the room. �Ezra, I�m sorry for slapping you like that.� He said getting up and walking over to the younger boy.

�I also apologize for my lack of decorum. It was rude of me to resort to such ungentlemanly behavior for such a comment about Mother. It may describe her, it may not. I for one do not wish her to come around again and find out.� Ezra stated calmly. �I do regret my choice of actions though and ask your forgiveness.�

�Done. Apology accepted Ez.� Nathan said quickly. He had no hard feelings. He knew why Ezra had attacked him and so he felt responsible for his own black eye.

They stared briefly at each other, then went closer and hugged each other, till they heard a cough behind them. �Well now, this is a sight I�d much prefer to see to the one I saw earlier.� Josiah said as he stepped into the room and regarded the boys, who by this time had parted. Josiah placed a hand on Ezra�s shoulder. �Come on son, we have things to finish up.�

Ezra nodded and silently followed Josiah from the room. Once back in his own room, Ezra wiped his hands on his black trousers and swallowed hard. He watched as Josiah sat on the bed and rolled up his right sleeve. Ezra knew he looked like a condemned man with how he was standing and tried hard to straighten his posture as he walked over to his father and stood in front of him.

Pride filled Josiah as he watched Ezra straighten and try to walk over to him bravely with out being told. He could see the fear in the boy�s eyes though Ezra tried hard to hide it and reached up and put a hand on his shoulder. His blue eyes stared at Ezra a moment then said, �Alright son, pants down.�

The dreaded command, that Ezra had been expecting, came and Ezra hesitated a moment, before he sighed, undid his black trousers and pushed them down till they his the floor. He knew the routine and went to bend over when he was stopped by a hand on his arm. Green eyes looked up at his father quizzically.

�Ez, boxers too son.� Josiah said in a sad sort of tone.

Ezra�s eyes went wide at the unexpected command. �Wh-what? Why? You�ve always done it with them up.� Ezra said, his eyes wide with a startled look and his voice quivering slightly.

Josiah regarded his son quietly for a moment, then said, �Son, how many times have we talked about you getting into fights?�

�Well, I believe we have had approximately three non consecutive conversations about my ungentlemanly-like behavior.� Ezra said as he shifted slightly.

Josiah nodded. � That�s right. The first time was your warning and the other two times were with your boxers up. It doesn�t seem to have done any good though, because look where we are son.� Josiah pointed out patiently.

Ezra nodded and lowered his head. �I know, but�� Ezra started, but stopped when he felt the hand under his chin that began to lift his head. He looked into Josiah�s eyes, his own green eyes shimmering brightly with unshed tears. He put his hand on Josiah�s leg and squeezed lightly as he closed his eyes causing the tears to slide down his cheeks.

�Shh, it�ll be over soon son.� Josiah said gently as he used his thumb to wipe the stray tears away. He moved his hand from Ezra�s chin and began to rub the young teen�s back till he regained control of himself.

Head down again, Ezra stayed there till he was finally able to release his father�s leg and began to wipe his own tears away. He felt the warm comforting hand still rubbing his back, even as he straightened and stared at Josiah with a sorrowful resignation about him. �I- I�m ready.� He said quietly as he moved his hands to the waist of his boxers.

�Ezra I could do it once your over, if you�d prefer.� Josiah said as he placed his hand on Ezra�s. He saw the look of relief on the teen�s face and the small nod. He drew Ezra over his lap and then drew the silk like boxers down causing the boy to gasp slightly. Josiah ran his hand over Ezra�s back trying to calm the boy a bit. Once Ezra had relaxed over his lap, Josiah placed his hand at the small of Ezra�s back and raised his hand. They both knew why they were there and what Ezra had done to deserve it. He didn�t believe in a lot of talk, but he was patient and would explain thing to both his boys till he was sure they understood. If it took a while till the punishment started, Josiah didn�t care. He knew he wouldn�t be talked out of it by either of his boys.

The first swat to his backside caused Ezra to rear up slightly and yelp loudly. He reached back and covered his backside quickly. He could feel the tears spring to his eyes instantly as he rubbed at the sting. A temporary reprieve he knew, but he needed it.

Josiah went back to rubbing Ezra�s back after the first swat when he saw the hand dart back and heard the yelp. He waited out the boy, knowing he would move his hand. A small sigh was heard after a few minutes.

�Sorry Father.� Ezra said quietly as he moved his hand back to grip the comforter.

�It�s alright.� Josiah said as he stroked Ezra�s hair a minute, and then repositioned his hand at the small of Ezra�s back, then raised his hand again and landed the next sharp swat. The cries from the boy over his lap, tore at Josiah�s heart, but he kept his emotions in check as he continued bringing his hand down. Twenty swats total had been landed when Josiah stopped and began to rub Ezra�s back again. A minute later he raised Ezra�s boxers over his red bottom and carefully stood the boy up. He then stood himself and gathered Ezra to him.

Ezra felt the comforting arms go around him once he�d been stood up and his boxers replaced. He wrapped his arms around Josiah�s waist and laid his head on the man�s right shoulder. His tears melted into the shirt under him as he tried to control himself. Ezra knew he didn�t have to rush though and tried not to.

�Take your time son. I�m right here and I won�t go anywhere till you want me to. Just let it out.� Josiah said softly as he cupped the back of Ezra�s neck with one hand and rubbed his back with the other.

The time afterwards was something Ezra always craved. The reason he was getting this attention wasn�t as well received but, it had always been deserved and he understood. He shifted slightly and laid his head on Josiah�s other shoulder as he began to calm down and his tears began to slow.

�Too wet for you on the other side?� Josiah teased lightly.

Ezra grinned at the tease, though he knew Josiah couldn�t see it and nodded against the shoulder. �I prefer a dryer place rest my head.� Ezra said conveying his amusement at Josiah�s tease.

Josiah chuckled, patted Ezra on the back a couple of times, held his arms, held him away and looked at him with a fond smile on his face. �You feel better now son?� Josiah asked as he released the teen and patted his cheeks.

�Well I�d prefer it if my backside felt a bit cooler, but other than that, I�m feeling alright.� Ezra said as he leaned into the touch.

�Good. I�m gonna go talk to Nathan. You can lie down or whatever it is you want to do.� Josiah said giving the cheeks a light pat again. He walked around Ezra and shut the door behind him as he left.

Ezra walked the few paces to his bed and lied down on his stomach. He wrapped his arms around his pillow and rubbed his cheek against the pillow as he began to drift off.

Josiah tapped on Nathan�s door.

�Come in Dad.� Nathan said as he sat up and watched as his father entered and closed the door.

Josiah looked at his son and walked over to his desk. He pulled the chair out, turned it around and straddled it.

�Dad?� Nathan asked slightly confused then continued the thought trying hard not to stutter, �Shouldn�t you be sitting the other way?� He finished proud that he had sounded calm the whole time.

�Nope, cause contrary to you think son, I�m not gonna spank you. Ezra started it. You did hit him, but you were defending yourself and I�m not gonna punish you for defending yourself.� He held his hand up when he saw Nathan open his mouth to protest. �Hold it son, now I know that you think you deserve to be punished, because you hit Ezra. I don�t agree, but I will punish you because you need relief of that guilt. I�m still not going to spank you. I know you�ve already apologized to Ezra and he to you, so I�m going to give you three bible verses to write out twenty times each.�

Nathan groaned. �I�d rather be spanked.� He said grimacing at the thought. He couldn�t help smiling though as his dad chuckled.

�Sorry son. I�ll go get the bible and write down where to find the verses.� Josiah got up and hugged his older son.

�Gee thanks Dad.� Nathan said sarcastically as he hugged his father.

Josiah released him and went to leave the room then turned and asked, �Oh Nathan I meant to ask you. What did you call Ezra�s mother?�

�Oh I just said that she was probably a better mother than Harriet Olson.� Nathan said with a straight face.

Josiah closed the door and headed downstairs howling with laughter as he went waking Ezra and causing Nathan to smile.