The Little Troublemaker
by Linda Schwartz

Don't own the characters, I am just taking them out for a while and have returned them unhurt (this is a warm fuzzy so no angst)

"Papa!" Peter came lumbering down the temple's hallway and latched onto the robe covering his father's leg.

Caine looked down at his three-year-old son and knelt beside him. "What is it, my son?" I thought you were playing with your friends in the garden."

"I am sorry, Master Caine," one of the monks came running after the child, "I was watching young Peter and looked away for a moment and he was gone."

"It is all right, Master Tong." Caine nodded briefly to the other monk and then focussed his attention on his precious, rambunctious son. "I must leave for a short time."

"Noooooo!" Peter wailed and threw his little arms around his father's neck.

Caine wrapped his arms around the small body and gently held him. His hand caressed his son's hair. "I will return this evening," he pulled back until he could look at Peter's face. "We will have dinner together and then I will read you a story before bedtime." He caressed the boy's cheek, leaned forward, and planted a kiss on his cheek. "You will be a good boy and listen to Master Tong."

"Yes, Papa," Peter smiled innocently at his father, touched his father's face with his little hand and was led away by the other monk.

Caine sighed as he straightened up. He and Peter had adjusted to life in the temple, but it has been a rough year for both of them. The loss of Laura was still fresh in his mind and in his heart. Looking at the small retreating figure of the precious gift his late wife left behind filled his being with joy. Turning away he opened the main gate and went into town to do some shopping for herbs.

"Peter, you must not go in there!" Master Tong ran after his charge that was rapidly disappearing into the kitchen.

"Peter!" the monk who was preparing lunch for the temple cried out.

Master Tong rounded the corner and saw what upset the chef.

Peter had pulled a bag of flour half way off a shelf and he was covered with the white powder.

Peter laughed as he rubbed his hands together. The two adults looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Come, Peter, I will wash that off you." Master Tong led the boy to the bathroom in Caine's quarters. Caine and Peter shared a room in one section of the temple that afforded the priest and his son some privacy.

After Peter was cleaned, Master Tong took him to the great hall where lunch was being served. Peter sat with the other children.

"Master Tong I see you are quite busy today," Ping Hai quietly stood next to the younger monk.

"Yes, master. Young Peter is a handful."

"He has the curiosity of all children. He must be allowed to find his way." Ping Hai watched as Peter was getting more food on the floor than in his belly. "Of course all children must be guided with a gentle hand." Master Tong took that as a cue to help Peter finish his lunch.

Master Tong had sent Peter out to the garden area to play with the other children. The monks had created a playground in one area of the garden and the plants that grew there were very sturdy and almost childproof.

The monk took the opportunity to quickly wash the remaining flour off his body and change into fresh robes. When he returned to the garden area he'd noticed how quiet it was and ventured down the path. The first thing he saw were all the children had gathered around the Koi pond and were staring at something. Master Tong noticed Peter was in the center of the group, he and the other children were laughing.

"Peter?" he queried. He noticed what had drawn the children's attention. Peter had grabbed one of the Koi out of the pond and the poor fish was flapping around on the grass.

The other children were laughing, but Peter was staring at the fish curiously.

"Peter, you know that it is wrong to remove the fish from the water." The monk gently picked the struggling fish up and returned him to the pond.

"You will go to your room," Master Tong picked Peter up and took him to his room.

"I no wanna go to my room!" Peter wailed loudly. The sound echoed through the temple halls.

"You have been a bad boy and you must be punished."

Master Tong carried his charge to his bedroom and sat him on the bed.

"No!" Peter got off the bed and moved towards the door. The monk picked him up and sat him down on the bed.

"You will sit there and not move until I tell you, Peter. You will learn to listen to your elders"

Peter started to cry he reached for his teddy bear. The little brown stuffed animal that his father had given to him shortly after his mother died offered him great comfort.

Peter hugged the bear tightly to his chest; his tears were wetting the fabric of the bear.

Master Tong looked at the crying child; the hazel eyes gazed back in the innocent, beseeching way that children do. Peter almost tore through the monk's resolve. Almost, he had to look away before he caved in.

"You will learn obedience, young one. Now stay in your room. I will return when your punishment is finished."

About a half-hour later he returned to check on Peter. He smiled at the sight of the little boy, he'd fallen asleep holding the bear against his small body. Master Tong hated to punish the child, but that was part of the ways of the temple.

"Papa?" Peter opened his eyes and saw that he was alone in his room. Peter checked his father's bed and it was empty, then he checked the hallway.

"Papa!" Peter ran down the hallway, tears ran down his cheeks. His father promised he'd be home. Maybe something happened and he would never see him again.

"Paaaaapa!!! His voice echoed through the halls. Finally Peter stopped at the small lily pond that was in the temple courtyard. He was attracted to the water like a moth to a flame. He would come whenever he was upset. Sometimes his father would sit with him and tell him stories.

Peter found a rock and sat down, he was breathing so hard he was trying to calm himself. Looking down at the reflection in the water he whispered, "Papa" a teardrop fell from his cheek and splashed into the pond causing a ripple in the water.

A gentle hand settled on his right shoulder and he turned his head. "Papa!" He wrapped his arms around his father's neck.

"My son, you were afraid I might not return?" Caine joined his son on the rock and lifted him into his lap. He rubbed Peter's back to comfort his child. "I would never leave you, Peter. I love you so much, you do not need to fear."

Peter wiped his eyes and nose on his father's robe and clutched the fabric in his hands. "Promise, Papa?"

"I promise, my son." He kissed his son's cheek, "Come let us go for dinner then I will tell you a story, would you like that?"

"Yes!" Peter got off his father's lap and clasped Caine's hand and they walked off towards the great dining hall.

End