Guide You Along (Private)

[PhantomPhan]

"I know you are, baby," Natalie said, not pausing with her daughter's punishment. Now she had to scold her daughter - she could only wish it wouldn't send Samantha into hysterics again. "But stealing from a shop was a very naughty thing to do. How will that poor man every trust you in his shop again? How will anyone around here ever trust you again?"

Natalie gave a final hard slap with the brush and set it down. "I don't ever want you to do this again, do you hear me, young lady? I swear that the next time this happens, I'll use my belt on you. I don't want to have to, but I don't want you to grow into a bad person. I love you and that's why I punish you."

Ariana just kept offering a warm smile to the girl.

[CottonFluff]

Samantha just sobbed and nodded, shivering over her momma's lap. She deserved this, she really did. The threat of the belt as not something to be taken lightly - in fact she'd never actually gotten the belt, but it was such a threat she never wanted to do anything to get it... if Momma was threatening it for something like this, then she really really must have been upset with her.

She hiccuped and cried softly, squeezing Ariana's hand and sobbing while looking at her legs dangling on the other side of her Momma's lap through the chair legs... oh she felt like such a bad girl, even though she was still being told she wasn't.

"I'm sorry... *sob* I'm sorry I was naughty mommy... *sniffle* *hic*"

[PhantomPhan]

Natalie rubbed her daughter's back, smiling down lovingly at her. "It's okay, it's over now. It's in the past and I forgive you." She put her hands underneath Samantha's armpits and gently lifted the girl to her feet.

Ariana swiftly let go of Samantha's hand so it wouldn't be awkward but then quickly grabbed it again, giving Samantha's hand a tight squeeze to let her know she was still there for her.

"Oh, look at your pretty, little face," Natalie cooed, wiping her thumb against Samantha's cheek. "Ruined by all these ugly tears. Let's see if Mommy can rid of them for you." She pulled Samantha forward and gave her a kiss on each cheek.

[CottonFluff]

This was the one part of getting spanking she actually really liked... when her mommy kissed away her tears. Not that she ever wanted to get a spanking just for that reason, but it was a little ritual that made her feel better even after receiving such smacks to her bottom.

She released Ariana's hand and wrapper her arms around her momma's neck and continued to sob a bit, but really was mostly calmed down... she just wanted a big hug and to feel like everything was going to be okay.

"*sniff* I love you mommy... *hic* I'll try to be good from now on, I promise..."

[PhantomPhan]

Natalie tightened her arms around Samantha, holding her baby girl in a motherly embrace. "I love you, too, Samantha and I know you will be a good girl. You don't need to try."

Ariana looked away, feeling as if she was intruding on a very private moment between mother and daughter. Despite her feelings, Ariana was not going to leave until Samantha requested it.

"Now, you can either go and apologise to the store manager or you can take a nap and apologise later," Natalie said. "Which one, first?"

[CottonFluff]

Samantha rubbed her eyes... she was actually feeling really tired from all the crying and squirming she had done today. Plus, her bottom was still really stinging, and she just wanted to lay down and cuddle with one of her plushies for a bit "Umm... can I take a nap first?"

But then it occurred to her if she did so, Ariana might leave! She just made a new friend and now she was going to take a nap and maybe never see her again?

"Um... um... can Ariana stay? If... if she can't I'll go apologize first... she said, stifling a yawn.

[PhantomPhan]

Natalie shifted some of Samantha's brown hair behind her ear. "Of course she can stay, baby." She gazed to Ariana.

"I can stay as long as Samantha wants me to," Ariana remarked. "I'm not in any rush."

"See? There you go, sweetie," Natalie said to Samantha. "Ariana's not going anywhere."

[CottonFluff]

Samantha looked at Ariana for a moment, then nodded back at her mommy. "Will you tuck me in?" she asked, wrapping her arms around her mother's neck in a manner that suggested she wanted to be carried as well. She was a big girl, but that didn't mean she didn't find being treated like mommy's little girl wasn't still comforting.

The sun was setting slowly, giving a warm red light into the house through the window. It would be dark in an hour or so and the lights of the city were already starting to flicker on one by one in slow succession, each seeming to be giving tribute to the constant glow of the massive Slyph Co. building in the center of town. It was a sight to behold, even though the light pollution would make it hard for anyone to enjoy the clear night while still in the city limits.

Samantha looked out at what was basically her home town and night light rolled into one, and sighed... she did like it here, even though she claimed not to. But the little apartment still held painful memories alongside the happy ones.

[PhantomPhan]

Natalie nodded and scooped Samantha up into her arms. She gave Ariana a smile and took her baby girl into her room, shutting the door behind her.

She sat down on Samantha's bed, settling the girl on her lap. "So, Ariana seems nice enough," Natalie began, "but how do you know we can trust her?" The woman had trust issues, due to her ex-husband and her parents. "Don't get upset by that question, I just want to protect you."

Samantha's father promised to always look after his girls and let no harm come to them, to love them forever; that promise was quickly broken when he found he couldn't cope with the hardships of raising a child. At one point, he simply stopped caring. He didn't care what happened to his wife or to his little girl. Money was far more important to him.

Then there was Natalie's parents: they were successful in the catering business and had plenty of money to house Natalie and Samantha in a luxurious house - but they hated the sight of Samantha. Natalie was only sixteen when she fell pregnant with Samantha and so, as far as her parents were concerned, Samantha had ruined Natalie's chance at success. They gave Natalie a choice; abort or be disowned forever.

It was obvious which one Natalie chose.

Natalie sighed sadly and ran a hand through Samantha's hair, waiting for an answer from her little girl.

[CottonFluff]

Samantha winced as her tender bottom was sat on her mommy's lap. She squirmed a bit to get comfortable but that didn't really help at all, so she just gave up and looked at her mother's face as she was asked the question.

"We... she reminds me of you, Mommy" she said after thinking about it. "She's... very brave and very nice. I asked her to not tell you about what happened today, but she said she didn't want to lie to an adult... so she's very honest."

Even though that honesty got her another spanking, she thought in the back of her head, but that would be rude to say out loud.

"I like her... she's my friend" said the girl, basically thinking through her feelings and trying to express herself as best she could.