The Untold Stories Of The Salvatore Brother's Childhood

Dedicated to
aliss12

As the white coffin was lowered into her stone angel marked grave, I clung to the arm of my father. Damon stood next to me dressed in a dark blue suit with a bow tie. His eyes were red with tears and his naturally curly dark hair was ruffled and messy. The staff of the estate stood behind the crowds of Mystic Falls residents coming to pay their respects. Faces in the crowd included Mayor Lockwood and family, the Fells, the Forbes and the Gilberts.

"If you would like to drop in the roses boys." Said the vicar softly.

Damon stepped forward and walked to the side of the grave. He wiped away the tears from his eyes with the back of his shaking hand. It took him a few seconds before he could loosen his grip on the red rose allowing it to fall down onto the coffin. He then took a step back and placed his hand encouragingly on my shoulder.

I grasped the yellow rose against my chest scared of the concept of this being my final goodbye. Tears ran down my cheeks as everyone was waiting for me to place the rose in the grave.

"Go on Stefan." Father instructed.

Noticing my fear, Damon smiled down at me. "Come on."

We walked to the edge of the grave before he took hold of my hand. "Together." He whispered as we both held onto the rose.

I closed my eyes before letting go.

~~~~

Damon had his head buried in his hands as he sat on the end of a wooden bench outside the church. I have never seen him so broken. His bright blue eyes were full of pain and sorrow.

I walked over and sat down next to him on the bench. He smiled at me. I knew he was trying to stay strong for me but I could tell how much he was hurting. "Where's father?" He asked.

"I think he left." I answered.

"Figured. Come on, we should be getting back." He stood up and dusted himself off.

As we walked, I felt safe with Damon like he is almost like my protector. He is like the father figure I wish I had. Someone I could talk to without being told I was weak. A friend who I could spend time with and a brother who I could rely on. Damon is everything that my father is not. Over the years, he has always endured the wrath of my father even when I was the one to blame. Whether it be a beating or just a telling off, Damon would never let it be me.

"We need to stick together." Damon spoke up. "No matter what happens, we will always be brothers." He smiled. "Mother would want us stay stong."

I nodded. "You will always be my big brother." I smiled up at him.

He smirked. "I know." Damon ruffled up my hair to purposely annoy me.

~~~~

-Damon's POV-

When we returned to the estate, we entered through the back door. Miss Higgins was singing in the kitchen and Betsy was by the stove preparing lunch. They turned to us as we entered.

"Your father has locked himself away in the attic." Whispered Miss Higgins.

I shook my head. "Useless excuse for a man."

"You watch your tongue young man." She scorned.

"Come on Stefan." I walked out of the kitchen and down the servants corridor to the main reception of the house. The portrait of mother which used to hang on the wall in the hallway was gone. Father must have took it with him to the attic along with what looked like a supply of wine, whisky and bourbon from the cabinet under the table.

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It was almost nightfall when father emerged. In his hand was a bottle of spirit. He entered the dining room where we were sitting and took his place opposite. The maids proceeded to bring in a variety of dishes before placing them down on the table.

"You left earlier." I commented.

"Yes well I had matters to attend to back at the estate." He replied sharply.

"I thought you would have stayed and said your farewells."

"One can't greive forever Damon. Time should be dedicated before everyone must move on."

"But we only buried her today. How can you be rid of your grief and out of mourning already?" I asked.

"Greiving is a sign of weakness. It's unmanly and childish Damon."

"But father that is absurd!..." I began.

"That is enough!" He bellowed over me. "I have moved on. It is time you did too."

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The next morning, I awoke and got dressed before walking down the staircase and into the kitchen. Miss Higgins smiled as she saw me enter.

"Good heavens!" She teased. "Damon Salvatore awake at this time in the morning! What has the world come to?"

"I promised Stefan that I would take him riding with me." I answered.