Faye blinked her big green eyes up at the older boy. After a moment of consideration she jammed her thumb in her mouth and gave a tiny nod. Damon grinned at the three-year-old. She was a scrawny thing with dark messy hair and baggy clothes, her Momma was his Momma's maid and her Papa worked out in the stables of their property. Turning his attention to his little brother he wiggled his eyebrows playfully. Stefan bounced up and down excitedly, he worshipped the ground his older brother walked on and would follow him to the ends of the earth, no question. Grabbing hold of Faye's hand he started to tug, Faye's other little hand reached to hold Stefan's slightly bigger one on the other side.
"We're going to have to be quiet; you know Papa doesn't like us playing in the lake on a Sunday." Damon addressed to the pair following him like ducklings. Faye's eyes were wide as saucers but she continued to be tugged along.
"Damon, Damon! We could get food from the kitchens; Faye's still little enough that they don't notice." Stefan babbled eager to please his older brother. Damon was impressed by the five-year-old's cunning, but Stefan was ahead in his studies and Damon always heard his Papa boasting to the men in the parlour about how much smarter Stefan was than the other kids his age. Sometimes it made him jealous at the attention his little brother got, but he was littler so it was okay. He knew his Papa was proud of him too, he was sure of it.
"Great idea, brother." Stefan puffed up at the praise, spinning round Damon crouched down a little to look Faye in the eyes "Faye-ie, do you think you could do that?" Little eyebrows scrunched together in confusion, Damon repressed a sigh Faye's attention span was tiny, "Think you can go to the kitchen to get us a picnic?" Damon asked. The little girl's face lit up.
"Picnic?" She asked excitedly, Damon nodded.
"You just have to get the food Faye, Maribel loves you." Stefan chipped in smiling at the girl. Faye smiled and nodded.
The trio attempted to move through the gardens to the kitchen carefully. Giggling and tripping over in the huge, well cut hedges that lined the pathways. Damon's trouser legs and hands were grass stained by the time they reached the back door. Stefan's best shirt had become untucked somewhere along the way, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and Faye was barefoot; her tiny boots tied round the eldest Salvatore's neck.
They huddled by the back door to the kitchens, oblivious to the noise they were making. Heaving Faye up Damon dropped her unceremoniously on the top step before scurrying back into the bushes nearby where Stefan was already peering out owlishly.
Crouching down together in the dappled green light, both boys giggled again at their genius. Moments later a loud crash sounded, followed by a shout. A tiny figure tripped down the stairs, ends of her dress clutched in her chubby hands. Damon crowed excitedly, jumping out and dragging Stefan by the scruff of his shirt.
"Stef, you take the food." He muttered, Stefan followed his brother's orders immediately and stuffed Faye's spoils in the front of his own, now rather grubby, shirt. Damon hoisted little Faye onto his back and the three took off running through the garden, shrieking in delight.