Alicia's mind was spinning with colorful dreams and fragments of images. But, her mind decided to show her one memory.
" Alicia," her mother cooed, " your such a pretty little girl." She smiled down at her, " can you say your name, Alicia?"
Alicia looked up blankly at her mother.
Alicia! She thinks that if she screams it load enough in her head that it will come out her mouth. Alicia sighs, I can't say it.
" just give up on her, Sarah, if she can't talk now, she never will." Alicia's father interrupts, looking at Alicia with disapproving eyes. Sarah turns towards her father with a gasp,
" Mark! How could you say that about your only daughter?"
Mark gives Sarah a sneer, " think about it, all the kids in her class can talk, she's surrounded with words and sounds all day, but she still can't talk." Mark laughs as he downs another swig of whiskey. " She's lucky she can write what she thinks, or she wouldn't even be in school."
Sarah frowns as she looks at Alicia, she is starting to agree with mark.
" She's learned how to walk," Mark continues, " but, she can't learn how to talk? The only she can communicate is pointing at things and nodding or shaking her head."
Sarah sighs and stands, " I guess your right."
Sarah follows mark to the kitchen.
No! Wait! I can try again! Please come back! Alicia thinks as she sits on the floor.
Damon opens the front door to the boarding house, Stefan and Elena were sitting on the couch, talking in low tones.
Great, I'll just have to deal with them if the see the child. Damon thought bitterly.
Stefan turned to look at him as he walked in, his eyes went instantly to the thing he had in his arms.
" Damon? What is that?" Stefan asked standing to face him completely. Elena turned to look at him as well.
Damon smirked at his brother, " nothing you need to worry yourself about." Elena's eyes widened,
" Is that a child!?" She said, walking over to him, " Is it dead? Did you kill it, Damon?" She became very panicked.
Damon scowled, " yes, it's a child. No, It's not dead and I didn't kill it."
" Why are you carrying it, then?" Stefan asked standing beside Elena, Damon narrowed his eyes.
Elena's eyes softened, she walked slowly forward and extended her arms, " Damon, give me the child, and I'll try and find a home for it."
Something inside Damon stirred and he clutched the child protectively to his chest, " No." he practically growled.
Stefan's eyes widened for a second, he thought if they took the child from Damon, Damon might might actually hurt them.
" Damon," Stefan said slowly, " give us the child before you hurt it."
" I don't want to hurt it, I would have already killed it if I did."
" Damon, do you possibly think you can take care of a child?" Stefan's voice hardened, as Elena stared expectantly at him. Her face lit up with understanding,
" you killed her parents, didn't you Damon?" She said casting a glance at Stefan, " You want to take care of this child because you actually feel guilty."
Damon was stunned for a second, she was right...that what that feeling was, guilt.
Well, the more reason to take care of the child. Damon thought.
Stefan was confused,
why would Damon feel guilty about killing someone? He thought as he watched Damon walk up the stairs, Elena looked worried she looked at Stefan who was still staring at the space his brother stood moments ago.
" This could be good for him," Elena said, snapping Stefan out of his thoughts, he turned and looked at her, " he could learn some responsibility from his mistakes."
" I don't know," Stefan said, " I just hope he doesn't hurt the child."
Elena leaned against his shoulder, " I hope so too."
Damon closed the door to his room and leaned against it. He looked down at the sleeping form in his arms. Could he really feel guilty about killing her parents? But, that's impossible, Damon Salvatore doesn't feel sorry for anyone. Damon reaches down and wipes a stray piece of hair from the child's face.
" Nothing bad is going to touch you when I'm around." He whispers and kisses the child's forehead.