Hi here's my next chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. This chapter has Damon angst. Please let me know what you think.

Chapter 4

4 year old Damon

Before Damon even had a chance to hit the bed, images of his mother giving birth to Stefan came flooding back to him. He could hear her screams as the mid wives helped her. He remembered hiding behind the curtain so no one would know he was there. He couldn't bear that his mother was in so much pain. He wanted to run to her and hug and make her pain go away like she always used to take his pain away. What could a 4 year old possibly understand from all of this?

After a few min, which felt like an eternity for young Damon, he heard the sound of a baby crying. Stefan was born. He peeped from his hiding place behind the curtain and saw a little baby in one of the midwife's hands and heard his mother whisper "Stefan. That's his name, Stefan" Damon knew that it was not the baby's fault, but he hated him for hurting his mummy so much. He saw his mother take Baby Stefan and cradling him in her arms, and holding him with such love that it struck a chord of jealousy in such a tiny child's heart. He didn't want a baby brother any more. He wanted it to be just him, his mummy and daddy again. Little Damon began to wonder where was his father, when he heard someone talking and saying that his father has not returned from his business trip, but will return tonight. Without even realising it, Damon let out a sigh of relief. A midwife came and took baby Stefan away and tried to get his mother to lie down. She kept repeating "ma'am you need to rest, there is too much blood. Please ma'am. The doctor is on his way." For as long as Damon could remember, those words stayed with him.

Why? Maybe because of what happened of the next few hours.

As Damon lay in his mother's arms, she began signing her lullaby that he sings to him to make him sleep. "Mama why you singing? It's not time to sleep yet" Damon asked his mother with acute little frown. "Because," replied his mother, with a big smile on her face, "I just felt like singing for my baby." "Ok." replied Damon innocently, not realising that this would be the last time he would ever hear his mother sing again.

"Damon sweetheart," Damon heard his mother talking. Sitting upright, Damon looked at his mother and answered "Yes Mama." "Damon sweetheart, can you make mummy promise?" the little boy's mother asked. "Of course Mama anything, what promise?" little Damon asked. His mother took in a small deep breath and asked Damon "Sweetie promise me, that you will always look after your baby brother Stefan." Damon gave his mother a funny look and then smiled and said "I promise mama."

Damon's mother smiled and whispered, "Thank you," and slowly closed her eyes. Damon tried to wake her but there was no response from her. He began to shake lightly and then harder while screaming, "Mama!" over and over again, but her eyes never opened again.

One of the nurse maids rushed in when she heard Damon screaming and found her Madam just lying there and began screaming herself. Damon felt himself been dragged away from his mother, all the while trying his best to grab onto her and to not let go of here. People came rushing in and checked his mother while someone held him tight at the back o f the room...and then everything went black.

Damon's eyes slowly opened to a figure sitting beside him, waiting for him to awaken. It was none other than his nurse maid Serena. "Mama...where's my mama?" whispered Damon. Serena's eyes held unshed tears as she watched the little boy. How does she tell this sweet innocent child that his mother has gone and is never coming back? No child deserves to be without a mother.

Serena moved forward and took the tiny child in her arms, holding him tight she whispered in his ears "I'm so sorry Damon, but your mother has gone. She is among the stars now." And a single tear rolled down her right cheek.

"No!...NO! She is here. I was just with her in her room. I want to see her...Please" begged Damon. "I am sorry Damon, but your father wishes for you to stay here in your room until he comes to see you. I am sorry my dear child but you must stay here. You do not want to disobey you father do you?" Serena asked the little boy. She herself was not happy about this but unfortunately there was nothing she could do and her hearty ached for the little boy in front of her. Damon slowly shook his head and answered "I will wait for my father." And he sat up against the headboard crossed his legs and began to his long wait for his father. Little did he know what lay ahead of him? This would be the beginning of the terrifying days to come.

Serena made herself comfortable on the bed next to the boy and pulled him closer to her. She wrapped her arms around him, and made him lay his head on her shoulder. She would not leave the child at a time when he is in most need of comfort. She sat with him and awaited her Master to come to the boy. And if she was truly honest, she did not want to leave Damon with his father alone. The man terrified her.

An hour or so later, Serena and Damon were startled by a knock on the bedroom door. Damon sat up straight and looked up at his father as he entered the boy's room. "Serena would you please excuse us for a few minutes. You may return when I leave." Orded Damon's father. "As you wish, Mr Salvatore" replied Serena and she turned and headed out of the room.

Once Serena left and closed the door behind her, Damon father slowly turned to Damon, with a look of pure anger and hatred. This look terrified Damon for he has never seen such a look on his father's face before. He was too afraid to even utter a word to the angry, so terrified was the little boy.

"Damon" was all his father said in a menacing voice.

He moved slowly towards the little boy. Unconsciously Damon moved backwards. This did not go unnoticed by the angry father and he snarled.

"Come here boy. Now!" growled Mr Salvatore. The little boy was too frightened, and fear kept him frozen in place.

Working up a little courage the little boy asked d his father "Father why are you so angry with me. What have I done?"

"What have you done? You have the nerve to ask me such a question!" growled the man. "You," he began as he picked up the frightened boy by his arms and lifted him to his eye level and continued menacily "have killed you mother. You are the reason she is dead! You selfish brat!" and with that he threw Damon across the floor. Being so tiny, his body flew and hit the wall in the other side under the high window.

Pain shot through the little boy's boy and he began to cry and say "I'm sorry... I'm sorry...But for what he was apologising for, he did not know. How could a child understand what his father was saying? "Shut up you brat! I curse the day that you were born! Your mother has done nothing but love you, even when she did not want you. We fed you and clothed you. And what do you do in return. You kill your mother!" screamed the mad man. He was beside himself with grief and had no idea how to deal with it, so he took it out all on his first born.

"We never wanted you. You were a mistake. A mistake we could never get rid of. And from now you will pay for your mother's death!" the deranged man continued," you will stay in this room. And not come out till I say so. And you will have no supper tonight. I have to go see to you brother, who now has to grow up without a mother thanks to you." And Damon's father left the room without another glance at his son crumbled on the floor under the window, whimpering silently.

Damon could not understand what his father meant. Was his beloved mother dead because of him? But how? He would never do anything to hurt her. He loved her. She was his mother. And at the mention of Stefan's name, Damon remembered his promise to his mother. That he would always take care of his brother. Fearing his father and what he might do to Stefan, Damon renewed his vow to his mother that he would protect Stefan no matter what it takes, especially from his father and his Father's anger.

Little did he know what a burden that promise would be, for the rest of his life.

...

Sorry guys, I was hoping to make this chapter longer but it wouldn't have worked.

Also I'm not too sure how soon I'll be updating. But please keep the reviews coming, it helps inspire me ;-)