Chapter 5

The next day, Damon went to wake Ottilie. He wanted to introduce her to his and Stefan's friends that day, now that she was comfortable with them. He quietly opened her bedroom door and was shocked to see her lying on the floor by the bed. He ran over to her and gently picked her up, fearing she was ill or injured. He tapped her face lightly, 'Ottilie,' he called gently, 'Ottilie, sweetheart, can you hear me?' Her eyes fluttered open and her face morphed into a big smile.

'Damon!' she said, happily. Damon sighed in relief. She was fine.

'What are you doing on the floor?' he asked, exasperated. She looked up at him, still cradled in his arms. 'I've never properly had a bed, and I wasn't sure if I was allowed to sleep in it. Sorry, Damon' she whispered. He saw her bottom lip begin to tremble and he stood up, still carrying her. 'This is your bed,' he said teasingly, 'and you'll sleep in it every night. Do you understand?' she nodded, still looking to be on the edge of tears. She seemed to be trying to work out if she was in trouble. He playfully tipped her out of his arms and onto the soft bed and she sprung back up. 'Come on then!' he said, joining her on the bed. He began bouncing and she slowly joined in.

That's how Stefan found them 10 minutes later, in hysterical laughter, bouncing on the bed. 'Hey!' he said. 'Why wasn't I invited?' He pretended to pout, but then had to suddenly catch Ottilie as she launched herself into his arms. 'Sorry, Stefan!' she said. He smiled at her.

'I'm only teasing, Otti,' he said. 'Come on, I've made you some breakfast.' Her face lit up and she looked back at Damon. 'I'll follow you down' he said, smiling.

Ottilie had finished her breakfast, which Damon noted approvingly, she'd managed most of, and was sat in front of the fire reading a book that Stefan had found for her. The doorbell rang and Stefan went to open it. 'Elena!' he said, surprised to see her. She didn't look best pleased. 'Stefan, are you okay? I've not heard from you for days!' she said.

'Yes I'm fine, come on in, Elena. There's someone I'd like you to meet.' He said, leading her into the room where Ottilie was sat. As soon as she heard the new voice, she'd scurried off to hide behind the sofa. 'Otti?' called Stefan. She crept out, still holding the book. 'Otti, there you are. Come and meet my girlfriend, Elena.' She hesitantly moved towards the two adults. 'Elena, this is Ottilie. Damon found her in the woods a couple of days ago and she's staying with us.' Elena looked shocked and looked down at the small girl in front of her.

'So this is why I haven't heard from you?' she said. Stefan looked a little taken aback.

'Hello, Miss,' said Ottilie in a tiny voice, trying her best to be polite. 'It's nice to meet you.' Elena ignored her, still looking at Stefan. 'She shouldn't be here, she's just a child. Take her back to where you found her!' She was almost ordering this, as if she expected it would happen. Ottilie started to tremble at the thought of being sent back. Stefan noticed her begin to shake and made a move to go to her, but Elena stepped between them. 'Take her back, Stefan' she said, quietly.

At that moment, Damon appeared and stepped in, picking up Ottilie who was now shaking so hard that he thought his heart might break. Her own heart, he noticed, focusing in to hear it, seemed to be racing at a million miles an hour. 'What's going on?' he asked, accusingly. Elena looked back at Ottilie, and at the stern faces of the brothers. 'Nothing,' she said, breezily. 'Hi Ottilie, I'm looking forward to getting to know you.' She smiled sweetly before turning back to Stefan. 'Are you coming to grill later? Do you think you can make time?' she almost sneered. 'Yes of course,' he replied, cooly. 'We are bringing Ottilie to meet everyone.' She scoffed.

'Of course you are. I'll see you later.' With that, she swept out of the house.

'Is she okay, brother?' asked Stefan. Damon glared at him, then down at the little girl in his arms. He was concerned to hear Ottilie's heart thumping very quickly. 'Hey, little lady,' he said gently to her, moving her head from his shoulder to look at her face. Her eyes were closed. 'Hey, Ottilie?' he said with a little more urgency. When she didn't respond, he held her a little further away from him, trying to ascertain why she wasn't waking up. 'Shit, Stefan!' he swore quietly. He laid the tiny human on the sofa and shook her gently by the shoulders. Stefan had run to get a cold cloth and began to dab it gently on her head. Presently, her eyes fluttered open and she blinked up at them standing over her. 'Otti, what happened? Are you okay?' asked Stefan, somewhat panicked. She nodded.

'Sorry, Stefan. I think I got a bit scared and then everything went fuzzy then black. It happens sometimes.' She shrugged, seemingly unphased by what had happened.

'I'm going to get her something sugary to drink, Damon' said Stefan. 'I think she must have fainted.' Damon just nodded, relieved to hear that her heart was now beating normally again. 'You scared me, little lady,' he whispered to her, moving her hair from her face and taking her hand.' She looked a little upset.

'I'm really sorry, Damon.' She whispered. He smiled at her, moving her legs gently so that he could sit next to her, and then placing them over his own. 'It's not your fault, sweetheart. I'm sorry you were scared.' He said. Stefan appeared with the orange juice and helped her sit so that she could drink it. The colour returned to her cheeks and she asked if she could go and finish her reading. Damon nodded and beckoned Stefan to accompany him to the kitchen.

'Stefan, surely that isn't normal?' he asked. Stefan looked worried.

'I haven't come across it before, I have to say.' He said, 'but then I never got to paediatrics in my training. It seems like she had a panic attack and ending up passing out. We need to keep an eye on that.' Damon nodded.

'What was up with Elena?' he asked. Stefan shrugged.

'Ah, I think she was just annoyed that I've been so occupied with Ottilie. I'll catch up with her later though.' Damon looked unconvinced but decided not to press the matter.

'I'm going to go and prepare Ottilie for going to the grill. I'll see you in a bit, brother.' He said, and left to go and help the young girl choose and outfit for meeting his friends.

What do you think? I'm not sure I like Elena very much in this. Will she warm to Ottilie? Please leave a review! Thanks for reading. SEG21 x