I held on tightly to Dami's hand as I skipped along side him, with some cotton candy in my hand that my brother got for me and was actually surprised when he gave it to me, believing I wouldn't be allowed sugar after the whole ice cream incident, the reason why I spent most of the morning in the corner.
Though when I questioned him about it, he only said that I wasn't allowed to have any ice cream but never said anything about me having cotton candy or any other sweets; I just have to ask permission first.
That in a way, was Damon's own way of attempting to make it up to me for not really being able to take me to my very first ever play date this morning and nearly had a fit when the babysitter showed up to take me over to the Gilbert's and begged him to take me, practically in tears but still got the big fat NO from my brother which was when I went into a meltdown.
Dami didn't really stay around for that, leaving the compelled 'foster mother' to deal with me as he better places to be or more like how he could piss Stefan off the most who was still under the impression Dami was staying at the boarding house with him instead of with me, where he spent most nights; Stefan was not a very good vampire.
So, now my big brother felt bad about leaving me when I needed him and was spoiling me with all kinds of treats to make it to me; there was absolutely no way I was going to bed on time again tonight.
Knowing Damon, he was going to make sure that I actually went to bed on time tonight which was one of the few things he was real strict about and it always bothered him when I was out past bedtime and believes that is what caused my meltdown this morning; it was only half an hour which didn't seem like a big deal to me.
It was too bad I wasn't allowed ice cream as punishment as I believe I saw an ice cream stand selling sundaes, but when I pleaded with Damon about having some, I was told that I was off ice cream until further notice and knowing my brother, it was going to be a long while for I am allowed to have some again.
I should have realized that my brother was going to go all crazy about me having some ice cream as he thinks I get too hyper when I have too much sugar though I didn't think I was that bad when I would have one of my sugar rushes and usually fell asleep early and was tired most of the following day; Dami usually has to carry me.
At least there was cotton candy and funnel cake, even french fries which next to ice cream, was my favorite food group though Dami said junk doesn't count as actual food though that probably going to be my meal today and surprised Dami wasn't making me eat healthier snacks, even let me have soda; he was really spoiling me tonight.
Though I was still being a little pouty about having to leave the festival early when even Jessica Gilbert was being allowed to stay up real late tonight and from what she tells me her aunt is strict about bedtime and it wasn't even a school night.
This event was so damn big that the mayor closed school for tomorrow but Dami at least was allowing me to stay long enough to see the comet before being sent home; he doesn't believe I will make it that long but I'll show him.
He was also worried about Stefan catching a glimpse of me when in his mind, I was dead though have no idea where he even got that idea from or what our brother might try to do if he was to see me but knowing him, he would see me as a threat to his precious doppelganger; maybe Dami would let me stay for the candle lighting.
"Dami, can I stay for the candle lighting, please? Jessica says that is the best part," I asked him as we walked through the town, practically dragging him as I looked at all the food stands as I held my cotton candy I was still munching up to him to share; I always loved sharing cotton candy with him, the pink was my favorite while he loved the blue.
"Why thank you, my little cutie pie. Sure, you can stay for the candle lighting. I'm actually interested to see what these little humans have planned, myself. We just need to stay out of sight so that Stefan doesn't see you.
As long as we are home by bedtime, you can go wherever you want as long as it isn't dark. Are you sure you can stay awake that long," Dami asked as I rolled my eyes at his teasing, knowing it would get under my skin.
It wouldn't be the first time I fell asleep before having the chance to see something I desperately wanted to see though I blame my brother for giving me such a childish bedtime; he likes having me in bed so that I would be out of his way for him to do as he pleases without worrying about me being in his way and at times, felt like a burden.
To be honest, even though I have been a vampire for the last 145 years, my brother still saw me as this innocent nine year old little girl that needed his constant protection from the whole world, wanting to shield me from the horrors of being a vampire; he didn't believe I could handle it.
"Dami, you don't let me run around anyway, whether it is dark or not. I have to be with a babysitter at all times if you aren't there, you even compel someone to take me to the restroom. I'm not a baby," I whined which he just playfully rolled his eyes at, knowing he was ignoring me.
Though I could complain all day and night, it still would wouldn't change his mind about his rules when it comes to me; ever since our five year separation, he has been extra protective.
It makes me wonder that when I finally do tell him the truth of what Father did to me while he was away in the Confederate Army, just how protective will he most likely get and he sometimes takes it to the extreme and will get worse if he knew the only reason I never told him was because I didn't want him feeling guilty for what happened, he already had guilt about Katherine compelling him to ignore me and that wasn't even his fault.
"Ally, your my baby and you aren't even allowed to stay home by yourself without a babysitter or even allowed to cross the street without holding my hand. Do you really think I will let you actually go off on your own?
Sorry Cutie Pie, not happening. No nine year old sister of mine is walking around town on her own without a babysitter, not unless that little sister wants a spanking," he teased, giving me a wink as I flushed with embarrassment as I glanced around to make sure no one heard his comment.
"Dami! I'm too old for that now. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself, you taught me how," I complained, a little annoyed now after his little comment," I said looking up at him with a frown.
"Hate to break it to you, cutie pie but you are definitely not too old for a spanking. I have absolutely no problem with putting a certain little girl of mine over my knee and turning her bottom red if needed.
Now come on, let's get you a candle so that we can get back to the house. We have to hurry though and the foster lady will have to put you to bed tonight. I need to get back so that I can torture Stefan later. It doesn't give me much time to mess with him. Look, funnel cake," Damon said, not paying attention as we walked around.
So, he also didn't notice to hurt look on my face when he mentioned about not having enough time to torture Stefan because he needs to bring me back to the 'foster home', making me feel like I burden; maybe Lexi was right and he didn't really want me around anymore and it would be better if I just left and never came back.
Since as long as I can remember, with the exception of those five awful years when he went missing on me, there was not one day where he wouldn't put me to bed; he always made time and now that we are back in Mystic Falls, it felt like I was being tossed aside and torturing Stefan was more important than being there when I needed him.
I often wondered what would happen if I was to suddenly take off on my brother and if he would even bother to notice; he was so busy obsessing with getting Katherine out of the tomb and torturing Stefan, he probably wouldn't even find the time to come find me.
It might seem stupid and childish, but we don't really spend that much time together as we did when we were human and Damon is usually off drinking from some sorority girl, so bedtime is usually the only time I get my brother all to myself and it was important to me, so hearing he didn't plan to be there, bothered me.
"Can't you put me to bed, Dami? Please grande Fratello. I promise to go right to sleep, but I don't want the lady. She isn't you," I whined slightly though doubt that would change his mind; once he made up his mind, there was no changing it as tears came to my eyes though wasn't sure why I was crying as I was lifted up.
"Oh my Ally. Don't cry, big girls don't cry. I know you want me to put you to bed and we came back here for a reason. To get Katherine and as soon as we get her back, the three of us will leave together," he said, excited about getting her back; that doesn't exactly make me feel better to be honest, I have been dreading this day.
Was it wrong of me to hope that Damon fails on opening the tomb, just so I could have my older brother all to myself and not have to share him with anyone which was another reason why I didn't want to come back home; I knew it was only a matter of time before I would have to share him with Katherine and that terrifies me.
I still don't believe that Katherine was in the tomb, she was just too smart to ever even consider getting caught but Dami doesn't want to listen to me when I go on one of my rants of her not being in the tomb; he just tells me not to worry and that she is in the tomb and for once, I hope I'm wrong but my instincts are telling me that she isn't in there.
I wanted to keep crying, throw a fit even so he knew just how I felt about being abandoned for Katherine or Stefan but what good would it do and I was too scared to find out to truth; to hear how much of a burden I really was to him and he would be glad to rid of me, like Lexi said.
So, I just nodded my head and going along with whatever he was saying and pretending that I was okay with all of this, when really I was terrified of the thought of seeing Katherine again and was so scared that I have even resorted back to having nightmares again; Dami hasn't noticed, he was too busy trying to get Katherine out of the tomb.
"Can I sleep in your bed tonight. Please Dami," I pleaded, giving him my best puppy dog eyes as he rolled his eyes at me because of my antics, giving me a kiss on my forehead before putting me down, despite my reluctance; I was having one of my clingy moments.
"Sure bambino. Whatever makes you happy. Let's get you to the candle lighting and if your a good girl, I'll buy you a funnel cake before going home. Would you like that, cutie pie. God, I must be crazy to give you so much sugar before bed. I must love you," Damon said, pulling on one of my pigtails, getting a smile at me; I so love a good sugar rush.
"Yeah Dami, come on," I said, pulling on his hand as I tried to run and drag him with me at the same time which wasn't working all that well as my brother was not as overly excited as I was and had no intention of running like I wanted to do; he was such a spoilsport.
"Hold on, Cutie Pie. Be careful, we don't know where Stefan is and when he will show up. I don't want him seeing you just yet. I have no doubt that he will try to use you to get to me. That is why your safety means everything to me, un po," Dami said as he lifted me up to keep me from running off which made me grumble.
"Dami, I can walk. I'm not a baby," I whined, wanting to be put down as I was way too hyper at the moment to be restrained like this though his only response was to shift me on his hip like a little kid; I hated being little sometimes.
"I know you can walk, my bambino but I want to carry you. I love doing it, just don't tell Stefan. Apparently he believes I have no humanity or whatever but my baby knows different, right," he said, tickling my side, making me laugh; I don't know what Stefan was getting at, Damon was the most compassionate person I know or that was how I saw him.
It wasn't until we were in the town square where the candle lighting was taken place, did Damon finally place me on the ground and allowed me to walk though took my hand to keep me close; it was crowded with people and he probably didn't want us getting separated.
"Look Dami! Candles," I said, pointing to the other side where people were handing out candles and pulling away from my brother's hand and running towards the candle stand, ignoring my brother's calls; I was just too excited to listen to my brother right now.
Unfortunately, Dami caught me before I got too far and nowhere near the candle stand so didn't have the chance to grab a candle before I was pulled off to the side to get scolded; I didn't like it when I got scolded.
Ally, no running off. I don't have time to go looking for you if you get yourself lost. If I miss my opportunity to torture Stefan because I have to go looking for you, you will be going straight to bed and won't get to see the comet. Capisci?," Damon scolded me lightly as I was lifted up and placed on his hip to be carried.
I wasn't too upset about being scolded and should just be lucky that he didn't threaten me with another spanking like he does twice a week though most of time those were empty threats; he would actually have to take time away from torturing Stefan to follow through, something he isn't interested in doing.
What was really bothering me was not about him being cross with me, but the fact that he seemed to care more about torturing Stefan or obsessing with Katherine than about me; it was like I had to act out just to get his attention.
"Sorry cutie pie, I'm not putting you down. Consider this your punishment for wandering off like that," my brother said as he tightened his grip as I pouted, trying to give him my puppy eyes which were unsuccessful; he only smirked at me.
Though I don't even know what the big deal was anyway, it wasn't like I had walked too far away from him, it was barely a few feet but he believes that some vengeful vampire was going to snatch me to get revenge on him; I doubt it would happen in front of half a town in broad daylight and besides, I wasn't very known in the vampire world.
I hated feeling like a baby and sometimes Damon likes to forget that I wasn't actually nine and was a vampire just like him for the last 145 years, so was pouting and only got a smile when he brought me back to the candles and handed me my very own; I guess, he wasn't too upset with me running off.
I know Damon better than anyone, even Stefan so I know if my brother had actually been real cross with me, he would be holding it against me; he was one for holding a grudge though he always said, he could never stay mad at me for long which is one of the good things of being his baby.
"I'm craving some popcorn, cutie pie. What do I say, want to share some popcorn with your big brother," Dami said as he carried me over to the popcorn stand and trying to cheer me up as I nodded my head quietly, ready to eat something else good, especially since I finished my delicious cotton candy.
Damon compelled the lady at the popcorn stand to give us some popcorn for free and my brother made sure to put lots of butter on it, just the way he likes it whenever he takes me to the movies; he always feels the need to load it with that fake butter shit while I just want some salt which he says isn't good for me.
I don't know how he can say that to me, especially when he tells me this right after I would watch him put nearly two pounds of butter on his popcorn, so much butter that the bag leaks everywhere; he is such a hypocrite, not like he would listen to me.
The sun was barely setting and still no sign of Stefan, thank god because the last thing I want is an encounter with a brother who cares so little of me that he chooses to claim me dead; fine with me, he has been dead to me since before Dami came back from the war and didn't want a reunion anytime soon.
Damon may have always seen me as an innocent child but to Stefan, I was never a child in his eyes as all that he saw me as the person that killed his mother which was why he saw nothing wrong with what Father did to me and wouldn't think twice about hurting me if he believed me to be a threat.
To Stefan, because he believed me to behind the reason of our mother's death or at least part of it, I didn't deserve to even claim her as my mother and nearly threw a fit anytime I would call her mother; she wasn't my mother, she was his.
I was getting tired, despite my reluctance to let it be known to Damon though nothing ever gets past him as he let out a smirk, "Hm, is a certain little girl getting sleepy. I seem to remember someone saying they stay up late," he teased, tapping my bottom to get my attention as I hid my face in his shoulder.
He enjoyed teasing me like any other brother as I chose to ignore him to get a rise out of him, lifting my eyes to look behind me while he is busy teasing, when I saw the brown hair that I couldn't forget as I tapped Damon to get his attention who saw what I was looking at and pulled me out of sight of our brother.
Uh oh, Stefan was here and I was still at the festival, something that Damon didn't want to happen and he was right in the middle of the town square, leaving us no exit out; Damon was not going to be happy about this.
Piccola Ragazza: Little Girl
Grande Fratello: Big Brother
Bambino: Baby
Un Po: Little Bit
Capisci: Do You Understand