Hello, I know it's been days but I'm back with the new chapter, well, I hope I didn't disappoint you with my last chapter though and yes I exposed what I've got in mind about Damon and this one is still about Damon and his brother in the past. Might be a painful one but that's the part of the story, so enjoy the 3rd chapter! :)

Few Hour Before

Damon was packing all of his items, leaving no stuff in the boarding house. One thing that he would always bring was a box that contain of his precious thing. He kept his diary there. When he opened it, a photograph slipped to the floor and he took it. It was him and his little brother. They were taking care of each other, Stefan was 5 in that picture, he was a chubby little boy that needs to be protected, hell he still is.

1852

It was sunny day in Mystic Falls and it was also Stefan's 5th birthday. Their father already threw a party for Stefan, a big one at that time. Since the day before all of the staff in Giuseppe's boarding house had prepared for Stefan's birthday party. This was the contrary condition of Damon, his father never held any party for his birthday, he didn't even bother to congratulate him. For Giuseppe, Damon was never exist but Damon was Damon, he tried to accept it and move on with everything he got.

All people in Mystic Falls came to the party, they all brought a gift for Stefan. Everyone seemed so happy and was drawn at the party but Damon just watched his baby brother from distant, unable to come closer as his father told him to not ruin the party. He held the gift that he'd made for Stefan. It was a wooden car. Stefan asked it since 6 months before and he decided that it was the best time to give the present. Actually he made 2 of them knowing that someday Stefan definitely would ask him to race, thinking of this made Damon felt excited than before.

Damon had to wait 'till the party end to give the present and soon after his father came inside, he took his brother to the lake near their house. Stefan was just too excited, he loved to see the lake but he couldn't swim.

"Stefan! Don't play near the water, you can't swim!" his brother told him and Stefan obeyed him.

They just waited the sun to set with some boys around.

"Damon, it's my birthday.. Birthday boys always get a present, don't they.."

"Yes, that's very true.." he looked at his innocent eyes.

"What's your present for me then...?"

but someone interrupted them. "Stefan! Come here! You have to see this, I just catch a big fish, come on, take a look!" Ryan, their friend was shouting at him and Stefan who loved fish got up and ran to him fast.

"Stefan, be careful!"

By the time he got there, there was any fish that he'd caught, it was when Stefan noticed he was cheated. Ryan just laughed at him and Damon knew something was wrong. He ran as fast as possible before Ryan do anything that would harm Stefan. In a blink of eye, Ryan pushed Stefan into the lake and he fell into the water.

Damon could see Stefan was struggling in a water.

"You touch my brother again, you'll face me!" he punched Ryan in the nose 'till it bleed and jumped to help Stefan.

It wasn't easy though Stefan never stopped to punch and kick anything to hold on. He had to grab his brother from behind and swam to shore.

"Stefan, wake up!" Damon panicked but he shouted for a help.

Nana and their father were running toward the brothers. Damon was praying so that God save his little brother and he'd swore he'd do anything to see his laugh again, anything. Stefan was too young and it was his birthday, he couldn't just leave this world at his birthday, he thought.

"Stefan! Please wake up, don't leave me.." he was pleading now but still no sign.

When their father and Nana reached them, Stefan coughed, telling them that he was alive. Giuseppe held him like he was the only precious thing he had. After he realized that Damon was there, he just pushed him aside and threaten him.

"You! you almost killed your brother!" Giuseppe was shouting at him furiously.

"No, father, I was just trying to-"

"Is kill your mother not just enough! Do you have to take his life too! Huh!"

It was like a sharp knife that was stabbed right in his heart, hearing his father accused him for something that he didn't even intend to do, but he knew. He knew that anything that came out from his mouth wouldn't be a thing that his father would listen.

"I want you to be in my office room after this!" he got up and carried Stefan back to the house, leaving him alone there.

The present that he'd prepared before was crashed into pieces after accidentally stepped by his father. He took them and thought that maybe he could string them up one day.

His clothes was still all wet once he got there but Giuseppe didn't care at all, he grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to his office. Damon knew what would have happened since his father always punished him with corporal punishment.

"Nana, take care of Stefan and take him away from here. Tell Stefan I will accompany him after this..."

"Yes, Mr. Salvatore, but... Damon just saved his life he doesn't deserve-"

"Did I ask for your opinion?"

"No, sir"

"So, go and do what you've told!"

"Yes, sir"

Nana had no choice but leave them alone and God knew what would've his father done this time. She just did what she's been told without questioning him anymore.

"Nana, where is Damon?" Stefan asked her while he was changing.

"Uhh, he is in father's room"

"Oh, I want to go there too" without her allowance, he ran to his father's room only to hear his brother's scream. Slowly he stepped back hearing this.

"Nana, what is that? Why is Damon screaming?"

Nana tried to cover it up, hoping it would work. "It's okay, dear, Damon is just...being cured, everything is going to be okay. Come on, let's play in the garden.." He took her hand hesitantly but he was curious about what happened inside.

After Giuseppe finished punishing him, he went to Stefan's room and found him played with Nana.

"You can go back, I'll take care of Stefan now.." she walked toward the door but she said something before she was out.

"Mr. Salvatore, with all my respect. What you have done to Damon is not fair, you know by torturing him would never bring Mrs. Salvatore back. He didn't do anything wrong, he also needs your love. I never ask you for something, sir, but I hope you think about this matter"

No words came out from his mouth, but he didn't really care for anything that related to Damon.

Once Nana was gone, Damon took a step to peek from the door. Giuseppe was holding Stefan with love, this was the thing that he always imagined, but he knew he would never felt that. He really missed his mother, she was the only one that care for him, but since she was gone, Damon was never loved by his only parent. Waiting for his father to sleep him, he came back to his room and Nana noticed he was in pain.

"Son... Which one is hurt?"

"It's okay, I deserve this..." and he continued to walk.

"Damon, wait" She tapped his shoulder and he shrieked.

"Let me see it" he had no choice as she opened his clothe slowly.

She was shock for what she'd found. Bruises and whip wound covered his back and that explained why he shrieked when she touched him. Damon tried to hide the pain but she just knew it must be hurt. She wanted to cry but she had to be strong for him. She witnessed hundreds of torture that Giuseppe addressed to his elder son but Damon never complained. He always keep it to himself.

"Come on, go to your room, let's clean this up.."

He lied on his stomach while Nana took care of the wounds.

"Nana, do you really believe my mother is happy there?"

"Of course, she is, why wouldn't she be happy.."

"Do you think she misses me?"

"Mother would never stop missing you, dear.."

"I miss her too" he paused. "Sometimes I wish I were just with her, she was the only one who loved me..."

"No, Damon, she wasn't the only one, you still have me, I love you my all my heart..." he smiled, a true smile from the boy who'd been hurt all this time. She knew he would always kept struggling though he was never loved by his father.

"Good, because I love you too, Nana" few minutes after she cleaned his wound, he fell asleep.

"You have a big heart, Damon, keep it with you" Nana kissed his hair and left.

In fact, Damon didn't sleep at all, he sneaked up from his bed and came to Stefan's room with his wooden car as a present.

"Stefan.." he whispered in his ear. "Stefan, wake up"

He blinked his eyes and was surprised that Damon was there.

"Happy birthday, Stefan... and this is the gift for you" he said as he gave the present with excitement. "I hope you like it.."

"Whooaa, this is the toy that I want Damon.. Thank you very much!"

"You're most welcome, ohh and I made it myself.."

"wow! I love my new toy! Thanks Damon" he said as he hugged him and Damon shrieked, trying to hold the pain.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am fine, just go back to sleep, okay.." but his face turned from eager to anxiety. "Is something bothering you?"

"I still get my wish, right?" Damon nodded. "Can you stay?" He dragged himself back to the bed.

"Can you tell me about mother? I can't remember her clearly..."

"Sure.."

He smiled remembering Stefan that time, he was so cute and he'd do anything to see his brother's smile and this was what exactly he did at present. In fact he never broke his promise that he'd do anything to see his smile, his happiness, 'cause that was the matter, he loved his brother too much. He would do anything, even letting go the girl he loved for his brother.

Yes, that was the end of the 3rd chapter, it's pretty sad to look back for his past, but I just can't forget when Giuseppe told him that Damon was a disappointment for him. How could he? :'(

Anyway, I'll be back with the new chapter in few days, but I'll give you a clue since I dried out my tears now, so the next one you'll find DELENA in their own dreams and hope, curious? Well then, just wait and see..

Once again, thank you for reading this chapter and please let me know about what you think and I really appreciate for some ideas that you give :)