The next morning, the girl came down the stairs and found Damon clearing up the mess he had made in the living room. 

"Morning," he greeted her, "how are you feeling now?" 

She just nodded in reply. 

"You know what, my brother is making breakfast for you. We went for a grocery drive round the town and stocked up the refrigerator," he told her as he took her to the dining table and helped her up on a chair. 

Stefan brought a bowl of spaghetti and a glass of juice for her. When she had eaten, he asked, "what's your name?" 

She replied, "Melanie." 

He told her his name and Damon's as well while Damon was silently observing the child. 

"So, you're Steefan and you're Daynon," she wondered out loud. 

Both of them laughed. "It's Damon, not Daynon," Damon corrected her. 

She looked confused, "hey that's what I said: Daynon." 

He spoke, "well then, you can call me Daynon if you like but to be honest it's Damon: D.A.M.O.N." 

She spoke, "I don't understand. I know you are talking about letters but I don't understand." 

Stefan asked, "you haven't been to school?" 

She shook her head, "She says that I don't deserve to go to school. She says I'm a bad child and no school will keep me." 

Damon was internally seething at this unnamed woman, "but she's wrong, Melanie. You're a very good child and I promise you'll go to school too." 

Her eyes shone, "will you take me to school?" 

He gave her a smile, "of course I will." 

He lowered his voice so that only Stefan could hear him, "I hope this excuse of a woman dies at my hands. The psychotic monster. Ruining a kid's life like that." 

Stefan patted his shoulder and said, "it's time to go to the Sheriff." He turned to face her, "will you go with us to the Sheriff? He's a friend too and he'll help in keeping her away from you." 

Damon took out his car keys and led her out holding her hand in his. He had already asked Stefan to go to the Sheriff beforehand and explain everything while he'd take the girl for some shopping as her dress was not in an appropriate condition. 

"Steefan's not coming with us?" she asked when Damon started up the engine. 

"No he has some other work," he told her. 

She nodded, "I see. And we might be going to that other friend of yours." 

He spoke, "yup, but first we'll be going shopping and then I'll take you to have ice-cream and in the end we'll see the Sheriff. Stefan will join us there." 

She smiled for the first time, "thank you, Daynon." 

He laughed, "it's kind of funny the way you call me Daynon instead of Damon."

He took her to a renown kid mart and she stared at everything in disbelief, "is this a shop? Do shops sell other things than grogereez too?" 

He raised an eyebrow, "oh so you mean groceries." 

She nodded, "well yes. Bread, milk and eggs. I used to fetch these things twice a month but that shop near home was so different. This place is wonderful." 

He just laughed, "this shop sells clothes and stuff like shoes, skirts, toys and books. I'm going to buy you lots of pretty dresses and toys. Agreed?" 

She was glad as she happily wandered about choosing things with Damon. 

"Nope, this one screams tart," Damon criticized, "and absolutely these shoes would be useless in a week." 

She made a face, "you sure you've brought me here to buy something? All the time you've been just remarking on how ugly everything is." 

He bent down on one knee to be face to face with her, "come on, princess, I'm just trying to find the perfect dress for you." 

She shook her head, "I'm not a princess, Daynon." 

He gently patted her head, "good little girls like you are always princesses and should be treated as such." 

Finally he picked out some dresses and shoes. Melanie was speechless as she had never even dreamed of someone caring so much about her. Damon asked one of the salesgirls to dress Melanie up in the new frock and pink laced shoes. When she was ready she definitely looked a lot more prettier. 

"Thank you so much. I love this," she spoke as he gave her a high five. 

"She's so cute," the salesgirl remarked gently ruffling Melanie's head, "is she your daughter?" 

Damon replied, "no, she's my sister actually." 

The woman blushed as he gave her one of his full blown smirks, "oh of course. I thought that too at first." 

He was accustomed to this sort of reaction from the females. "Thanks a lot for your help," he said and took Melanie out to the car. 

"Daynon why did you tell that lady that I'm your sister? I'm not your real sister." 

He smiled, "of course but we don't want anyone knowing that you are with us and telling it to that woman you live with, do we? So you'll be our sister in front of the others." 

She mumbled, "that's so nice of you. I'd love to have brothers like you and Steefan." 

He turned to glance briefly at her, "we can be a family. A happy little family."

***