𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿
𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦
▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

As humans we can heal from almost anything. But some wounds are so deep that are inflicted by the ones who should have loved and supported us. They leave the greatest impact and carve themselves into our bones. In some cases, it may be like that from the very start and it may be hard to believe but there was a time when people were envious of the mother-daughter relationship between Lillian and Charlotte Salvatore.

Thursdays were always their favourite day. Most days an excited young Charlotte would rush to wherever her mother may be within the home asking if their day had arrived. Children get excited the day before their birthday or the day before Christmas, but not Charlotte. Thursdays were better than both of those yearly celebrations combined to the young Salvatore. It was a day that would be solely spent with her mother, her best friend.

It was uncommon for mothers in the upper-class to dote upon their children, they'd rely entirely on a Governess. The Governess would be as though they were a surrogate mother while the children's actual mothers would perform duties of what a woman with a status were obligated to complete.

That's why a lot of women in the town found Lily Salvatore so curious, she adored her children just as much as they adored her. She spent every moment she could with her children, teaching them herself on the ways to become respected in the town they lived.

Hand in hand they make their way into the town's square, like they did every Thursday. Matching wicker baskets ready to be filled with whatever they may find. Lily could feel her cheeks already beginning to ache looking down at Charlotte who has a skip in her step to keep up with her mother, explaining the dream she had the previous night. Adamant that it was real life.

Charlotte always had a wild imagination, this dream was no exception to that imagination and Lily was never able to stop her laughter as she listened, "And after Damon slayed the giant dragon. What happened next?"

"No, it was not Damon! It was baby Stefan!" Charlotte exclaims, "Damon was too scared and he hid behind Stefan."

"Stefan is just a baby, darling." Lily brings them both to a stop at the edge of the path, waiting as several carriages go past. Lily lowers herself to be at eye level with her daughter, wearing a warm smile, "Maybe Stefan needed help from his big brother and sister to save the day."

"But, he didn't, mother! I promise you!" The sun shines onto Charlotte's face, making her green orbs and rose tinted cheeks become even more prominent, "Stefan was the only one to save us because he is the one that is most brave."

Without fail Lily would always question how she was lucky enough to have three perfect children, all unique in their own way. Her smile broadens, gazing at her daughter in awe, "You love your baby brother so much, don't you?"

Charlotte's eyes lit up with mischief, matching the mischievous grin she wore leaning closer to her mother as she places her empty wicket basket onto the floor. She raises her hand against the side of her face to begin whispering in Lily's ear, "Yes but do not tell Damon. Stefan cannot speak yet so I can play with his toys. Damon always tells me off for going near his soldiers and horses."

Lily gasps in fake shock, eyes light up with the same mischief as Charlotte as she pulls away from her making Charlotte giggle. She too places her basket onto the floor, yet their intertwined hands never break apart, "Your secret..." She leans closer to Charlotte before she starts to tickle her, "Is safe with me."

Pure, sweet ripples of laughter coming from a child was music to any mother's ears. The odd person walking by the mother and daughter duo would smile towards them without even realising, admiring the happiness spilling out of them both.

Lily holds up the smaller wicker basket in front of Charlotte, "Now, let us make haste." Lily takes hold of her own basket before standing up straight as they continue walking into the square, "We need to gather everything we need to make aunt Cora's cake before it gets dark."

—✤—

Lily was thrilled that her sister, Cora, was coming to visit. She rarely did, mainly because it was no secret that she didn't like Giuseppe. She always believed her younger sister could do better and deserved better. The first night he laid a hand on Lily she had just found out she was pregnant with Charlotte.

The first half of her pregnancy with Damon was an anxious time for everyone and there was a moment when it was a strong possibility that Lily would have miscarried. That's why she waited until the time was right to announce that she was blessed with a second pregnancy. After telling her sister and she too sharing the same excitement in regards to this pregnancy, all Lily wanted to do was tell her husband.

That night after seeing her sister, Lily went home unable to contain her thrill of this news. Cora would always say she had a gift when it came to knowing the gender of an unborn child and when she told Lily that her second born was going to be a girl, they were ecstatic. But the same wasn't said for Giuseppe. He only wanted sons and never wanted a daughter so when an excited Lily returned home that night to share the news, he hit her with so much force he knocked her out cold.

Lily doesn't remember much from that night afterwards. But one thing that was engraved in her mind was a tearful Giuseppe apologising for his outburst, swearing to his beloved wife he would never lay a hand on her again. But today as Lily stands within the kitchen with make up covering the newest bruise against her eye, she wondered if his promise all those years ago was just plain mockery. Trapping her in a life that knows no true happiness from the man who is meant to love her the most.

But whenever Lily was in the company of her children, she didn't feel the pain. She never would, their presence would make it vanish instantly. She smiles towards Charlotte sitting upon the counter, adamant that she was to clean each strawberry one by one that would take place on top of the birthday cake for Cora. Charlotte would be delicate with every single strawberry, washing them thoroughly before placing them into a bowl. However for every one she put in the bowl, she would eat the another. They were always her favourite. 

The warm smile on Lily's face drops just like any ounce of happiness she may have felt when Giuseppe walks into the kitchen and walks straight towards their daughter, "If you keep eating all of those strawberries..."

The mother's eyes widen, feeling as though her entire body has frozen in place and feeling all the colour leave her face. She watches as Giuseppe's hand raise towards Charlotte's face, like everything is happening in slow motion. It was a terrifying thought that Lily would always have in the back of her mind that one day something in her husband's mind will snap and not only will his anger be used on Lily, but also their children. 

Instead, a rare smile appears against Giuseppe's lips as his thumb gently swipes against Charlotte's cheek, wiping away remains of the previous strawberry she ate, "You will end up like a strawberry." 

Charlotte's small giggle breaks Lily out of her feared thoughts. She quickly brushes away any fear that may show on her face as Giuseppe steps towards her. His tone wasn't soft like it was with their daughter, instead harsh and cold, "When does she arrive?"

Lily flashes a small smile before she begins to mix the cake batter in front of her, "Tomorrow."

A mocking laugh from the man, it felt like it filled the entire room with a darkness, "I shall make sure that I will not be anywhere near her revolting attitude." 

Lily stares out in front of her, towards an oblivious Charlotte getting a drink of water from one of the maids, hands so small she can only hold it up with both hands. Lily tries to remain as still as a stature, swallowing harshly as Giuseppe lowers himself to the side of his wife's face as his tone becomes even more fuelled with hatred, "I advise you do not allow her to poison my children's minds with her lies. The less time she spends with them, the better."

What felt like an eternity of holding her breath, Lily exhales a long shaky one when Giuseppe leaves the room. She takes a deep breath before a wide smile graces her lips, "Charlotte..."

Lily hands the tin filled with cake batter to one of the maids who places it into the oven. Wiping the excess flour against her apron before Lily lifts Charlotte off the counter and kneeling in front of her, "Do you know why I call you my little flower?" Charlotte says quiet, simply shaking her head before Lily continues, "It is because without even trying you always brighten my day."

"Like those tulips we brought back from the market." Lily points towards the large vase filled with vibrant white tulips with a smaller vase beside it filled with the same flowers. They would always get enough flowers so Charlotte would have a vase of her own to keep in her bedroom. Lily cups Charlotte's cheeks, pressing a soft kiss against her daughter's forehead, "No one will ever be able to take your shine away from you."

It may not seem like it in this moment, but those words stuck with Charlotte. Instead of it seeming that way, the young Salvatore eagerly jumps up and down with a broad, infectious smile, "Is the cake ready yet?"

"We have to be patient." Lily's soft laughter was always a sound that Charlotte would never grow tired of. Lily takes hold of Charlotte's hands, "There will come a day where you will have your own little family, Charlotte. Maybe you'll have a daughter and you will be able to have a special day with her."

Charlotte brows knit together, almost as though she is disgusted at that thought when she shakes her head, "I do not want to have a different family." The sour look on the child's face vanishes instantly, replaced with a bright smile as her small hands rest against her mother's cheeks, "I want to always be with you."

The stinging sensation of tears begin to form in the corner of Lily's eyes, brows pull inwards taken back by Charlotte's words. She can feel a lump instantly forming in the back of her throat that she swallows down harshly, "My sweet little flower, there will come a time when I will not be around."

Lily can see by Charlotte's frown that she is trying to figure out what her mother's words may mean, "Where will you go?" Charlotte shrugs off any thought about what her mother day as she starts to play with Lily's hair, "It does not matter, I will come with you because you are my best friend and I am yours."

Laughter would always surround the two Salvatore women, the type of laughter that would warm up a room that had no fire. And that's all that could be heard in this very moment as Lily runs her hand through her daughter's hair, "You certainly are, Charlotte."

"Charlotte!" Damon's high pitched, loud voice comes into play. An impatient boy stands in the doorway looking towards his sister, "You said you would come outside and play on the swings with me!"

"I changed my mind." Charlotte shrugs her shoulders, sticking her tongue out towards him, "I do not like you today, Damon."

"Charlotte," Lily drawls out with a sigh as she stands up straight. Her hand goes against Damon's back, guiding him further into the kitchen, "Be kind to your brother."

Charlotte pushes Damon away from her as she frowns with a pet lip, "Damon tells lies about me!"

"It is not a lie! You stole my favourite horse!" Damon argues back before sending a stare full of plea towards Lily, "Mother, she stole fluffy!"

Charlotte's lip twitches up, pulling a face towards Damon, "Why did you call a wooden horse fluffy?" 

With a loud scoff, Damon storms towards his sister, pulling out the lilac coloured ribbon from her hair before running away, "Hey!" Charlotte shouts after him, one hand against the back of her hair as she runs after him, "Give that back!"

It was only a couple of seconds later that an already out of breath Charlotte, rushes back to the doorway to the kitchen, smiling towards her mother, "Please remember me when the cake is ready!" In an instant, she then runs away again following Damon out into the gardens, "You will regret that, Damon!"

Thursdays were always Charlotte's favourite day, able to spend one on one time with her mother, her best friend. She felt so much happiness around her mother during those days. It wouldn't be for a long time until something compared to the joy she felt..the day she became a mother herself.

If the young Salvatore knew that this Thursday would've been the last time she would feel genuine happiness with her mother..she would have tried to make it last forever.

—✤—

this was really bittersweet for me to write in all honesty..it hurt a lot

regardless of this chapter i don't agree with a lot of things lily did in the show but i hope this has shown you that she was not always like that.

she was once a mother that loved her children infinitely and that giuseppe was the cause of the problems that happened after this day

anyway..hope you liked the first one shot! let me know if you want more and what you'd like to see ♥️