Chapter Text
Carmilla’s earliest memory is getting dropped off at Dr. Cochrane’s house. She remembered being wet and cold but she wasn’t sure if it had been raining. Most of the day was a blur but she could clearly picture first meeting Dr. C; her joke of a social worker had taken her to her new bedroom. He commented that she was lucky because no other girls were staying at the home so she’d have her own room before heading out. Carmilla had been so small at age 4 but had an odd mature about her; the only mark of her age, beside the small frame, was the stuffed black cat she clenched to her chest. Dr. C had come in a minute after he left with a snack and to introduce herself. The older woman had been kind but Carmilla refused to look at her or take the food; she didn’t want a foster mom she just wanted her mother even if she wasn’t really around.
“Dear, you must be very cold.” She said touching the sleeve of Carmilla’s soaked t-shirt. “Let’s get you into some fresh PJs; you’ve had a big day I bet you need a nap.” Dr. C went to the chest of drawers and pulled out clean but well wore princess PJs causing Carmilla to make a face. She lay them by Carmilla one the bed. “I’ll give you a minute to get changed, unless you need help?” Carmilla shook her head almost violently. Dr. C nodded. “Here let me take your teddy and put him in the dryer. He’ll come out nice and fluffy; already for a nice snuggle.” She reached to take the toy from Carmilla who jerked back crawling to the other side of the bed holding the cat even tighter.
“No you can’t take her, she’s mine! We look out for each other!” Carmilla spat out. The panic coursing through her is what must have imprinted the moment so clearly in her head.
“It’s okay Carmilla! I’m not going to take her.” Dr. C cooed putting her hands up. “What’s her name?”
“Mircalla, it’s my name all mixed up.” Carmilla whispered still not looking at her new caretaker.
“That’s a very clever name; do you know what it’s called when you mix up letters to make a new word?” Carmilla shook her head. “An anagram.”
For little Carmilla this wasn’t such a bad first memory.
The next event Carmilla can clearly remember is occurred nearly a year later when she got a roommate. A new foster kid was being placed under Dr. C’s care. Carmilla had gone a whole year without a roommate. There were two boys and two other girls at the house; Theo, Kirsch, Mel and Natalie but they were older all being 9 years old. Within the next few years they’d be sent to new homes since Dr. C really only fostered young kids that couldn’t get family placement and were up for adoption. Dr. C basically ran the world’s friendliest orphanage.
Over her first year at Dr. C’s Carmilla had gotten use to having her own room. She need space for her and Mircalla to read but then tiny 4 and a half year Laura was placed into her room. When Laura’s social worker had brought her in he stay much longer then Carmilla’s had. He told her it would be alright and introduced her to Dr. C with extreme care. But the moment he left her big doe eyes filled with tears and she started to sob begging Dr. C to bring him back or take her back home. Dr. C try to clam her and explain she was at her new home which just made the tiny girl sob harder. Carmilla was annoyed by the whole exchange. After a half hour Dr. C told Laura she give her some space to cry and come back soon with a snack to help her settle in. Dr. C moved to Carmilla’s bed and told her to read in the living room instead for a few hours causing the girl to roll her eyes. She moved slowly from the bed closing the picture book and dragging Mircalla by the paw. Dr. C was standing in the door way giving Carmilla the ‘hurry it up’ look when Carmilla finally looked in her counter part in the eye.
Carmilla was surprised that girl’s tear stained face didn’t further annoy her nor did she want to mock the girl for crying. Without even thinking she moved to the bed Laura was wailing on.
“Hey new girl.” Laura quieted her sobbing a bit. “This place is nice and Doc C’s real cool.” She then placed Mircalla next to Laura on the bed. “Mircalla will protect you until you feel better. I’m gonna need her back but you can borrow her for now until you’re like chilled out.” The flow of tears seemed to slow as Laura grabbed the stuff cat and turned towards the wall hugging it to her. Carmilla turned and saw Dr. C giving her a big smile. Once the door was closed the older woman touched Carmilla’s head.
“That’s very kind and brave of you to share with Laura. I’ve never seen you share Mircalla. I’m proud of you Carmilla.” The girl dart out of under Dr. C’s hand.
“Yeah whatever I didn’t want her crying all night.”
“Carmilla,” an impossibly small voice called pulling Carmilla from her sleep. “are you awake?”
“I am now cupcake.” Carmilla mumbled. She rolled over and saw her new roommate at the edge of her bed.
“Why are you calling me cupcake?” Laura asked making a face.
“You’ve been here for 5 days and it’s the only food you’ve eaten. I can’t believe Dr. C been letting eat like that.”
“Oh” There was a silence between the girls.
“Cupcake; why did you wake me up?”
“I…” Laura cheek turned a bright red.
“Spit it out before I fall back asleep.”
“Can I borrow Mircalla? I know she’s yours and very special. Dr. C told me to really careful when you let me use her the first day and I was because she’s magic and chased all my bad dreams away! I keep having nightmares and I wanna sleep but I can’t without her.” Carmilla held her stuff toy considering Laura.
“I need her to sleep.” Laura looked down sadly at the ground.
“Okay.” She turned trying to cover the sniffle that was a clear sign she was about to start crying.
“Wait,” Carmilla said. “I have an idea; I’ll sleep against the wall and you can sleep on the side by the floor with Mircalla in the middle. We can each hold a paw then she can protect both of us.” Carmilla wasn’t sure why she’d offered this solution to Laura. She just didn’t want to see this girl cry. Laura flew into the bed. Jumping onto the mattress with an excited giggle. Each girl grabbing a paw and settling down to sleep with Mircalla chasing off the bad dreams.