She came down the stairs and found him sitting on the couch with a frown evident on his face. She silently went to him and hugged him from behind putting his arms round his neck. 

"Hey, what was that for?" Damon asked as if shaken out of his thoughts. He was clearly surprised since he wasn't expecting it. 

She flopped down beside him. "I just felt like it," she replied, "haven't done that since so long." 

He gave her a slight smile, "you surprised me." 

She tried to loosen up the tension, "well that's my habit, isn't it?" 

He nodded before looking up at her with a serious look in his eyes, "I got you a present." 

He took out a necklace from his pocket and gave it to her. It was really simple with a golden bee shaped pendant. Beside the pendant the letters M, D and S were stringed in the gold chain. 

She fingered it delicately, "it's beautiful." 

He nodded, "it is special too since it serves a useful purpose." 

She glanced at him quizzically, "care to elaborate?" 

He took it and unclasped the pendant which opened in two halves revealing a glass vial within. It was filled to the brim with a shiny silver liquid. 

She asked curiously, "what's that?" 

He replied, "this is vervain; a fluid extracted from a special herb which is poisonous to Vampires. I have a friend who is a witch, her name's Liv, I asked her to prepare this locket for you in such a way that the vervain doesn't harm you but still serves the purpose of keeping you safe. When you're wearing it, no vampire will be able to mentally or physically hurt you and could not even compelled you. Vampires are allergic to vervain. If I touch this it will burn my skin. Like this." 

He poured a drop on his finger and it stung him burning away his flesh. 

"Hey don't do it again," she spoke immediately. She was curious though, "and it won't affect me?" 

He shrugged, "I don't know. But I would rather not give it a try. If you wear the locket it won't affect you but I don't know what could happen on direct contact. I mean Katherine used it on you at the Masquerade and it wasn't very pleasant." 

She nodded, "yes Grandma." 

He sighed, "its not a joke, Mel. Promise me that you'll wear it everyday, every second. Even when you sleep. I can't trust anyone, not even me, to protect you. You have to be very cautious." 

She held the necklace up to examine it, "Damon, do these letters mean what I think or am I mistaken?" 

He shook his head, "you are not mistaken. They stand for you, me and... Stefan." 

A smile spread on her face, "I like it." 

He fastened it round her throat himself, "you were right, Mel." 

She was surprised, "about what?" 

He let out a defeated sigh, "I try so hard to hate him but it's just so pointless." 

Her smile widened, "because he's your brother." 

He nodded, "yes he is. And guess what, we're going to meet him soon." 

Her eyes shone, "really?" 

Seeing her happiness made him smile, "tomorrow we're packing up and driving over to Mystic Falls. That's where he's currently living. In the house in which we used to live with our parents about a hundred years ago." 

She was excited, "you're bringing Stefan back?" 

For the first time in days, his signature smirk registered on his face, "he's not coming back. To put it more simply, we're going to live with him and make his life a living hell." 

She laughed, "not a bad idea. By the way what made you change your mind?" 

He gave her another of his flashy smirks, "I miss my little brother." 

She narrowed her eyes at him meaningfully, "hardly." 

He shrugged, "well yeah you got me. I miss annoying the crap out of Saint Stefan." 

But this was not the real reason that had made him change his mind. He had decided to move back with Stefan for Melanie's sake. 

He didn't want her to get hurt anymore. And he knew having Stefan along with them could be a great help just in case something happened.