When Stefan entered the house, he found Damon in the living room pissing himself off as per his habit after every temper tantrum he threw. "I thought you might have said goodbye to this drinking habit of yours for the time being," Stefan mumbled. 

Damon looked up, "Stef, would you do me a favor?" 

He shook his head, "no. I mean I'm not going to clean up the mess you make. Never." 

He smashed the glass on the floor, "not that! I want you to put Melanie to bed. She's already very scared and I don't want to scare her more by my messed up condition." 

Stefan spoke,"oh... Sure." 

When he went up the stairs he found Melanie staring down at Damon with frightened eyes, "Steefan, is Daynon alright? Is he angry? Is he angry at me?" 

He tried to calm her down, "no he's not angry at you. He's just tired. Don't worry he'll be fine by morning." 

She spoke, "shall I go cheer Daynon up? He must be feeling so lonely." 

Stefan led her to her bedroom, "no, it's well past your bedtime so you should go to sleep." 

He tucked her up in the blankets when she spoke, "but Daynon promised that he would read me a bedtime story tonight." 

Stefan replied, "well Damon is very sorry about that. Don't worry, I'll read it to you." 

He searched among the shopping bags and found a book on fairy tales. He let her choose the story and when she had picked out one, he read it out loud for her. He kept reading until he looked up to see Damon standing at the door shaking with silent laughter as if highly amused on something. 

"What?" he asked. 

Damon pointed over to Melanie who was fast asleep, "she has long fallen asleep, brother." 

He glanced over at her too and sure enough she was asleep quite comfortably. Stefan closed the book and silently got out of the bed, "so you have sobered up a bit now." 

Damon nodded, "I'm me and I'm always great. Sobering up doesn't make much of a difference." 

He led his brother out and carefully closed the door not intending to disturb the peaceful sleeping child, "yeah right, you're always great. Like when you roared down on poor Sheriff today?" 

Damon made a face, "so what? He was asking for it." 

Stefan spoke, "but you too know that he's right." 

He rolled his eyes sarcastically, "yeah whatever. And he too knows I can track out that psycho on my own and give her the very treats she deserves." 

Stefan rebuked him, "Damon..." 

He sighed, "oh come on. Don't you start being all DAMON!!! over me. I know what to do and don't worry I'm not gonna do anything now. However if I do get my hands on that vermin..." 

Stefan spoke, "and then you'll snap her neck, I know." 

A smirk etched up on Damon's face, "nope. That alone wouldn't do. Think a little more colorful, Stef. What about a dinner party?" And he added as an afterthought, "and I might even consider ripping hearts out and shoving it down throats. Something I excel at greatly." 

Stefan sighed in defeat, "you are disgusting. Now whatever you do just don't mention it to Melanie." 

Damon rolled his eyes at him again, "I know I am disgusting but still I'm not that insane to tell it to her. Don't worry she's safe from obtaining any knowledge about the characteristic open heart surgeries I specialize in."  

***