Melanie woke up with a jolt. She was drenched in sweat and her breathing was raspy. Her hand automatically shot up to her neck feeling for any damage but there was none. 

She looked around and realized that she was in her own room not in the forest. As she gradually calmed down she figured out that all she had seen was just a nightmare. 

She pushed her hair back and took in a deep breath. Her nightmares had always been horrifyingly vivid and terribly realistic. 

Soon enough the door of her bedroom burst open and Damon came inside, "Mel are you okay?" 

She nodded weakly, "yeah. I'm fine." 

He glanced at her dubiously, "you screamed about a second ago." 

She replied, "it's okay, Damon. I had a nightmare again. Nothing unusual." 

Concern flickered in his eyes, "are you sure?" 

She gave a low nod, "yeah. You can go back, do whatever you were doing. I'm fine. No need to worry." 

He came and sat down beside her, "Melanie, you can tell me what's bothering you." 

She sighed wearily, "I don't know. It's Katherine again. I don't know when she will leave my nightmares for good. She's so infuriating." 

He nodded, "yup she is infuriating." 

He was silent as if encouraging her to continue. 

She spoke, "it was so weird and twisted just like before. And I think you should better not hear it. I mean, I'm grown up now I can deal with things myself and precisely because I don't wanna waste your time narrating one of my horrible dreams." 

He squeezed her hand, "you'll always be the little girl with blonde hair to me no matter how much you change or grow up. I once told you that you'll always be my little princess, remember. And my time doesn't ever get wasted by being with you." 

She smiled a little; he had called her his little princess after so long and she felt glad about that. Relieved that whatever had happened in their lives couldn't affect the affection they felt towards each other. 

"Now be a good girl and tell me everything," his voice had a hint of command in it. 

She nodded, "as you wish. I saw I was in those woods again. The woods that were near the house we lived in before coming here. It was stormy and dark and I met Katherine over there. She was saying something about... About feeling sorry for me because I would have to experience all that happened in 1864. She said something about Elena too. That she was enough to do what Katherine intended. I asked her if she's manipulating Elena but she refused. I can't recall what she said next. It must have been something about you because it angered me and we got into a fight. I got hurt and she was gone." 

She paused all of a sudden not wishing to continue. "And then?" Damon asked, "tell me everything." 

She shook her head, "please. I said you would not like to hear it." 

He gently hugged her, "okay. But I know it's something about Elena, isn't it?" 

She looked up at him in surprise, "how do you know?" 

He shrugged, "it's so obvious. I've lived with you for thirteen years, right? I know what is troubling you and when. I know you are not very fond of her but that doesn't mean..." 

She interrupted him, "please, for God's sake, Damon. I don't wanna listen to another lecture. I'm sorry, okay? I know I'm being rude even when you just want to help me out." She stood up, "I know you think differently about Elena. Maybe she's not like Katherine. But I can't trust her. It's not only about my dreams. I do wish they would stop. But the fact is that they have always been like a warning bell to me. Whatever I see in those nightmares has a meaning behind it. I don't hate Elena at all. I just don't want her messing our lives like Katherine. I have no idea about what happened in 1864 but frankly speaking I don't want it to get repeated again." 

There was an awkward silence between them. Damon nodded finally, "fine. I'd try my best not to let the past get repeated." 

She replied, "thank you." 

He was about to go out when she asked, "where's Stefan?" 

He turned around to face her with his classic smirk evident on his face, "trust me, you don't wanna know." 

She rolled her eyes at him, "I get it." 

He patted her back, "come downstairs. I brought over some CDs. You can pick which movie you'd like to watch. And BTW breakfast is ready in the kitchen." 

A slight smile graced her lips, "good. I'll be down in a second."