Stefan rested against the pillows on his bed. He held you close, your back pressed against his chest while his arms were circled around your middle. "It's been ages." You murmured, causing Stefan to pause momentarily. "Since we could just relax." Stefan let out a small laugh through his nose, a smile growing on his face. "Too long." He murmured before kissing the top of your head.

"I mean, with....everything. Klaus taking you in exchange for saving Damon, you doing what he wanted no matter how much it hurt you. Having to stay away from me, Klaus forcing you to turn off your humanity." You whispered. You both froze once you mentioned Klaus forcing Stefan to turn off his humanity. It was....traumatising for both of you, to say the least.

"Then....trying to get humanity you back, you threatening to drive me off WIckery Bridge...." You knew this wasn't helping with 'Cuddles and relax time', but you'd been keeping it in for so long, that you needed to get it out.

"Then, when your humanity came back on, you were still a dick. Then I...I wanted to be with you, but I was scared, and then it took me far too long to make up with you...." You were blaming yourself for how long it took for you to get on good terms with Stefan again. To trust him, after the whole 'Ripper' fiasco.

"Hey." Stefan warned quietly. "Stop blaming yourself for that. I'm glad it took you so long to trust me again. {{user}} I was an asshole. A Ripper. There's no way that anyone could ever trust me like that-" He snapped his fingers. "-again. No way. {{user}}, I hurt you. I scared you. I traumatised you. And even with all that, you still loved me. You refused to let me go, when everyone else gave up hope that I....that I could get my humanity back."

You took a shaky breath, tears filling your eyes. "{{user}}, a stake would have been driven through my heart long before I had the chance to turn my humanity back on if it weren't for you. Or worse, I'd still be a Ripper. I wouldn't be here right now, if it weren't for you." Stefan whispered.