MYSTIC FALLS

Caroline shakes her head in disbelief as she sits opposite Elena in the Grill, the Banshee had just filled her in on the visions she had been having of Stefan, some weird alternate reality where it was her and Stefan who had fallen in love. Taking a sip of her coffee she runs a hand through her blonde locks in shock "Wait...so you and Buffy have a huge fight and now you're having dreams about Stefan!"

"It didn't feel like a dream." The Banshee explains with a frustrated sigh, it wasn't like she could control these dreams she just kept having them "It felt like I was really there."
Caroline nods as she holds onto her cup merely looking away "Weird." She mumbles before smiling as she spots Jessie at the pool table with Matt.
The newly turned vampire grins over at her but their little romantic gazing was ruined when Elena draws her attention again "Caroline, if you bite your tongue any harder, you'll bleed. Say it."

Rolling her eyes the blonde tears her eyes off her cute boy turning back to shake her head at Elena "It's Psych 101. Actually, it's whatever comes before 101. Buffy tells you that she is leaving for New Orleans and we both know Stefan and her have been talking about leaving. You're mad at Buffy and now you're dreaming of Stefan."
Elena winces slightly, yeah that sounded bad. Like she was purposely doing it to get back at Buffy, but that wasn't the case. Leaning back in her chair she crosses her arms "It's not just about Stefan, okay? My parents were still alive, even Aunt Joyce was there and Buffy was human, it was like a different life."

Caroline sighs a little unsure of what to say at this point however luckily for her the sound of her phone ringing draws her attention. Grabbing her cell her eyes widen as she spots another doppelganger's name pop up "Stefan, hey."
"Hey."
"Is everything okay?"
There is a shuffle of a car engine making Caroline frown slightly but before she could question it he speaks up "You know how sometimes you feel crazy...and you call me and I tell you that you're not crazy?"
Caroline couldn't help but smile at his words "Even though most of the time I am."
"Well, I need you to tell me I'm not crazy."
"Uh. No, promises. Heh."
"Last night I was getting Buffy's jeep ready when I had a vision of Elena."

At his words, Caroline's eyes widen and she glances at a confused Elena with wide eyes, seems this was not a simple psych explanation after all "I take that back. Actually, you're not crazy at all. Something's going on. You should get to the Grill."

"Um...that's kind of not possible right now."

Caroline frowns in confusion before she hears the roar of a car engine again and the sound of other cars honking "What do you mean where are you?"

"Ugh, some highway in Louisiana. About an hour outside of New Orleans."

Caroline promptly drops the coffee in her hands making her curse as it spills all over the table, while yes normally she would be all for Stefan going to see Buffy now was clearly not the time "You're in New Orleans!"

NEW ORLEANS

The original hybrid smirks as he takes a drink of his mimosa before turning to look at his ever stoic brother "Is something the matter, brother? Can I fix you a drink perhaps?"
Elijah sighs as he glances at the dining room table filled with what was probably a very expensive brunch, turning to glare at his brother he shakes his head "Strangely enough, I'm not in a mimosa mood."

"Fantastic, more for me." The hybrid says with a wild grin as he takes yet another sip of his drink, as though today was just any other day for celebration.

"Let's discuss strategy, shall we, Niklaus?" The eldest suggested "Just wondering if you actually have one. We can begin with Mikael's ashes." Elijah tells him as he circles around the beautifully set up table "Given that they are the main ingredient...in our weapon against Dahlia, care to tell me where they disappeared to?"

Klaus lets out an amused breath before placing his elbows on the table as he leans forward to look over at his brother "Elijah, I have compelled the city's finest pastry chef for your own personal edification...and yet you ignore my efforts in favor of needless concerns."

"Can we stop talking so loudly?" Rebekah asks as she walks into the room, the throbbing in her head getting worse by the second, she had forgotten the consequences of drinking too much given she hadn't had a hangover in almost 1000 years.
Spotting the coffee pot she sighs in relief "Give me that."
Klaus couldn't help but smile in amusement at Rebekah's obvious suffering "What's the matter, new witch body not up to last night's bender?"

The newfound witch rolls her eyes as she takes a sip of the coffee in her hands before turning to glare over at her brother "So I had a few." She mumbles before moving to take a seat "It's not every day you lose your father at the hands of your brother...again."

The hybrid merely shrugs off her words "Technically the first time Marianna helped. So that ones not all on me. And whoever said opportunity only knocks once, eh?" As he lets out a small chuckle he couldn't help but sigh as both his siblings who remained stoic at his words clearly unamused "Oh come on. We all fled Mikael's tyranny for centuries. And shall I remind you he killed our brother-in-law and put all the blame on me for 1000 years?" He reminds them making Rebekah shift uncomfortably at the mention of Marianna's husband "I thought the mood this morning might be a bit more jubilant."

Elijah sighs forcing the mention of their long-dead brother-in-law to the back of his brain as he tries to get his brother to focus on the dangers at hand. Now was not a time for celebration "Under normal circumstances, the annihilation of our father would be commendable, Niklaus." He couldn't help but agree as he takes a seat beside his brother "Unfortunately, we have a greater threat to contend with."
Klaus couldn't help but roll his eyes in annoyance as he stands and moves to grab himself another drink, not appreciating his siblings ruining his good mood "You know, for someone who's been invited to a celebratory breakfast...you're proving quite the Buzzkill."

Elijah merely lets out an exhausted sigh at his brother's words "Well, Niklaus, if indeed anything has killed the buzz as you say...perhaps it was because murdering father alienated the one person who truly knows how to defeat Dahlia."
At the mention of their elder sister Klaus sighs and turns away from the champagne to face his brother "If Freya wants to be a part of this family, she should be willing to accept us...warts and all. I mean look at Buffy's siblings, they haven't accepted her, so she found a new family. Us. I'd say it's quite the upgrade."
Rebekah sighs remembering back to her conversation with Buffy over the phone last night, while yes she was glad Buffy had finally realized her family would never accept her she could hear in the blonde's voice how much it was killing her. "How is she?" The brunette asks knowing her brother had spent most of the evening with the Slayer last night comforting her.
"She told me her judgy sister called..." Rebekah explains noticing the way her brother's jaw tightened protectively "...and acted all higher than thou...and well judgy, pretty much herself." She mumbles in distaste wanting nothing more than to end the Petrova line like she wishes she had succeeded at the last time she tried.

Klaus's fist clench ever so slightly with annoyance "She'll be fine. She has a surprise visitor coming today. Should raise her spirits." He mumbles in distaste still not liking the idea of this specific visitor spending the day with Buffy, honestly all Buffy needed for her spirits to be raised in his opinion was Dahlia's head on a tray.

Rebekah arches a curious brow "A surprise?"
Klaus couldn't help but groan as he downs his drink clearly not pleased with the whole situation making Rebekah's lips twitch into an amused smile as he finally reveals this little surprise "Stefan Salvatore." He tells his siblings the annoyance clear in his voice "I wouldn't normally allow it but with Dahlia's forces still at large, he's an extra form of protection. Hopefully, he'll dive in front of her trying to protect her and die in the process. Then I don't have to go through the effort of killing him myself."

Rebekah couldn't help but roll her eyes in annoyance at her brother's obvious jealousy, in her opinion if he had just sucked up his pride and games over the summer admitting how he felt for The Slayer then he wouldn't be in this position. He was the one that chose not to pursue Buffy for the time being despite his own feelings. He hadn't wanted anyone to see him as weak for how he felt about the Summers girl. He was now paying the consequences for that decision.
"You can't kill Stefan...actually you know what go ahead." She tells him "Because when you do she'll cut off your head and will get to enjoy that nice sight."

Klaus merely smirks at her words in amusement "Ah even when I do kill Stefan she won't...knowing her little friends will die along with me."

As Rebekah shakes her head in disgust Elijah sighs and glances at his sister "There's no point reasoning with him, Rebekah. Our brother does whatever he pleases, despite the consequences."

The hybrid clenches his jaw tightly however before any of them could speak the echoing sound of footsteps fill all of their ears, immediately making Klaus tense "Someone's here." Jumping up from his seat the hybrid quickly makes his way into the courtyard Elijah and Rebekah quickly following after him.

Elijah couldn't help but frown in confusion as he spots the witch he had been working with standing in the middle of the courtyard "Josephine."
The elder woman nods as she turns to the honorable brother "Forgive me for calling so early, Elijah...but I've come bearing a message from your aunt Dahlia. She is owed a debt and she means to be paid."

The hybrid couldn't help but snort in amusement as he stares at yet another one of Dahlia's little minions "She can writhe in hell first."

"For merely taking what your mother promised her?" The witch questions "If you must harbor hatred isn't it better spent...on the one who traded your child away a thousand years ago? Blame Esther, if you must, but I seek only to fulfill a bargain. A bargain that consequently resulted in your very existence. Perhaps you should be thanking me."

At her words Elijah couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the phrasing, stepping closer to the witch that's when it finally clicks "Dahlia."
"My child." Dahlia grins, "I prefer Aunt Dahlia."

"You dare enter my home." The hybrid hisses taking a threatening step forward but it didn't faze the witch.
Dahlia merely tilts her head to look at the hybrid unamused "I only came for what is mine. The time has come, to add the Slayer and her child's power to my own. Though I do not detect them here. I see you've used a spell to cloak them. NO matter, such spells will yield. As will you. Say your farewells. You have till nightfall and then the child and The Slayer...shall be mine."

Buffy sighs as she hangs up the phone after speaking to Klaus who had informed her of Dahlia's warning. Sitting down beside Joy who was attempting to stand she runs a hand through her little girl's blonde hair "You're so little." She whispers hating all of this.
While yes, them being here in this magic-free zone was the safest place at the moment it still didn't change the fact that the whole situation wasn't fair. But then again life wasn't fair.
Picking her daughter up she places her in her playpen before moving around the room trying to think of other ways to keep her daughter and herself safe from Dahlia.

The sound of her phone ringing causes the blonde to finally calm her panicking mind, grabbing it she doesn't bother to check who was calling; assuming it was one of the Originals "Let me guess Klaus removed someone else's head?"

"I wouldn't know. Although wouldn't shock me."

Buffy's eyes widen as she hears the familiar voice "Stefan." She breathes a smile grazing her face, honestly, she hadn't realized how much she wanted to talk to him after the fight with Elena till the second she heard his voice. "Nice to know you survived the travelers."
The vampire chuckles at her words "Yeah can't say I was sad to watch them all combust into flames."

Laughing softly at his words the blonde leans against the bar "So what do I owe the pleasure, let me guess someone got kidnapped."
"No...I have a surprise for you."

The blonde arches a curious brow "Ooh, I like surprises. As long as you don't plan to pump me full of supernatural babies too..." As she realizes what she had just said she couldn't help but groan, that was probably the worst way to phrase that possible "Oh god, I really just said that didn't I?"

At the sound of Stefan laughing through the phone, Buffy groans in embarrassment "Stop enjoying my word babble."

Stefan merely chuckles however before he could say another word Buffy was distracted from a loud car honk coming from outside the window. As it continues the blonde sighs "Hold on I have to go threaten the moron making my tequila hangover worse." Moving over to the window where the honking was the loudest the blonde slams the window open and immediately moves to yell at the driver only to freeze.

There just downstairs parked outside was a blue jeep she hadn't seen since the day Katherine had caused her to crash it, and leaning against that car ignoring the glares currently coming off her endless amount of supernatural bodyguards was Stefan, looking as hot as usual in a brown leather jacket.
Buffy leans her head out the window in shock as she stares down at him "What are you doing here?" She breathes a smile breaking out on her face "And how the hell is that..." She says gesturing to her car "...the last time I saw that car it was...wretched."

"Took a long time." Stefan tells her as he raises the keys showing them to her "Lots of parts, some weren't easy to find but I know how much you love this car. So, how would you feel about some company in that tower you're locked in?"

Buffy couldn't help the way her smile grew bigger by the second, making eye contact with Marcel who was currently blocking Stefan's path she waves for him to let the vampire in "I'd love some."

MYSTIC FALLS

Damon and Enzo were currently stood next to each other in the Salvatore boarding house, both of their eyes glued on the raven-haired beauty that had been stealing the blue-eyed Salvatore's attention for the past week as she bends over the pool table to take her shot.
As she makes the winning shot she smirks as she turns to face the two boys only to spot them both watching her "What?"
Enzo merely smirks and glances at his friend "Yep. I get it."
"Told you so." Damon tells him with a smirk before moving to re-rake the table throwing a flirty smirk at his new vampire friend who rolled her eyes at him.

Enzo chuckles only to frown as he spots his phone ringing, a certain blonde-haired vampire's name popping up on-screen "Ooh, speaking of delicious vampire women." Without another word, he answers the phone a flirty smile grazing his lips "Hello, gorgeous."

"Can you tell Damon that there's something going on with Elena and Stefan?"

Damon rolls his eyes, annoyed that he kept getting dragged into all of this, he was just trying to have a good time "What?" He huffs as Enzo puts the phone on speaker.
"Well, you know how we all laughed off the notion...that the universe was drawing Stefan and Elena together?"
Alina smirks slightly before turning to glance in-between the two other vampires "Ooh doppelganger hijinks. Fun. Messy things doppelgangers."

"Who is that?"
Damon smirks over at Alina "That's my newfound friend Ally. What do you know Al?"

Alina sighs before jumping up to sit on the pool table taking the white ball into her palm playing with it as she speaks "I spent some time with Travelers a few hundred years ago. Annoying creatures. But they always talked about Doppelgangers. They used to talk about needing to make sure there was only one of each."
Enzo arches a brow as he turns to the mysterious female vampire that seemed to have more information than any of them on the subject "So when I killed Stefan's doppelganger..."

"Destiny is now in overdrive trying to get them together."

"That explains the visions. Look I asked Jessie to go to where the Travelers were to see if he could get some information, it's our only lead."

At her words, Damon couldn't help but frown in confusion "Wait, where the hell is my brother?"
"He took off to New Orleans last night. We only just found out."

Damon groans in annoyance and rubs his jaw in frustration "This is the last thing I'm helping with. Get a witch, get her here." With that, he hangs up and turns to Ally who tosses him the ball in her hands "Good luck with hero stuff. I have better places to be, more interesting people to see."
With that the raven-haired girl taps his chest throwing him a flirty smile and heading out the door with a wave of her hips.
As she disappears Enzo lets out a loud chuckle "I like her. She's sassy. Speaking of sassy, shouldn't we go get our blonde murder happy bombshell back to help."

Damon shakes his head in amusement as he moves to pour them both a drink "If you wanna go wrestle the immortal hybrid dick she's trapped with and get your head ripped off in the meantime, be my guest."

NEW ORLEANS

The wolves nicely all stayed on the bottom floor with Hayley and Jackson allowing Stefan, Buffy, and Joy to have some privacy upstairs.
As the two sat together at the bar while Joy slept in her bed Stefan couldn't help but sigh in worry as she finishes explaining everything that had happened between Dahlia and Mikael "So this place no one can use magic? Not even Joy."

"Big with the magic free." She tells him as her finger circles around the glass in her hand "At the moment we're safe here. But..."
Noticing the distress covering her face the vampire takes her hand entangling their fingers together "You'll figure out. You always do"
"You have so much faith in me." She whispers looking up at him with big eyes "More than I do."

Stefan smiles before leaning forward kissing her forehead softly making a small smile graze her lips "I'm not the only one." He reminds her gesturing to her guards downstairs "All those people have faith in you."

"Yeah. Not everyone." She whispers before one person does enter her brain, the one person she thought always would but at this point in time, she was pretty sure Elena didn't like who she had become. Noticing the frown on her face Stefan couldn't help but sigh he had heard about the fight with Elena and honestly he wasn't pleased with the doppelganger "You've changed...we all have. You're stronger, you're a hell of a woman."

Taking a deep breath the vampire stands abruptly knowing she needed a distraction, something to get her mind off all the trouble flowing through her head. Moving to stand in front of her he holds out his hand with a playful smile on his face "Dance with me."

Buffy lets out in amused breath as she stares at his hand before looking up into his green eyes "You hate to dance."
"Not with you." He tells her before grabbing her hand and pulling her off the chair spinning her into his arms making her let out a soft giggle.

Elijah sighs as he walks into his brother's studio where the hybrid was currently stood at one of his canvases painting away, something he always did when he was planning something. "It is no secret...you often strategize while painting." Elijah says as he walks over to the window glancing out at the city below "I assume you have a plan here."

Klaus sighs and finally tears himself away from the painting he was working on to face his brother who had his back to him "You ask that I share my strategy so you can run straight to Freya and bring her into the circle of trust. I think not."
Elijah couldn't help but clench his jaw at his brother's stubborn distrust in their elder sister, spinning around to face him he glares at his younger sibling "It is too dangerous for you, brother. You cannot do this alone."

"Then whom should I trust to protect Buffy and Joy?" The hybrid fires back before moving to put his paints down as he continues "Our newfound sister with duplicitous motives of her own? The wolves? Who would rather hide the Slayer Queen away from me?"
As his brother walks back over with a new set of paints Elijah sighs "You need to only trust me."

"I would love to Elijah." The hybrid admits with a shrug of his shoulders "Now, more than ever, I need my brother, my closest ally, my blood. But you have not been the same since mother got inside your head."

Buffy frowns as Stefan's eyes glaze over and he zones out staring off into space, pulling back from his arms slightly the blonde waves her hands in front of his face but he didn't even blink.
"Stefan?" She whispers in confusion placing her hands on his face trying to wake him from whatever trance he was in, tapping his face slightly she couldn't help but gulp in worry. He was fine till 30 seconds ago, now it was like he wasn't even in his own body "Stefan!" She exclaims finally causing the vampire to blink flashing back to reality.
"What?" He mumbles before looking at the blonde who was watching him with worried green eyes "What happened?"
"You went comatose." She tells him "Zombie-like vibes. This has something to do with the Travelers?"
Stefan sighs nodding in annoyance as he runs a hand through his hair in exhaustion "We think so, me and Elena have been getting flashes of this...alternative reality."

"You're having sex dreams about my sister?" She asks arching a brow before snorting as his eyes fill with panic "Okay ew."
Stefan sighs "I officially hate travelers."

"Ditto."

Smiling at the blonde he cups her face enjoying the rare sight of her smiling up at him, with their lives the way they were it was rare for them to just be able to smile and enjoy their time together. And he wasn't going to let these dreams or the travelers ruin it "Okay, no more end of the world talk."

"Boo." She pouts "I'm really good at end of the world. I have the girl scout badge and everything."
Chuckling at her words he wraps his arms around her waist enjoying the feel of her in his arms again, it was so strange after everything they had been through that they had been able to find their way back to each other. Despite death, apocalypse, prophecies they had found a way. And he didn't plan on losing this again.

"I have one more surprise for you."
"You're really aiming for boyfriend of the year here aren't you?" She teases watching as he shakes his head and reaches into his jacket pulling out a piece of paper.

Buffy arches a brow as he hands her the folder piece of paper, lifting her head to look at him she frowns "I prefer shiny things...or chocolate."

"Just open it." He tells her watching nervously as she hesitantly opens the piece of paper only to frown as she spots the photo on the page.
Buffy lets out a small breath of confusion as she looks at the photo, surrounded by a huge beautiful garden was a brick three-story house, perfect tall windows, and a bright red front door. The house was beautifully surrounded by nature with beautiful flowers decorating the front yard "What is this?" She whispers looking up at him with wide eyes.

"This..." he whispers pointing at the house nervously "...could be ours." As her mouth drops open in shock and tears fill her eyes he quickly continues praying he wasn't about to make a fool of himself "It's right on edge of New Orleans in this little green area. A good distance away from the drama but close enough so it doesn't affect how you and Klaus deal with Joy, but enough distance so I don't have to worry about him staking in my sleep." He tells her making her let out a small laugh, knowing that Klaus would more than likely try to do just that, as a small tear drips down her face.
"There's a backyard. I could build Joy a treehouse. And we could get her a tire swing. And there's a lake nearby."
Buffy lets out a heavy breath in disbelief as she listens to all of his words, all of the most perfect things he could ever say. He wanted to build a life with her, a real one, one they had only ever imagined all those years ago "Stefan, Mystic Falls is your home I couldn't..."

Cutting her off the vampire steps forward cupping her beautiful face in his hands looking into her beautiful green eyes as he speaks with so much assurance she wanted to cry happy tears "You and Joy are my home now. I signed the papers today. So we can move in three weeks so if you say no now...this is going to get really awkward."

Buffy couldn't help but smile brightly as she looks up at him, leaning up she grabs the back of his neck pulling his lips to her own happily. After a long beat, the blonde pulls back with the biggest smile on her face "I told you once that I wanted my life to be with you...I still want that."
Stefan smiles brightly and cups her face again kissing her before picking her up off her feet causing the blonde to laugh happily as he spins her. For the first time in a long time, things felt good. Like there was good at the end of the tunnel.

However, despite their moment of happiness, the couple couldn't even begin to imagine the pain and suffering both of them had coming to them in those three weeks. Pain that would be more than either of them could ever imagine. Pain they may never fully heal from.

MYSTIC FALLS

Xander runs a hand over his jaw as he places his toolbox down before tossing his jacket on the Salvatore couch, still refusing to meet his girlfriend's gaze. He was a little unsure of how to respond to the whole Elena and Stefan alternate reality dreams. Rubbing his hands together nervously he decided to get straight to the point "So... you're having sex dreams about Stefan?" At her shocked horrified expression, he winces "Yeah...I need to learn to phrase things better."

"Maybe just a little." She whispers shifting awkwardly as she stands opposite him "I mean it's one way to bring it up. Look I don't know what the visions mean Xander, their just...random snippets of Stefan and me living in some alternate reality. I mean come on human Buffy in that world is dating Damon, so it's already not even close to real."

"I resent that!" Damon yells popping his head into the room from the hall where he had been eavesdropping, spotting the annoyed couple turn to him he merely smirks "Clearly alternative reality Buffster has great taste. And probably a great sex life."
Elena rolls eyes before picking up a pillow from beside her launching it in Damon's direction making him laugh as he finally strolls off.

Xander sighs pacing back and forth slightly dreading his next question, he had to know, while yes he was happy he was now worried that Elena wasn't, maybe she wasn't happy with him and that's why she was having all these dreams "Um...are you and uh fantasy Stefan really...really, happy?"
Elena couldn't help but smile as she steps forward cupping his face in her hands "Not nearly as happy as I am with you every second."

"The witch is here." Damon says popping back into the room with Liv's twin brother Luke "Time to get this show on the road."

NEW ORLEANS

Buffy couldn't help but giggle as Joy who was standing with her hands in Buffy's to keep herself upright continued to jump up and down doing her own little dance. Stefan chuckles at the sight "The bliss of not know all the evil in the world." He whispers holding out Joy's toy towards her watching with a smile as she takes it putting it in her mouth before sitting back down on Buffy's lap.
"I kind of miss that bliss sometimes." The blonde whispers running her hands through the curly blonde locks that looked so much like her own mother's.

Stefan smiles brightly before he frowns as her words hit him "Bliss." He whispers before looking down at Joy with wide eyes as an idea that would hopefully help keep them both safe occurs to him "Dahlia tracks her by her magic right?"
Buffy frowns as she lifts her chin up from where it rested atop her daughter's head looking at him in confusion "Yeah why."
"What if she didn't have it, or at least couldn't use it?"
At his words Buffy couldn't help but smile, leaning forward she kisses him on the lips suddenly before smiling "You always were the brains in this duo. Klaus had these weird cuffs that he made for Mary so she couldn't use magic. Joy's barely 1 she's not gonna miss it." Pausing she looks around for her phone quickly, spotting it on the table Stefan stands tossing her phone over before smiling as the blonde places Joy into his arms.

Joy giggles as she slaps Stefan's face before grabbing his hair "Okay ow." He chuckles as the child yanks on his head before he frowns, this child was gonna rip his head off before Klaus ever got to it.
Buffy smiles shaking her head in amusement "She doesn't bite Stefan." When he rolls his eyes at her she chuckles before dialing the hybrid's phone.
"Buffy, Luv. I'm a tad busy at the moment. You know murder, plotting, the works."

The blonde rolls her eyes in annoyance she could practically hear the murderous smirk on his face, probably already planning whose head was getting removed next.
"Look Stefan just gave me an idea. Those weird BDSM magic cuffs you had made for your sister...which still so many things wrong with that...but, what if we had something more Joy equivalent. In case we need to make a quick getaway, that way Dahila won't be able to track us where we go next."

There is a long silence at the end of the phone as she hears the sound of cuffs being pulled out of the case "Funnily enough Aiden has just walked in. I'll send him Davina's way. Hopefully, she can fashion something... in the meantime...hand the phone to your boyfriend."

She could practically hear the annoyance and disgust in his words, clearly still not a Stefan fan.
Stefan arches a brow before groaning and handing Joy back to Buffy taking the phone off the blonde, pretty much prepared for a whole I'm going to rip your head off thing. Pretty much the exact speech he got when he showed up at the Compound looking for Buffy only to find an unamused-looking Klaus.

"What Klaus?"

"Lovebird time is over Rippah." At the hybrid's teasing tone and use of his old horrid moniker Stefan clenches his jaw biting his tongue knowing he couldn't say certain things given there was a 1-year-old in the room "Stefan, you are not protected from Dahlia's magic as much as we are. If you want to protect Buffy we can't risk Dahlia using you as a pawn in her plans...you need to leave right away if Buffy is worried about you..."

Stefan was actually surprised as the two seemed to be meeting some common ground which he hadn't expected to happen in a very long time...or ever for that matter.
"I get it." He says cutting the hybrid off "I want her safe too. Both of them."

There is a loud sigh on the other side of the phone before Klaus exhales deeply clearly having to force his next words out "Thank you for taking care of her...old friend."

With that, the hybrid hangs up and Stefan turns to Buffy as she nods in understanding "You're not safe here."
"I won't be the reason you get hurt." He whispers placing his hands on her face his fingers grazing against her rosy cheeks as he takes in the sight of her, knowing he wouldn't see her again for at least two weeks.
Leaning his forehead against hers he holds onto her relishing at the moment before sighing as his phone buzzes with a message from his brother.

Groaning his kisses Buffy softly and taps Joy's nose making the little girl smile brightly at him, smiling back he then looks down at his phone the smile instantly dropping.
"My brother is great with timing. They need me back, Travelers are making their move know that their leader Markos is here."

"Ugh, fun." The blonde mumbles in disgust before sighing sadly as she realized this would probably the last time they would have a moment together for a while "Be careful."
Stefan smiles taking her hand kissing it softly "Just three weeks. Hopefully. Then no more Dahlia no more Travelers."

"No more sex visions of my sister." At her teasing tone, Stefan sighs realizing very quickly that she was going to lord that over him for years to come, but to be honest he couldn't wait for those days.

"I'm never gonna hear the end of that am I?"
Buffy grins shaking her head "Nope. I'm Lord-er. Big time."