Stefan walked slowly towards the tiny bedroom, stopping in the doorframe, arms outstretched, hands pressed against either side. Jenny was on the bed curled into a fetal position.

"Jenny," he said softly.

She sat up, and he saw tear streaks on her cheeks. He hesitantly walked over and climbed onto the bed, taking her into his arms. She simply clung to him for a moment before she started to speak, her voice muffled against his chest. "Do you have any idea why I stay in the godforsaken place?"

She felt him shake his head. "Because there's no other vampires here. Because I, plain Jenny Hanson, with the mousy brown hair, ordinary eyes, and a nose slightly too big for my face have you all to myself with no competition."

"Oh Jenny." Stefan's voice was so sad.

She half laughed, half sobbed. "Do you really think it was fate that I met you at the bus station when you ran away from Mystic Falls?"

She felt the little start he gave and looked up at him. "Lexi wasn't just your friend. She was my friend too. I got turned by accident and my maker just dumped me. I wasn't pretty enough to appeal to him, but at least he didn't kill me. Lexi stepped in and helped me."

She turned in his arms so her back was to his chest, her head under his chin, and she wrapped her arms over the arms that held her.

"We kept in touch over the years, and she would talk about her best friend Stefan." She gave a sad little laugh. "I probably know more about you than your brother does. She would periodically run off to rescue you, and I got interested in you. She loved you so much . . not the way she did Lee . . but as a friend. She was really protective of you."

She moved a little and tightened her grip on Stefan, who kissed the top of her head.

"I was curious. I wanted to see this Stefan Salvatore that she talked about so much. I was at that Bon Jovi concert that she took you to on your birthday. She told me about the big surprise she had for you, so I went just to see you.

"I know you gonna think I'm crazy, but I fell in love with you that night. I couldn't believe how handsome you were. And those shoulders and abs. I watched you dance all night long. After that I drove Lexi crazy pumping her for information about you. Lexi could tell I was infatuated, and she tried to tell me as gently as possible that you weren't for me."

Stefan made a protesting noise, but she just smiled.

"Oh, she was kind. She didn't say I wasn't pretty enough. She just warned me that there was a lot of competition for you, and that your brother Damon made it unsafe for anyone to be around you. But she didn't have to warn me. I knew that someone that looked like me could never get someone like you."

"Stop it," Stefan protested. "Don't run yourself down."

"I'm not blind, Stefan. Vampires are almost always lookers. That's why they're turned, cause someone wants them. I told you I was a mistake."

She was quiet for awhile. "When the grapevine said the Originals and Slayers were gone, and it was safe to come back to Virginia the first thing I did was to go check on you. When I saw you at the bus stop, I couldn't believe it. Something told me it's now or never, and I went up and introduced myself and made up that story about how I was looking to get away and North seemed good."

She twisted and looked up at him, reaching a hand to caress his face. "You were so broken and so lost, you latched on to me like I was your savior and let me lead you up here."

He kissed her hand. "I don't know how I would have made it without you."

"Do you have any idea how lucky I feel to have you? How unbelievable it is to me?" She cut off Stefan's denial with a hand to his mouth. "Let me talk."

He looked in her eyes and saw how serious she was.

"I've always kept it lighthearted between us. Never said I love you because I know you don't love me, and I didn't want to scare you off."

Stefan turned away for a moment and then met her gaze, his honest green eyes miserable. "I do care deeply for you, Jenny."

"Thank you for not lying to me." She gave a sad little smile that made his heart ache. "You see the first year you used to have nightmares every night. You would even call out her name."

"How—" Stefan's question was cut off.

"I'm three hundred years old Stefan and your mind was so open and damaged. It was nothing to read your dreams. I used to quiet and reassure you and change them to something peaceful." Her eyes went dreamy. "I would stay awake and just look at your face and wonder how I could possibly be with someone so beautiful. I would just brush my fingers over the muscles in your shoulders and arms, gaze at your six pack stomach."

"Hey, why are you so hard on yourself?" Stefan protested, ignoring the comments about his looks.

"Really, Stefan?" Now her voice was bitter. "Are you going to tell me my brown eyes are anything other than dull brown? My thin lips are lush? My nose isn't too big for my face? My brown hair is not just plain brown? I could easily pass for a boy in dim light, and I don't even get hit on in the bar unless the guys are really drunk."

She sighed and said, "I've always known that I would lose you one day. That it couldn't be forever. Do you know why I either drive by or stop every day at that statue of Jesus Calming the Sea of Galilee? You used to laugh at me, but I would never tell you what I was doing and then you just got used to it."

Stefan smiled tenderly at her. "Yeah, I wondered, but figured you would tell me when you were ready."

"Because every day I tell the Lord that though I know I lost my soul and I'm dead to him, I still want to thank him because I had another day with you."

Stefan's smile faded. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know. Please, Stefan. Go to Mystic Falls and protect Elena. Your brother killed your best friend. Lexi and Bree were loved by everyone. There is no vampire that will stand with you. There is no witch that will help you. To stand with your brother is certain death. I would rather lose you to the woman you love then for you to get killed."

Stefan held her in his arms. "You're wrong about yourself, Jenny. You're a special person." He kissed her and they made love tenderly, Jenny touching every inch of his body as if memorizing it.

She woke up the next day and as she feared his side of the bed was empty. There was a stack of cash and a note.

I took some blood but left you enough for two weeks.

Forgive me, Jenny. He is what he is because of me. I can't let him face this alone.

Can't promise we'll make it through this, but if we do I will come back to you.

She swallowed several times, trying to get past the knot in her throat, and then got washed and dressed. She told herself sternly. You always knew you would lose him. Don't mope. Do something constructive.

He had left the car for her, so she got in and drove through town to get to the highway leading to the city where their blood supplier lived. She needed something to keep her mind busy. As she drove by the old crumbling statue of Jesus Calming the Sea of Galilee she kept her eyes steadfastly fixed on the road.