AN: Don't judge me, for like the longest time Jenna was my third fav character. Song of this chapter: Warriors by Imagine Dragons
He keeps the lights on, what Elena experienced sounded terrifying. He understand the hatred of black clothing now, he's happy that her made her that playlist. Even with as much time as he spends in his own head, he can always get out. He knows Elena has always been strong, stronger than most gave her her credit for-but she might be the strongest person he knows. He can't imagine doing what she did. He stays awake with Elena, realizing there's no one else who knows as much about him as she does. He's never been so close to someone else as he is with Elena, stuck to him like someone used industrial glue. She's exhausted, forty six years with very little sleep has to be tiring-but he talks about anything that comes to mind, he helps her keep her eyes open. If she's going to stay awake, he will too.
He wishes there was a way to have broken the spell-she and Bonnie could have lived their lives together. As friends. Instead, Bonnie rarely visited, worried the caster would think she was trying to break the spell-he realizes. He's sure Elena's already aware. She tells him of what everyone said, from the relief she felt when he said her name and held her hand for the first time, she explains how much it meant that she could almost physically feel it-she tells him that Caroline really needed support, and she didn't want to date Klaus, not really. Elena almost cries again, but Caroline tells her she doesn't want to date Klaus because of what he did. Elena wasn't the only one who had looked up to Jenna. She missed her too.
He nods, he's not entirely surprised. It's almost like a dream to have her here. talking. He was worried he'd never hear her voice again, or see her eyes except for pictures.
She feels secure, he's lived through hundreds of years, and his presence is comforting. Sometime, early in the morning, she stops shaking, and she stays sitting up. Over forty years of being on her back in a hospital bed-he can't blame her. He tells her peaceful, happy stories as his hand traces patterns on her leg, his other arm wrapped around her torso still.
She tells him of lighthearted memories as well, and he can feel the pain rolling off her. He wanted to kiss her for so long-but now is not that time. He waited that long, he can wait longer. He'd wait centuries for Elena. Not that he wants to, but he would. Elena's well-being is much more important than anything he wants. She loves him too. It seems surreal. He hums when he can't think of anything to say, and she moves her head from his shoulder. Her eyes are soft, and she moves her head back to his shoulder.
She hums with him, and they don't talk for a while.