Stefan was first seen as a mysterious, handsome and new high school student at Mystic Falls High School. He was born and raised in the town of Mystic Falls and had just moved back to town, where he lives with his nephew Zach in the Salvatore Boarding House (he lived in Salvatore Estate). Zach refers to him as "Uncle Stefan", even though Stefan looks significantly much younger. When Stefan first arrives at the high school, all the girls are irresistibly attracted him and want to gain his attention.

It is at the high school that Stefan inevitably and fatefully meets Elena Gilbert, who bears an unusual, and striking uncanny physical resemblance to Stefan's past love from 1864, Katherine Pierce. Upon meeting each other, Stefan and Elena are instantly, undeniably drawn to each other and the two instantly connect. Over a gradual period of time, Stefan and Elena bond, fall deeply, passionately in love and eventually develop a romantic relationship. According to Caroline Forbes, Stefan's favorite color is blue. Stefan wears a large, silver ring made from enchanted Lapis Lazuli stone (a stone which was enchanted by Emily Bennett back in 1864) that allows him to walk around in the sunlight without burning. Unlike Damon, who drinks human blood and feeds off of innocent people, Stefan has chosen a vegetarian diet, living on an animal blood diet.

His best friend, and supposedly one of his few friends, was a vampire named Lexi Branson. In 162 Candles, it was mentioned that she visited him every year on his birthday, and this was the only day he allowed himself do any crazy or stupid stuff. He has jumped naked into the Trevi Fountain and he has also got drunk on a tour to the Statue of Liberty. When Damon killed her, he was furious. He was thinking about killing Damon. He instead let him off with a warning, staked him, but missed the heart on purpose.

It is revealed that it was Stefan who rescued Elena from the car crash which killed her adoptive parents he tried to rescue them too, but he was too late.

When Damon turned Vicki Donovan into a vampire, Stefan tried to teach her the ability of self control but she couldn't handle it. She ran away and went to the Halloween Party at school, but when Vicki was threatening

Elena and Jeremy's life, Stefan had to kill her. He has a bitter relationship with his older brother Damon.

They overcame some of their differences when they tried to free Katherine from the tomb, but after they opened it, they discovered she wasn't there. When Damon learned that Katherine wasn't there and that she had never really loved him he was heartbroken, leaving both Stefan and Elena to do their best to comfort him. In Let The Right One after the vampires were released from the tomb, a vampire named Frederick and some other vampires kidnapped Stefan and tortured him and tried to kill him. Harper tried to protect him, but they tied him up. He was saved by Damon and Elena.

They killed most of the vampires, but because Harper tried to help Stefan, he told Damon not to kill him. Elena gave Stefan some of her blood so could be stronger Frederick put a stick into him and almost killed him but Stefan was faster then Fredrick and killed him. But then he became addicted to human blood, and drank it behind Elena's back.

When Damon told Elena what he was doing, they got into a fight. Stefan then attacked Amber, a girl in the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant. He drank her blood and almost killed her but was stopped by Bonnie when she cast a spell on him. Elena and Damon then locked Stefan up in the basement to try to get him back to normal.

In Blood Brothers, Stefan felt really guilty about all the things he had done and thinks that Damon did was his fault since he forced Damon to turn into a vampire. He also told Elena how he and Damon became vampires. Stefan felt so guilty that he tried to take his ring off and was about to commit suicide, until Elena convinced him not to do it. When they came back, Damon told him two things. 1: What Damon does isn't Stefan's fault, it's Damon's. 2: Damon still hates Stefan, but not because he forced him to turn into a vampire. He hates him because he wanted Katherine all to himself.

In Founder's Day, when the tomb vampires was about to attack the during the Founder's Day festival,, Stefan was affected by the device when John Gilbert started it like all other vampires in town. He was about to be taken by a deputy, but Alaric and Elena came when Stefan was spotted, Alaric sent the deputy to towards another vampire instead of Stefan, saving his life. after they discovered that Damon had been taken, Stefan and Elena asked John were Damon was, he told them where they could find Damon; Stefan saved Damon with some help from Bonnie.

In The Return, Stefan arrived at Elena's house and examined Jeremy, confirming that he wasn't a vampire. Stefan then watched Jeremy while Elena goes to the hospital to check on Caroline. When Stefan comes downstairs, he sees "Elena", who is really Katherine. Stefan quickly realizes who it is and immediately throws her over the couch. Katherine breaks his arm, and then leaves when Damon and Elena walk into the house. Stefan asks Damon how Katherine had fooled him and Damon replied that he had kissed her, thinking he had kissed Elena. This upsets Stefan and he was about to attack his brother, but Elena stopped him.

Stefan and Elena went to question John about the attack, but John insulted Elena's love for Stefan and offended her. Stefan then threatened John's life by giving him blood to turn him into a vampire, and would do it if John didn't leave town. Stefan arrived at the Lockwood Estate in time to stop Katherine from attacking Bonnie. Stefan tried to get Katherine to spill why she was there, ignoring her flirting. Katherine told him she had com

e back for him, but when he responded that he hated her, she stabbed him and said that it was the beginning of a love story—not the end.

Elena took care of Stefan's wounds until Damon came and she went to see how Jeremy and Jenna were. Damon was ready for a fight, but Stefan refused, knowing this was what could tear them apart with Katherine on the loose. Katherine got under Damon's skin and Damon killed Jeremy with the intention of turning him into a vampire, but due to Jeremy's ring, Stefan was able to identify that he was still human.

In Brave New World, at a carnival, Damon challenged Stefan to hand-wrestle Mason Lockwood but Stefan lost. Damon thought he hadn't been trying, but Stefan admitted that he actually had and Mason was unnaturally strong. Damon decided to compel Carter, a worker, to get in a fight with Tyler Lockwood and see how Mason reacted. Stefan spied the fight from a far and witnessed Mason's unusual fighting against Carter. When they left, Carter was confused by why he did what he had done, and Stefan told him he was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Stefan tried to give Elena a normal day, but the revelation of Caroline's transformation into a vampire was a shock. Stefan was furious that Katherine would do this to her, and was in agreement with Damon that Caroline should die (because of what happened to Vicki Donovan). While talking to Elena, Stefan was distracted when he smelled blood from Caroline's victim. He and Elena arrived just in time to stop Damon from killing

Caroline.

Stefan took her off to the bathroom to clean the blood of her face. Caroline was disgusted and horrified by what she had done and freaked out when she saw her eyes change to black. Stefan got her to calm down and showed that this was completely natural. Caroline asked him why Katherine had done this to her, but Stefan didn't know. Afterwards, Stefan convinces Bonnie to create a lapis ring for Caroline and begins to teach her how to live on the animal diet. At the realization that Mason Lockwood was a werewolf, he even tried to protect her.

In Kill or Be Killed, Stefan tried to make peace with Mason who told his secret to Elizabeth Forbes, the sheriff, who went about trying to destroy the brothers. This time Caroline came to the brothers rescue. Knowing that he was too weak from his diet, Stefan decided to start taking small amounts of human blood every day, and Elena who was against it at first, started to help him by giving him her own blood.

In Plan B, Stefan jumps into a well to try and find the moonstone that Mason hid, but didn't realize the water was full of vervain and he couldn't move, his face and body beginning to burn; Elena comes down to rescue him. After a dangerous situation in which Jenna, Elena's aunt, stabs herself after being compelled by Katherine, Stefan and Elena realize that it was a mistake not listening to Katherine and allowing themselves to challenge her, and decide to break up, despite their affection and deep love for each other.

In Masquerade, Stefan and Damon decided to kill Katherine at the Masquerade party, Alaric, Bonnie, Caroline and Jeremy helped them. At the party when Katherine came he had to dance with her or she would kill someone. Katherine told Stefan that she wants the moonstone back and when he told her that she can't have it Katherine killed Amber Bradley and left her in Stefan's arms he put Amber body in his car. Stefan returns to the party and says to Damon they need to call the whole thing off, but Damon convinces him to change his mind. Later Stefan and Damon is in the room were Bonnie had cast a trapping spell.

Caroline lured Katherine inside the room, then the brothers attacked Katherine. Stefan and Damon continue fighting, and when Damon is just about to drive the stake through Katherine's heart Jeremy comes and says "Everything you're doing to her is hurting Elena" both Stefan and Damon stop. Trapped inside the room Stefan realizes something. He remembers that Katherine told him that she gave George Lockwood something that he needed to make him help her fake her death, he figures it's the moonstone. He asks Katherine why she needs it back but Katherine doesn't answer him.

Lucy appears, getting their attention, she gives the moonstone to Katherine. All of a sudden Katherine starts gasping and falls. Lucy says that Elena is fine and that the spell is broken. She apologies for her involvement to the Salvatore's and leaves. Stefan the goes out to Elena while Damon traps Katherine in the tomb. Stefan tries to get back with Elena, but she refuses and decides to wait until she makes sure that she and her loved ones are safe first.

In Rose, Stefan and Damon have to rescue Elena, when she is kidnapped and held by two vampires called Trevor and Rose. When Stefan finds Elena, he and Damon work together to bring down another vampire called Elijah. In the tenth episode he goes into the cave to save Jeremy from Katherine. He got stuck in the tomb with Katherine because Bonnie is unable to release the spell over it. However, Elijah made a deal with Elena; to get Stefan out of the tomb, and so he kept the deal and got Stefan out and compelled Katherine to stay in the tomb until he told her to come out. He has now started drinking vervain to build up tolerance to it.

In Crying Wolf, Stefan brought Elena to a lake house where Elena and her adoptive family used to go. When they arrived, Elena took a few moments and went into the house, leaving Stefan outside. She tricked Stefan into believing that the house was left to John Gilbert after her parents died, but she revealed the truth shortly after. Elena then invited Stefan into the house. Later that night, Tyler and Brady wanted to retrieve the Petrova Doppelgänger, Elena.

Brady shot Stefan in the chest, probably not hitting his heart and left Tyler with a gun and a stake to watch over him while Brady took Elena. Elena was smart enough to hide around the house while Brady searched for her. Brady was stabbed a couple of times by Elena. Elena rushed towards the door and out and when Brady came out in pursuit, Stefan pulled his heart out, literally. Stefan explained to Tyler that Elena had to be sacrificed to break the curse and Tyler released him.

In The Dinner Party, Stefan tells Elena about a dark time in his history. He states that he was a monster and fed off human blood and was worse than Damon back then. He also tells Elena the person that changed his life around was Lexi. When Elijah shows up at the lake house, Elena tricks him by stabbing herself with the dagger and subsequently stabs him with the dagger. Stefan then gives her his blood to heal her.

Stefan and Elena both realize that Katherine is no longer in the tomb and she's posing as Elena. Stefan then goes to Bonnie hoping that they can get the Martins on their side. Later Stefan goes to the Martin's house when Luka was just killed. Stefan tries to comfort him, but Jonas casts a spell that causes him to scream in pain. Jonas yells that he has no-one left and Stefan is about to find out what that feels like. Stefan then goes to the Grill and finds Caroline, updates her on the situation, and while she goes after Jonas, he will get Elena away. At the Gilbert house, Katherine pretends to be Elena and bites Jonas, but he soon wakes up and attacks Bonnie. Stefan then snaps his neck.

When Isobel returned to Mystic Falls, Stefan and Elena wanted answers from her. He is later seen with Elena, protecting her, as John falls down the stairs, dead. Katherine kidnapped Elena and posed as her, but Stefan knew where Elena was, and he gets stabbed with vervain. He then teams up with Damon to find Isobel and Elena. After that, they give Elena their house to protect her from vampires. Damon and Stefan realized that they have a new secret weapon: Bonnie.

In The Last Dance, Stefan attends the '60s Decade Dance with Elena after Klaus starts to send his disturbing messages. He can see that something is troubling Jeremy and after talking with him, he finds out that Bonnie might die if she uses too much power to kill Klaus. He goes to Damon asking if he knew that already, and Damon admits he did. Later both Stefan and Damon help Jeremy who is being attack by students, Stefan then realizes that it was a distraction.

He meets up with Elena, both rushing to find Bonnie and Damon. After Elena has freed Elijah from the dagger, Stefan respects her wishes and lets her try to talk with him alone and soon after is seen protecting Jenna from Klaus who is still in Alaric body. Later Stefan tells Damon to stop treating Andie Star like that. The brothers start to fight about Damon loving Elena, after Stefan says that Damon doesn't have Elena's respect. They are interrupted by Elijah and Elena.

[In the episode The Last Day, Stefan respects Elena's decision on using the Elixir that Elijah has to save her. However, when Damon fed Elena his blood, Stefan fought him and ended up with a stake in the stomach. Stefan then took Elena on a hike to watch the sunset and to have one last romantic day together. During the sacrifice he tries to exchange himself for Elena's aunt Jenna as the vampire but Klaus refuses saying he has plans for him. Stefan watches in horror as Elijah, instead of killing Klaus as planned, fled with him.

Klaus's plans are revealed in As I Lay Dying. Klaus offers him a deal to save Damon from a werewolf bite: he will become his right-hand man, leaving everything including Elena and Klaus will cure Damon. Stefan accepts and drinks the number of blood bags Klaus gives him. Klaus then gives his blood, the cure, to Katherine to be delivered to Damon. At first Stefan is shocked, but relieved when Elena sends him a text saying Damon is okay. As Stefan watches Klaus place Elijah's body with the rest of his family. Klaus then calls out a teenage girl from behind the crate and forces Stefan to kill her and drink her blood as his initiation. Stefan does so, and Klaus is pleased.

In The Birthday, Stefan and Klaus are in Tennessee. Stefan stops a brunette/black haired woman from running out of her house, while being chased by Klaus. The girls give up Ray Sutton' s location, a werewolf, but Klaus tells Stefan to kill the blonde quickly and make the runner suffer, before walking out. Stefan obliges. Then Klaus and Stefan arrive at a bar to find Ray.

Ray is suspicious and soon figures out that he's in the company of vampires. Stefan's compelled everyone in the bar so Ray is all alone - and refusing to give up the location of his pack. Still, that doesn't bother Stefan, who menacingly suggests that they're going to play a drinking game - "truth or wolfsbane". Back in the bar, Ray's being tortured, he's chained up and Stefan's throwing wolfsbane soaked darts at him. He's still refusing to give up details of his pack. Fortunately for Ray, he gets a slight reprieve when Klaus gets word that Damon has been sniffing around.

Stefan promises to go and deal with it - and vows to return to Klaus. Damon meets Stefan who tells him to stop causing problems. Damon, of course, claims that he doesn't care about Klaus, but Stefan tells him again to let him go. Damon warns that if Stefan carries on, they'll be no saving him, but Stefan says he doesn't need that - though Damon points out that Elena thinks differently. Stefan, at this point, shows just how far he has fallen. He calls out to Andie, who is up high on a beam in the studio roof. Terrified, she sobs that Stefan has compelled her and she can't move. Damon tells Stefan that it's "not cool" but Stefan chillingly replies: "Oh, come on. A little bit cool".

He then tells Andie that she can move, she falls and breaks her neck. Stefan returns to Klaus, who has extracted the wolf pack information from Ray. Klaus announces that he now has to go through a three-stage process. First, he feeds Ray his blood, and then he swiftly breaks his neck. Klaus says he knew Stefan would come back, and Stefan, for his part, claims that he doesn't care about anything anymore. Interestingly, Klaus accuses him of putting on a "good show".

He says Stefan will never stop caring about his family, but the blood makes it easier to let go. Later Stefan leaves the bar in Tennessee. He calls Elena, but when she picks up he remains silent, Elena realizes who is on the phone. She tells him he will be alright and tells him to hold on to the fact that she loves him. Stefan nods and begins to cry. In The End of the Affair, it is revealed that Stefan use to be a lover of Rebekah, an vampire and Klaus' sister.

Klaus takes him to Chicago about their memories (who was erased by Klaus) and their days and Rebekah is now dead, waiting for her resurrection. Elena stays at Stefan's old apartment, hides from Klaus and Stefan who hides from Elena before he takes a wine. As Elena attempted to shoot him with a vervain dart, Stefan tells her that he doesn't want to come back. After Rebekah's reawaken, Klaus compels him to remember.

Still in Chicago with Klaus and Rebekah at the start of Disturbing Behavior, Katherine signals to Stefan (who is in a clothing store) that she wants to talk with him. She knows he has a plan, and warns him that Klaus is smart and will figure it out. As Gloria starts to search for Rebekah's necklace, Stefan begins to worry that Elena will be found. Gloria later says that what she saw in her vision bothered her, that the girls she saw were talking about him. She tells him he could tell her, or she could torture him for it. As Stefan speeds to attack her, she only glances at him and he falls to the floor in pain.

Gloria sets up everything to torture him for the information, and finally sees where the necklace is. Katherine arrives and stabs Gloria in the neck. Katherine offers that they should work together, yet Stefan still refuses. Stefan goes to where all Klaus' family members coffins are held, and almost opens one before Rebekah comes in. He asks her out about the man that was looking for them, but she give him a straight answer. She kisses him, testing if he has any feelings for her, and is disappointed, asking him if he would ever love someone like his previous girlfriend (Elena).

Klaus comes in a few seconds later telling them Gloria is gone, and Rebekah says Stefan isn't on their side, that he's been asking about Mikael. Klaus attacks him. He is shown to wake up in the back of a truck, where Klaus welcomes him back to Mystic Falls - to find out what Stefan is hiding.

Klaus started using mind compulsion on Stefan in The Reckoning, to get Stefan to obey to his orders and kill two students, Dana and Chad. He then compelled him to kill Elena if the clock reached 0. Stefan showed great strength when he fought the compulsion and told Elena to run. Unfortunately, Klaus then used compulsion one last time and ordered Stefan to turn his emotions off. Stefan was forced to attack Elena. In the end of the episode, Stefan is shown back at the Salvatore boarding house, saying as Klaus left town, he's been ordered to keep Elena safe (for the reason that her blood is needed to create hybrids).

His attitude is much like that as when Damon first arrived in Mystic Falls in the season one premiere. In Smells Like Teen Spirit, Stefan goes back to school and has moved back to Salvatore Boarding House again, staying behind to keep an eye on Elena, and "guard" her for Klaus. Damon is unimpressed by his brother's behavior, most importantly the way he is feeding off of girls in the house. As Rebekah enters telling them Klaus left her behind and she doesn't have a place to stay, Stefan shows he doesn't really care about that.

Elena, Damon and Alaric later formulate a plan to catch Stefan off guard and lock him up, to try and restore him to his normal self. The plan fails thanks to Vicki interfering and trying to kill Elena, but Elena does see a glimmer of hope for Stefan: that there may still be a part of him left. Stefan later asks Elena why did she save him from the burning car, and calls her pathetic when she says she still has hope, causing his ex-girlfriend to stab him.

In Ghost World, after Bonnie casts a spell revealing all of the ghosts, Lexi appears. She knocks him out and locks him in the county Jail. She brings Elena and shows her how to get him to feel something, by torturing him. Stefan tries to get Elena to let him go by saying that he loves her, but Lexi and Elena see through it, causing him to howl in rage and say that he wishes that he never met them. After Lexi disappears, Stefan asks Elena if she's given up, but Elena says no, but Stefan couldn't either, because he would lose her if he did, she would not love a ghost.

In Ordinary People, Damon frees Stefan, seeing Lexi's approach as useless.

The two of them go to a bar and drink, both beer and blood. Stefan asks why Damon he freed him, but Damon brushes the question off. Eventually, Mikael shows up and drives his fist through Damon's heart in an attempt to get Stefan to tell him where Klaus is, after hearing that Stefan is connected to him. At first, it seems as if Klaus' compulsion made it so that he didn't care, but he eventually agrees to lure Klaus to Mystic Falls. However, he later tells Damon that he did it to get freedom from Klaus, not because of any feelings for his brother.

In Homecoming, Stefan participates in the plan to kill Klaus, luring him to Mystic Falls by saying that Mikael is dead (in fact he was dead as Elena daggered him so Stefan could inform Klaus of this and not have Klaus' compulsion stop him from lying.) After hearing about a change in the plan, Stefan asks what it is, only to be attacked by Mikael. Katherine later shows up and informs him that Klaus' hybrids have orders to kill Damon if Klaus is killed.

She tells him that she is going back to go through with the plan, but that will mean Damon's death. She tells Stefan to care enough about Damon to save him. After Stefan interrupts the plan, which results in Mikael's death, Klaus undoes his compulsion, and Stefan and Katherine leave. Stefan asks why Katherine, who wanted Klaus dead for 500+ years, would stop a plan that would have worked to killed him, just to save Damon. Katherine states that, while humanity is a vampire's greatest weakness,

it is the one weakness that cannot be beaten down, and that she loves Damon, despite early comments. Stefan states that he can't go back to feeling after everything he has done. But Katherine tells him that he needs to feel, because she needs him to get angry. He then calls Klaus and tells him that, despite fulfilling his promise and undoing the compulsions, he took everything from Stefan.

When Klaus tells him to let bygones be bygones, and that an eternity of bad feelings gets old, Stefan counters saying that revenge never gets old, and reveals that he stole the coffins that hold Klaus' family. Klaus threatens to kill everyone Stefan has ever met, and Stefan says that if he does that, he will never see his family again.

In The New Deal, it is revealed that Stefan is hiding Klaus' family coffins with the help of Bonnie. Damon gets angry with Stefan when he realizes that Stefan stopped him from killing Klaus in order to save his life again.

In Our Town, Stefan's obsession for revenge, drives him to kidnap Elena in an effort to get Klaus to call off his hybrids. He threatens to drive Elena off Wickery Bridge unless he calls them off. He agrees at the last moment. Elena is very hurt and Stefan tells her that Klaus took everything from him and now all he has left is to get revenge on Klaus. Elena says he had her but he says, "I lost you the minute I left town..."

In The Ties That Bind, When Bonnie shows Elena the coffins, Stefan gets angry because Elena shouldn't have seen those. He then followed Elena and Bonnie to Abby's House, talking to Elena. Then, Jamie came to protect Elena but Stefan compels him to leave. Stefan gets shot by Jamie, after realizing that Jamie has been compelled by someone. Unable to move he has to lie on the ground together with a tied up Elena.

After she knocked out Jamie she helps Stefan to pull out the wooden bullets and she tells him, she kissed Damon. Stefan is quiet but he seems hurt by the news. Elena seems confused by his reaction and he later tells her that she is better than Damon, that she is better than both of them. Stefan leaves and goes to Damon who was surprised to see his brother. He then hits Damon due to kissing Elena. He then becomes concerned when Damon reveals that he undaggered one of the Originals.

In Bringing Out The Dead, Stefan makes sure that the fourth coffin is safe and wants Bonnie and her mom to open it. After that he was accused by Elena of having killed Brian Walkers, he asks her if Damon has recently killed someone and leaves. He and Damon have a conversation about un-daggering Elijah and Damon explains that Elijah's in the perfect mood to help killing Klaus. Together they appear at The Original Family Mansion for dinner with Klaus and Elijah. They reveal their past with Tatia, the Original Petrova.

After Klaus made the offer that the Salvatores would keep away from Elena, Stefan disagrees, causing Klaus to overpower him and burn his hand in the chimney while Damon and Elijah go away. Stefan states he should kill him and Klaus asks where the Ripper has been. Elijah frees Stefan and Damon, meaning that this is family business. As Stefan and Damon leave and walk in the woods Stefan says "I love her, Damon," and Damon says that he does as well. Afterwards they look to see if the coffin got opened. They find Bonnie and Abby knocked out and the coffin opened. Whatever was inside is gone now.

In Dangerous Liaisonsit is learned that Elena had been invited to the Mikaelson Family home for a ball and that the mother, Esther has requested an audience with her. Stefan and Elena agree that she should meet with Esther while Damon doesn't want her to go. They all end up showing up to the ball and Elena is escorted in by both brothers. Later, Stefan watches as Damon and Elena begin to dance but as the waltz shifts to a sequence that switches partners, Elena runs into Stefan.

They dance and while the energy is intense they share a light hearted chat about Stefan's usual lack of enthusiasm for dancing. The subject then switches to Damon and Stefan tells Elena that Damon needs to figure out that she can look out for herself. Elena tells Stefan she needs to talk to him and she asks for his help in getting her into the room with Esther alone. She mentions that he cares about killing Klaus more than anything and Stefan says she's not wrong, though he has a conflicted look in his expression.

Elena mentions her appreciation that he still at least lets her make her own decisions. Stefan helps Elena and later takes her home. They talk about Damon's self destructive behavior that night. Elena says she said something she didn't mean and Stefan admits that he did too. Stefan says goodbye and as he walks out Elena stops him and asks how he can't feel anything and tells him that feeling anything is better than acting like he doesn't care. Stefan reveals that he can't because he hates himself for what he did to her. He says "If I let myself care, all I feel is pain," and then leaves.

In All My Children, Elena calls Stefan but he declines to answer, an emotionally pained expression on his face. He also appears to be writing in his diary for the first time in a while.

Stefan asks Damon why he killed and turned Abby into a vampire while it should of been him. Damon says he can see that Stefan just wants to be the old him again and Stefan responds shaking his head and saying, "That part of me is gone for good." Damon doesn't believe this and mentions that he has taken notice that Stefan has not been drinking human blood lately. Stefan reveals that he stopped drinking human blood since the night he threatened to drive Elena off of Wickery Bridge.

In the episode 1912, it was revealed that this was the year that Stefan went into "ripper" mode again. He and Damon showed up for a funeral of a family member and Damon later convinces Stefan to start drinking human blood again. Later Stefan is shown drinking the blood of a woman. He looses control and ends up killing her. Stefan panics and goes into a frenzy, crying, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." He gets angry at Damon saying, "What did you do to me?" Damon offers help and Stefan pushes him away as he says "I don't need your help." In the present, Stefan and Damon try to figure out the murder mystery occurring in the town. Damon notices that Stefan seems to be having a hard time going back to his animal diet.

Later, Damon tempts Stefan into drinking from a human girl and tries to stop him before he gets too carried away. Elena catches them and seems very upset. Stefan is hurt and angrily walks away from Damon. Later on Stefan is at the house sitting and looking upset. Damon walks in and tells him, "You did really well tonight." He explains that he is trying to help him recover. Stefan asks Damon why he is trying to help him and Damn responds, "Because right now, you're all I got." This statement seems to have an emotional impact on Stefan.

In Break On Through, Elena runs into Stefan at the Salvatore boarding house and catches him serving himself blood from a blood bag. Stefan seems uncomfortable with her presence as he is about to drink the blood. He then told Elena about Samantha Gilbert and says if the same thing is happening to Alaric then there is nothing she can do about it. Elena seems disappointed with Stefan's comment and leaves. Damon tries to tell Stefan to control his blood lust and to accept the fact that he is a vampire. Later, Stefan and Elena are about to go into Alaric's apartment and Stefan tells her that he is not trying to hurt her, he just can't be what she wants him to be right now.

In reference to Alaric, Elena tells Stefan that she wasn't planning on giving up on either of them. This seems to effect Stefan. As they return to Elena's home Stefan realizes that someone is bleeding upstairs. He tells Elena he is going to need her help and they go upstairs to find Meredith badly injured and bleeding. Stefan seems to be tempted by the blood but then looks at Elena. He finds the strength to stay long enough to heal Meredith by feeding her his blood, and then leaves, resisting the urge to drink from her. At the end, Stefan is shown having a drink and he reveals to Damon that he is toasting to "control".

In The Murder of One, Stefan and Damon make a plan with Elena, Matt and Caroline to kill the Originals. Damon is later taken by Rebekah and tortured. When Elena asks to go rescue Damon, Stefan refuses and insists that they carry out the plan. The truth of the vampire bloodlines is revealed and Stefan goes to rescue Damon, offering Klaus the remaining white oak stakes in exchange for Damon's freedom. Klaus realizes that Stefan had not given him all of the stakes but Rebekah releases Damon anyways. Later, Elena enters Stefan's room telling him that he scared her by trying to go up to Klaus on his own. Stefan says she doesn't have to worry about that anymore because he realizes hating Klaus and getting revenge isn't worth it. He seems disappointed saying it was all for nothing and that he is back where he started.

Elena tells him that's not true and that he was dragged through hell but he came out the other side. Stefan reveals that hating Klaus was easy because it allowed him to ignore everything happening around him, everything he let slip away. Elena reveals that she never stopped loving him but Stefan seems troubled at the notion that she has feelings for Damon. He says to Elena, "I love you, I will always love you." He tells her he wants her to look him in the eye and say she doesn't feel anything for Damon. She says she doesn't know what she feels. Stefan nods and walks away in sadness.

In Heart of Darkness, it is revealed that Elena is going on a trip to Denver with Damon due to Stefan's idea that she figure out her feelings for Damon. Stefan stays to watch over Alaric and he tells him in regards to Elena, "No matter what i go through to get her back...none of that matters if she has feelings for somebody else." Klaus shows up to get the stakes. Later on, Klaus tells Stefan he is still waiting for his "old friend to come back," after Stefan notes that Klaus won't kill him. Stefan responds saying that he has been trying to fight off the "ripper" part of himself but that now that he has accepted it, it can't control him. He then tells Klaus, "And neither can you. So, unless your gonna stake me, why don't you get the hell out of my house."

In Do Not Go Gentle, Elena asks Stefan to the decade dance with the encouragement of Caroline. Stefan seems excited by her invitation and when he goes to pick Elena up they exchange compliments. They joke about the bad luck they usually have at the dances and Elena responds saying that they need to live their lives. Stefan jokes, saying, "Who gave you that horrible advice?" and Elena responds with "some guy I use to date," in an ironic and sweet reference to Stefan. When they arrive at the dance and begin to slow dance Stefan mentions that he has been meaning to apologize to Bonnie. Elena brings up Damon and their trip to Denver but Stefan stops her saying, "If you and I find our way back to each other, you can tell me if you want to. Otherwise, I don't need to know, I don't want to know."

He expresses that he is just honored to be her date that night. Later on, Stefan and Klaus are standing outside talking about Esther. Klaus mentions that the dance's 1920's theme reminds him of their friendship and "brotherhood". Damon walks up, saying "Well he already has a brother...not to be, you know, territorial or anything." Klaus laughs at this and jokes about "The Salvatores and their unshakable bond." He starts provoking them with the idea that Elena's "choice" will shake them up a bit. This episodes exhibits more growth for Stefan as he apologizes to Bonnie and tries to comfort Caroline and Tyler.

After it is revealed that Alaric is going to let himself die, Stefan watches Elena break down and asks her to come with him. He takes her hand and leads her to the gym, explaining that that is the place where he hit rock bottom. He says to her, "After I bit you I never wanted to feel anything again." He explains that someone kept telling him that it was okay to feel, that emotions is what makes people human. Elena responds saying "Who gave you that horrible advice?" Stefan says, "Some girl I use to date," as tears form in his eyes. Elena is saddened and says that she doesn't have anyone anymore. Stefan comforts her and tells her, "You have me."

In Before Sunset, Stefan appears the most upbeat he has been all season. He offers Elena and Jeremy help with painting Alaric's old bedroom. Him and Damon worry after Bonnie shows up with news of Alaric and it is revealed that Elena is missing. Stefan, Damon and Klaus finally agree to save Elena and Caroline together. While waiting to complete their plan, Klaus talks to Stefan about Elena. Stefan mentions that he will turn his back on everything to make sure Elena is safe. Klaus tells him that he is Elena's better option and says "Personally I think she is wasting her time with Damon." Stefan responds saying that all the time and energy Klaus had put into trying to make Stefan and Damon hate each other has actually brought them closer. He says "Damon and I have been through a hell of a lot worse than you."

Later on, Stefan, Damon and Tyler begin to desiccate Klaus' body with help from Bonnie. As Stefan stops Klaus' heart, Klaus looks on in shock and sadness and Stefan's expression seems conflicted as well. Stefan seems satisfied at finally being able to stop Klaus but a part of him appears sad as well. As Stefan and Damon take off to put away Klaus' body they talk about Elena and Stefan mentions that if she chooses Damon he will go away and let them be happy. Damon agrees to do the same and implies towards the trouble they go through for "one girl". Stefan responds saying, "She is a pretty special girl" and Damon agrees. This episode reflects one of the strongest points in the relationship between both brothers.

In The Departed, Stefan and Damon decide that one of them needs to go back to Mystic Falls to keep on eye on Elena. Stefan later appears and Elena hugs him. Stefan seems very comforted and relieved to be with Elena in that moment. In the kitchen, Stefan talks to Matt about the importance of free will. Later, Stefan allows Elena to decide whether she wants to trust Elijah or not and she decides that she will.

After it is revealed that everyone is in danger from Alaric, Stefan prepares to take off and help keep everyone safe. He comforts Elena with his promise. As he walks away Elena stops him, implying that she wants to say something to him but then she changes her mind. Stefan begins to walk away again but then turns around, walks over to Elena and kisses her. He looks at her longingly and says, "That's just in case there is no later," and then finally leaves.

Later on, Damon reveals to Stefan that Klaus is dead and they both seem very sad. Stefan reveals that he is concerned that Damon won't be able to say goodbye to Elena. Though it is not explicitly said by either brother, in this moment it becomes clear that they each care for each other very much. After Matt forces Elena to decide which brother to say goodbye to, she calls Damon and reveals that she has chosen to say goodbye to Stefan. They are both sad, but Elena expresses that Stefan came into her life at a time when she needed someone and she fell for him instantly. She explains that despite her feelings for Damon, she always loved Stefan. Afterwards, Rebekah calls Stefan and reveals that she wants to kill Elena while Stefan tries to stop her.

In the last moments of the episode, it flashes back and forth as Stefan tries to save Elena. In the past, it shows Elena's father asking him to save his daughter and Stefan's confusion as he sees her face. In the present Stefan reaches to pull Elena out but she refuses and motions for him to save Matt first. They exchange intense looks and Stefan finally surrenders to Elena's plea, pulling Matt out of the car. After Damon realizes Alaric is dead, it is revealed that Stefan ran out of time to save Elena and that she has died. The last shot of Stefan shows him sitting over her dead body as tears fill his eyes and he mourns the loss of her human life.

In Growing Pains, Stefan and Damon are with Elena when she first wakes up in her bedroom. Stefan, with a few choice comments from Damon, tells Elena that she was in an accident, that Meredith Fell had healed her with vampire blood the other night and that she had died with vampire blood in her system. Downstairs, he and Damon argue about what to do next: Stefan wants to do everything they can to find a way out of Elena's transition, while Damon wants her to accept the inevitable, feed on human blood and not risk dying permanently. While Damon is gone, Stefan and Elena are captured by the Town Council and imprisoned in a cell, along with Rebekah. It is there that Stefan confesses his regrets about Elena not feeding in order to complete her transition. In a heartfelt moment, Stefan tells Elena that he loves her. Elena, who continues to weaken without blood, confesses that the reason she was on the bridge was because she was coming back for Stefan, and that no matter what happens, it's the best choice she has ever made. Desperate to save Elena, Stefan quietly plots with Rebekah.

With Rebekah's help, Stefan brutally kills a guard by cracking his head open against the bars. Stefan alerts Elena to the growing pool of blood on the ground. Elena gathers what little strength she has left and manages to dip a finger in the blood and taste it, completing the transition. After Stefan, Elena and Rebekah escape and are let free, Stefan then uses his blood to heal Matt after Damon had bitten him. Matt then tells Stefan that he wishes that he would stop saving him, that Stefan should have let him drown and saved Elena. Stefan tells Matt that the only reason he saved Matt first was because Elena insisted upon it, that Elena sacrificed her own life to save Matt and instead of bemoaning what has happened, maybe Matt should try to live up to the sacrifice Elena made for him and earn the life he has because of it.

Later, Stefan sits with Elena on the rooftop of the Salvatore mansion. They make small talk about what will happen next with the Council. Stefan tells Elena that he wishes that he could promise that everything would be okay, that he could save her from craving blood and a heightened sense of pain, but unfortunately, being a vampire will be all those things. Elena then tells Stefan that even though there will be struggles, the important thing is that she will get to live and be there for everyone she loves, including him. Stefan then gives Elena a daylight ring that Bonnie made. He puts the ring on her finger and tells her that they will take it one day at a time. They share a romantic moment as they kiss and watch the sunrise together.

In Memorial, Stefan wakes up in the woods with Elena, where they spent the night in preparation for an early hunt. The scene is intercut with a scene from the night before, when Stefan argued with Damon about the best way for Elena to feed. Stefan tells Damon that he wants Elena to try the animal blood diet so that maybe she can avoid hurting or killing anyone, something that Stefan feels would be especially hard for Elena. Even after Damon voices his opinion to Elena herself, Stefan and Elena leave for their camping trip as planned.

Stefan helps Elena take down and feed on her first deer. While Stefan instructs Elena on using vampire speed, she is distracted by Stefan's touch. She describes the sensation, that it feels like he is touching every single nerve on her body. Stefan continues the sensual description, explaining that everything is heightened, including emotions, sight, smell, sound, taste and touch. Elena, overwhelmed by desire, begins to passionately make out with Stefan against a tree. Soon, however, Elena begins to feel sick, pushes Stefan away, runs away with vampire speed and vomits up the animal blood.

Later, in Stefan's bedroom, Elena finishes leaving a message for Caroline to ask for help adjusting as Stefan walks into the room with two glasses and a bottle of champagne. He wants to celebrate her first feed, but Elena is less enthusiastic, reminding him that it kind of made her sick. Stefan explains that it took him a while to get used to animal blood, but it gets easier over time. Elena observes that Stefan is awfully cheery, and he responds that he's just happy she is here. Elena gives into Stefan's high spirits and pops open the bottle, laughing gleefully as it overflows. Stefan and Elena kiss, but are interrupted by a phone call from Damon.

Later, Stefan helps remove peculiar wooden bullets from Tyler's chest. Stefan explains to Tyler and Caroline that the bullets were specially carved, and that if he were a normal vampire instead of a hybrid, he would be dead. Tyler tells Stefan that the hunter who shot him was clearly looking for vampires, and that his gloves were soaked in vervain. Stefan scrutinizes the special bullets, intrigued by the etchings on them. When Stefan touches one of the bullets, it burns him, and Caroline speculates that the bullets might have been spelled by a witch.

Stefan visits Bonnie to ask her about the bullets. When Bonnie answers the door, Stefan sees how despondent she looks and is immediately concerned. He asks her to invite him in, and after she does he embraces her, comforting her as she cries. After relocating to the living room, Bonnie explains that watching the spirits torture her Grams was like she was dying all over again. Stefan tries to assuage her fears, suggesting that the witches might just be messing with Bonnie's head to teach her a lesson. Bonnie tells Stefan that she has been unable to perform magic without reliving the horror of watching her Grams be tortured.

Bonnie apologizes for the state she's in and for avoiding everyone, and asks what he needs help with. Stefan tries to back out of it, but Bonnie insists that he tell her what's wrong. Stefan then shows Bonnie the special bullets that he took out of Tyler and tells her that the bullets burn to the touch. He suggests that the bullets might just be steeped in vervain, but asks Bonnie if she has ever seen the writing on the bullets before. She says that she hasn't, and that it is not magical writing. Stefan then tells Bonnie that he thinks they have a new vampire hunter in town.

When Stefan arrives at the church for the memorial service, he sees Elena walking away from Damon, who is putting a blood bag into a satchel. Stefan confronts him about it and Damon explains that he brought the blood bag for Elena, and they argue again about what is best for Elena. Stefan insists that if Elena hurts someone, she will be desperate to turn the guilt off, maybe even enough to shut off her humanity.

Damon suggests that what Stefan is really afraid of is that Elena will become like Stefan's ripper alter-ego or, worse, that she will be like Damon. Damon insists that losing control and killing people is inevitable for a vampire, and the sooner Elena accepts that, the better. Stefan remains adamant until Damon reveals that Elena hasn't been able to keep any blood down, including animal blood, human blood from a blood bag and Damon's blood. Stefan, already surprised that Elena had kept her difficulties from him, is especially shocked that Elena drank from Damon.

Eventually Stefan walks into the church and, after briefly talking to Tyler and Caroline, finds a seat as Carol begins the service for Pastor Young and the council. Elena volunteers to say a few words in Pastor Young's memory as Damon enters the church. Damon sits down beside Stefan and they watch Elena as she begins her speech. Damon remarks that Elena is not looking so good, and they banter quietly about jealousy and keeping secrets.

As Elena is giving her speech, she and the other vampires smell blood dripping from the ceiling. Damon intuits that it's a trap and very quietly warns everyone not to move. Elena almost loses control before Stefan comes up to the podium and leads her back to her seat. Back in their seats, Elena is barely holding it together, and Stefan and Damon argue under their breath about what to do. Finally, Matt suggests that Elena feed from him. Stefan agrees to it and lets Matt take Elena. Matt pretends to console Elena while she feeds from his neck. Once she has fed, Elena releases Matt and tells Stefan that she can still smell the blood. She suggests it must be April Young, who was missing, and that they have to help her. Stefan doesn't want to risk getting caught, but Tyler decides to reveal himself by going up to the podium. The hunter shoots Tyler, and Stefan, Carol, Caroline and Elena go to check on him while the rest of the church becomes chaotic. Once Caroline has taken the bullet out of Tyler, Stefan tells Elena that he is going to find Damon.

Outside, Stefan calls out Damon's name, and the hunter, Connor, gets away in his truck. Stefan runs over to Damon and starts to help him up, but decides to punch him instead. Lying on the ground, Damon asks what that was for, but Stefan merely responds, "You know what," referring to Damon letting Elena feed on him, and he leaves.

Back at the Salvatore mansion, Stefan and Elena are in the living room. Stefan pours Elena a glass of bourbon, explaining that alcohol helps with the cravings. They sip their drinks for a moment before Elena addresses the tension between them. Stefan admits he's hurt that Elena has not been truthful with him, and Elena defends herself by saying that she didn't want to ruin Stefan's good mood. They argue about Elena going to Damon for help instead of Stefan, and Elena admits that she felt that Damon would understand. Stefan resents that Elena thought he wouldn't understand, and goes on to explain why he's angry that she fed on Damon. She apologizes and begins to cry, confessing that she can't stop feeling everyone's grief. Stefan finally lets go of his anger and comforts her before he asks her to go somewhere with him.

At the school, Stefan and Elena join Matt, Jeremy, Caroline, Damon and Bonnie to have the memorial that they didn't have a chance to finish. Stefan tells Damon and everyone else that they have lost so much, and suffered so long, without allowing themselves to grieve and heal. Damon objects to Stefan's idea and thinks that they have more important things to do, like tracking down the vampire hunter, but Stefan they need to do this first. Stefan then lights a Japanese floating lantern in memory of his Uncle Zach, his best friend Lexi and for Alaric. He, along with everyone else who lit a lantern, releases his lantern into the sky.

In The Rager, Damon finds Stefan working on his motorcycle in front of the house and teases him about it before informing him that Connor had abducted Tyler long enough for him to extract some werewolf venom from Tyler's mouth. Damon turns down Stefan's offer to help, reminding him of their deal that whoever Elena didn't choose would leave town. Stefan suggests that the situation has changed now that Elena is a vampire.

At school, Stefan and Elena endure harassment from Rebekah until Elena tries to retaliate: she throws a pencil forcefully at Rebekah, who catches it and throws it into Elena's chest. Stefan leaves the classroom with Elena, trying to talk her down from her building rage. They see Connor in the hallway, and as he starts to head toward Jeremy, Elena wants to interfere, but Stefan tells her that he'll deal with Connor and Jeremy while she cleans up the blood from her pencil injury. Stefan follows Connor and Jeremy to the classroom they're sitting in, and after deeming Jeremy safe, he leaves.

Outside the school, Stefan and Caroline try to soothe Elena, who is still furious about Rebekah's antagonism. Elena finally agrees to skip the rest of the school day and have fun, and leaves to go home and change. Caroline shares her concern about Elena with Stefan, and he explains that Elena is channeling all her emotion to rage, and that she'll learn to deal with it better. Caroline commends Stefan on being so good at helping new vampires adjust.

When Stefan and Elena arrive at the party, it seems that most of the school is already there. Stefan compels a boy to give him his cup of beer, and he gives it to Elena. She sees April and decides to go say hi to her while Stefan goes to find something stronger than beer. Later, Stefan halts Elena from going after Rebekah with the white oak stake. He says he won't stop her, but instead explains exactly what will happen, and in the end the guilt of killing Rebekah and her entire bloodline isn't worth it. He suggests they leave the party instead, and Elena finally hands over the stake. Before they leave, Stefan watches Elena do a keg-stand, to the cheers of the party-goers, as a last-ditch effort at irritating Rebekah. They take a ride on Stefan's motorcycle on a deserted country road; Elena stands up on the bike and laughs, reveling in the sensation, and Stefan smiles.

Back at the boarding house, Stefan and Elena are getting hot and heavy in Stefan's room, and they make out until suddenly Elena starts to hallucinate that Stefan is Damon. Stefan asks he what's wrong after she pushes him away, and they see that the veins in Elena's arms pulsate and look inflamed. Stefan remembers that the hunter had werewolf venom, and Elena must have been poisoned with it. Stefan calls Klaus numerous times until he finally shows up. Stefan begs him to heal her with his blood, and Klaus feigns reluctance before cryptically suggesting that Elena might still prove useful to him, and he heals her.

Later, after Elena has left, Caroline arrives at the boarding house at Stefan's request, and he shares his concerns with her about being able to help Elena enjoy being a vampire, when he himself has so much trouble keeping a balance between enjoyment and becoming the Ripper. He points out that Caroline is good at being a vampire, and she insists that it's because Stefan helped her when she first turned. Caroline promises to be there for Stefan, and tells him that he should come to her when he needs help, and she won't let him lose control.

In The Five, Stefan finds Damon in the living room unpacking boxes. Damon explains that he confiscated Connor's belongings from his RV after he and Klaus killed him, and that he's looking for clues that might explain who Connor was and what he was after. Damon thinks Connor was supernatural for several reasons, including that fact that Klaus mentioned something about Connor being connected with the Five. Stefan asks him what "the Five" is, and Damon says he's hoping he'll find something in the boxes that explains that. Stefan peruses the boxes while Damon fields a call from the sheriff, who informs him that Connor's remains were not found at the site of the explosion. Damon tells Stefan that he needs him to investigate the Connor situation while Damon takes Elena to college. This is news to Stefan, and Damon explains that he intends to teach Elena how to feed from humans without killing them, and that Elena needs to learn "snatch, eat, erase" now more than ever. Stefan starts to object, but Damon stops him, reminding him that they're not in a fight.

Later, Stefan and Elena are in the woods practicing "hunter defense" with bows and arrows. Elena stands by the plan, insisting that she has to learn to feed without killing, especially since she almost lost control feeding on Matt. Stefan suggests that Caroline help her, but Elena says that Caroline is too good at self-control and wouldn't be as easy to relate to. She adds that they're crashing Bonnie's college visit, as the professor who took over her Grams' classes teaches there and invited her. While continuing to playfully practice defense techniques, Elena reassures Stefan that Damon is only teaching her how to feed, and that Stefan is really the one getting her through her adjustment period. Satisfied with Elena's reasons, Stefan reminds her to be careful, as it's easy to get caught up in the feed. She promises to be careful, and they share a moment leaning forehead to forehead.

While Klaus is checking on Connor, who is his hostage and chained to an Inquisition-age rack, he senses that Stefan is behind him. They banter about breaking and entering and keeping hostages before Klaus admits that Connor hasn't been forthcoming with information. They leave the room so that Connor can't listen to their conversation, and Stefan asks Klaus about the Five. Klaus lightly admonishes Stefan for his nosiness, but admits that he might be useful in persuading Rebekah to cooperate with Klaus.

Klaus proceeds to tell Stefan that the brotherhood of the Five was a group of highly skilled vampire hunters and that Klaus and his siblings had crossed paths with them in the 12th century in Italy. Stefan interrupts to confirm that these vampire hunters have been around for 900 years. Klaus answers in the affirmative, but adds that Connor is the first member of the Five that he has encountered since the 12th century. Stefan also recalls from the story that Rebekah had been involved with one of the hunters. Klaus elaborates that Rebekah had in fact been in love with the hunter, and during that time had learned many of the brotherhood's secrets. Klaus says that he will share these secrets with Stefan if he does Klaus a favor: he wants Stefan to persuade Rebekah to come to the house. Klaus needs important information regarding the hunter that only Rebekah would know, but she is still angry with Klaus. Stefan wants to know what's in it for him, but Klaus merely says to trust him when he says that Connor holds the answer to all of Stefan's prayers.

Rebekah and April are sitting at a table at the Grill when Stefan approaches them and sits next to April. He compels April to not remember anything that he and Rebekah talk about, before he turns to Rebekah and tells her that Klaus wants him to fake peace with her so that she'll talk about The Five. Rebekah resists, so Stefan asks Rebekah to forget about helping Klaus and to just help him instead. He even bribes her by offering her a clean slate, saying that while he is not necessarily willing to forgive Rebekah for what she did to Elena, he is willing to put his anger towards her aside and start over. She is still suspicious, so he dangles the offer to talk Matt into giving her another chance, and finally Rebekah gives in.

Stefan and Rebekah arrive at Klaus' mansion and she sees Connor chained up. She asks Stefan and Klaus if it's a trick, wondering aloud how this hunter could be one of The Five if he doesn't have the tattoo. Klaus informs her that his tattoo is invisible, and suggests they sit down to eat. Klaus and Rebekah bicker until Stefan reminds him that he would rather be eating dinner with anyone else. Klaus then apologizes to Rebekah, though somewhat backhandedly, and Rebekah replies that she is willing to take his apology under consideration. Stefan returns the conversation to the story of the Five, and Klaus explains that Rebekah's beau, Alexander, was looking for vampires with the assumption that they could not walk in the daylight, so Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah felt safe around Alexander while wearing their daylight rings.

After Klaus reveals that Alexander had claimed that the Five possessed a special weapon that could destroy all vampires. Rebekah interrupts to say that it was not just any weapon, but Klaus tells her to not get ahead of the story. Stefan wants to know how this weapon could be the answer to all of his prayers, as Klaus put it earlier. When they say nothing, Stefan gets impatient and asks them to get to the point. Klaus finally answers cryptically that they need to solve the "puzzle" which seems to have disappeared. Stefan guesses that the tattoo is the puzzle, and Klaus elaborates that the tattoo is a map that will lead them to the treasure. Rebekah points out that this will be difficult, as the tattoo is invisible, but Klaus has already solved this problem: Jeremy can see the tattoo, and Klaus has one of his minions bring Jeremy into the room. Stefan speeds over to Jeremy but Klaus blocks his way, warning him against trying anything. Klaus announces that Jeremy will draw the tattoo for them, though Jeremy insists he won't help him. The hybrid minion then removes Jeremy's Gilbert ring and tosses it over to Klaus, who reasserts that Jeremy will help, tacitly threatening him should he still refuse. Stefan watches the exchange with concern.

While Jeremy sketches the tattoo, Klaus finishes telling Stefan the story about the Five, and how they daggered all of the Original siblings. Klaus wasn't affected by the daggers, so he killed all the hunters and found out why Rebekah trusted Alexander: the hunter had told there was a cure for vampirism. Unfortunately, after Klaus killed all five hunters, their tattoos, and thus the map leading to the cure, disappeared and Klaus hadn't seen another hunter until Connor. Klaus and Rebekah argue, and Rebekah leaves the house angrily. Klaus sends Stefan after her to find out where the hunter's sword, required to decode the map, was hidden.

Back at the boarding house, Stefan is pouring drinks when Rebekah arrives, having been summoned. Stefan lures her into trust by admitting he would want to take the cure with Elena and be human with her, and Rebekah inadvertently admits that she buried the sword with Alexander in Italy. Klaus emerges from another room, clearly having listened, and after Rebekah argues with him some more he daggers her. Stefan looks troubled by this, but knows better than to try to intervene. Stefan agrees to deal with Rebekah's body and compel Jeremy to forget the day's events, as well as keep mum about the cure, while Klaus travels to Italy to retrieve the sword.

At the Gilbert house, Stefan opens the front door to find Elena talking to Damon on the porch. Damon leaves, and Elena admits that although she was able to feed successfully, she hated the experience and how it made her feel. He comforts her, reassuring her that she'll get through this.

In The Killer, Stefan writes in his journal his concern about Elena, but adds that there's hope now that there might be a cure. He writes that he'll do whatever it takes to get the chance for Elena to be human again. He is interrupted by Klaus, who contacts him from Italy to tell him that Connor has escaped and stolen werewolf venom from the hybrid guarding him. Klaus reminds Stefan that he is too far away to be able to cure anyone should they become infected with the venom, and charges him with finding and catching Connor, keeping him alive in order to use his tattoo. Stefan wants to tell Damon, whose own agenda involves killing Connor, but Klaus is adamant and threatens to dispense with their search altogether if Stefan tells anyone.

Later, after ignoring Damon and Elena's calls all morning, he meets the others at the Lockwood mansion where Damon, Elena, Caroline, Tyler and Hayley are discussing their rescue mission to save Jeremy from Connor, who is holding him and possibly others hostage at the Grill. Without telling the others about his knowledge of the cure, he manages to buy himself time to come up with a plan to save the hostages whilst keeping Connor alive by reminding them he may have werewolf venom.

Later, Stefan is walking around outside Mystic Grill on the phone with Klaus, trying to negotiate getting Klaus' hybrids on board with his plan. He then calls Elena and Damon and tells them there are three hostages in the Grill, having heard Matt and April's voices as well as Jeremy's.

Stefan arrives at Alaric's loft to meet Damon and Elena, and explains his plan to have one of Klaus' hybrids enter the Grill first, as they are immune to werewolf venom. Damon, immediately suspicious about Klaus' involvement, tries to get Stefan to admit what he seems to not be telling them. Unsuccessful, Damon announces he'll go and kill Connor himself, so Stefan quickly subdues Damon with vervain to stop him. Stefan convinces a shocked Elena that she needs to stay behind, promises he'll get Jeremy and the others out alive, kisses her and leaves.

Stefan calls Connor and reveals he knows about the Hunter's Mark, yet Connor refuses to free the hostages until all of the vampires are dead and hangs up. After making his way through the tunnels and into the back room of the Grill, Stefan tells Matt and April to leave before he cautiously makes his way into the main restaurant, ducking behind the bar as Connor shoots at him. He tries to negotiate with Connor, to no avail.

Elena enters the Grill, safe as long as Connor doesn't know she's a vampire. Her try at negotiating fails, and Stefan reveals himself after Connor begins a countdown to shoot Jeremy. When Connor starts shooting at him, Elena runs at Connor, exposing herself as a vampire. Connor shoots Jeremy before Elena tackles him. Seeing that the bomb is about to go off, Stefan grabs the injured Jeremy and hurls them both over an overturned table for cover. Elena, distracted by the bomb blast, looks up to find Jeremy; Connor takes advantage and overpowers her. Stefan rushes over and manages to push him off of her. With vampire speed, Stefan grabs Connor and leaves.

Underground, Stefan is leading Connor by force through the tunnels when they run into Damon, who wants to kill Connor. Stefan won't allow it and wants to take Connor, but Damon, still suspicious about Klaus' involvement, doesn't let up. Stefan tells Connor to run and pins Damon to the wall, but Damon quickly overpowers him and

Stefan is later seen walking up to Elena in the graveyard with Damon, where she is burying Connor. She tells him angrily that she thought she could trust him. In a conversation with Damon, he thanks him for not telling Elena about 'killing the only chance she had at being human again'. Damon asks if he wants the cure for Elena as he can't love her as a vampire, to which he responds 'I'll always love her, but she's not supposed to be this person'.

In We All Go A Little Mad Sometimes, Stefan shows up at the Gilbert House after receiving a call from Damon that Elena had stabbed and killed Jeremy. He heads upstairs to Elena and says he understands if she is still upset with him from the previous day and wants to help her. She accuses him of working with Klaus and refuses to talk to him after he tells her it isn't what she thinks.

Klaus calls him and soon appears at the house and Stefan demands to know what he does about Elena's hallucinations. Klaus tells him when a hunter is killed, they are unable to fulfill their destiny as spelled to by witches, and therefore are consequences in which the hunter will take their killer down with them as their final kill. Klaus says Elena will need to come with him 'for her own good' to which Stefan refuses. After Elena runs onto the porch after seeing Connor once more, Stefan watches as Klaus quickly snatches Elena and disappears. Stefan and Damon call Bonnie who says if she could do anything to help she would, but the spirits won't allow her to use magic, she says she could ask Shane for help and Stefan leaves.

He then calls Caroline and tells her that he needs Tyler to distract the hybrids so he can get inside Klaus' mansion to get Elena out. He goes to the Lockwood mansion where Tyler tells him about Hayley being able to un-sire another hybrid; Chris, making it easier to infiltrate Klaus' mansion. Stefan and Tyler try to persuade Chris into distracting the hybrid's guarding Elena and he relents.

After relieving the hybrids, Chris gives the key to the room Elena is being held. As he enters, Elena backs away in fear as she sees Connor instead of Stefan, then manages to stab him with a metal pole from the bed and escapes. He then calls Damon, informing him of Elena's escape as he removes the pole from his stomach, telling him that he needs to talk Elena down.

Stefan is next seen, storming through Klaus' mansion and incapacitating Chris, due to Caroline being able to convince Klaus into giving up one of his hybrid's. Stefan apologizes before nodding to Jeremy, who then kills Chris with a meat cleaver.

He goes to Elena's house the next day, where she jokes if he killed Damon for telling her of the cure, he says they both want the same thing and have to work together. After Elena asks why he sent Damon to look for her, he says 'it seems he's able to get through to you in ways I can't.' He urges her to admit that she feels for Damon, and realizes her feelings for Damon have been magnified after transitioning. He tells her sadly that he can't do it anymore and they break up.

In My Brother's Keeper, Stefan is doing push ups whilst talking to Caroline over the phone who is trying to persuade him into attending the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant.

He tells her he and Elena broke up so he doesn't have to be anywhere, Caroline is disgusted at Elena's feelings for Damon and says she will talk to her, however Stefan says it wouldn't do any good as being a vampire has changed her. As Stefan hangs up and stands, Klaus suddenly grabs him in a chokehold and demands why he told people of the cure. He orders Stefan to find some vampires for Jeremy to kill before he offers Stefan up as a victim.

As Stefan leaves the Boarding House, Damon intercepts him and asks where he is going to which Stefan replies 'out'. Damon accuses him of being back to 'Shady Stefan', and working with Klaus, Stefan turns, abruptly telling him that he and Elena broke up. Damon tells him of the plan for them to find another hunter to reveal the map as Jeremy would go 'Connor 2.0', and that Shane maybe able to shed some light on matters after discovering he and Pastor Young were in contact the day he died. After offering some brotherly bonding, Stefan laughs and tells Damon 'let's not pretend this isn't the best day of your life' before leaving.

Stefan is next seen at the hospital, checking through clipboards for potential vampires, and finds a police officer guarding a door. He compels the officer and the man handcuffed who reveals he is a convicted murderer. After learning the man has no regrets other than being caught, Stefan feeds him his blood and snaps his neck.

He then texts Jeremy to meet him and waits in the cellar for him to appear.

He asks if Jeremy is interested in making Elena human again and he agrees, following Stefan deeper into the cellar to reveal the fugitive who is tied up and in transition. Stefan cuts Jeremy's wrist and gives his blood to the fugitive who completes his transition into a vampire. Stefan thrusts a stake in his hand and demands that Jeremy kill the vampire, who protests but stakes the vampire after Stefan threatens he will let the vampire loose. Whilst on the phone with Damon, he tells Stefan to leave Jeremy out of it, and Stefan responds with 'Elena needs the cure'. Hanging up, Stefan shows Jeremy a picture of Connor's tattoo and asks where the mark is up to. Jeremy won't tell Stefan anything as he can't be trusted, and Stefan tries to compel him into revealing how far the mark has grown, Jeremy however stakes Stefan in the stomach, saying he can't be compelled anymore before leaving.

Stefan then rushes into the house when the out of control Jeremy attempts to stake Elena and pulls the stake from her neck.

She then tries to find Jeremy and Stefan catches up with her, he is silent when Elena asks if he has been making Jeremy kill vampires. She doesn't want her humanity back if it means Jeremy loses his, but Stefan says it's the only way to 'fix all of this'. He looks hurt when Elena tells him that the old Elena died on the bridge and that he should let her go, and leaves after seeing Damon approach.

Later on, Stefan leaves his house after Elena moves in due to not being able to live in the same house as Jeremy anymore, telling her to 'pick a room'. He moves into Caroline's house who tells her he can't give up on the cure- or Elena. Stefan retorts he couldn't even if he wanted to due to Klaus wanting more hybrids with Elena's blood. Caroline suddenly stands after talking about Tyler's hybrid friends being un-sired, and after talking to through with Stefan, he realizes that Elena is sired to Damon.

In We'll Always Have Bourbon Street, Stefan is first seen discussing Damon and Elena's sire bond with Caroline, and stops her from calling Elena until they know for sure. Caroline tells him she will talk to Tyler, and Stefan asks her to keep the information to herself

. Later, he walks into his house and shares an awkward greeting with Elena before telling Damon they need to talk. Off screen, he tells Damon about the potential sire bond who adamantly rejects his claims. After Stefan asks Damon to test the sire bond; for example tell Elena to drink from a blood bag (which she previously cannot do, due to Damon's indirect command), Stefan admits if he is wrong, he will be the first to apologize.

Stefan is on the phone with Caroline, having spoken to Tyler about his own sire bond, she reveals hybrids are sired due to being grateful to Klaus, and Stefan seems upset when she adds there is no vampire equivalent for the reasons behind a sire bond. He hangs up and enters the library where Damon is rummaging around through old papers. Damon tells him that he was right, Elena is sired and Damon holds up a photo Stefan realises of being from New Orleans in 1942. Stefan asks about 'that girl you used to hang around with', to which Damon tells him was Charlotte, a woman he turned.

Damon reveals the time when Charlotte killed a sailor after touching Damon's drink, having told her to 'have no mercy', he tells Stefan that was his first clue she was sired. Stefan retorts 'I can only assume you took full advantage of that?' then Damon hands him a paper which reads Valerie LaMarche, Stefan looks up curiously and Damon tells him she was the witch who helped break the sire bond.

Later, Stefan and Damon arrive in New Orleans and Stefan says he hasn't been back since 1942. The two begin arguing with Stefan demanding to know 'one thing you've asked her to do, you haven't gotten?', he says he blames the sire bond for Elena feelings and that 'it's impossible for her to be so blind that she doesn't see how wrong you are for her'. Damon walks away, angry to which Stefan apologises.

A flashback shows Stefan, dressed in his war uniform rehearsing lines to Lexi which to say to his brother. Stefan walks up to the bar and pats Damon's shoulder and tells him he wishes to 'bury the hatchet' before they hug. Whilst drinking and laughing, Stefan reveals his plans to join the war and seems surprised, yet joyful when Damon requests to join, and says he will speak to his C.O before leaving to get another round of drinks. When he returns, they clink glasses before Charlotte arrives, with a bloody corpse in her arms. Clearly trying to fight his bloodlust as Charlotte tosses the corpse over to him, his fingers bloody and veins appearing underneath his eyes. Damon takes the victim from Stefan before Lexi drags him from the bar.

In the present, Stefan apologises again, saying he 'shouldn't blame him for the sire bond' and asks if Charlotte may still be in New Orleans, then leaves to see 'how literal the sire bond is', after Damon reveals he told her to count all the bricks. After reaching the corner, Stefan bitterly retorts that not telling Elena the truth- as Damon suggested 'is Damon speak for let's just do what's right for me'. After Damon leaves, Stefan looks at the ground, ashamed yet rushes forwards after he hears a commotion in Damon's direction. He pulls a vampire off Damon and asks what the hell happened, looking confused when Damon tells him the vampire kissed him. Stefan looks horrified as the vampire is revealed to be Charlotte, having counted every single brick in New Orleans, waiting for Damon.

Stefan and Damon enter a shop, approached by a woman who Damon quickly asks for Val. The woman, Nandi, tells them Val was her great grandmother and another flashback reveals Val told Damon of a way to break the sire bond with twelve human sacrifices. Back in the present, Stefan is horrified and demands to know whether Damon killed twelve people, looking disgruntled when he says he did.

Sometime later, Stefan re-enters the shop after Damon and finds out Nandi is actually Val's daughter. She tells them her mother sold Damon a bill of good because she wanted access to Expression, a form of magic which channels the power of human sacrifices. After asking about the sire bond spell, Stefan looks dismayed and upset when she reveals that the only way a vampire bonds to her sire is if she had feelings for them before she was turned, and the only way around the bond is to release her.

As Stefan and Damon leave New Orleans, Stefan tells him he doesn't think he will be able to let Elena go, as 'selflessness isn't a trait of his'. As Damon tells him of the time when he let Stefan go to war alone, for his own good rather than joining him, Stefan looks shocked. He then says he is upset about losing Elena to him, but when it's all over and if she never feels the same way about him, it'll be her choice.

Stefan is last seen at Caroline's house, feeling sympathetic towards Damon, believing he will do the right thing. He tells her that Damon loves Elena as much as he does so he can't be selfish with her, and will let her go.

In O Come, All Ye Faithful, Stefan first appears at Klaus' house exchanging small talk about Klaus' 'snowflake' painting before revealing Elena is sired to Damon, and so he needs the cure now more than ever. Klaus tells him that they were 'in this together' and proceeds to show him Alexander's Sword, explaining that the sword decodes Jeremy's hunter's tattoo.

Stefan is next seen in the Salvatore Houses' library when Caroline calls him, he repeats Klaus' words about the tattoo leading to the Cure. Caroline says they need to find the sword, as the hybrids are taking out Klaus that night. Stefan agrees as he is later seen ripping off the handle of the vault in Klaus' mansion, looking frustrated when he sees that the sword is gone. He talks with Damon over the phone on ideas of where Klaus could've hidden the sword and rejects the idea at killing Tyler before falling silent after rummaging around a trunk and finding letters, none of which are addressed to Klaus and he begins to read one.

He puts down a letter he had been reading and questions Damon over Elena's movements, he is sympathetic towards Damon after asking how she took Damon 'letting her go', and Damon quickly offers an excuse before he hangs up.

Caroline and Stefan are later waiting by an alley nearby the Grill and Stefan demands that Tyler stop or delay the plan to attack Klaus. Tyler dismisses him and Stefan attempts to stop Tyler with super-speed however stops as Caroline motions towards the number of hybrids standing in the alleyway. Tyler takes them to the Lockwood Cellar where he tells the hybrids to keep them down there until they're ready to bring in Klaus, Stefan tries to persuade him that it isn't about revenge for them, to no avail. Some time later Caroline and Stefan are still 'hostages' in the Lockwood Cellar and Stefan answers the phone, it's Damon who tells him something unheard. Stefan hangs up; telling Caroline and the hybrid guards that they don't need the sword anymore.

After being released, Stefan finds Klaus at the Winter Wonderland event, when Klaus threatens to compel the truth about why he has been 'dodgy' as a distraction tool, Stefan admits that he broke into Klaus' house for the sword and that he doesn't trust him. He says he found Klaus' letters from 'pen pals' over the centuries and is silenced momentarily as Klaus reveals that he memorializes his dead, much like Stefan because of 'loneliness', that keeping letters and writing names on a wall is because they are left utterly alone. As Klaus spots a hybrid; Adrian over his shoulder, Stefan watches him go with a thoughtful look on his face, clearly having listened to Klaus' words.

Whilst sitting with Caroline later on, they exchange words regarding Klaus, and Stefan admits he felt guilty watching Klaus get 'led away to his slaughter'. Stefan says that he has been trying to figure out what makes them better than Klaus, and that it is because they have family they can trust. Caroline eye's him wearily as she asks somewhat bitterly about having heard from Damon. Stefan seems confused at her question and by Caroline's look knows Damon and Elena are

together. Stefan looks away as Caroline doesn't answer 'how together are they?' and demands to know, yet finally realizing by Caroline's lack of response just how together they are. He paces and knocks over a chess piece, suddenly lashing out, tossing the chess board off the table and throwing the end table against the wall, angry at how far Damon and Elena's relationship has escalated.

In After School Special, Stefan is drinking alone at the Grill, expressing his bitterness over the phone to Caroline about Damon and Elena sleeping together. She berates him about missing the mandatory school assembly consisting of Carol's memorial and tells him to get it together. Whilst still at the Grill sometime later, he answers the phone to an unknown caller, revealed as a now un-daggered Rebekah who says she has Elena hostage at the school and expects to see him there soon. Angered, he calls Caroline and asks if she 'would like to drive the White Oak Stake through Rebekah's heart' whilst quickly leaving the Grill.

Stefan shows up at the school in search of Rebekah, checking his text messages for any word from Caroline. Hearing a noise down the end of the corridor, he starts to text Caroline yet Rebekah soon shows up, pushing him against the locker, stating she wants the cure. Stefan switches their positions, pushing her against the wall as a means to distract her until Caroline reaches them, though releasing her when Rebekah holds up the stake, saying she already found her. Rebekah forces Stefan into the library where she quickly delves into finding out how far they have gotten into finding the cure. Things turn ugly when Rebekah learns Elena and Stefan broke up and taunts them into knowing the reason. Under compulsion, Stefan reveals Elena slept with Damon.

Rebekah, continuing to divulge information sarcastically asks Stefan why Elena would hurt him like that to which he responds 'she was sired to Damon'. Rebekah looks at Elena, knowing she is hiding something and compels her into 'fessing up', Elena admits that she slept with Damon because she's in love with him, leaving Stefan looking visibly hurt and heartbroken at the admission. Rebekah then moves onto finding out about the cure, and Stefan tells her where they can find Professor Shane. Later, Rebekah re-enters the library and compels them into playing 'truth or dare', where she dares Elena into telling Stefan the truth about Damon. As Elena tells him she isn't in love with him anymore, Stefan is hurt and tells Rebekah to 'go to hell' after further goading. As Tyler arrives, Rebekah provokes him into transforming, compelling Elena, Stefan and Caroline not to 'vamp run' in the hallways. As Tyler begins to transform, Stefan quickly ushers Caroline and Elena out. As Caroline darts away in another direction, Elena and Stefan run through a hallway, slamming a door and trying to use their collective strength to keep hybrid-Tyler out.

After they no longer hear Tyler, Stefan and Elena run into the lab after Bonnie's screams of help where they are stunned to find an unconscious April, Stefan feeds her his blood to heal her and forces Bonnie to get herself and April out of the school. After they leave, the room is tense as Elena tries to approach Stefan to talk about what has happened. Stefan is visibly angered at her approach and demands 'how many more ways is there for you to rip my heart out?'. Elena apologizes, and Stefan scoffs whether she 'sorry that it happened, or sorry he found out' before Rebekah appears, striding into the room with a grin on her face. She seems disappointed that after everything, Stefan still protects Elena and offers to take every memory of Elena away. Both Elena and Rebekah seem shocked as Stefan jumps at the chance, telling her to 'do it'. Elena protests immediately, and Rebekah begins to laugh, saying it would be far too easy, and that she refuses to make Stefan forget Elena, the way Klaus made him forget her. She smirks at Elena, at least she knows how

Stefan really feels before looking back to Stefan declaring his pain is her revenge.

After being freed from the school, Stefan is at home with a drink when Rebekah walks through the door. Stefan called her and convinces her to join forces in the race to the cure, saying they both hate their brothers, both have nothing, so they're better off as partners as if they find the cure first, they can decide what to do with it.