He wondered whether Klaus would have still found her if it weren't for him and Damon hanging around her. There was always the posibility that Katherine wouldn't have noticed until it was too late, that Elena would have been able to go on living a happy, human life without all the drama and tragedy that had befallen them. She might have married Matt and had lots of children. But that might not have happened either. Isobel had proven that she was good at finding things out. He doubted Elena would have gone unnoticed for long and she wouldn't even have had him and Damon there for support when Klaus came for her. No; it was better this way, even if they'd been through their rough patches.
Stefan put an arm out behind him to support them when she climbed onto his lap, his other hand resting at her waist. "We can go there next time," he told her. "I told you, Elena. I'll take you anywhere." And he would. He would gladly go to the ends of the earth for her. A little dream now and then really was nothing in the grand scheme of things. If it was what she wanted, would make her happy, it was worth it. "It was. But nowhere near as beautiful as you."