The cast of The Vampire Diaries had a reunion recently at a fan convention called I Was Feeling Epic, and it brought back all the feels. Seeing Paul Wesley with the other stars of the series made fans think of the bonding relationships Stefan Salvatore had on the show. Stefan has had many people come into his life - whether they are a love interest like Elena Gilbert or a mortal enemy like Klaus Mikaelson. However, one thing that makes Stefan Salvatore, Stefan Salvatore, is his close friendships.
From Caroline Forbes to Lexi Branson, these friendships not only shaped Stefan into the man fans know and love, but also helped him along his journey during good times and bad during his time in Mystic Falls.
10 Enzo
Former enemies turned allies. The friendship between Enzo and Stefan is a complicated one. For starters, Enzo kills Stefan’s former girlfriend and Stefan also kills Enzo twice. However, through all this, the two manage to put aside their differences and work together.
Enzo’s death is because of Stefan, who kills him while his humanity is off. Why these two are not enemies though is because Stefan felt the guilt of killing Enzo once his humanity was turned back on. These two also share a lot of similarities including that they both have a tragic upbringing.
9 Katherine Pierce
Though evil, manipulative, and never one to shy away from throwing some of the shadiest burns, Katherine Pierce has a soft spot for Stefan and has always cared for the younger brother more than Damon for centuries.
Even though Katherine’s way of showing affection towards Stefan ended with her betrayal, deep down, she did care for him. However, her desire to look out for herself and survive always outweighed her friendship with the younger Salvatore. Still, her friendship helped him learn the ways of being a vampire when she first turned him.
8 Matt Donovan
Matt and Stefan have a rocky relationship. While they were allies for a while, their relationship took a turn for the worse when Matt thought Stefan was the one who killed Penny. They may not be as close as some of Stefan’s other friends, but, at the end of the day, they both fight for the same team.
Matt may find it hard to understand the supernatural, like werewolves and vampires, but what he does know is that Stefan means a lot to his ex-girlfriend Elena. Even though he doesn’t want anything to do with the supernatural after Penny’s death, he will still try his best to be there for Stefan if he is ever in a need of help.
7 Klaus Mikaelson
Stefan first met Klaus during the 1920s in Chicago. He was dating Klaus’ sister, Rebekah, and, at the time, Klaus was not too fond of Stefan until he found out he was the ripper (which they soon forged a binding friendship). Unfortunately for Klaus, their friendship was short-lived after Klaus compelled Stefan to forget about them in fear for his safety.
Although Klaus is a powerful villain in The Vampire Diaries, there was a mutual understanding and respect between them both. It may be because of their violent pasts or because they always felt like outsiders in their families but they seemed to get each other on a level that no one else did.
6 Rebekah Mikaelson
Stefan met Rebekah in the 1920s and it was lust at first sight. The two formed a budding romance, but it was cut short after Klaus told her they were being hunted again and had to leave. Rebekah’s bond was so strong that she chose Stefan over her brother, but was stabbed with the White Oak Ash Dagger, and was not awakened until decades later.
Stefan has had many loves, but Rebekah ignited a flame for him. They both wanted to be wanted and had an understanding that they were different from the rest. If Rebekah had not been stabbed their friendship and romance would have continued strong. However, now in the present day, they are on opposite sides, and while they still care for each other, too much has happened through the years since Rebekah was asleep.
5 Bonnie Bennett
Bonnie and Stefan’s friendship is a rocky one - especially after he killed Enzo right in front of Bonnie. However, at the end of the day, they share one common denominator, which is they both fight against the forces of evil and will have each other's back whenever they are in trouble.
Being that Bonnie and Stefan are natural enemies, Bonnie being a witch and Stefan being a vampire, it’s quite interesting to see their friendship flourish. Not only have they gone on many adventures together, where fans often see Stefan helping Bonnie in her missions or she helped him defeat several powerful villains, but they also hung out together too. There was a mutual understanding and respect between them all.
4 Damon Salvatore
Introduced as the antagonist of the series, Damon and Stefan have had their ups and downs. He is the vampire that likes to start trouble with Stefan’s new friends, while Stefan continuously cleans up his mess. As the seasons progress their brotherhood bond continues to grow, and fans can see they Damon will do anything to protect his little brother.
Because of Katherine Pierce, their relationship is put through the wringer. She toys with their emotions, pitting them against each other as they both compete for her affection. Thanks to Elena their close friendship reignites, and Damon becomes the big brother Stefan needs, someone to help him and be there when times are tough. Stefan is also always there for Damon, even after making some of the worst decisions ever (like making Elena turn off her humanity).
3 Elena Gilbert
It was love at first sight for Elena and Stefan. Right off the bat, both start with a strong connection, but as the seasons progress, their love starts to dwindle all thanks to Damon. After a strained friendship, the two eventually find their way back to one another but this time their friendship is stronger than ever.
Elena is someone who will always be there for Stefan, even if the two are not seeing eye to eye. One example is after Damon’s death, they both deal with the loss in different ways, which caused a strain on their friendship. However, in the end, they come together and form a stronger friendship. They are each other's support system through thick and thin.
2 Caroline Forbes
Caroline and Stefan’s friendship is one for the ages. They’ve always been in each other's lives, but their friendship does not start to blossom until later in the seasons. Their love for one another is so deep that they even get married.
The romance fans did not see coming on TVD was Caroline and Stefan. In the later seasons, Caroline is Stefan’s conscience, helping him make the tough decisions. The same goes for Stefan, who will always help Caroline whenever he can (for example, when Caroline turned off her humanity, Stefan refused to give up on her).
1 Lexi Branson
Lexi and Stefan have known each other for over a century and their bond couldn’t be stronger. Lexi is the one who helped Stefan get his humanity back when they first met during his early days as a vampire.
For Stefan, Lexi is home. Someone he can come to and escape all of his troubles. What’s so special about their friendship is Lexi will always keep it real with Stefan, whether it’s about going after the girl he likes (Elena) or standing up to his manipulative brother Damon. The two resemble a sibling connection that’s honest and sincere.