Chapter 46: Welcome Home

"What happened to first class?" Charlotte asked when Kol blew past the exit for the airport. It'd take days to get home driving.

"They know you and Jeremy's names, and they have a teleporter. I'd rather fight them on ground than thousands of miles in the air," Kol said, flipping on the radio. "And for the record, I still think it's a bad idea to return to Mystic Falls."

"Yeah, you've made your opinions on my decisions abundantly clear." Crossing her arms, she stared out the passenger side window.

"Not my fault you don't have the best track record. Your decisions usually lead to disastrous outcomes."

"No one's forcing you to stay with us. You can walk away whenever you want."

"And leave you and Jeremy to your own devices?" Kol chuckled sarcastically. "You wouldn't it make it past the state line."

"Stop it, the both of you," Jeremy said from the backseat. "Kol, we can't undo the past, so stop punishing Lottie for it. Mistakes were made, let's just get home and figure out what to do from there, okay?"

"That's the problem. The hunter knew your names, how hard do you think it'll be for him and whoever he's working with to figure out your addresses as well?" Kol's hands tightened on the wheel.

"Well they don't have the means to kill you, Jeremy has his ring, and according to you, they can't kill me."

"Death isn't the worst they could do." Kol's gaze flicked to Jeremy in the rearview before moving to Charlotte's. Worry was etched on his face.

"We'll be stronger with family and friends as back up." Reaching out, she rested her hand on his arm, giving it a squeeze. His muscles tensed under her grip.

"Yeah, we've got four other Original vampires, your brother's hybrids, and Caroline back home. Whoever's gunning for Lottie won't stand a chance." Jeremy clasped Kol's shoulder from the backseat.

"I'm also worried about Klaus finding out about you being a potential hunter and Charlotte being an amplifier." He didn't want Klaus to kill Jeremy just to prevent him from ever becoming a hunter, and he really didn't want him to use Charlotte like he'd used other amplifiers in the past.

"You think he'll hurt Jeremy?" Charlotte's hand slipped from his arm as her wide eyes focused on Jeremy. Who was she kidding, of course he wouldn't think twice about it. He'd already tried to kill Jeremy. She might survive Klaus' attempts on her life, but Jeremy needed his ring. A ring that could be removed easy enough.

"I'd rather risk that then have those goons get to you," Jeremy assured her.

"Say the word and I'll make a wrong turn, fly us under the radar."

"No thanks, I'm good. Lottie?" Jeremy asked.

Charlotte considered it for a moment. She'd do anything to keep Jeremy safe. But then her thoughts strayed to her mom, and Caroline and the hell she'd put them through by practically disappearing off the face of their earth. She couldn't be selfish and make them suffer even more. Even if going home meant being grounded for life.

"I have to go home."

It took two days, and 1700 miles before they passed the 'Welcome to Mystic Falls' sign. Driving through the main square, the familiarity comforted Charlotte. Equal parts excitement and dread twisted her stomach when they pulled up in front of her house behind her mother's cruiser. Hopping out of the SUV, she stood on the sidewalk by the front walkway. Jeremy interlacing his hand in hers had her taking the first step towards home. Kol followed behind them, pausing on the porch. Charlotte turned back to him, her hand still wrapped up in Jeremy's. She took a shaky breath before meeting his gaze.

"You can come in, Kol."

He smiled slowly at her as he processed her invite, leaning against the door frame. Inviting him into her house was a huge extension of trust. He wouldn't take it lightly.

"I think I'll wait out here until after the family reunion." He took a seat on the porch chair. "I'll have enough family drama waiting for me later."

Stepping inside, Charlotte inhaled slowly. Jeremy squeezed her hand in support as she called out to her mom and Caroline. Caroline came running down the hall, squealing in excitement when she wrapped her arms a little too tightly around Charlotte, trapping her arms to her side. Charlotte's right hand gripped tighter to Jeremy's when he started to release it.

"You're finally home," Caroline said. She reached out and pulled Jeremy into the hug. "You have no idea how good it is to see you both. I want to hear everything that happened."

"Charlotte Grace Forbes," Liz said, breaking the sister's apart.

"I don't see her gun," Jeremy whispered in Charlotte's ear. "That's a good sign."

"I'm sorry, mom, I know I worried you." She was cut off by her mom pulling her into a hug that rivaled Caroline's. "You're not angry?"

"I'm a lot of things. Relieved you're alright, happy you're home, and livid that you left without permission with no way to contact you."

Releasing her hold on Charlotte, she wiped tears from her eyes.

"I had to go, mom." She glanced towards Jeremy, who still stood close with his hand in hers.

Liz looked at their entwined hands.

"I know, but that doesn't excuse you from punishment."

"Mom, don't you think she's suffered enough. She was just trying to find Jeremy when no one else would do anything to help." Caroline cut in on her behalf.

"If there's one thing I need to teach you, is there are always consequences for your actions. And starting now, you're grounded. Home and school are all you'll be seeing the next two weeks. No parties, no Mystic Grill, and no ballet."

"But," Charlotte started to refute, she couldn't possibly expect her not to dance for two weeks, but her mom cut her off with a shake of her head. She ran her hand through her hair with a sigh. "Can Jeremy at least stay here for a little while? He doesn't want to live with Elena right now."

"You can stay the night," Liz relented. "But I'm letting Elena know you're safe. And you're both going to school tomorrow."

She'd take what she could get for now. She knew from experience that one night could quickly turn into a week.

"C'mon." Charlotte tugged Jeremy towards the front door. "We'll grab our bags and throw your clothes in the laundry, so you have something to wear tomorrow."

Liz watched as Charlotte led Jeremy back outside, focusing once more on their hands.

"Do you think something happened between them on their rogue road trip?" she asked.

"What makes you say that?" Caroline hedged around the question with one of her own.

"They haven't let go of the other's hand since they got here." The last time they held hands that long they were five.

"Maybe she's scared to let him go after Elena sent him to Denver." She bit her lip to keep from smiling too wide and tipping her mom off that something major had happened between them. "Don't you have the night shift?"

"I can call out. I really think I should be here." Charlotte used to be her predictable one, the good girl, but after the stunt she just pulled Liz was hesitant to leave her and Caroline alone lest they start plotting something else.

"I've got this handled. I promise you Charlotte will be here when you get home."

"I remember trusting you with your sister one weekend only to have her travel half-way across the country with an Original vampire."

"Okay, Kol was never part of our plan. And I only did it to help her find Jeremy. She was miserable without him. Now he's back, and everything's fine."

Liz heaved a heavy sigh, weighing her options.

"If Charlotte set's foot outside this house tonight, your grounding will extend twice as long as hers," Liz said, heading back to her room to change into her uniform and grab her gun from the safe.

"That wasn't nearly as dramatic as I expected," Kol said when Charlotte and Jeremy stepped back onto the porch. "No shouting, broken glass, threats of maiming or death for disobeying. I was expecting a little dysfunctionality."

"Don't worry, I'm sure there will be plenty of that when Elena finds out I'm back," Jeremy offered as the three of them made their way to the back of the rental for their bags.

"I suppose I should face my brother and the wrath he has waiting for me." Kol rubbed the back of his neck. "Seeing as I wasn't included in your mother's offer of asylum."

Charlotte shared a probing look with Jeremy, asking him a silent question, and waited for him to nod his head before answering.

"I knew she never would have agreed." Charlotte pulled Jeremy's bag from the car, handing it to him before pulling out Kol's and tossing it to him. "I'll bunk in Caroline's room tonight. You and Jeremy can share my room. My window is the second one on the west side of the house."

"Aren't you the little rule-breaker." Kol smirked. "You sure you want to risk your mother finding out?"

"Yes. I'll do anything for my friends." Kol had been there for her when she needed help and hadn't asked anything of her. He waited for her to fill him in when she felt the time was right, and he'd helped defend them against the hunter who came for her. The least she could do is let him crash at her place for the night.

"Thanks, Little Dove." Kol sent her a lopsided smile before whooshing off around the house.

"I really hope he doesn't snore," Jeremy said, making her smile.

"Thanks for letting him bunk with you." It was a pretty big ask: to share a room with a vampire.

"Aren't I the one who should be thanking you? It is your house." He stepped closer to her, reaching around her to pull her bag from the car, his face inches from hers. Her gaze stayed glued to his, her pulse beating like hummingbird wings, until her front door shutting caused them to jump apart.

Liz waited on the curb for them until they shut the trunk. She wore her sheriff's uniform, which meant she had the night shift, and it'd be a little easier keeping Kol's presence on the down low.

"Stay inside and listen to your sister. Unless your sister comes up with another disastrous plan to help you run away."

"I wasn't running away." She was running to find Jeremy.

"It sure felt a lot like the time Jeremy and you packed up your Barbie jeep with your stuffed animals and a box of saltines. Except this time, you made it a lot farther than the end of the block."

"That thing had no battery life. And Mrs. Krasinski bribed us with ice-cream before tattling on us."

"Yes, well in lieu of Mrs. Krasinski, I'll have a deputy patrolling the neighborhood. He won't have ice-cream, but he will have handcuffs."

"I'm not going anywhere, mom. I promise."

"I wish I could trust you, but trust is something you're going to have to earn back."

Charlotte watched her mom's cruiser pull away, feeling defeated. She'd never been on her mother's bad side before. That spot was usually permanently reserved for Caroline. Hefting her bag over her shoulder, she headed back inside.

"So, this is Charlotte's room," Kol said, taking in the pale pink walls, the white bedspread, and the photographs on her dresser and desk. She even had a pink jewelry box with a ballerina figurine inside. It was girly and had a hint of the romance of Paris in the cream-colored furniture and glass perfume bottles on her vanity. "It suits her."

"Ballerina pink has always been her favorite color." Jeremy set his bag on the bed before plopping down on the window seat. "Her mom wanted to paint her room a more neutral color in middle school, convinced she'd grow out of the pink by the time high school rolled around, but she dug her heels in. She still loves the color."

"Oh my," Kol said, leaning closer to the collage of pictures behind her desk when he noticed a picture of Jeremy and Charlotte when they were little. "You two were adorable."

"Don't mock." Jeremy knew what picture he was looking at, and it was taken shortly after a rather unfortunate haircut.

"I'm not. And I think it's enviable that you've been in each other's lives since you were children." He let out a forlorn sigh, reminding Jeremy Kol hadn't grown up with a support system like he had.

"You stick around long enough, and I'm sure you'll have a place in the collage."

Kol turned from the pictures with a small smile at the thought of being important enough to someone like Charlotte that she'd include him in her wall of memories.

"Which side of the bed do you want?" Kol asked.

"I'll take the side by the window." That was Lottie's side, so the pillow would smell like roses, like her.

Kicking off his shoes, Kol climbed onto the other side of the bed. When Caroline and Charlotte's voices filtered through the wall between their rooms, he grabbed the music player on the bedside table and slipped on the headphones. Pressing play, he turned the volume up on the orchestral music until it drowned out the voices. He didn't want to eavesdrop.

"Okay, spill," Caroline said, dragging Charlotte onto the bed to sit with her. "I want to hear everything. From when you left Bonnie's mom's house to when you got home."

Caroline managed to sit fairly quietly and listen to Charlotte's story with minimal interruptions until she reached her and Jeremy's first kiss. She had a million questions about the status of their relationship now, questions Charlotte didn't have answers to. There hadn't been time to discuss their relationship. Caroline didn't accept that answer until Charlotte moved onto the reasons why they extended their road trip and what they'd found out since then.

"You're telling me that Jeremy Gilbert is a potential supernaturally gifted Hunter created to end the existence of vampires, and you're like a supernatural hot spot who can theoretically enhance or revoke supernatural powers?"

"And the human personification of the Gilbert family ring, don't forget that part." Charlotte hugged her knees to her chest.

"How can I forget that part? On one hand, it's nice to know you can't die from Klaus or Damon, but knowing what we just found out about Ric, I'm a little concerned. How many times have you died so far?"

"Only twice. Why? What happened to Ric?" She knew the last time he'd died with his ring on it took him longer to come back. But Sheila had said it was because he had a longer journey on the Other Side to find his body.

"He's died so many times he's developed this alter ego. It's a total Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde thing. But his alter ego wants to eradicate all vampires and vampire sympathizers. He's the one who killed dad."

"Mr. Saltzman killed dad?" That didn't compute. Her history teacher, who became Jeremy and Elena's unofficial guardian, who looked after them and cared about them, wouldn't have killed any human.

"No, his psycho alter-ego did. And seeing as you have the ability to return from the dead limitless times, I'm worried if you die too many times, it'll affect your mind too."

"You think I'll go crazy?"

"I don't know. Maybe it only happened to him because he was relying on the magic in the ring rather than an innate power he was born with, but no one really understands why it's happening."

"And no one from this century knows anything about amplifiers. And Kol was pretty adamant I shouldn't share what I am to anyone, even if they might be able to give me answers. He didn't even want me to tell you."

"Like I'd hurt you or use you. You're my sister. But I kind of agree with him about keeping it on the down low, if it means preventing you being selfishly used by other supernaturals. Namely, Klaus."

"Speaking of, how's his mood on a range from annoyed to murderous rampage?"

Caroline rolled her eyes.

"He's been unruly, but I've managed to talk him down from murder to probable verbal assault. He can be reasonable, even sweet at times. I honestly think his temper was masking his worry for his brother."

"So, you don't think he'll stick a dagger in Kol's chest?" She asked, hopefully. If he was worried for Kol, that meant he cared, and maybe if he cared enough, he wouldn't dagger him.

"I don't know how he'll react when he sees Kol again. Why do you care?"

Charlotte didn't get a chance to answer before their doorbell rang shrilly, followed by pounding on the front door. Glancing at each other, they jumped off the bed together and headed out to the front hall. Three silhouettes darkened their front door. Motioning for Charlotte to stay back, Caroline answered the door to a frantic Elena, an irate Damon, and an impassive Stefan.

"Where is he?" Elena demanded, stepping inside. "Where's Jeremy?"

"It's late Elena, can't this wait until tomorrow?" Caroline asked, but Elena ignored her, moving around her and down the hall. Charlotte stepped forward, barring Elena's way.

"Let me see my brother," she demanded.

"He doesn't want to see you. Was him not coming home not obvious enough?" she crossed her arms, moving to the left to block Elena when she tried to step around her.

"He shouldn't even be home. He should be safe, in Denver." Elena tried to go around the other side of Charlotte, but she stepped in front of her again.

"Forget this," Damon muttered before using his speed to catch Charlotte off guard. Hands on her shoulders, he shoved her against the wall hard enough to rattle the hanging pictures. "You're going to let Elena see Jeremy because he's her brother and you caused her a hell of a lot of worry and heartache when you dragged him along on your road trip."

"You're hurting me," Charlotte grunted, trying to kick Damon in the balls, but he pressed his leg against hers, pinning it to the wall.

"What did I say about what would happen if you even breathed in her direction," Caroline said. Before she could pull him off Charlotte, he was flying across the hall, crashing into the opposite wall with a loud thump. One of the pictures fell from the wall, landing with a thud, the glass cracking loudly.

"Keep your hands off her," Kol said, moving to stand in front of Charlotte and cocking his head at Damon with a twisted smile. "Mate."

"Kol?" His name echoed around the room as everyone, Caroline included, wondered what he was doing there.

"You invited Kol in?" Caroline asked, her voice taking a judgy lilt.

"Obviously a better decision than you inviting Damon in," Charlotte defended, rotating her shoulders and wincing at the bruising pain from Damon's grip.

"You should really stay out of things that don't concern you," Damon said, stepping closer to Kol.

"I could say the same to you. Whether Jeremy sees Elena or not is Jeremy's choice." Kol stepped in the middle of the hall, barring the way, and glanced at Charlotte out of the corner of his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, stepping up beside him, back where she'd been before Damon man-handled her.

"I'm not leaving until I see Jeremy." Elena sat cross legged in the middle of the hall with her arms crossed, imitating protesters during a sit-in.

"Stop being so dramatic, Elena," Caroline sighed, shutting the door. "You can't just sleep in our front hall. Go home."

A door creaking further down the hall had them all looking into the darkness. Light filtered out from the hall bathroom and Jeremy emerged in pajama pants and a tee, rubbing a towel against his wet hair. He paused when he noticed the crowd hovering in the front of the house.

"Jeremy," Elena said, jumping up when she saw him.

"Elena?" Jeremy said, stopping behind Kol and Lottie. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to bring you home."

"Yeah, so listen to your sister and grab your bag," Damon said, coming to stand beside Elena.

"Seriously?" Jeremy narrowed his eyes at Damon and Elena. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Jer," Elena started, but Jeremy's glare stopped her. He stepped between Kol and Lottie until he was face to face with her.

"You violated my free will, forced me to leave town and Lottie without asking what I wanted, and had Damon mess with my memories after I explicitly told you before to never have me compelled again. That's just as psychotic as anything Klaus has done to his family. What makes you think I want anything to do with you?"

"You're being a brat," Damon muttered, reaching out to grab Jeremy by the arm and pulling him closer to his face. "She was protecting you."

Kol reached out, grasping Damon's wrist in his hand and crushing it until he released Jeremy.

"Fuck that, you were being selfish, Elena. No reasoning could justify what you both did."

Tears gathered in Elena's eyes, spilling over and trickling silently down her cheeks.

"Damon, Elena, maybe you should give him some time and space," Stefan suggested, speaking up for the first time since they arrived.

Wiping at her tears, Elena took one last look at Jeremy before turning towards the door. She paused before leaving, a part of her hoping he'd call out to her and apologize for what he'd said. When he didn't, her shoulders sank, and she led the way back to the car.

As soon as they were gone, Charlotte and Jeremy turned towards each other, enveloping the other in a hug. Charlotte's grip wrinkled the back of his shirt and Jeremy tucked his face into the crook of her neck.

"I'll see you back in the room, mate," Kol said, patting Jeremy on the shoulder on his way back to the room.

"Why the hell is Kol in your room, Char?" Caroline said, stepping up beside her and Jeremy.

With a sigh Charlotte pulled away from Jeremy.

"For the same reason Jeremy is. He doesn't feel up to dealing with Klaus tonight. I told him he could crash here for the night."

"You're already grounded, are you trying to make it a whole month?"

"Unless one of us tells her, mom's not going to find out. And I don't plan on telling her." Charlotte looked at her sister with wide, questioning eyes.

"Ugh, since when are you the irresponsible one?" she groaned. "You know I won't rat you out to mom. Even if I think offering shelter to a stray Original is insanely stupid."

"On that note, I'm going to head to bed," Jeremy said, kissing Lottie on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Charlotte met Caroline's eye after Jeremy retreated to her bedroom. Her eyes were bright, darting from Charlotte to where Jeremy had disappeared, and soon enough they both burst out in giddy giggles. Running to Caroline's room, their feet pattering on the hardwood floor, they jumped on her bed knees first. Laying back, Charlotte pulled one of the pillows over her red face as Caroline began making kissing noises and prodded for more details of what was going on between her and Jeremy, even though they'd already gone over everything with a fine tooth comb. They were still up giggling when their mom came home. Caroline pressed a finger to her lips and they both had to stifle their laughter with pillows. Somehow, they managed to pretend to be asleep when Liz poked her head in to check on them. Charlotte crossed her fingers she wouldn't reflexively do so with Jeremy in her room.


A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back with a new chapter, and I'm hoping to keep up the momentum that re-watching season 3 built up. I have some questions for all of you, stemming from certain reviews.

A few people have asked if I'd consider having Charlotte and Jeremy joining Kol on The Originals in New Orleans. I have thought about it some, but I want to hear from others. Would you like them to join the New Orleans cast? Or would you prefer they continue with the Mystic Falls group through season 8?

Again, a few people have mentioned wanting Kol/Jeremy/Charlotte. I'm not sure if that means as a threesome all together, like they're all romantic, or just have Charlotte romantic with Kol and Jeremy at the same time like a polyamourous couple? I have no idea how to write this as I myself am not polyamourous and I've never read or written a couple who is.

Guest Review Responses:

Starlight: I'm so happy you found this story and it's one of your favorites. And reading it all in one day, that's just amazing. I'm glad you found it so addicting. Jelottie is my baby and I love them so it makes me do a giddy little dance with squealing when you say they're the most adorable couple you've read from a fanfic. And the holy trinity of younger sibling friendship between kol/Jeremy/and charlotte has been a blast for me to write. I think I know what situation you mean with Elena, if it's the one where they go vampire hunter together in their house. I would consider having Jeremy and Charlotte join Kol on The Originals. I think it'd be interesting to see them outside Mystic falls and tying them into that plot line, but I haven't got any concrete plotlines that stretch that far. I'm more of a 'writing by the seat of my pants' writer. And I'm not ashamed to say I'm sometimes heavily influenced by reviews lol. If majority want something to happen I'll try to work it in. I totally agree about Elena making dumb decisions in season 3. She started being such a control freak with Jeremy. Charlotte and Jeremy won't let her get away with any of it. Thank you so much for leaving a review! I hope you enjoyed the update!

To the guest who says Caroline is the captain of the Jelottie ship: That she is. She's seen their relationship grow throughout the years and is totally living for when they're officially together. And Thanks! I'm glad you love my Instagram, I have so much fun with it. It's another creative outlit for my fangirling lol.

To the guest who mentioned how Kol was willing to deal with the hunter's curse for lottie and jer: you are correct, there is a wonderful friendship about to blossom and I'm just loving exploring their dynamic and still keep Kol in character while still allowing him to grow, because having charlotte and Jeremy in his life is bound to affect him.

To the guest who is excited for the Forbes sisters to reunite: I agree, I love the two of them together and I love writing their strong bond. I was never close with my sister growing up, so this is me vicariously living through their sisterly bond.

To the guest who ranted about Elena and her obsessive controlling behavior over Jeremy: I 100% agree with everything you said. All of it. We're on the same page in regards to opinions on Elena's questionable decision making.

To the guest who is so obsessed with this story: Awww yay I'm so so so glad you're loving it. I have the same issue as you: I like both Jeremy and Kol with Charlotte, but for now Kol and her are just friends. He needs friends right now. I hope you enjoyed the update!

Rach

xoxo