Finally, I got around to updating this one :) I know it hasn't been long but I hate not having a chapter a day. Don't forget to let me know what you think about this chapter :)

The sensation of Klaus's lips on hers woke Charlotte and she smiled happily as she opened her eyes and stared at the man lying next to her. It was the last day of February and thus, only two weeks until Damon and Elena were due to be married. Charlotte was beginning to feel excited about her brother's upcoming wedding; even more so now that her mother had confirmed she would be attending.

With her mother due to arrive in Mystic Falls any day and Klaus spending every spare moment he had with her, Charlotte didn't think she could be any happier if she tried. She spent every day with a wide smile fixed constantly to her face. Damon had finally accepted her relationship with Klaus and gave them his blessing; something which made Charlotte tear up a little when he did so.

"Good morning, love." Klaus grinned at his girlfriend; tucking his body against hers.
"Good morning." Charlotte smiled. "What time is it?"
"It's just after seven."
"Urgh, I have to get up for school."
"Stay."
"I can't." Charlotte groaned; leaving the bed.

Leaving Klaus where he was, Charlotte headed towards the bathroom. Showering in record time, she hurried back to Klaus's room and dressed quickly; thankful that she had spare clothes and underwear which Klaus had insisted she keep at his for such occasions. Pulling a hairdryer out a drawer, Charlotte smiled to herself. She remembered how, only a few weeks before, Klaus had cleared out a drawer in his room for her to store things in for when she stayed out. It was a sweet gesture and she had rewarded him greatly for his love and kindness that day.

Drying her hair quickly, Charlotte was relieved when she saw that it was just after eight in the morning and she still had half an hour before school started.

Wrapping his arms around Charlotte's waist, Klaus kissed her lightly on the neck and inhaled the fruity, strawberry scent of her shampoo. He couldn't think of one thing he did not love about her. It should have scared him how fast their relationship had developed and how rapidly he fell for her, but it did not. He had known her for her entire life. He had seen her grow into the young woman he held in his arms and for Klaus, he couldn't imagine being with anyone else.

"Do you need a ride to school?"
"Please. If it's not too much trouble."
"It's not, love." Klaus said, picking up Charlotte's school bag and handing it to her as they moved through his apartment towards the front door.

The journey to the school took only a few minutes and Charlotte arrived with a little time to spare. Seeing Emma waiting for her at the entrance, Charlotte waved to her friend from inside the car and signalled to her that she would just be a minute. Turning to Klaus, Charlotte kissed him lovingly on the lips and gifted him her best smile.

"Thanks for the ride."
"No problem, love. I'll pick you up later."
"Okay. Have fun at work. Say hi to Elijah for me" Charlotte grinned back at Klaus; already looking forward to the end of the school day.
"I will." Klaus replied, watching her jump out of his and begin to walk away.

Driving away, Klaus made the short journey to his office and greeted his older brother warmly as he prepared to start his work day.

Her school day had passed by in a haze of boring lessons and assignments. The only thing that had gotten her through it was the knowledge that she would being seeing Klaus at the end of her day.

Just as the bell signalling the end of last lesson rang out, Charlotte felt her phone vibrate in her jeans pocket and she pulled it out to see she had received a message from Klaus. Disappointment flowed through her as she read the message in which Klaus informed her he was far too busy to leave work, but would see her tonight and make it up to her.

"Hey, Charlotte, are you okay?" Emma asked, noticing the disappointment on her friend's face.
"Yeah. Klaus can't pick me up. He's busy with work."
"The disadvantages of having an older boyfriend." Emma giggled. "You can ride with me if you want."
"No, thanks. I don't fancy being in a car with Kol."
"I drove myself today."
"Oh, well in that case, a lift would be great." Charlotte replied, smiling at her best friend and ignoring the roll of her eyes.

It was just past six in the evening when Charlotte heard the front door to her home open, and the sound of her oldest brother's voice call out and enquire if anyone was home. Shouting back, she let her brother know that she was in the parlour room and watched from the comfort of the leather couch as he entered.

Damon was glad he had caught Charlotte on her own. He had been trying for weeks to speak to her but either could not get her alone or lost the courage to do so when he eventually did.

"Hey, Damon."
"Hey, Charlotte. Can I talk to you?"
"Um, sure."

Taking a seat next to his sister, Damon saw her facial expression change from happy to confused and concerned.

"It's about Klaus…"
"Christ, Damon,. You can't change your mind. Either you're happy with it or you're not. I-"
"Charlotte! I'm not here to tell you to stop seeing Klaus. I'm here to ask you why you won't say 'I love you'."

Seeing her brother's face full of pity and worry, Charlotte realised that Elena must have spoken to him about what happened during the dress fittings. Feeling slightly annoyed that Elena had gone back and told Damon what she had said, Charlotte sighed heavily. From the way Damon was looking at her, she suspected the conversation would not be to her liking.

"I do say it. I just haven't said it to Klaus."
"No, Charlotte, you don't say it. I can't even remember the last time you said it to me or Stefan. Can you?"
"I…"

Charlotte thought back. She tried. Oh, how she tried to remember the last time she told anyone she loved them but she couldn't. Letting her eyes fall to the floor, she shifted in her seat.

"You need to tell him you love him."
"They're just words, Damon. You all know I love you. Klaus knows I love him. Actions speak louder than words."
"Knowing someone loves you and hearing them say it are two different things."
"Why is everyone making such a big deal out of this?!"
"Because it is a big deal. Believe me, Charlotte, I know exactly how you feel. It took me months to say it to Elena and even now, I don't say it as often as I should. Just because it didn't work out for our parents doesn't mean it won't for you."

Staring into her brother's eyes the same shade as her own, Charlotte bit her lip. On the outside she was strong, confident, independent, but on the inside she sometimes felt as if she was falling apart. Not that she ever let anyone know. Just like Damon, she was good at hiding how she felt.

"They had a miserable marriage, Damon. I mean, how messed up do you have to be to think having a baby will fix everything?!"
Charlotte, our parents didn't love each other. They stayed together for us and Stefan. That's not what love is."

Knowing it was pointless trying to deceive her brother; after all, they were practically identical, Charlotte bit her lip and let her worries spill out.

"I don't want to end up like them. They hate each other, Damon. They can barely stand to be in the same room together."
"You and Klaus are nothing like our parents. In the same way that me and Elena, or Stefan and Caroline aren't. As much as I hate to say it, Klaus loves you. He would never leave you."
"You don't know that. I don't want to say 'I love you' only to regret when everything goes to shit and we're left screaming at one another."
"Charlotte, you're too young to be worrying about things like that. Just enjoy being in love and for god's sake, put the poor man out of his misery."

Driving down a main road, Klaus cursed his work load for making him so late. He had spent the day looking forward to seeing Charlotte once she finished school, but by lunch time it became clear that he would not be able to see her until much later on.

It had turned seven in the evening by the time Klaus finally left his office and climbed into his car. The sky was dark and the weather still cold. He wanted nothing more than to just see the woman he loved and forget about his stressful day.

Hearing his phone begin to ring, Klaus turned his attention away from the road for a second and over to the passenger seat where he had flung his phone and jacket upon entering his car. Picking it up, Klaus saw from the caller id that it was none other than the very person he wanted to see and he grinned with happiness.

Still having not turned his attention to the road, Klaus did not notice the car speeding down the road at way above the speed limit and so, was not able to brake in time. The car crashed into the driver's side of Klaus's car and sent it hurtling; swerving across the road and into a barrier.

Smoke billowed from Klaus's car; the outside completely dented in. Inside the car sat an unconscious Klaus. The phone he had held in his hand just moments before was now lying at his feet; continuing to ring out into the silence of the car.