Hello darlings :) Thank you for the reviews! They mean the world to me :) Just to let you know, there will be no updates tomorrow as I will actually be going out into the world for once haha so enjoy this chapter and gift me a little review xxx

A loud banging rang throughout the house and interrupted the conversation Damon was having his brother and sister. It was few minutes after eight in the evening and not one of the Salvatore siblings could imagine who would be causing such a racket.

"Charlotte, will you stop checking your phone. I'm sure Klaus will be here soon."

Damon lovingly scolded his sister as she looked at her phone for what felt like the hundredth time in the past hour. Charlotte rolled her eyes at him mockingly but went back to frowning as she watched her oldest brother leave the parlour room in order to answer the door to their unknown guest. Charlotte couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. It wasn't like Klaus to be so late or to not answer her calls.

Looking up from her when she heard Damon return with their guest, Charlotte smiled, thinking it was Klaus. However, her eyes met those of Klaus's older brother, Elijah and Charlotte felt her smile drop away. Before her stood a man who was clearly not there for a social visit. Worry was plastered across the man's handsome face; making him appear older than he was and instantly, Charlotte knew something terrible had happened. Elijah was not looking at Damon or Stefan; he was staring straight at Charlotte and she understand clearly.

Standing up slowly, Charlotte stood on the spot and stared at Elijah from across the room.

"What's happened to him?" Charlotte barely managed to choke out.
"He was in an accident on his way to see you."
"Is he d- is he… okay?"
"I don't know."

Struggling to hold back the waterfall of tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes, Charlotte hugged herself tightly before addressing Elijah again.

"I need to go to the hospital."
"I'll drive you." Elijah stated.

He could see how hard Charlotte was trying to hold herself together but he could offer her no words of comfort. He, too, was finding it difficult not to fall apart and he believed if he said anymore, he would not be to stop himself.

Beside Charlotte, Stefan was also trying to digest the news that his best friend had been in an accident. He didn't want to imagine the worst. Klaus had been his best friend; his other brother for their entire lives. The possibility of Klaus not being a part of his life was senseless to Stefan.

"I'll go get Caroline and Elena." Damon stated as Charlotte and Stefan followed Elijah out of the house and to his car.

Damon watched them drive away before getting into his own car and speeding along to the home he shared with Elena. He was concerned about Klaus's wellbeing but he was also concerned about Charlotte. If Klaus died, he couldn't see her coming back from it. She wasn't as tough as she thought she was.

The journey to the hospital took only a few minutes but they were the longest minutes of Charlotte's life. She tried to empty her mind of all thoughts except one - Klaus would be fine. That's what she kept telling herself. It was her only option, she thought. The alternative wasn't worth thinking about. She barely looked at Stefan but she did not need to look at him to know that he was feeling what she felt. They were worried and they were scared; terrified, even.

Following quickly behind Elijah, Charlotte and Stefan found themselves at a reception desk, where a receptionist directed them to the waiting room where she assured them a doctor would be with them shortly.

Sitting together, Stefan and Elijah sat with tight lips and concerned facial expressions; their eyes brimming with tears, whilst Charlotte stood. She was feeling far too nervous and worried to sit still.

It was just as Damon, Caroline, and Elena were arriving that a doctor finally approached the group and looked at them sympathetically. Charlotte eyed the doctor. He was around her father's age but that was all she took note of. She did not care what colour his hair was or how tall he was. She just wanted to hear him say that Klaus had survived the accident and was going to be just fine.

"Are you here about Niklaus Mikaelson?" The doctor asked kindly towards Elijah.
"Yes. He's my brother."
"Mr Mikaelson, your brother was in a very serious car accident. The car hit him at such speed that it caused severe internal bleeding. He's currently in surgery."
"Will be he be okay?"
"We're doing everything we can. I'll notify you when we have more news."

Charlotte watched the doctor walk away and listened to Elijah and Stefan speak to one another. She could not speak. She didn't know what to say.

It was a minute later that she heard Caroline shouting her name and running towards her; enveloping her in a tight hug.

"Is Klaus okay?" Caroline asked the girl but received no response. "Are you okay?" Again, no response.

Caroline slowly let go of Charlotte and turned towards the other members of the group; giving Damon a look of concern regarding Charlotte before greeting her boyfriend and sitting down next to him to nervously await further news of Klaus's condition.

"How is he?" Elena asked Elijah and Stefan; knowing Charlotte was not an option.
"We don't know. He's in surgery." Stefan replied; already feeling weary.
"Oh god. I hope he's okay."

Damon stared at his sister as she continued to stand with her back against the wall. He knew he should be asking about Klaus. Indeed, he was extremely worried about his friend. However, there were already enough people worrying about Klaus. Someone had to worry about Charlotte.

Stepping in front of his sister, Damon did not speak to her. He did not ask her how she was feeling; he knew he would not get an answer. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close; feeling her hug him back. He stood there like that until Klaus's parents arrived twenty minutes later followed by Kol and Finn, whose faces resembled those of every other person there.

"Where is my son?! Elijah! How is Nikalus?" Esther asked, charging at her oldest son; panic stricken.
"He's in surgery, mother. I don't know anything more."
"The boy will be fine." Mikael spat out; earning him a look of disgust from his three sons.

Until that moment, Charlotte had remained silent. She hadn't had anything to say for her to be worth speaking but hearing Mikael talk so casually about the man she loved, Charlotte saw red.

"Niklaus…" Charlotte stated clearly and angrily; staring directly at Mikael.
"What?" Mikael said, confused at Charlotte's outburst.
"His name is Niklaus. It's the name you gave him so the very least you could do is use it. He is not a boy. He is Klaus. He is your son. He is my boyfriend and he might die! I don't expect you to care. I mean, you never have cared about him, but you could at least acknowledge the fact that he has a name!"

By now, Charlotte was only inches away from Mikael and was screaming in his face; every bit of rage, panic, and terror she felt overflowing from her. It was as if a dam had broken inside of her and she couldn't stop her words from coming out.

Everyone stood around her in stunned silence, as she continued to belittle the man in front of her without caring for any consequences that may arise from it.

"You're a coward, Mikael! Klaus is a good man, no thanks to you and if he dies, it's an injustice! He is sweet and caring and kind and funny. He is everything you are not and it's a bloody wonder any of your children turned out as well as they did with a man like you as their father!"

Grabbing his sister's arms, Damon tried to pull her back. "Charlotte…"

Ignoring Damon, Charlotte continued to scold Mikael.

"I swear to God, if Klaus survives, you had better no speak one word to him ever again. You don't deserve to be in his life. You don't deserve being able to call him your son; especially when you're nothing but ashamed of him. You are a despicable, vile man, Mikael!"
"Charlotte! Stop, that's enough." Damon said, dragging his sister away from Mikael.

During her shouting, Charlotte had not realised that she had begun to cry but now, as Damon held her once again, she couldn't prevent her tears from falling or stop the cries that escaped her lips.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded. They had never seen anyone speak to Mikael in such a way before. Even Elijah had never dared do so.

Stepping towards Damon and Charlotte, Caroline placed one hand on Damon's shoulder and offered to take over but was rejected as Damon smiled sadly at her.

"Don't worry. I've got it, Caroline. She's fine." Damon responded; hugging his sister even more tightly and whispering words of comfort as her pain consumed her.

Walking down the hall towards them, the large group of people saw the doctor approach and they all held their breath expectantly. His face told them nothing but they hoped for the best.

"I have some news."