Finally, I have an update for you lovely people. Sorry it took so long. I had absolutely no inspiration. It's taken me days to complete this chapter and I'm still not entirely happy with it. i'll try not to leave it so long next time. Enjoy and please review :D xxx

"Well, Klaus, is there?"

Mary sat and smiled as she waited for Klaus to answer her question. She loved Klaus just as much as she loved her own children and she wanted the best for him; she wanted him to be happy. Mary suspected that Klaus already had a young woman; she had known the man long enough to know when he was being made happy because of a woman. The way he smiled and the way his eyes lit up when he looked at Charlotte gave Mary her suspicions. She just wanted either one of them to confirm it.

Klaus did not know what to say or do. He couldn't stop the grin from forming as he thought about Charlotte and how much he loved her, but he had promised her he would not tell her mother about their relationship.

"Mary…"
"Klaus, my dear boy, I love you like you were own son. So please, tell me, how long have you been in love with my daughter?"

Klaus stared at Mary; silent and astonished. The woman had been in the house only a few minutes and already she knew about his love for Charlotte. Next to Mary, Charlotte choked on air at her mother's words. She had been careful not to make any sort of move or say anything which would give her mother cause to think she was dating Klaus.

"Damon, you told her?!" Charlotte shouted; throwing a cushion at her older brother and giving him a look of pure anger.
"I didn't. I swear!" Damon replied, unable to avoid the impact of the cushion Charlotte threw his way.
"Charlotte! Your brother did not say a word to me."
"Then how…"
"I'm your mother. You two have barely been able to keep your eyes off one another since I got here. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
"Mom, I…"
"Charlotte…" Mary smiled at her daughter. "I don't mind. I just want to know why you thought you couldn't tell me."

Charlotte stared at her mother, gob smacked. Words were lost of her and she struggled to form a sentence as her mother continued to look at her. Having remained silent whilst Charlotte spoke with her mother, Klaus finally cleared his throat to speak.

"She was worried you wouldn't approve."
"What? That's beyond absurd."
"To be honest, I don't think Damon, Stefan, or Giuseppe would know if it had been left up to Charlotte to tell them." Klaus added, truthfully.

Charlotte did not miss the note of sadness and doubt in Klaus's voice.

"She's just cautious. My boys are very protective of her."
"Yeah, as Klaus found out when Stefan punched him." Damon chimed; finding the memory amusing.

Mary eyes widened with shock and disapproval. She had brought her sons up to be gentleman and she did not approve of her youngest son inflicting violence upon anyone, especially not his best friend.

"Damon Salvatore, do not laugh about such horrible things. You should know better than that." Mary scolded; causing Damon to fall silent immediately.

He may have been a grown man, but Damon knew not to cross his mother. She was one of three important women in his life and he dared not defy her.

"He's just pissed because he didn't get to punch Klaus first." Charlotte added; a smirk on her face as she watched Damon pout.
"Charlotte Maria Salvatore! Watch your language!"
"Sorry, mom." Charlotte muttered; seething when she saw Damon smirk back at her.

Klaus laughed to himself. He could still recall a thousand memories from his childhood of watching all three Salvatore children being firmly told off by their mother, when she caught them doing things she did not approve of. Even now, he could still remember a number of times when he found himself on the receiving end of Mary Salvatore's scolding.

Damon and Charlotte were spared from anymore of their mother's disapproving looks by the arrival of Stefan, who brought with him Caroline and Elena. Mary's eyes lit up upon seeing her youngest son and the two women. Stefan looked so much like his father that it made Mary gasp a little. She was beginning to realise how much she'd missed out on in her three years away from Mystic Falls.

"Hello, mom!" Stefan boomed; hugging his mother tightly
"Stefan! Oh, I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too."

Caroline and Elena stood to one side; careful not to interrupt the family reunion taking place before them. Turning away from her youngest son, Mary addressed Elena and Caroline; hugging them affectionately in turn. Although she had always loved Elena, Mary had always sensed that the girl was more suited to Damon than she was to Stefan, and she was glad when she heard that Stefan and Caroline were finally a couple. It had been no surprise to the woman; Caroline's affections for youngest son had never escaped Mary's attention.

"You girls look wonderful." Mary chimed as everyone took a seat.

Talk quickly turned to the upcoming wedding and eventually, to the idea of grandchildren.

Damon squirmed in his seat under the eye of his mother. It had taken him years to pluck up the courage to propose to Elena. Children, in Damon's mind, were a far off idea. However, his mother was not one for taking no for an answer. She was a determined woman and if she wanted grandchildren, she'd be damn sure she got them.

"So, can I expect some little ones running around soon?" Mary asked.

Seeing how pale Damon had become, Elena spoke in his place. Smiling at her future mother-in-law, Elena cleared her throat.

"One day, definitely, but not yet. It would be nice to just be married for a little while."
"I understand that. I was your age when Damon was born." Mary stated.

As much as she loved her children, she couldn't help but regret having married and become a mother so young. Turning her attention to Stefan, who was placing a tender kiss on Caroline's cheek, Mary gave a quizzical look that Stefan understood immediately.

""No way. Don't look at me. I'm too young to be a dad."

Caroline blushed when she realised what Stefan was referring to. She liked the idea of having children with Stefan one day; she could imagine beautiful babies with his hair and her eyes, but they had been together a little over a year and a half. It was far too soon for them to be thinking about such things.

"I'm not getting any younger…"
"Why don't you ask Charlotte then and leave me and Damon alone?!" Stefan chuckled.
"Don't be silly. She's far too young."
"But Klaus is the same age as me."
"Yes. However, Charlotte is a lot younger. She hasn't even finished school yet. I would be severely disappointed if she were to get pregnant so young."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. She hated it when people talked as if she wasn't sat right there next to them, listening to their conversation.

"Hey, I am here you know."
"Sorry, Charlotte. Your have terrible, selfish brothers." Mary said with a smile on her face.
"Thank you. Let's talk about something else, shall we?" Charlotte stated; desperately wanting a change in subject.

It was hours later, after Damon and Elena had left for their own home and everyone had made their separate ways to bed, that Klaus found himself cornered in the kitchen by Charlotte's mother.

"Klaus, may I ask you something?"

Gulping down the water he had been drinking in order to take his painkillers, Klaus nodded.

"I love you like I love my own boys. I practically raised you."
"Yes, you did and I'm extremely grateful for it."
"I'm glad. However, what I really want to know is, why Charlotte?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why fall in love with my daughter? There are plenty of women in this town. Why go after Charlotte?"

Breathing deeply for a second, Klaus considered his response carefully.

"I didn't go after her. She went after me, and I love her for many reasons. She's kind; she's beautiful; funny; intelligent. She challenges me. She doesn't take any of my bullshit. When I'm not with her, I feel empty. I would rather risk losing everyone I care about in order to spend my life with her, than give her up. I can't imagine being with anyone else."

Klaus stood, silently, waiting for Mary to reply. He had never been so open about his feelings for Charlotte, not even with the girl herself, and he wondered how Mary would react. Giuseppe had taken it well but Mary was the real challenge.

"She's a lot younger than you."
"It's only six years."
"You want to marry when you're older? Have children?"

Klaus paused. He had never in his life wanted those things.

"With Charlotte, yes. But only her."
"Charlotte is my daughter, Klaus, and I know her better than anyone else. She will not settle down easily. I suggest, if you want to be a father in the future, that you make that step with someone other than my only daughter. I do not disapprove of your relationship with her; I only worry that you will not get what you want from it. Goodnight, Klaus."

Bidding Mary goodnight, Klaus waited until he heard the door to her room open and shut before making his way to bed.

"Where have you been?" Charlotte murmured; her eyes heavy with sleep.

Climbing into bed with her, Klaus placed his arm around her and pulled her in close.

"I was talking to your mother."
"What about?"
"Nothing of interest, love. Go to sleep." He said, placing a kiss on her temple and waiting for sleep to take him.

He wondered if Mary was right. Charlotte had finally admitted her love for him but there were many more steps for them to take together. Would Charlotte want to take those steps with him?