Hello, my angels :) Here we go! Finally, Charlotte's past is revealed! This is dedicated to alwaysnnever who has begged me on many occasions to reveal this information and who has reviewed every single chapter. You are amazing and I love you! I hope you all enjoy it! :) xx

A big, heart-warming thank you to: LucyRider17, alwaysnnever, and Alanna of Stormhold for reviewing on the last chapter :)

Two years ago…

Walking into the familiar surroundings of the Pool Hall, Charlotte smiled at the regulars and pushed her way through the mass of pool tables and bodies until she reached the counter at the front. She smiled as her eyes came upon Dean's form. She had been coming to the Pool Hall for six months, ever since she turned sixteen, and had become instant friends with the guy, despite the age difference. They enjoyed easy banter and Charlotte always felt safe when Dean was around.

"Hey, GG. What are you doing here? Couldn't live without me, huh?" Dean said, smiling flirtatiously.

Charlotte rolled her eyes but couldn't resist another smile. Although she and Dean constantly flirted it was harmless. They shared a close friendship even though they had only known each other for a short amount of time. Charlotte suspected that many who frequented the Pool Hall thought there was more to her friendship with the owner. She often saw judgement in their eyes whenever she and Dean hugged or flirted, but she paid no attention to the looks and whispers. Her relationship with Dean was innocent.

However, although both Dean and Charlotte knew their friendship was not in anyway sexual, they were careful not to act otherwise. Dean was close to the young girl and enjoyed hugging her, but the fact that she was so young made it rather inappropriate for him to do so.

"You know it, babe." Charlotte replied, winking.

With a small laugh, Charlotte leaned forward over the counter so she was putting most of her weight on it. She watched Dean do the same and raised her eyebrows when she realised their faces were only centimetres away from one another.

"No, seriously, I came for some fun. My mom's off out for the night so I'm a free girl."
"I'll warn the others." smirked Dean.

When Dean had first met Charlotte, he'd been impressed with her pool playing skills; especially since she was so young. However, he had shown her where she needing improving and being a quick study, Charlotte had reached a level where she was capable of beating Dean in a game. Her skill had become such that she had hustled many of the Pool Hall's customers out of their money.

"I'm not that bad!" Charlotte shouted; mock hurt filling her voice.
"You are exactly that bad and you play on it, little girl." replied Dean as he fingered one of Charlotte's raven locks.
"If you don't want me taking your customers' money, then you play with me."
"Not tonight, Charlotte I'm too busy."

Dean smirked when he saw Charlotte pout. He didn't usually say no to the young girl but he wasn't lying when he said he was too busy to keep her entertained.

"Dean, please!" Whined Charlotte.
"I can't, not tonight. I tell you what, give me a minute, okay?"

Sighing, Charlotte nodded, her impatience growing, and waited for Dean to return as he disappeared into the back room. Less than a minute had gone by before Dean returned; with him, a man that looked a lot like Dean but younger.

"Charlotte, this is my little brother."

Focusing her attention on the guy standing next to Dean, Charlotte surveyed him with scrutiny; taking in his pale blue eyes, short, dark blonde hair that was slightly ruffled and a mass of toned muscle that was peeking out beneath the short sleeves of his black t-shirt. What Charlotte really noticed, though, was the dazzling smile he gave her; his eyes twinkling as they raked over her form. An uncomfortable warmth began to spread through her body and she blushed when she realised that she was attracted to Dean's brother.

"Hi. I'm Robert."

Sixteen months ago…

"I'm not happy, Charlotte."

Robert spat out his words; his face contorted into an expression of pure rage. He stood, inches away from Charlotte, with clenched fists.

Closing her eyes, Charlotte tried to block out the anger she knew would be coming her way soon. Their relationship, which had started out so well, had quickly turned sour. Within days of meeting, the two had begun a romantic relationship; with Robert showering Charlotte with compliments and gifts. When, two months in, Robert had declared his love for the girl, she had been so ecstatic she offered her virgin body to him which he had made good use of.

Everything had seemed perfect to Charlotte until a month later when, after they had spent a night drinking and playing pool with Dean, Robert had become so jealous he had hit Charlotte. His palm had hit her cheek with such force that it left a small bruise. When both Dean and her mother had inquired about the mark, she lied; telling them that she had gotten into a fight with a girl from school.

The next time he hit, he hit her so hard she fell to the floor and found herself struggling to get back up, the pain was so bad. She could not fathom why he felt the need to behave so violently towards her, and she continued to make excuses for him for months on end. Charlotte knew that she deserved better than Robert; that she was a stronger person than she was giving her self credit for, but the love she felt for him prevented her from leaving.

"I haven't done anything, Robert."
"You say that every time."

Charlotte kept her eyes closed. She did not need to have them open to know that Robert was now standing right in front of her.

"I haven't-"

A pain shot through her head as she felt Robert tangle his fingers into her hair and pull down hard. A cry of anguish and sheer pain escaped her lips.

"Do not stand there and lie to me. I know you've been fucking my brother!"

Another yank. Another cry. Tears were beginning to fall.

Even then, as Robert's fist collided with her stomach and she felt the air rush out from her lungs, Charlotte loved him. She just couldn't understand how he could think her capable of cheating. Sure, she and Dean still enjoyed a flirty relationship but they were friends and nothing more. Yet, it seemed that no matter how many times she told Robert this; no matter how many times she tried to rid him of his fears and jealousy, he did not listen and she always ended up hurt.

Gasping for breath, Charlotte forced herself to open her eyes and she lifted her head to stare at her boyfriend.

"I'm telling you the truth."

Her voice came out raspy. Her eyes widened. Another punch. Another slap. A throbbing in her head as she fell backwards onto the fall. She tasted blood in her mouth as her lip burst. She gagged as she was forced to swallow it.

Lying on top of her, Robert wrapped his hands around Charlotte's neck. They were not so tight as to completely cut off her air supply but they were tight enough to cause the girl to panic. Clawing at Robert's strong hands, Charlotte kicked out. She needed air. She needed him off of her. His eyes were black and they contained no love; only hate. What had she done to deserve this?

"You like to screw around? Then fine. Let's see which is the better brother."

With one hand remaining on Charlotte's neck, the other savagely made its way up her dress; pulling and tugging on her panties until they were torn apart. The sudden understanding of what Robert was planning to do chilled Charlotte to core and she was overcome with a level of fear she had never experienced before.

"Robert! No! Stop! P-please, stop. L-let me go!"

She continued her frantic clawing at his hands; wanting nothing more than to be free from his possessive hold. The sound of a zip being lowered sent terror flowing through Charlotte and she squeezed her eyes shut; hoping that the nightmare of the situation she was in would be over soon.

Convinced she was about to experience the worst and most degrading pain in her life, Charlotte let her body go limp. The less pain the better. The pain, however, never arrived. Robert's body was flung away from hers and she heard him howl in pain as she scuttled to safety.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" yelled Dean; holding his brother up against the wall.

Charlotte remembered nothing more as she blacked out. When she eventually came round, she found herself lying in a hospital bed; the too bright lights of the sterile looking room hurting her sensitive eyes.

She groaned as she turned her head to see her mother gazing at her; eyes full to the brim with panic, concern and love. Trying to sit up, Charlotte gritted her teeth and stifled the urge to cry out; alerting her mother to her awakened state.

"Mom…" Charlotte croaked out; her throat sore from Robert's attack. "What happened?"
"Charlotte! Oh god!"

Mary stroked her daughter's bruised and battered face tenderly; careful not to cause her any harm.

"You're lucky to be alive."

Charlotte listened as her mother ticked off her list of injuries: a bruised trachea, a fractured rib, cuts, severe bruising, a concussion. Charlotte couldn't even gasp. She didn't have the energy to.

"Why didn't you tell me what he was doing to you? You never should have been with him." Mary asked frantically; ashamed that she had not seen through her daughter's lies; ashamed that she had failed to protect her child.
"Mom…"
"Hey, GG. How are you feeling?"

Dean's worried voice echoed around the room. Charlotte smiled weakly at him and was about to reply when she saw her mother stand and begin to scream at the man.

"Get out! You're not welcome here!"
"Mary…"
"Get out, right now!"
"Please, I came to see if-."
"This is your fault. You and your goddamn brother! I never should have trusted you to keep her safe. I never should have let you or Robert anywhere near her. She's seventeen for Christ's sake! Look at the state of her!"

Wanting to defend Dean against her mother's verbal attack, but not having the energy to do so, Charlotte closed her eyes to the sight before her and eventually drifted off into a restless sleep. Her last thought, as she let sleep take over her, was a promise to herself that she would never again fall in love; that she would never again trust a guy with her life.

Present time…

Klaus watched Charlotte for the rest of the night; his conversation with Mary playing over and over again in his head. Worry began to seep into his thoughts and doubts played on his mind. He wondered what had happened to Charlotte in San Francisco. He wondered if Charlotte had ever slept with Dean. He even started to wonder whether Charlotte loved him at all.

With that last thought, Klaus shook his head and tried to smile reassuringly when he saw Charlotte eye him suspiciously. He was being silly, he thought. Of course Charlotte loved him; he saw it every time she looked at him.

Lying in bed that night, Klaus wrapped his arms protectively around Charlotte's sleeping body and curved his body around hers. The wedding would be taking place in the morning and he still hadn't slept. There was far too much on his mind to let sleep take him, and he promised himself he would ask Charlotte about Dean and San Francisco as soon as the wedding was over. There would be no more lies. No more secrets. He wanted Charlotte. All of her. Even the bad.