The last ever chapter! *sobs* I actually am going to miss this story.

A big, well-loved thank you to every single one of you how has ever favourited, followed, read and reviewed this story. You have given me so much happiness :) I hope you all enjoy this last update. I love you all soooooooo much! xx

Five years later…

The first time Klaus proposed to Charlotte it was her nineteenth birthday. He had spent weeks lovingly preparing the romantic proposal with the help of an extremely excited Caroline. For days leading up to the event his mind had been filled with images of Charlotte enthusiastically accepting his offer of marriage. He knew that if it were any of woman except for his Charlotte then he would not even consider marriage or having a family, but the youngest Salvatore had captured his heart and he intended on keeping it that way.

When the young Salvatore girl had walked into Klaus's apartment to find the floor covered in rose petals the colour of blood, soft, romantic music playing in the background and Klaus standing before her dressed immaculately in a suit and clean shaven, she immediately knew that the effort Klaus had gone to was for more than just her birthday.

The moment Klaus kneeled down and presented her with the most exquisite looking diamond ring she'd ever seen in her life, Charlotte felt terror grip her. She had known ever since the day of Damon and Elena's wedding, five months previously, that Klaus intended on marrying her someone. She just didn't want that day to come so soon.

It broke Charlotte's heart to tell him no. the pain in Klaus's ocean-blue eyes sent a bolt of guilt straight to her heart. She explained to the best of her ability; telling him that she loved him with everything she had but that they hadn't been together long enough to become engaged. When Klaus had argued back that they'd known each other for Charlotte's entire life, the young woman had let out a sigh and begged him to understand that it was simply just too soon and she was simply just too young.

Klaus had relented, severely disappointed that Charlotte had rejected his proposal, but admitted that he understood her unexpected answer. Nevertheless, it was weeks before the couple finally managed to move past the incident and return to normal.

The second time Klaus proposed to Charlotte was three years later. It was a cool September night and Caroline and Stefan had gotten married that very day. Klaus had decided not to do a romantic proposal. He hadn't planned anything. The only preparation he made was to pocket the engagement ring he'd bought years before.

All day, as he watched his best-friend marry the woman he loved, Klaus had been consumed with nerves. One half of his heart was convinced that Charlotte would say yes; now that a fair amount of time had passed, she had graduated from College and they were both older. The other half, however, was full of doubt. The pain from the first rejected proposal was still fresh in his mind.

Charlotte had no idea that another proposal was coming her way. She had spent the day as a bridesmaid to Caroline; telling her closest friend how happy she was that she was finally officially part of the family. When Klaus had interrupted her dancing with Elena and Caroline and dragged her to one side, she had been mildly irritated and confused. Klaus's face was etched with concern and anticipation. Charlotte was about to ask him what was worrying him when she witnessed him whip out the familiar looking engagement box and stare hopefully at her. His words had been simple.

"Marry me."

It wasn't a question. It wasn't even a demand. The slight hint of desperation in Klaus's voice had made it come out as more of a plea. For the second time, Charlotte felt her heart break.

"No."

Klaus flinched when he heard her respond. Once again he could not fathom why the woman who claimed to love him did not want to be his wife. He argued his point. He would protect her. He would love her. He would give her everything and anything. Why did she not want to marry him? Her previous reasons from three years before no longer applied.

Tears had fallen from Charlotte's eyes. She had no other answer to give except for the fact that she just did not feel that it was the right time. They were happy as they were. Why change what did not need to be changed?

The next day came and with it there was no mention of Klaus's marriage proposal. He acted as if he had never proposed and life went on as normal. He did not plan to ask Charlotte to marry him again.

The third time Klaus asked Charlotte to marry him it was a complete accident; a slip of the tongue. It was a year later and they were in Damon and Elena's home along with Stefan and Caroline. Charlotte was sat fawning over her new-born nephew; a beautiful baby boy by the name of Alexander who was the spitting image of Damon. The baby was only a few days old and Klaus was stood to one side congratulating his friends on the birth and studying Charlotte with a smile on his but an ache in his heart.

Recently, he had been entertaining the idea of becoming a father. Elena's pregnancy and subsequent birth, combined with Caroline and Stefan's talk of planning for a child of their own, had left Klaus wondering whether he would have a family of his own one day. It was never something he had wanted until he'd met Charlotte.

He knew, though, that it would be utterly pointless approaching Charlotte with the idea. She was unwilling to marry him. A child was certainly not on the table.

The accidental proposal occurred when Charlotte had gone into the kitchen to fetch the baby's bottle. Klaus had followed her in and kissed her lightly on the lips. Charlotte still held the baby in her arms and Klaus could almost imagine, for a split second, that the baby belonged to them.

That's when it happened. He said the words he had most definitely not been meaning to say. Words he already knew the answer to. Charlotte had stormed out of the room without even replying. Klaus had followed her of course and watched her as she gave the baby to Elena and marched out of the house. The looks of confusion directed towards him from his friends and their wives were too much for Klaus. With a frown and a sigh, he ran after Charlotte without so much as saying goodbye to the others.

The argument that took place between himself and Charlotte was their worse one to date. Again, Charlotte offered no explanation for her refusal to marry Klaus. This time, however, Klaus did not back down. The argument continued on into the night until he declared that it was all or nothing. Either she agreed to marry him or they were over; Klaus was fed up with feeling rejected.

They were over. Charlotte packed her bags and moved back into her childhood home. She cried for weeks on end whilst Klaus spent his time drinking and avoiding The Salvatore family as much as possible. It was only when Elijah, Damon and Stefan banded together and forcibly locked Charlotte and Klaus together in a room did the couple begin to work through their issues.

Klaus confessed his jealously over Stefan and Damon's marriages and that of Elijah's to his wife, Katherine. Charlotte confessed her concerns of having a marriage similar to her parents'. Eventually, Klaus and Charlotte reconciled with Charlotte promising to at least consider the possibility of marrying Klaus in the future.

A year passed and cheers rang out as those around Klaus wished him a happy birthday. He had turned thirty. It was warm June day and the sun shined brightly in the bright, blue sky. Around him guests mingled with one another in the vast, impressive garden of The Salvatore Boarding House.

Mikael and Esther were not in attendance, having been warned to stay away by Charlotte. In addition to the members of The Salvatore family, Elijah, Katherine, Finn and his wife, Sage, Kol, Elena's brother Jeremy and various others were present. Klaus had insisted that he did not want a fuss to be made and so it was agreed that a barbecue and a small gathering of family and friends would suffice for the celebration of his birthday.

Off to one side, Klaus could see Elena, Caroline and Charlotte chatting. Elena was holding her squirming son in her arms. He was a year old and was looking more like Damon, and Charlotte, with each passing day. Caroline was stood holding a glass of juice in one hand as she rubbed her swollen tummy with her other. In three months Stefan and Caroline would become parents. Klaus couldn't help but feel a small twinge of jealousy. Overall, though, he was happy for his friends.

Charlotte was stood in between the two women and her eyes met Klaus's as she caught him watching her. Klaus couldn't help but smile at the woman. She was still stunning and looked exactly as she did when she first returned to Mystic Falls nearly six years before, only a little older.

Klaus was still yet to receive his gift of Charlotte. She had refused to give him any clue as to what she had gotten him for his momentous birthday and curiosity was eating away at him.

Excusing herself, Charlotte smirked as she walked over the Klaus's side. Klaus noticed the mischievous glint in her sparkling blue eyes and he smirked back; excitement running through his body like an electric current as he tried to figure out what his girl had planned for him.

"I think it's time I gave you my present." Charlotte whispered in Klaus's ear.

His entire perked up and he smiled, letting Charlotte know she had his full attention.

"I think you're right, love."

Pulling a pack of cards from her pocket, Charlotte waved them at Klaus and grinned as she watched him try to decipher her actions.

"Fancy a game of poker?"

Charlotte sauntered into the house and felt Klaus follow her. She stopped when she came to the dining room table and sat down; opening the cards and dealing as Klaus sat opposite her.

He wondered what playing a game of poker had to do with Charlotte giving him his present, especially since it was a game she was notoriously poor at, but he kept quiet. He did not want the mystery to be spoiled just yet.

Once the cards were dealt, Klaus spoke.

"What is this, sweetheart?"
"It's your birthday present. Don't ask questions. Just go along with it."
"Okay. What's the bet then?"

A smile tugged at the corner of Charlotte's lips. She was about to give Klaus the greatest gift ever.

"If you win, I'll marry you…"

Klaus almost dropped his cards. He knew it and he knew Charlotte knew it. Charlotte always lost at poker. Was he dreaming? Was Charlotte really agreeing to marry him?

"And if you win?" Klaus prompted; wondering what would come next.
"Then I get to name the baby." Charlotte responded.

Klaus dropped his cards. Charlotte was no longer holding her cards either. Instead, she was watching Klaus carefully and smirking at the shocked, open mouthed expression on his beautiful face.

"Now then, Klaus. Don't you know it's rude to stare at your pregnant fiance?"

A baby. They were having a baby. He was going to be a father. He was going to be a husband.

Standing quickly, Klaus rounded the table and pulled Charlotte to her feet. His lips met hers instantly and he kissed her for all he was worth. He wanted to ask her why she had chosen to finally become his wife. He wanted to know how long she'd known she was pregnant. Questions. So many questions.

"I love you, Charlotte Salvatore."

Charlotte smiled. She had assumed Klaus was going to spurt question after question at her. After all, she had rejected him three times. She supposed she should tell him how the moment she saw the two blue lines of the pregnancy test two weeks before she had been overcome with joy, and that it was the knowledge that she was carrying his child which made her finally give marriage a chance.

She did not tell him that though. Instead, she basked in the happiness and glorious vibes of love emanating from Klaus as he gazed at her.

"I love you too, Klaus Mikaelson."

Klaus kissed her once again.

"I'm going to be a father." He was still suffering a little from disbelief.
"Not for another seven months. Just don't tell Damon. I'm not sure he'll be happy about you knocking up his only sister." said Charlotte with a smirk.

A laugh escaped Klaus's mouth.

"Probably not. We'll tell them you ate too many cakes." Klaus replied; grinning when Charlotte began to smack him lightly on the chest in mock anger.
"You are a mean man, Klaus. Picking on your fiance."
"Well, it took you long enough." replied Klaus.

Charlotte rolled her eyes as she smiled. It had taken her long enough but it was worth the wait. A thought formed in her head as she kissed her fiance and felt him tenderly place a hand on her tummy. When she had first returned to Mystic Falls, Klaus had been nothing more than a crush. Now, he was everything to her.

It was amazing what a crush could turn into.