Hey guys, I am sorry, but I am having a little bit of writer's block. I know where it is going to go after this, but I need some inspiration to keep updating, especially so often. I cracked 1,000 views to the story, but I haven't had a review since Chapter 6 almost a whole week ago. Any chance I can ask you guys to review, please?

I would like to thank QueenofElphame, justsummer, sev1415, twilighter169, SexyInu and nluvwithemmettcullen for following and/or favoriting this story. I am glad you guys like it that much.

Lisolotte

"Stay with the body. Both of you," Charlotte demanded.

"Are you kidding?" Damon asked. "There are about 20 guys out there. Why would you go out there alone?"

"We are nothing without that body. Who knows if these guys are just here to distract us? Both of you combined would probably be able to keep it here if someone attacks. Just let me handle this," she responded.

"Damon," Katherine said softly. "Just listen to Charlotte. She has more experience than either of us. Just let her do it."

Damon simply nodded and watched as Charlotte got out of the car and walked towards to large group with confidence.

As Charlotte got closer and something struck her as wrong. She was almost completely to the group when she realized what that was. They weren't people ready to attack them at all. They were ghosts that someone had made close enough to solid in order to make them appear menacing. Katherine and Damon were in the middle of a trap that someone set. She took off at a run as best as she could. She chose to run over the car rather than around. She prayed they were safe. She couldn't bear the guilt if her foolhardiness had killed them.

She landed near the trunk of the car and face to face with a bald vampire who was very surprised to see her. Katherine and Damon continued to keep themselves between the coffin and the bald stranger.

"They should have fooled you at least until you landed your first hit," he said to Charlotte.

She shrugged. "Maybe you underestimated me. Or maybe I recognized one of them. I have been dealing with the dead for a very long time. I applaud the effort, but you fell short."

"I know how to admit when I have lost. I'll just be on my way."

He turned to move and as he did, Charlotte beheaded him. "I think not," she told his corpse as it fell to the ground. She turned to face Damon and Katherine. "Close this trunk and let's get on our way. Chances are they won't launch another attack for a little while. We need to burn rubber."

~AHC~

"You were pretty ruthless back there," Katherine said.

"You knew I would be," Charlotte responded. "I don't kill innocents, but that doesn't mean I don't kill. That man was here to take that body from us and maybe he was going to kill us. He definitely was not going to leave us better off than he found us. I did what I had to do." After saying that, Charlotte's eyes took on a strange distant look.

"I don't mean to bring up bad feelings, Charlie," Katherine reached forward to clasped Charlotte's hand.

"Isn't this touching? You don't do heartwarming, Katherine. Leave Charlotte out of your little scheme whatever it is. She is better than you and deserves better," Damon snapped.

"Maybe you don't know everything about me, Damon. I have known Charlotte much longer than I have known you. Did it ever cross your mind that I could genuinely be friends with her?"

Damon ignored her. "Watch out for her, Charlotte. She might look like a sweet little girl, but there is a nasty self-serving brat deep down. Don't trust her."

The air in the car became very tense. They did not speak until they crossed into Illinois.

"So close to never having to ride in a car with you again," Damon said cheerfully. "This was an experience that I hope to never have to repeat again." Charlotte looked down in sadness. She had really hoped that she had been right about Damon. "Not you, Charlotte. We had fun. It is your demented great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandniece. Add a few more greats if I was off."

"Enough!" Charlotte finally yelled. "You two are ridiculous. We are not on a joy ride for fun. We are all here because we are trying to keep a large group of people alive. We fail and you both die. We need to take this seriously and keep your own feelings about each other out of it for now. Are we clear?" she asked them.

They both nodded meekly.

~AHC~

"Look, you brought me back my body and the errant doppelganger," Klaus said gleefully. He made a move to restrain Katherine. She quickly ran to hide herself behind Charlotte. "You are faster than me now, but wait until I get my body back Katerina," he threatened. "You have been a pesky problem since I found you. Maybe I should put an end to it."

Charlotte stepped between Katherine and Klaus. "I don't think so, Klaus. Katherine is under my protection. You will not harm a single hair on her pretty little head."

Klaus turned to Charlotte and was completely shocked. "Why would you put yourself between us like that?"

"Katherine is my friend, Klaus. For whatever that is worth to any of you. Not only that, but she is the one who was guarding your body when we got to Mystic Falls. We were attacked and she stayed. She is just as invested as all of us. You have no reason to want to kill her. It is to my understanding that you have already spent considerable time punishing her recently."

Klaus smiled and relaxed considerably. "Okay, if it is that important to you, I will acquiesce. You know how much I value your opinion. Your wish is my command."

"Aw, look, Sweets has Klaus all wrapped around her finger," Kol said.

"Enough, Kol," Charlotte snapped.

"Give me some time to figure out how much I need to do with this body to make it livable again. Klaus is an old vampire so he should be able to heal once he is back in his body. We just need to make it so that he will be able to inhabit it," Rachel said from the doorway.

~AHC~

"Kol, this isn't the best time to talk about this, but it is the first time I have seen you in a long time," Charlotte said quietly.

"Anything for you. I would climb every mountain for you. I would bring you the moon. I would even crawl on my knees," he responded.

"No need for that. It's about her," she said seriously. "She's not dead, Kol. I think we can get her back if you want. I think there are other people here who might want to know about what is going on."

"What is with the vague statements?"

"Almost everyone in this room is a vampire. They can hear everything we are saying. I want to warn you. Especially because I am in a position where I am going to be painfully honest with Damon Salvatore. I cannot promise that it will remain secret for long."

"That puts me in an awkward position. Any chance I can convince you to not tell him that?"

Charlotte shook her head. "Would go against my moral code."

"You and your moral code. I am going to refrain from the obvious statement about the fact that you and Elijah adhere strictly to your own moral codes. At least I can thank you for the warning. Now tell me the rest. What is our next move?"

Rachel entered the room glowing with pride. "We're ready."