Charlotte had had a restless sleep after the events of the night before.

It took her hours to fall asleep and even then it was fitful, tossing and turning unable to stop running each moment over in her mind. She felt Klaus' hand gripping her leg, his thumb running across it softly, she felt his arms wrapped around her. Then she had the images running through her mind too, the image of him getting stabbed, falling to the ground, screaming in pain.

It was a restless sleep and she still hadn't made any real decisions on where her loyalties lay, finally tugging herself from bed a little after nine as she gave up on clearing her head. Charlotte was halfway out of the shower when she heard her phone ringing, wrapping a towel around herself she answered it without looking at the screen.

"Hello, darling," the voice cooed down the line, "thought I'd set your worrying heart at rest and let you know I'm alive."

"Klaus," Charlotte sighed half in relief, half in annoyance, moving to the closet to gather clothes for the day.

"Nik," he corrected smugly causing her to roll her eyes, they were here again it seemed.

Tugging her underwear on, Charlotte replied, "Was there a reason for your call, Klaus, or can I hang up now."

"Please darling I heard how you cried my name in terror last night," Klaus teased her, "we both know you'd rather call me Nik than Klaus."

"Forgive me for reverting to the name you directed me to use for an entire summer," Charlotte snapped back, holding the phone from her head as she pulled her shirt on, "A moment of weakness, it won't happen again."

"I'd like it to."

Charlotte pulled her pants on now, "I'm hanging up now Klaus, this isn't going anywhere."

"No, wait," she heard him say and the phone returned to her ear, "go to the front door."

"I'm not letting you in again," Charlotte replied as she came down the stairs.

Klaus laughed at her callous responses, "Not to worry sweetheart, my bed was always the choice over yours, I remember."

Charlotte tugged the door open and saw a box on the porch, "You got me a gift?"

Pulling the box open, she saw a dress and an envelope with her name on it. When the envelope was opened, Charlotte was surprised with the words it

contained, an invitation.

Please join the Mikaelson Family

this evening at seven o'clock

for dancing cocktails, and celebration.

It took a moment for Charlotte to process the invitation in front of her, the Mikaelson family, meaning not only had Klaus not daggered his siblings after the night had ended, but they were unified again. Charlotte had presumed that all of Klaus' siblings had somehow been redaggered again if it meant that he was talking to her and alive.

"Save me a dance will you."

Charlotte open her mouth to reply but before she could, the phone clicked off.

Klaus had hung up on her.

-

Charlotte spent at least twenty minutes begging Matt to ditch Rebekah for the ball and go with her instead but his conscience wouldn't let him. She was 'going' with Damon but she knew he was useless, they'd spend ten minutes together and then he'd abandon her to go find Elena and Klaus would swoop in. She half considered playing a poor baby sister card but she wasn't so sure she actually wanted Damon to play protective big brother.

Really she just wanted to not have to sort out her feelings quite yet, she wanted more time to figure out what she wanted. After the way their time ended in Chicago she'd been so sure she was over Klaus and hated him but each interaction since made it harder for her to stand by that and after the night before she felt even more confused.

She wore the dress Klaus had gifted her, her wardrobe was still dismally small and she didn't have anything else nearly appropriate. It was a long silver gown that seemed to glitter and catch the light as she moved with sheer sleeves and a neckline that lay low. Her hair was pulled from her face, falling down her back in soft waves that shone silky smooth.

As they walked through the Mikaelson mansion Damon swiped glasses of champagne for them both before grabbing a third and directing them towards Carol Lockwood.

"Hello Carol," Damon greeted as he passed her the glass, "hanging out with your new besties?"

"I'm the Mayor, Damon," Carol sounded resigned as she replied shooting a smile to Charlotte who'd waved as they approached, "When the oldest, deadliest family of vampires moves into your town, you welcome them with a smile."

"Hmm. Well, at least you know who you're borrowing that cup of sugar from."

"I'm trying to protect this town. They've assured me they want peace and I've assured them that I'd enforce it."

"Mayor Lockwood," Kol came bounding over with his hand out, "We haven't formally met. Kol Mikaelson," Kol pulled the Mayor's hand to his mouth kissing it before continuing, "We hope your lovely town embraces us just as much as we plan to embrace it."

"Damon Salvatore," Damon cut in, holding his hand out, "have we met?"

"I've met a lot of people and you don't particularly stand out," Kol replied glancing over Damon disdainfully and ignoring his hand. Charlotte fought back a laugh at the scowl on Damons face after this and Kol turned his sights on her, "Hello darling, I certainly haven't met you yet, although I do remember your pretty face."

"Charlotte Salvatore," she said, smiling with amusement when he pulled her hand and kissed it as he had the Mayor's. Charlotte and Kol were from more similar time periods than most here, although Charlotte had been awake for a few months more than Kol, both retained the manners appropriate when they were last alive and well.

"Oh my sister told me about a Charlotte," Kol said with a grin that caused Damons face to sour, "You're the one my brother is so fond of, I presume."

"Something like that," Damon cut in protectively, hoping to direct the conversation away from another Original vampire bonding with Charlotte..

"Wonderful," Kol replied still ignoring Damon, "well darling I hope you can save me a dance."

Kol was still holding her hand but he finally released it, turning and walking away from Charlotte much to Damons relief. She felt flustered after talking to Kol, his words came out as smoothly as his brothers, snaking along, so slippery it was hard to get a thought in.

Charlotte saw the doors open behind them and watched as Damons breath caught in his throat in surprise, Elena was walking in and she looked beautiful.

"I'll catch up with you D," Charlotte told him knowing her brother only wanted to go to Elena before she slipped away. Shooting her a grateful look, Damon slid away quickly, his eyes tangled up in Elena as he fought to catch her.

Instead Charlotte wandered away in hopes of finding Caroline or Matt, looking around lazily, stilling when she heard a voice she knew well call out to her.

"Good evening," Klaus greeted from her side, causing Charlotte to turn on the spot.

Each time he saw her she seemed more beautiful. This dress fit better than the lovely little black one but he still could only think about taking it off her as he looked at her in it. The neckline was lower than he'd expected when he'd chosen it and it seemed to sparkle as she moved. She'd put some kind of glitter on her cheeks and her eyes too because when her eyes flickered down and then back he could see the light glint across her lids.

Her hair was pulled out of her face but it still ran long down her back and he wanted it tickle his chest again as she leaned over to kiss him. The sunburn had faded from her cheeks since she'd returned home and spent more time indoors but she'd replenished it with blush he could see and he wanted to grin at the pink that covered her cheeks so perfectly.

Klaus wanted to pull her towards him but he knew she wouldn't like that and so he stayed where he stood, leaning against a table as he watched her process him in front of her.

Charlotte felt frozen seeing Klaus, her half thought out resolve to hate him so she was on her brothers side dithering now he was here in front of her. He didn't look half bad either, more dressed up than in the raggedy jeans and worn shirts he always wore, now he stood in a suit with a vest and bow tie that matched his white dress shirt. She could half picture him pulling her by her waist to his chest and she could feel the moment when he pressed his lips to hers but he didn't and she couldn't.

"I need a drink," she stuttered out at last, pressing her empty glass against his chest then turning making her way to the bar and gratefully grabbing a second glass of champagne.

Charlotte's face flushed red as she downed her drink, embarrassed by her behaviour and embarrassed by her absolutely cluelessness of what she was meant to do or feel. She needed clearer boundaries with herself, she couldn't keep picturing him as kind and soft, she needed to remember the cruel Klaus.

"If everyone could gather please," she heard Elijah call from afar.

Charlotte turned to see all of the Mikaelsons standing on the stairs as Elijah spoke. There were four brothers, one sister, and someone that Charlotte presumed was their mother. Interesting, Charlotte thought as she stared up at the new faces, she felt sure Klaus had told her that his mother was dead. He had killed his mother, that much she was sure of, but he was sure too he'd said she didn't become a vampire like his siblings and father and had instead died human.

"Welcome. Thank you for joining us. You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance. Tonights pick is a centuries old waltz. So, if all of you could find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom."

Elijah finished talking and Charlotte's heart sank, it would be difficult to stay away from Klaus if they were dancing together and she felt desperate to find a partner before he found her. Charlotte caught sight of Kol walking by her and an idea came to her, reaching out she grasped his arm.

"Kol," Charlotte said, he turned to her not masking the surprise in his face, "would you dance with me?"

"It would be rude not to," Kol replied with a mischievous smirk, holding his arm out for her to grasp onto. Charlotte let Kol lead her into the ballroom her eyes averted, missing Klaus' crestfallen ones as they walked by.

"You called my brother Nik last night," Kol's voice was curious as he eyed her, they were dancing now and he could feel Klaus' eyes boring into his skull. Klaus was furious at Kol for dancing with Charlotte and furious with Charlotte for asking him. The poor girl on his arms continued to pester him with questions while his eyes stayed on Charlotte, staring hopefully at her as she danced with his brother.

"Mhm," Charlotte hummed in agreement, confused if this was a question or a statement.

"Not Klaus?"

"He only badgered me on calling him Nik all summer, it's a bit much to switch back and forth."

"Interesting," Kol replied, causing only more confusion for Charlotte, "so he asked you to call him Nik then?" Charlotte nodded and Kol asked again, "and you're human?"

"We both know you're well aware that I'm human, Kol. What difference does it make whether I call him Klaus or Nik?"

Kol grinned smoothly, "Just putting some dots together, my brother isn't often fond of familiarities and he's typically not fond of humans either," here twirled her under his arm and changed the subject, surprisingly adept at interrogating her as they danced, "Now I know why I'm dancing with you, but what's your reason for dancing with me."

"Perhaps I just want to get to know the new family in town."

Kol laughed.

"Has anyone ever told you you're a terrible liar?" Charlotte blushed and he barrelled on, "regardless of your reasoning darling, I'll help you ruffle my brothers feathers any time."

Charlotte didn't know how to reply to that so her face furrowed as she looked down at his chest. Then suddenly and without warning she was spun from Kol's arms into someone else, looking up she realised she was holding onto the one man she'd been trying to avoid.

"Klaus," Charlotte whispered, his hands easily falling around her as they danced.

"Nik," he corrected, "I'm glad you came darling, you look beautiful. You're a wonderful dancer."

Klaus made his voice so silky sometimes, when he complimented her his voice would go low, almost like a growl, pushing the emotion out as he spoke. His compliments made her heart race and her body felt warm where his hands lay but she was forcing herself to keep from falling into the old Nik and Charlotte.

"Why was your brother surprised I called you Nik?" she asked, side-stepping around the compliment.

"Ah yes, you chose to dance with Kol," Klaus replied harshly and Charlotte looked embarrassed, embarrassed she was being so blatantly called out, "You ran from me," Klaus accused.

Of course I ran from you, Charlotte thought, I'm supposed to hate you and you're supposed to let me, not keep pulling me back.

"What are we doing, Klaus."

"We're dancing, darling."

Charlotte's brow furrowed, she felt guilty, torn between the two worlds, "Not this, this," she replied, "I can't continue to be caught in the middle. It's not summertime anymore and I don't know how I can trust you."

The song came to an end and Charlotte pulled herself from his arms, escaping from the ballroom and outside.

Charlotte was sitting on some steps outside when she heard Klaus approach her, she knew he'd find her, there were few places for her to go and so it was only a matter of time. Klaus tugged his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders before moving to sit next to her.

Charlotte wished he hadn't wrapped his jacket around her it made her harder to hate him. She had been halfway to shivering as she tried to process her thoughts and his jacket was so beautifully warm. She felt surrounded by him when his jacket covered her shoulders and the warmth of his body permeated through the fabric like his arms often did. She wished he hadn't wrapped it so instinctively around her knowing that she'd be cold.

"Darling you can't run from me all night I'll get the wrong idea," Klaus joked causing her face to furrow.

"I don't know what you want Klaus," Charlotte replied softly, not looking at him but instead watching the horses which were near the gate ahead of them. Her fingers were fiddling with nerves in her lap and her brow was furrowed, Klaus' hand wanted to still her nerves but he didn't, worried it would only make her feel worse.

Klaus was looking at her, as honest as he'd ever been, "I want you to forgive me. I miss you, I need you."

Charlotte laughed softly, "You don't need me. You've had a millennium without me, a few months can't have crumbled that. You don't need me, you just want me."

"Is it really so hard to believe I could care for you?" Klaus replied a little bitterly.

"Yes."

"Why?" he replied, "You're beautiful. You're strong. You're full of light. Every time you laugh I want to make it continue, every smile you show makes my heart clench with joy. I enjoy every moment with you."

"Nik," Charlotte sighed, "how can this work. You're trying to kill my brothers and they're trying to kill you."

Klaus reached for Charlottes hand, pulling her towards him, "Forget about them-"

"I can't," Charlotte stood up, turning her head away when he mirrored her, "Klaus stop it. This can't work. I can't stand by your side while my brothers try and kill you and I can't let you touch them. I told you that night that I wouldn't let anything happen to Stefan or Damon and I meant it. I-"

Klaus cut her off here, his hand wrapped around her waist tugging her to him lighting fast and as she fell against his body, stumbling in her heels, one hand caught her waist while his other hand rose to her face, pushing her hair away and tugging her into a kiss. It took Charlotte longer than she would've liked to admit before she pulled away but she did, pressing against his chest she was relieved when Klaus let her push him back.

"This isn't like those films, Nik," Charlotte told him, her hands clutching her stomach anxiously as she tried to process what'd happened, "you can't just kiss me and make it work."

Klaus looked surprisingly sobered, his hands in his pockets but he couldn't stop replaying her calling him Nik not Klaus again. She called him Nik twice in a row now and she didn't even notice.

"I'm supposed to hate you. I shouldn't trust you, all you do is prove that you'll do whatever it takes to win and I don't want to be your collateral damage. I don't want you to hurt me and I can't let you hurt my brothers."

Charlotte hated watching Klaus right now, his face fell and her heart clenched with guilt as she spat out cruel words to him. She felt awful knowing she was hurting him but she didn't know what else to do.

Klaus had already proven that he'd toss her under the bus when he needed answers and despite what he said, she didn't trust that she could spend time around him anymore without the threat of him feeding her blood to force her brothers' hand. Klaus didn't reply and Charlotte tugged his jacket from her shoulders regretfully, handing it to him, already missing the warmth of him as she returned inside.

Charlotte was shaky as she returned to the mansion, searching for one of the handful of people she knew so she didn't need to be alone. As she walked inside she spotted Matt walking along one of the upstairs floors and she rushed up to join him, following him as she saw he walked out onto a balcony.

"Good evening," Charlotte could hear it was Klaus' brother Kol introducing himself, "You're Rebekah's friend. We haven't met."

Charlotte sped up her pace, although Kol was nice to her, she'd learnt quickly how protective the Mikaelson family seemed to be of one another and she doubted the boy who'd spent a hundred years daggered would be particularly fond of any date his younger sister had brought.

"Matt Donovan."

"Kol Mikaelson."

Charlotte arrived a beat after Kol's introduction to see him and Matt shaking hands, but as it happened Kol began to clench Matt's hand so hard, even she could hear bones breaking.

"Let him go," Charlotte shouted

She pushed Kol's chest with all her weight with hopes it would make him break his grip but he didn't even flinch, clearly stronger than her despite being recently undaggered. Kol dropped Matt's hand now, turning to her he shoved out harshly, pushing Charlotte from beside him with a look of disdain.