It hadn't taken Klaus long to make his next move up once the hybrids failed, the next morning they'd already returned to the car with a new destination in sight. They were in Chicago now. Once they arrived they abandoned the car that they'd spent months in, now being chauffeured places by people Klaus was compelling. Charlotte didn't know much about Chicago, but she knew that Stefan was here as a ripper for a period, it was one of the few periods that had disturbed her so much she'd had to stop watching.

"Looks familiar doesn't it?" Klaus said, standing in the doorway of a bar that Stefan apparently used to frequent.

Neither Salvatore was quite certain why their journey hadn't ended in the woods when Ray wouldn't transition. Stefan half expected that Klaus was just keeping it going so that he could be with Charlotte, still tugging her around and sharing a bed with her. Charlotte felt like perhaps he couldn't quite let it all go and that her brother and her would be here with him for another ten years like Klaus had first suggested in Alaric's apartment.

Klaus didn't like to reveal his plans before he needed to. His flair for the dramatic was ever present and he liked to reveal everything piece by piece, never letting Charlotte nor Stefan know more than he wanted them to at a time.

"I can't believe this place is still here," Stefan sounded surprised.

"You've gotta be kidding me," another voice added to the mix and Charlotte looked up startled.

"So a hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bartender–" Klaus started to joke before he was cut off by the woman who'd appeared

"Stop," said the woman. She was beautiful, she had dark skin but light hair kept short, jewellery hanging messily off her wrists neck and ears and a book tucked beneath her arm.

"You're not funny Nik," Charlotte rolled her eyes which Klaus caught as he shot her a glare.

"This one's right," the woman agreed, "You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny." She then turned to Stefan, "I remember you."

"Yeah," Stefan replied, "You're Gloria."

"Mm-hmm."

"Shouldn't you be–" Stefan trailed off, not wanting to be rude but Gloria spoke up supplying the answer.

"–Old and dead? Now, if I die, who's gonna run this place, huh?"

"Gloria's a very powerful witch," Klaus explained.

"I can slow the ageing down some. Herbs and spells. But dont worry it'll catch up to me one day," Gloria then turned her attention to Charlotte, still standing near the entrance, not having wanted to intrude, "So who are you dear? How'd you get roped into helping these sorry folks."

"Charlotte, uhh– Charlotte Salvatore," she felt intimidated talking to the witch, which in turn embarrassed her because she'd spent the entire summer beside Klaus who was undoubtably more terrifying, "Stefan's my brother."

She omitted the fact that she'd been kidnapped and compelled into tagging along. Where she sat now was a little uncertain really, she wasn't quite sure how to explain it.

"Oh the missing Salvatore," Gloria answered with a smile, "so that Bennet witch really pulled through huh."

Charlotte was surprised, "You knew Emily?"

"No dear, I'm not that old," Gloria laughed and Charlotte blushed with embarrassment.

"Witches talk darling," Klaus answered, "Stefan, why don't you go and fix us up a little something from the bar?"

"Yeah, sure thing," Stefan said, his hand reaching out to pull Charlottes with him.

"You look ravishing, by the way," Klaus grinned cheekily to Gloria.

"Don't," Gloria cut him off. Leading him to a booth where they both sat down, "I know why you're here. A hybrid out to make more hybrids? That kind of news travels."

"So, what am I doing wrong?"

Charlotte could see Stefan leaning his head towards Klaus and the witch, she knew he was eavesdropping but she lacked the supernatural capacity to do so too. Whilst Stefan grabbed them drinks, Charlotte looked around, she'd never been behind the counter of a bar before and her eyes were caught by a selection of photos behind the till.

It was fascinating to look at so many photos from the time between her first life and now and she wanted to examine each of them closely, freezing when one in particular caught her eye.

"Hey Stef," Charlotte called out, "is this you and Nik?"

She had a photo in her hands now, it was black and white and yellowing. It was old, and it seemed to be a photo of Stefan and Klaus, but how could it? Stefan pulled the photograph from her hands and his brows furrowed in confusion too.

"What is this?" Stefan called out in shock, catching the attention of Klaus and Gloria, abandoning the half poured drink.

"I told you, Stefan. Chicago's a magical place," Klaus replied standing.

"But this is you Nik," Charlotte was shocked, "you and Stefan."

Klaus ignored their questioning, holding an arm up towards the door as he spoke, "Come now darling, Stefan, time to go fetch someone."

Charlotte knew how he was and that he would explain in time but both Salvatores were frustrated by his evasion. Klaus was eager to get to wherever they were going and instead of heading to the car that they had arrived in, his arm wrapped around Charlottes waist and he sped off with Stefan following behind.

They were in a warehouse now and absolutely nothing had been clarified. Klaus was walking quickly tugging Charlotte along by the hand as Stefan followed incredulous.

"This doesn't make any sense. Why don't I remember you?"

"You said it yourself, that time had a lot of dark holes."

Stefan was still holding the photograph, looking at it as he rushed alongside them, "If you knew me, why haven't you said anything?"

"I'm a bit busy right now. Memory lane will have to wait."

"What the hell is going on?"

Stefan reached out, grabbing Klaus' arm and pulling him to a stop. Charlotte squeezed Klaus' hand, just as frustrated by his evasion, confused as to why he wouldn't be honest for once.

"Nik, just answer him."

Before Klaus spoke he looked down distastefully at Stefans hand on his arm. Pulling it up and off he pushed it away, a threatening look flashing across his face.

"Let's just say we didn't get off to a brilliant start. To be honest, I hated you."

Charlotte stepped back, trying to pull her hand from Klaus'. Klaus had just explained what happened in the twenties, that not only did Klaus and Stefan know one another, but that Stefan known and dated his sister.

It baffled her that he'd kept it to himself all this time and she was frustrated with the nonchalance with which Klaus dropped this piece of information. She knew he kept things until he felt right to share, but an entire friendship was ridiculous. The information sent her reeling but she knew it would be a thousand times worse for Stefan who'd supposedly lost the mammoth chunk of time.

"Your sister?" Stefan said after several beats of silence, "So I knew another original vampire?"

"If you can't handle it, then don't ask."

Charlotte was still tugging her hand back, annoyed by Klaus' omission and so finally he let it loose, rolling his eyes at her dramatics. She watched as he walked over to one of the coffins she knew contained his siblings and as she lifted it open she walked tentatively forwards, leaning over with curiosity.

A girl lay there, one with blonde hair curled softly, wearing a long pearl necklace with a white dress, clearly dressed from the twenties. The girl, Rebekah, was desiccated as Elijah had been when the Salvatores betrayed him. Her skin was greyed with blue veins all over her and she had a dagger torn through her dress, laying in her chest.

"I don't recognise her," Stefan said softly.

Klaus leaned forward, stroking her cheek with a fondness in his face that Charlotte had only caught a few times when it was just them together at night.

"Don't tell her that. Rebekah's temper's worse than mine," Klaus reached forward and pulled the dagger from her, "Time to wake up little sister."

They'd been watching for several minutes now and nothing had happened. Rebekah still looked very dead.

"How long exactly does this take?" Charlotte asked.

"Any day now. She's being dramatic."

"Look, why dont you just tell me what the hell is going on?" Stefan snapped "I mean you obviously want me here for a reason right?"

"Do you not enjoy spending time with your darling sister and I?" Klaus joked causing Charlotte to scoff in frustration, "Well, you do have many useful talents."

"Do I?" Stefan countered, "We both know that until unlike Charlie, I'm not just here for the company."

"In fact," Klaus ignored the second part, "I learned some of my favourite tricks from you. I was your number one fan."

Klaus reached to pull Charlotte's hand as he walked away from his sisters coffin but she kept her hands tucked into her folded arms so he rolled his eyes, his hand instead moving to her lower back to guide her with him as they walked back towards the entrance.

"Why should I believe any of this?" Stefan asked.

Klaus ignored him, coming to a stop before a security guard, "When she wakes up, tell her to meet us at Gloria's bar. Then volunteer your carotid artery and let her feed until you die."

"Where we going?" asked Charlotte.

"Stefan thinks I'm lying," he explained and turned to Stefan, "We knew each other. You trusted me with one of your secrets and now I'm going to prove it to both of you."

"How?" Stefan asked.

"We're going to your old apartment."

Stefans apartment was dark and cold.

When they'd approached there wasn't any handle on the door and they'd been able to enter with Klaus kicking the door open. Charlotte was surprised Stefans apartment was still here despite laying abandoned for decades, let alone abandoned and apparently unlocked.

"Do you feel that?" Klaus asked, he'd entered first while Charlotte and Stefan both hung back by the doorway for a beat, "Is anybody here?"

"It's been vacant for decades," Stefan answered easily, "people must break in all the time."

"Why'd you bring us here?" Charlotte asked, she was still hanging by the doorway, she didn't trust Klaus right now, knowing this would be one of his moments of cruelty. There was something about him when he was about to taunt someone, an air that came over him that hurt her to be around.

"Stefan, your friend, Liam Grant, the one who drank his wife's blood, I never could figure out why you wanted his name. And then you told me your little secret, it was all part of your special little ritual–"

"–To write it down."

"And relive the kill, over and over again," Klaus' voice was lighthearted as he reminisced. Klaus then moved to a pantry against the wall, reaching forward and pulling it back quickly revealing a hidden liquor room, "You believe me now?"

Stefan walked forward slowly into the room and Klaus turned his attention to Charlotte. She'd pulled the door closed and she stood by the window. She saw Klaus walking towards her but she ignored him. His hand took her arm, thumb grazing back and forth as he tried to get her attention.

"Are you alright darling?"

"Nik, stop it."

"Stop what?" he asked innocently.

"Nik," Charlotte pulled her arm from him, "just let me be alone right now."

Charlottes eyes were reproachful as she looked away, staring back out the window where she'd been looking before. She hated when he acted like this, never tipping his hand but always plotting to cause pain to someone. She couldn't make him stop acting like this and causing pain to her brother but she wasn't going to show affection for him while he did it.

"Darling–" Klaus' voice warned, tipped with anger.

"Stop it," she cut him off, "you're being cruel. I don't like you when you act like this," Klaus' mask faltered as Charlotte barrelled on, "Why are you playing these games with Stefan?"

Klaus considered her, he didn't know what to say so he stayed silent.

"Look what I found," Stefans voice boomed from the pantry. Klaus could hear Charlottes heart beating quickly with shock as they both spun around, snapped out of their quiet argument. Stefan held up a bottle of scotch, "1918, single malt."

"My favourite," Klaus replied, walking away from Charlotte and towards Stefan, "Let's go and find someone to pair it with. Come now darling, don't dally. We'll find you a drink too."

Stefan shot a look between the two and they left the apartment. Charlotte was worried about her brother, being in his old apartment with all of these memories resurfacing must have been overwhelming and she was frustrated with Klaus' intentional cruelty.

In the morning when they woke, neither Charlotte nor Klaus had wanted the day to begin in earnest.

Charlotte didn't want to pull from the warmth in his arms and Klaus didn't want to let her go. She didn't know what they were now, she was worried about Stefans reaction, about Damons too. She knew Klaus was the bad guy, but he wasn't to her. He made her feel safe and she liked who they were together. She felt stronger by his side and, although it might've only been naivety, she felt he could be kinder by hers.

Stefan wasn't an idiot, Charlotte knew that he knew the relationship between her and Klaus was more than just platonic, but she couldn't see his face when he found out that they'd kissed. She knew the disappointment that would flit across and she wasn't ready to face that. She felt sure that when she told him he'd be hurt and she wasn't ready for that.

Klaus knew the worry running through Charlottes whole body, he knew how she cared for her brother and he didn't want to make her feel worse. He wasn't going to say anything about the kiss until she did. The ball was still in her court and he would follow her lead in this. That didn't mean he wouldn't antagonise Stefan a little, he deserved it for being so broody at times, but he'd keep Charlotte out of it as best he could.

Klaus didn't say anything, but when they'd both finally risen and dressed, he pulled her into a hug by the door, placing a kiss on her head. He felt her heart race as he did, her arms snaking tightly about his body but left it from there.

As they returned from Stefans apartment to Gloria's bar, walking normally now rather than driving or speeding about, Charlotte's head was spinning. She couldn't figure out how to differentiate the two of them, Nik and Klaus.

Klaus who took her from Mystic falls. Klaus who taunted her brother, who took him to his apartment to show off his horrible past. But then there was Nik, Nik who pulled her to dance when she was frightened. Nik who held her in his arms at night. Nik who kissed her head, stroked her arm, kissed her back. Nik who's touch reminded her she was alive and by who's side she felt it too.

The same problem she'd had since she stopped hating Klaus was all she could think about. How could she feel for Klaus, after all he'd done. But how could she hate Nik after everything he made her feel.

Klaus was kind to her, mostly, but he could be cruel to others. Strangers especially, humans, even her brother would take hits where Klaus spat out maliciousness, each word delivered to hurt. She didn't like the games he played with others and she felt frustrated with him. He cared for her, that she knew at least. But whether his care for her was enough was the question, whether it was just a superficial desire or something more.

Charlotte wanted space from him but that wouldn't be an option, Klaus needing her close at all times. It felt like even the option to walk without an arm tugging her was a privilege to him, he eyed her as she followed moodily, unsure of how she felt. So here she now sat, she was quite far away from him. One bar seat between them far. Klaus, Stefan, and Charlotte were all sitting at Glorias again drinking beers she'd given them. It was loud and busy and Charlotte was glad for the distraction.

"Where's Rebekah?" Gloria asked.

"She'll be here," Klaus replied, "I can't just conjure her on demand," Klaus turned to Stefan and Gloria walked away, "What's with you? I thought Chicago was your playground."

"So this is why you asked me to be your wingman?" Stefan asked, "Because you liked the way I tortured innocent people."

"Well, that's certainly half of it," Klaus replied.

"What's the other half?"

"The other half, Stefan," as Klaus spoke he began to pour shots for the three of them, "is that you used to want to be my wingman."