The Baudelaires (Unedited)

chapter thirty-seven

We got into Jacques cab, he ran out in his normal clothes not a salmon mascot.
I sat by Klaus, Sunny was in front even though she was underage. She wanted to be in the front badly.
"Isn't it your birthday today, Charlotte?" Jacques reminded me.
"Oh!" I realised.
"You forgot your own birthday?"
"Yes, I did. How two days go by...so quickly.."
"I do have something for you."
"Really? I don't need anything-"
"I insist."
Klaus laughed a little.
Jacques passed me a small, wrapped up box. I thought for a second as to what may lay within.
"Open it." Klaus smiled.
I unwrapped the present, it was a family photo. I smiled instantly, "thank you, Jacques."
"You're welcome, Charlotte." He smiled.
Klaus put his arm overly shoulder.
"How is your Father?"
"Oh, grumpy Lemony? He's fine." I sighed.
"Why is he grumpy?"
"Because I've agreed to something without his permission and questioned his actions made to protect me."
"What was it that you had no permission for?"
"I can't tell."
"Why can't you tell?"
I looked over at Klaus, my uncle understood completely.
"Oh, that's a touchy subject for Lemony to lay hands on."
"I know it is. He went straight back to that mood when Mother first died."
"I shall visit him soon."
"I think he'd need that."
"Because?"
"You could talk some sense into him, correct?"
"I could." He laughed.

We found ourselves stopping at the Last Chance Store, we all got out of the car.
I got the usual, a strawberry lollipop.
"You know, you could get something else, right?" Klaus suggested.
"I don't really like my birthday," I quoted myself, "too much attention."
"You don't like that attention?"
"I feel guilty for people spending money on me."
"Don't be."
"I can try."
I grabbed another lollipop, it was a lemon one, "this is something different."
"Just not a lollipop."
"Give me an idea on what that would be."
"Thanks for giving me permission." He smiled and ran to the back.
I rolled my eyes and giggled.

We all got back into the cab, we were waiting for Jacques and Quigley. Klaus's smile was beaming, he had a tiny package in his hand.
"That's not a present-"
"It's a present." He clarified and passed me the box.
"It wasn't expensive?"
"No, me and the others put it together. This is from us."
I looked at Violet, "this wasn't expensive?"
"No." She smiled.
I opened the small box to a bracelet. It had a heart trinket hanging off of it. It was beautiful.
"Oh my gosh, you shouldn't have." I mumbled.
"You deserve it." Klaus smiled.
"I should give you something in return."
"You don't need to, it's your birthday." Violet smiled.
"I need to."
"You don't." Klaus reassured.
"I'm going to stay persistent."
"Don't be stubborn."
"Stubborn is my middle name."
"You've said that so many times, it's Frankie."
"And you've said that a million times." I laughed, "I'm getting you all something."
"I forbid you to do so."
"A woman can do anything she wishes to."
"Fair point. But, you cannot-"
"I insist."
"I forbid."
"Fine."
"You said you were to be persistent."
"I've lost the fight, I can't proceed."
"You can proceed to be with me and...well me forever."
"I would love to."
"And go... out?"
"Haven't we already started?"
"Indeed, but I haven't had your permission."
"Klaus, yes."
"Good. Forever?"
"Forever."