𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐒. klaus mikaelson

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

┏━━━━⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪━━━━┓

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE

CHARLOTTE WOKE TO THE SOUND OF YELLING COMING FROM DOWNSTAIRS.

Her eyes opened, blearily looking around the room to see the sunlight streaming in through her curtains. She hadn't heard her alarm go off yet, and judging by the tiny clock on the bedside table, it was seven in the morning.

Charlotte had half a mind to be pissed for being woken up so early on a Saturday, but the voices only seemed to be getting louder and louder behind her door that led to the hallway.

She tossed her blanket off of her body before climbing out of the bed, shuffling toward the door. Opening it, the voices were crisper, and what followed was the sound of another door nearby opening.

Her head jerked toward the sound, spotting Joshua's head peaking out from his own doorway. His hair was disheveled, like he had been woken up by the noise as well. Both siblings stepped out of their rooms, meeting just at the top of the staircase. "You look like shit," Joshua mumbled, a his lips pulled in a half-grimace as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

Charlotte only levelled a glare his way, because he was no doubt talking about the sheer exhaustion on her face. She ended up falling asleep just four hours ago, when all the research was said and done, leaving her to overthink her entire existence.

"You're such a dick," she snapped in response, a subtle agitation seeping into her tired bones.

Joshua went to retaliate, only to be interrupted by a male's voice that they heard oh so clearly. His eyes widened comically. "Is that—"

They both knew that voice, and it was one that sent Charlotte rushing down the staircase with her brother just a step behind her. The closer they got to the kitchen, the louder, the more pronounced the voices became.

Once the pair rounded the corner, footsteps halting in the archway, the dispute between the two individuals stood near the back door ceased. Both of them turned to the teens— both of them being their mother clad in business casual attire, and a young man who they both hadn't seen since Christmas.

"Nate?" she breathed out, confusion written across her face.

Nathaniel Henry looked the same as he did the last time he came to visit, the winter break providing him with just enough time to spend two weeks with the family before he was needed back. He seemed busier than normal ever since, his phone calls home dwindling until they were about as nonexistent as can be.

But there he was, standing there with a sleek suitcase at his side and a pair of sunglasses perched on his head. All traces of rigidness she'd caught before their shouting came to an abrupt stop vanished, instead a calm grin took over his features.

"Charlie," he greeted, grin widening as the girl approached him. She threw her arms around her brother, practically squeezing the life out of him despite the fact that she had no idea what he was doing here. Once they parted, Nathaniel looked to the youngest Henry. "How are you, kid?"

Joshua lingered for a beat, always just a step behind Charlotte, before he found himself being pulled into a hug by their older brother. Charlotte noticed the way he seemed hesitant to hug Nathaniel back, but eventually did so. "I'm good."

That was surely something she would remember for later.

"What are you doing here?" she asked instead once the boys parted, seeing her mother's arms cross over her chest in her peripheral.