Disclaimer: I do not own the CW's version of The Vampire Diaires. That honor goes to Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson. If I did I would live in Ireland, in a little cottage and give all excess wealth to the poor.
Hello all you gorgeous people around the world. This is my third fan fiction. Right now Kol is my muse and I have so many plans for him. This is my first humanverse so I hope you enjoy it. This is an epic story of overcoming tragedy and learning to laugh again.
Chapter 1: Take Me Out to the Ball Game
The crowd went wild as Kol Mikaelson hit a home run. He watched the ball soar toward the beautiful blue sky. The crowd were on their feet screaming, "Mikaelson, Mikaelson, Mikaelson." As Kol ran from base to base. He was sooo close to home. Already he could feel the base under his cleats as he ran and then as he dove to slide into place, as he usually did because it made the audience go wild there was a small sound. It was the tiniest of cracking noises. Kol looked down and realized that in his rush to slide he had fallen wrong. He had placed too much pressure on an old injury. There went his Achilles tendon.
Suddenly, Kol was on the ground looking up at that same blue sky watching a bird soar in the same trajectory his ball had taken flight in. His team mates came running over. "Kol, man. What happened?"
Kol sat bolt upright staring at his ceiling. He was covered in a thin layer of sweat. His left hand came up to his eyes. 'Was that sweat or was he crying?' He shoved himself out of his bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants. He went downstairs to get a glass of water. His sister-in-law, Caroline, was already sitting at the counter drinking a cup of coffee. "You know if you're trying to go back to sleep. That's not going to help…" Kol quipped.
Caroline yawned, "Nik's supposed to arrive home in two hours and he asked me to pick him up at the airport." Kol looked at the time on the microwave. It read 3:30 am. How Caroline managed to keep the routine she did Kol would never know. She was sitting in front of her laptop no doubt receiving updates on the newest story she would be reporting this evening. Caroline was a broadcaster for the local news station. She took her job very seriously even if they lived in a very small town. Caroline and Klaus and their friend, Elena Gilbert, were the famous people in this town, although to hear them that was not true at all.
Elena was working on her second novel and her live-in boyfriend, Damon Salvatore, often stated that Elena had two great loves, writing and Damon. Her writing took precedence. Elena would roll her eyes. "Yes, he's totally right. I only keep Damon around for sex. For actual intimacy I turn to my writing." They would then begin to bicker and then begin kissing until someone gagged.
Kol preferred the company of Elena's little brother, Jeremy. They were mates in high school and they had kept in contact over the years. Much to Kol's chagrin Jeremy had begun to date Kol's younger sister, Rebekah. "Bekah," Kol had complained when he found out. "Why, Jeremy? He's my mate. You remember what happened to Nik's relationship with Stefan after your affair. Besides Jeremy is just a kid."
Rebekah had scoffed. She had been visiting Caroline and Klaus. Kol watched as she peeled an orange slowly. He had to resist the temptation to snatch the piece of fruit from his sister and peel it himself. Then maybe she would answer his bloody question. "Nik, why is it that you and Stefan are not as close as you used to be?" She called, still peeling her orange excruciatingly slowly.
Kol began to inch forward as his older brother chewed on his bagel. The look on Klaus' face said that he was in no mood to answer that question. Caroline came into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of milk. She then reached up to grab a box of cereal. Her hand hadn't made it that far when Rebekah spoke again. Caroline, "Why do Nik and Stefan not speak anymore?"
Caroline's gaze darted to Klaus and then back to the corn flakes. "Because last Christmas I was angry at your brother for ditching me on New Year's Eve. Our first New Year's Eve as a married couple. And I kissed Stefan when the ball dropped. Of course, your brother had to choose that time to come home from the gallery."
"You kissed Stefan Salvatore? Boring as wallpaper, Stefan Salvatore. Damon's little brother, Stefan Salvatore? Had been Nik's best mate since we moved the junior year of high school for you lot, Stefan Salvatore?" Kol could not believe that he was hearing this for the first time. It could not have been that long since he had been in Mystic Falls. Had it?
Kol had left Mystic Falls right after graduating six years ago. All that he had wanted was to play baseball. After his injury he found out that he would never play professionally again.
That had been the worst day of Kol's life. Baseball was his life. It was what he did. He did not know what he was if he was not a ball player. After finding out he found that he had no purpose. He had found himself calling Klaus in the middle of the night. Caroline had picked up. As a journalist she had been one the first people to know what had happened to Kol. Even though he had been halfway across the country his family had come to see him. Even his parents, Mikael and Esther, had come to visit their son in the hospital.
Three months after going back to his flat Kol found himself on the phone dialing Klaus' number at midnight. He heard Caroline's sleepy, "Hello?"
"Caroline," Kol's voice was hoarse.
Caroline looked at the clock by her side of the bed. "Kol, honey, are you okay?" Kol smiled. Caroline always sounded like a mommy when it came to Kol and Jeremy. To Caroline they would always be the babies of the group. She sometimes treated Rebekah like that but Rebekah would just scream at Caroline and call her foul names.
"No," Kol mumbled. "I don't know." He was rubbing his head. His face seemed to be getting wetter by the minute.
Kol overheard Klaus' groaning. "What time is it?"
Kol heard Caroline's muffled reply. "It's twelve fifteen."
"Who's calling?" Klaus said while stifling a yawn.
"Kol," Caroline had said.
"Oh, is he okay?"
"What do you think I was trying to figure out? Now, go back to sleep."
Instead, Klaus took the phone receiver from Caroline. "Kol, what's wrong?" Klaus asked quietly.
Kol tried to keep the depression out of his voice. "Oh, nothing Nik. I just wanted to call and say hi."
Klaus rolled his eyes and pushed himself into a sitting position. He switched the lamp on his side of the bed on and watched as Caroline began to blink. "Hold on a moment." Kol heard whispered conferring with Caroline. Klaus came back on the phone. "Kol, Caroline and I want you to come to stay with us."
Kol inhaled deeply. That was the last thing he expected to hear. He felt fresh tears well in his eyes. "Thank you, Nik. I'm going to the airport as soon we get done."
"Okay, call me back with your estimated time of arrival and I will come pick you up." Kol packed his bags quickly. He would have the rest of his things sent to him. Three hours later he found himself in an airport. There were next to no other passengers in the airport and Caroline and Klaus were waiting for him. His brother took his bags and Caroline hugged him tightly. "Thank you," was all that Kol could bring himself to say. He refused to cry in front of his family. Mikael had taught the Mikaelson children that Mikaelson's do not cry. Except for Klaus. When Mikael found out about Esther's affair he had presumed that Klaus' volatile nature came from his biological father's side of the family.
Klaus and Mikael had had an uneasy relationship from before when Kol was born. Kol could not remember a time that they ever got along. The siblings had been relieved when Mikael and Esther had chosen to relocate to London and leave them in the care of Elijah. Since they had all come of age Elijah moved to Bulgaria where he had met a woman, who looked like Elena's twin. They say that everyone has a twin. Kol kind of liked the idea that there was another one of him running about.
Kol shook his head clearing his brain of all these thoughts. He needed to get to the bottom of this kiss. "So, how did that happen again?" He had always thought that Caroline and Klaus were the perfect couple. They had been high school sweethearts, dated through college and then married after Caroline received her first real job as a broadcaster. She swore that her stint as a weather girl did not count. "I didn't know anything about meteorology."
Now, Kol was finding out that Caroline had kissed Stefan. That blew his mind. Caroline had pulled the corn flakes down and now grabbed a bowl and opened a drawer to extract a spoon. "I was drunk and Stefan was having a fight with Meredith. Medical school was taking its toll on both of them. And, again, it was New Year's Eve. The ball drops. People kiss. It is a tradition."
Klaus picked up the other half of his bagel. He looked up at his wife. "They. Do. Not. Have. To. Kiss. On. The. Mouth." Klaus then shoved the other half of the bagel into his mouth. Sticking out his tongue licking the excess cream cheese off.
Caroline glared at her husband. She took a huge spoonful of her cornflakes and shoved it into her mouth allowing milk to drip down her chin and into the bowl. Rebekah groaned, "You two are worse than children." Caroline's response to this was to shove more corn flakes into her mouth. Klaus had nothing to shove into his own mouth. So, he got up and walked around to the breakfast table. He approached his wife looking at her shorts and tank top outfit. Caroline frowned at him trying to decide what he was about to do.
Klaus reached out and pulled Caroline's spoon from the bowl. Then he slipped it in. He took a huge spoonful and shoved it into his mouth. His lips curved upwards and milk escaped the corners of his mouth. Then he leaned down and kissed Caroline, who began to giggle. "And that is my cue to go." Rebekah announced as Klaus took the bowl from Caroline and pressed her to the counter.
Rebekah grabbed a fist full of Kol's shirt and jerked him out his chair. "Ow," Kol cried. Kol was still watching as Rebekah dragged him into the living room and out the front door.
"You are such a pig, Kol."
Kol grinned at his sister. "Why should I pay for porn when I can watch it live in the place that I'm staying?" Rebekah slapped him in the back of the head.
"I'm meeting Jeremy and the others at the Grill. Do you want to come?" Kol wasn't sure he was ready to see his old friends. He had not exactly bothered to stay in touch with his friends back in Mystic Falls. He wasn't sure what they would think or how they would react to his presence.
In the end Kol had given in and agreed to go the Grill. When he arrived. Damon and Stefan Salvatore were shouting at each other about whether Damon was the funniest person in the group. Kol did not believe that that was the real reason for the fight. Elena and Meredith were bent over the table talking to each other about Elena's new book. Matt Donavon had come over to take their order and said hey to a young woman with dark hair and blue eyes. Tyler Lockwood was missing from their group but he was running for mayor. So, he was probably campaigning.
Rebekah walked over to group and bumped into Damon and Stefan making them stop mid-argument to say a quick hello. They then resumed their argument. Rebekah rolled her eyes and shrugged at her female friends. She then found her boyfriend at the end of the table. She leaned down and kissed Jeremy making Kol want to retch. Rebekah then pointed at Kol.
Jeremy got up and walked over to his friend. "Kol, dude, you're back." Jeremy leaned forward and hugged his friend slapping him on the back.
"I suppose I am," Kol said looking at the people still seated at the table. Things had gotten pretty quiet in that general direction. Each of his friends looked shocked. Jeremy pulled him over to their table.
Damon stood up, "Hey, Kol. I heard about the injury, Buddy. You doing okay?" Kol nodded. Stefan was the next one to stand up and greet him. The women remained sitting.
"Hi, Kol." Meredith said quietly. Elena just nodded at him.
Kol turned to the dark haired girl. She held out her hand. "I'm April Young. I'm Matt's girlfriend."
"And you would know that if you had ever called or had written." Elena muttered under her breath a little too loudly.
"Lena," Jeremy began but Kol cut him off.
"She's right. I didn't try to keep in touch. I am a horrible person." Kol walked around the table and took Elena's hand. "Please, forgive me, darling."
Elena shook her head. "I'm not the one you should be asking for forgiveness from." She pulled her hand away and then her eyes widened when she saw who had just walked in. "And here she is now."
Bonnie Bennett walked up to their table wearing a fitted black skirt and a blue blouse. She looked calm and crisp. She was extraordinary. Kol looked at his ex-girlfriend and was pressed for words. She looked at him.
"Kol, I heard you were back in town." Without waiting for a response she pulled out a chair next to Rebekah.
"Yeah, I'm back." Kol did not know what to say to Bonnie. What do you say to the girl who you date in high school and the night after you graduate you get up in the morning, get on a plane and leave the state without a word. While Kol was trying to think of something to say Tyler walked into the Grill.
"Hey, everybody. It is a beautiful day. Isn't it. Hi, honey." Tyler leaned down and kissed Bonnie on the mouth. "Oh, hey, Kol. How have you been? I was really sorry to hear about the injury. You were great out there."
Kol was stunned. Tyler was seeing Bonnie. His Bonnie. "Yeah, right. You know I just realized I have somewhere I need to be." No one said good-bye as Kol hurried out of the Grill. What the hell was going on around here?
Now, Kol was sitting on a stool in his brother's flat drinking his water and trying to figure out why Bonnie would be dating Tyler. "Care, how long have Bonnie and Tyler been seeing each other?"
Caroline looked up from her computer. "About six months now. I think Tyler is going to propose." Kol spit his water out. "Ew, Kol. You had better clean that up."
"What do you mean he's going to propose?" Kol was incredulous as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and then grabbed a paper towel to wipe the counter.
"Tyler's running for mayor. People want to see stability. Bonnie's a professor now and that means that they're both looking for stability…" Kol sat down heavily on his stool. Caroline turned off her computer and gave him her full attention. "Kol, she had to move on. It's been six years."
Kol exhaled, staring at Caroline. "You're right. But it's still odd."
Caroline patted him on the knee. "Maybe you should consider going to college and figuring out what your other talents are?"
Kol thought about it. "Yes, I probably should. May I borrow your computer?"
"Sure. No problem." Caroline handed him the laptop. "I need to clean up anyway."
After Caroline exited the room Kol googled Bonnie Bennett. After he found the college she was working for he found the link for an undergraduate degree application. Classes would begin next week but Kol was sure he could get in by then. Then he would begin the next chapter of his life.
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Take Me out to the Ball Game. I don't know that much about baseball so most of the story will concentrate on Kol's experiences as a college student. However, I am going to do research and learn as much as I can about the all American sport. If I make mistakes and you love the game, feel free to send me a review or a PM and let me know. Other than that favorite, follow and review. I will be updating this story every Monday. If you have time and would like to check out my other stories: Welcome to 'Amp Burger, The World According to Caroline Forbes Mikaelson and a brand new one going up on Thursday titled Birds of a Feather.