"Minnie May!" Jeremy calls when he opens the door. A tiny, black ball of fluff comes bolting into the room, heading straight for him. He claps his hands together and holds his arms out and the over-excited poodle leaps into them. She wriggles and squirms, attempting to lick his face, which makes Jeremy laugh.

"I missed you too," Jeremy says happily, releasing the little monster who runs around him in circles, jumping up and down with excitement. The rest of them follow Jeremy inside, the poodle stopping to eye them suspiciously.

"Come to Aunty Elena," Elena coos to the poodle, scooping her up and cradling her like a baby. The poodle doesn't enjoy it but she does tolerate it. If Kol tried to do that she'd bite his face off. In a fit of madness, Kol bought the wretched creature to keep him company while Jeremy wasn't here, but their evil personalities just seemed to clash. Jeremy insisted that a poodle couldn't be evil but Kol begged to differ. He'd seen her eyes flash red. And there was definite intent in the way she baited him all the time. Things like taking his socks and just staring at him until he snapped and chased her and then she'd bite him when he tried to take the sock back, as though she didn't want him to chase her in the first place, which clearly she did. See, pure evil.

"I still can't believe it," Matt says appreciatively to Jeremy, "three home runs..." and then he parks himself on the couch and turns the TV on.

"Yeah, you were amazing Jere," Elena says before kissing him on the cheek.

"Thanks Elena," he tells her, but his tone says so much more than his words. Kol knows what this means to them, it's a life being lived and that's something Elena has lost, so it's up to Jere to do it for both of them. Jeremy drifts into the kitchen, going about the human things he does. Drinking just plain water because that will satisfy his thirst, simply opening a cupboard to find a snack and not wishing it was blood. Kol doesn't envy him, it's just a reminder that in a lot of ways they are so very different.

"You did it Jere," Kol tells him with pride, "made it to the top."

"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Jeremy says.

"With your talent? Not really..." Kol says, earning him a grin from Jeremy.

"Hey Jere, check this out! You're on ESPN," comes Matt's voice from the living room. Jeremy shoots Kol an excited look and runs into the living room to watch. Kol follows him, interested to hear what they have to say. Caroline, Elena and Damon gather around too. Nick, Elijah, Rebekah and Stefan went out to feed, or back to their hotel, or something, so it's just the six of them here.

"...hit an incredible three home runs in his debut game for the Atlanta Braves," the reporter reports. They show some awesome footage of Jeremy's hits and finish with the statement that "Gilbert's the most exciting young player to debut this season and is certainly one to keep an eye on." Kol can't disagree with that.

"Way to go Jere!" Matt says holding up a hand to high five Jeremy, which Jeremy happily complies with. Looking around the room Kol appreciates how perfect this moment is; they are all happy and exactly where they want to be. Their smiling faces are how Kol knows the creeping unease he feels taking hold of him is completely irrational. What could he possibly have to fear?

xxx

"Wasn't Kol cute with those kids today?" Rebekah says to Stefan, lying next to him in their hotel room. Rebekah's never seen Kol act like he does now, finding Jeremy really was the best thing that ever happened to him.

"He was definitely...something..." Stefan answers with a smile.

"Do you ever wonder what it would be like? To have children I mean," Rebekah asks. Because she does, it's something she thinks about every day. It's such a precious gift that so many humans take for granted.

"I never used to," Stefan says thoughtfully, "but lately I do...because of you. You'd make such a good Mum, I'd love for you to be able to have our kids."

"Stefan..." is all Rebekah can manage to whisper in reply. His answer is the best and worst things mixed into one. But being an eternal optimist she chooses to focus on the part where Stefan loves her enough that he wants her to have his children, not the impossibility of it.

xxx

They finally make it to their bedroom and Kol's glad they are alone at last. As soon as Jeremy closes the door, Kol grabs him around the waist and pulls him close.

"You were brilliant tonight love," Kol says, looking into Jeremy's eyes, and bringing a hand up to rest on Jeremy's lovely face, "absolutely brilliant."

"Yeah, I did alright, didn't I?" Jeremy says, still a little disbelieving.

"More than alright," Kol says, sealing his words with a kiss.

"But you know," Jeremy says, when they break apart, "I'd never have made it here without you." It's a nice thought and Kol wonders if it's true. Jeremy's success on the baseball field isn't what Kol finds hard to believe, it's that they are here at all, making a life together, he never thought he'd have anything like this, mostly because he never thought he'd want it. But being here like this with Jere, Kol knows he's exactly where he wants to be. He grabs the bottom of Jeremy's shirt and pulls it off. He runs his hands over the familiar skin, remembering as always to be careful and not get carried away. He kisses Jeremy's mouth and pushes him back onto the bed and they both get down to the business of getting naked. It doesn't take long for their clothes to disappear and Kol climbs on top of Jeremy, desperate to feel and taste as much of his love as he can. He kisses Jeremy's neck, careful not to break the skin, and slides his hands over Jeremy's body, careful not to crush him. Beneath him Jeremy writhes and moans with pleasure, it's exciting. It's Jeremy, Kol reminds himself, it's always Jeremy. Kol pulls back and looks into Jeremy's eyes.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too," Jeremy says, reaching up and resting his hand on Kol's face. Kol holds Jeremy's gaze and watches as the adoration in them changes to something more playful. "Now show me," Jeremy smirks, pulling Kol down and kissing him hungrily on the mouth. Kol responds to Jeremy's eagerness, pushing him into the mattress and returning his kiss fiercely.

"Ease up," Jeremy says, pushing Kol back a little. "I gotta be able to play next week," Jeremy tells him, making light of the danger. Damn, Kol had been doing so well. It took a lot of work for them to be able to do this and Kol's been so good lately. He rolls off Jeremy, and lies still beside him, letting the heat between them simmer down. Kol throws his arm over his face and thinks about other things, sweet moments away from the bedroom. Jeremy's sensible enough to give him a moment. Kol thinks of how excited Jeremy was the first time he turned the key in the front door of their house, of Jeremy's smile when he signed his first autograph on a cap for Kol... Kol feels Jeremy's hand wrap around his arm and pull it away from his face.

"I'm gonna need you to sign another cap for me," Kol says before Jeremy tries to pick this up where they left off. Jeremy takes the hint and settles for wrapping his arm around Kol and snuggling in close.

"You lost the other one? You're so careless sometimes..." Kol doesn't correct Jeremy, he just wraps his arms around him, holding him close. Better to be thought of as careless than sentimental, after all, he does have a reputation to uphold.