A/N: So to recap: August meets Kristoff in person. Anna and Kristoff meet and are instantly infatuated with the other.
Curveballs
Chapter 4: Getting to Know You, Getting to Like You, Getting to Hope You Like Me
It was the last day of practice before the final roster would be set for the Nordics little league team. Krista Olson was at the top of the list for pitcher. She had the best arm of the bunch and it looked like August Dale would likely be the new catcher, thanks in part to the coaching from Captain Kristoff Bjorgman. Anna, Astrid, Elsa, Coral, Sven and Kristoff were in the stands for the last practice. Anna sat on one end of the bench and Kristoff on the other. Coral and Sven had other ideas and moved around so Anna and Kristoff were next to each other. Without the three buffers between them, Anna and Kristoff took the time to get to know the other.
"How long have you been in the Air Force?" Anna asked, bouncing Astrid on her knee.
"I joined the Air Force ROTC in high school and have been in the service since," Kristoff answered, watching August and Krista on the field. August was at bat. Kristoff motioned for the boy to adjust his stance like he had taught him days before. "Keep that back elbow up, Auggie! Anyway, it's all I wanted to do. Be in the Air Force and fly helicopters. What about you, what do you do?"
"I just started my first job ever, at Oaken's Resort. I work at the front desk, checking in guests and taking reservations," Anna answered.
"This is your first job?" Kristoff asked.
"Yeah. I know it's kinda pathetic that a twenty-eight year old woman has her first job but with Hans, August's father; I spent my time taking care of the house and the kids."
"How long have you been divorced? Nice pitch Krista!"
"About a year now," Anna answered, clapping along with the other parents and spectators. "Have you ever been married?"
"I was. Franny, Francesca. She was the kind of woman who wanted the prestige of being a captain's wife but didn't like what that entailed. I couldn't seem to be able to take care of her while I was overseas. So she found someone who could be there all the time. We were great when I was home but she didn't like the moving and me being away."
"She was also a colossal pain in the ass and raging bitch most of the time," Sven said. Coral whacked him on the back of the head and Kristoff just shook his head at his friend.
"Sven was never a fan of Franny," Kristoff said. "But she's been gone, shoot, five years now."
"Did you have any children?" Anna asked, passing Astrid down to Elsa who was listening not to be nosy but to keep tabs on her sister.
"No," Kristoff said. "She didn't want any. Not with me anyway."
"Oh." Anna was quiet for a moment, her gaze going back to the little kids running around the field.
"So I was thinking that we should all have dinner at the house when we get done here," Elsa said, changing the subject. "It would be a great way to have grown-up time and let the kids jump around on the trampoline in the backyard."
"Oh we'd love to Madame Mayor but Krista has a birthday sleepover to get to," Coral said. "But I'm sure Kristoff would enjoy a meal not prepared by the base cafeteria."
Damn it Coral. I should have known she'd attempt a Cupid maneuver. "How about I take you guys out for dinner? That way no one has to do dishes."
"I like the sound of that," Elsa said. "Where are you thinking?"
Something dark and intimate for just Anna and I. "That diner on the corner of Stone and Decatur? They have the best milkshakes."
"We used to go there all the time as kids," Elsa said, elbowing her sister. "The caramel shakes were your favorite, Anna."
That's also where Hans asked me to marry him shortly after graduation. "I'm sure Auggie will love it," Anna said.
They bid the Olsons goodbye before climbing into their respective cars. Anna's hands were shaking so badly she could barely get Astrid buckled into her seat. She didn't want to go to that particular diner, not when she was trying to rid Hans from her mind and heart. It's been ten years since then but she's sure there's still that wall of photos by the back corner booth and there would be dozens of her and him. She doesn't want to be reminded of it. But for the sake of her son and the bond forming between him and the captain.
"What has you so jittery, Anna?" Elsa asked, pulling into the parking lot.
"This was our place. We used to come here all the time," Anna said.
"Why the hell didn't you say something, Anna? I never would have agreed if that was the case."
"It's fine. Besides being here is for August, not me. I'm not ready for anything more."
"Keep telling yourself that, Anna. You have it bad for the captain."
"I do not!"
"Do too."
"Do not!"
"I want a milkshake," August said from his seat.
"All in favor of milkshakes?" Elsa asked.
Her and August's hand went up in a flash. By imitation Astrid raised her hand as well, leaving Anna out numbered. "Fine, he's probably already waiting for us."
The Dale family exited their car and entered the diner and saw Kristoff sitting in the back corner booth. He smiled as they came towards him. He stood up and let August slide into the corner on his side of the table. Anna, Elsa and Astrid sat on the other side. The waitress came up to the table and offered a high chair for the baby, to which Anna gladly accepted. August turned in his seat and looked back at the photo wall behind him.
"Look, Mama! It's you!" he said, pulling down a photo of a much younger Anna. "And Auntie Elsa too!"
Anna and Elsa took the photo from the little boy and examined it. "Who are those people with you?"
"That's Grandma Inga and Grandpa August," Elsa said, her breath catching. The girls were about ten and six in the photo. "Put it back, Auggie, please."
Instinctively, Kristoff reached across the table and took Anna's hand, running his thumbs over her knuckles. "I'm sorry. I didn't know about the wall."
"It's okay," Anna said, giving his hand a squeeze. "You didn't know."
The sadness is evident as they look over their menus. "Mama, can I have a grilled cheese and a milkshake?" August asked.
"That's fine buddy," Anna said. "We'll see if they have barbecue sauce for you to dip it in."
"You dip your grilled cheese in barbecue sauce too?" Kristoff asked, jokingly. "I do too."
"Really?" August asked, his eyes lighting up. He hadn't met anyone else besides his mother who did that.
"Only way to eat a grilled cheese."
The group ordered their dinners; two plates of grilled cheese and fries with a chocolate shake, a cobb salad for Elsa and pancakes and sausage for Anna and Astrid. They ate in a comfortable silence, August and Kristoff elbowing each other as they try to dip their sandwiches and fries in the sauce. Like all their interactions, Anna could see that Kristoff was there to make her son happy. And that made Anna smile.
"Next weekend is Guest Day at the base," Kristoff said. "I want you guys to come as my guests."
"I have a budget planning meeting, a lunch with the editor of the paper and several other mayoral duties," Elsa said, making sure she was covered to get Anna to go.
"Will you teach me to fly your helicopter?" August asked, excitedly.
"You have to be two feet taller, but I can let you sit in the cockpit and start her up," Kristoff said, ruffling the boy's hair.
"So they're coming to Guest Day?" Sven asked, during their nightly beer and billiards.
"Yep. You know Sven, it's the first time since Franny left that I feel happy about something," Kristoff said, surveying the table for the best shot. "It's not just the mom that I care about. It's that boy. He's so starved for positive male interaction that it's all I can do to be there for him."
"Well as your best friend and co-pilot, I am so happy that you're happy. I know Coral and Krista are excited that you're getting out there. Coral's afraid if you don't find someone soon, you're going to end up living in our basement when you retire."
"You and the captain seemed to be enjoying yourself today," Elsa said. "What were you talking about?"
"The usual getting to know you questions," Anna said, turning down the baby monitor. "His ex was a real piece of work, that's for sure. She and Hans would get along great."
"If this thing, whatever it is that you've got going, is going to work out, you need to stop thinking about Hans. That prick is out of our lives and I hope against all hope that he stays that way. But you need to open yourself up to the idea that maybe this Captain Bjorgman is somehow your second chance. Anna, I'm never getting married or doing the whole family thing. I am perfectly happy by myself. You are not. You have never been good at being alone. You need someone who compliments you and is going to be there for you no matter what."
"You deserve this second chance, buddy," Sven said, taking his shot. "Frank wasn't for you and I think you knew that from the start. But Anna, man, I haven't seen you look at a girl the way you look at Anna. She could tell you anything and you'd be just fine with it."
"Here's what you don't get Sven," Kristoff said. "Anna is a year post divorce. I can't be the first guy she's been with after something like that. It wouldn't be fair to her or the kids."
"You're already putting them above yourself, something you're very good at doing. Hell, you traded your leave for me when Coral was pregnant. You go above and beyond for the people you care about. And that now includes Anna Dale and her two kids."
That night before Anna fell asleep, she checked her phone. Kristoff has sent her a photo he had taken of her and August in his baseball gear. The message attached said, "You seemed like you needed something to smile about."
Yep. Anna was gone. Lost completely to the captain.
