Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries. The scenes & transcripts in Denver and Kansas below obviously not belongs to me.

Chapter 2: Just Another Night

The sun was up, Denver had to be Kol's next destination as his brother requested him—he had been talking to Jeremy before Kol travelled to New York—and that was quite the smart of him, he knew what he is going to do with his own plan. While Kol hides, Damon and Elena walked into the area seeing Jeremy is practising at the batting cages.

"There he is," Elena said smoothly to Damon who is walking right beside her. They watched him playing baseball at the batting cages before they could get to him. "Next time, we compel him, remind me to make him better at baseball."

Elena decided to ignore him and walked over to the cage and called out for his brother. "Hey, Jer!" She called, half-shouting, making Jeremy to turned around and stopped playing baseball. "Elena? What's wrong?" He seemed happy to see his sister, and so Elena is happy, but after he asked what's wrong, Elena's expression was not happy any longer. They immediately walked out of the batting cages and then Damon explained what was happened over the past few months. "Katherine sired us, Rose sired Katherine, all we need to do is find out who sired Rose."

"So you traveled across the country to get me to talk to a dead vampire?" Jeremy frowned while putting his baseball bat onto the rack and started to walk beside Damon and Elena. "Dead vampire is redundant, but yes." Damon replied quietly, much like muttering. And then Jeremy immediately responded by shrugging at both of them, and was about to put his cap into the locker. "Well, I can't. I could talk to Anna and Vicki because I knew them. I've never even met Rose."

Damon frowned at him, "What good is you dying and coming back to life if you can't talk to a ghost when I need you to?" And then Jeremy turned to his sister who started to explain about Rose. "Rose spent a long time running from Klaus as well. She and Damon were close, so maybe we can use him as a connection."

Jeremy sighed heavily, as then Kol walked into the area. "Fine, fine, but can we do this later? My friend just got here and yes, Damon, I actually have some. I'll call you when I'm done." He explained, kissing his sister's cheeks before she turned around to see Jeremy meeting his friend.

She chuckled and immediately turned around, "Jer.."

"Hey man." Jeremy greeted Kol who came with a very bright smile, or smirk, and a wooden bat on his back. Elena frowned before she backed off and informed Damon, "Damon, it's Kol!"

Kol hit Damon with the wooden bat which broke in a half before Damon could do or say anything, and then he fell onto the ground, causing Jeremy to shock. "The hell are you doing?!"

"Jeremy, get back! He's an original." Elena informed his brother. "What?" That was his only response. Kol grabbed an aluminium bat from the rack and replied Jeremy's confusion. "No hard feelings, mate. But we're not buds."

Damon looked over the broken wooden bat beside him as Kol was still busy scanning the aluminium bat. "You know, I'll never get use to aluminium. But hey, at least it won't break."

Kol was about to hit Damon once again with the bat when Damon picked up the broken wooden bat and stabbed Kol through the chest with it, making Kol fell to the ground. "Did you kill him?" Asked Jeremy, sounds like murmuring.

Damon replied while still groaning because of the pain Kol had give him, as he grabbed Elena, who was still looking after a temporarily-dead Kol on the ground, by her shoulders. "No, but it'll give us a head start. Okay, come on."

Victoria woke up to the sunshine that is filling up her flat room, seeing no one beside her any longer while she remembered Kol was sitting next to her last night. Blanket are all over her, covering her body that was supposed to shiver if there is no blanket on her. Where did he go? Did he just gonna leave her like that? Her thoughts were distracted when she noticed there is a paper next to her.

Dear Victoria,

Thank you too for today, I do enjoy your company either, that was quite an entertainment for me. But I really need to go. Call me when you need me, I added my number into your phone book.

Kol.

She sighed, knowing that Kol couldn't accompany her any longer—or it's just her who's hoping too high about him. She know she shouldn't put a hope on him too much and that was the stupid of her. Her body don't feel like moving, but she pull herself through, casually stood up and tied her hair before she could do anything else. No, she won't bother him by giving him a call—that will just annoy him and she won't do that.

Victoria prepared for herself after she took a bath—rushing herself to the public library to read some books, her favourite books. "Anything I could help you, miss?" The librarian asked smoothly while taking off his eyeglasses and looked over Victoria, who was previously seemed looking for something. "Where are the supernatural books?" She replied, waiting for another reply from him. "Follow me." He commanded as he walked down from his working area and dropped his pen on the table.

She eventually followed the librarian to a hall of shelves, where he explained they are shelves for any kind of supernatural books. "There you are. If you need anything, go ahead ask something at my place." He said, leaving her alone with the book shelves. "Thank you," she muttered which wasn't almost heard while looking over the books who were neatly packed into the shelves. Her fingers are fingering books by books, trying to find the most interesting book that she'd read—and then her fingers stopped on a supernatural-romance genre kind of book. It quite caught her interest at the first sight. She took the book, and immediately sat on the chair near the shelf. She remembers when she opens the book and read it, a figure came to her—but seems like she won't have someone to keep her company today.

"Hey, alone?" Someone suddenly came with an ask. "Uh," she turned her head up to him. "Yeah." She replied with a smile.

He smiled back while pointing to the chair across her table, "Mind if I sit here?"

"Sure, I won't mind." She said smoothly as her eyes moved on to another page of the book, not even bothering to look at the guy who is sitting right across her table anymore. "You love Supernatural books too? The same goes to me. It's been my favorite," He confessed with a huge excitement. She remains silent until she was aware the guy is sighing quietly at her, or himself, she wasn't sure sure. "Yes, I do. I actually love general romance books, but this genre is my favorite." She smiled softly as her eyes left his.

"I see." He nodded slowly opening the first page of the book he's reading. He realized she didn't seem to share him enthusiasm, as she remains silent for a couple of seconds when he asked if she love supernatural books too. "What do you read back there?" It's now her turn to ask, and it's completely catching his attention—the one who seemed to ignore him earlier, is now asking a question to him? Of course, his lips formed a happy smile in an instant, knowing that the girl he barely knows is not that hard to goes along with. "Oh, it's about vampires and werewolves, pretty much like Underworld movies." He replied, "What about you?"

"This is a romance-supernatural genre. About a vampire and a human who fell in love each other. Similar to Twilight, but it's kinda different and published by a different author." She said, showing him the book's cover, and then continue reading the last page she read. He replied only with a single nod, and then focused to his book like what she did, didn't want to bother her although she didn't put pretty much attention while she is reading something. "Anyway, my name is Ryan. What is your name?" He couldn't just awkwardly sit there and remains quiet, he just couldn't. And he didn't know why.

Looking at her watch, she realized that she has to go to other places, like what she usually does... Having a tour around New York by herself until she met Kol, who keep her in company for the past 2 days. But now he left her when she didn't even have the chance to say good bye to Kol, that she considered as her good friend by now. "Well, unfortunately I have to go." She confirmed, standing up from where she sat to grab her coat and then the book. "Victoria. That's my name." By that, she walked away leaving the guy, who was still watching her walking away from him, alone.

"May I borrow this book? I promise to give it back as soon as I'm done reading it." She asked for a permission from the librarian who was looking after his work on the table. "Yes, you may. Fill this and you are free to borrow the book," He answered while giving her a piece of paper and a pen. She was requested to fill a short form and there she has to put her phone number so the librarian could keep himself in contact with her. "Here, I fill the form already. Cheerio!" She greeted while walking towards the exit door and immediately put the book inside her bag.

While Victoria was having her own tour in New York until the end of the day, Kol who have woken up from being staked through his heart once again had to find Damon to pay for his revenge. It was just easy for him to track, and now he's at Kansas—at Mary's house exactly. His brother told him that they are up to something; they are trying to find out who sired The Salvatore Brothers. He remains quiet and turning all the lights off in the house after killing Mary; the one who sired Rose, and sitting calmly on the chair in Mary's room while looking at her who was staked to death against the wall. He was aware that the two are heading to the room. And just in a couple of seconds, the door was opened followed by two figures, Damon and Elena, who were shocked to see Mary on the wall.

Elena gasped while Damon murmured. "Mary.."

"Quite contrary." He said darkly, turning on the light in the room, glaring at the two while brushing his fingers against each other.

Kol stood up and walked near to Mary, "Shame about Mary, she used to be a blast." He said, smirking dangerously, "Don't quite know what happened. I fear all the time she spent with my family might have ruined her. She was a bit of an Original groupie."

Elena turned her eyes to him, "And were you her favorite?"

"You mean, did I turn her?" Kol raised his brows, but later changed into a playful smirk. "I think I did. But no, wait, maybe it was Rebekah. There was also a Klaus period. And let's not forget the Elijah affair. I spoke to my brother, I know you're trying to find out who you descended from." He spoke, "Now you never will."

"So," Kol knocked the bat onto the floor twice. "Where did we leave off?"

In an instant, Kol hits Damon with the bat, making him fell onto the ground while Kol continued to hit him. "Elena, get out of here!" Damon groaned, giving out orders to Elena as she runs for the door. But Kol was faster, even before Elena could reach the door, he was already standing there, blocking her way, and spoke before he throws Elena to the ground—while Victoria crosses his mind, but he didn't manage to take that as a distraction, he needed to finish what he wanted to do. "According to my brother, you're off limits. Please don't test me."

Damon angrily got up and rushed towards Kol, "Don't touch her."

Kol throws Damon off of him by hitting his head against his. "Oh dear, I've hit a nerve." He chuckled satisfiedly. "Relax, darling, I just want us to be even. You snapped my neck, you killed my brother, and then you humiliated me."

"There, now we're even." Kol spoke, feeling so satisfied to see Damon collapses after he got to hit him with the bat repeatedly. He left with a smirk, leaving the house very quickly with his vampire super speed before anyone notices where is he going.

New York 8:32 PM

The bright sun was off and no longer accompanying Victoria—and apparently she kind of enjoy the tour with herself today. And she made sure she won't be late to get to her flat although she know she shouldn't be walking alone at nights like what Kol have said two days ago. "Why are you staying in my head?!" She protested quietly, still walking to reach the end of the quiet and creepy street, at least that's what she thought. Just in a minute, she heard another footsteps right behind her and when she turned to a quieter street, the figure followed her still. She had no other choice, but to call the man she trusted for a help as she suspected the figure that following her would try to do something to her. "Kol, please answer." She muttered quietly as she keep walking and walking, while she doesn't even know where she was. The quiet street had lead her too far from the crowded street, that supposedly will lead her to her flat. "Hello, darling. Seems like you can't get too far from me just a day." He finally answered her call with a playful tone.

"Kol. Where are you? I think there's someone following me," She informed quietly with shaky voice, hoping Kol wasn't leaving her too far, so he can get to her. But she was grabbed by her shoulder, the figure pushing her to a random building's wall—she haven't ended the call yet, and Kol could hear exactly what she was saying. "No, don't touch me! Go away! Kol help me!" She shouted to the phone but the guy slammed the phone somewhere.

Kol was mad to heard the shout from her and that's why he ran to New York with his super speed, and tracked where she was, thanks to her typical scent and his super speed that helped him. Now, he could clearly hear Victoria is shouting for help, as she was already 5 feet across him. He knew what was the guy trying to do and he won't let him do that to Victoria. Never. "Wow, easy there. Leave her alone," He said as he pushed him against the other wall. "Kol." She panted, looking at the familar figure that she missed was standing in front of her.

The guy groaned and tried to punch Kol on the face but failed as Kol grabbed his clenched fist and hold it tightly before he could punch the guy with his strength. "I said to leave her alone. And you are still not giving up? Shame on you. You should pass me first." He taunted as the guy keep struggling to pull his own fist that Kol was holding. In an instant, he started to punch him on the face repeatedly and he knew he won't stop until he get satisfied. "And you shouldn't have tested me." He smirked and left the guy near the trash bin, with blood everywhere on his face.

"Are you alright?" He asked with a wide bright smile and stared at the girl he left just a day ago. "Kol!" She exclaimed while running to him—and gave him a friendly hug. He could only reply with a smile and he didn't even know whether to reply the hug or not. "You came back, thank you for the help." She thanked.

"Let me walk you home." He smiled and started walking beside her, who is fixing her coat. No wonder why he couldn't get too far from her, not even a day. "Sure." She nodded.

"Where were you? Why leaving so fast? I didn't even have a chance to say good bye," she questioned like a journalist asking for a report. "I had a little business, but I know you're glad I'm here now. I apologize for my sudden absence."

He made his point for her to understand, but she's actually not going to ask more further. It's a bit rude to ask someone's privacy too much while they just met days ago although they have spent times together. "You don't need to apologize, by the way. Everyone have their rights to do whatever they wants, and I didn't really mind if you're gone just for a day and not too far. It's just, you're a good friend of mine, I'm just surprised to wake up with your message telling you're leaving." She lied automatically about she didn't mind. Well, apparently, she did mind—and she is being naive about that... Just unfortunately Kol couldn't notice after all.

"I know." He chuckled while walking across the street with her to reach her flat. "So, I guess you're leaving now?" She asked instantly when she knew she have arrived to her home. "I think so. But if you ask me to accompany you tonight, I might gonna say yes." That was his reply, with his typical smile.

She immediately put on a smirk and spoke smoothly, "Then, I will ask you to accompany me. We can do bunch of things together. Won't you come inside, Kol?" He smirked back playfully and grabbed her hand before they could get into her flat, "I sure will. Why not?"

Victoria and Kol were at the kitchen, cooking pancakes and popcorns for their snacks before they are going to watch a movie together on her DVD—but Kol don't need to eat or drink, so he probably just gonna cook the foods for her. And while she was cooking the popcorn and Kol doing the pancake mix, both danced around to the music that played on the radio in the kitchen. And the two accidentally bumped, ended up chuckling even until Kol wiped the spoon used to mix the pancake mixing onto her cheek. "Hey, that's not funny!" She giggled, grabbed over the spoon and wiped it on his cheek for a revenge. "It is for me." He said, wiped a tissue on his cheek. "Okay, hey, are you done with the mixing? If you are, please grab a bowl for the popcorns." She commanded, turning off the stove as the popcorns are still popping inside the pot. He did what she commanded by giving her the bowl for the popcorns and then she immediately put all the pot contents into the bowl. "It's popping. My favorite part of cooking popcorns," she chuckled.

"Right, chef, now let's move on to the pancake. Shall we?" Kol asked, handing the bowl of pancake mixing to her. "Thank you." She said with a tone and then started to cook the pancakes.

"So, how long you have been cooking?" Kol enjoy watching her cooking the pancake as he leaned back onto the fridge and crossed his arms. "You do really want to know?" She teased playfully while raising her brows at him. Kol took this as a challenge. He had his smirk signature on—didn't want to give up yet. "I don't actually force people to answer. Not in particularly." He spoke. "But you're unpredictable. At a time, you're like a sweet bunny and then later... Quite the opposite."

"Well," She chuckled softly and flipped the pancake. "Don't take it too personal. I'm just kidding. I've been cooking since 5 years ago... I learnt for a year. So I'd say, actually, I've been cooking for 4 years."

"Well, fascinating." He nodded lightly while then helped her cleaning out the kitchen counter as she was still cooking the pancakes. He understood living alone might be hard for her—she may say she love it, but he knew she can't lie about how to clean the things all by herself. After a few minutes, she was finally done with her pancake. "Let's go to the family room." She rushed herself to the family room, a small one, as they are going to watch a movie together.

"What are we going to watch? Comedies? Actions? Adventures?" He questioned playfully before he took a seat beside her on the pale white couch. "Or better yet, romance ones?"

"How about horrors? Or supernatural movies? Zombie movies? I'd like them better." She suggested. "I would pick any as long as they are interesting, but you should be the one to decide what to watch." He answered smoothly, shrugging his shoulders while taking a piece of the popcorns. She had no other choice but to pick the movie genre she loves; supernatural. Kol doesn't bothered though, but he was just wondering what if he tells her that he's one of the supernatural beings? He shouldn't even became a good company for her. She is a mortal being, a human. She is his supposedly prey. Not someone he make friend with. Unlucky, his heavy sigh was noticed by Victoria who sat beside him with her pancake. "You okay?" She asked to make sure. "Wanna eat something?"

"No. I'm fine, let's not miss the movie. What's the title?" He forced a sudden wide smile at her after he discussed with his thoughts. "Underworld: Awakening. Do you love the movie?"

"I don't fancy movies that well, but as what I said, I will love them if they didn't bore me that much." He said to her after a second's thought. Being fully aware that she had responded with a nod, he sighed in relief and leaned back onto the couch. He eventually watch the movie although he wasn't really interested into it earlier. But at least he did it by her company, there's nothing else to be referred to as a bore—and he didn't expect to know the movie's duration reached more than 2 hours, but he's glad the movie wasn't a bore although she didn't spoke at all during the movie played. After looking at the clock which pointing to 11 at night, he believed Victoria remained quiet because she fell asleep—and he didn't believe she watched the entire movie. "Such a sleeping beauty." He mocked, pulling his dark green outwear and lay it on her body, being afraid she will get colds in the middle of night. His eyes couldn't get off of her for minutes, he was still wondering if keep Victoria in company was his best decision; which for better or worse he can't be sure. "Good night." He greeted as he remains watching her rather than trying to find anything else to fade his bore away.

A/N: The second chapter is done! Would honestly tell I love it when Kol beats the guy who's trying to do something to Victoria! I had fun writing it and the Koria scenes too. Ugh, I can't live a day without writing or just thinking about it. You know what? An idea for further chapters for this story had come and stayed in my mind since this morning, LOL. So, uh, thoughts? :) I would really appreciate every follows, favorites and reviews even if it's just "Update soon!" or "Nice story, keep going." Thanks have a nice day... xoxo!