A/N: Okay, everyone. First of all I just wanted to say that english is not my first language and I don't have a beta reader, so there are going to be a lot of mistakes. I'm really sorry for that. I can assure you I'm trying to do my best here.
Second of all, this is my first fanfic EVER so, please, try to be kind. I'd love to read anything you have to say about the story and my writing. I'm hear to learn :) Thanks for your time and I hope you enjoy this.
This is just the first chapter for this story, I'm going to try posting one everyday. I'm not promising anything but I'll try. Hard.
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle, obviously, but I wish I did.
Castle was completely pissed off. He had been waiting for that carnival since the boys told him the 12th was going to host it. They rotated among every station in the city and, this year, was the Twelfth Precinct's turn to host the Police Christmas Carnival and the Police Christmas Charity Ball. Gates was delighted. Actually, she was in such a good mood that she had no objection when Castle asked if he could take part on the games with the other detectives. He was so excited. But all the plans he had made were blown away now.
Rick spent days trying to convince Beckett to compete with him on the games but he only got no for an answer. She kept saying that she didn't want to spend a day wallowing in the dirt and running around for nothing more than giving him that satisfaction. She had better things to do. Of course.
Tired of negatives, Castle begun the hunt for a new partner (just for the games, obviously). He probed a couple of detectives, a rookie, who almost fainted when she realized who he was and another uniform he had met on a couple of crime scenes. None of them seemed good enough to replace Beckett. When he had lost all hopes on finding anyone, officer Velazquez crossed the room right before his eyes. She was tall, she was strong and, for what he had heard about her, she was fast running after suspects. She was not Beckett but she would do. After a little pleading and giving her his best puppy eyes, Velazquez agreed to be his partner.
Little did he know that a week before the carnival Velazquez would have a 30 pounds decorative rock thrown to her head.
So now, here he was, in front of Beckett's apartment door trying to think of a way to make her change her mind about the carnival. This wasn't going to be pleasant ride...
Kate Beckett was lying on her yoga mat, relaxing after a very intense session. She loved staying there for a while waiting until her breathing was regular again. She was about to get up when she heard something coming from outside her door. Getting up as silently as she could she reached for her gun, which was lying on the coffee table, and approached the door. When she saw Castle through the peephole she had to fight a nervous laugh. How did she become such a paranoid? Yeah, well, no need to answer that.
She stood there for a while waiting for Castle to knock on the door but he didn't. She opened the door to find her annoying partner looking like a child who'd just discovered that Santa wasn't real.
"Hey, Castle. You know you have to actually knock on the door so I know you're there, right?" She said, giving him a sarcastic smile.
"Well, it seems I don't really need to anymore. When did you start reading minds?" He looked up to see her still flushed face. He didn't seem surprised that she had found him there.
"I'm not a psychic, Castle and you're not a silent visitor, either" Kate replied with a soft laugh. "To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" She asked waving her hand to make him come in.
"Velazquez is on leave. She broke her arms. Both." He said.
" Yeah, I heard. Poor girl."
"It's crazy, right? Who stops a 30 pounds rock with her wrists? It's stupid!" He said indignant.
"Yes Castle, it would have been much smarter if she had let it hit her head." Beckett retorted. "So I suspect this visit has something to do with that stupid carnival of yours? 'Cause I told you I'm not going, Castle." She turned around and went to sit on the couch raising her feet to one side.
He looked at her intently from his spot right next to the door. He hadn't move since he came in. He had to find the way to make her go and take part on the games with him, but how? Something flicked on his mind. He remembered she had been talking about a piece of furniture she had at her dad's. She couldn't use her car, too small, and had been probing Castle to see if he would help her bring it on his SUV. Folding the back sits forward there was enough room for it, she had said. Could that be a good enough bribe?
"Come on, Becks. You know you want to do it. It's going to be fun!" He tried.
"No, Castle. I've told you a million times that I don't wanna do it. Why do you keep asking? Can't you take a no for an answer?" She was so tired of that conversation. "And don't call me Becks."
"You know damn well I can't. But that's not the thing. It's a charity event, Beckett. We're supposed to be there to get money for the Children's Hospital. I didn't know you were so selfish." That was dangerous and he knew it.
"That's low even for you, Castle." She gave him a killer stare. "Look, I know it's for a good cause but I do not want to go. Is that so difficult for you to understand?"
"Ok, what if I offer you something?" He asked putting on his most charming look.
-Oh,notthatlook-she thought. Why did he had to do that to her? She hated it when he used his charms against her. So not fair. She arched an eyebrow and asked "What do you have, writer boy?"
"It's not much but, if you agree to come with me to that stupid carnival, as you call it, I'll help you move that bureau you've been wanting to bring from your dad's." He was looking at her with those blue puppy dog eyes of his and then added "And I'll buy you lunch for a month"
"You already buy me lunch everyday, Castle" And it was true, if it wasn't because he remembered they had to eat she would spend all day on a bear claw and a dozen coffees. "But I like your first offer. Anyway, that is no enough for me to do such an effort so I'll have to think about something else. Something big and very unpleasant for you. Just how you deserve." She told him with a satisfied smirk.
"Does that mean you're going to do it? You're going to come?" His face had lit like a Christmas tree, excitement pouring out of his body.
"Yes, Castle. I'll do it. But don't get too excited, you'll have to pay back and it's gonna cost you." She said. She was starting to get a little infected by his excitement. Maybe it was not so bad, maybe they'd have fun.
He stepped closer to where she was sitting on the couch and lifted her to a crushing hug. "Oh, Beckett, that's so great! It's going to be a fantastic day, you won't regret it."
"Ok, big kid. Put me down. NOW!" She couldn't believe he was so excited about such a stupid thing. It was just a carnival, the same boring games, the same sideshows and the same people as every year. She had been avoiding it for 5 years now and she hated the idea of going back, but she couldn't deny him anything, could she? Stupid Velazquez. Who tried to stop a 30 pounds rock with her wrists? "I don't understand why such a fuss about a simple carnival, Castle."
"Well, I've never been to one." He answered honestly.
"What? Never? Not even as a kid?" She couldn't believe that Castle, of all people in this world, had never been to a Christmas carnival.
"Nope. I've told you my childhood was not the typical thing, Kate. I've been to a couple of them with Alexis but I was the adult there. I had to take care of her and her friends. This won't be the same. I'll be the one having fun." The grin on his face made her smile too.
Well, it was done. She had no way out now. It seemed that that three-legged race they talked about not so long ago was finally going to happen in the space of a week.
TBC.
