Author Note: Hello All. Long time no see. I wanted to let you know that this multi-chapter story will be a direct sequel to 'Parting Thoughts'. It will follow Castle and Beckett for a week in the Hamptons. The will go out and they will stay home. They will have fun and, perhaps a little angst. But come heck or high water they will come a stronger couple having navigated the first, mostly uninterrupted week of their new relationship. I hope you enjoy.
In the Bubble
Castle woke to the brightness of the afternoon sun streaking through the single shaded window of the room. Carefully, he extracted his arm form Kate's still sleeping form and tip toed into the hallway. He had no idea how long she would sleep, given the emotion of the last 36 hours, but his stomach was growling, demanding to be fed. He padded down the stairs to prepare a snack; deciding on a BLT club with avocado slices.
And coffee; Beckett might want coffee. He lazily pressed the power button on the espresso machine before beginning his preparations.
He had just placed the strips of bacon in skillet, when he heard movement on the stairs. He grinned, but didn't leave the stove.
She shuffled into view with sleep still in her eyes, wrinkled clothes, and a slight case of bed hair. But, somehow, she still managed to look magnificent.
"Good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty," Rick said, a little too chipper for the half asleep detective.
"Sleeping all day is going to play havoc with my internal clock," she mumbled, pulling hair from her face and shoving it behind her ears. "I'll probably be up all night."
He placed the round hand held screen over the pan and approached her where she leaned against the bar. He kissed her lightly on the cheek and said: "Would that be so bad? You're on vacation. Time is relative."
"Says you," she replied, sullenly. She shifted from a standing position into the bar chair to her right. She put her head in her hands framing an endearingly pitiful face.
"So this is morning Beckett," Castle said, gliding back to check the sizzling bacon, approving, and bouncing over to the Starbucks Barista to pull her shots. "Warmed over by the afternoon sun."
She glared at him like a beautiful zombie debating whether or not to rip off his arm or bite into his throat. She needed coffee. Adding some water and a splash of cream he served her a piping hot Americano. Proffering the steaming cup as a peace offering, he eased away and returned to skillet.
Beckett took the cup in both hands and raised it to her lips. The powerful aroma hit her nose only a moment before the liquid washed over her tongue. Coffee was a beautiful thing, but espresso was the nectar of the Columbian gods. Her grim features softened and a grin solitary pleasure emerged.
"Thanks, Castle," she managed after the initial taste.
She must have been savoring her coffee for some time, because when Castle put a plate in front of her with strikingly colorful sandwich, she flinched in surprise.
"Order up!" he declared, excitedly.
"You're way to chipper," she said, the normal timbre of her voice returning.
"I'm just glad you're here," he replied, biting into his own sandwich.
By the time their dinner was consumed and Kate had had a chance to shower and change, the sun hung low in the sky and had taken on a deeper orange hue. Kate was thankful that, though she left the city in a hurry, she had thought the throw a few things in a bag just in case.
When she joined him in the living room, she was wearing blue jeans, blue, low cut converse, and a generic NYPD t-shirt.
Castle looked up from the laptop he had been hunched over and smiled. "Feeling human again?" he asked, genuinely interested. She sat down next to him, on the couch, and pulled her legs under. He arm draped along pillow at his back and her finger rested on his shoulder. He liked it. A lot. It was reassuring that she felt comfortable enough to let down her guard. And, keep it down.
"I really do," she said with a sigh. "What are you working on?"
He shrugged reflexively. "Just returning some emails while I was waiting. Which is the coolest thing ever.
She narrowed her eyes in curiosity.
"Waiting for you, that is," he added, purposefully. "So, what would you like to do this evening? There are plenty of good restaurants. Plenty of beaches. Plenty of win-"
A hand covered his mouth and the remaining words muffled into it.
"-Slow down, Rick. You're stressing me out," Beckett interjected. "We're on vacation, right? Let's take it slow and just see what happens."
"Of course," he replied, realizing that, once again, he'd let his enthusiasm take over. "Sorry."
She let out a relieving breath and rested her head on his shoulder. "No need to be sorry."
Two things hit Rick Castle between the eyes in that moment. She called him Rick, again. And she was resting her head on his shoulder. The rough and tumble, hard nosed New York City detective was relaxing, and asking him do so as well. He wouldn't disappoint her.