Mr. Beckett and Mr. and Mrs. Davidson
Cordially invite you to attend the marriage of their children
Katherine Houghton Beckett and Josh Alexander Davidson
On the 10th of June at 12 o'clock in the afternoon
In the Two Thousandth and Eleventh Year
At The Plaza Hotel
768 Fifth Street New York City, New York 10019
Reception to follow.
He felt the bile rise in his throat and quickly swallowed, drumming his knuckles on the granite countertop. "Shit" He had known this was coming; he knew from the moment Josh bought her that stupid tennis bracelet. Gag. And then the last nail in the coffin was jammed in extra tight when he proposed last month. Double gag.
But two months later? She had been shot at two months ago. Castle had risked his life and saved hers two months ago. She had escaped the ordeal with minor bumps and bruises. A small price to pay for avoiding a bullet to the heart. But sixty days and they were getting married? Beckett didn't seem like the type; doctor fixes patient, patient and doctor fall in love, doctor and patient get married and live happily ever after. Dare he say it? Triple gag.
He wondered how she could stand it. Josh was rarely even on US soil, he wore a freaking leather jacket all the time, and how on earth did she find that motorcycle attractive?
But that was the thing about Beckett; she was a mystery. And somehow, some way, Josh had done in less than six months what Castle couldn't do in three years. He cracked her stone cold walls and broke through. Dr. Motorcycle Boy: 1. Castle: 0. Jumping in front of a bullet and saving someone's life meant nothing anymore.
He threw the invitation halfway across the counter and took a long, slow drink of his beer. Castle let out a huff as Alexis walked down the stairwell.
"What's wrong with you?" She flung her hair behind her shoulder and plopped down at the bar, opposite her dad.
"See for yourself." He slid the card over to her and watched her expression change from a soft grin to shock in an instant.
"Dad." She snuck a glance at him from behind the cardstock.
"It's fine." He shot back. It was fine. Well, if fine meant wanting to run over a pile of broken glass and then roll in lemon juice. Yeah, he was fine, just fine.
"Are you gonna go?" She looked at him without moving an inch.
He raised the biggest eyebrow at her and took another long, slow gulp of his beer. "Seriously?"
Alexis huffed and shrugged her shoulders. "Well I don't know!"
"Alexis." He said flatly, mocking her.
"So I take that as a no." Alexis slid the invitation to the other side of the bar and looked at her dad, her lips still puckered in the "o".
"Correct." He snapped and pointed at her.
Alexis let out a little huff and frowned, "I'm sorry, dad."
"It's alright, Lex. Not your fault." Castle shrugged again.
"I know, still sorry though." She got up, walked around the bar, and kissed him on the cheek. "Do you want to go see a movie or something?"
"Nah, I think I'm going to write. I've got an itch to."
"Then scratch your itch." She giggled and motioned towards his office. "I'll be upstairs if you change your mind."
"Are you the parent or am I?"
She stopped half way up the stairs, "Mostly me, you just pay the bills."
"Ahh." He cracked a smile and walked to his office, the street lights just beginning to come to life through the window.
The next day, Castle walked into the precinct as the clock struck seven, a solemn look on his face. He knew she would already be here, standing in front of the board, her arms crossed in front of her. They had opened a new case yesterday. He never expected this to be cut so short. But there was no way he could continue working with her while watching her with another man.
His feelings had grown increasing strong. Even on day one, through the smartass remarks and bad coffee, he had seen something in her that he hadn't seen in anyone ever before. Year one was for fun. Year two was the icing on the cake. Year three was so much more; the defining moment, the moment he knew this was more than just for the books. He had fell so hard for her over the last three years that just terminating his shadowing was painful. He didn't want to leave this place that was so much more than research now. He didn't want to leave his home. But he had to. It wasn't healthy to keep hanging around her as she wrote a new story with someone else. He wanted to be the only one to write her story; not anymore.
Kate finally felt his presence and turned her head. A smile swept across her face when she realized it was him. "Castle? You're here early."
"Yeah, I can't stay, though." He offered her a grin, his eyes traveling immediately to her ring finger. She hadn't worn it until now.
She gave him a quizzical look, her head tilting slightly to the left. She dropped the dry erase marker on her desk and turned to face him completely. "What are you talking about?"
He tried not to make a big deal of it, shrugging his shoulders. "I was going through my research last night, and I think I have enough to finish the series. Plus, Gina's getting on my case, so I need to start focusing on writing a little more." He couldn't meet her eyes no matter how hard he tried.
"Wait, so you're not coming back?" Beckett stood, her arms at her sides. What was happening? This was her partner.
"No, I don't want to be a burden." He swatted at the air, still not able to meet her gaze.
"But you're not?" She said it as if it were a question. Her voice was small, nothing more than a whisper.
Castle shook his head yes. "No, I am. I've over stayed my welcome."
"Castle, what are you talking about?" Beckett shook her head no, her forehead in a tight knot.
"I just have to focus on me and my career. Thank you for everything, Beckett. I've learned immeasurably and I'm grateful for our time together." He extended his hand and when she extended her own into his, he turned hers, and kissed it.
She let her hand hang at her side. The sides of her mouth turned downward. "I'll see you around?"
He started to put his jacket on, then. "Here or there."
She felt so small as she faced him. She could see that his body language was confident, but his face was not. She just wanted him to meet her eyes. "Bye, Rick?" Again, another question.
He stopped his act, and looked up. He smiled at her, taking her in one last time. He didn't want to do this, but he had to. For her, but mostly for himself. "Bye, Kate."
He turned, then, and made quick strides towards the elevator. He could feel her eyes on him as he went. She never moved, though, the floorboards silent.
Finally, the doors to the elevator opened and shut, leaving him alone in the tiny box. And that's when he let it all go. Silent tears fell down his cheeks as the elevator descended from the bullpen; his home away from home. His family. His love. But then the elevator chimed again as the doors opened on the first floor. He faced the street with a brave face, only giving himself that small moment to grieve the loss of the greatest moments of his life. He reminded himself that there were greater stories to be told. There had to be.