Disclaimer: Do we really still need to write these things? Come on.
A/N: I have no idea where this came from really. I pretty much wrote the entire thing (subesquent chapters included) on my 6 minute drive to work this morning. It has no point but it makes me smile so I thought I would commit it to virtual paper and share.
The elevator door dinged as it opened and the trio stumbled out, laughing softly together at something that had happened ten minutes before and didn't warrant this much laughter, but was carrying them to frivolity anyway.
"Don't ever let me eat that much again," Beckett sighed, pressing on her stomach. "I feel gross."
"Excuse me, but who can eat half a pizza without breathing?"
"Castle, it's not polite to talk about a woman's eating habits."
"You just were!"
"That's different."
Castle rolled his eyes and shook his head while Alexis fished her key out of her pocket and headed for the door.
"Expecting a package?" she asked, checking the label on the front.
"Oh good it finally came!" Castle said, taking the package from her. "Perfect timing."
"What is it?" Beckett asked warily. He'd spent the last week spoiling her with birthday presents and if this was another one, she was going to sigh as loudly as possible and maybe roll her eyes before she excitedly opened it. He was nothing if not a great gift giver.
"It's for you but believe me, it's practical so don't start making that face."
She pressed her lips together and followed them inside the loft, where Castle started up a pot of decaf coffee.
"Pumpkin, want to stay for a bit?"
"Sure. I was kind of thinking of staying the night. Pi is at that seminar and the apartment is… I never thought I'd need a big strong man around but I kind of do. Do you know how many different creaks sound just like someone rustling around in my living room?"
"How many?" Castle asked with a chuckle.
"All of them. Last night I half woke up and heard something in the kitchen so I grabbed a wire hanger out of the closet for protection. Turns out the fridge makes noise when it's on."
"And how silly did you feel?"
She shrugged.
"Not that silly. I stayed up the rest of the night looking into self-defense classes and totally freaking myself out on that true crime website."
"Your own worst enemy," Beckett chuckled. "The first time I ever stayed home alone overnight, I ended up sleeping on the couch with all the lights on and a knife next to me while reruns of Law & Order played on TV."
"So it's normal?"
"You're not a chicken. You've just been blessed with your father's penchant for letting the imagination take you for a ride."
"Fabulous."
Castle smirked and filled three mugs with coffee, handing one to each of the girls before grabbing a pair of scissors to cut through the tape on the shipping box. Once done, he handed the box to Beckett, grinning from ear to ear in anticipation.
"So it's practical?" she started, surveying the box for clues. "Your definition of practical is miles and miles from mine."
"It's also stylish."
Alexis muttered an "oh no" under her breath as Beckett opened the box, pushing aside the bubble wrap and papers to find a pair of boots. For a split second she was proud of him for finding something so perfect, but then she took a closer look. They were leather, at least parts of them, but they were rubber soled and waterproof, complete with traction and dry linings. It was thoughtful, but not something she would have picked out in a million years.
"See, now you can go to wet and muddy crime scenes without sacrificing your Beckett-look. Aren't they great?"
He was rifling through the box for the thick socks that came with the boots and totally missed the looks that Beckett and Alexis exchanged.
"It's um… it's a really good idea, Castle. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Try them on."
"But-"
"Go ahead. We don't want to get to a crime scene and find out they don't fit."
Reluctantly, she slid her flats off and put the boots on, standing up and wiggling her toes.
"Perfect fit," she said with a nod, while Alexis tried so hard not to laugh she was almost blue in the face.
"Good! I got myself a matching pair. Sort of, I mean, I got myself the men's pair. We can also wear them next time we go seashell hunting at the beach."
"Well, you were right when you said they were practical," she managed. She was grateful of course, and his thoughtfulness meant more to her than the boots ever would, but she couldn't get rid of the voice in her head that kept telling her how ugly her new footwear was.
"Dad, you're not seriously going to make her wear those!" Alexis finally burst out, lifting her eyebrows. "She looks like the original Morton Salt Girl."
Beckett made a face and glanced down at the yellow dress she happened to be wearing.
"She does?" Castle questioned, looking her up and down.
"Yes!"
"Oh but that's okay," Beckett reassured. "Look at it this way, next year's Halloween is taken care of."
Castle nodded.
"Alright. Just let me know when you want to go as the Coppertone baby."
"Dad!"
He chuckled and pushed off the counter, making sure he had his wallet.
"I'm going to run down to the bakery for dessert. I'll be back."
The door clicked behind him and Kate chuckled to herself, still standing there in the boots, finding them comfortable, but a wee bit ridiculous.
"So," Alexis started with a cheeky grin. "Could I have your old boots?"
"Hilarious," Beckett scoffed, tossing a piece of bubble wrap at her.
"Hey, thanks for not totally shutting him down. I think it would have crushed him if you admitted you didn't like them."
"If he hadn't been so excited about them he probably would have noticed."
"Oh well. I guess the crime scene thing is a good point. How many pairs of shoes have you ruined?"
"A lot. Or maybe not ruined, but they were gross enough that I would rather throw them out than try and clean them. You need sugar in your coffee?"
"Yeah, sure."
Beckett slid off the bar stool and walked into the kitchen, stopping partway there.
"And, the boots are squeaky. Great."