After a hard day's work of catching murderers (well one,) Richard Castle and Kate Beckett walked from Kate's desk towards the elevator. Kate pushed the down button and stood staring at the silver doors as they slid open. Beckett had that annoying feeling of someone watching you. Castle was, in fact, staring at her, but she decided to ignore it. Not five seconds after deciding this, she turned to him; the feeling of eyes on her was making her itchy.
"What, Castle? I can feel you staring at me. What is it?"
Castle looked baffled that she knew he was watching her, and he stood there, mouth slightly open. It was a few moments before he spoke.
"I was- well, I don't know. Well, I do know. I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight. Stay awhile, hang out, you know." His words were staccato and he cleared his throat.
They got out of the elevator and walked out onto the busy sidewalk in front of the 12th Precinct.
"Oh Castle, I would like to, but I don't want to intrude on your family time with Martha and Alexis." the detective replied, politely.
"Oh, it's no bother. Alexis is finished school and went up to the Hamptons with a bunch of friends. My mother is off visiting some long lost friend in Florida. I'm lonely now that they're gone, and I would be happy to have you over. Even if they were here, they wouldn't mind if you came over. Oh wait, Dr. Motorcycle Boy will get mad." Castle replied, a smile faded from his lips as quickly as it came.
"Oh, right I didn't tell you: I broke up with him on Saturday. Things just weren't working out. He was always busy, I was always busy, and so we never really had much time for the two of us." Kate explained the situation quickly and vaguely so Castle wouldn't ask any unnecessary questions.
"Beckett I'm so sorry." Castle gave her a genuine look of concern.
"No, it's alright."
"So, would you come over for dinner?" He smiled.
Kate couldn't resist that adorable smile.
"Oh, alright! So, it's 5:40 right now. I'll be over around 7. Is that okay?"
"That would be marvelous."
They smiled at each other one last time, and then separated. Castle turned to look at her discreetly, but she was trying to do the same thing. They turned pink, looked away, and kept walking. Beckett hailed a cab to her apartment, but Rick walked to his; it wasn't far.
Back at Kate's apartment, she flopped down on her big comfy sofa. She giggled to herself at the thought of having a date with Rick. She closed her eyes for a second, then lifted herself off the couch and went to get changed. She had to look beyond pretty tonight. This was Richard freakin' Castle!
"Goodness, why is he so handsome?" she asked aloud as she threw open her tall closet doors.
It was ten of 6 by the time Richard unlocked his door, and threw it open, to reveal the pigsty inside.
"Oh, shit. I forgot. Poker got a little wild last night. Dammit, I hate cleaning."
After 20 minutes of intense cleaning, Richard sat down, exhausted, and let out a deep sigh. He then got up and went to get changed. He knew Kate would look gorgeous tonight, so he wanted to impress her by looking great, too. This was Katherine freakin' Beckett! He scrubbed himself down in the shower and shaved every last bit of stubble on his face. He put on his favorite slacks, favorite button-down, nicest sport coat, and a tie that brought the whole ensemble together.
I really am ruggedly handsome. She'll be begging to stay the night. With this thought, he winked at his reflection and checked his watch.
"Oh damn, it's five of 7. I should go check if I have anything in the fridge to make us dinner. Otherwise, we're getting take-out," he said aloud, practically to the door frame.
Beckett looked at her father's watch on her wrist. She let out a quiet "oops." It's five of 7 already? I should have left by now.
She was so consumed in putting on her makeup that she lost track of time. After putting the finishing touches on her mascara, Kate turned and looked at her reflection in the full length mirror that hung from the left closet door. Four-inch Devil red spike heels, black jeggings, a red, low cut, button-down, silk blouse. She topped it all off with a red clutch (which concealed her small handgun, just in case.) She walked out of her apartment, locked the door, and went to the building's doors that led outside. It was a warm night in late May, too warm for a jacket, and there was a slight breeze. She hailed an empty cab and got in.
What a great night. Kate smiled to herself as the bottoms of buildings flew by.
There was a sharp knock at the door. Castle stood up quickly when he heard the knocking. He straightened out his coat and sauntered to the door. He slowly opened the door and Kate stepped into the luxurious place Castle only described as modest and simple. They exchanged hellos and a small hug.
Hot damn. She looks gorgeous and she's all mine for the night. Sweet!
Wow, he is…hot….and ruggedly handsome, as he says.
Rick already had the ingredients out for their dinner. "You can just sit right at the counter. I'm going to make us some broccoli and chicken stir fry. I've been told by many people it is exquisite."
"Let me guess, those many people are Martha and Alexis."
"And my poker crew!" He replied defensively. They both snickered quietly.
A bottle of wine sat in a small pail of ice. "Here we go, California Cabernet Sauvignon, perfectly chilled. Would you like a big glass or a very big glass?" Rick asked with his usual flirty half smile, his right eyebrow arched.
"Whatever floats your boat, Cas-" she almost called him Castle, but they were outside of work, calling him by his given name was more appropriate. "Rick."
"Well, my boat is floating fine, just because you are here." A broad smile came to his face, and set down her glass, now filled less than an inch from the top. "And might I say, you look astonishing tonight."
"Aw, thanks, Rick. You really know how to charm a woman."
"Oh, so it's working? Maybe after we finish off this bottle, I'll break out another." He winked and then started preparing their meal. "Maybe two "Derrick Storm" promotional shot glasses and a bottle of Jameson whiskey."
Kate laughed and bit her lip, slight sarcasm came to her voice when she spoke, "Oh, yes, Castle. That sounds lovely."
She took a taste of the wine as she slipped her gaze away from him. She set the glass back down and slowly spun her stool around, examining the loft she had only been in two or three times. It was a great place, beautifully decorated, but still had a friendly, homey quality. Maybe I should write a bunch of best-sellers and get myself a place like this. Kate turned back and took a sip of her wine.
"So, Rick, where did you learn to make this "exquisite" stir fry? Are you a naturally good cook?"
"I was a scrawny 15-year-old, scouring newspapers for any job I could qualify for. (My mother always made me pay for everything myself.) First job I could get was delivery boy for this little Chinese place, Wu's Kitchen, which was right down the street from my house. The cook there took a liking to me and taught me a few things when I wasn't delivering egg rolls and low mien." Castle explained, with a smile.
" I can't imagine you as a teenager." Kate said, laughing.
Yet, Kate could imagine a teenage Richard Castle, or Richard Rodgers, before his writing career took off. She could see him: tall and skinny, with short, but shaggy dark hair, and a vocabulary developed beyond his years. His blue-gray eyes were shining as they do to this day.
"I was not as popular as you might think. Yes, I had a fair group of friends, but I wasn't Mister Super Jock, whom everyone loves. I was one of the smart kids. The only thing that kept me from being a total geek was the fact that I was the starting freshman quarterback, then freshman year ended, and I ended up as third-string quarterback sophomore year. I quit after that, because no one cares about third-string." There was a slight pause. "Enough about me. What did you do in high school? Tell me while we eat."
Rick had finished plating their meals and was carrying them over to the dining table. He had artfully fixed the meal on their plates in a way chefs might on a television competition, or at an expensive restaurant.
"Wow, Rick, I'm impressed," Kate said as she sat down in the chair he pulled out for her. "I hope it tastes as good as it looks."
"Oh, trust me, Kate, it tastes better than it looks. Now, hold on, I forgot utensils and the bottle of wine."
Kate nodded and took a big gulp of wine as he walked away. He came back with everything a moment later, his wondering about her high school years slipped his mind, and he settled in his seat across from her. They began eating in an awkward silence. Kate silently agreed with Rick that it was a great dish. She downed the remains of her wine and slid her hand across the table to pour another glass, but he stopped her.
"No, no, Kate, allow me. You're the guest, I am the host, so you will not exert your energy pouring wine," the writer said with a sweet grin, as he filled the glass close to the top.
"Oh...thank you, Rick. This food is amazing, by the way." Kate responded, grinning back at him.
"Kate, I have known you for so long, yet I don't know you. I mean, really know you. Yes, I know about your mother, your father, your reason for joining the force, but that's some pretty deep information. I don't know any basics. Like, what's your favorite color, sport, band, actor, etcetera.
"Well, Rick, I've been pondering the same things about you."
"You start, ladies first. What is your favorite color?"
"Hmm…my favorite color…navy blue. You?"
"Easy. Red. Favorite actor?"
"Harrison Ford. Goodness, was he great as Solo or what?" A shy smile was creeping onto her face.
"Yes, he was, and of course he was a great Indy. Now here's something you wouldn't expect, no one ever does: My favorite actor is Joe Pesci. You cannot resist his wit in My Cousin Vinny and he was fantastic as Tommy De Vito in Goodfellas.
"Oh I love My Cousin Vinny! 'Perhaps the laws of physics cease to exist on your stove. Were these magic grits? Did you buy them from the same guy who sold Jack his beanstalk beans?'" Kate quoted Vinny Gambini, and her accent was almost perfect. They both laughed for a good five minutes.
"What's your favorite movie?" Rick asked, finally catching his breath.
"Forbidden Planet, although I love Star Wars, too. What's your favorite?"
"I love the Star Wars series and Serenity"
"Serenity? Is that the one with Nathan Fillion?"
Richard gasped, "You've never seen Serenity? I've dressed up as a space cowboy at least 3 times for Halloween."
Kate laughed "I'm joking. I've seen it twice. You know, you kind of look like Captain Reynolds."
"I've been told. Though, I'm much better looking." Rick grinned at Kate over the top of his wine glass.
"So, space cowboy, what's your favorite singer or band? I love U2, always have, always will. I wanted to marry Bono for the longest time." Kate said with a sheepish smile.
"I met him once, he wanted me to sign his copy of Gathering Strom. He's a very friendly man." Kate's jaw dropped, and Rick laughed at her. "Ah, anyway…I, personally, feel like you can't go wrong with the classics: the Beatles and the Rolling Stones all the way."
"Well, yeah, I don't think you could find a soul that doesn't like the Beatles or the Stones!"
"That is quite possibly true, Kate." Castle replied. A minute passed and he spoke up again, smiling, "My guilty pleasure band is Panic! At the Disco."
"Oddly enough, Panic! is one of my guilty pleasure bands, too. Them, and…oh, I don't wanna tell! You'll laugh!"
"I won't! Promise."
"Adam Lambert."
Kate's eyes were wide and she used her hand to conceal her face in shame. She looked through her fingers at Rick, looking for signs of laughter. His face was twisted in a goofy expression, almost in pain. He was trying to hold in his laughter just as she was trying to hide her shame, both poor attempts.
"Okay, I'm letting you laugh. You look like you're going to either explode or piss yourself." Kate started laughing along with him.
They continued to laugh and talk about Adam Lambert, Panic! at the Disco, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. After they were finished eating, Rick invited Kate to come sit on the couch and chat. He decided to clear the table when she left. She walked over and sat at one end, placing her glass on a coaster on the low table. He followed close by, wine bottle and glass in hand. He filled both glasses yet again, and sat towards the middle of the couch, turned slightly in Kate's direction. They were about twenty minutes into a deep in a discussion about the Beatles, when Richard stood up, crossed the room, dimmed the lights, and set his orange iPod into the dock of the large stereo.
"What are you gonna play, Ricky?" Kate hiccupped; the wine was finally catching up with her.
"Something."