Hey guys! I am so so so sorry for my lack of presence! I got a new laptop and it took me forever to download Microsoft word on it. Plus, I hadn't been inspired much lately. I know I said I would be writing a sequel to one of my other stories called "Those Three Words", but again I hadn't had much inspiration to continue that...FOR NOW! I might come back to it later!
Anyways, I started a new story; although I don't know how long it will be yet. This story takes place during season 4 but before "47 Seconds". I hope you like it! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle
Today is the day. Today is the day Richard Castle finally gets some courage and asks Kate Beckett out on an official date. Lately things have been great between them. Their flirty banter has increased, and there has been more and more lingering touches and gazes. She's being more open with him, he can tell. He can practically see those bricks on her wall falling one by one.
After having a constant self debate over the past week, he has finally chosen to take a chance and ask her out.
Beckett is sitting at her desk at 9:30am with no murder, just paperwork. She was already bored out of her mind, and it wasn't even lunch yet. She wished Castle would get here already and keep her company. Her and Castle's relationship has progressed very well during the past few months. She's been working on being more open with him. She knows for certain that she wants to be with him, it's just working on her being ready for a man as wonderful as Rick Castle. Lately she's been thinking that maybe if they just take that last step in starting a new chapter of their relationship, then maybe it will be exactly what she needs to knock down those last few bricks. She knows that their relationship is waiting on her to be ready and she will most likely have to make the first move. But she kind of wishes that Castle would just go for it and take that final step for her.
Her thoughts are then interrupted by the ding of the elevator, and out strolls the man who has invaded her thoughts for the past 15 minutes.
"Morning Beckett, how's it going?" Castle asks, while handing her the second cup of coffee he's holding and offering that smile he only reserves for their daily coffee exchange.
"Hey Castle, thanks!" She says, nodding at the coffee and giving him her own specially reserved smile. "It's been alright, no murder, just paperwork, unfortunately."
"Hm, well that's not always a bad thing" Castle says while taking a seat in his chair.
"Really? And since when have you become a fan of paperwork?" She replies, setting her coffee down and folding her hands across her desk.
"Well uhh... There's an advantage of letting you get home at a decent hour." Castle says nervously. "Like today, if there's no murder and you're not busy later on, I was wondering if, uhm...you'd like to go out for dinner with me tonight?" Castle says quickly, avoiding her eyes.
Kate smiled beautifully, eyes shining. Finally!, was all she could think. She looked at him, he was looking at his lap, playing with his hands nervously.
"Castle?" She says gently, to get his attention. When he finally meets her eyes, she continues with a smile. "I'd love to have dinner with you."
He gives a smile that has his eyes crinkling at the side and it's hard for her not to mirror his face.
"Yeah? So tonight at 8pm work for
you?" Castle asks excitedly.
"It's perfect." She replies, reaching for his hand across her desk and squeezing it lightly.
Castle leaves after lunch, to finalize things for their date tonight. Which leaves Kate to finish up paperwork until 5:30pm.
Kate gets home at 6pm and immediately jumps into the shower. She then goes to her closet to pick an outfit to wear. She chooses a royal blue thick strapped dress, that crosses at the back, and stops just above her knees. She picks a pair of black wedges to accompany the dress. She then goes on to start her hair. She decides to keep it down with loose curls. She applies a bit of foundation, eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow. By the time she finishes her hair, makeup, slips on her dress and shoes, and grabs a small black purse, it's 8:00pm and she hears a knock on her door. She takes one last look in the mirror and heads for the door.
When she opens the door, she's met with a pair of sea blue eyes and a truly happy smile.
"Hey Castle" she says softly.
"Hi, uh, these are for you" he replies while handing her a bouquet of assorted flowers.
"Oh Castle, thank you! They're beautiful." She says while taking the flowers.
"So are you" Castle replies automatically.
She suddenly looks up at him and he stutters.
"I..uh..I mean, you, uhm..."
Kate just laughs softly, "thank you Castle. You don't look too bad yourself." She replies while letting her eyes rack over his outfit.
He's wearing a black suit, with a royal blue shirt that coincidentally matches hers and brings out his eyes, accompanied by a black tie.
"Please come inside." She says, stepping back. "Just let me find a vase to put these in."
He steps in while she goes off to the kitchen. She returns quickly, and they're off. When they're seated in Castle's car service, Kate asks,
"So where are we having dinner?"
"Well that, my dear detective, is a secret." Castle replies with a wink.
When they arrive at the restaurant, Castle steps out of the car and helps Kate out. She loops her arm with his and they make their way to the entrance. It's a cute italian place, not too crowded. The waiter leads them to a room at the back of the restaurant, away from others, and it's decorated beautifully with a single table in the middle.
Kate stops and gasps. "Castle...it's beautiful!"
"Well you deserve the best." Castle says easily with a smile.
Kate squeezes his forearm and gives him a smile of her own in response.
He leads her to the table with his hand on the small of her back. He pulls out her chair and allows her to sit before taking his own seat across the table.
They both order different types of pasta and a bottle of wine. Their dinner progresses while having a constant conversation, sharing food, handholding, and sharing gazes into each others eyes. They order a lava cake to share for dessert and after they're done, they find themselves pleasantly stuffed.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" Castle asks
"I would like that" Kate replies
So they make their way outside with no destination in mind. Castle offered her his suit jacket because of the slight breeze outside. They end up walking hand in hand for about 30 minutes or so until they find themselves in front of Kate's apartment.
Castle walks her up to her door, not wanting the night to end. They arrive to her front door and instead of Kate opening it, she turns around to face Castle.
"I had a wonderful time Rick, thank you." Kate says smiling at him and squeezing their still joined hands.
"Me too, Kate." Castle replies.
"Look, I would invite you in for coffee, but it's already really late and we have an early start tomorrow morning, so..." Kate rambles off nervously.
Castle chuckles. "Hey, Kate. Don't worry, it's fine, I understand." He says and smiles. "But uhm..." He starts a bit nervous himself. "Next time maybe we could have a night in at the loft? I'll cook dinner and we can watch a movie maybe? I mean if you want there to be a next time... It's just that I...I had a great time and would love to do it again, but if you can't then I completely..."
He was cut off by Kate's lips on his. He was about to respond back but Kate pulled away much too quickly for his liking. When she leaned back to look at him, her hands on his shoulders, she smiled at him.
"You talk too much, you know that?" She said with a smirk. Before he could reply, she continued. "But a night at the loft sounds great! Is tomorrow good for you? We won't have to worry about it getting late since I have the next day off."
Castle nodded, still a bit dazed from their kiss. "Tomorrow is perfect."
She nodded back and smiled.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Goodnight Castle."
He didn't respond. He just pulled her in for another kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed for a few minutes until he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.
"Night Kate." He said softly, giving her one last peck on her lips before turning around and going. Leaving Kate in front of her door with a ridiculously big smile plastered on her face. She couldn't wait for tomorrow!
That's chapter 1! Let me know what you of it so far! :)