DISCLAIMER: "Castle" and all its wonderful characters are the property of ABC and Andrew Marlowe. Much as I enjoy playing with them, I unfortunately do not own them. Please don't sue me.
Prompt: Cheese, a Lamp, Demming, Jordan, a Cat in a Tree, and a Pie
"How about this?"
"Castle, we're getting a wedding gift not a gag gift."
"What too cheesy?" Rick says with a waggle of his eyebrows.
Kate rolls her eyes, strategically turning her head to conceal the grin that she doesn't want him to see. He sees it anyways of course. And as he sets down the garish yellow cheese-shaped lamp, he smirks, amused that even now she still bothers to feign annoyance. (He knows she loves it.)
He follows her down the brightly lit isle, scanning the collection of lamps with relative disinterest. He'd rather be playing with all the fun gadgets in the electronics section but that's not an option until they find an appropriate gift.
"Oh, look at this," he points to the next most ridiculous lamp he can find wondering if he can get her to roll her eyes again. (He keeps a running count.)
The base is shaped like a knotted tree trunk. The shade is rounded and textured like a plume of leaves. Inside the V where the branches spread up into the shade sits a multicolored tabby cat.
Kate rolls her eyes again (That's three. The first was when he suggested the skimpiest dress he could find for her wedding outfit.)
"I don't know why I brought you for this when you aren't going to take it seriously."
"Jordan likes cats doesn't she? She'd love it," he insists. (Internally he smirks.)
"Even if she does we're not getting her a cat lamp for her wedding. Besides Tom doesn't like cats, he's allergic," she answers as she pulls him away from the lighting section..
"Really? Hmm..." He looks back at the the lamp one more time then flashes a scheming grin. "Maybe we should get them a kitten."
This time she doesn't try to smother the laugh, "Geez Castle, you still want to make him suffer?"
"What? Marriage is about compromise, I'm sure Schle- Demming could learn to live with it."
"Or you could get over your pointless jealousy, and we can get them something from their wedding registry and not contribute to their health problems."
"The registry? All that stuff is boring like tea sets and dishes. We need to give something memorable, something that makes us stand out."
"Being the reason they met in the first place isn't interesting enough for you?"
"Oh right, the pie incident."
"Yes, the pie," she stops perusing the kitchen wares and faces him full on. "The giant pie that you insisted on ordering to celebrate with the FBI when we finished the Butler case. The giant pie that he saved her from from falling into when she tripped on the automatic vacuum you insisted on buying for the precinct. That pie."
"But it was a great pie," he says grinning. "Oh! That's what we should get them – a giant pie plate."
(Wait for it...) She rolls her eyes. (That's four.)
"Come on, Castle. Time to get serious." She walks away visibly peeved.
He reaches out and grabs her hand tugging her into his chest.
"Wha-" she starts before he silences her with a gentle kiss.
"You're cute when you're annoyed with me," he murmurs against her lips.
"Castle," she groans before he sweeps her into another kiss.
When he pulls away her shoulders have loosened and shakes her head more in amusement than annoyance.
"Besides, I already know what to get them." He nods towards a display behind her.
She turns and follows his gaze warily, then matches his grin, "Now we're talking."
As they walk back to the car with a sizable box in Rick's arms she turns to him.
"Think this is high-tech enough for Jordan?" She winks.
"Think this is too complicated for Demming?"
She lightheartedly smacks his arm, laughing, then opens the trunk for him to set down the gift-wrapped all-in-one gourmet espresso coffee maker.
"If they can't figure it out I'm sure we could take it off their hands."
A/N - For cookme because she's an odd cookie.
Fight On and You'll Never Walk Alone
