We meet again. This is a story I'm working/have been working on, just a little something I whipped up.
It's actually a response to a prompt I saw forever ago. I don't know if it's going to go anywhere, so please drop a line and let me know if I should continue!
I would include a synopsis, because I feel like the title could go so many different directions, but it will be more fun if you read and find out :D
Kate Beckett sat at her desk, almost hidden by the large stack of paperwork that cluttered it, filing all sorts of that monotonous case work. Ryan walked past, just noticing his bosses arrival, greeting her with a nod. She smiled her hello and was about to continue her work when he stopped short, a bright splash of color amongst the boring white papers catching his eye. It was the corner of a colorful card, poking out from underneath the mountains of procedural paper. He pulled at it, unearthing the card, opening it to reveal an invitation. "What's this?" He asked, loudly, as to draw Kate's, as well as Esposito's, attention. She just noticed what he was doing, and immediately she felt the blood rushing to her face. She tried to snatch it from him, but he was too quick, raising the card above his head and out of her reach. "You have been invited," he read aloud from the curly script writing of the card. "To Eleanor Roosevelt High School's ten year Reunion, on the 6th of March."
"Give it back," Kate demanded, making another lunge for the invitation. Anticipating her move, Ryan once again moved it from her reach.
"Are you going to go?" he asked, curiously.
"I'm still thinking about it," she told him, even though she was certain she would not.
"You should," he told her.
"I don't have a date," she admitted, making up the first reason she could think of. It was true, she didn't.
"Who needs a date?" Ryan reasoned.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Alright, you have a point," Ryan's brow furrowed in concentration. "Espo can take you!" A glimmer of hope shined in Kate's eyes as she looked towards Javier. That was a good plan. He was too much like the protective brother to think it was a date, and nice enough to convince people otherwise. Besides, he owed her. But just as she looked his way, she saw him shake his head.
"No can do, bro," he wore and expression of apology. "Got plans."
"Well what about you?" Kate turned to Ryan, more hope in her voice than she meant to.
"I have a date, actually," He told her, his eyes softening in genuine regret. "Sorry," he offered, coupled with a sheepish smile. She sighed and took back the card, spinning around in her chair only to be greeted by Castle, sitting in his self-proclaimed seat, incredibly close. She jumped visibly in her seat, taken aback by his presence. She hadn't heard him arrive.
"Luckily, I'm free," he informed her, his childish grin oozing a charm uniquely his.
"First of all," she began, not even mildly impressed, "That was freakishly quiet- I didn't know you did quiet. Secondly, no thank you."
"Why not?" There was a slight whine in his voice. "You need a date, I happen to be free. I'm simply trying to be a good friend," He put on the innocent puppy face he used to get what he wanted.
"Because, Castle…" She combed her brain for a good reason, but drew a blank. "Because…" Castle seemed to sense her folding resolve.
"It's one night, just as friends, and I promise to be good and make you look fantastic," He swore. She studied his face for a heavy moment, deciding on whether to believe him or not. She concluded his face told a tale of honesty, and smiled.
"Fine," the single utterance made the man's face light up like a child's on Christmas morning, before she even got to her second clause. "But it's not a date. That means no flowers, no flashy things, no holding hands, and minimal PDA. Got it?" If he heard a word of it, she couldn't tell, for he merely nodded before she even finished and leapt up the second she was done.
"Great, fabulous, I'm going to go get things together," he excused, lamely, not even trying to hid his giddiness at the idea of Beckett and him on a…non-date. Just before he left the 12th precinct, he shouted out to Ryan. "What day did you say it was?" Beckett just rolled her eyes as Ryan read off the date, trying to be annoyed by his antics. The 6th was on Saturday- tomorrow, she realized. Shit. She hadn't planned on going at all, so she hadn't thought to pick out a dress. What would she wear? According to Lanie, she didn't own anything remotely acceptable for public show. Lanie. She would know what to do. And before her thought was even complete, she had her phone to her ear, her best friend's voice greeting her.
"Parish," She said, her nine-to-five greeting rolling off her tongue automatically.
"Lanie?" Kate asked, biting her lip.
"Hey girl, what's up? I don't have a body down here of yours, and I would be the first one to know if you gotta fresh stiff, so spill it, and please dear lord tell me its personal," she spit out so fast Kate barely registered it all.
"I need your help."
Rick Castle was looking through the women's department at Bargello's, sifting through the pricey, flashy dresses to find the perfect one for Kate. It was the second time he'd had the honor of find a dress for her, the second time it was without her consent, but the first time it was for an actual date. Well, a non-date, but to Rick, it was totally a date. He tossed aside the sequined outfits and the over-the-top printed ones, in search for something more…Kate. More real, more reasonable. None of that flashy, ostentatious stuff for her, no. It needed to be simple but elegant. Subtle but stunning. He was just about to give up his quest when a hint of deep red caught his eye. He smiled at how perfect the dress fit his checklist, how perfect it would look on her.
Kate was fumbling around in her closet, hopelessly racking its contents for a suitable dress to the ambience of Lanie's disapproving 'tut's. Déjà vu struck her and she realized it had been far too many times she had been in this position. Just a few weeks ago it was nearly the exact scenario. Except that was work, and this was…what was this? Not a date. She signed, haplessly, dropping backwards onto her bed beside her friend, who sat, patiently waiting. "This is so annoying." She muttered, more to herself than Lanie, but of course, she got a cheeky answer from her anyways.
"It would be a whole lot easier if you just admit you like him." Kate stifled the urge to tell her friend to shut up and sat up straight.
"I do not like him," she said, her comeback falling short of her usual standards. It was easier to bite back when it was the truth, and of all people, Lanie could tell when she was full of it.
"Bull. Now let me call him up and ask him to pick you out a dress," she whipped out her cell phone and began to dial, but before the call could be complete, Kate snatched the phone from her hand.
"That is not even sort of funny," she said, pointing.
"Fine, you can just wear that God-awful pink thing with the sequins," Lanie declared, standing up to leave. "Let me know how the reunion goes!" She called behind her as she opened the front door. Just as she was about to leave, she stopped short. "Uh, Kate?" she called back, a slight hesitance in her voice.
"Hmm?" Kate asked, entering the living room to see what Lanie stumbled upon. The petite woman was holding a large box, with Bargello's written in script letters across the top. "Oh, he didn't."
"It sure as hell looks like he did," Lanie countered, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. "Open it, let's see it!" Deep within her a girl longed to squeal. Kate accepted the box and slit the tape holding it closed, setting it down to pull out the beautiful crimson dress. It was long and elegant, with a plunging neckline and a back that was practically non-existent. It took all of her self control not to let out a gasp at its beauty, but Lanie didn't hold one back.
"Oh my God, girl! The man has class, who would have thunk it? Now go! Go try it on!" Kate felt herself being ushered into her own bedroom, dress in hand, the door closing with a click behind her. With nothing to do but oblige, she did just that, dropping her tank top and sweats to slip the shear dress on. It fell to her curves perfectly, accentuating every one of them. It couldn't have fit better if he had tried, she noted, silently, spinning in front of her mirror. The neckline was a large 'V', tying up behind her neck and diverging into separate pieces low on her chest. It left very little to the imagination for Kate, but she was known for her slightly conservative view of her own body. Nevertheless it made her feel good- it made her feel sexy. She pinned her hair up in a clip, lazily, trying out the look. She decided she liked it, and went to reveal it to Lanie.
"Oh my God!" the small woman gasped again when she saw her friend. "You look damn hot. Not only does the man have class, but he has taste- I mean, he's smitten for you, so you know he has taste, but this? Oh God, Kate, it's gorgeous. Simply gorgeous."
"You think?" Kate bit her lip, subconsciously, teasing at the waist of the garment.
"I know girl. Castle is going to have to surgically re-attach his jaw when he sees you in that. Stunning," she muttered one last time before pushing her back into the bedroom. "Now let's talk hair. I'm digging the up-do, you work that, but let me see if I can help- do you have any more of those hair clips?"
Soooooo?
Click that pretty button and leave your thoughts- I'm a very good listener....reader.