So, this just popped into my head, thinking about Valentines Day today. Just a little bit of drabble/one shot goodness to tide you over. I have been working an INSANE amount, so followers of my other stories, please don't abandon me... I promise I will write more when I can. I plan on finishing 'Secrets' soon because I am almost done, and then finishing 'Tossing', because it's almost done too... and then putting some REAL work into 'Pledged.'
Anyhow.
I don't own anyone etc. If I did, well. :D
"Um, Kate?"
She turned around, her eyebrows slightly raised in alarm by his use of her first name.
"Uh," he faltered. "Nevermind."
"Oh spit it out, Castle."
"I- No... It's stupid. Really. Nevermind. Goodnight." He began to head out, grabbing his jacket and turning abruptly to the door. Kate let him walk a few steps before calling after him.
"If you stop and grab take out on our way, we can finally watch that TV show you're always talking about."
She smirked as she turned to leave as well, knowing for a fact, without looking, that she had stopped him in his tracks, and a surprised look was plastered on his face. She quickly caught up to him partially because he had hesitated, and partially because of her long, even stride. They fell in step, neither wanting to admit why she presented her offer, nor why he was so eager to take it.
It was Valentine's Day, and if they had gone their separate ways, they would have been both going to empty cold apartments. Josh was still in Africa, and Alexis was of course out with Ashley, and Martha was out exercising her gray-dar with a few of her actress friends.
Not that things like that hadn't happened before... but there was something about February 14th, an unspoken rule that, if you could help it, precautions against being alone should be taken.
This was not to say that they couldn't have been content at home by themselves. But why be alone when they could be together? There was nothing (at the moment) preventing that. And besides. It was Chinese and TV. What harm could come from it?
He left her, reluctantly, in the car while he ran into the Chinese restaurant. The owner gave him a knowing look, business had been good tonight, especially for seemingly single guys.
They made their way into his apartment, neither exchanging too many words, because both were lost in their own thoughts.
Kate was thinking about how she wasn't thinking about Josh.
Rick was thinking about how he could figure out what Kate was thinking.
As they settled in, Kate on the couch practically curled up around her box of lo mien, and Rick on the floor using the coffee table as a pedestal for his mu shu pork, an ease floated between them, as it usually did.
Rick stole a glance at the detective, whose eyes were fixed on the TV screen.
"When exactly are the cows going to show up?" She managed, her mouth half full of noodles. "I have to agree with Alexis. There are no cows in space... or at least there shouldn't be!"
All he could do was smile affectionately at her as she continued to remain glued to the program.
She finally tore herself away for a moment to give him a questioning look. Seeing his smile settle into his eyes, she tilted her head a bit more and said,
"What?"
"Nothing. It's just fun watching you watch."
"Could we file this in the 'Times you watch me and it's creepy' folder?"
"Do what you like. I'm having fun."
She paused a beat.
"You know what?"
"What?" He met her eyes.
"Me too."
They shared a smile, eyes diverting after a moment back to their food and the television. Their thoughts were the same; no matter the circumstances, nights like these beat any other.
Not exactly thrilled with the ending, but oh well. It wasn't meant as a Pulitzer piece. AT LEAST I'M WRITING! XD
Reviews are the BEST THINGS EVER. :]
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