A/N: So this is my first shot at a multi-chapter fic. I'll try and update fairly regularly (I already have the first few chapters written) but since it's my first, and i'm a little unsure of the flow/format I would love your feed back. Anyways this takes place in a Kate Beckett hasn't got shot yet universe. Say, sometime soon after 'Pretty Dead'. Enjoy :)
Castle sighed as Beckett stood and slipped her jacket over her shoulders.
"Why so glum Castle?"
He sent her a theatrical dejected glance, but when their eyes met he couldn't help but let a little bit of the smile that was bubbling up from inside of him show.
"Welllllllll…" he flourished his hands about as she pushed in her chair and she noted that he was obviously sticking to his overacting tactic, "Mother is having some friends over tonight."
"Oh come on Castle, Martha's having some friends over? Don't think you can handle a few cougars?" A tight grin quickly spread across her face as she curled her fingers in to a claw shape and jokingly swiped at the empty space between them.
She could see that he was obviously torn between making some type of innuendo or getting what was bothering him off his chest. Surprisingly, he chose the latter, "Last time she had friends over we had no less than ten complaints from other tenants in the building and two visits from the police."
"Two visits from the police in one night?"
"Well one was technically a stripper but he had a cop costume on sooo…" and there was that lopsided grin she knew so well.
Beckett rolled her eyes, fiddling with her keys while they waited for the elevator. The next words slipped out of her mouth before she could find the sense to stop them, " As much as I love to see you squirm, I ordered the most delicious Chinese the yesterday but I got called In before I could get at it. If you're hungry-"
"Why Detective Beckett, I would be honored." He enthusiastically took her arm and led her into the elevator as the door opened.
Castle hailed a cab when they got out of the precinct and, per request went into greater explanation of Martha's last ' friends night'. Beckett had prodded him about the finer details not because she wanted to know the diva's exploits but because she need time to think about what had just happened. She had just willingly invited Castle over to her apartment for dinner. What was going on? Maybe it was that new cologne he had started wearing. Maybe it was the way the hue of the button up he was wearing made his blue irises even more vibrant than usual. Or Maybe-
"Beckett?"
"Mmm?"
"We're here."
She reached for her purse but Castle got to his wallet first and waved her off, much to her chagrin.
Once they got up to her apartment, Beckett wasted no time gathering the Chinese food from her fridge and heating it up. Castle scavenged for plates and silverware and upon finding them, set up a small area to eat on her table.
"Thanks." Beckett nodded at the table setting as she balanced a copious amount of white take out containers on top of each other, carrying them to the table.
He responded with a genuine smile, "My pleasure." He took some take out containers from the pile she was holding and sat them on the table as well, "I do however have to ask why you have enough food here to feed a traveling circus."
She shrugged her shoulders, "I usually make one or two big orders a week and just live off that for awhile. Less hassle."
Castle put a scoop of Lo Mein on his plate, " You know , as much as I love takeout, you're always invited to the loft to dine on a meal by an expert chef." He put a forkful in his mouth but kept speaking, "thatwouldbeme."
"Hey, I never said I wasn't an accomplished chef myself. I said it was easy to order takeout."
"Accomplished?" He waggled his eyebrows.
She pursed her lips. Their banter never failed to increase her heart rate.
She watched him eat for a moment before firing off her next line, " Accomplished in so many things." She bit her lip , "You may never know."
The beautiful thing was she didn't even have so say anything actually insinuating any more. Just the right tone of voice, a look, and she could see the red creeping up behind his ears.
Only catch was, he had the same power over her. She just had to pretend she was in control.
"Well then." his voice had unwillingly dropped an octave, "Why don't you show me some?"
"Oh okay. In that case..." Castle's mouth gapped a bit as she took a spoonful of the rice that was close to his arm, making sure to brush up against it ever so lightly," I'll make some chocolate chip cookies later."
The packet of soy sauce she had opened splattered a little, so when she noticed she had a little on her finger she popped it in her mouth before adding, for Castle's benefit, "They're delicious."
So yes, reviews would be lovely. (Fell free to pm me anytime as well.) I know this chapter was pretty short but I wanted to get a few things set up so yes, the following chapters will definitely be longer.