Building New Dreams

Disclaimer : I don't own any of the character (but I wish I did) I just play with them for a bit then give them back.

This is the third instalment of my Dreams series. You may want to reading the first two instalments before starting this one though it can be read with it. I hope you enjoy reading it just as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Six months, had it really only been six months. Well four years and six months, Lanie was always reminding her.
Anyway six months since she and Richard Castle had finally told each other exactly how they felt then taken their relationship to the next level and not much had really changed other then the fact that they were now officially a couple everything else had stayed the same. Kate was still a detective at the 12th precinct with Castle still following her around, everything was the same.

Kate was thinking to herself as she leaned back against the headboard, listening to the shower running in the next room, wondering if she should join him. She knows he won't mind, in fact she knows he'd thoroughly enjoy it, that's why at this moment she is sitting in bed alone. Rick has a publishing meeting that morning and Kate knows that if she so much as sets foot in the bathroom with him that he will end up being late for said meeting and that Paula or Gina or both would blame her. Well not really but that's her excuse anyway.
Sighing Kate looks around the room suddenly noticing how a lot of her things have migrated from her apartment and made a home in Rick's bedroom, when did that happen? Sure she had a few clothes here but that was because it was more practical as she spent most of her of nights at the loft, But it was the more personal things that were getting her thinking, also she was starting to think of the loft as home which didn't scare her half as much as she had expected it to.

She was brought out of her musings as her phone rang "Beckett" she answered trying to stifle a yawn

"Morning Katie, sorry did I wake you?" her father apologised

"No, no I'm awake but only just. How are you?"

"Fine, good actually, I just wanted to remind you about our lunch date later, just in case you had forgotten." her dad said

"No I hadn't forgotten, Rick and I will be there and dad be nice don't scare him too much ok" Kate laughed

"I'll try but remember you will always be my little girl no matter how old you get. Even when you're married and have children of your own. See you at lunch" and with that the line went dead.

Kate was putting her phone back on the nightstand when Castle exited the bathroom rubbing his hair with a towel "Was that your phone I heard ringing just now?"

"Yeah it was my dad reminding us about lunch." Kate said as she looked him up and down. He was standing in front of her in nothing but a towel and she really liked what she saw, so much so that she was contemplating making him late for his meeting.

Shaking herself out of the moment she got off the bed and headed for the shower intent on putting some distance between Rick and herself but her lover had other ideas having seen her eyes roam over his body and the look she'd just given him. As she walked past he reached out snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her to him

"Hey" he said leaning down to kiss her. "You know I could be a little late for my meeting."

Kate contemplates this for a second before replying "As much as I'd like that the last time you were late I had Gina on the phone, so no but maybe we can continue this later." She replied trying to keep her voice steady and extract herself from his arms. "Now get dressed and I'll meet you in the kitchen in about ten minutes.

Knowing she was right Rick let her go and watched her walk away from him toward the bathroom. Not before checking out her amazing legs that were peeping put from the bottom of the t-shirt she was wearing one of his he mused. He waited for the door to close before he turned and did what she asked.

Ten minutes later Kate walked into the kitchen to find Rick behind the island busy cooking breakfast. Quietly she walked up behind him and snaked her arms round his waist and kissed his neck.

"What you making?"

"Pancakes what else." He said turning slightly to plant a kiss on her lips before turning back to the pan.

Once they had eaten Rick left for his meeting, while Kate pottered around the loft keeping herself busy while she waited to leave for her coffee date with Lanie.

Kate left the loft about an hour later and headed for the coffee shop where she was meeting her friend. When she arrived she saw that Lanie was already there and waiting for her.

"Morning" Lanie said as Kate slipped onto the chair beside her.

"Morning" came the reply with Kate trying to stifle a yawn.

"Is writer - man keeping you up at night?" Lanie smirked at her friend.

"Yeah" Kate answered before releasing what she was saying.

Lanie laughed at this causing Kate to reply "Noo, not in that way, well not only in that way" she continued as she saw her friends face.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and it's been keeping me awake"

"Really, thinking about what exactly?" her friend asked.

"Everything."

"Everything, wow that's big." Lanie joked. "Can you be a bit more specific"

"It's the little things. The fact that I'm beginning to think of the loft as home which hasn't had me heading for the hills and that a lot of my things have migrated there too in the last few months."

Lanie looked at her friend, she had known her for a long time and this was the happiest she had seen her.

"Well I'm happy for you Kate, you deserve it. Now when are you moving in?"

"What I'm not. He hasn't even asked. I can't just move in."

"What do you mean he hasn't asked, you and Castle are great together, that man has waited years for you and if I'm honest I'm a little surprised that he's waiting for anything anymore."

Kate paused for a second before answering "I think he's letting me dictate how fast or slow we move, I think he's worries he's going to scare me off or that I'm going to run. But you know something, that's not going to happen; I'm too far gone to leave now. What's even stranger is that I think that I don't want to wait any longer. And I can't believe I'm actually saying this, I don't just want to move in, I want it all, marriage, children, you know the whole ten yards" Kate only had to wait a moment for her friend to process what she had said.

"Ok who are you and what have you done to Kate Beckett?" Lanie laughed.

"Nothing Lanie she's still here in the background it's just she's not so freaked out by things anymore. I guess it's because I'm just so happy. Yes I know that being the girly girl is so not me anymore but I've not felt like this not since before my mom died. I feel safe."

"I'm so happy for you girl." Lanie said as she hugged her then checked the time. "Well I've got to run I'm on shift in about ten minutes. I'll see you soon no doubt." And with that they both got to their feet and parted ways. With Lanie heading toward the morgue and Kate to her lunch date with her dad and Rick.

Later that evening Kate was relaxing in the bath thinking about lunch. The meeting had gone well; Rick was his usual charming self, saying all the right things at the right time, when her father had quizzed him. It seemed that they had all known each other for years. Sure her dad and Rick had met before but it had only been a few times and had been under less than ideal circumstances. So she had been a little worried as to how the lunch was going to go but she been pleasantly surprised. So much so that she hadn't thought twice about leaving them alone for a bit while she had used the restroom. What she didn't know was that when she had excused herself Rick had discussed something with her father that was just between them and ridiculously old fashioned.
The lunch with her father had lasted for about two hours with Rick insisting he pick up the tab for said meal, which got a nod of approval from her father. The meeting had gone really well and by the end of the meal they had said they should get together again soon and maybe make it a regular thing.
As the water started to cool Kate decided it was time to get out, so she quickly rose to her feet, grabbing the towel she had set next to the tub. Once she had dried herself off she walked back into the bedroom, over to the bed to get changed into her night clothes. She sat down on the bed towelling off her hair thinking about what Lanie has said, maybe she and Rick did need to sit down and talk about a few things.