Disclaimer: CASTLE belongs to ABC and not me – just borrowing them
Author's note: This story takes place after season 4, but the spoilers are light. This is the first of a series of song-fictions, which I have decided to combine into a chapter set rather than posting them individually. Hope you enjoy. This story was inspired by Marie Digby's "Spell".
The soft notes from the piano seemed to linger for a moment in the air as the song came to an end; ripple of applause echoed through the Old Haunt. Kate leaned back against the smooth wood of the booth with a contented sigh as she felt the tension in her weary body finally begin to release. The week had been long and exhausting with a case that had nearly managed to beat them; however they had managed to miraculously solve it in the end. Another killer was off the streets, a family had been given closure and they had earned a much needed weekend off. She had planned to spend the Friday night as she always had with a hot bath, a good book and a glass of wine…however the case had left her feeling a bit unsettled and in want of company. She had not been the only one.
Within an hour, she had found herself tucked into a cozy corner booth at the Old Haunt between Lanie and Jenny, listening as Ryan's fiancée related a humorous story regarding the woes of wedding planning while Castle and Esposito engaged Ryan in a lively debate over who should be his best man. For over an hour no mention was made of murder, mayhem or 'cop talk', as Castle put it…and Kate began to remember how nice it was to have a life outside of work. As the night had grown later, the others had eventually said their goodnights until only she and Castle remained. She had been in no hurry to return to her empty apartment and her partner had seemed in no hurry to see the evening end either.
Kate closed her eyes and allowed her mind to clear as the musician began to play a new song; as she listened a velvet voice began to sing, blending with the soft melancholy notes issuing from the baby grand tucked away in the far corner of the room.
"Moonlight shining on my face…I can't see a thing and yet I feel you looking my way…an empty stage, with nothing but this girl, singing a simple melody and wearing her heart on her sleeve…"
A small smile flittered across her lips as she felt the weight of her partner's gaze from across the room. She opened her eyes a slit and her stomach fluttered as she caught him watching her from the bar, a soft smile on his handsome face; he had been doing that more often lately, watching her when he thought she was not paying attention. She knew he still had strong feelings for her…though he had not voiced those feelings since his declaration several months earlier in the graveyard. As always, the cards had been stacked against them, or so the saying went…until now. Now there was nothing standing in the way. She let her eyes slide close as he turned away and focused on the words of the song as she fought to temper the blush she felt rising to her face.
"Beauty emanates from every word that you say…echoes the deep thoughts in the purest and simplest of ways. But I'm not that graceful, like you, nor am I as eloquent, but this simple melody can change the way that you see me."
Kate smiled slightly at the words…she had never heard the song before and yet it was if the words were being drawn from her thoughts. Thoughts that shifted to a letter she had found carefully tucked away within the pages of the advanced copy of Heat Rises Castle had given her to help keep her occupied as she recovered from her injuries. He had a gift with words…one that had allowed him to rise among the ranks of the best sellers lists world-wide...one that had crafted the stories that had drawn her back from the edge after her mother's death…one that had helped to place many killers behind bars. But none of the words he had written had touched her more deeply than those in that one simple handwritten note. In true Castle fashion, he had managed to express the depths of his admiration for her…without placing the burden on her to reciprocate. He was willing to wait for her…as long as it took, but if her she did not feel the same, he had promised respect her decision and remain her friend always. She had read the letter many times…until the paper had begun to wrinkle and the ink smudged with her tears. It resided in her jewelry box, with her father's watch and her mother's ring.
She was in love with him…there was no denying it.
"All my life I've stumbled but here I am just perfect. Perfect as I'll ever be."
Kate felt both amazed and deeply humbled by the strength of his feelings for her. After all she had done to him…after all the times she had shoved him away and told him to leave…he was still there, by her side, protecting her from herself and pulling her back from the depths when she felt like giving up. When she had seen herself as a lost cause, he had refused to let her fall. Her white knight.
"I've got you. For a moment, I can tell I've got you, 'cause your lips don't move and something is happening, cause your eyes tell me the truth."
Her pulse quickened as she felt the cushion of the bench dip slightly as Castle claimed Jenny's empty seat beside her, her heart skipping a beat as she felt his hand brush hers as he set a glass on the table top before her. Kate opened her eyes and turned her head toward him, pausing as she found him closer than she had been expecting. His blue eyes were filled with concern as they swept her features slowly. She felt a rush of warmth rise within her chest as the color of his eyes shifted from a sky blue to deep cobalt as she gave him a reassuring smile. The love she saw in their depths stole the breath from her lungs.
She leaned forward slowly; narrowing the distance between them…pausing a mere breath away as her eyes flickered to his. "I love you too, Rick." She uttered softly, watching as the surprise faded into a deeper emotion.
She felt him smile against her lips as he closed the distance between them.
"I've put a spell over you."
