Thank You So Much To (Try This Again)
Today was Kate Beckett's birthday. She stayed in bed for a while, wishing with a stab of disappointment that her boyfriend was there, but alas, he was away on book tour. After she stumbled out of bed she made made her way into the kitchen, yawning and combing her fingers through her sleep-mussed hair before switching on the coffee maker.
Just as she was about to pour the fragrant liquid into her favourite mug , there was an unexpected knock at the loft door. Beckett opened the door to see the building's doorman Tony, and he was bearing gifts.
"Hey Tony," she said with a smile, despite her selfcounsciousness over her current attire; a pair of boyshorts and one of Castle's T-shirts, which thankfully covered enough of her long legs to be considered decent, if not exactly appropriate for guests.
"Good morning Miss Beckett and happy birthday," the older man said with a genuine but slightly embarrassed smile.
"Aw, thank you Tony."
"Anyway, Mr Castle asked if I could give these to you on your birthday," he said, handing over a shoe box and huge bunch of gorgeous, gloriously perfumed red and white roses.
"Thanks Tony," Beckett said again, a flutter in her chest and belly at Castle's romantic birthday gesture.
"There's more Miss Beckett," Tony interrupted with a soft chuckle and proceeded to bring more more packages into the loft.
"More?" Beckett croaked, her eyes wide as she looked at the growing number of packages.
000
Kate was still in her pajamas, staring at her gifts when Lanie arrived to pick her up. She let her in and once Lanie put her coat on the coat stand the bubbly Medical Examiner noticed the packages.
"Girl, it's like Christmas in your entry. Who's it all from? Or need I ask?"
"Castle." Kate chucked at her friend's perceptiveness.
"Why haven't you opened anything yet?" Lanie asked, surprise obvious in the tone of her voice.
"'Cause I'm running late for work."
"Work can wait." Lanie ordered in her typical bossy, no nonsense tone. "We are opening these up... immediately!"
"I have paper work to do," Kate replied somewhat lamely.
"Girl, the more you argue, the longer it will take to open them."
"Fine." Beckett answered without further argument, her excitement suddenly building and she took a deep, calming breath as she sat down on the sofa.
000
"Writer boy has quite the taste in jewellery."
"Expensive jewellery."
"Kate, the guy is a course he's going to have expensive taste." Lanie pointed out the obvious.
000
"More expensive jewellery," Lanie squealed as she brought over a couple of plain jewellery boxes, adding excitedly, "Yep girl."
Kate opened up the first box and couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out of her.
"What is it?"
It was a custom made, platinum charm bracelet from which dangled a tiny coffee cup, an apple, cherries and a miniature set of handcuffs.
"I don't get it," Lanie stated, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Kate smiled a little whistfully as she replied, "Castle brings me coffee every morning, which is so sweet, hence the coffee mug. When I first arrested him he made some smart-assed comment about bondage and told me his safe word is apples, thus the apple. We had a moment once and he said that I smelled like cherries, ergo the cherry. Honestly, I think that's the first time I wanted to kiss him and for the very first time fell in love and the handcuffs... well..."
Beckett paused, her cheeks flushing a rosy pink as her mind drifted back to her and Castle's most recent adventure with her handcuffs.
"Never mind Girl," Lanie interrupted, suddenly raising a hand as if her palm and splayed fingers could halt the explanation she feared was about to leave her blushing friend's mouth. "Gross!"
