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Disclaimer: not mine.


Once outside, she didn't really know what to do anymore. Dressed in a beautiful, white, simple, yet elegant dress, she stood forlorn on the curb, looking around for a place to go. Castle saw her indecisiveness and took charge. He pulled his hand free and took hers instead.

The motion made her look at him.

"The Hamptons? You won't run into anyone you know, and we won't be bothered by anyone. We can talk there."

Not sure what to do, she nodded, so Castle pulled out his phone and called his car service to alert them of his plans, while pulling her along around the corner into the adjacent street. It was where his driver had parked when he dropped him off. Sure enough, the driver was already pulling up as they came into view. As he stopped to let them in, Castle pulled open the back door and helped Beckett in, following her, then pulling the door closed.

"To the Hamptons, please," he said.

Neither said a word, the whole time it took them to get there. Beckett was lost in thoughts and Castle just sat there, leaning against the far door, trying to keep his distance, a lost puppy look on his face. Several times, he wanted to say or ask something, but the look on her face made him reconsider. He decided it could wait.

When they pulled up to the house, he got out and offered his hand to help her out. Her first reaction was to take his hand and let him help her, but then she remembered why they were here and reconsidered. She pulled her hand back and got out on her own side of the car just to show him she didn't need him. As she turned to get out, she caught the look of disappointment on his face and for a minute, she felt sorry for him. But not so much she could forgive him for ruining her day just yet.

Castle opened the door and as she walked in, he told the driver he'd call if he needed him again. The driver took the hint and drove off. When Castle turned around he found Beckett, still standing in the hallway, looking forlorn again.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She glared at him.

"Besides the obvious, I mean," he said.

"I didn't bring a change of clothes."

"Oh, right. Uh, both my mother and Alexis have some spare clothes here, if you'd care to try any? Or I could run to the store and pick something up? Or you could borrow some of my clothes?" He was rambling and he knew it.

"I'll see what I can find. Upstairs?"

"Yes, the first room on the left is my mother's, the first one on the right is Alexis' room. My room is the one in the back, straight ahead. The second door left is my bathroom, the second door on the right is the Girls Bathroom."

"The Girls Bathroom, Castle? Really? Isn't that a bit sexist?"

"No, it's just the most practical name for it as it has all the stuff females may need, whereas mine is stocked with the more… manly stuff." At this he almost blushed. "Ok. So it is a bit sexist. But mostly for practical reasons, really."

Feeling a bit better now that she'd had at least this little bit of payback, Beckett headed up the stairs.

"You hungry? I'll make us something to eat."Castle said as he watched her walking up the stairs.

"Sure," she said without turning around or slowing down. She needed to get away from him for a minute.

She didn't know why she was not mad at him. Not in the degree he deserved for ruining her day anyway. That banter they just shared like nothing had happened… that was wrong. And yet it felt right.

As she checked the closets for something that would fit, she found that the only practical things that fit were some old sweatpants and a shirt from Castle. For some reason it did not feel right to borrow clothes from either Alexis or Martha. Why it felt right to borrow clothes from Castle was something she chose to ignore for now.


And once again, sorry for the shortness. But the next installment will be up tomorrow, I promise. Any thoughts?