Disclaimer: I do not own Castle, nor do I have any ties to the actors that portray those characters even though I've shared the same air space as Stana Katic, Andrew W. Marlowe, and Kate Sargeant. Alas, I have no rights to them either. I hope you enjoy my musings and that you forgive me my untimely updates. Always, ElizaCat (aka LiseCate, aka Eliza)
Chapter 2: I Love You.
Castle entered the loft and went directly into his study, locking the door. He was in no mood to speak with anyone, not even Alexis. He poured a generous amount of Scotch into a tumbler and sat down to watch the home video Alexis had captured over two summers ago. They'd gone to the Hamptons for the Fourth of July. He watched as Beckett's laughter filled the room. She was in the pool with Alexis and they were chatting like schoolgirls...almost. Alexis was a young woman about to head into her second year at Columbia and Kate was far too sophisticated and sensual to be a school girl.
The scene changed onscreen. It was dusk now. He and Beckett were on the beach. Where had Alexis been that they'd not noticed her? It still baffled him. They'd walked along the shoreline, laughing and teasing and kissing. There'd been a lot of kissing that summer, he reflected with a smile. He'd asked her to consider moving in with him...had given her until December to decide. He wanted them to be together at Christmas. He wanted her there on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. He wanted her in his bed so that at dawn when the sun rose and no one else had risen he could awaken her with kisses and a proposal. He was certain that she was ready, ready to hear the words, to see and accept his proposal and his ring. And there it was. Captured forever on film. The fireworks lighting up the sky overhead. He'd picked Kate up and spun her around. Her legs were bent and her skirt billowed out around her as they twirled. In between a round of fireworks, there it was, her voice filled with laughter, her face radiant with joy. "I love you. I love you, Castle." He paused the screen. How amazing was it that Kate Beckett had finally, officially declared her love for him, her annoyingly plucky sidekick and those words were recorded. The first time he'd viewed this home movie and watched this life changing scene unfold he vowed to keep it for their engagement party. He didn't dare show Kate beforehand. She had a way of sneaking pieces of his clothing. The video, her words recorded until the end of time, they would never again see the light of day if she found it.
He un-paused the video, watched as her eyes grew wide with surprise. He grinned, his heart almost bursting with happiness and love for her. For them. He'd known, all these months he'd known. Waited patiently for her to be ready to voice those three words. It seems her heart was ready before her mind. He chuckled as she blushed and ducked her head, letting her hair fall forward as she buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. "I love you too, my darling, Katherine Beckett. With all my heart."