singular beginning


Both the boys stare at them when they get back to the precinct, Castle's hand hot against her spine, and Kate smiles at them. Full and wide and true, her throat thick with it.

Because even though things were awkward in the car, even though Rick's still a little upset she didn't say yes, it's good. He wants to marry her. They're-

Oh God, it's dumb, but it's true. They're engaged to be engaged. How ridiculous.

He keeps sliding his hand to his inside pocket again and again. Like he's checking the ring's still there. It's sort of adorable actually. And his smile is back, the one she'd been momentarily terrified she'd never see again.

It carves parentheses into the skin of his face, his eyes and mouth bracketed with hope. Such a gorgeous, lovely man, and he's hers. Has always been hers.

"Hey, Kate. Castle, good to see you man."

Beckett rolls her eyes at Ryan's barely-concealed delight, moving over to start dismantling the murder board. "Hey guys. You get a confession?"

"Signed, sealed, delivered." Espo nods.

Castle comes up behind her, dusting his mouth to her cheek and finding her ear. "I'm yours."

"You're not quite Stevie Wonder yet, Castle." Kate smirks, letting herself take a moment to cup his cheek and then shifting away. Yes, she wants to touch him. Yes, she's looking forward to going home and reminding him with the press and roll of her body how good they are.

But this is the precinct. This is her job, her life. And she has to be professional.

"So, Beckett. There was something you needed to tell us?" It's Ryan who asks, and that in itself gets her.

Javier has always been the one willing to go rogue with her. Has always been the one to notice when something's wrong.

So clearly, she hadn't been doing a great job of hiding it if even Ryan can tell.

"Yeah. I got a job offer with the attorney general. In DC." Kate lifts a shoulder like it's nothing, but Castle's beaming at her back. So proud.

She thinks, by saying soon, she's given him permission to stop holding back. Here's the man she fell in love with, nudging at her hip with his own and laughing at the boys.

"Beckett. . .are you leaving?" Espo asks. There's genuine concern there, and if she wasn't certain before then she is now. This is her family.

"No. It was a great opportunity, but I'm not all about the work anymore. This is home."

Oh God, her eyes are filling and that's just so ridiculously embarrassing. It's just leftover emotion from the swing set, from watching the cliff face of Castle's jaw set against her and then the rise of his body up from the gravel, on his knees in supplication.

It got her. He gets to her.

"Good. That's- that's good." Esposito's nodding, brisk and serious, and Beckett can't help but laugh.

"You okay there buddy?"

He huffs at her and turns his attention towards the board, erasing the careful lines of Kate's handwriting. Her face breaks open in a soft smile and she sets her hand at his shoulder. "Hey. I'm not going anywhere."

"Good. We're a team, Beckett."

She nods, takes a step back to give Esposito a little space and bumps into Castle. Still hovering at her back, like he doesn't want to give her more than a few inches to be without him.

His hand falls to her hip, thumb already circling the crest of bone through her pants. "Hey Sito, don't worry. Mom's not leaving you."

Beckett groans at that, turning to shoot him a look over her shoulder. It does still freak her out a little, how all three of her guys call them Mom and Dad. They're supposed to be on an even keel, and she doesn't want Ryan and Espo to feel belittled by it. Even if is them starting it most of the time.

"Not his mom, Rick."

Ryan raises an eyebrow at that and leans against Kate's desk, folding his arms. "So. You guys are okay, then?"

"More than okay." Castle grins, practically nuzzling at her cheek. The wash of his breath curls at her throat, makes her want to fist a hand in his shirt and drag him somewhere quieter.

No. Enough of that. "Okay. Too much."

"What?" He smirks, so stupidly pleased with himself, and he knows he's got her. Damn.

"A little space, Castle, huh?"

He takes a step back, fist bumping Ryan as he goes.

Ugh.

Okay, so. . .there's some victory to be had. For all four of them, it seems, although she's still confused about the looks the boys keep sending each other.

"Guys, Jenny and I were wondering if you wanted to come to dinner tomorrow night?" Ryan says, sharing another glance with Javi.

Kate ignores it. She'll find out, eventually. Let them have their secret. After all-

She moves against Castle's side, close enough to feel the bite of her ring at her ribs. They've got secrets too.

"Like a triple date?" Rick grins, looping his arm around her waist again.

Really, that has to stop. They've been so good, since Gates found out. Yes, mostly because it feels like they've been distant since the bomb, but even so.

It will do no good to ruin all their work now.

"Yeah, sure. Yes, actually, you should bring Lanie, bro."

Esposito snorts, setting his fist against his partner's arm. Not even a blow, not really. It's more like. . .confirmation. Balance restored.

"You really think anyone can bring Lanie anywhere? But I'll ask her if she wants to come, sure."

Kate grins at that, something like pride stirring in her chest. In many ways, they've had it even harder than she and Rick.

Esplanie. Jeez. Okay, maybe not.

Javier and Lanie. They've had to work for it, get past so many of the same obstacles. Espo's too much like Beckett. Afraid to commit.

Or like how she used to be, before Castle.

But they're good for each other. She's happy for them. Castle always says he likes the symmetry of it. The six of them a team; the core of her and Rick and the boys and then Lanie's spice and lovely, sweet Jenny.

It just. . .works.

"We'll be there." Kate nods, pushing at Castle's chest to win herself a little space.

He grunts, takes a step back and then surges right back in, his mouth landing at her ear. "I'm gonna head home. Make dinner. Hide. . .the thing."

"Okay. I'll get out of here in an hour or so I guess." Kate lets her mouth skim his, an ephemeral moment just to taste him.

It's sharper, richer. So much certainty there. Delicious.

He swallows, hard, and Kate watches the jump and hum of his throat. And then he's going, fast like he doesn't think he can leave at all if he doesn't do it now.

In the elevator, he flicks three fingers at her and she laughs, waves back. The doors close on him and it's like a shutter over her heart in replication. There's just been too much today.

An emotional ricochet and now she's exhausted. Needing him, the harbour of his body to weather the storm.

Maybe that's pathetic. But he wants her to be his wife. She thinks it could be okay to miss him.

"Just paperwork, Beckett. You sure you don't wanna go?" Espo offers. So much sincerity there. She really doesn't deserve him. Either of them.

Beckett takes a moment, settles herself at her desk and opens the file. "No. I've been cutting out a lot lately. I'll do it, you two go home."

Ryan nods in thanks and hurries off, apparently particularly eager to get home to his wife, but Javier's still hovering next to her.

"Kate? That job sounds like a really good opportunity. You didn't give it up just because of Castle, did you?"

"No. He was a part of it, yeah. But I don't want that life, Espo. I'm happy here."

The detective seems content with that, offering her a hesitant smile that Kate returns in force. He nods, and then he leaves her alone with the paperwork.

She finds a pen in the pot next to her computer monitor and glances down at the page -

Oh. Sweet, ridiculous boys. They've already filled it out.

Kate doesn't bother to crush her grin, letting it spread across her face as she turns the computer off, straightens her elephants just so and stands.

She's so, so close, the elevator tantalisingly within reach when the clipped voice of her captain stops her in her tracks.

"Detective. A word?"

Damn.


Wow, awesome response to the first chapter! Thank you all so much.