Richard Castle is in the middle of his breakfast duties when his long legged brunette wife sneaks up behind him and lays herself up against his back. She moves to his neck and places a soft kiss to him causing a shiver to go down his spine.
She is pleased that this still brings him to attention "Is my coffee ready?"
Before he reaches across the counter and hands her a cup, filled and ready to consume, he slides his hand from the middle of the back of her thigh all the way up to her backside causing her to giggle
He hands her cup to her
"The last thing I want to be faced with is a non-caffeinated Beckett this early in the morning"
She takes a sip then looks around to make sure they are still alone "You weren't interested in my caffeine status twenty minutes ago in there" pointing toward the master suite
"I was hoping that there might be some other things that would get your circulation going…"
She kisses him again "I love being here like this" she looks out the window toward the beach "No crimes to solve…No chapters to write…no rushing to get kids to school…able to sleep late" she looks around again "or do other things"
"I like those other things" he remarks
"Me too" she takes another sip of coffee
"I love you Kate" he gives her a soft kiss
"Back at ya" as she pulls him close
The quiet moment is broken by the sound of the children when they come bouncing down the stairs, wired, and ready to start the day
"Daddy…Jimmy won't wait for me. He runs too fast" Alicia is several steps behind her brother " His legs are bigger than mine" She loudly says
Kate reaches over to pull her daughter into her arms "When you get bigger, you will have longer legs too and you can keep up with him"
The little girl wraps her arms around her mother "Long legs like you mommy?"
"Yes little one…long legs like mine"
Kate looks at her husband who has now pictured his daughter looking like her mother at 16 in a mini dress and how he will have to stand at the door holding a severed head when the boys come calling to remind them what fate awaits if they become inappropriate with her
"I can see that look Castle" Beckett grins at her husband
"I have no idea what you are talking about" and he turns back to the bacon currently cooking in the skillet
Alexis is the last one to descent the stairs and walking to the breakfast area
"Still recovering from your internship?" Kate asks
She is answered with a yawn "I never knew you could stay up for 48 straight hours…but you can" She literally plops down on a stool. When she does a little brother begins to climb into her lap
"I missed you sissy"
She wraps her arms around him "I missed you too" The words no more leave her mouth when Alecia is off her mother's lap and trying to get up with Alexis
"I miss you too sissy"
"OKAY! OKAY! I missed all you guys. Now let's sit down and have breakfast so we can enjoy the next few days in peace and quiet"
The two smallest Castles move to their respective chairs and dig into the wonderful breakfast the father in the house has prepared for them
Just as the last bites are being eaten and the three children rush back upstairs there is knock at the front door "I'll go get it" Kate remarks since she is closest to the entry
As she approaches she can see through the window lights the figure of a woman on the porch.
She opens the door and is greeted by the smiling face of the next door neighbor, Sara Green-Edwards
"Hey Kate" she woman remarks as soon as she sees Beckett
"Hi Sara"
Sara holds up an empty coffee cup. I saw the SUV here and was hoping to get a cup of that delightful coffee you two make here"
Beckett smiles at her neighbor and now friend "Come on in. Castle just started a fresh pot" Kate stands to the side to allow the woman access
"Rick…Sara's here and wants coffee" Kate says to Castle
As the two women enter the kitchen area Castle remarks "Having a caffeine deprived Sara Green is second only to a caffeine deprived Kate Beckett"
He quickly sees a look from his wife and realizes this could be taken the wrong way. But only by someone who knew the remarks' origin
Realizing that comment might not be taken right Castle starts to explain "I…that wasn't… I didn't mean…" as Kate walks up to him "This is one of those times you need to stop talking"
"Yes ma'am" he spins and grabs his own cup and joins the two women at the table
Sara takes a sip of the coffee "I wish you could show Brett how you make coffee. He tries but this is the best"
Kate responds "Oh that is a family secret. In fact Rick will not even tell me. He says that is his way of making sure I don't kill him…at least until I get the secret out of him"
"Hey...that's not fair. I tell you how I make it"
"Only when I make it, it is not as good as when you make it" Beckett turns to face Sara "I am sure he has left some ingredient out of the recipe"
"Well whatever that secret is, it makes him the best"
Kate looks at her husband with a glimmer in her eyes "Yeah…he is"
"So Kate…are you and Rick here for anything special?"
"No. Just our usual mid-summer break. We plan to leave in a week. This just gives us all a little time to unplug form work and books and school. Speaking of school, I read that Robin and Brett junior are going to Harvard
"Yes they are. They begin in the fall. I understand Alexis is going to be doing her residency. Has she decided where yet?"
Kate responds "No. She has been offered Johns Hopkins, Parkland down in Texas and UCLA Medical center, just to name a few. She has until next week to decide"
"Well I am sure she will pick the best one. How much longer will she be here?"
"She leaves in two weeks" Kate answers "what about yours?"
"Same for them. They have to go early, register, pick their classes, and get a place to live. They are planning to rent an apartment together"
Rick sits down with the women "Do they realize that that may ruin their love life…people will not realize they are siblings. I knew a couple like that in college. They had to finally start every conversation with this is my sister or brother' "
Sara smiles "They did talk about that and are planning on making sure to not been seen together too much"
"That's good "Kate comments "So Sara, what has been happening out on the end of Long Island of interest? Just the usual illicit affairs and romantic getaways?"
She lets out a laugh "Oh I remember those days…and am so glad they are behind me"
Castle comments while looking at Kate "Me too"
"There has been a little mystery at the old lighthouse"
Kate remarks "Yes. I read that in the paper. Something about the light being turned off and they don't know who did it"
Sara sits beck up straight "Weeeeelllllll there is a little more to it" she almost laughs "It seems there have been witnesses who report they see something"
"Something?" Castle asks
Sara chuckles "Yeah. The lighthouse are is a favorite parking spot for the younger ones in the area and they have reported something odd taking place"
"How odd?"
"A glowing image in the tower after the light is out"
Castle sits straight up like a little boy who has just been told a ghost story "A GLOWING image? Like a ghost image?"
Kate looks across the table at her man "Castle…there are NO ghosts" It is obvious he has turned back into the little boy that Kate originally fell in love with
Looking at his wife but pointing at Sara "She said it"
"Sara said a glowing image…not a ghost" Kate remarks
"What else can you tell me about this ghost…ER…I mean glowing image" Castle chokes out.
"I heard that every time the light is turned off there is a glow that comes from the tower but by the time the authorities arrive there is no one there"
Castle leans into the table "Are there any witnesses we can talk to and get more information…" he looks at his wife who is definitely not on board with them getting into a criminal investigation
"I mean interview them for research" He looks at Kate "I might be able to use this in one of my books"
She smiles from ear to ear "you just want to go chase a ghost"
"Yes?"
"OK" Beckett turns to Sara "Can you get me the names of some of these people who have seen the ghost…er…I mean….glowing image?"
"As a meter of fact I can. Brett Jr and Robin have both seen the glow"
"Will you ask them to come talk to me?" Rick asks
Sara stands "Sure will and thanks for the coffee. It is always the best" and the neighbor leaves the house leaving the couple alone
"You want to spend our break chasing a glowing THING?"
He takes her hand "Not a THING…a ghost. I bet it's a ghost"
Kate sees in his face a childlike wonder that he has not has in many years
Looking at her husband "Okay. You can go ghost hunting"
"If we are going spirit hunting then Scooby needs his partner"
"Scooby DO? Are you wanting me to be Velma?"
"Velma? NO! Dauphine. . . . longs legs. . . .short skirt…"
Her appreciation of his love for her bubbles up. She stands and goes to her husband and puts her long fingers around his ears "If you want Dauphnie, we can go into town later and I will try on some outfits?"
Gulp
I did say MYSTERY . . .didn't I ?
So now we have Romance, Drama, Humor, AND Mystery?
I must be returning to my more fun stories
What else do we need ?