Alas I was hoping to update this a lot sooner than now but this is how life works. This is chapter two of Moving Day. Yay! I have decided not to continue with that scene persay but I am progressing things. I do have a plan of sorts as to where I want this to go so hopefully you can stick around long enough to get there with me. This chapter is a lot shorter than the first one so don't worry. Thanks for the feedback and I hope to have more. Enjoy 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or anything associated with it.
The quiet moment between the couple was broken by the sound of light footsteps approaching the front door to the loft. By the time the sound of a key entering the lock filled the space, both Kate and Rick had jumped off of the counter to gather the pants and shirts that had been flung haphazardly around the room. They gathered whatever loose clothes they could find all the while silently praying that no one could see into the living room window to see two grown adults flopping around as they dashed frantically in what felt like circles.
Alexis turned the door knob and opened the door to an empty loft. She was so transfixed on shedding her coat and keys that she didn't hear the soft echo of a door closing in the distance. She flung her coat of her arm and walked further into the loft to find a small pile of cardboard boxes clumped just behind the couch and she suddenly became very cautious. Kate would never leave something unfinished. Her dad might, but his girlfriend certainly wouldn't. She had a fleeting moment where she wondered if she should be correcting the term "girlfriend" and changing it to "fiancé" but she forgot that when she looked over to the kitchen.
The entire contents of the counter had been wiped onto the lower counter and some of the cutlery and dishes from that morning had even fallen into the sink. Weird, she thought but it wasn't uncommon for her father to forget to clean up or become occupied with other things.
"Hello?" She called out but she was only met with the ticking of the clock in the living room and nothing else. Odd that no one was home. Kate and her dad must have been called out to a case or something. Yes that was it. She was about to distractedly place her coat on the clear counter when she suddenly became very much un-distracted.
She did a double take of the counter and leaned a little closer just to confirm her suspicions before she pulled back – taking a few steps into the dining room table just for good measure – and closed her eyes.
Those were definitely butt-prints on the ceramic counter.
Her mouth flew open in shock and disguised and her entire body curled into itself as she tied together all of the facts and made the awful conclusion that her father was indeed an adult. Rolling her eyes back into her head, she paused when her blue eyes hit the ceiling – or more importantly, the light fixture above her head.
That was that last straw, she was going to scrub this kitchen until she had the image of her father and his- whatever she was – having sex in the same place they ate breakfast out of her mind. She tossed her coat over the counter to land mostly on the back of the couch as she rolled up the sleeves of her blue plaid button up.
She was going to be there awhile.
Meanwhile, Rick and Kate were trying very hard to not giggle or continue making out as they both stood naked against the door of Rick's bedroom, listening for any sign that Alexis was about to approach. Finding no such noise, Kate allowed herself to collapse against the door in a fit of barely audible laughter. What was up with her lately? She was – dare she say – happy and she really liked it. Rick was enjoying it thoroughly – seeing her so at ease in his home made his heart happy. Seeing her happy and comfortable and naked in his home made the rest of him very happy indeed. Deciding that he was up to showing her how happy he was, he grabbed her shoulders to steady her against the door and looked at her with a sincere intensity.
Kate's laughter subsided as she caught the intent in his eyes. He wanted her full attention when he did this and while she was glad to have an encore, she had her doubts.
"Rick," She said in her favourite scolding tone with just a hint of playfulness "your daughter is in the next room."
"So," he dipped his head to begin kissing the edge of her jaw, "we've done it with her in the house before." His hands wandered down to her-
"Not when she's this close." She breathed as he continued to massage her hips in a slow, steady rhythm while she rocked slightly into him and her hands hung limply at her sides.
"Didn't I hear something about a shower earlier?"
"That was your suggestion." She closed her eyes as the lingering sensations from their previous session mixed with her current tingling urges and she was sent to a new level of high.
"I happen to like that suggestion regardless." His hands ghosted over her shoulders and down her stiff hands to grab a hold of her wrists. He took an easy step backwards and gently pulled her off the wall, her eyes fluttering open and closed in contentment, as he led them both towards his en-suite bathroom.
He continued to walk backwards even as he released her right wrist to flick on the light revealing the bachelor-sized facility with the two-person shower lining the back wall. Everything was tiled which made it look pretty but it prevented any morning "wake-up calls" from being performed anywhere but the shower and the bed. No adventures. He opened the clear door and gave one last tug so that she ended up right under the showerhead, tucked safely under her lover's arm. She didn't mind being several inches shorter than him – in fact she rather liked it – because Kate liked to be snuggled into Rick. At work, Beckett liked her power heels and the residual energy usually helped when she turned back into Kate but they were two separate entities all together. Right now, Kate was reaching under Rick's arm to turn on the shower for them. The squeaking of the faucet was barely heard by the couple as Kate offered her fiancé a lazy smile but the squeaking of Rick made three heads turn – Kate as she jumped slightly, Alexis as she looked up from the bucket of bleach in the sink and Martha as she opened the door to the loft.
"Why is the water so cold?" He whimpered as he stumbled to open the shower door and get away from the freezing temperature. Kate, for her part, watched Rick as the ice water fell around her. She could either get out with him and just fool around in his bed – the water was absolutely freezing – or she could have some fun with her soon-to-be husband.
"It's not that cold." Kate offered her best sexy bambi eyes look and bit the inside of her lip as the water cascaded down her still naked body. Rick looked at her sceptically with the ever present subtext of lust before looking down ever so slightly.
"Your nipples tell me otherwise." Cursing her body, she used it to her advantage and slid her hands down and around her breast, splashing more and more of the freezing water onto herself. It took all of her self-control not to jump out of the shower and into Rick's arms but for all of the years he had teased her, she was going to get some revenge. She could warm up later; now she was reaching for the body wash.
Rick's hand suddenly shot out to stop her. If she could wash herself in this temperature, he could wash her too. But the moment he stepped into the shower, Kate shifted so his back was directly under the water. She breathed a silent sigh of relieve while Rick opened his mouth in a whimper of protest.
"I think there might be a problem with the hot water." He chattered as he continued to shake.
"I think so." She would have smiled if she wasn't so cold and wet.
"C'mon." He turned towards the door but Kate stopped him.
"What's the matter Ricky? Having a little problem?" She lowered her eyes to ensure that she made her point, causing Rick to jump back slightly and look down himself. She snickered until he twisted his shoulder so a blast of water was directly hitting her face.
With a squeal and speed that matched Rick's, Kate was out of the shower and standing in the middle of the bathroom, shivering and fuming.
"Richard Castle, get your ass out here and warm me up." Her voice would have been more menacing if it had been more than a whisper.
"Well after that little comment I don't know if I will." He reached over and finally shut off the faucet before he looked over at her. Both of them were dripping wet and freezing cold and nearly on the floor in laughter for the second time in as many minutes.
"We are so ridiculous." Kate finally breathed and she leaned against the bathroom counter for support.
"I know right? What is with us lately?" Rick was still standing in the shower but he was now clinging to the door for dear life.
"I don't know," she sobered slightly "but I kind of like it." She confessed.
Rick smiled and walked towards her in such a direct manner. "Good," he grabbed her shoulders "me neither." He kissed her cheek and pulled her into his chest for a bear hug – the only kind you can give when your fiancée is so short.
Still holding onto Kate, he swayed back and forth until they managed to lean to the right far enough to grab a towel off the shelf. He then released Kate despite her still clinging to his chest and wrapped the fluffy brown towel around them both.
Once they were both thoroughly dry and her hair was pinned to her head Kate looked up to Rick with a smirk.
"We should go out and greet your daughter." She continued as he opened his mouth. "Dressed and separately." Rick rolled his eyes and offered an overdramatic sigh before releasing her and pushing her back slightly.
"I suppose." His voice was sad but the smile on his face kept the mood light. "Let's get you dressed." It was Kate's turn to pull Rick out the door, the air almost warmer in the bedroom. The each bent over to gather the clothing that had been thrown on the floor and began tossing pieces to each other; pants, shirts, underwear. Rick had his shirt over his head before he heard Kate speak.
"Rick, where is my bra?" He stood straight, only half dressed, eyes wide.
"Out there with my daughter." Cursing quietly, Kate dashed over to the garment bag hanging in the closet and unzipped it, revealing most of her dresses. Pulling out a short, green printed summer dress, she tossed it over her head with nothing underneath and ran out the bedroom door, smacking her fiancé upside the head as she passed him.
The living room and dining room were quiet but Kate immediately caught the sight of red bobbing up and down behind the kitchen counter. Cautiously, she approached, hoping not to disturb the teenager. Unfortunately, the floorboards disagreed with her and chose that moment to squeal on her. Kate winced and froze in place until Alexis' head popped up in surprise.
"Kate!" She was momentarily stunned until she realized what the woman must be doing and blinked long and hard. "Grams took your bra down when she got home. It's in the wash." There was no way Kate could be a paler shade of white as the apprehension set in that her future step-daughter had essentially caught them in the act.
"Alexis I-" She started to apologize profusely but the teen held up a sponge in protest.
"No need to apologize Kate, you and dad are consenting adults and I respect that." She switched from mature adult to teenager to two seconds flat. "Just please promise me you won't be that, there ever again?" Releasing a slightly relieved breath, Kate walked over to the girl and placed a lazy arm over her shoulder.
"I promise. We just got a little caught up in-"
"Ew, no details." The expression on Alexis' face caused the detective to laugh out loud until the cringing was suddenly placed with a knowing smile. The teenager reached up and grabbed the left hand draped over her shoulder and examined the ring.
Kate looked down at it as well, realizing that she had forgotten about it, and smiled with registering it. Alexis suddenly looked up at her so hopefully that it took her by surprise.
"Can I say it?"
"Say what?"
"The thing I have been dying to say since the day you and dad started dating." Still unsure about the girl, Kate waited for her to say it.
The words made her smile uncontrollably and pull the teen tighter to her.
"Welcome to the family."
So Lanie and Alexis know about the engagement. Next stop, the precinct.