Thanks again everyone for the reviews, follows and faves! I had a blast writing that last chapter, so I'm really happy you enjoyed it!
This one was a challenge, but I hope I did it justice! I really love this show and its 2 main characters, so trying to stay within their voices is a bit of a challenge. Since the story itself is AU, I figured going a little OOC isn't too terrible. Besides, I'm not Marlowe. If I was, Vaughn wouldn't exist because he would've actually eaten the poisoned food, Stack would've kicked rocks all the way back to DC at the end of "The Human Factor" because Kate said, "Not interested." And this story would've been the season 5 finale :-)
A girl could dream, right? *le sigh*
Wait...WHAT?! Oh for the love of...Did he really just say...? This guy! This stupid son of a bit...
Not allowing any time for a reaction from Josh, as well as trying not to let out the world's most maniacal laugh, Rick immediately turns Kate to face Paul and Steve. He positions her so that Dr. Motorcycle Dork can now see her AND her left hand, but she's still unable to see him. Oh how he is loving every moment of this! "Kate, I'd like you to meet a few business associates of mine. Mr. Paul Walters and Mr. Steven Robertson."
Still blushing from the introduction that he had given the gentlemen as she arrived at the table, Kate smiles as she reaches out for a handshake. "Oh, hi! I'm K..."
"KATE?!" God she looks gorgeous! He had never seen her quite so dressed up before. Was it even possible for her to look even more beautiful 2 years later? Ignoring everyone around him, including Castle who is still holding her left hand, he begins to make his way over to her looking like he's about to grab her for one of those epic reunion hugs and kisses.
Kate, a little shocked and confused, sees the look on Josh's face as he makes his way towards her. She immediately puts up her right hand to make sure that his epic reunion scene doesn't happen. Still grasping Rick's hand, she takes a huge step back so that he is unable to touch her. "Josh? What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Everyone now turns towards Josh. Not really happy with what Josh was about to pull, Rick has switched his Cheshire grin to a glare that could cut through steel. Knowing how upset Rick has just gotten, Kate briefly lets go of his hand so that she can loop her arm around his reassuring him that she is with him and Josh's presence will do nothing to change that. Paul and Steve, obviously sensing something, are now looking between Rick, Kate and Josh trying to figure out the story between these three people, and Dr. Rodriguez has now stood up trying to figure out what is going on. "How do you all know each other? Can someone please explain what the hell is going on here?! I want answers, Dr. Davison and I want them now."
The obvious commotion in the back of the restaurant has some of the other patrons looking around, murmuring to themselves and pointing towards Rick and Kate as they clearly began to recognize the couple. What wasn't helping the situation was the fact that some of the press that had been invited to cover the engagement party had started to make their way towards the back room just as all of this was going on. The maitre d' quickly jumped into action ushering the press into the room while the manager had made his way over to see what was going on.
"Is there a problem here, Mr. Castle? Ms. Beckett?"
"Nothing we can't handle, Jeff. Thank you. I'll be sure to find you if we need your help with anything."
Giving one last glance to everyone standing around the table, the manager nods at Rick and Kate and hesitantly walks away. He has a feeling that he should go prepare for...something.
"Kate. Please." Josh, eyeing her up and down, pleads as he takes another step towards her. "God you look so incredible. Let's go somewhere we can be alone and talk." Instead of motioning to grab her free hand, he makes a daring move to grab the arm that's still linked with Rick's. He is either really dumb, pretty deaf or just purposely ignoring the ring on her finger and Castle's announcement.
Rick has now completely tensed up and standing a lot straighter at this bold move. Taking a step in Josh's direction making sure he never loses contact with Kate, he says in a firm voice, "You know what, Josh. This really isn't the best time f..."
Snapping his head towards Castle cutting him off mid sentence, "I wasn't talking to you, Castle. This is between myself and Kate."
Trying to be as civil as possible towards him, Kate softly says, "No, Josh. This," as she motions between the 2 of them, "Doesn't exist. It hasn't for 2 years. Things are very different now and I've moved on. I suggest you do the same." Turning towards the three men still standing there, Kate nods and says, "It was a pleasure meeting you, gentlemen. If you will excuse us, Rick and I have guests waiting for us at our engagement party." Kate tugs on Rick's arm motioning for him to begin walking away. She just wants to forget about this for the moment and enjoy the evening with their family and friends. Perhaps they can discuss it at a different time. Tonight is not going to be that night.
"Oh, so it's 'Rick' now? Kate, you can't be serious. Him?" Pointing in Castle's direction. "This playboy writer pretending to be a cop is who you've chosen? How could you even think of being with him after all he's done to you? After all of the danger that he's put you through? For God sakes, Kate, this idiot got you shot! Or have you forgotten all of that and how I was the one that saved your life that day."
Kate gives Josh a look of complete disgust. The nerve of him bringing that up right now! Especially in front of total strangers. Up until that obvious jab at her, she was almost willing to meet with him one day to put their relationship in the past once and for all. But not now. Not after this. He just took it way too far. Not willing to dignify anything that he just said with a response, Rick and Kate simply turn their backs and begin to walk away towards the party room. Josh recognizing that he's not winning this battle, and not willing to go down without a fight, he tries to pull out one last stop. "But you owe me an explanation. You owe me at least that much, Kate."
Kate snaps back around, still linked with Rick, taking a few steps so that she's close enough to Josh to look him in the eye. "That's enough! I. Owe. You. Nothing. You have absolutely no right to bring any of that up or pass judgement on something that you can't possibly understand. We're simply asking you to respect us and let it go. This isn't the time or the place. Do you see this?" Kate asks as she holds up her engagement ring. "This is my future. You are my past. It's time you accept that and move on. Goodbye, Josh."
Standing there with his tail between his legs, Josh watches as Kate turns and walks away arm in arm with Castle. Never once during that entire exchange of words did she let go of Rick. Right before they reach the door to the party room they stop to exchange a few words. 'Has she changed her mind? Is she coming back to me?' Josh thinks to himself as he stands there hoping that she's coming back to him. But all he sees is Kate looking up into Rick's eyes as he softly cups her cheeks, leaning down to give her a soft kiss on the lips. She smiles that 1000-watt smile and lets out a laugh as Rick whispers something in her ear.
That laugh. Her laugh. Kate's laugh.
"This isn't over, Kate!" Josh says one more time right before she disappears behind the door. She never looked back in his direction.
This isn't over...
Yeah, no really, it's not. I was actually going to end it there and write a whole other story about the party, but there's room for a little more here. Besides, we need the reactions of everyone inside the room to everything that just happened. Plus the 3 dudes are still just kinda sitting at the table wondering wtf just happened lol
Keep reviewing! And if you have any ideas or anything you'd like to see, let me know! I'm down for anything. I'm having too much fun with this to put it to rest yet ;-)
