A/N: Sorry for the delay. The muse was being slightly uncooperative again then she suddenly decided to be nice. I haven't got the story entirely planned out at the moment, but I'd imagine there'll be at least six chapters in case anyone's interested. Hope you enjoy!

Oh, and thank you to all my lovely lovely reviewers! Seriously, you guys are awesome!

xxxxx

Chapter 3

xxxxx

"Hello?"

"Evening Dr. Parish."

"Detective Esposito," Lanie said pleased. "Isn't this is a surprise."

"A good one I hope," Esposito asked flirtatiously.

"Maybe, maybe not," Lanie replied enigmatically.

He smirked. "You can be a cruel woman sometimes, you know that?"

Lanie's grin widened. "I think you can take it, a big strong Detective like you," she told him. "So to what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked curiously. "Tell me it's not another body because I'm off duty and I just got home."

"Nah," Esposito assured her. "This is pleasure, not business."

"I see," Lanie said, drawing out the words. "What'd you have in mind Detective?" she asked seductively.

Esposito laughed. "Watch yourself Doctor," he warned her playfully. "Beckett went to see Castle's Mom's play up in Williamstown a few days ago," he explained. "She mentioned it to me and Ryan; Ryan mentioned it to Jenny, and now apparently the two of them are going next weekend to check it out, asked me if I wanted to come along. I couldn't say no. After all, I can't be the only Detective working with Castle who doesn't see Mrs. R's play," he pointed out.

Lanie grinned, "Course not," she agreed.

"Anyway," Esposito continued. "I was wondering if you wanted to go with us," he asked her. "Save me from being a third wheel with the almost disgustingly happy couple. Plus it'll be a good time," he added as almost an afterthought.

Lanie paused. She hadn't been expecting that. "When you thinking of going?" she asked.

"Saturday sometime probably," Esposito told her. "Both Ryan and I are off then. Not sure exactly what time though. Ryan said he'd get the schedule tonight so we could finalize our plans," he explained.

Lanie felt the disappointment building in her chest. "I can't on Saturday," she told him. "Already have plans." And she couldn't very well cancel them now. She'd already promised Mark that she'd spend the day with him, and so far he seemed like a good guy. She didn't want to cancel, even if she certainly wouldn't have minded spending the afternoon with a handsome Detective.

Esposito paused. He'd been afraid she'd say that. Still, he'd figured it was worth a try. "Another man?" he asked lightly. "Should I be worried?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Lanie shot back easily, falling back into a familiar rhythm.

"I would," Esposito agreed. Then he let out an exaggerated sigh. "Especially since you're abandoning me with the happy couple."

"Aw, they're sweet," Lanie told him.

"Sickeningly so," Esposito muttered.

"So find someone else to go with," Lanie suggested.

Esposito paused. "I guess," he told her. But he didn't really want to have to introduce a complete stranger to Ryan and Jenny and probably Martha Rogers all at once. It'd be a lot to explain. Suddenly something struck him. "Or," he said slowly, "Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. It might be better to go alone. After all, Mrs. R. might introduce us to some of the actresses," he said hopefully.

"Yeah, keep dreaming," Lanie said dryly.

"It could happen," Esposito defended. "You never know," he added, refusing to feel guilty about the idea. After all, she was almost certainly going to be on a date of her own at the same time.

"Working with Castle really has opened up a whole new world for you hasn't it?" Lanie said, keeping her tone light.

"Sure has," Esposito agreed absently. "Think he'll be back in the fall?" He asked her suddenly.

"I hope so," Lanie replied. "If only so I can smack him."

"Of course," Esposito said with a smirk.

"Hey," Lanie replied defending herself. "She's my best friend. It's my right."

"Oh, I get it," Esposito assured her. The Detective certainly couldn't blame her, or even deny that the idea hadn't occurred to him once or twice. "But won't you have to explain why you smacked him?" Esposito asked curiously.

"Hell no," Lanie scoffed. "I reserve the right to smack any man of my acquaintance for being stupid without warning and without explanation," she assured the Detective confidently.

"I'll keep that in mind," Esposito replied dryly.

"You do that," Lanie grinned. "Still, he was good for her, and for the cases," she mused.

"Yeah," Esposito agreed. "It's almost weird without Castle some days," he admitted. And it was. Castle was a pretty good guy. He was fun and he had a unique perspective. Didn't mean Esposito still didn't want to hit the man sometimes.

"I'm sure he'll be back in the fall," Lanie said with more confidence than she felt.

"Right," Esposito agreed, more because it was easy than anything else. "Well, since you've broken my heart by refusing to accompany me to the play," Esposito he said dramatically, "I guess I should let you go."

"Off to lick your wounds?" Lanie wondered.

"I thought I'd hide in my apartment reading poetry and listening to some of that emo crap on the radio," Esposito replied easily.

Lanie rolled her eyes. "I think you'll survive."

"Probably," he said with a grin. "I'll most likely be talking to you soon Dr. Parish."

"Good night Detective," Lanie replied. "And thanks for the invitation."

Esposito nodded absently. "Course. Night."

Lanie hung up her phone slowly.

Damn, she thought to herself. Why did they have to decide to go to the play this Saturday?

Stupid Detectives and their terrible timing.

Then she shrugged to herself. Not that it mattered. They were just friends anyway. And Mark was a nice guy. She had no doubt her Saturday would be a great time.

Still, going to the play would have been fun.

xxxxx

"Hello?"

"Did you really propose to Sarah Jessica Parker at a party?"

"Excuse me?" Castle asked in surprise.

He heard a quiet snicker on the other end of the line. "Well according to the Star, you went down on one knee at a party last weekend," Kate told him, clearly amused. "They even have a picture, though I admit the lighting from one side to the other is… questionable."

Castle sat back in his chair, a pleased smile erupting slowly on his face. "Well, unless I was very, very drunk," he mused. "Though, she must have been as well," he said after a brief pause. "Because weird separation or no, I'm pretty sure she's still married to Matthew Broderick, which might throw up a couple of legal barriers to our union."

"The path to true love never did run smooth," Kate pointed out philosophically.

"Yes, well there's also the small problem in that we've never actually met," Castle added. "I know she's got a place around here somewhere," he continued. "But I have no idea where it is exactly. I thought I might have seen her walking down the street at one point, but I really can't be sure."

"There really that many people who resemble Sarah Jessica Parker walking around the Hamptons that you could get confused are there Castle?" Kate asked in amusement.

"Could just be wishful thinking on my part," Castle admitted. "You'd have to come down here and see for yourself to confirm it." His casual comment brought their previously easy conversation to a brief, but awkward pause. He coughed. "Of course, I was also pretty far away at the time so there's that too," he added quickly.

"Distance causes you to hallucinate Sarah Jessica Parker?" Kate asked him, trying to keep the conversation light.

Castle grinned again, letting out a breath quietly. "Distance means that I might not have seen facial features very clearly," he corrected pleasantly.

"You really would be a terrible witness," Kate murmured.

"Hey, I told you!" he exclaimed. "It's hard. I'd like to see you try it."

"I have tried it," Kate reminded him, oddly comforted by his childish reply. It was better than remembering exactly why she'd been a witness. "But I know what you mean," she added before he could apologize and make everything awkward all over again. "Who knows, if I showed up I might just start seeing Matt Damon everywhere."

"Matt Damon?" Castle asked surprised.

"Girlfriend and I had a Jason Bourne marathon on the weekend," Kate explained with a shrug.

"Figures," Castle replied. "Not exactly who I'd have pictured as your type Detective," He admitted, mildly irritated for no good reason. "And unfortunately," he added brightening suddenly, "As far as I know he doesn't have a place around here."

"Like that would matter if I was hallucinating," Kate shot back.

"Fair point," Castle admitted. Then something struck him; "But why are you reading the Star anyway?" he asked. His face lit up. "An unexpected guilty pleasure Detective? I never pictured you for a tabloid reader I admit, but now that I think about it I can almost see it, a stack of them hidden under the cushion of your arm chair. Do you anxiously await tidbits about Brangelina?" he teased her.

"Oh yes, I live for news of any potential future pregnancy rumours," Kate said her voice heavy with sarcasm.

"So I guess TomKat is your favourite of our celebrity portmonteaued couples then?" Castle asked seriously.

"Actually I walked by a newsstand and saw you down on one knee on the cover, thought I'd better pick it up, see if I needed to buy a gift in the near future," Kate admitted with a smile.

"I actually made the cover?" he asked in pleasure.

"I know," Kate told him. "Must be a slow news day."

"Thank you for that," he said dryly.

"Yeah, well, 'Local Mystery Writer's Mysterious Marriage Proposal' kind of jumped out at me as a headline," Kate explained.

"Nice alliteration," Castle said softly.

"Aren't you worried this'll destroy your reputation?" Kate asked, the slightest hints of irritation and scorn in her tone. "Or is the bigger fear that her husband will come after you in the night?"

"If I thought anybody'd take it seriously I suppose I might be," Castle admitted. "Just out of curiosity what was the second story? Alien abduction in Albany?"

"Actually," Kate replied. "Someone managed to find a vegetable that bears an uncanny resemblance to Obama," she told him. "Although, I suspect that one may have been photoshopped as well."

"You think?" Castle asked in exaggerated shock.

"It's not impossible that someone might find a squash that resembles a human," Kate countered. "But even if they did, I don't think it's divine intervention or anything, more coincidence," she explained.

Castle grinned. "Not about to line up to visit a shrine to the radish in the image of St. Peter?"

"Do they even know what St. Peter looks like?" Beckett asked absently.

"There must be an image somewhere or other," Castle said with a wave of his hand. "Some artist's rendering. Whether it's accurate or not is irrelevant, especially since most artistic depictions of Jesus probably aren't particularly accurate either given that he lived two thousand years ago and in the Middle East and all."

"True," Kate agreed. "Regardless, I'm relieved to learn that I won't have to go toaster shopping this weekend."

"A toaster?" Castle asked, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "You couldn't have thought of a better wedding gift than that Detective?" he asked.

Kate shrugged. "Well how would I know what Sarah Jessica Parker would like?" she asked. "At least a toaster as a terrible wedding gift is kind of expected. What would you suggest?" she asked.

"Well, mother did hide my remote-controlled helicopter," Castle said hopefully.

Kate laughed. "Very romantic wedding gift Castle."

"As opposed to your toaster which just exudes romance?" he asked. "At least mine's fun."

"I don't know," Kate countered. "A toaster could be romantic. The two of you making toast together in the morning, both putting your toast in at the same time. Such domesticity."

"I thought we were probably going to return the toaster anyway," Castle couldn't help pointing out.

"And what makes you think your mother wouldn't just hide a second airplane?" Kate asked indulgently.

"Well, that's true," Castle admitted. "For some reason she didn't like me flying the first one around while she was trying to memorize lines."

"I can't imagine why," Kate interjected.

He grinned. "Me neither. Speaking of my mother, I heard you saw her the other day but didn't say hello."

"She was on stage at the time," Kate defended. "I thought she might be busy,"

"She would have made the time," Castle scolded her gently. "I also heard you liked the play."

"I did," Kate agreed. "I like the theatre. Don't get to go as often as I'd like, but still..."

"It was nice of you to call her," Castle blurted out suddenly, much to Kate's surprise. "I know she sometimes seems so... I mean, she's always so confident but... She really liked that Detective," he finished, feeling the explanation was somewhat inadequate. "Course Martha always did love praise," he added dryly.

Kate felt a surge of affection for the man, the occasionally beleaguered son, whose obvious affection for his mother always leaked through, hard as he tried to hide it. "Who doesn't love praise?" Kate asked him rhetorically. "I'm pretty sure you like the adoring fans at least as much as she does," she pointed out. "Besides, like I said, I liked the play. I wanted to tell her. And I like Martha."

"She likes you, Alexis too." Castle told her. He cleared his throat. "It was nice of you to call is all."

Kate smiled. "What can I say?" she replied easily. "You have a nice family Castle. I like them."

On the other end of the line Castle smiled as well. "Ah, but what happens if Sarah Jessica Parker becomes one of us?" he asked playfully.

Kate's smile turned into a smirk. "Depends on if she's as much as a diva as some of the rumours suggest she might be," she told him.

Castle nodded. "Of course," he agreed. "And obviously my mother's very easy going and completely free of ego."

"She might like having an audience," Kate replied, "But last time I checked she didn't insist on certain brands of water, or that she be surrounded by fresh flowers, or something insane like that."

"Which Sarah Jessica Parker might?" Castle asked amused.

"Hard to say, since neither of us actually know her," Kate pointed out. "But it's always a possibility with famous actresses used to getting their own way. Quirks of the creative mind and all that."

"Hey!" Castle said. "I think I resent that Detective."

"I think you were meant to," Kate replied candidly.

"Of course," Castle said with a smile. "Anyway, I should probably let you go. I'm sure you have things to do, and I should probably call my daughter, you know, break the news about her new step-mom."

"Of course," Kate replied easily. "How's she doing?"

"Loving every minute of Princeton," he told her. Kate could hear the pride in his voice. "And somehow she's keeping out of trouble. I hope."

Kate grinned. "Alexis will be fine," she assured him. "She may be sixteen, but she's already more sensible than you are. I'm sure she'll have her fun and come home safe in the fall."

"You'd better be right about that Detective," Castle replied, somehow relieved by her confidence. He trusted his daughter, he did. But she was just so far away.

"Of course I'm right Castle," Kate replied easily. "Try not to worry too much."

"I'm glad you called Detective," he told her honestly. Then he added in a lighter tone, "It would have been so awkward hearing about my marriage on the street. I appreciate the heads up."

Kate smirked. "Not a problem Castle," she said. "I guess I'll talk to you later then," she added tentatively, slightly unsure, slightly hopeful.

"Definitely," Castle replied, trying to ignore not only the uncertainty in her voice but the reasons why she might be feeling uncertain. They would be speaking again. He'd make sure of it. "You're quite popular with the Castle family after all," he reminded her gently.

Kate smiled, relaxing slightly. "How could I forget," she replied softly. "Goodbye Castle," she added.

He smiled slightly. "Till next we speak Detective," he said theatrically before hanging up.

Kate smiled at her phone. Slowly her smile faded. It was so easy sometimes. Easy to talk to Castle, easy to forget what had happened, easy to... Easy to pretend that their friendship was as simple as their phone call had almost been. But even the simple phone call had a couple of complicated moments that neither of them were addressing.

Not that she wanted to address those moments. After all, wouldn't it be better for everyone to pretend their relationship was as easy as it appeared on the surface? Digging any deeper would probably only lead to disaster. And besides, she really wasn't even sure she wanted to. She honestly had no idea anymore what Castle wanted. At least if the two of them continued to tread softly then maybe they could maintain the old playfulness.

Kate took a deep breath. Standing resolutely she walked over to her laptop, smiling slightly as she turned it on.

She needed to find an appropriate 'Congratulations on your engagement' e-card after all.

And she wasn't going to think about anything else.

xxxxx

"Castle."

"Hi Castle, It's Ryan," the Detective told him.

"Hello Detective," Castle told him as he leaned back from his laptop. "Do you know you might be the only one of your colleagues who identifies himself on the phone like a normal person?" he asked.

"Um..." Ryan hesitated.

"Esposito just assumes you'll know who it is," Castle continued on blithely, "And Beckett usually just barks out her last name, if she identifies herself at all."

Ryan shrugged, "Habit I guess," he told the writer.

"Oh, I'm not judging," Castle explained. "It just seems a bit stereotypical cop is all."

"Yeah, well there's a reason stereotypes become stereotypes," Ryan replied. "They usually have some basis in fact."

"Very true my friend," Castle agreed. "Very true."

"So I was wondering," Ryan said, after a brief pause, "if you knew exactly when Mrs. R's play was on this weekend."

"Thinking of going?" Castle asked curiously. "You don't have to you know," he added.

"I know," Ryan replied. "But Beckett was saying she liked it a couple of days ago, and I mentioned it to Jenny and then she got all excited about it and really wants to go. I thought it might be cool. Esposito and maybe Lanie might come along, but I wasn't sure exactly which play it was and I wanted to look up show times today so we could plan."

"Well, I can email you the schedule," Castle told him, tapping on his keyboard as he searched for the information. "Mother keeps me up to date in case I decide to drive up for a couple of days. But why not just ask Beckett?" he asked curiously.

"She's not answering her phone," Ryan told him, silently agreeing that asking Beckett would have probably been simpler. "It's going straight to voicemail. Probably busy," he added with a shrug. "So I thought I'd try you."

"Right," Castle said absently with a few more taps on the keyboard. "There," he added. "I just sent you the schedule."

"Thanks man," Ryan replied.

"I hope you guys have a good time," Castle added. "And hey, feel free to drop in on Martha. She'd like that. I think she was a bit disappointed that Beckett didn't."

"Oh don't worry, I think Jenny's secretly hoping to meet her," Ryan admitted.

"And you're hoping to impress her," Castle added.

"Is it wrong for a man to want to keep his girlfriend happy?" Ryan asked him, completely unoffended. "And last I checked you weren't dating anybody, well, other than your rumoured marriage of course."

"Beckett told you about that did she?" Castle asked.

"We all bought copies of the Star when we heard," Ryan replied. "Hung a photo up at the station and everything. I hope the two of you will be very happy together," he added.

"Thanks," Castle replied dryly. "So how's it going?"

"Can't complain," Ryan replied. "You?"

"Same," Castle said. "Book's going pretty smoothly again. Gina's pleased."

"That's nice," Ryan said somewhat curtly.

But Castle didn't seem to notice. "I talked to Beckett," he added, apparently apropos of nothing.

Ryan's brows creased in confusion briefly. "I know," he admitted. "So?"

"She said she wasn't mad at me," Castle explained. "Guess you guys were right about that."

"Of course she said that," Ryan muttered under his breath. Because there was no way that Kate Beckett would ever have admitted to anything where the writer was concerned. And what could she say? There was no way Castle could have realized exactly what had happened. Even if he had been kind of stupid, it probably hadn't been deliberate. "That's good," Ryan added more clearly so the writer could hear him.

"What made you think she might be mad at me?" Castle asked curiously.

"I didn't say she might be mad at you," Ryan said slowly, carefully. "You said you were worried she might be mad at you and I agreed it might be a possibility, but that you needed to talk to Beckett about it if you were worried. That's a whole different thing. And now you have talked to Beckett. So I guess that's that then."

"Right," Castle replied slowly, sensing something wasn't quite right. "Hey man, is something wrong?"

"No," Ryan said quickly. "Why would anything be wrong?"

"I don't know," Castle admitted.

"Look," Ryan said suddenly, "I've got to go. Jenny's coming over soon and I wanted to look at show times before then."

"Oh," Castle said, still trying to figure out what felt off. "Right."

Ryan took a breath, "But hey, thanks for sending me that schedule. Jenny'll love it, and we'll be sure to drop in on your Mom," he added more normally.

"Of course," Castle said immediately. "It was no problem."

"It was good talking to you man," Ryan added sincerely.

"Yeah," Castle agreed. "I'll talk to you later."

"Bye," Ryan said before hanging up.

"Bye," Castle replied. He frowned a little to himself. Well, that had been... weird. And he wasn't exactly sure why. Ryan had seemed pretty normal by the end of their brief conversation, but still, something just felt off.

Now he just needed to figure out what. And why.

xxxxx

TBC