A/N: I want to apologize to AnnaFIRTH, because she said a shopping scene between Kate and Johanna would be fun and I told her I might write it, but turns out that a fun scene wouldn't fit in the mood that I set for the beginning of this chapter. But I promise I'll try to write something of the sort further into the story. Once again, I'm really sorry.
The One That Got Away
: : : :
Rick was getting ready for his date with the lovely - and admittedly smoking hot - Kate Beckett when his mother decided to sit on the couch in his office, looking strangely at him.
He decided to brush it off until she spoke up.
"She's not Kyra."
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I know that, mom."
"Do you?"
He moved towards her on the couch and sat down heavily.
"Yes, I know. She's not Kyra. Kyra's gone. I know that, mother."
"She seems like a really nice girl." his mother continued. She had a point to make. He knew that. Noticed it by the way she raised an eyebrow at him and by the glance she was throwing him.
"She does seem like a nice girl. That's why I asked her out."
"A shame to break her heart."
What?! Was he that much a screw up that his mother didn't believe that he could outlast any relationship?!
Wow, that. . . hurt.
He looked at his mother, but the look in her face was off. She didn't seem worried about him. She seemed to be judging him.
Oh. Oh!
She thought Kate was his rebound girl.
"She's not my rebound girl." he assured.
"Are you sure of that?" she said, making him huff at her "Richard, you just got out of a serious relationship. Do you really think it's such a good idea to jump in another relationship so fast."
"It's not like I'm asking her to marry me, mother."
"Like you did with Kyra." his mother stated. He knew that she was probably right. Knew that he should take it easy, but that gave her no right to do that to him.
No right!
"Yes, mother. I proposed. She left. That was probably my fault anyway. Now if you excuse me I have a date to attend to." he got up from the couch and left the house, slamming the door a bit harder then he intended to.
He got into his car and turned the ignition, hearing the car purr.
He smiled.
This was what he needed. Speed. Something that took his mind off of his mother's words.
He stepped on the gas and took the longest way to Kate's house.
The wind was pushing his hair back and stinging is eyes, but it made him feel good. Kept all of it away from his mind.
He shook his head trying to get the image of Kyra boarding the plane out of his mind, trying to take his mother's words away from his mind.
She was wrong. He wasn't using Kate as his rebound girl.
He wasn't, was he?
: : : :
When she finally came down the stairs her mother was looking out of the front door whit a smile playing in her lips.
"What's going on outside?" she asked as she reached her mother.
"Your father is having the time of his life." she said, seemingly amused.
Kate peeked out of the door to see his father walking around Rick's car, whistling appreciatively.
Rick was talking and pointing at stuff in his car, gesticulating broadly.
But there was something off about him. Something in the way his shoulders were slightly hunched over and tense and in the way the light didn't quite reach his eyes.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
She barely knew the guy and this was so not her. Kate Beckett did not accept date invitations from people she barely knew. At least, not anymore.
She looked down at herself. The navy-blue summer dress that reached midtigh and her high heels that weren't as tall as she liked them to be.
She bit her lip and took a step back.
This was a bad idea, she should never-
"There you are. Ready to go?" Rick asked, arresting her movements.
She looked up and there he was. All smooth and charming and eyeing her appreciatively.
He leaned over the passenger sit of his car and grabbed something, hiding it behind his back and walking her way.
Her father was a couple feet behind Rick, so he could see what he had behind his back. Kate looked at her dad to see if she could get a hint of what it was, but his face showed her nothing.
Rick smiled broadly at her, demanding her attention.
"May I say how good you look tonight?!"
She blushed.
"You may."
"You look stunning, Kate." he said producing a single rose from behind his back, looking at her like he had just made the best magic trick in history.
She smiled and took the rose from him.
"Thanks. That's very sweet, Rick."
He winked at her "I thought so too." he said making her roll her eyes at him.
He offered her his elbow and she hesitantly looped her arm around it.
"Well, Mr. Beckett, Mrs. Beckett. It has been a pleasure like always. I promise she'll be home before midnight." he said charmingly and making this cute little four finger wave at her parents.
He guided her to the passenger side and opened the door for her, letting her in and closing the door after her.
She waved at her parents while Rick started the car.
And then he drove away from her house.
: : : :
He parked near a little Italian restaurant that seemed full.
"It seems full." she said furrowing her eyebrows.
"Don't worry. I know a guy." he said with a wink.
Rick led her out of the car and into the little restaurant. The waitress, a warm woman in her forties came their way with a huge smile.
"Ricky! Look at you!" the woman said with an Italian accent "All grown up and handsome. Why have you been such a stranger?! Not coming to my fine establishment for weeks."
"Sorry." he said charmingly.
"Oh, I can't get ad at you." the woman squeezed his cheeks as if he was a little boy and smiled "And who's the lovely girl you brought with you?"
"Linda, this is Kate."
The woman hugged Kate tightly and let her go.
"So, I was thinking if you could get us a table?" he said, making puppy dog eyes at Linda.
"Sure, honey. Just follow me."
Linda led them to a table in the back with relative privacy. Once they sat down, Linda brought them the menu.
"There you go. I'll leave to to chose and I'll be back in a minute." Linda smiled at Rick "It's good to see you back on your feet, Ricky."
Rick tensed but nodded with a forced smile.
When Linda was out of earshot, she turned back to him.
"What did she meant?"
"What?"
"About you getting back on your feet."
He sighed.
"I had a bit of a rough time, but I'm good now."
And the smile he gave her almost made her believe his words. Almost. There was still something bothering her in the way he carried himself.
"Are you okay?"
He smiled broadly "Fine. Why wouldn't I be. I'm in a very fine restaurant with a very beautiful girl."
She blushed.
"So your mother told me you are going to college next year."
"When did she told you that?"
"When you were getting ready and your father was drooling all over Serenity."
"I still can't believed you named your car."
"Oh, I didn't. It was my uncle's. He named it. It was his baby." he said with a shrug of his shoulders "But your running from the point. College applications. . . Come on. Ditch."
"There's nothing to ditch. I finished highschool and applied to colleges. That's it."
"Where do you want to go?"
"Standford."
"Good choice. It's great there."
"You went there?"
He opened his mouth to answer when a girl that should be about twenty-five come over their table.
"Hi!" she said excitedly, turning to Rick and ignoring her completely.
"Hmm, do I know you?" he asked seemingly confused.
"No, but I know you." she said giggling "You're Richard Castle, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Oh, my God! I knew it. I love your books so much."
He smiled charmingly at the woman.
"Thank you!"
"Would you sign my chest?" the woman asked taking a sharpie out of her purse.
Rick's jaw fell "Are you serious?"
"Sure." the woman said brightly.
He looked at her nervously.
"Hmm, since I'm in a date, I think it would be rude for me to do that."
The woman pouted at his words and threw Kate a annoyed look.
"Fine. Can you sign my book then?"
She took a book from her purse.
"And what's your name?" he said charmingly, making the smile get back in the woman's face.
"Melanie."
He scribbled something in the first page and winked at the woman.
"Okay, Melanie. It was a pleasure." the woman giggled and left.
Rick turned to her.
"Sorry about that."
"Oh. My. God! What the heck just happened?"
She was utterly confused. What the hell was going on?
He was a writer?! She did not saw that one coming.
Rick gave her a sheepish smile "Let me introduce myself." he reached out a hand for her to shake "Richard Castle. Best-selling author. Pleasure to meet you."
She shook his hand, still in shock with what had just happened.