So this is going to be the final chapter on this one. More is to come I think – but this deserves a new story I figure. So – thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed.
At the restaurant they were greeted by the same blonde receptionist again.
"Good evening Mr. Castle. Welcome to Dinovos. Let me show you to your table."
She led them to their table and Rick went over to pull out the chair for Kate, planting a kiss on her shoulder as she sat and went to her sit opposite of her. She really looked extraordinarily beautiful in that dress.
After their little encounter on the couch earlier he had suggested they don't go out but spend the evening in bed. She had laughed at him and pointed out the fact that he had gone through so much trouble to get that table that it was impossible to skip it now. And after all it was the restaurant she had always wanted to visit. So they had put on their clothes again and headed out.
He took her hand over the table and pressed it, smiling at her warmly. He had had this unsettling feeling all day long even though he knew that they were ok. But the simple feeling that maybe they would not be had left him worrying.
"What are you thinking about, Rick?" she asked with a soft voice.
He gave her his best charming smile.
"I was just thinking I should maybe stop buying you such really nice clothing. I cannot stop myself from thinking about what lies underneath…maybe we should have stayed home after all."
She giggled and though he had said that with his usually teasing voice, she understood the compliment that lay beneath.
"Yeah well let's just eat our meal – we can always skip desert if you feel like it." She said and winked at him.
"So, do you want to go back to your place or mine?" he asked, pulling her into a close embrace in front of the restaurant.
She quickly checked the clock and shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know. We can always go back to your place if you feel like you need to be there for Alexis or such."
He kissed her on the forehead and smiled.
"Alexis is becoming a big girl – and there is always Mother to take care of her.
At least at the moment."
She looked at him, puzzled.
"What makes you say that?"
He grinned.
"Well I know my mother. She's been together now with Chet nearly half a year and they seem to get along just fine. She spends most of her nights over at his place – I figure it won't be long till she moves in with him permanently. She seems to just be waiting for someone to push her to do it."
Kate smiled at the thought.
"She deserves to be happy with Chet. I think it's actually kind of cute. Or what do you think?"
He stood there, staring into the distance, not paying attention to her anymore.
"Castle? Castle! What is it?"
He locked his gaze on her, a solemn expression on his face.
"I just had an idea. I want you to move in with me. It's the right timing – if we tell Mother that will give her the final push into the right direction to just go and take the plunge. Plus we would never again have to figure out where to go to after a romantic rendezvous."
He was positively beaming now, his eyes sparkling with happiness.
She could only smile at his enthusiasm. Moving in with him and Alexis? After only 4 months of them being together now? Would that really be such a great idea?
Well, truth be told, she did spend most of her weekends at his place and just liked it. It was like the perfect family get-away from work. Alexis was a very sweet girl and Kate knew Alexis wouldn't mind her moving in permanently. Or would she? And what about Martha?
Even if it was true that she was practically on the verge of moving out – she didn't want to push her into that. And was she ready at all to give up her own private space?
Castle seemed to sense her confusion and pulled her into a deep hug.
"You know you don't need to make that decision just now. But I want you to consider it. Let's get back to my place now and I'm going to take you up on that offer to peel you out of that dress. And I'm going to do it really slowly. How does that sound to you?"
She smiled and kissed him gently.
"Sounds like a really good plan to me!"
She awoke at about 5 AM, feeling thirsty. She managed to wind out of his tight embrace without waking him and remained standing next to the bed, watching him smile in his sleep. Was it really only 24 hours ago that she came home to see exactly this man sleeping in her bed? She had to smile to herself at the thought of having him sleep next to her always. Not in her or his bed, but in theirs.
She put on her panties and picked up his shirt from the floor where it had landed the evening before, pulling it on and buttoning it up tight. She went to the kitchen and picked something to drink out of the fridge and then went to stand by the window to look out, enjoying the view. She just loved his apartment if she was being true to herself. She had loved it from the moment she had first entered it.
She turned and looked around the open kitchen and living room space, imagined how it would feel to live here permanently. Her thoughts were interrupted by Alexis padding down the stairs. The teenager smiled upon seeing her, as if it was the most normal thing to run into her father's girlfriend…only clothed in her father's shirt.
"Good morning Kate. Up so early?"
Kate wrapped one arm around herself and lifted her beverage slightly with the other one, feeling suddenly a little embarrassed.
"Just awoke being thirsty."
Alexis smiled.
"Yeah, same here."
She helped herself to something to drink and joined Kate standing at the window.
"So, was your date nice? Where did Dad take you?"
Kate smiled.
"We went to Dinovo's! I always wanted to go there, so I really loved it."
Alexis nodded.
"Yeah, I've heard of that. It must be a nice restaurant."
Kate nodded, too.
"Yeah it is. You should come with us the next time."
Kate blushed a little at the thought because she was already seeing the three of them as a little family.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked.
"Sure, what is it?" the teenager prompted.
"Don't you think it's weird, you running into me here in the kitchen, like this?"
Alexis giggled.
"No, why? I mean, you basically live here on the weekends; I'm pretty used to having you around. And for the shirt…well at least you are wearing one."
Kate blushed even more.
"Yeah well good I remembered to put it on…"
Alexis laughed.
"You really don't need to be embarrassed. I really love to see you feeling comfortable and at home with my Dad. You mean very much to him and I really like you too."
She just stepped in and hugged Kate warmly, after some initial shock she hugged the teenager back.
"Thank you Alexis. This really means a lot to me."
She went back to the bedroom with a smile. She took off the clothing and slipped back under the covers, pressing herself tightly to Rick's naked body. She smiled as she thought back – 24 hours ago she had done exactly the same which had lead to the fact that she now probably was really going to move in with him and his daughter. For a moment she thought about waking him up for a repeat performance of the night before, but this time was just content with snuggling up to him and wrapping one arm around his waist.
There were so many things still to consider if she really was going to make that step. But now she just wanted to sleep some more.