Hampton's Hiatus
04 Saturday afternoon
Alex's viewpoint
After a comfortably casual lunch and more happy conversation we'd headed on our way, Rick was planning another great meal tonight and needed some fresh ingredients so we needed to hit the farmer's market on the way home but got happily sidetracked on the way, we spent some time window shopping until Kate and I spotted some gorgeous cashmere sweaters and headed inside, leaving Rick and Liv standing outside enjoying the sunshine. The knit-wear shop's old-style windows were cracked open enough to let a gentle breeze pass though; it also let me hear what they were saying as I quietly eavesdropped while sorting through clothes on their shelves.
Rick was speaking; it was his voice that had caught my attention in the first place.
"There's much to be said for this part of the lifestyle up here, the sun, the easy-going pace, well not during the holidays but the rest of the year's not too bad" Liv's voice floated through clearly as well.
"Yeah, it's a really nice change from the city, thanks for inviting us up here" The smile in Rick's voice was easily heard as he replied.
"Hey, it's been our pleasure, Kate's been looking forward to having you up, ever since you guys reconnected she's wanted to do this, she really loves it up here" I smiled, we'd both been looking forward to this as well, getting away from work was always good. It's why we hung out for the chance to catch up with Jane and Maura and the others in LA when we could but Liv had been excited as anything to spend some serious time with Kate, plus Rick was a good guy, we both liked him and it was obvious that he doted on Kate. I was still thinking about that as Liv spoke.
"I can see why, she fits in, Alex too, they look like locals. It's not really my scene" I could hear the curiosity in Rick's voice.
"Oh, why not?" I tilted my head and moved closer to better hear Liv's response.
"I don't really fit here, into this life. I'm a cop, the Hampton's not really where I'm comfortable, I don't really belong here" There was a pause as I felt my conscience pull at me, the desire to step outside and just hug and kiss Liv, to tell her that she belonged with me, anywhere I was, that I wasn't complete without her by my side, before I could move though Rick spoke, a little quieter.
"I understand where you're coming from Liv; I'm only here because of my luck. I grew up Richard Rogers, a not particularly well off kid. It's only because I got lucky and found I could string words together that I got to where I am" There was another pause; I could imagine them sharing a look as I moved closer, tilting my head and pushing my hair behind my ear as I strained to hear them.
"Alex, you ok?" I looked round to see Kate looking over at me; before she could speak again I quickly held my finger to my lips, seeing her expression change, her curiosity visible as she strolled over as Rick spoke again, fortunately he hadn't heard her as he carried on.
"I'm not really part of this life either, not like the Kennedy's or the Rockefeller's or the Vanderbilt's…"
"Or the Cabot's" At Liv's comment I stood very silent, seeing Kate come to stand alongside me, she'd heard them, our eyes meeting in a glance as Rick continued, his voice quiet but heard easily enough from where we standing.
"Yeah, them too, I don't really fit in, for most of them I'm crass 'new money', all vulgar celebrity, good as an amusing accessory at a garden party but not really part of this life" I could see Kate's eyes widen then narrow as her mouth thinned to an angry line, quite obviously she hadn't heard Rick talking like this before as he continued on. "I'm tolerated up here because of my celebrity and money; I make a nice, humorous addition to their dinner parties and the like here, their court jester if you will, good for a joke or a story to amuse the important guests" He paused for a moment then pushed on. "Plus I normally used to have some highly decorative arm candy bimbo to provide some additional tawdry glamour to their events" Liv's statement was quiet but clear.
"And now you have Kate" I could easily hear the smile in Rick's reply.
"And now I have Kate, who's as decorative an arm candy as anyone could possibly ask for, but she doesn't count, she's way too smart for this, plus she's no one's bimbo" I could easily hear the agreement in Liv's voice.
"You're not wrong there" I exchanged a glance with Kate, both of us standing there listening intently as Rick continued.
"Besides, Kate doesn't suffer fools gladly, which takes in a lot of the society people up here" I smirked a little, he was right, while Kate's mouth quirked up at the corner at that comment, even as I could imagine Liv nodding as she spoke.
"Kate can blend in pretty much anywhere really, with her looks she'd fit in fine" I could hear the smile in Rick's voice as he replied.
"Alex's the same, arm candy looks, but she's so much more that that, they both are" There was quiet for a moment as I looked across to see Kate's tawny eyes meet mine as Liv replied, her voice carried a hint of something, pride maybe, for her friend and former partner.
"True" There was silence for a few seconds, I could almost see her staring off into the distance, the way she often does when she's thinking hard. Kate and I exchanged another glance and I opened my mouth to say something when Liv spoke again. "On the other hand I don't, I'm a blue collar cop from New York, this isn't my place" I frowned, Liv's sense of self worth wasn't good at the best of times, here, surrounded by the trappings of the wealthy society, the so-called one-percenters, it must be hard for her, no matter how often I tell her she's worth more to me than any amount of money she still lets it eat at her, that she couldn't bring money to our relationship, the disparity in our financial circumstances. I tell her time and again that I'm far richer now than I ever have been because I'm happy and in love, somehow she never really believes it. Rick's response was clear and confident.
"I wouldn't go that far, a change of clothes, a bit more trust in yourself and your relationship with Alex, put on a bit of an attitude and no one would think you weren't born to this life" We could all hear the doubt in Liv's voice, clear as crystal.
"You're joking?"
"Nope...not at all, you see Liv, I wear a mask; Rick Castle, millionaire playboy author, it's what the public sees, what I want them to see. I hide the real me, only Kate gets to see that person, everyone else gets to see the façade I put up to keep my private life private" Her reply was soft.
"That includes us?" Rick chuckled for a moment then spoke, the humour apparent in his voice.
"Hell no, you're family, you're like Kate's big sister, that makes you and Alex family to me" He paused then went on, a little quieter. "Kate's told me a few stories, how you kept her alive on the streets, looked out for her" There was a short pause; I could imagine Rick turning his head to look Liv straight in the eye before he continued. "Thank you"
I glanced across at Kate in surprise, Liv hadn't said much; just that they'd been really close as partners, but she'd avoided the details. Kate just nodded slowly in agreement as we exchanged a look before she spoke softly.
"Hey, it was the same for me, we looked out for each other for three years, I love her, you've got no idea how happy I am that you two got together, I can see she's happy, truly happy for the first time in a really long time" I smiled, though Rick's voice stopped me from replying, I could hear the smile in his voice.
"Besides, can't you tell, I have a weak spot for gorgeous detectives" That got him a low chuckle from Liv.
"Oh is that it, so that's why you invited us back to the Old Haunt that night? It was all about Jane and Ana and Kate?" The smile in Rick's voice was easily heard.
"Yeah, sure, but it was all about you too" Liv's reply was a scoff.
"Sure it was" Kate and I exchanged a glance as the quiet dragged on, Kate went to say something when Rick spoke once more.
"I'd actually heard about you, you know, from Kate, before we met at the Ball. She'd told me she had a training instructor named Mike Royce, he'd taught her about being a cop, about being a good cop" Kate nodded slowly as Rick continued. "She also told me about her first real partner out on the beat, another female cop, how some of the other cops laughed about two women walking the beat and how you'd never get any respect on the street" Liv's voice was reflective as she replied.
"I remember; assholes the lot of them. All it did was make us more determined than ever to prove every last one of them wrong" Rick's voice easily carried his amusement and something more, pride.
"As I've learned, the quickest way to piss Beckett off is to tell her there's something she can't do. Sounds like you're a pair" Liv's response was quick and decisive.
"Yep, we ended up with the best CrimStat reporting stats in the entire 27th precinct, pissed a lot of those self-same assholes off no end I can tell you" Rick's voice was quiet, I could imagine him nodding before he spoke, a smile in his voice.
"Y'know, when I started getting interested in Beckett, back when I first started shadowing her as inspiration for Nikki Heat, Commissioner Reagan told me about Beckett, that back pounding the beat she'd been part of a female team that locals called the Dynamic Duo, but instead of Batman and Robin, it was Supergirl and Wonder Woman" Liv's laugh was quick and light as I looked to Kate who shrugged then spoke softly.
"It was a dumb nickname" I was about to reply when Liv's voice came through the window.
"Oh yeah, I remember, it was kind of a joke, one of the shop owners on the beat told his young daughter that if she studied hard and was a good girl she could grow up to be anything, even a police officer" Liv paused, then continued, a smile easily heard in her voice. "The girl said she wanted to grow up to be a superhero like Wonder Woman so Kate told her she could be both, after all every superhero needed a secret identity" Rick's voice broke in; I could hear his barely-contained glee.
"You've got to be kidding me, Kate said that?" Liv's reply was equally gleeful.
"Yep, somehow the story got out and twisted around a bit, so that's how we became Wonder Woman and Supergirl" I could imagine Rick rubbing his hands together in anticipation as he spoke, full of enthusiasm.
"I could so see Kate as Supergirl" I knew he was right, Kate had the looks and the physique, she'd own the look; Kate though groaned softly beside me and then spoke quietly.
"Rick loves costumes, Halloween is practically his favorite day of the year, so I'm damned sure I know what he's going to suggest this year" She glanced at me. "At least Liv makes a good Wonder Woman" I shrugged.
"Hair's a bit short for Diana of Themiscera" I saw Kate's eyes widen as I spoke, making me smile, I'd read Wonder Woman as a kid, she was THE female hero for me growing up. "I don't mind though, besides Liv's already decided which superhero I am" At Kate's sudden and very apparent interest I shrugged. "Black Canary from Arrow, blonde ADA by day and black leather-clad superhero by night" Kate grinned.
"You in leather, I bet Liv'd love that" Her grin widened. "Almost as much as you want to see her in leather" I felt my cheeks warm, obviously my interest during last night's discussion hadn't been missed. I went to say something when I was interrupted by Rick's voice as he spoke up.
"Anyway, the thing is that Frank Reagan told me that both of those female beat cops had been identified early for big things and look how that panned out" Liv spoke quietly.
"Yeah, Kate's reputation is sky high, the 12ths Homicide division has one of the highest case closure rates of any squad anywhere in the NYPD" I raised an eyebrow at Kate; she shrugged and smiled, a little bashfully, as Rick replied.
"Then there's you, one of the NYPDs most decorated female officers, the SVU closure rate at the 16th is very high, particularly given the nature of the crimes you deal with" Liv was quick to deflect his praise.
"We have some really good people" She paused then went on. "Plus we have two really good ADAs, we catch em, they convict them"
"Sounds like you're a good team" Liv's reply was certain despite her words.
"I like to think so" Rick's voice was quiet but sure.
"You're good together Olivia, everyone can see that" Liv was quick to reply.
"Lots of people don't approve of us, plus they've made sure we know it" I glanced at Kate to see her head tipped to one side, listening as her eyes rested on me. Rick was quiet for a moment and then spoke.
"So some people don't like it, tough, plenty of others do. Gossip is rife up here and honestly, I've heard enough about Alex through people here, about your influence" Liv's voice carried a hint of resignation.
"Nothing good I'm sure" Rick's voice was dismissive.
"As you'd expect, there's the usual nose in the air types who tut tut about Alex not comporting herself like a Cabot, disgracing the family name, that sort of stupidity" I felt my jaw clench in anger at his words and saw Kate shake her head but before I could say anything Liv replied.
"Probably friends of Alex's parents, they don't approve of me" There was a trace of humour in Rick's voice.
"It's their perfect little princess; do you think anyone would be good enough for their tastes?" Liv's replied carried a hint of dark humour in her tone.
"Probably not"
"Yeah, no one would be good enough, certainly not a New York cop, a female New York cop" There was a pause before Rick continued. "It's not you Liv, it could just have easily been someone like Kate, do you really see the Cabot clan welcoming Kate into the family, knowing that she was going to be fucking their perfect heir-making machine, but producing no babies" I looked over at Kate at that crude but accurate summation, Liv's voice was thoughtful as she replied, even as I saw Kate with an equally thoughtful look on her face, waiting on Liv's reply, when it came it carried a considering tone.
"When you put it like that, no, probably not" There was definite humour in Rick's voice, I could imagine him grinning at her as he spoke.
"Exactly, no one would be. Hell Maura Isles is from the same stratum of society as most of these pretentious types, well except for being a much nicer person than they ever will, and the Hampton's set would still look down their noses at her and Alex if they'd ended up together" I frowned at that, he was probably right, far too many people with old money and old prejudices lived up here, looking up I saw Kate nodding slowly, she obviously was thinking the same thing. Rick meanwhile was continuing on.
"Anyway then there are the people who are supportive for all the wrong reasons, y'know the type..." Rick's voice changed, taking on the airs of the old-style society types that still infested the Hampton's. "Isn't Alexandra so very brave, coming out as a lesbian...' or; 'won't it look good with the media and the gay community...' or 'Oh no darling, young Alex is only doing it to get votes from the gay community" He dropped the affected accent and continued. "People like them don't have a clue, to them it's all about appearances, being seen to do the right thing, whatever they deem to be the right thing that is" Liv's reply was pensive, you could hear it in her tone as well as her words.
"It's funny, that some people think that being gay is some sort of stunt to get support from the community but I know a lot of people aren't ready for a lesbian District Attorney; it was something I was really worried about when we got together. It's one of the reasons I insisted that we keep it quiet at work" I exchanged a glance with Kate, seeing the thoughtful look on her face, even as Rick pressed on.
"Most people, at the end of the day, vote for character and everything I've seen and heard about Alex says she's got it in spades. Kate told me she wished Alex were her prosecutor, we could have used her on some of our cases" There was a pause as I turned to look at Kate, surprised, before Rick spoke again. "Not everyone's as committed as she is" Kate shrugged, a little sheepishly then spoke softly.
"We've had a few cases plea bargained out because the prosecutor wanted to tie it up quickly rather than push to get a conviction in court" She smiled. "Connie Rubirosa, who pushed a few of our difficult cases through to convictions, she told me there were a few really good prosecutors I should try and get but two of them were tied to SVU, you and a woman named Novak" I nodded, but before I could say anything Rick's voice came through the window.
"The thing is though, not everyone thinks like those people, I've met a few people, cops mostly, since you and Alex came out who've told me how you've never seemed happier. Same goes for some of the people up here who know Alex, they say she's never been happier and it shows. They were happy that you're both happy because they know and care for you, they're the people who matter, not the others" His voice changed. "The others, well they can all go to hell" Liv's voice was soft but certain; I could almost imagine them fist-bumping.
"Amen" I looked up into Kate's hazel eyes to see the smile she wore reflected there as she spoke softly.
"Amen"