Scrapbook

Chapter Four

A/N: Sorry for the massive delay. Stuff's going on, writer's block being insistent... but on the up side, Bones and Castle started tonight in Aus. :D So I'm feeling inspired to sit (or lie down) and actually write another chapter of Scrapbook. I hope you enjoy the latest instalment.

Kate was sitting behind her desk, writing up reports, and trying not to fall asleep. After her late night jaunt to the kitchen, and then back to bed with Rick, she'd not had much sleep. She rubbed her eyes, and looked at the clock. It told her it was 1:27pm. Kate had been at work since 9:30am, and she'd completed nearly all of her paperwork. However, she was getting bored. There really was only so much paperwork you could do in one day, and she was nearing the end of that amount. She cast an eye around the bullpen, eyeing Ryan's empty desk. He'd gone out to grab some lunch for himself, Kate and Esposito. That was almost an hour ago.
"Hey, Esposito." Kate called out, getting the attention of the other man.
"Yeah?"
"Any word from Ryan? He's been gone a while."
Esposito pulled out his phone and checked for messages. He shook his head. "Nothing."
Kate sighed, and stood up, stretching her legs. She walked over to Esposito's desk. "How's your paperwork coming?"
"Actually, I finished all the important stuff yesterday. We really need another case before I go stir crazy." Esposito replied.
"I agree." Kate said. She leaned on Esposito's desk and they stayed in relative silence for about five minutes, which is when Ryan finally arrived. He came in with a bag of food in one hand, and brandishing a magazine in the other. He dumped the food on Esposito's desk and grinned.
"What is it, Ryan?" Kate asked.
Excitedly, Ryan began to read. "After months of speculation, confirmation has finally come. One of New York's most famous couples has announced their engagement. Author Richard Castle has confirmed that he and NYPD Homicide Detective Kate Beckett have been recently engaged, and says that they are both very happy. No date has been set as yet for the wedding, but Castle says it will be sooner rather than later."
Ryan passed the magazine to Kate, who looked down at the front cover, and found herself staring at a picture of herself and Castle at the Writer's Black Tie Ball. She smiled. "Where did you find this?" She asked.
"It's not exactly hard to find." Ryan replied. "What with the blown up version gracing every news stand in the city."
Kate groaned. Great, giant pictures of her everywhere. If she had any anonymity, it was well and truly gone now.

At 5:30pm, Kate packed up her things, and left the precinct, taking the magazine with her. She went home, and sank down onto her bed. Pulling out Rick's scrapbook, she opened it to the last page, and smiled. Rick had beaten her to it. The latest article already glued in, along with all the included pictures.
"You've seen it, then?"
Kate turned, and smiled at her fiancé.
Rick stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, arms crossed. He smiled back, before entering the room, to come and sit beside Kate on the bed.
"Sooner rather than later, huh?" Kate asked.
"Yeah. They wanted an answer as to when the wedding was going to be. That's the most vague I could make it."
Kate placed her hand on Rick's cheek, and kissed his lips gently. "I like sooner rather than later." She said.
"That's good. I was kinda hoping you would." Rick replied.
"We should decide on a date, I suppose." Kate said.
"Hey, there's no rush. Whenever you're ready."
"Oh, it's up to me, is it?" Kate asked, a small grin gracing her features.
"I'd marry you tomorrow if I could." Rick replied. "So yeah, just let me know when you're ready."
Kate gave a small nod. "Okay."
"How was work?" Rick asked, changing the subject.
"Boring." Kate replied. "Paperwork is tedious. What I wouldn't give for a case..."
"Even though it mean's someone's died?"
"Yeah..." Kate said. "But the sad fact is people die. People are murdered every day, and it's my job to catch the people responsible. Which I can't do if all the cases are booted to other precincts. I mean, come on, I wasn't gone for very long, and suddenly we have nothing to do except paperwork."
"Could be worse." Rick said.
"How?"
"Could have no cases and no paperwork. Then what would you do?"
Kate shrugged. "Go wedding dress shopping."
Rick chuckled. "Shopping over work. Even for a wedding dress. I can't imagine that."
"Laugh all you like, Castle. It's going to happen sooner or later." Kate grinned. "You really are stuck with me now."
Rick grinned, and pushed Kate back onto the bed, causing her to giggle. He started tickling her, and soon she was gasping for breath in between bouts of giggles.
"Stop... stop!" She gasped, but Rick kept tickling. Eventually, Kate was able to regain a little bit of self control. Not much, but enough to flip them, so she was straddling Rick's waist. She pinned his arms down. She was breathing heavily, her chest heaving, and she shook her head at Rick, while laughing and trying to catch her breath. "You are impossible." She said.
"I try." Rick replied with a grin.
Kate leant down and kissed him passionately. He responded eagerly, his tongue exploring the depths of her mouth. Kate moaned against him, and loosened the grip on his arms. Rick used the advantage, and wrapped his arms around Kate, drawing her close.
"I love you." He whispered between kisses. He started on her jaw, moving down towards her chest, and Kate arched into him.
"I love you too." She whispered back.
There was a sudden noise from elsewhere in the apartment. A door opening and closing, and Kate reluctantly crawled off Rick.
"Alexis is home." She said.
Rick nodded. "Yes. She is." He was still lying on his back, breathing heavily, and looking up at Kate with lust filled eyes.
Kate smiled and shook her head. "Not now."
Rick pouted. "Come on, she won't care."
"Please, she thinks it's gross. Her dad having sex is not something she particularly wants to walk in on."
"We'll lock the door."
Kate got off the bed and stood up. She leant down and gave Rick a quick kiss. "Later." She promised, before she left the room to go and greet her future stepdaughter.

A/N: Okay, little tired now. Hope this was enjoyable. Please review. :D

I'm going to Albany today, so I get to visit my parents. Which is awesome. :D It also means I might have time to actually sit and think about writing more of this story. Which I very much want to do, 'cause I like it. I hope you do too.