Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Andrew W. Marlowe, though they have found their own way into my heart.
She opened her eyes to a dimly lit room. Outside the windows, the sky was slowly lighting up with the breaking of dawn. She could hear his low and deep rhythmic breathing next to her. A smile spread on her lips when she realized she was spooning him. Her forehead was pressed against his bare shoulder and her arm lay over his middle. Sneaking a glance over his sleeping form, she saw it was 5:28 a.m. She could get used to this, waking up every morning with him beside her. She lay still for a minute, breathing in his scent, before she got out of bed and got dressed.
Walking over to his side of the bed, she knelt on the floor next to him. She gently brushed her fingers through his ruffled hair, whispering his name. He drew in a deep breath.
"Castle," she whispered again, rubbing her thumb back and forth across his temple.
"Mmm…" he muttered, without opening his eyes.
"Castle, I'm going," she said softly.
"'kay," he mumbled half asleep. She smiled, shaking her head.
"Okay. I'll call you later," she whispered, looking at his peaceful face. She ran her hand through his hair one more time, kissed his forehead and shoulder, and quietly left the room, her heels in her hand.
When the elevator doors opened to the building's lobby, she spotted the doorman seated behind the counter. He'd seen her come in last night, and now leaving early in the morning. The same had happened the day before yesterday. What would he think of her? She thought feeling self-conscious.
"Good morning Detective Beckett," he smiled at her.
"Good morning Eduardo," she answered, feeling a blush color her cheeks. His eyes crinkled with an amused grin.
"Have a good day miss," he said as he opened the door for her.
"Thanks, you too."
Since she had nothing better to do and it was still early when she got home, she walked to her bedroom and quickly fell asleep.
When he woke, the sun was streaming in through the windows, blinding him. He squinted and glanced sideways. It was past nine. Reaching out with his hand, he found the bed empty, the sheets cold. He sat upright and looked around. Both she and her clothes were gone. Pulling on some sweats, he checked his study and the living room. Nope, no Beckett. Alexis had left him a note on the counter. She would be running some errands in the morning. She'd be having lunch with Paige and then they were going to the movies, so she'd be home late.
He got his phone and speed dialed Kate's number.
Barely awake, she fumbled for her ringing phone. She found it in her purse, on the floor at the end of the bed. She brought it to her ear as she dropped backwards onto the mattress again.
"Beckett," she muttered out of habit.
"Well, good morning! Did I wake you?" he said amused.
"What? No," she muffled a yawn.
"Liar… You know? I think it's the first time I'm the one to be waking you." He only got silence from the other end of the line. "Kate? Did you fall asleep again?"
"No, I'm just ignoring your meaningless comments," she murmured.
"Little moody, aren't we?" Silence again. "O-kay. When did you leave?" he changed subject.
"This morning, before six, don't you remember?" she said.
"Nope, should I?"
"Guess you were sleeping like a log."
"What do you feel like doing today?" he asked cheerfully.
"I don't know…" she paused for a second, "I'm open to suggestions," she smiled just as she heard a knock. "Oh, wait. Someone's at the door."
"Are you expecting company other than mine?" he asked as she walked towards her front door.
"It's not you out my door, is it Castle?" she asked distrustful. She cracked the door open and peeked outside. "Dad?"
"Hi honey," her father grinned sweetly.
"Just a second," she said to both of them, her father waiting outside in the hallway and Castle on the phone, as she closed the door and removed the security chain. She swung the door wide open and let her dad inside. "Hi dad." He kissed her cheek as he walked past her.
"Beckett?"
"Who's that on the phone Katie?" They both spoke to her at the same time.
"…Yeah, give me a second dad?" She disappeared into her office.
"Castle-," she muttered.
"Yeah, your dad's there," he finished for her.
"I'm sorry. We could get together tonight," she offered.
"Sure. Pick you up at eight thirty?"
"Pick me up?" she asked confused.
"Am I not supposed to pick you up on our first date?" he said roguishly.
"Date?" she stuttered, puzzled.
"Eight thirty. Casual clothing will do. Love you," and he was gone. She stared at her phone in disbelief. She was going on a date with Richard Castle? Before she realized, she was smiling in astonishment.
She'd started the day thinking she'd be spending her time with Castle, just the two of them. But things could change in a blink, and so it turned into a very busy day. She'd spent all morning with her dad. He'd learned the news of her resignation from Ryan. Having heard nothing from her, Kevin had called her father, worried, thinking that if she might be needing someone, her dad would want to be there for her. He hadn't heard anything from Esposito in the last two days either.
She and her father had had lunch together, and he'd left early in the afternoon. She then took the chance to talk to Esposito, find out how he was doing; and then she called Ryan. She didn't blame him for what had happened, after all he'd saved her life. If he hadn't come, she would have been dead. She was fine, she reassured him; she just needed some time.
He couldn't be happier, feel more cheerful. He had had a very productive day writing, and was now headed to her apartment to pick her up for their first official date. Spotting a small flower shop, he stopped and got out of the town car a couple of blocks away from her apartment to buy her flowers. He picked a small bouquet of purple and pink peonies. He was about to pay when his phone went off.
"Eager to hear my sweet-," he started to say.
"Rick! He's here!" she screamed. "Maddox is-," the line went dead.
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