I'm back from a few days away. Thank you for all the reviews, favourites, and follows. Here is some fun.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Castle

Chapter 7 - Parental Teasing

Kate Beckett always went to her parents one day a week for an evening meal. They insisted that she needed to eat one meal that wasn't takeout during the working week. She would usually go over for Sunday dinner unless she was buried under work or had something better to do which was basically never.

Even so, every time she walked through the door to her childhood home she was greeted with a bear hug from both of her parents. At least one of them would squeeze her tight enough to make her chuckle. Tonight it was her father that encased her in a bear hug though as he had been banished from the kitchen by her mother who beckoned her pleasantly to the kitchen to help with final preparations for their meal.

Even though Kate now lived on her own every time she came back to her childhood home that her parents still lived in it was as if she was still there. They all had their own tasks and were completely in synch with one another. Kate longed for what her parents had a loving relationship with a marriage that is lifelong. By Kate's age not only was her mother married but she already had a child. Kate would pray that she could have that one day.

Conversation flowed as normal through until they were coming to the end of the meal. She was completely unprepared for her mother's statement and slightly baffled by her abrupt approach. Johanna was never one to dordle around a question but still. "So, Katie, what is going on with you and Richard Castle? I know he's not your client so did he ask you out?"

"What are you talking about? I have never met him. Apart from when you dragged me to get your book signed." Kate regaled their time standing outside Barnes and Noble one winter day many years ago. Her mother had said that it wouldn't take long, two hours later she apologised.

"If I remember correctly you didn't need any incentivising to come." True as it was, Kate hadn't been impressed by her mother's antics that day.

"Jo," Jim inputted before the disagreement on their reminiscing escalated "isn't it more of a point that Katie denied meeting him yesterday?"

"Ah yes, dear, it is." Johanna agreed. "Why didn't you tell us about your rendezvous?"

"There was no rendezvous."

"Yes there was. The proof is in the paper."

"The paper?" Kate questioned having gone through the day not seeing the newspaper in question. Castle hadn't mentioned anything, not that he necessarily would, still though she would like to know who in the world thought it would be interesting to snap a picture of her and Castle outside a police station. Why was the pap even there?

"Yes." Johanna said then passing her today's paper. "Richard Castle pictured outside the twelfth precinct with highly respected attorney Katherine 'Kate' Beckett. What is America's favourite bad boy mystery writer done now or is this him going straight?" Johanna quoted.

"It was a favour, okay?"

"A favour to whom?" Jim asked ever the interrogator just like his wife and daughter.

"My colleague, Henry. He is Castle's attorney but I owed Henry so when he decided to cash in on his favour I made a late night trip down town."

"So there were no afters then? The paper does say that he looked on longingly as you walked away from him." Kate's mother continued. Clearly interested in what was happening with her favourite author and into her daughter's life. Also she enjoyed teasing her only child.

"He may have done but I can assure you the feelings are not returned. He is a cocky, thinks he knows it all writer. He was able to call the mayor just to get the charges dropped. How can I respect someone who so carelessly flaunts the law?"

"So would you like to tell us why he was at your office today?"

"You know about that?" Kate questioned, she had no plan on telling them as he would be gone soon hopefully at least but seems as if they already knew. This relationship was really beginning to put a strain and excess stress on her life.

"Yes, Henry talked to your father today regarding a legal matter and to our surprise he gave us this delightful piece of information." Yes to torment her with. "I do enjoy talking to Henry. It is great catching up with him." Great for everyone bar Kate it seems. She did somehow doubt that there was any legal matter discussed.

"So what else did traitor Henry tell you?"

"Now, now, Katherine. It seems that you have a fan, he is going to write a book with you as his inspiration?" Jim said with his voice oozing excitement at the teasing of his daughter. He enjoyed grilling her especially in situations like this that were just fun and humorous for him and his wife. They loved their only child so any chances such as this were delightful. She need never know that Henry only ever really called for social reasons.

"Yes, fine, I have Richard Castle following me for at least a month by which time it will be time for his review. Hopefully by then he will be gone." Perhaps he will have lost interest by then, who knows, she does know that it is going to be a long month. That's not even including the case.

"Henry said that he appeared to be helpful?"

"If by helpful you mean butting in to a serious conversation with a story of how he was seducing someone as to sympathise with my client then yes."

"Henry said he was well acquainted with the copying machine."

"Wow" Kate said sarcastically, "he helped with copying. He was just annoying the whole time."

"He brought you coffee."

"Is there anything that didn't Henry tell you?"

"Probably, just why are you here with us when you could be out at Le Circque or someplace fancy?"

"Dad" Kate whined "can we talk about something else? Please. Anything else."

"I suppose we could. Just a reminder though, Katie, I want grandchildren and you two would make beautiful children." Johanna teased.

"Urgh" Kate groaned. "Nope. Besides he has a fifteen year old daughter so I doubt he would want to go through the whole baby stage again." If the tactic of 'he's not my type' didn't work then perhaps the 'he's already got a grown-up daughter and won't want any more children' might.

"I don't know, Katie, he virtually raised Alexis by himself once her mother left." Johanna argued. She had read each of the blurbs on his books and perhaps perused his website and Wikipedia page once or twice.

"Why do you know so much about his life? And why do you care?"

"I take an interest in my daughter's life and I think he would be good for you. He would certainly make your life interesting maybe even make you loosen up a bit you know, happier even." Johanna continued as she was determined to have her ay and try to make her daughter see her method of thinking.

"Dad, tell her? Surely that's not what you want for me." Her father wanted the best for her so he would back her up.

"Katie, I want you to be happy and I have to agree with your mother. I don't believe he would ever cheat as he has been on the wrong end of it so I would not be opposed."

Maybe not then.

"I'm wondering why I even come here. I'm not sure I want to if this is how you're going to treat me." Kate said as she stabbed her fork in to the chicken. It was just like when they used to tell her she couldn't go to a party or just something that their Katie didn't agree with.

"Okay, Katie, we'll stop" Jim said, the 'for now' was only heard by his wife. They enjoyed having their daughter over even though they knew she was only joking about not coming again. Although, they would be keeping a particular interest on how the partnership between their daughter and the author progressed. Probably with the help of Henry and quite often just between themselves. Maybe a visit to Katie's office when Castle was there some day in the future may be in order. Johanna immediately thinking that she could get her book signed when the last Derrick Storm book came out.

Thank you for reading :)