A/N: I really liked the response I got from the last chapter. And for those of you saying that kate was hypocritical last chapter, I did that on purpose ;) I have a reason for pretty much everything i write.
Disclaimer: Still not mine, im not a monster :(
It was an hour before either one was willing to move from the position they found themselves in after they had finished making love, with her head resting peacefully on his shoulder with his arm draped across her back, and her fingers tracing imaginary patterns on his chest. With a blissful hum that made his chest resonate beneath her ear, Castle spoke.
"You know, as many dreams as I've had, I never imagined that it would be that great." He said, while tracing pictures in the plaster of her ceiling.
"You've dreamed about it?" She asked, shooting her head up to look at him.
"Yeah, haven't you?" He shot quickly.
"I..." She let her sentence fall.
"You have, haven't you." He finished, smiling down at her. When she broke his stare and replaced her head, he continued. "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours." He offered.
"No." She said, hoping to end the discussion.
"Oh come on, it'll be fun. Maybe one day I could..." He feather touched his way down from the top of her shoulder down her arm, "fulfill it one day."
"I don't want to mess up my desk though." She said, lightly, completely aware of the fact that she had just divulged her fantasy. With a large and comical gasp of air inward, Castle sat up on his elbow letting her fall back against the pillow, seeing a slight smirk on her face.
"No way, the precinct? Tell me about it." He said, waggling his eye brows. When he was once again met with silence, he pressed on. "Oh come on, you've obviously thought about this quite a bit. So what? Do I just come strutting in, swing you around from the murder board, dip you and start making out with you against your desk? Or is it more of a... I've been handcuffed to your chair situation?"
"Castle, it's my fantasy, not yours. Speaking of which, since you figured out mine..." She looked up at him with a face telling him to spill it.
"Let's just say it involves you, me... and a spaceship." He said looking of into space. When he was met with a weird look, "What? It's fantasy, and if I want to make love to you in the escape pod of a spaceship, then I can dream all I want."
She lent up and kissed him lovingly, letting her lips linger over his as it ended. They returned to their position they found themselves in for the past hour, and both were content to simply lay there the rest of the day.
"So, what do you want to do today? Get some lunch maybe?"
"Oh crap!" She sat up quickly. "What time is it?" She asked frantically.
"It's just after 10, why? What's wrong?"
"I was suppose to meet my dad for brunch this morning. How could I have forgotten?" She scolded herself. She jumped out of bed and walked to the foot of the bed to grab her pants, and threw his on the bed toward him before picking her's up. She twirled around the room and Castle was eyeing her intently, greatly admiring the way her bare breasts would sway slightly as she turned around. "Where'd you throw my bra?" She asked as she was going over to get it. She snapped it on, and began looking around for her shirt. Getting a little frustrated with herself, Castle decided to remind her the timeline of things.
"Kate," She snapped around to look at him, sitting it bed on his elbow, with that typical smirk on his face. "Hall way, remember?" She blushed as she walked out to pick it up. She came back holding her phone.
"Hey Dad. Yeah, sorry I'm late. I got caught up with Castle. Do you still want to have brunch?" He watched as a surprised look came onto her face. "Oh, uh, yeah sure. I don't think he's doing anything." She said as she look over at him. He shook his head to answer her comment. "Okay, we'll be there in a half an hour then. Love you too, Dad." She hung up the phone and slipped it back into her pocket.
"So, what was that about?" He asked, sitting up and grabbing his pants that she had tossed to him.
"He wanted to know if you wanted to join us for brunch." She tossed him his shirt from across the room.
"Oh." He said off offhandedly as he threw his shirt around his shoulders.
"Do you not want to?" She asked worriedly.
"No, I'd love to. It's just..."
"What?"
"Can I ask something of you?" He asked as she came to stand in the space his legs were creating when he went to sit back down.
"Anything." She responded, putting her forearms on his shoulders.
"When we tell our family's about us, we do it together."
"Oh, uh..." A hesitant look came across her face.
"Kate, it was hard enough keeping this from Alexis this morning. I haven't kept anything from her since the dirty bomb case when I sent her and mother to the Hampton's. I want you to be there when I do tell her. And I'd like to be there when you tell your father."
After an audible sigh, she tugged on his hands and brought him up to stand. "We'll tell him at brunch." A warm smile came to adorn her face and his hands came to rest on her waist.
"Okay. Then I guess it's a good time to tell you that Alexis planned on making dinner tonight, and she asked me if you'd like to come."
"Castle, I..."
"Together, Kate." He cut her off, tugging on her waist bringing her closer to him.
"Okay, we'll tell her... together. Now come on, we're going to be late."
They walked into the dinner to find Jim Beckett sitting in a booth in the middle of the restaurant, pouring sugar into a mug of coffee. He glanced up to see his daughter and her partner walking in, one following close behind the other. He got up to give his daughter a hug and greet her. They separated and Jim took a step back to find Castle close, his head turned downward, not wanting to intrude on a family moment. "Nice to see you again, Rick. It's been too long."
"Yeah, too long. Nice to see you again too, Jim." Castle said, extending a hand to him and shook firmly.
"Again?" Kate asked, casting a confused look toward Castle.
"Uhm..." Castle stuttered, not really knowing what to say that wouldn't get him in trouble.
"The hospital, sweetie." Jim answered for her as Castle shot him a look, silently asking him why he had lied to his daughter. He was met with a look that told him that they'd talk about it.
"Oh, yeah." She said, completely forgetting that they met each other at the hospital.
Castle stepped behind Kate to help her out of her coat, but Kate just cast a glance behind her, silently asking him what he was doing.
"I'm nothing if I'm not chivalrous." After a scoff and a slight eye-roll, he tossed her coat toward the back of the booth, and let her sit down first, and slumping down next to her.
"So, how've you two been?" Jim asked, lifting his mug.
"We've been good." Kate answered casually.
"That's good to hear."
They talked idle chit chat until their orders came, and was silent until Kate excused herself from the table. Castle took this opportunity to ask a question that has been eating at him since they had arrived.
"Sir, can I ask you something?" After Jim turned his attention to Castle, telling him that he had his attention. "Why didn't you tell her about..."
"I think the same reason you didn't." After the look of intent turned to a look of confusion, Jim continued. "Look, son, I came to you that night because I knew that you're the only person she would really listen to. She knows that, but that doesn't mean that she likes to hear it."
"Yeah, I guess I understand. She can be a little hard headed at times."
"Let me tell you something, Rick." Castle looked up from his distorted reflection in his mug to Jim. "Before Johanna passed, Katie was such a different person. She was so care free, so happy-go-lucky, so ready to take the world by storm, so much like her mother. But after, she changed. I've always felt as if my daughter got taken from me too. She closed herself off, from everything... even me. She got sucked into the darkness that the world has to offer, and she lost herself in it. After I got sober, I tried my best to bring her back, but she just..." Jim looked over to the counter where he saw his daughter just coming out of the bathroom, a light, content smile on her face, as she stopped at the counter to ask for the check. "It wasn't until these past few years that I've gotten to see my little girl again. You bring out the best in her, Rick."
"Thank you, sir. She makes me want to be a better man." Castle said, gazing over at Kate, who was just rounding the last corner to stand next to Castle, poking him in the shoulder to ask for her seat back. He got up and she reclaimed her seat, as he sat next to her, close enough this time to let their legs touch. He felt Kate's hand come across his leg, in search of his. As she entwined their fingers together, Kate looked up at him with a glimmer in her eyes that told him that now was the time.
"Dad, we wanted to tell you something." She said, feeling him lightly squeeze her fingers between his.
"And what's that?" Jim asked, taking quick note that both of their eyes were fixed on one point underneath the table.
"Something happened recently, and we felt that you should hear it from the both of us." She didn't let her eyes leave their entwined hands.
"Kate..." Castle spoke softly. She looked up at him as he gave a smile and sideways nod toward her father.
She lifted their entwined hands and set them on the table. All stares went upon the set of hands now sitting entwined on the table, with Castle's thumb gently running itself across hers.
"Does this mean..." Jim asked.
"Yeah, Dad. We're together." She confirmed and let her gaze return to Castle's who returned it lovingly.
"Wish I could say I'm surprised." Kate chuckled to herself. "Do you mind me asking what happened?"
"Let's just say we found ourselves in a situation where we had to make a decision, and we decided." Kate said, hoping her father wouldn't dig for more information. She really didn't want to tell him that she got drunk and told Castle that she heard him say that he loved her when she was shot, and then found out that... yeah, he didn't need to know.
"Well, I'm happy you were able to open your eyes, Katie."
They talked idly more for another few minutes, before they got up, Castle offering Kate her coat, and Jim deciding that he would pay, no questions asked. When they stood on the side walk outside, Jim extended a hand toward Castle and, once again, shook firmly. "Take care of her, Rick."
"You can count on me, sir."
Jim embraces his daughter in a hug and spoke in her ear. "Hold on to him, Katie."
"I will, Dad." He kissed her cheek and stepped into the awaiting cab and pulled off.
With Castle's attention still on the retreating headlights, the sound of her harsh voice drew his attention immediately. "So why'd you guys lie to me?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" He asked, frightfully.
"In there, he said that you guys met at the hospital when I was shot. Why'd you guys lie to me?" She demanded, with her arms crossed.
"We didn't lie, Kate."
"Castle, I'm a homicide detective. It's my job to tell when people are lying. So, when did you guys really meet?"
"Okay, look, it was a couple days before you got shot, when Lockwood escaped. I was sitting at home and he came by to talk."
"About what?"
"About what you were up against. He just wanted to know how dangerous he was."
"So, why didn't he just ask me?"
"Because he wanted me to talk you out of going after him. He knew you wouldn't listen to him, and he figured the only person you would listen to is me. Trust me, Kate, sometimes I wish the first time I had met him was at the hospital."
"What do you mean?"
"Because I had to look him in the eye and tell him that I failed." Finally, the hurt and failure that he had been trying to suppress won out. His face fell, and she came up to him and placed a hand on his upper arm and began to rub it.
"I'm sorry. I, uh... I didn't know." She said. He brought his arms up to wrap around her waist and bring her closer, letting her head sit under his chin.
"I know he doesn't blame me but, at the time, I wish he had." He began to step back and grab her hand and walk down the street, with her following, not really caring that she didn't know where they were headed, mainly because he probably didn't either.
"Why is that?"
"Because then it wouldn't have been just me."
"Castle, none of it was your fault. You should know that by now."
"Oh trust me, Kate, I deserve some of the blame." She stopped him with two hands on his shoulders, forcing him to look at her.
"No, you don't! No one is to blame but the guy behind that rifle, okay?" When he wouldn't look up from the ground, she prodded further, hoping to get a response this time. "Okay?"
"You know, as much as I wanted to put that dam boyfriend of yours on the ground, sometimes I still think he was right."
"Castle, please don't get me started on Josh. You want to know what he told me after you left that day? He told me, and I'm quoting, 'I forbid you to see him, he has no place in your life'. You want to know what I said?" This time, she waited for him to meet her eyes again.
"What's that?"
"I said no. That you were the one good thing in my life that I could always count on." He brought her in for another hug, and then she spoke in a brighter tone. "He didn't, come to see you, did he?"
"No, why?" He asked, in a confused voice.
"Oh, he told me he was going to beat you up. I knew he was just blowing smoke, but I was still a little scared."
"Kate, if I can beat the snot out of a trained killer like Hal Lockwood, then that puffed up leather-faced pretty boy shouldn't have been a problem."
They both let out a light chuckle and strolled down the street, hands entwined, until they hailed a cab back to the loft. They arrived back at Castle around two in the afternoon, after getting side tracked by a passing book store. When they entered, they found Alexis sitting in front of the counter, with a text book open.
"Hey sweetie. You're doing homework on a Sunday?" He asked her as he came around the counter to stand on the other side.
"Yeah, so?" Alexis asked, not drawing her attention away from her book.
"You're only taking one class. There can't be that much."
"It's theoretical physics, Dad. It's not exactly learning my ABC's."
"I know, but can't you at least take a break? Besides, Kate and I were going to watch a movie until dinner."
"Oh, Detective Beckett is here?" Alexis finally looked up to find Beckett standing just by the door, rocking back and forth on her heels, looking a bit awkward. "Hi, Detective Beckett." She said, a hint of confusion on her voice.
"You can call me Kate, Alexis. Besides, I don't even have my badge on me." Kate informed, coming to stand next to Castle in the kitchen.
"So, what do you say we go put on a movie, and after a while, I can help you with dinner." He said, drawing his daughters attention back to him.
"Sure, I take it you're joining us then, Det... Kate?" Alexis corrected herself, closing her textbook, and putting it back into her backpack on the back of her chair.
"Yeah, I'd love to."
They moved into the living room and Castle went over to the shelf to skim through his movie titles. Humming as he went through, he stopped and took one out.
"I've got just which one." He said, waving the case in his hand as he went over to the TV to pop the disk in.
"Aren't you going to tell us what it is, Dad?" Alexis said, plopping herself down in the far corner of the couch.
"It's this new movie I picked up a while ago, just never got around to watching. It's called Slither."
Kate sat down on the far end opposite of Alexis, and Castle sat in the middle. Alexis leaned over to lay her head on his shoulder, but Castle was sneaking his hand over to Kate's side to join hers. Kate reluctantly accepted his gesture, and went about watching the movie, joking about how bad the lead characters accent was. Before long, Alexis was up getting things out for dinner, and Castle helping, with Kate sitting awkwardly at the counter, just quietly observing.
"Hey, have you seen grams today?" Castle asked, as he picked up a jar of Alfredo sauce and fruitlessly tried to pry it open.
"Yeah, I saw her around 10, said that she was going to be home around 4 or 5. Something about needing to do something at her studio. She did say she would be home for dinner though." Alexis said, coming to take the jar from him and twist it open with very little effort. Kate looked back at Castle, who had a mischievous smile on his face, and winked.
As dinner became more prepared, and the table was set, Martha came floating through the door, just as the pasta was set down.
"Hello, Darlings. Sorry I'm late. I got caught up in something." Martha said, coming to give Alexis a kiss on the cheek. "Why, hello, Detective. I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon." Martha came to sit next to her at the counter and pat her on the hand.
"Oh, well, you know..." Kate began to stutter.
"Oh, don't be silly. You are always welcome here, dear. You're practically family."
Castle smiled over at them warmly, but as he looked over at Alexis, she looked distant, maybe she wasn't paying attention. They all sat down at the table, with Alexis and Martha on one side, and Castle and Beckett on the other.
"This looks great, Alexis." Kate said, taking in the meal she had prepared.
"Thank you." She said, giving a half hearted smile. The meal went on with very little conversation taking place. Half way through, Castle grabbed Kate's hand from under the table, and gave it a familiar squeeze. She met his eyes, and it was the same look he had given her this morning in the diner. It was time to tell them. Only, this time would be different. She knew her father would be happy for them, as little conversation that took place during her summer away at his cabin, the one thing he knew was that she missed her partner. And finding out that he had come to him before everything started to spin out of control, to tell Castle to try and talk her out of everything, only told her that her father knew how much Castle seemed to influence her life now.
But now, she didn't know what to expect.
"So, Kate and I wanted to tell you something, and we figured it would be best you guys hear it from the both of us." Castle returned his stare to Kate, and she felt a blush rush up her neck. "Kate and I... we are... uhm..."
"We're dating." Kate spoke in a full voice, after Castle couldn't find his.
"May I be excused please?" Alexis said coldly, getting up, not waiting for permission. She galloped up stairs, not stopping to look back.
"Alexis." Castle said sternly. After hearing the closing of her door, louder than it should have been, he looked back at Kate and found her with a shocked expression on her face.
"Maybe I should go." Kate said, putting her napkin back on the table and getting up.
"No, just let me go talk to her. Please," He leaned in closer, to avoid his mother hearing this. "I feel stronger when you're around anyway."
"Okay." She said softly and sat back down in her chair as she watched Castle go upstairs.
"Don't worry, dear, she'll come around." Martha said, getting up to refill her wine glass.
"Thanks Martha." She said, unconvincingly.
"Can I let you in on a little secret?" Martha asked, coming to sit in the seat Castle had just left. "Richard may not like me telling you this but, I think it will help you through this situation."
"What is it, Martha?"
"Well, Darling. For the past few years, I've watched that son of mine chase after you. Now, I know he's been chasing after women for longer than he'll admit but you want to know how I knew you were different?" After a pause, so see the curiosity rise in Kate, she continued. "He talked to me about it. Believe it or not, when he was going through both of his divorces, he never talked to me about it, or asked for motherly advice, but with you, well he just wouldn't shut up about you."
Kate felt a blush start to rise again and she was forced to break eye contact.
"Now, I've seen the ups and downs of your partnership, and I can tell you this much, dear; That boy heart belongs to you, darling." Martha placed a hand on top of Kate's and smiled warmly at her before patting it with her other and getting up to float upstairs and into her room.
If she was telling herself the truth for once, she would already know that. But then again, her head had denied that her heart had belonged to him for quite a while now. But she had told herself, and him, that she didn't want to live by that side of her anymore. She wanted to live by the side that was right now telling her to stay, and work this out, not the side that was telling her to run out that door and never look back. The side she wanted to live by was telling her to go up and talk to Alexis herself, but the other side was telling her that she was upset for good reason.
But for once, she wasn't going to listen to that side of her.
A/N: This isn't the place I had originally planned to leave off at, but I will continue where I wanted to with the next chapter.
I also hope you guys review this. Especially the scene with Jim in it. I had to watch both knockout and after hours, just so I could get the dialogue right. He isn't that 3 domentional of a character, so I didn't have much to go on, but I hope you liked him! anyway REVIEW!
Again, thanks for your guy's support on this story!
-Major
