I'm back! A little later than usual because I found the last scene of 'Till Death difficult to work with. Still not happy about it, but well... Here we go. As usual, thank you so much for the reviews for the last chapter. I can't wait to hear what you have to say about this one.
Set just before and during the episode.
Castle was snooping in her apartment when she came out of the bathroom. Hearing her footsteps, he turned around holding Ryan and Jenny's wedding invitation.
"You haven't RSVPed? It's next Sunday!"
She snapped the paper out of his hand.
"I did. I told Ryan, I just forgot to send the thing."
He put his hands on his heart in mock horror. "This might kill Jenny's mother, it's gonna derail everything. The sitting chart, the number of meals... Everything!"
She glared at him but he smirked and stole the paper back. He took a pen out of his black jacket pocket and wrote her name.
"So plus one?" He teased.
"Maybe. If you continue being this childish." He beamed and she realized he had taken it as a compliment. "Not with you. The plus one might be for this dark, tall, handsome firefighter."
"The one that saves puppies? You tried that, he wasn't cutting it," He mocked.
"No, another one." She took the carton back again as he stood there, mouth agape. She proceeded to complete her RSVP, sliding it in an envelope and closing it.
"And when did you meet this... muscles-but-no-brain fire extinguisher guy, my dear detective?"
"Did I forgot to mention Harvard alumni?" She licked the lid of the envelope, not so innocently, and he groaned.
"Come on. We're gonna be late," she said eventually, heading for the door.
He straightened his dark blue dress shirt and followed her.
"You know, it would just be just easier if you were my plus one."
"Uh-huh," Beckett ironized. "And have the all precinct exchange dollar bills at the ceremony? No way. Jenny would kill us. And possibly Ryan."
Castle made a face. She had a point.
After their little conversations about their numbers, Castle had seemingly let go of the subject. They had gone back to Beckett's place with take-out. The wine helping, they had ended up in bed. Without the handcuffs, this time. As they laid there panting, she sensed Castle's mind reeling.
"What?"
He rolled on his side to look at her.
"So, no numbers, but... I'm the best you had, right?"
"Men!" She muttered once again.
"Come on, you can at least tell me that!"
"No."
"Why?"
"It's a lose lose situation for me. Either I tell you you are and it will feed your already gigantic ego. Or you aren't and you'll sulk and whine until I tell you otherwise."
"I would never do that," he tried. She gave him a pointed look.
"Okay, maybe I would. But you could also look at it differently. You tell me and if I am, I'll keep doing what I'm doing. If I'm not, I'll work and try to improve until I become the best."
"Work, huh?" Beckett noted, amused
"You know what I mean."
"I'm not telling you, Rick." To put an end on the conversation, she snuggled against him, letting him pull her close. It didn't work.
"Am I in the top 3? Top 10?"
"Castle," she warned and he shut up. After a minute, she decided to give him something. Tilting her head up, she kissed the spot underneath his ear.
"You're perfect," she whispered. She didn't need to see him to know a smug smile had appeared on his face. "And don't gloat, I didn't say you were the best," she felt the need to add.
"Close enough." He was gloating.
"Didn't you say you wanted to go home?"
"Yes," he remembered suddenly. "Alexis went shopping for a dress with my mother, I want to see it... And make sure I'm not broke. They have my credit card," he explained as he extracted himself from her bed. "By the way, sorry I didn't tell you about my "date". But I really wanted to do that prank. Did you see Ryan's face?" He was grinning like a kid who pulled a good one.
"Very funny," she sat up in bed, arms embracing her knees, the white sheet covering her. She watched him dress.
"I know." He bent to press a kiss to her lips which she returned gladly. "And you're perfect, too, Kate." He winked. With a last wave he was gone, leaving Beckett shaking her head but smiling.
As soon as Alexis told him about the Lady Gaga concert, he called Beckett.
"Beckett," she puffed and he knew she didn't take the time to check the caller ID.
"You're still breathless? I knew I was good..."
"Slow down, boy. I'm just trying on dresses for Sunday."
A disappointed moan escaped his lips. "You waited til I was gone? What are you wearing now?" He asked softly into the phone, his hand over his mouth, mindful of his daughter and mother just a few feet away.
"You'll have to wait to see it, Castle."
"No private show before the wedding?"
"Maybe after," she answered coyly.
"I like the sound of that," he leered.
"Castle, about that," she paused and he started to worry. "Promise me you won't do anything that can pass as 'couply'. No kisses, no longing looks. I really don't want some gossip starting at Ryan's wedding."
"I promise to behave. Or at least be discreet." He put his right hand up even if she couldn't see him. "Listen, I was also calling about the wedding. Ale..." He was interrupted as the door bell in Beckett's apartment rang.
"Oh god. That's Lanie, she's early. We're going out for drinks. I've got to go. See you tomorrow, ok?"
She had hand up without waiting for her answer, leaving him puzzled on the other end of the line.
Castle went in search of his partner when he arrived at the precinct. He finally ran into her in the back. After a quick and frustrating exchange of innocent hellos, he walked with her into the bullpen.
"So Alexis and my mother both managed to get invitations out of their shopping trip. Which would be fine if it wasn't on..." He trailed off seeing Ryan and Esposito fight. He and Beckett both rushed to separate the two partners. Soon, they were all engrossed in the case once again.
It was early Sunday afternoon. And it was only as he was leaving the loft, alone, that Castle realized he had totally forgotten to tell Beckett about his status a a single man for the wedding. As he climbed in the town car awaiting him in front of his building, he pulled out his phone.
"Where are you?" He texted her.
"Already in. Where are you?" Came the response.
"On the way. Wait for me at the entrance?"
"Sure. Just remember you promised to be careful not to give us away."
He smirked. He had already a plan to act all awkward to throw her off. See what he might get out of her. He also sent a silent prayer to the power that be. 'Please, let it be a very good dress. Well, not too much cleavage', he amended in his thoughts. He wasn't in the mood to see other men ogling her.
They had shuffled the sitting arrangements. It had awarded them a few glares from Jenny's mum but Castle, Beckett, Lanie, Esposito and their dates were all sitting together, enjoying the good champagne and the excellent cake.
"So Castle, Kate's your plus one in the end?" Lanie pushed again. She had been asking that question since the beginning of the dinner.
"Alexis stood me up," Castle explained for the hundredth time.
"I'm just filling in, Lanie." Beckett added.
"Sure," Esposito smirked while taking another bite of cake.
An hour later, Castle and Beckett were among the couples dancing. They made sure there was a respectable distance between them. They were friends, colleagues, partners, just dancing. Nothing less, nothing more.
"They're onto us, you think?"
"No more than usual. Try to keep your hands off my butt and we'll be fine."
"Seriously, Castle?" Beckett chided.
"You've been undressing me with your eyes and throwing me looks me since the church!" His tone was light but he wasn't joking, not really.
"Was not!"
"And that little comment about third time the charm? I know what you're doing."
"And what is that?" She wanted to be stern but the humor dripped from her voice.
"You want me!" He teased.
She leant back to take a better look at him. Was it the wedding atmosphere? They both felt the shift in her mood.
"Actually, I really do. Want you. And that," she said seriously. She was looking pointedly around the decorated ballroom and at the newlyweds, dancing a few feet away. "Not now, now. But at some point? Yes, with you."
Castle had been dropping hints about commitments, even marriage for months. She had either ignored or deflected them with jokes. But not this time. Something passed in his eyes. Love, happiness, joy even. And lust. He took a step closer.
"I want to kiss you senseless right now," he rasped, sending a shiver across her body.
"What about we finish this dance and then, find a... quiet corner," she was surprised at her own audacity. She bit her lower lip. It was his turn to shiver.
"You're killing me, you know that?"
Both of them tried to think about something else for the remainder of the song. At the last notes played out, he kissed her hand softly, like a perfect gentleman.
"End of the hall bathroom, ten minutes," she whispered.
"Five," he rectified as she walked away from him.
That's it for now. Hope you liked it (please review either way, it really really help). And see you after "M for mayor", I hope. ;-)
