I'm not sure if I really like how this chapter turned out. So be sure to tell me what you think of it. Again, thank you to all who reviewed.
Eventually everyone trickled down from their rooms, some yawning profusely in search of caffeine while others were wide-awake. He still couldn't believe what had happened this morning; it was definitely not like Kate to just kiss people. Especially him. He knew she had reservations, and that they would have to discuss them eventually, but for now he was just content to watch her from across the room. In an attempt to conceal their budding relationship they had decided to act like they normally would, like nothing had changed. Truthfully, he thought the whole idea was a bit silly. They had worked so hard to get to this point in their lives and now they were just going to pretend like nothing had happened? Everything had changed, his life was different because of the past few days, how was he supposed to ignore that completely? But still, he understood where she was coming from. This was all new to her and she was afraid, she just needed some time to see that he was serious about them.
She was talking to Lanie by the breakfast nook as the tired M.E. sipped the coffee he had given her. Lanie waggled her eyebrows suggestively and he chuckled, typical Lanie. The woman was always trying to drag details out of Kate, even when there were none. This time there were definitely details, many of them in fact, but Lanie didn't have to know about them just yet.
"Hey, bro," Esposito walked up beside him with Ryan not far behind, "I'm with Beckett on this one, you staring at her for no apparent reason is kind of creepy."
"Yeah," Ryan had caught up now, "and you're doing it more than usual. And your usual amount of staring is a lot, did something happen with you two?"
"Nope," he laughed, "can't say I didn't try though. Guess I just don't find waiting for the rest of the pancakes to cook entertaining." The boys looked down at the stovetop in front of him and he heard one of their stomachs growl, calling out in hunger. He realized he had been staring longer than he thought as he looked down to check on his tasty masterpieces. They were perfectly cooked.
"Oh," he picked up the spatula and began transferring the pancakes to a plate as he called out to everyone, "breakfast is ready guys, hope you're hungry!"
After a lot of help from everyone except Martha, she had insisted that it was much too early for her to be up and about, they were finally seated around the table enjoying each other's company. He'd tried to get Kate to sit in one of the seats next to him but Alexis and mother had quickly claimed those so she was left with the seat directly across from him.
"Jeez, Castle," Esposito exclaimed as he skewered more fruit, "you sure do make a lot of food."
"He doesn't usually make this much, I guess he just wanted to impress you guys." Alexis chimed in before he could reply.
"Hey," he put a hand over his heart feigning hurt, "I make you wonderful breakfasts all the time."
"Yes you do," she retorted, "but they're never quite this extravagant. But hey, I'm not complaining." He patted his daughter's shoulder affectionately as the conversation turned to some other topic. He liked having his entire family together, his real one and the one from the precinct. Yes, in the two years he had been working with them his friends at the precinct had become another family for him. They were a bit dysfunctional, but they managed. Although he hoped that at some point Kate would be a part of both of his families. It was a little early in their relationship to be thinking about that, but the truth was his feelings for her had been building for years now. He wasn't going to tell her he wanted her to be part of his family now, that would only scare her away, but there was no harm in thinking it.
"So Castle," Lanie's voice jolted him back to reality, "did you and Kate have fun in the hot tub last night?" All conversation at the table stopped and everyone looked at Castle, anxiously waiting his reply.
By the time the last few people had left the pool the night before he and Kate had already moved quite close to each other, he could tell everyone knew something had been up.
"You really want to know all the dirty details?" His eyebrows danced on his forehead as everyone stared at him intently. He knew that they knew better than to suspect that he was serious, but hope still lingered in some of their eyes.
"Do tell." Lanie was leaning across the table, doing a dance with her own eyebrows to match his.
"Well…" he started to weave a story in his mind that would blow everyone away but before he could continue an exasperated Beckett replied for him.
"Nothing happened!" She threw her hands in the air and glared at Lanie who didn't seem fazed at all.
"Oh come on, Beckett," he pointed his finger at her, "don't lie to these good people."
"Mhm," she leaned back and sent him a smug look, "then what did happen, Castle?" Now he was scared, whenever Kate looked at him like that for no apparent reason it meant she had something up her sleeve. He could only imagine what she planned to do. And what he imagined did not work out in his favor. But some part of him wanted to find out what she had in mind, the writer in him was curious as to what she could think up.
"Well, after all of you guys left, Beckett over here had a little too much to drink and…" Then he felt it, something was running up and down the inside of his shin, and was moving higher each time it went back up. And that something felt strangely like the toe of a shoe. He looked up at Kate in shock but she looked no different than before, to everyone else it appeared as if she hadn't moved an inch. Esposito and Ryan were each raising an eyebrow in question as to why he stopped, Lanie was anxiously awaiting his answer and the kids were virtually oblivious to the conversation that was taking place. Her foot was now traveling very high along his inner thigh and he felt his breathing hitch. He gulped audibly and forced himself to continue.
"Uhh," he choked out, "nothing happened." To the untrained eye Kate's face remained completely unchanged as her foot retreated and she resumed eating but he could see the hint of amusement in her eyes. Oh, she was a cruel woman. When conversation had resumed and his guests were occupied she turned her head to him, a smug smile still planted on her face, and winked. She glanced around, he assumed to make sure nobody saw it, and joined the group in conversation once more. What an evil, evil woman she was. No matter, he'd get her back, and he knew just how to do it. The wheels began turning in his head as he formed his plan.
Alright, you know the drill by now. And if you're new and don't know what the drill is then I'll explain. The drill is me trying to persuade you to review. Remember, suggestions are always welcome!
