Disclaimer: I acknowledge my lack of rights and promise not to abuse the ones I do have under any circumstances.
WC: 1,764
"Well, any way," Ryan said once Beckett had returned to the table, "there's something, um, we wanted to share."
He took Jenny by the hand.
"We're having a baby!" they said in unison.
The entire table erupted in congratulations. Beckett and Castle exchanged a glance. He shook his head; she nodded and quickly slipped her ring into her bag before getting up to hug Ryan and Jenny, as did they all.
"So, Beckett, you said you and Castle had some big news to share," Ryan said.
"Uh, yeah, well, it's nowhere near as big as your news, but... " Beckett held Castle's hand, exchanging a quick smile with him. She took a deep breath. "I accepted the job in DC. You are looking at the newest member of the Attorney General's Office."
There was a pause.
"Wow, Kate, congratulations!" Lanie said. "Isn't that great, Javi?"
"Yeah, sure. Congratulations."
"Wow, Kate!" Jenny said. "I - is that a big deal? It sounds like a big deal."
"It's a big deal, honey," Ryan said. "Congratulations," he said, hugging Beckett.
"Thanks, Kevin."
"I'm going to go get some air," Esposito said, leaving.
"Javi -" Lanie said.
"Let him go. He just needs a little time to process it," Ryan said, sitting back down. "You're not leaving for a while, right?"
"Uh... 'Beckett said, getting back into her own chair, "well, I'm not actually starting work for a while. I have to train first; but I'm leaving the Precinct in a week."
"A week?!" Ryan echoed. "That's - - that's such short notice."
"I know, I know. Castle and I made the decision two weeks ago but we agreed to take a week to cool off, you know, really mull the decision over to make sure we were absolutely certain this was what we both wanted; and once we decided it was, we had to wait for my resignation to be approved; I just got word from Gates today."
"So... what are you two going to do?" Jenny asked. "Have you decided?"
"We're going to find a place in or near DC and we're going to move there together," Castle said.
"That's a big decision, Castle," Ryan said.
"I know, and it's not one either of us made lightly," Castle said. "But we both knew we couldn't work together forever and Gates' plausible deniability thing was making it impossible for us to move in together officially... You know that I have loved every second that I've gotten to spend on the field and at the Precinct with you guys and I'm going to miss it tremendously; but we both felt this was the right step to take."
"Don't you have a daughter?" Jenny asked.
'Yes, Alexis. She's nineteen and living in a dorm at Columbia. Of course, I discussed it with her. I will come back to visit as much as possible - so will Kate, when she has time."
"So this is definitely not Goodbye,' Beckett said. "Just... see you later.'
"What about... everything that happened with Paris?" Ryan asked. "Won't that make it difficult?"
"I can't wrap her in bubble-wrap just because this terrible thing happened. I need to let Alexis have her independence. She's an adult and I trust her."
"What about the rest of the world?" Ryan asked.
Caste smiled.
"When I found out I was going to be a father, I freaked out, too. I wanted to run a background check on the Obstetrician. You do need to be vigilant, but children need to make their own way, too. It's your job to give them the tools to do that."
"Thanks, Rick," Jenny said. "That's great advice."
Beckett put her arm around him.
"He is such a good father. You should see him with Alexis. You're both going to be great parents, too, aren't they, Castle?"
"Oh, definitely. Just wait, you guys. You are going to love your child more than you ever thought it was possible to love another human being."
"I can't believe Ryan's going to be a Dad," Beckett said back at the loft a couple of hours later.
"I know; it's amazing. So, what are we going to do with our other piece of news? I mean, we can't steal Ryan's thunder."
"Well... maybe we should wait until we leave; tell them then. Some good news might cheer them up."
"I can do that. Anyway, all in all, I think this was a pretty great night," Castle said as he unfastened his tie.
"Except for the part where Esposito walked out," Beckett said.
"Well, he cares about you. I think he'll realise you're doing what's right for you and he'll be ok. It would probably be the hardest on him, you leaving. He's your Scarecrow."
"Scarecrow?"
"The one you've known the longest; the one you're going to miss the most."
"I'm goin' to miss them all the same, Castle."
"Come on, Kate. You and Esposito, you've always had something special the rest of us could never tap into. You're like brother and sister."
Beckett opened her mouth, paused, then closed it, shaking her head.
"Ryan is the Tin Man, 'cause he's the Heart of the group; and Lanie's the Wicked Witch of the West."
Beckett laughed.
"Why the Wicked Witch?"
"Because of her wicked deeds!"
"Is this about the foot thing?'
"I think you know it wasn't my foot. She touched me in... naughty places!"
"She thought you were Esposito."
"How could she not know the difference?"
"It was an honest mistake."
"Right; we both know she's wanted me from day one."
Beckett laughed.
"Why are you laughing? She flirted with me the moment we met and she hasn't stopped since!"
"Her? You're the one who's always staring at her chest."
"Three times in four years."
"You counted?"
"Well, it doesn't matter what she does with her foot, because I am taken."
"Well, so is she."
"Is she?"
Beckett sighed.
"I don't actually know what the hell's going on there, to be honest."
"They're together, they're not together..."
"Uh, yeah," she chuckled. "I do not miss that."
"Miss what?"
"That place that they're in; where things are "complicated" and neither knows what they are. I feel so lucky to finally be in a simple relationship where we both know where we stand."
"You do? We do. Of course. Uh, yeah, I guess it is nice."
"Mm," she said, helping him with the buttons of his shirt. "Very nice. So, if Esposito's the Scarecrow, Ryan's the Tin Man, Lanie's the wicked witch, I'm assuming I'm Dorothy - "
"Correct," he said, sighing as his hands slid up and down her body.
"Then what does that make you, the cowardly lion? 'Cause that makes sense."
"No, I'm Toto, your faithful companion."
"Toto kept running off and getting into trouble. Hey! You are Toto.'
"Very funny," he said, leaning down to kiss her.
When they entered the Lab, Beckett discretely texted Ryan to call her back in five minutes.
"Oh, hey, guys."
"Hey, Lanie. So, what's the skinny on the knife?"
"You'll have to speak to CSU for the make and model but seemed like an ordinary kitchen knife to me. They said they'll get the prints back to you ASAP.'
"That's good. What about the stab-wound?"
"From the angle and depth, I would say our assailant was short, about 5'5 with low upper body strength."
"So, a woman?" Castle guessed.
"Not necasarily, Castle. It could have been a short, weak man - but yes, the perpetrator is most likely female."
Shortly after, Beckett's phone rang.
"Oh, it's Ryan. I've got to take this. You guys'll be ok in here, right? Great." She left the room.
"So... guess it's just us and Rob here."
"Yeah, guess so," Castle said.
"Listen, Castle, I realised I didn't apologise last night. I was just so mortified. I am really sorry, I didn't mean to - I really thought you were Javi."
Castle regarded her for a moment.
"I believe you. Apology accepted."
She smiled.
"Thank you, Castle. I am really happy for you guys. Kate is head-over-heels for you. There's no way I would try to sabotage that."
"I know; I guess I overreacted. I just... I thought Beckett would be the lat woman to ever touch me there."
"Aw, that's kind of sweet. Well, there's no reason she can't be. Starting from now. And I don't think you overreacted. You're engaged. No other woman should be touching you there. I approve."
"Approve of the way I freaked out or of the engagement?"
"Both. Castle, I'll admit I was a little taken aback when I found out but if this is something you're both serious about than you'll get no arguments form me. I'm just... a little bit in awe of you, The way you picked yourself up and dusted yourself off. No way would I be able to get back on the horse after two failed marriages. How do you do it?'
He shrugged.
"I love her. I'm ready to commit the rest of my life to her. The past is the past. I'm ready for the future."
"Well, Castle, I don't think it's that simple - "
"Hey, guys; it turns out Ryan actually has a lead," Beckett said, sticking her head in the door.
"Isn't that why he called you?"
"Yeah. Right. Of course. Any way, Castle, we need to go."
"Alright, thanks for the apology," Castle said, following her out the door.
"Any time," she called after them, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Hey, Ryan, what you got for me?' Beckett asked.
"Tech ran a trace on a number Rob called repeatedly on the night of his death to a Paul Mann. They went to Elementary and High School together on Staten Island. He says Paul started calling him a week ago about some photos he had published in a magazine. They were in the same photography class and Paul called up his old photography teacher asking for the negatives from an old project; Rob seemed to think he'd given him the wrong ones, claiming they were his photos, not Paul's; but Paul had heard about his eye problems and insisted they were his. Staten Island Police have taken his fingerprints - we just got off the phone to CSU, we only found two pairs of prints on the knife - and it is just a kitchen knife: Rob's and one other unidentified individual's. "
"Not Mrs. Latchley?"
"She did mention her husband did the dishes that night," Castle said.
"Fingerprints weren't a match to the ex-wife or the kid, either," Ryan said.
