After Kate finishes her breakfast and ends her call with Castle, she spends another afternoon in the sun, lounging outside by the pool that her apartment complex lists as one of its many amenities. She finds an umbrella this time, gives her body a little break from the sun's rays.

Lanie texted her during her conversation with Castle — Kate imagines her friend just found out the boys called him — and the medical examiner promised to call her soon on her lunch break. Kate still speaks to her best friend regularly, but it's tense occasionally — their friends were rightfully upset when they discovered the truth behind why she moved out of Castle's loft, and what she'd been doing behind their backs. And even though it's been months since everything happened, her relationship with Castle isn't the only thing that needs a little special care.

Lanie's photo fills the screen of her phone 20 minutes later.

Beckett marks her place in her book before she swipes to answer the call. "Hey, Lanie."

"Kate, I am so sorry, I wanted Ryan and Esposito to wait to call Castle until I talked to you but they told me they just called him and I swear to God I'm going to kill Javier - " she rushes out.

She laughs, ending her friend's nervous rambling. "No, Lanie, it's totally okay. Maybe the boys are just excited."

"They are," Lanie confirms. "Ryan is dying to get a little break from Jenny and the kids and Javi and I…" but she doesn't finish whatever she was going to say, just goes quiet.

Kate's jaw drops as she sits up quickly, knocking her glass of water to the grass below her. Whoops. "Wait, Lanie. Are you coming out here because you and Esposito are - "

She'd been both shocked and unsurprised as anyone when Lanie and Espo got back together about a year ago, seemingly both finally ready to make a commitment and come together on what they both wanted.

"I don't want to tell you over the phone," Lanie hedges, excitement clear in her voice.

"Oh my god - "

"I know."

"I'm so happy for you. You really deserve this," Kate's throat clogs with emotion for her friend. "We'll have such a good time celebrating when you get here."

"Yeah, about that. Girl, are you sure this is okay? I know you and Castle are trying to work through some things and I don't want the boys and I to jeopardize that."

"No, we talked about it, and we think it could be a good thing, you know? Maybe it'll take some of the pressure off and we can all just be together and have a good time," Kate reassures her.

"We have to pencil in at least one night for just the two of us, all right? Wine, snacks, and no foolish men allowed."

Beckett laughs. "You got it, Lanie."


Castle sees Kate again a few days before their friends are set to arrive in the city. She hosts him in her apartment this time, and he brings over a bottle of wine and Chinese takeout so they can try to make loose plans for when the trio gets here.

"I know they already booked a hotel room, but would you be okay if I offered to let them stay with me? I have two extra rooms set up for guests." She'd be the only one not staying in Castle's condo, and he doesn't want her to feel isolated from the rest of them.

"I mean, it's not like they can really stay with me. I just have the one bedroom." She shrugs, slipping a bite of sweet and sour chicken between her lips.

"I know," he lays a hand on her bare knee, sweeping his thumb across her skin. "I just don't want you to feel left out." They haven't moved beyond these little touches, but he finds that it grounds him — taking it slow while they continue to have tough conversations.

Though those might have to wait until after their friends leave.

She lays her hand on top of his, and squeezes it gently. "That's sweet of you, Castle, and I appreciate that, but I'm fine. Promise." She shoots him a reassuring smile and he knows she's telling the truth.

"Okay." He smiles, sliding his hand away from hers to grab the last egg roll. "Wanna split it?"

She shakes her head, a few strands of hair falling from the loose bun she has tied at the nape of her neck. "All yours."

"Sweet." He snags it and takes a bite. "Are there any must-dos on your mental list while they're here that we can take into consideration?"

"I promised Lanie a girls' night, so if there's something you wanted to do with just Ryan and Esposito, we should try to coordinate that. She and I can really do our thing any of the nights they're here." Kate lifts her wine glass from its spot on the coffee table and tucks a foot under her knee, relaxing into the sofa.

It hits him then - all the memories they have together of nights just like these, curled up next to each other on the couch with food and wine.

Truly, they were always his favorite nights. Hers, too.

"Oh, great. That's perfect."

"I'd also love to see an outdoor movie if we can. There's probably a schedule of those we can find online, right?"

Castle nods eagerly. "Yeah, there are a ton of free ones throughout the summer all over the city. And there might be a good one playing at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery while they're here."

Kate nearly chokes on her wine, pressing a hand to her chest. "I'm sorry, what?"

Castle rolls his eyes, a habit he picked up from her. "Don't give me that, Beckett. They have them there all the time. It's a thing."

"It's a cemetery," she deadpans.

"Oh, are you scared?"

Kate scoffs. "Castle, please."

"So what's the problem then?"

Her head tips back on a groan. "Fine, but one glimpse of a ghost and I am leaving you behind to fend for yourself."

He gasps. "Beckett, I can't believe you would do that to me. You wouldn't even try to protect me after - " He stops, looks at her. "Wait a minute, you don't even believe in ghosts."

She smirks, and oh yeah, she's totally messing with him.

"Wow, not funny," he pouts.

She laughs. "That was priceless, Castle. You should've seen the look on your face."

"Now I'm glad I didn't share my egg roll with you," he huffs, sticking the last bite in his mouth.

"Yeah, that doesn't exactly mean much considering I didn't even want it in the first place," she points out.

He just blinks at her, buying himself time for a retort, but he comes up empty. "I have no good comeback for that."

She grins behind her wine glass. "I know." Damn. Score one for Beckett.

"I should get going soon," he says regretfully, running a hand through his hair.

The truth is, the more time they spend together, the easier it's been getting. They've been moving pretty slow, but it seems to be working out for them, so far, so he doesn't want to jinx it.

She's gazing at him with a hint of amusement and something else that he can't quite place. "What?"

"Just," she trails off, biting her lip. "You fussed up your hair just now when you were," she gestures with her hands, "It's kind of adorable."

His heart skips a beat. How does she do this to him after all this time? "Yeah?"

She flushes, her eyes bright. "Yeah," she says softly.

She's close enough for him to touch right now, inches away, and he so badly wants to fall onto her perfect pink mouth after a goddamn lifetime away, but his brain doesn't seem to be as willing a participant as the rest of his body.

It just doesn't feel right. Not yet.

Kate seems to sense his internal struggle because she breaks the spell, tearing her eyes from his as she clears her throat. "Do you wanna take a quick walk before you head out? It's a beautiful night outside."

"That sounds perfect." He pats his stomach, makes a face. "I should really work off that last egg roll, anyway."

She rolls her eyes. "Let's go, Castle."


LAX is an utter nightmare the day their friends arrive. Castle was kind enough to rent an SUV for the week, so the five of them could comfortably travel together during the length of their stay, but that meant that he was navigating a car he wasn't familiar with while tourists spilled through the airport doors in droves. Did everyone in the country decide to descend upon Los Angeles on the same Summer Saturday?

It sure seemed like it.

Castle grips the steering wheel tight now, his body thrumming with tension as the cars in front of them crawl along, darting erratically as they approach the terminal. Kate has been in communication with Lanie, who just texted her to say that they just got off the plane and are heading to baggage claim.

"Why don't we park the car instead of pulling up to the curb?" Kate suggests.

"I can handle the car, Kate," Castle grits out.

"I know," she says, keeping her tone even. It's not like him to get stressed out about something like this, and she knows it's more, that he's nervous about this week with them and how they'll deal with it without officially being together. "But then we can take our time and not have to worry about dealing with the congestion. And if they have to wait for their bags, it's going to be at least ten minutes anyway."

He sighs, relaxing a little. "Okay."

She lays a hand on his thigh and squeezes, hoping she can melt the tension away from him a little bit. He takes his eyes off the road for a second to shoot her a little half-smile as his hand drapes over hers briefly.

"Our friends are here, Castle," she reminds him with a grin.

His smile broadens at that, boyish and happy, tipping into his eyes where the light finds him. There he is. "Our friends are here."


Kate envelopes her best friend in a tight hug as soon as she spots her, pulling back a moment later to look for a certain ring on her left hand.

"Oh, Lanie," Kate says as she takes the medical examiner's hand in hers. "It's perfect. It screams you."

Lanie smiles. "Javier did a good job," she looks over her shoulder at her fiance, who's in the middle of a three-way bro fest with Ryan and Castle. "Though I'm sure Ryan helped," Lanie whispers to her.

Kate laughs. "I'd say that's a safe bet."

Lanie takes a steps back, her gaze running the length of Kate's body. "California looks like it's treating you right, girl," she hums. "You're all sun-kissed and everything. I'm gonna need some of that before I go back to New York."

"I'm sure we can drag the boys to the beach for the day," Kate says loudly, winking.

"Yo, did I hear you right?" Esposito pops his head over Lanie's shoulder. "Beckett, I do not do sand," he grumbles, stepping in to wrap his former boss in a hug. "And I know Honeymilk's pasty white Irish skin can't handle too much sun. Boy would shrivel up."

Ryan greets Beckett before socking his partner in the shoulder . "Shut up, Espo."

"Lanie," Castle preens, all traces of his earlier irritation in the car gone. "Let me see the ring."

Lanie sticks out her arm, wiggling her fingers.

"Nice!" Castle whips to Espo. "Did Ryan help you pick this out?"

Esposito scoffs. "I refuse to dignify that question with an answer."

"You should've seen the one he wanted to pick out," Ryan stage whispers to Kate, eyes wide. "So gaudy." He makes a face.

Esposito claps him on the back. "But at least I don't use words like 'gaudy.'"

Kate rolls her eyes. "Maybe we can continue this argument in the car, huh, guys?"

Esposito pats his stomach. "Beckett, can we stop for food on the way to Castle's?"

"Yeah, we're hungry," Ryan adds, nodding vigorously.

Beckett purses her lips, stifling a laugh as she shares a look with Castle. Some dynamics never change, huh?

Lanie rolls her eyes. "The two of you, I swear. I don't know how I'm going to put up with you for the next week."


As always, appreciate you reading and any thoughts you may have. - Liv