For The Love of Kate Chapter 10
A/N: Thank you all so very much for your kind words, your support and encouragement as well as your insights and valuable advice. You are all so amazing and every review, comment, follows/favs always amazes me and I am so thankful for each of you.
To Andrew and Terri, Stana and Nathan, Jon, Seamus, Tamala, Molly and Susan who all worked so tirelessly and diligently to create a story, a love story for the ages that will resonate with us always. The best tv show on tv and one that will live with us forever. I will always be eternally thankful for your hard work and dedication, you guys continue to inspire.
I used to say that Castle was in a class all it's own and it is, but it's more than that. It's a legacy, a rare gift of love to be cherished always. Now onto the story.
Having moved to the kitchen sink to wash the bacon grease from her hands where she had peeled the greasy strips from it's package, Kate leaned on the kitchen counter, mesmerized at the view out of the window.
The landscape before her was breathtaking, the world beyond the window seemed so magical, ethereal covered in bright, pure white so pristine.
A soft gasp of awe escaped her lips as a family of deer emerged from the woods and stood looking around for something to graze upon, creating a Norman Rockwell or Thomas Kincaid feel to the atmosphere. Beautiful
She startled a bit as Rick's arms came around her waist, the solid feel of his chest at her back, the timber of his voice at her ear pulled her from her musing.
"Hey. Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah. It's just so beautiful, so peaceful here. Magical." she sighed with the wonder of it all.
"Yeah, it is. Not quite the Money Pit you imagined it to be?" he asked, brushing a soft kiss to the nape of her neck.
"No. I'm sorry. It's just the way you bought it and the reason you bought it in the first place overwhelmed me, that's all. I'm glad it turned out the way that it has."
"I understand. The way I bought it was unorthodox…"
"But you also bought it to run away from me because of my action and I feel so…"
"Okay Wait a minute. The last thing I want is for you to feel more guilty than you already do. I'll admit that was the reason I bought this place , to start fresh, but I've already forgiven you for that and we're together now and moving forward, and that's what is important, so stop feeling so guilty. Let the past lie in the past where it belongs. Now, let's finish breakfast and then we can do whatever we want." he said, dropping his voice to ooze sex appeal, innuendo and kissing her neck.
"Breakfast! The bacon!" she cried in alarm, remembering the bacon she had just put on the stove.
Turning away from her, Rick dropped his arms from her waist and hurried to the stove.
"It's okay. Just needed to be turned," he said, snatching the fork from the counter top.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she moved toward him. "Thanks. I've got this now." she said, plucking the fork from his fingers. "You finish the eggs and coffee."
They worked in tandem preparing breakfast and as they sat down to eat she asked, "Okay, since we've established that this place is obviously not the money pit I first thought and you're not giving up your life in New York and moving up here to be a recluse, have you given any thought to what you will do with it?"
Tilting his head in contemplation for a moment, he replied. "You know, I really haven't thought that far ahead, but you're right. I do need to consider the options I have open to me. What do you think I should do?"
Kate cut into her omelet and took a bite. Mmmm. Not only was he very talented and successful at writing and outstanding in the bedroom, ( not in that precise order), but he was an excellent cook, too.
"Gee, I don't know, Rick. I don't see how I have a say in this decision…" she replied, swallowing the bite.
"What? Of course you have a say. You're my girlfriend now and I hope one day we'll be more than just boyfriend/ girlfriend and as such, you definitely have a say."
Kate's jaw fell slack, her heart pounding erratically in her chest. Did he just...? Was he implying...? This soon?
Her eyes dropped to the table and then flicked up to his, taking in the stricken look on his face. He was as shocked as she was.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know we agreed to take baby steps... I didn't mean... Oh hell, yes I meant every word of what I just said. Just please, don't leave me again. I couldn't bear that. I love you, Kate and the thought of not having you in my life scares the hell out of me."
She had known that her actions after leaving the hospital had been devastating to him, but this was the first time she had seen it up close and personal. It saddened her and intensified her guilt, but in that moment she realized that he needed reassurance from her. Hpw deeply she had hurt him.
"Please, say something." he pleaded as she remained silent, taking it all in.
Why in the hell was it so hard to say those three words when she needed them now? It was only three words, but those words so full of meaning and emotion threatened to strangle her.
Laying her fork to the side of her plate, she rose and went to him, nudging the table away from him with her hip and straddled him.
"Oh Rick. It's okay, but why can't we just enjoy the here and now and what we're developing?"
"You're doubting my feel..."
"No! Not at all! That's not what I meant. It's just..."
"Too soon?"
"Maybe. Look, I'm not denying that we have something tangible and real and beautiful. I have very strong feelings for you, for what we're becoming. We're moving forward, Rick, and what we're doing feels so right, but it is a bit early. All I'm saying is let's take our time. Time to date and get used to spending more time together. I love the place we're in right now Let's see where we are in six months or even a year before we make any kind of commitments beyond this. Do you think we can do that?"
"Yes, I do and I know you're right. I just got carried away. Forgive me?"
"There's nothing to forgive, Rick. I want us to be open and honest with each other and not hide our feelings. I love the fact that you love me and are so open to expressing that in thought, word and action, so don't hold that back, okay?"
"Okay, but your opinion matters to me, so as far as I'm concerned, you have a say about any decisions I make regarding this place and we were discussing our options." he said in an attempt to lighten the conversation and restore the mood of a few minutes ago.
She pressed a light kiss to the corner of his lips before rising off his lap and moved back to her seat.
"Okay. Let's weigh those options. Option number one is that you continue with your plan and move up here."
"We. And that's off the table now." he corrected.
"Fine. We. Option number two is that you... we keep the place and rent it out."
"Seriously? No. That's off the table, too. Look at this place. It's gorgeous, even if it's on the small side."
"Small side according to you. It would generate a nice income making it a good investment. Besides, you still have your place in the Hamptons to consider as a summer getaway. What would you do with a third place? That takes us back to option one."
"No. I can't sell it now. Before that might have been an option, but I can't sell this place. It has special meaning now."
"Yeah, it does. For me, too. But what else can we do? Leave it to vandals and let it fall into disrepair? Are you going to fly up here on weekends to look after it?"
"No. Not without you and your schedule is often erratic. I say we keep it. I'll hire a caretaker to take care of it while we're away, just like I do for my house in the Hamptons and we'll come up here for romantic getaways. It'll be perfect. No one knows I have it, no one knows we're together, except your dad. Speaking of your dad, am I going to have trouble out of that? He's not going to come after me, is he?"
Laughing, she placed her fork to the side of her plate and took his hand across the table.
"No. Of course not. Dad loves to tease people, more especially me, but it's gentle teasing, not like the boy's gallows humor and I'll probably get the brunt of that, not you. At least, not yet. Not until he knows you better." she teased, throwing a wink his direction.
"Oh, that's comforting and good to know. So, do you think he'll keep our secret?"
"I know he will. He hasn't had a say in whom I date since I was sixteen. Besides, other than having met the guys once or twice, he doesn't really know anyone from the precinct. He knows Lanie pretty well, though, but he'll never give up my secrets. You're okay with this, right?"
"Okay with what?"
"Dad knowing about us because I can assure you there will be no trouble from him. Besides, he really likes you." She realized her mistake as soon as it left her mouth.
"But he hardly knows me. Other than meeting him at the hospital a few times and once at the loft."
"Wait. The loft ?"
Oh, hell. He'd gone and done it this time. "Uh, umm, yeah. Please, don't be mad at him. From a father's standpoint, I know where he was coming from. I completely understand."
"Understand what, Rick? I thought we agreed there would not be any more secrets between us, so I think you'd better explain that." she said sardonically, her brow quirking up as she laid her fork aside and crossed her arms on her chest.
"Okay. He looked me up a few nights before your shooting and came to my loft. He was worried and asked that I not let you throw your life away."
"He had no right to do that! Just wait until I talk to him again." she huffed.
"Kate."
"No. I will not back down on this. So you and my dad conspired behind my back?"
"No! It wasn't like that. We were just trying to keep you safe and we didn't conspire anything, Kate. It wasn't as if we sat down and made a plan. He's your dad and he loves you. We both do Please, Kate. Don't be mad at us for that."
The hurt, the anger that had been building inside her moments ago began to subside just a tad. "You put yourself between me and a bullet, putting yourself in danger…"
"Yes. And I'd do it again if necessary, in spite of how angry it made you. To conspire against someone or something, you have to know what it is you're conspiring against, but we didn't. So there was no conspiracy between me and your dad." he replied, reaching across the table, snagging her hand..
"You guys always stick together, don't you?" she asked, her voice less biting, less edgy.
"Here's the thing, Kate. Dads with beautiful little girls that they love more than life itself will stop at nothing to protect them. So, please, let's not argue anymore and don't be mad at your dad, either."
"I don't want to, either. I know you both reacted out of worry and were trying to protect me and as much as I appreciate it, I can pro..."
"No one saw this coming. We thought this ended with Lockwood's death, but apparently it didn't. I saw the glint from the sniper's bullet in my peripheral vision and I reacted instinctively. The only regret I have is that I wasn't fast enough."
When she didn't answer right away, he pleaded once again, "Please, Kate. "
Knowing that she would stop at nothing to protect the people she loved and to whatever extent was necessary. Their actions had been justified and purely instinctive. It wasn't as though she didn't do the same thing and she didn't want to argue either. Not now and certainly not after last night and the wee hours of this morning..
She regarded him thoughtfully a few more minutes across the table, the feelings churning in her gut now slowing to a slow simmer instead a rolling boil. And how could she resist those beautiful blue eyes gazing softly at her. She couldn't. It was that simple.
"Okay. For now. But I still want to find whoever is behind all of this." she said softly, her eyes turning softer where there had been hurt and anger written across her face. "
"And I promise we'll do it together the right way."
"Good. I wonder if the boys have found anything."
"You haven't talked to them?"
"No. You and my dad are the only people I've talked to in months."
"So you don't know then?"
"No. What is there to know?"
Oh hell. Now it was him feeling the tension. He had hoped not to have to break it to her like this. But now he had to.
"Rick? What are you not telling me?"
"Well, I was hoping not to tell you this, but while you were away, a new Captain from IA replaced Roy. She's as by the book as they come. Her name is Captain Gates. The boys and I were trying to find your shooter when she announced that there was no room in her precinct for a dilettante writer and kicked me to the curb. So when you return to work, I won't be with you."
"What? She can't do that!"
"She can and she did, Kate."
"Well, we have to fix this."
"We will. Just not today. I have a file at home or I would show you now, but it only lead to a warehouse in Union City that burned down years ago, so it was a dead end"
" Well, if you don't mind, I'd still like to look over it. Maybe we could go over it again together."
" I've been over and over it. I doubt that we'll find anything, but I'll let you see it when we get home. But Kate, you have to promise me that if something comes from it, you'll not go rogue on me. You have to keep the boys and I in the loop."
"And if it gets dangerous?"
"I think it could lead to danger and that's all the more reason to not go rogue. You have to promise me, Kate." he said solemnly.
"Okay. I promise." she replied, in an attempt to steer the conversation away from the case. For now.
"Good. Thank you." he said brushing a soft kiss to her knuckles, stirring up all those delicious feelings all over again. They both felt more comfortable now that secrets had been revealed.
She had to tamp that down. At least for now.
She eased her fingers from his grasp. "Eat your breakfast.", she said picking up her fork, gesturing to his plate, smiling at him.
He smiled at her and picked up his fork. "So you dad likes me, huh?"
Oh hell. And there was his over inflated ego coming through again. But honestly, from conversations with her dad at the cabin, he had made a very good impression with her dad and she had to acknowledge that. Over blown ego or not.
"I think it's only fair to say that you made quite an impression on him, but that doesn't mean…"
"I really liked him, too. He's a good man." Rick said, cutting her off mid-sentence.
Wait! What? No cavalier quips? No overblown ego? Just an honest opinion and statement? He must have changed during her absence. She just hoped he hadn't changed too much. For as much as she was enjoying this side of him, it was the other side of him that she'd fallen in love with, but this side of him was pretty awesome, too.
"Any chance we could talk him into joining us for dinner once we get back?" he asked, swallowing down a sip of orange juice.
She regarded him thoughtfully over the rim of her coffee mug. The temptation to tease was just too great. Schooling her features, she replied, "Oh, I'm sure we could arrange something. Just not right away, okay? I'm not sure I'm ready to share you with my dad just yet."
Rick coughed, choking on a piece of bacon, his eyes widening at her implication. "Not like that!" he spluttered, wiping at his chin with his napkin.
Her laughter rang through the breakfast nook, echoing through the kitchen and was music to his ears. "I was just teasing you."
"Oh, you'll pay for this one dearly." he said in mock indignation.
"Pay? Pay what? And just how do you propose you're going to get your payment?" she asked, coyly, suggestively, propping her elbow on the table and cupping her chin in the palm of her hand.
Chortling, he replied, "Oh, you'll find out. All in good time, dear detective. All in good time."
"Can't wait to find out. Now, what were you saying about keeping this place?"
"Oh," he said, leaning back against the back of his chair. "I was saying that we could keep this place. It's perfect. No one other than the two of us and Mike at the General Store knows that I own this. It's beautiful, private, secluded with quick access to Acadia National Park, it has special meaning to us. It would make the perfect romantic getaway for us."
It took Kate several long moments before she asked." You're okay with us keeping quiet about us, aren't you? I mean, it's against department rules for two people to date and work together at the same time, then apart from the boy's gallow humor, of which we'd never hear the end of it, now there's this new captain..."
"Kate, I'm more than fine with it. I understand and as long as it will keep me by your side, I don't care. I'll do whatever is necessary to remain there. Besides, I like the idea of not over sharing. I want to keep you all to myself for a while..."
Gratitude and relief swept through her. leaning across the table, she kissed him softly, murmuring "Thank you" against his lips.
After they'd regained their composure, he asked, "So what do you think?"
"Mmm. I love that idea, but you'd still need someone to look after it when we couldn't come up. That would entail knowing someone, a trustworthy person to do upkeep and protect it from vagrants and vandalism. We're not from here, Rick and we know nobody."
"That's true, but once we find someone trustworthy, it wouldn't be a problem. That's what I did for my house in the Hamptons."
"My point is that finding that trusty someone is time consuming and if you're not here to interview people…"
"Ah. Perhaps Mike knows someone reliable. We'll talk to him before we leave."
"But how do we know he's reliable? We've met him once." Kate queried.
"That's true, but Dan and Suzanne trusted him, besides there's ways to do checks on people. We can always do background checks."
"No. I'm not wasting valuable police resources to research people up here in Maine. This is not my jurisdiction and we'd get caught and I thought we agreed on keeping the fact that we're together now a secret."
"We did and we will, I promise, but I think you're over thinking this. We investigate people out of state all the time. Look, I don't know what the answer is, but we'll figure it out. We're keeping it, no matter what it takes and we'll figure it out together."
After a few moments of considering this, she replied, "Okay."
Scraping his chair back, he rose and came to her. "Now, I believe there's a score we need to settle.", he said, scraping back her chair and assisting her from it.
She gave a little shriek as he suddenly lifted and hauled her over his shoulder.
"You're such a Neanderthal!", she laughed, swatting him on the ass.
"Ah, yes, I am. Since Neanderthals mated with humans over 5,000 years ago."
"That's just theory." she said, laughing.
"Yes, it is, but if claiming belief in that theory allows me to carry you over my shoulder like this, then it's a theory I can believe in and it gives me the perfect opportunity to do this."
She squeaked as his free hand snaked beneath the hem of her robe to caress her. Ohhh, he was so getting it for this. Turnabout is fair play, but she didn't think he'd protest too much, in fact, he'd probably enjoy what she had in mind. And she was going to enjoy every second of it.
A/N : I know this is really late and I apologize. I had a notice from a past guest reviewer named Cha Cha that began reading my pregnancy fics 2 years ago that ultimately led her to read some of my lesser works and leave encouraging reviews. I left those without a conclusion so I have been bouncing back and forth between this and the conclusion to that series. So, cha cha, if you're still with us a conclusion is on it's way. It's still in the writing stages, but am pretty close to finishing it after writing for 12 hours straight on it.
I will be bouncing back and forth until I finish that one. If you've never read them or are unfamiliar with the series it begins with The Gift, Kate's Journal, Sushi, Strawberry Shakes and S'morelets, Rick's Book Launch Party, and Rocking Chairs and Lullabies.
Thank you for your patience and the continued love and support of this story. Hope you enjoy.