I leave for Texas today and I'm considering leaving my laptop at home because it's acting weird and I think the poor thing needs a vacation as well. I'll still have my tablet, however, so y'all can contact me through Tumblr and I'll take prompts and all that wonderful stuff there. Anyway, enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Ten

After dropping Javier at his hotel to refresh after his flight, they head back to Kate's, where she unloads Royal's things in the kitchen, laying his bed down in her room and his food and water bowls by the back door, before grabbing a Frisbee and his leash.

"Wanna go to the park?" she asks, shaking the leash so that it jingles. Royal barks, his tail wagging wildly as he bows, and Kate laughs. "Okay, come on. Rick, you coming?"

"Of course," Castle replies, patting the dog on his head. "Where's the closest dog park?"

"There's a field about three blocks away that allows dogs," Kate informs him. "I've been taking Royal there since he was as big as his head is now." She raps the dog lightly on the head and he barks, licking it. Kate scrunches her nose and wipes the drool on her jeans, before petting him and latching the leash on. "Let's go," she says.

"Wait," Castle says. "Don't you have to write the eulogy for Natalie's funeral?"

Kate shrugs. "I can do that later," she says. "Right now, I just wanna spend some time with my favorite guy."

"Aww," Castle says, "thank you, Ka—"

"Not you!" Kate laughs, rolling her eyes. Castle pouts at her, but she ignores it, walking towards the front door.

He catches up with her once she steps off the front step and wraps his arms around her waist, planting his lips on her cheek, much to her surprise. "Be aware," he whispers, huskily, in her ear, "of everything around you."

He motions to a couple of paps across the street, hiding behind a brown Chevy, cameras poised and ready. One of them snaps a photo of Rick and Kate and the other scribbles something into her notebook.

Kate sighs, leaning into his chest and hiding her face. "I wish they would just go away," she mumbles and Castle's arms wrap tighter around her in sympathy. Absently, he kisses her forehead and feels himself blush the second his lips brush her skin. He feels her stiffen as well. Seconds later, he's met with her inquisitive green eyes, peering up at him. Her mouth opens, as if to say something, but before she can, they're suddenly bombarded by reporters.

"Miss Banks! Miss Banks!"

"Who's your new boy toy?"

"What's his name?"

Kate groans, resting her forehead back against his shoulder, before pushing off and tugging him the rest of the way down her path and then down the street, their fingers interlaced.

It's all he can do to follow her, his large stature imposing enough to cause the swarm of bloodsuckers to separate.

X_X

When they arrive at the park, Castle can already spot a few other dog owners, and even a few celebrities, out on the field, playing fetch with their own canines. And, as predicted, there are a few jackasses with cameras standing nearby, snapping photos at Kay Cappuccio as she plays with her own little dog. She ignores them, focusing on having a good time with her pet. Kate smiles at her.

"Kay's not exactly new to the whole 'fame' thing," she says, "but she's probably the most innocent when it comes to them. She lets them take any photo they want, no matter how horribly they may twist it. But she doesn't care."

"You admire that about her, huh?" Castle asks.

Kate sighs. "I envy her," she reveals. "That girl is so carefree, so…happy."

"You're not happy?" Castle asks, concerned. Kate shrugs, giving him a sad smile.

"I'm okay," she says, and there's a note of finality in her voice. Turning towards Royal, she unclips his leash, but the dog doesn't move a muscle, waiting for her command.

"Wow," Castle breathes. "He's good."

Kate beams. "That's all Lynn's doing; she's the best trainer in New York. Had him potty-trained within the first week. He stopped needing a leash by the time he was four months old, but you know the laws." She rolls her eyes and Castle laughs, nodding. "Alright, Boy," she says to Royal, "you ready to play?"

Royals perks but still little moves besides the twitch of his ears and the wag of his tail. "I think that's a yes," Castle chuckles and Kate nods, stepping back and getting in position with the Frisbee. Royal's eyes are riveted to the toy, but still, he does not move. Kate flings it with all her might and yells, "Go get it!" and he's off, flying like a rocket after his toy. Kate laughs as he quickly catches up and catches it midair, doing a little spin before trotting back towards them, looking very pleased with himself.

"What a little peacock," Castle comments and Kate snorts.

"Since he was a baby," she tells him. "He was just a little thing when I got him—about the size of that Frisbee, actually—so when he was finally able to pick it up, he was so proud. He carried that damn thing everywhere, strutting the whole time."

"Sounds adorable," Castle remarks and Kate laughs, nodding.

"It was."

Royal approaches and drops the Frisbee at his owner's feet, his tail wagging at a million miles per hour. Kate picks it up and almost gets ready to throw again, before thinking better of it and handing the toy to Castle.

"Wanna try?" she asks, smirking at him. Castle's eyes shoot up, but a second later he's grinning and taking the Frisbee in his own hand, reeling back and tossing it as hard as he can, while Royal blasts off after it, trying a little harder this time to catch up. Kate whistles. "Nice throw."

"Thanks," Castle replies, making a muscle. Kate rolls her eyes and pinches him. "Ouch!" Castle whines, though it doesn't really hurt all that much. Kate chuckles and squeezes his cheek.

"Aww," she teases, "poor baby." Castle sticks his tongue out at her and she laughs, shaking her head. He finds he likes the sound of her laugh and would love nothing more than to hear it again. Before he can make another joke, however, Royal returns, panting as he places the Frisbee at their feet. "You're already tired?" Kate asks, squatting down to pat his head.

"Nah," Castle says, "I bet he's just thirsty." He spots a food truck a little bit away. "I'll go get us some water. Stay safe." Kate rolls her eyes as she sits fully down on the grass, scratching Royal's tummy as he rolls over for more.

Castle smirks at them as he waits in line for water.

As he waits, he surveys the surrounding area, watching as families and couples walk around, playing with dogs, having picnics, or just walking around in the sunshine.

His eyes study each and every face, checking from any sign of a threat, but finding none in the dads with two-year-olds strapped to their chests or the college kids playing hacky sack.

Satisfied, he turns to the food truck clerk and orders three waters, receiving them and paying within seconds, before turning to walk back to Kate and Royal, who are both lying in the grass, looking up at the clouds. Castle smiles at them, before, out of the corner of his eye, she spots somebody walking in their direction, slowly pulling something out of his pocket.

Some black and glinting in the sun.

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