A/N: a little reminder: italics for flashbacks when Lily was away. I've added part of a paragraph that was included in the last chapter, I've decided to copy it here so you can have all the scene complete. Hope you like it! Anna.
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He led her, hands interlaced, swinging in the space in between.
The little coffee house that offered different menus to eat just outside the shopping centre is a place where in the weeks she had been going around on her own, she has passed by but never really paid attention to what it was. Now, from the outside, she could see the tables with candles that peppered the space with a cosy kind of ambient.
The quiet voice of Mark startles her:
I've come here a few times for lunch, never for dinner, the meals are great and I thought you might like it... but if you don't fancy what they have or anything we can just− She stops him there.
No. It's perfect. −Lily says convinced, a smile splitting on her face.
And pulls him into the bistro after her.
After they have had a quiet dinner, savouring every inch of the great food and the peaceful company of each other, with their table illuminated by the candlelight, plates already gone, only the circles of condensation left behind from their glasses, they remain looking at one another.
Mark suddenly inches forward, stretches out his hand, and in a calm move he places it on Lily's cheek, thumb delicately caressing the underside of her eye. She wriggles on her seat and is gliding ahead on the table too, elbows opened to her sides, where she can be comfortable enough.
His warmth radiates off of him and waves its way in between the little space that exists now separating them. She just has to move an inch closer, and their lips are meeting, like the soft caress he placed on her cheek, the tender interlock of their lips is so comfortable, the harmony of the movements as if they had been doing it for some time now. A connection, Lily thinks. A connection she has never felt with any of the few other boys she had kissed before.
It's ending way too soon when the waitress is explaining they will be closing in ten minutes with a smile and the 'invitation' to pay for the bill and have a good night.
They decide wordlessly it's time to go. He pays. She says, next time on me, but quickly realizes that maybe that next time will be the last time. While he pays, she wanders off thinking about that, yet when she feels the hand at her back, turns around and sees his relaxed features, smiling, eyes crinkling with delight, she waves off those thoughts and commits herself to not think about that and just enjoy their night.
Wandering hand-in-hand through the deserted streets of the little town, with the light breeze passing by and only a few all-nighters business opened at that time of the night, Mark and Lily are savouring the peace this little town carries when the night falls upon the valley where it's situated in between green mountains.
Absorbing these moments of calmness, they both realize the fact that they don't wish for the time to run so fast. And that thought strikes Lily, and she has the rushing need to stop, startling Mark.
And she kisses him with all her body, her mind. And it's not just the fact of kissing physically, it's also what the kiss, deep down, brings with it. The power it has to alter what was going to happen. To change the lives of the people feeling it, taking part in it.
And it's so unbelievable foolish that a single interlock of two parts of two bodies can have that much power, that we overlook it. And it saddens Lily a little that until this morning, when Mark has acted bravely taking that step forward and doing it, she wouldn't have thought about it.
But she is so ridiculously happy right now, and she feels so overjoyed that he did it and that therefore, he changed their history.
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They are all having dinner together on the table. And Kate is enjoying it. A lot. Like she is supposed to. It had been difficult to adapt to a new routine when Lily was gone. At first not even realizing the fact that she was expecting her to show up every afternoon for dinner. So yes, she is delighted while it lasts, because certainly being a mother is the best thing she has experienced. Ever. And sharing this adventure with Castle has been a great journey but it has also its perks. Their kids grow up so fast it's been one ache she hasn't got rid of.
As winter turns into spring, when everything is almost back to normal again- well with the boys away spending their last two days of spring vacation in a camp invited by some of their friends' parents and Lily having as she has said, the best time with her step-sister Alexis taking care of the babies just two streets down of the loft, and "not sleeping much, 'cause the babies require so much attention, you should know, Mom".
That's when Rick and Kate find themselves sitting quietly on the couch, side by side, deciding on what to do about the phone call she has just put an end on.
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So... I think that went well, right? − he says, shy, after the quiet ride from town to the house.
Yeah− she answers on a breath, hushed, mindful of the family sleeping upstairs.
Not wanting to say good night yet,
Do you− are you...? − they say at the same time. A chuckle escapes from her lips and she looks up through her lashes, biting her lip, coy.
With a gesture, he wordlessly tells she should talk first.
I was wondering if you would like to stay for a while with me in the armchairs... maybe we could make us some decaffeinated tea? − she proposes.
A beam rises on his face and with a nod, he makes his way to the kitchen.
When she is starting to nod off with her head upon his shoulder, he decides it's time for them to go to sleep.
With tenderness, he touches her arm and she quickly opens her eyes, startled.
It's past midnight, we should go to bed− he says, gazing down to where her head is resting and her wide eyes are staring back at him.
A nod is all he gets for an answer.
They make their way upstairs, preparing themselves for bed in the same bathroom, awkward domesticity in all of this.
He follows her into her bedroom, aware that both his mom's and his sister's doors are closed. He shuts her door after him, the soft click resounding onto her room.
What...?− she starts to say, but he doesn't let her finish, catching her hand, he pulls until she is in front of him and kisses her.
With a sharp breath, she pulls back, stares at him, and then launches herself to him, and the kiss deepens and it's all happening so fast again that he has to stop and drag himself out of her arms, Lily looks at him with a touch of disappointment
They are sleeping; we shouldn't do anything tonight− he explains
That downs on Lily and she touches her lips with the fingertips of her hand, hiding the little grin that threats to escape.
Right − she answers. −Well then, good night Mark− and goes to pull back the duvet of her bed, taking her pyjamas on her hand she turns around and finds that he is still there. Knowingly, she starts to change into her comfy clothes.
Oh...− he starts to gesture to the door− maybe I should just go and− his eyes widen as if he has not seen everything mere hours ago, opens the door and closes it quietly behind him.
Lily finishes changing and is putting the covers over herself when she hears the doorknob turning and the door opening.
Neither says anything.
He turns off the light and goes straight to the bed where she is lying, she accommodates herself so he has enough room and when they are both pleased and comfy, he says a quiet good night, her soft hum and nestle into his neck is okay for him.
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−Well, I believe we should tell Lily− Castle, tentatively, is the first to break the silence after the conversation with Mark.
−No! he told us please not to do it − she says not so sure either
−Kate, come on, do you really think is a good idea for him to show up and Lily not to know anything about it? – Castle asks her
She narrows her eyes, suspicion on them
−What you would prefer is for him not to show up at all.
The silence that settles all over again is her answer.
And then a sigh,
−In some way, he hurt Lily and I don't want that with his "visit'' he hurts her more, I suppose it was hard enough for her to leave him and say goodbye− Castle looks at her with all that honesty on his eyes she just has to stop and think this whole thing through.
−I…− Kate sees how his sigh deflates his shoulders and really, she can understand what he is saying.
And so Castle goes on and she can't deny that he is right.
−She looks so happy now, seems to have moved on from everything and start looking for things to do, to start again, and I'm not saying he shouldn't come here, but at least we could tell her so she can have the time to think about this, to expect something. We can give her that, right? – and it's just right at that moment that their daughter enters through the door.
−Hi mom, hi dad! – Lily says cheerfully, smacking a kiss on both their cheeks.
She flops right in between them
−What were you talking about, why those serious faces? − she asks looking back and forth from one another.
Castle's eyes widen and he glances to Kate as he looks for an excuse to tell Lily.
−Umm...− Kate tries to start− we... we were just, umm...− she purses her lips in thought, not really being subtle, and Lily catches up on it.
−What. What happened? − she regards them with expectation, thoughtful, already looking for something that could have happened.
−Mark called− Castle is surprised to hear, still fishing for something to say.
−I'm sorry, what? − Lily answers cold sober
−Mark, from the family you worked for, in Wales. He called. −Kate repeats genuinely.
Lily, always so determined, says without some kind of feeling on her face,
−What did he had to say?
−He told us not to say anything to you, and we were discussing that and you just came in and I'm sorry− Kate adds sincerely
−Mom, what did he want, why to call you? − she asks
Castle clears his throat before Kate can respond to that and takes her place
−He is coming here− he lets a few seconds pass by, and when he sees the words already forming on his daughter's lips he continues− to see you−. He says swallowing the bump that has created in his throat.
Lily is abruptly standing up and pacing the space in front of the sofa. She doesn't say anything. With a hand on her hip and the other touching her chin and mouth, she appears lost in thought when she turns to them and says:
−Why? Did he say why he wanted to see me? − she asks serene, to her parents' surprise.
−No, −Kate answers this time − he just said he is coming in three days, his plane arrives on Tuesday afternoon−
To say both Rick and Kate were surprised about this call, didn't even know how the kid got Kate's number, was an understatement. But now watching their daughter take this news in such a calm attitude has them shocked with amazement.
Lily sits slumped again on her seat on the sofa, bracing herself with the forearms against thighs, hands covering her face, waves of hair hiding her visage.
The gazes Rick and Kate give each other and the unmistakable meaning of them has Rick standing up and going to the kitchen so he can prepare a snack, leaving, therefore, his daughter to talk with Kate.
−I can't believe this, Mom −she hears. −I really can't− Lily repeats, turning her head and looking at her mother. She changes positions and lets herself fall back against the cushiony back of the soda, chin on her chest, eyes downcast, lost in her own thoughts.
Kate doesn't have any answers, still trying to understand herself what's happening, when they are both startled by a thud! coming from the kitchen, Beckett is starting to get up from her seat when they hear a slightly muffled Sorry! everything OK from Castle.
You could tell by both their eye rolls: like mother, like daughter.
−I think...− she pauses, takes a deep breath and continues −I think I'm excited about it− and with a shy smile, she looks to her mom. And she bites her lip, a little disconcerted, but also a little flushed, a blush rising to her cheeks.
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TBC