Sorry for the late update, I've been sick. Still am, but still. Hey, Chapter 10!
Disclaimer: Can't we just assume that I don't own Castle? If I somehow, magically own it one day, I'll let you know.
Reason: Chapter 10
And I smiled back.
I first realized that Kate Beckett and I were meant to be together when we worked the murder of Zalman Drake, renowned magician.
I had been fighting with Gina. It was in the paper and everyone was pestering me about it.
Everyone except her.
I sort of realized it when she told me about the magic trick with ice cubes. I still don't know her motivation behind telling me that, but I suspect it was just for kicks.
Gina had never gotten me to react like that. No one had. Kate had such control over me. She knew just what to say and just how to say it to get a reaction.
The final nail was when we were finishing each other's sentences. It was the first time I'd really noticed it. Sure Ryan and Esposito had mentioned it occasionally but this was the first time that I had realized we were finishing each other's thoughts.
And it was thrilling.
The thought that Kate Beckett and I thought the same and fed off of each other's ideas to create this one great theory was invigorating. I stared at her, eyes and mouth open, just beaming as realization crashed over me.
I loved her. I loved Kate Beckett. I was in love with her. Everything about her.
I had been for a while. For a year, at least. The fact that I had just noticed now both elated me and made me feel like an idiot. How could it have taken this long for the feeling to register?
But then she'd noticed and asked "what?" in such a tone that I'd immediately said "nothing" in my most innocent voice.
I'd known I liked her for a while and I wanted her from the first day we met. This, however, was the first moment I realized I loved her.
So I broke it off with Gina and felt sad. Sad, but free.
When Kate asked me to eat comfort food with her, the sadness left.
When she'd pulled those flowers out of her sleeve, I'd felt damn near elated.
There was hope.
Oo..oO
I was woken by the chorus of 'Who's That Lady' once again. I had been smart and left my phone on my nightstand just in case.
I answered it. "Did you call to tell me my breakfast is ready?"
"I was thinking we should search Albeni's apartment again."
"Why? Searching for pirates?"
"No," she said, exasperated, "There could be more evidence."
"Meet you there?"
"I'll pick you up in 30."
"Your coffee will be waiting for you."
We both hung up and I hurried to get dressed. I checked the clock; 6:30am.
As per usual, Alexis was in the kitchen. She had her head tilted to her one shoulder, holding down her phone, while her hands were busy making a bowl of cereal. I sensed disaster looming not far over the horizon. I hurried over to her and relieved her of the box. She mouthed thank you and picked up her phone.
The cereal she had chosen was bland. And healthy. Ugh. I decided to pick something more... fun.
I made two bowls of cereal and put one down in front of her. She looked incredulously at my choice of Fruit Loops but shook her head slightly.
"Yeah, I'll call you later. Love you too, bye!"
So she had been talking to Ashley.
"Morning!" I sang cheerily.
"Morning dad," she replied before taking bite of her cereal. "What's got you up so early?"
I finished chewing quickly and swallowed, almost choking in my haste. "Beckett called. We're going to check out of first vic's apartment. Again."
"Still thinking pirates?"
I smiled slyly. Nothing could make me sway from my pirate theory and I told her so.
"You made some kind of bet with Detective Beckett, didn't you?"
"You know me too well."
"Sadly," she muttered into her cereal. I gave her a slightly sneering look.
"Good morning, darlings!" The voice came flowing down the stairs, announcing the imminent arrival of my mother, Martha Rodgers.
"Morning, Gram," answered Alexis.
"Mother, what are you doing up this early?" I asked her, skipping greetings.
"Richard, you may not realize, but your voice carries," she replied, waving her hands vaguely in what I assumed to be a demonstration of my voice carrying.
"Sorry Mother," I said in a sing-song voice. I looked at the clock again and rushed to the coffee machine. I had to have Beckett's coffee ready. It had to be perfect. Not to mention, I was planning on making her breakfast.
Waffles, maybe.
I rushed around the kitchen cooking and preparing the perfect cup of coffee. My mother and Alexis chatted in the background about school, Ashley and acting.
At 8am sharp, there was a knock on my door.
"I'll get it!" chimed Alexis. I took the waffle out of the press and scooped whipped cream onto it. The door opened and I heard Alexis and Kate exchanging greetings and inquires about well-being.
As I placed a strawberry dead-center in the whipped cream, I heard my mother get up and greet Kate as well, giving me a little more time. I put the finishing touches on the coffee and, with impeccable timing, put it in front of the spot Kate just walked up to.
She raised an eyebrow at me.
"You made me breakfast?" Her tone was indecipherable.
"Thought you might be hungry," I informed her with a smile.
A small smile graced her lips and her eyes softened a little.
"Thanks, that's really," she seemed to be thinking for the right word, "Sweet."
I stared into her eyes, grinning at her. I could see her thanks and how much the gesture really meant to her. It was worth the work.
"Umm..." A voice interrupted the moment, hesitantly.
I jerked my eyes away from Kate to look in the direction of the noise.
It was Alexis. She was standing awkwardly to the side of Kate and I with her school bag. My mother was standing by the stairs, on hand on the banister in a dramatic way. She was looking a little too satisfied for my liking.
"What is it, sweetie?" I asked my daughter in an effort to ease her awkwardness.
"I have to go," she said, "Bye dad, Detective Beckett!" She nodded and smiled at each of us, leaning in to kiss my cheek.
Everyone wished Alexis a good day and she waved once more over her shoulder before shutting the door behind her.
"I assume you two will be leaving soon?" My mother asked, still by the stairs. She still looked satisfied, as if her greatest wish had come true and it was all her doing.
"Yeah," Kate told her. "I really don't know if I have time to-"
"Oh come on, Kate!" I begged, "I slaved over that!"
I barely noted my mother retiring to her room as we bickered.
"Well," Kate said slowly, teasingly, "I suppose I might be able to have a little..."
She picked up the strawberry, whipped cream and all and very slowly put it in her mouth.
I nearly died.
She smiled evilly at the expression on my face. As she did so, she lost her grip on the strawberry and it fell onto her lap.
"Oh, great," she muttered sarcastically, scooping whipped cream off with her finger. I handed her a napkin. Her clothes didn't seem too damaged; a little water would get it off.
Her clothes are worth mentioning. She wore her favourite black leather jacket over a loose fitting, yet shapely beige top. Her light blue jeans and high, black, Beckett heels finished off the outfit flawlessly.
They were her back-up clothes that she kept in her locker.
What would have her wearing her back-up clothes? She normally only put them on if irreparable harm had come to her clothes of choice. Or...
"Did you sleep at the precinct last night?" I asked, trying hard to make the question sound harmless. If you push Kate, she clams up and you get nothing out of her.
She swallowed her bite of waffle and nodded, seemingly nonchalant.
"Yeah, I fell asleep at my desk." Her voice was bright but it seemed overly so. And there was something about her expression...
I decided to let it go.
"Any breaks in the case?"
She was working on another mouthful of waffle and only shook her head.
She continued to eat, seemingly enjoying the delicious meal I had prepared.
"Want me to put your coffee in a travel mug?" I asked, holding one up. It had her name on it. I mean, literally. I had had it made just in case. Wishful thinking and all.
She quirked one eyebrow at me and shook her head. Swallowing, she said, "No. I think I'm going to want another waffle. I skipped dinner and this is amazing!" As she finished that sentence she grinned a little and helped herself to more.
"Will you want eggs with that?" I asked her mockingly, raising my eyebrow.
The smile on my face as I worked on that second waffle could have been seen from space.
A/N: I honestly planned to put stuff to do with the case in this chapter. Really, I did. But it just ran away from me. A couple of things:
You may have noticed that I have Castle call Beckett Kate when they're out of the precinct or having a moment of something. Beckett is reserved for when she is detecting and such.
If you notice any errors, whether spelling, grammar or continuity, please, please let me know. I'm my own proof-reader.
Yeah, that's about it. Reviews = happy me and day 100X better. :)