Chapter 11: Accidental Revelation
She woke up pressed against his chest. Her head resting on the manly pillow as his arms protectively held her close. His breathing was steady and relaxed. She was almost afraid to move and wake him. Glancing at the clock on the table, she noted the time. Brunch would be the order of the day. Very carefully, she worked to unwind herself from their tangled bodies. He flinched at the sudden loss of contact with her but did not wake.
"Kate." he murmured in his sleep as he unconsciously crossed his arms, not realizing she was no longer with him.
She kissed him lightly on the lips to silence him. After what they did the night before, he had earned the right to sleep till noon. Beckett had never been so sexually satisfied in her life. That was not to say that Sorensen, Demming, or Davidson were lacking as bed mates. It's just that she just seemed to be going through the motions with them. What she did with those men lacked the personal connection that she had with Rick Castle. It was something she had never experienced before. It was something she had been learning about from their first night as lovers in the Hamptons. Then she felt unsure of her actions and insecure. But he proved to be a patient teacher and giving lover. Maybe it was the wine that got them drunk, or perhaps it was the romantic setting of the room, probably the ring he gave her? Something just clicked for them last night, last night was magic. Last night, Kate Beckett knew what is was like not just to have mind blowing sex, but to actually be making soft, gentle, caring love with her partner, with her soul-mate.
Making her way to the next room, she ordered breakfast for the two of them and headed to the shower to freshen up. She was already in the hotel robe by the time their food arrived. Time for Castle to wake up. Repositioning herself in his arms, she slowly kissed the parts of his body that she could reach while coaxing him to his senses.
He slowly stirred and came to. "Good morning." he stretched out his arms causing Beckett to roll to the side of the bed.
"Time for brunch sleepy head." she smiled at him as pulled her back into his arms.
"In a few. I just want to lie here with you first." he relaxed as she lay her head back on his chest. "You smell like fresh cherries."
"I just took a shower." she confessed while she drew lazy lines around his pecs.
They lay in silence for a few moments before he spoke again.
"Who would have said 3 years ago that our magnets would finally flip and connect huh?" he asked her, still unable to believe that they were finally together.
"Actually, it's more like 7 years ago for me." she sighed contentedly as he held her.
"7 years? When did..."
"It was after my mother's murder. I started reading your books and got addicted to the stories. Your books helped me work through my mother's murder. I was learning how to become a cop at the academy, and I was learning to think like a killer from you. I survived the darkest days of my life because you were there for me in a way. I obsessed over your books so much that I stood in line that time that you had a book signing at Barnes and Nobles." she looked up at him to see his reaction. "You signed a copy of "In A Hail Of Bullets" for me." This was a part of her life that she swore Castle would never know about. She even told Sorensen, her ex-boyfriend that she would make sure Castle never knew about it. But that seemed moot and academic at this point.
"I don't remember..."
"It was a very long line. I waited over an hour to get to you. When I did, you were so tired I guess that you did not even bother to look up. You just asked for my name and signed it with a generic greeting."
He lifted her face towards his. "You mean I could have met you long before and I passed on it? It's official, I am an idiot." he joked. "Remind me to sign another copy for you when we get home." he kissed her softly.
Their tender moment was disturbed by the rumbling sound that suddenly came out of his tummy. They shared a laugh as they got out of bed and made their way to the silent butler filled with breakfast goodies.
xoxoxo
"Alexis, your father will be walking through that door any minute. You know how it get's when he spends time with Beckett." Martha was trying to convince Alexis to have some Chicken Risotto with her for lunch.
The young woman had spent a sleepless night waiting for her father and Beckett to do the walk of shame. But the sun had come and it seems it would again be gone without the pair making an appearance. He had not answered any of her text messages and all her calls were going to his voice mail. Alexis was in a near state of panic and was seriously considering calling Det. Ryan and having them searched for.
"Grams, they could be hurt. It's not like dad to be this irresponsible." she reasoned while she sat at the other side of the breakfast nook, watching her grandmother eat.
"Your father is a grown man, Beckett is a highly trained police officer. Don't worry yourself over nothing." she took a sip of wine as her granddaughter checked her cellphone once again.
"She is recovering from a bullet wound! Somebody tried to kill her! Since she lived, I am sure whoever it is will try to do it again and again until he succeeds. I don't want dad to be with her when that happens." Alexis' Castle imagination went into overdrive at the possible worst case scenarios the pair could be currently involved in.
"Alexis, you have obviously inherited your father's gift for jumping to conclusions. Now consider this, we know they went out on one of the few real dates either of them have had in a very long time. Last night was the first time they went out into the city as a couple. Everything is new to them. They need the time together without the distractions we cause. They are fine. Don't you think that if they were in any real trouble, somebody from the 12th would have called us already?"
"But grams!"
"Alexis, he is still your father. Do not try to run his life for him. Has he ever tried to tell you what to do with Ashley? Has he ever been a bad father? Has Beckett shown any reason for you not to trust that she won't protect him if they are caught in a situation? Let them be." Martha held up a hand to her granddaughter to signify that the talk was over. "Besides, you are leaving in January, you have made your choice of a life without your father. Let him find his own happiness without you. God knows he will need it after you leave."
The laughter of the couple entering the loft prevented an all out argument from breaking out between the grandmother and granddaughter.
"Finally! the new couple doing the walk of shame I see..." Martha joked as the couple came into view.
"Good afternoon Mother, Alexis." Castle nodded towards the family while he cuddled with Beckett where they stood.
"Dad! You couldn't have called?" Alexis' irritation was evident in the tone of her voice.
"I'm sorry honey, we got caught up and lost track." Castle replied as Beckett broke free and headed to the kitchen for a drink.
"I was worried dad. You know how I feel about you going around with Beckett these days. Don't you ever do that again! Both of you could have been killed! She can get you killed dad!"
"Alexis Castle! I will not have you talking to me that way. Do not forget your place in this house. I am the parent, you are the daughter. I have shown you leniency and freedom all these years. But I think you are over-doing it. You will apologize to Kate immediately." he reprimanded his daughter after seeing Kate turn ashen and look guilty upon hearing the verbal rampage.
Alexis stared at her father. He had never used such a harsh tone on her before. Neither had he ever lectured her and demanded that she apologize to any of his girlfriends in the past. If this was going to be their new family dynamic, she did not like it one bit.
"I'm going to stay over at Tina's tonight." she left in disgust.
"Alexis..." Beckett tried to stop her at the foot of the stairs. The three of them needed to talk and sort things out.
"Not now Beckett."
Castle walked over to Becket and hugged her from behind. "Don't let her get to you." he kissed her hair to reassure her that everything was going to work out for them. Beckett wasn't so sure.
xoxoxo
Lanie and the rest of the "family" arrived for their weekly get together bearing gifts of beer and pizza for the boys, and rented romantic comedy films for the girls to watch in Beckett's room. But before they could retreat to their specific areas, they got together for cocktails in the living room.
Ryan, Esposito, and Lanie had been nudging each other since they arrived, noticing almost immediately that something had changed between Beckett and Castle since they were last there. Castle seemed even more attentive of her now and Beckett no longer seemed annoyed by it. In fact, she seemed to revel in it. The brush of their hands when they accidentally touched, the eye contact when one walked away from the other, something was definitely up. Beckett, as Lanie had noticed but not voiced out, was glowing. Glowing...
Lanie and Beckett were in the kitchen getting the game card snacks for the guys ready before they headed up for their movie marathon and sleep-over. Martha had retired early to her room, disappointed and embarrassed by the scene that Alexis had made earlier.
"Girl, what's going on between you and hot stuff over there?" Lanie asked while Beckett got the microwave popcorn going.
"What? Nothing. What makes you think that?" Beckett tucker her stray hair behind her ear with her right hand, trying to buy herself some time before actually having to answer Lanie. Natalie Rhodes was right, she did use it as a delaying tactic.
"You're glowing Missy. So something must be... Oh, My God!" Lanie grabbed her friend's hand to get a better look at the ring. "That is one eye popping bauble you are wearing there. And," Lanie held the hand up to the light. "those diamonds are real! How did you... That is at least 6 carats you have got tucked in there... Hold on... The looks, the glow... You're together now aren't you?" she was getting excited. Her gut told her she was about to get an admission of truth.
"Lanie..."
"Just spill it Beckett. we've got a pool going at the office that I am going to win big time."
"Castle and I..."
Lanie grabbed her by the hand and ran into the game area with her. Beckett did not have to openly admit the obvious to her.
"Richard Castle! You did this!" the shoved Beckett's hand wearing the ring into his face.
"Ummm... Lanie..." Castle looked at Beckett, hoping to see some sort of clue as to what to do in her eyes. She had nothing.
It had not occurred to either of them that they would need to tell their precinct family about their relationship just yet. They both thought they had at least another month with which to enjoy the privacy of their relationship before having to tell Lanie and the others. Then again, everybody at the precinct already thought they had a relationship anyway. So any admission was just some sort of formality for those around them.
"Yo bro! How long have you been holding out on us?" Esposito smacked him on the back in a playful manner.
"What's going on?" Ryan asked. As usual, he was clueless and oblivious to what was right under his nose.
Cornered and left without any more excuses, Beckett did the only logical thing in the presence of their closest friends, she bent down and pulled Castle's head up for a passionate kiss.
"It's been 2 weeks today." she admitted after.
A flurry of questions and jokes followed.
"2 weeks, that's the whipped-anniversary." Esposito joked. Lanie threw him a glaring look. "Joking. Just joking babe."
"Remind me to show you what whipped actually means tomorrow night." she teased her boyfriend.
"Oh Castle's been whipped long before today." Ryan added.
"Uhm...hmm. We all knew it was coming. Just thought you'd break it to us formally instead."
"Sorry," Castle said "It happened at the Hamptons. When Beckett ended up back at the hospital.."
"What? What happened? And you did not call, text, or twitter any of us?" Lanie smacked Castle on the upside of his head.
Beckett instinctively massaged the area and held his head closer to her.
"Wow! Never seen that protective side before." Lanie teased.
"I guess things have changed now." Beckett beamed at them. "The only one with permission to smack him on any body part right now, is me." she winked at her friend in jest.
"Hey!" Castle turned his head to Beckett.
"What?" she popped her eyes at him to let him know it was just a joke.
"You are both forgiven. Just make sure to keep us in the loop next time. After all, we are family." Lanie looked at the ring once again and sighed.
"What? I got you a charm bracelet for Valentine's." Esposito sounded offended.
"Yeah, and my 5 year old niece called me to say she wanted her bracelet back."
"Bro... nice way to make me look bad."
Castle was about to say something in his defense when Lanie cut in.
"At least he knows how to treat a lady. "she waved her ring-less finger in front of Esposito. "Do you see anything on this finger? What? You too cheap for Mossanite?" They all knew Lanie was kidding but she just had to take a swipe at her boyfriend's lack of knowledge when it came to the kind of jewelry women really wanted.
"Ey! I earn a cop's salary." he defended.
"I know sweetie. I was just messing with you." Lanie kissed her guy on the cheek to soothe his obviously bruised ego. "You know I love you no matter what."
I think Lanie and iI should get to our movies before things get ugly." Becket lovingly squeezed Castle on the shoulder before leading Lanie out.
TBC
A/N: The story will take a serious turn from this point. It's going to lead to a big decision on Beckett's part and the eventual end of the story. Castle will be making some tough decisions as well. I apologize if the story has dragged on too long :-)