FINALLY! A new chapter is here. Sorry for the extremely long wait, I'll try to be more punctual next time. This chapter is not my favorite, but I hope you all still enjoy it!
How awesome was "Still"?!
It was their little secret. The tiny, new detail that had found its niche on Kate's left ring finger was a secret to everyone in the world except for the two bare lovers that lay in bed, wrapped around each other as sunlight pooled in through their bedroom window and illuminated the scene in a golden haze.
The moment was a perfect little bubble in which nothing but the two of them mattered. Castle was softly drawing patterns on his fiancée's back, writing the same word over and over again. "Always, always, always."
Kate's head was nestled in the crook of his neck; her arms hugged his body to keep him close. She smiled into his bare skin when she realized the word he was writing. There was no reason to move, she just let him do what he did best and relaxed.
Then her phone's alarm went off and the delicate little bubble burst. Kate lifted her head and rolled away from Castle to turn the alarm off with a sigh.
"Back to the real world," Castle whispered lovingly, despite the context of the words.
"But now I'm cold," she complained, flopping back on the pillows.
He chuckled and rolled out of bed, stood up and stretched out his back. "I'll make us some breakfast, why don't you shower?" he suggested. Castle leaned down to Kate and kissed her sweetly, but before she could deepen the kiss, he was gone, grabbing some clothes on the way out.
Kate sighed and lifted her left hand up, staring at the ring with disbelieving eyes. It was really happening; they were really starting on forever. She smiled to herself at this piece of knowledge as she got out of bed, a cold rush of air hitting her naked body. Shivering, she made her way to the shower to freshen up for the work day.
At eight thirty, the newly engaged couple set off to the Twelfth Precinct, opting to walk (it was a walk) but not killer (no pun intended). They held hands, which they did not normally do because of paparazzi photos and angry fans recognizing them on the street. Which meant that today, it was an especially big deal because of the recent events surrounding what they still believed was a fan of Castle's books. Nevertheless, about two blocks into their walk, Kate grabbed Castle's hand and did not let go.
"And you're certain about keeping it on?" Castle asked her once they were in the elevator on their way up to Homicide.
"It's not like people won't figure it out eventually," she replied. He looked at her with a small smile on his face and she looked back with a confused look. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
Castle shrugged and replied, "It's nothing. Just- you're always much more controlling and organized than this. It's nice to see you so relaxed and flow-y."
"Flow-y? Really Castle? Surely a writer could do better than that," Kate remarked dryly.
"Fine then, I guess a more correct word –but definitely not the right connotation- would be loose. You just seem totally comfortable with letting things pan out however they please right now. It's a refreshing change."
"Maybe I've just seen the light, or, the sparkle," Kate replied with a small smirk.
"Shameless," he told her in mock-disapproval with her reply being a chuckle.
In keeping with a tradition they started three years ago, Kate turned to her partner as the elevator neared its stop at the Homicide floor. She smiled as the writer wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her in for a slow kiss. He let go and backed a pace away when the elevator stopped moving.
The tradition had started because the couple could not be together at work. It was a promise for what was to come later in the day. Now, however, it was different. Everyone knew they were together, but Kate still sought out that pre-work kiss. It was a reassurance that Castle was still with her, and it made her feel safe before she stepped into the violent world of her job.
Dinging, the elevator broke the moment and they took that step over the little crack in the floor, crossing from their little world into the rest of the world's domain. This time was different though; this time they entered as engaged to be married. Now, all they had to do was wait for the rest of the world to figure out something had changed.
The murder the boys had caught the day before was the easiest Jack-shot-Jill-over-Bill they had ever had ("And another one for the Twelfth Precinct closure rate!" Esposito had remarked). By eleven, the confession had been signed and the case closed with all loose ends tied up.
Waiting for Ryan and Esposito to get back from escorting the killer downtown, Kate and Castle had spread out her case file in the break room and were pouring over it again and again. Every so often, one of them would glance at the engagement ring on Kate's slender finger and then look up and smile at the other.
First to break the comfortable silence, Kate commented, "I'm surprised nobody has noticed yet."
"Well," Castle replied, "There are a lot of other things they're focused on right now."
"Detectives should notice when details are changed," she told him.
Castle shrugged, but then thought about the comment Kate had made a little more. He turned to her with an impish grin on his face and twinkling eyes. Kate looked up at him and made a face.
"What?" she asked in usual Beckett-fashion.
"You want them to point it out! You want them to notice!" he exclaimed gleefully.
"So what if I do? I'm just happy about it, that's all. I want everyone to know."
"Then why don't you tell them?"
"I don't know, I just, want them to figure it out. Is that wrong?"
He smiled again. "It's fine, it's just refreshing for you to want people to notice something about your personal life without you revealing it on your clock, when you want it. I like when you let things unfold. You're doing that a lot today."
Kate smiled back at him. "Well, Castle, maybe it was just time for a change."
"And how does it feel?" he inquired.
She paused for a second and then replied, "Frustrating! How long does it take to notice someone is wearing a new engagement ring?"
Another voice interrupted the conversation. "Engagement ring?" Esposito repeated, coming into the break room with Ryan close behind.
Kate squared her shoulders and said, "Yes, Esposito, engagement ring."
"Whose engagement ring?" Ryan asked. The two of them actually looked bewildered and Kate could not believe it. Screw letting things unfold; she was going to tell them, and then Lanie, and Captain Gates, and her Dad, and everyone else important. And then she was going to show that son-of-a-bitch poisoner that she could re-build no matter how many apples he (or she) threw at her.
"Mine!" Kate told them (a little louder than intended), her voice showing its exasperation that nobody had figured it out yet. She surprised herself with her tone. I never realized being engaged was this exciting, she thought to herself.
It took but a second for Esposito and Ryan to put it together, but before they could say anything, Captain Gates poked her head in the doorway of the break room.
"Detective Beckett," she addressed, "Inside voice, please." The twinkle in her eye gave away that she was only joking and the other four people realized that she had probably heard more of the conversation than just the last line.
Kate smiled slightly, her face blushing a light hue of pink as she ducked her head.
"Congratulations," the Captain said warmly, eyeing the ring on her head Detective's left hand.
"Yeah, Beckett- and Castle," Esposito conceded happily, "Way to go!" Castle moved to wrap his arm around Kate's waist, beaming brighter than the sun.
"Wait," Ryan told them.
Kate and Castle looked at him intently. Did he object to them getting married? What?
"How are we going to tell the difference between you two after you get married? We can't call you both 'Castle,'" Ryan asked, completely serious.
Castle shrugged and suggested, "Girl Castle and Boy Castle?"
The others laughed at his joke and eventually Ryan did too. But soon, the atmosphere of laughter dissipated and it was back to more melancholy topics.
"Well, best get started on this case, everyone," Gates commanded lightly, straightening out her suit jacket.
"Yes, Sir," all replied. The clicking of heels gave warning that the Captain was once again on the move.
"We'll get a murder board in here," Esposito offered as he and Ryan started out of the room.
Kate nodded. "Thank you!"
Castle settled down in a chair with a sigh and Kate turned to him and smiled.
"You know," he remarked to her, "Girl Castle might not work for you."
"Why?" she asked her fiancé.
"When we have kids, for nine months we'd have to call you GirlGirl Castle or GirlBoy Castle," he joked.
She giggled and playfully slapped his arm. Only as they started mulling over the files once more did she realize what he had really said to her. He had said when. And if that was not optimism at its best, Kate did not know what was.
When. That word was not so scary. In fact, Kate was excited for the time when it was true.
Oooh! Reviews are welcome, I want to hear your opinions!
