AN: Hi again, readers! Sorry this took me a while to update, I have been SWAMPED with assignments. And you're not going to like it, but this will be the last update for about two weeks while I finish off the semester. However, as soon as all of my assignments are done, I'm on break, so I can write A LOT MORE. *cheers*. And for those of you who've author-alerted me (thanks, by the way) expect another couple of my one-shots in a few weeks, I've had some in the works for a while now.
This is a happy chapter, I don't know if I love it as much as some of the others but oh well.
Also, question for you all. Do you like it when I use songs in my stories? (If you haven't read any of my one-shots you probably won't understand this but whatever!) Every song I seem to listen to at the moment makes me think of Castle and Beckett - maybe it's withdrawl symptoms, I don't know - and I want to see if you guys are interested in me putting in some more lyrics. Let me know :)
Okay, enjoy!
IBYL
xo
Disclaimer: I WOULD SELL MY SOUL TO OWN CASTLE. But since I still have a soul, I don't own them.
Saturday morning came and I smiled as I woke up. The poker match that Rick had planned was tonight, and even though it would only take two seconds for everyone to realise that we were living together, I was excited. A little bit nervous still, but excited. I was happy with Rick. Really, truly happy… and it would be really great to have a poker night with the people I considered my friends. My dad had unfortunately turned down the invitation as he was off fishing this weekend, but the rest of the usual suspects would be there – Esposito, Ryan, Lanie, Jenny and Martha. Old fashioned, tame fun – even Alexis was going to hang around for the night, although she said she might just watch a movie. We had breakfast together and bummed around the house, enjoying the time away from our usually hectic schedules. Rick got some writing done, Lex finished some homework, and I caught up on some old paperwork. It hit 4pm, and I came up with an idea to kill the last three hours before all of our friends were arriving. Alexis and I locked ourselves in the master bedroom and pampered each other, doing manicures and pedicures and chatting. We were laying on the bed reading a trashy magazine and laughing at some of the horrible photos. Alexis turned to me after a while and smiled brightly.
"Sometimes I forget that you're my Dad's girlfriend. Is that weird?" She asked.
"Not really. At least, it's not weird by my standards." I said matter-of-factly, and she chuckled.
"You just feel like a big sister. You have fun with me, and we get to hang out, but you'd still come and help me if I needed it."
"In a heartbeat." I confirmed, and she wrapped her arms around my waist.
"I love you, Kate. You're the best thing that's happened to me and my dad in years."
"I love you too, Alexis. And don't tell your dad this, but the pair of you are definitely the best thing that's happened to me in a very long time." She blushed a little and I smiled, kissing her forehead. "So since the folk from the precinct are pretty casual, I was thinking I'd just wear jeans and a sweater and then fancy it up a little. You in on that idea?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Sounds good. Meet you back here in 45 minutes? We'll have showers and then get ready." She said confidently, and I grinned.
"Deal. 45 minutes starting… NOW! Go go go!" I giggled before bolting into the bathroom, the sound of Lex's youthful laugh reverberating around the room.
45 minutes later and we were in the master bathroom, looking over the giant array of make-up that I had managed to gather over the years. Lex had brought in her basics as well, and we were poring over the pile intensely. I had elected to put on my favourite pair of jeans and a dark purple sweater, while Alexis had picked a pair of white skinny jeans and a baby blue sweater, and we were now agonising over our make-up. Alexis asked if I would help her, and I had a great time carefully applying her 'face', not that she needed it at all. I'd done my own make-up forever, so it was nice to have a new guinea-pig to share some of my tips with. I did my own make-up and we played with each other's hair for a while, before I grabbed a pair of my infamous power heels and Alexis slipped her delicate feet into some ballet flats and we headed into the lounge room. Rick had emerged from his study and organised the table for poker, as well as started putting snacks out for the people who would be arriving soon. He smiled brightly when we walked in, and he came and wrapped his arms around both of us.
"You both look gorgeous." He grinned, before letting us go. "Cuddle up!" He announced, before pulling out a camera. I wrapped my arms around Alexis and we grinned, and the camera flashed. Rick smiled brightly as the photo flashed on his camera's screen, but refused to show me. Alexis stole the camera and moved to stand in front of me, before pushing her dad to stand with me. He wrapped me up in a bear hug, and I grinned for the photo. Rick stole the camera back and smiled, before showing me the photo.
"We look happy." I said softly.
"Probably because we are." He smiled, before clicking a button and making the picture of Alexis and I flick onto the screen.
"Lex, this one is fantastic!" I said, and I meant it. It was a really great picture of the two of us. She came over to look at the camera and smiled.
"We photograph well." She noted, and I laughed. Just then, the doorbell rang, and I smiled.
"Shall I get it?" I asked with a wink, and Rick laughed. I wandered over to the door and flung it open to find a very impatient Lanie tapping her foot.
Lanie greeted Rick and Alexis gently, before letting her eyes flit around the room. She took in a few of my most important items, before squealing and pulling me into a hug.
"You are so living here. You've been holding out on me!" She said, and I laughed.
"Only since like, Wednesday, Lanie. That's not really holding out on you, is it?" She narrowed her eyes at me and I giggled.
"You can't kill me, there are children present." I said, sneaking a glance at a quietly giggling Alexis.
"Trust me girl, you are DAMN lucky that a child is present." She grumbled, before hugging me again. "Oh who am I kidding, I'm not that mad at you. Just show me around!" I smiled and led her around the house. We stopped in mine and Rick's room, and she sat on the bed.
"So when's the wedding?" She asked, and I coughed awkwardly.
"No wedding, Lanie. Not yet. I'm content now." I paused. "Does it sound stupid if I say I don't really want to risk it? We're together, we're happy, and that's what matters."
"If he proposed tomorrow, would you say yes?" She asked.
"Of course." I replied, without a second thought. Lanie just nodded softly, and I smiled.
"Come on, let's go get some food. We'll talk more later, ok?" She smiled and hugged me again.
"I really am happy for you, girl." She said.
"I know." I said, before taking her back into the lounge.
While I was showing Lanie around, Martha had arrived, and she greeted me with a hug and a whispered "welcome to the family", which made my heart swell. Our moment was interrupted by a knock at the door, and Esposito, Ryan and Jenny tumbled in.
"Well, well, well, the gang's all here." Rick drawled, and I laughed. Esposito grimaced, and Ryan shot me a strange look. They glanced at each other before Jenny came over to greet us, stopping in front of me.
"You're living here? Kevin didn't tell me!" She exclaimed, giving me a hug. Ryan's jaw dropped, and Esposito swore colourfully. Jenny pulled back from me, stunned.
"Kevin didn't know. Hence the reaction – they're detectives after all, they should have picked up on it." I grinned, and Jenny smiled. Ryan shook his head a little and Esposito just glanced around.
Ryan looked up, holding out his hand.
"God dammit, Beckett!" Esposito moaned, before passing over a $20 note.
"Surely you have learnt by now that you shouldn't be making bets on us. We're pretty unpredictable." I said, before Rick put his arm around me.
"Don't I know it." Esposito grimaced in our direction. "Are we playing poker or what?"
"Yeah, yeah, take a seat." Rick said, gesturing towards the table. The adults took their places at the table and began dealing out cards, while Alexis plonked herself on the couch with her laptop, taking some time to catch up with friends.
XXX
About an hour later, I gracefully bowed out of the poker match, after losing my entire pile of chips to a vicious Ryan and Esposito gang-up attack. I grinned and left the table, collapsing on the couch next to Alexis, and turned to face the table and look at Lanie, Jenny and Martha.
"Fancy making this a girl's night in? Leave the boys to the game and watch a movie with us?" Lanie and Jenny agreed, and split their chips between the boys, before standing up and joining Alexis and I. Martha stood but instead of moving to the couch, she moved to get her coat.
"Sorry, folks, but I have the after-show party of a friend to attend. I'm afraid I'm done for the night, but I'll be back soon. Richard, you can cook me dinner." She smiled and Rick nodded curtly, still focusing on the cards in front of him. I stood and walked her to the door, thanked her for coming and she left with a smile. I returned to the couch with some snacks and a couple of drinks, and placed myself between Lanie and Alexis. I looked up.
"What are we watching?"
"Love Actually."
"Ooh, sappy movie! I love it!" I said, earning me some queer looks from Ryan and Esposito, which I conveniently ignored. Lanie squished herself in next to me and leant her head on my shoulder, and Alexis did the same, while Jenny had stolen a seat in the cushy armchair. I wrapped my arm around Lex's shoulders and stroked her arm lightly, while laughing at the movie. Lanie was content on my shoulder, and we sat together for a while, transfixed. Esposito and Ryan excused themselves a little while later as they were on call for the next few days, with Jenny pulling herself out of the chair and following the boys. Rick smiled at the picture on the couch, and pulled out his camera to take a sneaky photo. The three of us grinned and he took the shot, before looking at Lanie.
"Can you please do me a favour?" He asked, and she shifted from her spot on my shoulder.
"You want a photo?"
"Yes please." He grinned, and took his seat next to me. I hooked my legs over his and tugged Alexis closer to me, and Lanie snapped the photo. She smiled at the display on the screen before handing it to me. Rick and Alexis craned their necks to look at the photo, and Alexis grinned widely.
"New family portrait." She said, before kissing my cheek and removing herself from the couch. "I'm going to bed, I'm exhausted. See you in the morning?" She asked, and Rick and I nodded. "Ok then, goodnight guys. Bye Lanie." She said gently, before flouncing up the stairs to her room. Lanie smiled before giving me a hug and bidding Rick and I farewell. He smiled at me.
"So everyone knows."
"Everyone knows." I confirmed with a nod.
"Nobody cares." He shrugged, and I laughed.
"Also true. They wouldn't be our friends if they did. They're not meant to care about us being together, they just have to be happy for us."
"You're right, you're right. Come on, it's late – and I don't know about you but I'm exhausted." He smiled and I nodded softly.
"Yep. Very tired." He grinned and pulled me into his arms, making me squeal, before taking me to bed – and although we were tired, sleep was still delayed a little further.
Reviews? Thanks loves! (Oh, and sorry I haven't been replying, it keeps coming up with an error when I try :( But the reviews from the last chapter were amazing and I love you all!)
