Title: Falling Against My Will
Summary: So much to do but this chapter is a filler and no drama… the next chapter will have drama… you have been warned.
Disclaimer: Chapter One
Chapter Thirteen: So Much Love
They were all sitting around the table that evening the adults drinking coffee and Alexis drinking tea with dessert. Alexis smiled. "So Kate, everything is good now?"
Kate smiled. "Yes, but we all need to discuss a few things and this is a family input kind of thing. First we wanted to see if we could have your family over this Friday night Nick."
"I'll call my daughter in New Jersey tomorrow but Martha can call Sandra tonight, she needs to discuss her new commercial plus another audition that Martha set up for her."
Alexis smiled. "So when you and Gram get married that means dad will technically have two sisters and I'll have little cousins. I mean I know they may not look at us as family but maybe one day they'll feel that way."
Nick smiled. "They are all very anxious to meet all of you; Kim reads Cosmopolitan and has for years. She has the copy of the issue with Richard and Katherine when the first book came out. But she's not a fan girl like you talk about the ones at book signings, although she does have a signed copy of Heat Wave. She really just said she loves the premise of having an NYPD detective as inspiration for a book."
Alexis smiled at Kate. "Unlike you Kate who is a total fan girl of dad's."
Nick looked at Kate. "So you were a fan of Richard's before he started Nikki Heat?"
"Yes, my mother was actually the original Castle fan girl of the family and had all of his books. I used to go into her room and she would be reading, I had to yell to get her attention. So I went to a book signing with her and she was gushing over him but once we made eye contact that was it, I was hooked." She took a drink and laughed. "I still refused to read his books though; I just thought he was incredibly hot. Then when I was 19 my mother was murdered, I couldn't pull myself out of the depression that set in. One day I went in my parent's bedroom and saw a book she had been reading, a Castle book. I picked it up and started reading, I was beginning to heal. Then I started buying all of his books and even attended a book signing on my own, I was in love although I had a boyfriend at the time. Then we met and he was an ass, I was so disappointed. We worked together for a year and I was hooked again."
Martha smiled. "I'll never forget when he was writing the dedication for Heat Wave, poor guy was so upset and wrote down like 15 dedications. Finally I told him to use as few words as possible to tell her how he felt."
Alexis nodded. "He yelled out of the office, I've got it."
Kate smiled. "When I read the dedication I was about ready to cry, but then he was getting ready to be done with me and I honestly didn't want him to go. I felt heartbroken."
Castle smiled. "And here we are so many years later and you found out that you could fall back in love with me from when you were a fan girl."
Kate leaned over on him. "I never stopped loving you babe, there were just times I didn't like you very much. Now for what we have planned. This weekend dinner with the family, then on Wednesday we have the engagement formal announcement and reception, next Friday is the book launch. We had talked about getting married over the weekend but we are keeping the wedding date set for 4 weeks from now."
Alexis smiled and hugged Kate. "I'm so excited, you'll officially be my stepmom."
Kate smiled. "So now comes the time for requests and the first one is Alexis will you be my maid of honor?"
She jumped up and hugged Kate again. "No way, not Dr. Parish?"
"Lanie will be a bridesmaid but if your dad and I are getting married then our daughter should have a place of honor also. So will you?"
Alexis wiped the tears off of her face. "Yes, that means so much to me Kate."
Castle spoke up. "Now Nick I know the appropriate place for you to be at the wedding is with my mother in the place of my father, I mean you will be my step dad soon. But I would rather have you as my best man."
Martha looked at her son. "Darling what about the detectives?"
He smiled. "They will be up there with me too but number one I don't want to choose between them. Number 2, another guy I know was married and had his dad as best man and we've discussed it. We both agree that we want Nick up there with us as my best man."
Nick walked over and when Castle stood up he hugged him. "That means so much to me son, probably more than I can tell you. I would be honored to be your best man."
When the guys sat down Kate looked across the table at Martha. "For you Martha I have a special request. When I was little and fantasized about my wedding like little girls do, I always pictured my mother being there for the shopping and picking out everything with me. If you don't mind Martha, I would like you to help me with everything like that. You have filled a void in my life that I have had for years, after I met Rick you were always so great to me. You always went out of your way to make me feel welcome here, even in the beginning. So will you be there for me and help me with the wedding?"
Martha smiled and wiped a tear off of her face. "I would love to Katherine, ever since I met you I had hoped that one day you would end up with Richard. I never made it a secret that I didn't approve of his first two marriages or his lifestyle, but you changed him for the better. When he came home that day and sent me out shopping for you a dress for that charity ball, complete with your address to have it delivered. I knew you would look stunning in that dress."
Kate smiled. "That's why the necklace was down here instead of up in your room?"
"Yes I had planned to let you wear it. Of course now the card was all Richard's idea, he told me what to write on it."
Nick looked over at them. "What did the card say?"
Kate smiled. "Bibbidi- Bobbidi- Boo, it's from Cinderella. Then we get there and we have to walk the red carpet and people are yelling for Castle, there I am on his arm like I belong there. We go inside and I find out from the Mayor that he actually discussed me with people."
He smiled. "The only thing Bob said was that you were more beautiful than I said. Of course I discussed you, I mean I was writing about you but honey things were different back then."
Alex laughed. "Yes so different that Kate had breakfast with us a couple of days later."
Nick smiled. "So you've been coming around since early in the partnership?"
She nodded. "Oh yes, I believe it was maybe our 5th case together if that when I just showed up one night. It was just a couple of weeks later that I had breakfast here. I was here I guess more than what looked like just partners but we were friends too."
Nick nodded. "I'm always interested in these things, blame the playwright in me. How long did you have Richard following you around before you realized you were friends?"
Kate looked deep in thought and then she smiled. "He annoyed me like crazy and I fought to not have him there at all. But I would have to say it was maybe our second case, I mean he could be so darn sweet and then push my buttons at the same time. It was probably our second year working together I realized I was falling deeply in love with him but it was complicated. Then we had the small problem of his assorted girlfriends and my boyfriends, I actually broke up with a guy because I knew I was hurting Rick. Then Castle got back with his ex-wife for a brief time."
Martha laughed. "We thought it was never going to happen I mean it literally made us dizzy to watch these two run circles around each other. He would announce he was done and then run right back."
Alexis stood up. "Well I need to get to bed, I have a test tomorrow." She got up and hugged everyone but then turned around and looked at Kate. "Hey Kate, my blue pullover is dirty but I wanted to wear it with my sweater tomorrow in case I get hot. Do you have one here?"
Kate got up. "I have most of my clothes here now; I have one that would look perfect with your skirt and sweater for school."
Alexis and Kate came out of the bedroom laughing when Rick heard Alexis said. "I know why dad talks about your shoe addiction now." She got to the steps. "Goodnight Gram, gramps, mom and dad love you guys."
Kate turned around. "She called me mom." She walked over to Castle and put her arms around him and hugged him. "I do love that girl, plus I love her dad so much."
When they got back to the table and sat down Martha had a notebook out. "Okay now colors for the wedding?"
At the same time Kate and Castle spoke up. "Mauve and midnight blue."
Nick just looked at them like he was stunned. "I've heard Alexis talk about it but that is crazy."
She smiled. "We've been doing that since day one together; we are so in sync with each other."
Martha patted Kate's hand. "That just makes sex so much better darling."
Kate smiled at her future mother-in-law. "Oh Martha, you have no idea."
Martha spoke in her sing song voice. "Oh yes I do kiddo."
Nick cleared his throat and Rick spoke up. "Okay you two that is way too much sharing."
Kate shrugged. "You should be happy that I'm extremely satisfied Babe."
"I am but you don't have to share it with my parents, I don't want Alexis to share that stuff with me."
Kate smiled. "I do and I for one can't wait. Well let me rephrase that, I can wait because she is much too young, but I would be willing to listen if she wanted to talk about it with me and I would be thrilled to share that aspect of her life with her."
The precinct
Kate and Castle walked in the precinct early the next morning, Esposito looked up and smiled. "Hey Ryan look who came back."
Just about that time Captain Gates came out of her office. "Welcome back Mr. Castle, I assume the doctor said it was okay for you to be back?"
He nodded. "Yes sir, he actually said since I was going stir crazy at the loft this might be good for me."
Kate walked over to the Captain. "Can I talk to you for a minute sir?" Gates nodded and Kate followed her in the office.
Ryan looked over at the closed door. "What's that all about?"
Castle shrugged. "I have no clue."
Esposito looked over and smiled. "Well let's see, she's looking at the ring and nodding. So I guess now she knows you two are engaged."
Gates followed Kate out of the office and walked over to Castle, and then she put her hand out. "Congratulations on the engagement Mr. Castle, Detective Beckett just invited me to the engagement party and the wedding. I would be honored to attend both.
He nodded. "Thank you sir and of course we would love to have you attend the party and the wedding. Please bring your husband with you." She nodded as she walked back to her office.
Ryan looked at Kate. "What about policy?"
Kate smiled. "Rick's not technically an employee so she said we aren't messing with it because it works for the team. So where are we on this? Sorry I had to leave yesterday but Gates sent me home."
Esposito nodded. "She told us but we're just glad you guys made up. So Castle, you decide on a best man yet?"
He nodded. "Yes and I would love to have both of you standing up there as groomsmen, I asked Nick because he's going to be my stepdad soon and I want him to feel part of everything."
Ryan nodded. "Good choice bro and I'm sure I speak for Javi when I say we're honored to stand up there with you. So Beckett, you going to ask Lanie to be your maid of honor?"
"No, I asked Alexis. Like I told her our daughter should be standing with us." Then she leaned close like she was telling a secret. "She called me mom last night."
Castle stood up and looked around. "We didn't have time for breakfast this morning so I'm going to run out and get something for everyone." He kissed Kate on the head and left.
Esposito looked at Kate. "Why no time for breakfast Beckett?"
She smiled. "Well there are choices to be made and he let me choose."
Esposito shook his head. "Sorry I asked; do not share morning sex stories."
"Don't ask Espo if you don't want to know, I mean Martha didn't mind sharing that talk last night."
Ryan laughed. "Are you serious? Castle's mother sat and discussed your sex life with her son?"
"Yes and her sex life with Nick, I could tell because when she said it he got red and cleared his throat. That's when Castle shut us down from any further discussion."
Esposito rolled his chair closer. "So without getting too weird on us, what was this discussion you had with Ms. R?"
"Nick was talking about the two of us being so in sync with each other and she said that it makes sex better or something like that. I told her she had no idea and she said she did, that is when Nick got embarrassed."
Ryan laughed. "So you went from not wanting him around to being totally head over heels in love, what a story to tell your kids one day."
She laughed as she opened the file. "I'm marrying Richard Castle; I don't think stories for our children will be difficult. Now fill me in on what's going on with this case, what happened with the girlfriend?"
Ryan sat down at his desk and Kate turned around to face the so they could talk. "She had a rock solid alibi; no one is breaking that one. She was giving a guest lecture at NYU; it was recorded by NYU tech with time stamps."
Esposito spoke up. "Although she did say that her boyfriend had been acting funny lately. She mentioned strange phone calls he wouldn't explain, running out to secret meetings so she thought he was cheating on her until she found out he was murdered."
Kate nodded. "So did she mention anyone else that might have wanted to kill him and we need to check his phone records and financials?"
Ryan moved to his computer. "On it boss."
She nodded. "Did we ever get traffic cam footage from in front of his place?"
Esposito picked up his phone. "I'll check and see if we got it in yet then we can take a look at it."
Suddenly she felt a presence at her desk, she looked up to see Castle. He put a cup of coffee on her desk and a pastry bag. "Thanks babe, I am starving." She smiled when he sat a box of donuts down on Esposito's desk, so like him to think of others.
He smiled as he sat down. "I bet you'll choose differently next time."
She smiled and winked. "No we'll have to get up earlier so I can have both. No way I'm giving up morning sex for breakfast, you're nuts."
Ryan coughed and she looked back at him. "Beckett that is jumping way over the line of TMI."
Castle looked at her. "TMI?"
She laughed. "Too much information."
He laughed. "Try sitting at the table while she's discussing it with my parents, sometimes I do believe my mother and my fiancée talk to each other too much." He looked at Kate when he sat down. "So what can I do?"
She handed him a paper. "Transfer this to the murder board please?"
Suddenly Gates came out of her office and after getting coffee came by Esposito's desk and saw the box of donuts. "May I detective?"
He nodded. "Help yourself sir, Castle brought them in so we don't starve."
She turned to Castle who was already working on the murder board. "Thank you Mr. Castle." She looked at Beckett. "He brings donuts and helps out with the work now; I think we'll keep him around."
Kate saw him smile but he didn't comment so she did. "Well until we have a baby of course, he might have to stay home when that happens. He's good at raising the children and if I'm going to work then I guess our baby will have to be home with daddy."
She looked up to see Gates smiling but all three of them men were just looking at her and Castle looked like he was ready to faint. "Really guys? I'm not pregnant yet."
Gates laughed as she walked back to her office. "Way to keep them on their toes Beckett."
TBC