a.n. This one got away from me and went places that weren't planned, but I think that it works better than what was originally in the outline (not that there's an outline that is intact anymore).

Big, GIANT, thanks to Her Pegship who continues to take these ramblings and make them readable. Check out her profile here on Ffnet and read her Castle stuff. It's great, you won't regret it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle, like not even a little.

-:::-

February 15, 2010

The dinner with her dad and new step mom had gone well, outside of a few awkward moments. She wasn't ever going to be close to Elizabeth Beckett (whose name she would always cringe over), but she could be cordial with the woman. Her melancholy thoughts while watching them together had stuck with her over the last few days. Even a trip with Lanie for drinks hadn't really snapped her out of it.

Luckily she found herself at the Rodger's doorstep for a nice day with her son. He would cheer her up, he always did.

"Kate!" Alex shouted happily when he opened the door. "Are we really going to go play laser tag?"

"Yeah, got your gear?"

"Yup! Dad has my bag packed. Let me go get it. You can come in if you want." With that Alex trotted off to gather his things, leaving Kate standing awkwardly at the door to the Rick's loft. She didn't really feel welcome enough to actually go into Rick's loft without his permission, so she stayed put. The man himself showed up just a few seconds after Alex disappeared up the staircase.

"Hey Kate. You're making his day by taking him out for laser tag."

"He told me you guys play here at the loft. I thought it might be fun."

Rick smiled. "I'm sure you'll have a good time."

The two settled into their usual awkward silence, neither having much to say to the other. Kate didn't know what to say. How could she repair the friendship they once had? It seemed impossible.

"How...how's your writing going?" she asked finally, just to break the silence.

"Good. I've started the next Storm novel, and," he trailed off while running his hands through his hair. He had always done that when he was hiding something, but Kate didn't feel comfortable pressing him on the issue, though she was curious as to what he could be hiding about his writing. Maybe it wasn't going well and he was just playing off his writer's block as not a big deal? "And, I've kind of started to write a new character. I've never done two story lines at once before, so it's a new experience."

"What's the second character?" Kate asked, her voice laced with curiosity. She had always been a fan of his work, and their time apart had not changed that at all. She had been so proud when he'd gotten published that she'd almost called him, but she'd chickened out at the last minute. She regretted her cowardice now, years later, as she could have met her son that much sooner if she had only made that phone call.

"I...uh...well I'm not really comfortable talking about it yet. I guess I shouldn't have brought it up."

Kate was really curious now, but she wasn't able to press any more because Alex came flying down the stairs with a Star Wars backpack on his back.

"Kate! Are you ready to go?"

"Yup! Let's go. Then I'll show you how to make sure you never lose to your dad in laser tag ever again!"

Mother and son laughed evilly on their way to the elevator. Alex threw a "'bye Dad," over his shoulder, and the two of them were on their way.

-:::-

The room was pitch black and the space was silent. The man sat completely still, pondering his predicament, wondering how he was going to get himself out of the bonds that kept him in the chair. His captors were unknown to him, though he knew there was more than one. He'd been in tight spots before, but this was new. He didn't know how they'd gotten the drop on him, but he knew that if he wanted to make it out alive, he'd have to get out of this chair quickly and without making any noise that could draw attention to him.

The man experimentally tugged at the tape that was holding his hands to the arms of the chair, but there was very little give, and he knew that without something sharp, he wouldn't be able to break through quickly or silently.

Sound flooded the small space he had been left in as at least two people entered the room on the other side of the door.

Rick cursed. He knew he was going to have to ask for help. Why he had to do this in the closet of all places, even he didn't know. Now he was going to look like an idiot. Not that it was the first time he'd been made the fool in front of his son.

Still, a big grin spread over his face as he imagined the look on Kate's face when she saw his current predicament. Or, rather, the grin would have spread across his face if it weren't for the duct tape that he'd applied to his mouth. Idiot.

"Dad! Where are you?" Rick heard Alex call out. The boy sounded very happy, which was unsurprising. His son was a laser tag ninja. No doubt that he had beaten Kate's NYPD blue socks off.

Rick made as much noise as possible, shouting through the duct tape, and rocking the chair back and forth, causing it to crash into the side walls of the small closet.

"Did he say he was going out somewhere?" he heard Kate say on the other side of the closet door. Apparently she'd taken a few steps into the loft. Rick made some more noise, which got her attention.

"Alex? Is there a reason why your dad would be in the coat closet?"

Rick could hear Alex groan as the boy walked closer to the closet. It wasn't long before the door to the small room where they kept their winter coats was thrown open.

"Rick! What happened? Did someone do this to you? Do I need to call 911?"

"Kate, don't - it's okay. He did this to himself."

Kate looked down at Alex, a shocked expression crossing her lovely features. Then a giggle slipped out. Then another. Before long Kate Beckett was almost rolling around on the floor, her whole body shaking with hysterical laughter. Alex, the little traitor, just joined in, laughing right along with her, neither one apparently caring that Rick was tied to a chair in a closet, or that he really had to pee.

He would get them back for this betrayal, even if it was the last thing he ever did.

-:::-

By the time the two had calmed down (and Kate had taken several pictures with her iPhone) and freed him, Rick was in desperate need for the toilet. He pushed rudely past the two giggling traitors and flew towards the downstairs bathroom.

When he was done he came out to find Kate and Alex hanging around the kitchen island, talking quietly.

"So, did the two of you have a good time at laser tag?" Rick asked, trying to make sure that the conversation moved beyond his embarrassing attempt at research.

"Yeah, dad, it was awesome. Kate's really good. She taught me a few moves that I can't wait to try on you."

Rick narrowed his eyes, "I don't think that those moves will help you, bud, I'll still wipe the floor with you."

His son scoffed. "You wish." Alex turned to Kate and asked, "Kate, do you want to stay for dinner?"

Rick froze. That was not part of the plan. He hadn't explicitly said anything to Alex, but he'd hoped that he wouldn't have to spend much time with Kate in any social setting. Just a few moments here and there were about all he could handle. There would always be a part of him that would want to get down on his knees and beg her to take him back, and he knew that the best way to keep that part of him at bay was to spend as little time in her presence as possible.

Kate looked at Rick, noticing his stiff posture. She would have agreed in a heartbeat if she hadn't seen the panic in Rick's eyes. She would have loved to spend more time with theirson. They'd had a wonderful day filled with laughter and fun, and she wasn't quite ready for it to end. But she wouldn't stick around if it made Rick so uncomfortable.

"Ah, I'm sorry, sweetie, but I've got to go home and get some work done around my apartment. Maybe next time."

"Aw, please? Dad doesn't care, do you, dad?" Alex turned his puppy dog eyes onto his father, knowing full well that Rick could never say no to the big blue eyes that were so much like his own.

Before he could stop himself, Rick answered, "Sure, bud. If Kate wants to stay for dinner, I don't mind."

What the hell? How was he going to spend more than an hour in the presence of Kate Beckett? He knew that their time together would be awkward, but he would endure. It could be worse, Rick thought as he started to make his way towards the kitchen, my mother could be here as well.

-:::-

a.n. The dinner is next chapter. This right here, folks, is the beginning of Caskett. It won't happen fast, but from the smallest seed a mighty trunk shall grow, or something like that. I know I've been teasing a meeting with a friend of Kate's for two chapters now, but that's going to have to be pushed back. The characters apparently wanted to have dinner first.

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