Chapter 25

When Castle and Beckett met Sheriff Mercer at the front doors of the precinct, he was with a pleasant looking woman who was several inches shorter than Kate and probably twenty pounds heavier. She seemed very confident of herself and had a twinkle in her eye and a ready smile, and she brought a smile to their faces before she ever said a word.

"You must be Mrs. Mercer," Castle said and shook her hand. "It's good to meet you."

"Mercer didn't make all this up," she said with a big smile. "It's a real pleasure to meet you, Mr. Castle. "I've read all of your books, and they always leave me wanting more."

He turned to Kate without releasing Mrs. Mercer's hand. "Take note, Detective Beckett. This is the way to treat a writer." He patted the older woman's hand before releasing it.

Beckett gave him a smirk and an eye roll. "She doesn't have to work with you every day. It's like parents say about grandchildren…she can feed your ego and then give you back. I don't have that luxury." Extending her hand in greeting, she smiled and said," I'm Kate Beckett, Mrs. Mercer. It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Eleanor, Ms. Beckett. I had guessed that's who you are. Mercer couldn't stop talking about how good the two of you were at your jobs."

"And I'm Kate. He certainly made it easier for us, so this is an appreciation dinner in return. Castle has an SUV, so there's room in the back for your luggage. If we get it from your car now, we can drop you at your hotel later, and you won't have to worry about parking.

"Or the safety of your cruiser on the New York Streets," Castle added, enjoying the way Kate was aiding and abetting his plan. "What do you think?"

Eleanor certainly had her mind made up. "Well, don't just stand there, Mercer. Let's get the bags and get this show on the road. We don't get down here that often."

Castle and Beckett both grinned when the sheriff shook his head and said, "See how she abuses me?"

"Mercer and I will get the bags," Castle volunteered.

"If you'll give me the keys, I'll take Eleanor to your car," Kate offered as they left the building.

"As long as you intend to give them back instead of insisting on driving," he said, taking the keys from his pocket and holding them against his chest until he got a promise.

"Promise," Beckett answered and snatched the keys when he held them out.

"Oh, he's just as cute as his pictures," Eleanor said as she and Kate crossed the street. "Is he always this nice to people?"

"Usually. He's a good guy. A goofball, but a good guy."

"You like him. I can tell."

Uh-oh. Dangerous territory already. "Best friend I've ever had. Best partner I've ever had."

"Here it is." Kate used the remote to unlock the doors and opened one for Eleanor. "How long has it been since you were in the city?" Kate asked as the other woman got herself settled.

"Must have been ten years. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. We have to be back home for a wedding Sunday afternoon, so we'll probably head back home tomorrow after supper."

"I hope you enjoy your trip. It's nice to get away now and then." Looking out the window, she said, "I think I see them coming."

Castle had taken the larger bag and left the smaller one for the sheriff. She could see them talking amiably as they walked toward the car. She used the remote again to open the door in the back and then, keeping her promise, put the key in the ignition.

"Do the two of you argue often about who's going to drive?" Eleanor asked, amused.

"He started out wanting me to let him drive the Crown Vic. It's a police car, and he's a civilian. Despite the fact that he feels like part of the force to most of us now, he's still a civilian. After four years, it's become a running joke."

"I see."

"How long have you and Sheriff Mercer been married?"

"Thirty years," she said.

"That's a long time."

"Not so long when you're married to your best friend," she answered with a mischievous smile.

Kate was saved from responding to that pointed comment when the men put the bags in the back and Sheriff Mercer told his wife Castle thought she had brought along her rock collection.

"I said no such thing, Eleanor," Castle protested before he noticed Beckett pointing out the keys.

"Keys…passenger seat," she said with accompanying finger pointing.

"Will wonders never cease?" Castle remarked in mock amazement and started the engine.

As he pulled out of the parking space, Beckett asked, "Did you let Alexis know you wouldn't be home until later?"

"I called her on a coffee break."

"Is Alexis your wife?" the sheriff asked.

"My daughter," Castle explained.

Beckett thought she caught a fleeting looks of concern and then relief on Eleanor's face when a wife was mentioned. She was feeling a hint of matchmaker from that direction. Too bad she didn't feel she could tell Eleanor that she was too late for matchmaking.

"How old is she?" Eleanor asked.

"Just reached eighteen."

During the short trip to a restaurant near The Old Haunt, they talked about children and grandchildren.

"Dinner was at a restaurant with a varied menu, since Castle didn't know what they might want. The four of them talked about a little of everything and laughed a lot. The sheriff and his wife teased each other and bantered back and forth, and both Castle and Beckett could see a little of themselves in Eleanor and Mercer. When they had finished their meals and had been sitting at the table talking for another half hour, Castle suggested that they move the conversation to The Old Haunt. "I know the owner," he told them, "and he won't care if we monopolize a table for a while. The other two detectives on our team wanted to come by and meet you, too. They should be there by now."

The check had already been taken care of, so they left and walked the two blocks to the bar, where Ryan and Esposito were waiting. When they walked in and the bartender looked at Castle and said, "Hey, boss," Eleanor and Mercer understood the remark about knowing the owner. After introductions, drinks were ordered, and the boys found the older couple as easy to talk to as Beckett and Castle had. In short order, they were all having fun swapping stories about stupid criminals.

Finally, Sheriff Mercer said, "We should be getting to our hotel. I'm not as young as I used to be, and I don't think she's ever gonna slow down. I'm gonna need some rest before tomorrow.

"The car is about halfway between here and the restaurant, Mercer," Castle told him. "That shouldn't wear you down too much."

"It's been a pleasure, gentlemen," Eleanor said to Ryan and Esposito.

"Sure has," the sheriff agreed, reaching to shake hands with each of them. "If you're ever up our way, stop by.

The boys nodded their understanding, and the other four left together. Ryan looked at Esposito. "You get the feeling that's the small town version of Castle and Beckett in another twenty years?"

"Could be," he answered.

xxxxx

Reaching the hotel, Castle pulled in next to the front door and got out to say good-bye. He shook hands with the sheriff, gave Eleanor a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and wished them a good visit to New York and a safe trip home, and told them not to be surprised if a couple of characters similar to them turned up in a book one day.

Beckett gave Eleanor a hug, during which she heard a whispered reminder that marrying your best friend usually works out well. Then she shook hands with the sheriff, thought again and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

When the four of them walked away in their own directions, Castle and Beckett laughed as they heard Eleanor say excitedly…partly for their benefit, they were sure…"Richard Castle kissed my cheek."

Mercer pretended to be insulted. "I kiss your cheek all the time. How come you don't get excited about that? Won't bother me, though. A good looking woman kissed mine."

Castle and Beckett turned back in time to see Eleanor swat the sheriff's arm as they entered the door smiling at one another.

xxxxx

When they reached Beckett's apartment, they instantly dropped their work personas in favor of Rick and Kate and kisses and holding and wandering hands.

Rick looked down at Kate longingly and said, "When we grow up, I want us to be them. They still love each other, but they still like each other, too. They like doing things together, laughing together, loving their children. I want that to be us, Kate. That's what 'always' looks like to me."

"Me, too."

"Really?"

"I'm learning, and it doesn't look as complicated as it used to."

He held her tighter, his dreams so close to happening he could barely believe it.

"Will you stay for a while?" When he hesitated, she asked "What?"

"It isn't that I don't… Not for that. Not here."

"Why not? You stayed with me once before."

"That was different. I was just taking care of you then. Our bed is at the loft. I don't want a trace of anybody else in my head when I make love to you. I want all your attention on me…all my attention on you. I'm not sure either of us can do that here."

"And there are traces of somebody else here?"

"I don't mean to sound… Sometimes I…"

"It's okay, Rick. I understand. I'm good with just us. Knowing how much it meant to me for you to make your bed no one's but ours, I should have thought…"

Can I pick you up tomorrow afternoon? Maybe talk for a while?"

"Call me in the morning. Tell me when." She walked him to the door. "Tonight was fun. Thanks for doing that for them."

"What's the good of having too much money if you don't make somebody happy with it now and then?"

"I love you, Richard Castle. I think three quarters of you must be heart."

"I love you, too, Katherine Beckett." He kissed her again and then went home to spend some time with his daughter. He wanted to hear her version of bonding with Kate that morning.

xxxxx

Rick called on Saturday morning and arranged to pick Kate up at ten. He told her to dress for comfort and to bring a jacket. They were going to the house in the Hamptons. He had driven the Ferrari to meet her, and, with a big grin, she held her hand out for the keys. After handing them over, he smiled at the look of satisfaction on her face when she got behind the wheel. "I'll navigate," he told her and got in on the passenger side.

Arriving there, Kate was amazed at the size of the house. It looked a lot showier than what Rick usually wanted…at least the Rick she knew…except for the post second divorce Ferrari, of course. It was a beautiful place…close enough to see neighbors, but separated enough for a some privacy.

She pulled into the driveway, and he used the remote to open the garage doors, and closed them after they were in.

"Come on," he said, taking her hand, "You're going to love the view from the back of the house."

The inside of this house was almost as open as the loft. Light poured in from sliding doors and tall windows that offered a panoramic view of the ocean.

"Oh…Rick. It's breathtaking." She was moving toward the doors as if being pulled.

Rick opened a sliding door, and they breathed in the smell of beach as they walked out and turned their faces into the ocean breeze.

"Alexis must have loved it here when she was little."

He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle. "Many a sand castle has washed into the ocean from that little strip of beach down there," he said, pointing. A lot of chasing and playing in the waves. Lots of good memories. A few bad ones. Life doesn't deal all aces.

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"No. I've purged old memories from here, too. Redecorated my room here…everything replaced. Anything in the house with memories of past wives is gone, except a couple of small things that meant something to Alexis. Those are in her room. It's all been repainted…needed that, anyway. We can make this ours, too."

"You know you can talk to, though. Right? Even if I'm jealous, I can be reasonable now."

"I know. And some day, I might need to, but not now. Let's make today about us."

"Just us sounds like a fine idea," she answered, leaning back against him with a satisfied sigh.

"Want to walk down the beach?"

"Yeah. Come on."

She took his hand and they walked across the concrete area near the pool and across the sand down closer to the water. Arms around waists, they walked down the firm sand, dodging a wayward wave now and then, enjoying the scene before them and each other, the breeze from behind them whipping her hair into both their faces. There was no need for talk. Being close was enough.

"It's like another world here," Kate said, breaking a prolonged silence. "It almost feels like the city doesn't even exist."

"Nice, isn't it?"

"Mmmhmm."

"We've done a lot of walking. Maybe we should turn back."

They did turn back, and it seemed easier now that the wind was blowing her hair away from her face. "Show me where your house is."

"That tiny little dot way down there." He pointed, stretching his arm way out."

She laughed and teased, "It isn't that far, old man."

"I haven't heard you complaining about the old man," he challenged.

"You're holding up pretty well for an old guy," she said flirtatiously.

"I had the cleaning service come in last week and get the place in shape for habitation. Our room is available if you want to see if the old man can still meet the challenge."

"Ulterior motives again?"

"Partly," he said with a smile. "I'm a guy. It's always drifting around in my head somewhere. But I wanted time for us to talk, too."

"We're alone now. Talk to me. I can't imagine that we'll ever be more relaxed. You set that up pretty well, too. I've gotta hand it to you. The old man is good."

He gave her a broad smile and pulled her closer. "Where are we, Kate? Are you happy? Are we working the way you need us to? I don't ever want you to feel trapped into something you don't want or something you aren't ready for. You have to be honest with me."

She stopped and faced him and looked him firmly in the eyes. "I don't feel the least bit trapped. I feel happier and freer than I can ever remember. It didn't happen all at once. You and your family just slowly edged your way in and gave me what I finally admit that I need. It still scares me a little bit, but for the life of me, I can't remember why."

"I love you…so much. You really mean that?"

She stood on tip-toe and kissed him. "Have you ever known me to say such things if I don't mean them?"

"No." He put his arm around her shoulders and started walking again.

They walked farther toward the house without talking, faces swept by the stiff breeze, now and then peppered with salt spray from the surf, dodging waves and laughing, then moving closer together again like magnets. As they came closer to the house, Rick broke the silence.

"After I ask you…what kind of wedding do you want?"

"Rick…"

"Hypothetically. Not trying to scare you off. Hypothetically…do you want a big wedding?"

"I don't think so."

"If you want a big wedding, you need to be sure. Those things demand a lot of planning."

"I'm afraid if we're married, Gates won't want us working together."

"Oooooo…a secret wedding. We don't tell anybody." He had that story spinning sound in his voice and the telltale twinkle in his eyes. She could imagine the plot bunnies hopping around in his mind.

"You think we could keep that out of the press?" she smirked. "Even with a smallish wedding, I can see it now. 'Richard Castle marries Nikki Heat.'"

"It's hypothetical. We can have a secret wedding if we want to" he said, defending his position.

"Okay. A secret wedding…like eloping and getting married in Mexico or something?"

"No. It needs to be with family. We can't leave any of them out."

"So family and friends? Your poker playing, writer buddies, the Mayor, a couple of judges. No secrets there. The press will follow at least one of them."

"Real family and work family. They can keep their mouths shut."

"So we get married, but we can't tell anybody? It looks like I just moved in?"

"Only long enough that we can prove to Gates that we can keep it out of the job and still work effectively together. She wouldn't like it, but I'm a civilian; maybe we can skirt the rules a little bit. Then we let Black Pawn announce that it's been a done deal for however long and tell whoever they want to." Up to that point he was still spinning a plot, but then he looked thoughtful and more serious.

"I don't want you to be a live-in girlfriend, Kate. I want a wife…a lifetime partner…a commitment. I want somebody who would have loved me before I became Richard Castle. I can be myself with you…know that who I am, without the money and the image, is enough. The word 'girlfriend' never applied to you. I think I went straight from wanting you in my bed to suddenly knowing you were worth waiting for. It caught me by surprise, but I knew you were my always."

"I just wish I had been bright enough to…"

"Maybe it wasn't the right time then…but maybe it is now?"

They were still walking. Kate wasn't quite ready to talk about real weddings, but this hypothetical one was allowing her to stay involved.

"So, hypothetically, we have a wedding with family and work family. How do we put together even something that small without somebody spilling the beans somewhere?"

"Ah…Kate, you forget. I always know a guy…"

"And all the guy's guys can keep quiet?"

"I'm a good friend when you need one, Kate. They all know I won't lie for them, but I'll stand with them otherwise when they need it. I take care of them, and they take care of me. I pay them well, and I treat them with respect. Nothing illegal happens, though. I wouldn't put you or my family in that place."

"I believe you," she answered, and found that she did…a hundred per cent. Looking thoughtful, she asked "So…hypothetically…we could actually get away with that…no publicity?"

"I've told you I know people. Private showings of what we need. I'm a writer. Believable cover stories for seeing people. Like you said, the old man is good. Think about weddings, Kate. We're getting close to our decision date. We'll do whatever you want."

"I want you to be happy with it, too."

Rick smiled, hopeful at the lack of hypothetical pretense in that statement. "I've done this before…badly. You can be in charge of this one. As far as I'm concerned, it's going to be your one and done."

They were turning to cross the sandy area behind the house, and wedding plans were sounding a little more real than they had farther down the beach. Kate needed an out. She needed to be closer to Rick than she could be out in the open, and she could see when he looked at her the last time that he wanted the same thing.

"We're back, Grandpa," she teased.

"Let's go show you what Grandpa can still do."

"I'm gonna go find our bed. Think you can keep up?" She ran up the steps, pulled open the sliding door, and ran up the stairs, opening doors as she reached the second floor, looking for the biggest room. She knew that would be his.

Rick was right behind her and grabbed her hand to pull her into their room. He already thought of the room that way. The jackets came off first, then the shirts. Their faces and hands were still cool from the wind, and cool hands strayed across warm, just uncovered, bare skin. He grabbed the edge of the covers and threw them to the foot of the bed then went back to the more important task of getting his hands and lips back to Kate…and getting them both out of those pesky clothes.

They spent the rest of the afternoon cocooned under soft covers, enjoying being alone without threat of interruption.

Around dusk, they reluctantly left, and Rick drove them back to the city. They went to the loft for a while to spend time with Alexis and Martha before Kate again insisted on getting herself home.

'Who was she kidding?' Kate thought on the taxi ride back. She had just left home. She was going back to her apartment now. She had some thinking to do. Next time he wanted to talk, she'd have answers.