Still Here – Chapter 25

Was she going to panic? No. Not her. Kate Beckett did not panic. Not when she had made a show of things, promising she was going to handle it since he'd put so much work into it already.

Alright… so maybe she'd bit off more than she could chew. Planning this wedding was a lot more stressful than she had thought it would be. Thankfully, though, Castle had gotten enough done while they still had Gloria DeGrass in their employment. So, it was not as difficult as it could have been. And it helped that Alexis was very enthusiastic and thrilled to assist her when Beckett asked the teen for help.

The first thing on her to-do list was the engagement announcement and photo. She left the announcement to Castle, well the writing portion, she'd have to read and approve it before he handed it over to Paula to be posted on his website or given to the papers… whatever it was that had to be done to announce to the world that the white whale (as she had overheard a woman call Castle once) was now, officially, off the market.

Beckett had not been lying to Gloria when she had said she didn't feel the need to hide her pregnancy, but she wasn't completely ready to share that bit of news with the world. And Castle agreed. So, she didn't feel like much of a hypocrite when she started looking for photos of Castle and her (sans baby bump).

Presently, Beckett sat on the floor besides the coffee table in the living room, the photos arrayed haphazardly across the flat surface. She stared at them, still in somewhat stunned by the quantity. She had a few pictures of her own that she had taken once they had gotten together, but some of those were a little too intimate (i.e. either he or she or both, were naked).

So, Beckett had asked all their friends for photos they might have, expecting maybe one or two from each.

But that's not what she got. She had been totally surprised by the amount of photos that Esposito, Ryan, and even Captain Montgomery, had taken of her and Castle. Some of them had clearly been taken with subterfuge or at odd angles (to hide the fact they were taking the picture). Those three had surprised her with their photos. But from Lanie… no… she was not surprised there. Her friend from the medical examiner's office had over a hundred photos of the detective and the writer.

As Beckett looked through Lanie's stack of photos, she wondered when and where some of them had been taken, because she could not remember Lanie holding up her phone or a camera to take them, yet here they were, looking so professional that she was seriously considering asking her maid-of-honor to also take the official bride and groom portrait after the wedding.

"I got you some hot cocoa."

Her head darted up, and she involuntarily jumped. Looking up, she found the red-haired teen smiling down at her.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Alexis said, joining Beckett on the floor and putting the two mugs of hot cocoa on coasters.

Beckett reached for hers and wrapped her fingers around the warm ceramic of the mug. She held the lip of the cup just under her nose and she inhaled the rich aroma. It made her smile. It smelled like home. Tentatively blowing on the hot liquid, she took her first sip and gave Alexis a thankful nod.

"Thanks, Alexis, I really needed this," she said, running her tongue along her bottom lip to catch a stray droplet of hot cocoa from escaping.

Alexis nodded. "I thought you could use a break."

"Yes, I did," Beckett raised her eyebrows. "Who would have thought that all our friends would have taken so many photos of us?"

"Well, you two were rather obvious," Alexis said, cocking her head and grinning with a smile that Beckett attributed as a genetic heritage from the girl's father.

"Everyone says that," Beckett shook her head, marveled by it all. "But these," she gestured to the photos. "Some of these are from before your dad and me started dating."

"When I said you two were obvious, I was talking about before," Alexis elaborated, blowing across the lip of her mug. "I mean, look at those pictures… you can already tell by the way you two look at each other when you think the other's not looking."

Beckett scanned through the photos and reluctantly nodded, conceding Alexis's point. "True enough," she said, grinning with the memories of all their time together… the happy times, at least. "Your father is rather adorable."

"Um… yeah," Alexis furrowed her brow. "Just… just don't go calling him sexy or hot around me."

Beckett had to stifle her laugh, least hot cocoa come spraying out of her nostrils. She held it in and swallowed, and then, when it was safe, she let loose and laughed long and hard. Alexis looked bemused, but also a little worried.

"You're not, are you?"

"What?" Beckett sucked in a breath, coming back down from her laugh.

"Going to talk about how my dad's sexy and… uh… hot?" Alexis hesitantly questioned.

"No," she answered, watching as the girl sighed in relief. "But he does have a nice butt."

Alexis quite literally almost spit out her mouthful of hot cocoa. The teen looked at Beckett as the detective tried to hold back her amusement. Finally gaining her composure, Alexis shook her head.

"I think you spend way too much time with my dad," she said.

"Maybe," Beckett offered with a nod, and took another sip before placing the mug back down on the coaster.

A brief silence—a comfortable one, not awkward—descended on them as Beckett turned her attention back to the scattered photos on the coffee table. She could still not believe that it would be so difficult to pick out the perfect picture to represent her and Castle for an engagement announcement.

"Hey," Alexis chirped up, leaning over to the table and reaching for a stack on the other side. "Any good ones in this stack?"

"NO!" Beckett spoke loudly and quickly, reaching out and snatching the stack of photos before Alexis could get them. "You don't want to look at these… trust me."

Alexis made a face and shuddered. "Oh, believe me… I won't," she said, forcing out a little laugh.

Just then, Castle came strolling out of his office, a printout in his hand. He smiled, catching sight of his daughter and future wife sitting on the floor before the coffee table in the living room with photos of them all over the place.

"Hello, you two," he beamed, and knelt down to plant a kiss on Alexis's head, and then leaned down to give a quick chaste kiss to his fiancée. "Find anything good yet?"

"Dad, I think you should take this pile and hide it somewhere… maybe in your safe," Alexis said, gesturing to the photos in Beckett's hand.

Castle raised his eyebrows quizzically, and glanced towards Beckett for an explanation. She silently mouthed "intimate photos." His eyes grew wide and he nodded, taking the photos and holding them as far away from his daughter as possible.

"What do you got there?" Beckett asked, nodding her head to his other hand.

"The announcement," he said. "Ready for your approval, dear."

"Don't call me, dear," Beckett snapped playfully. "I'm not going to be your kept woman."

"Did I say that?" Castle chuckled, glancing down at Alexis before handing the printout to Beckett.

"No," Beckett replied. "But you've implied it quite a few times."

She smirked as he made a wounded expression. However his eyes still sparkled with amusement, so she knew he wasn't taking it seriously. Beckett snatched the paper out of his hand and held it up before her eyes. Alexis scooted over to read it over her shoulder.

We are pleased to announce the engagement of Richard Castle and Katherine Beckett. The happy couple will be marrying later this month in a private ceremony with friends and family. They would appreciate some privacy during this happy and joyous time. Thank you.

"Well?" Castle asked, knowing that Beckett had finished reading.

"It's rather short," was her first response.

He made a face. "Is that bad?"

"No… not at all, just… not expected," she said, looking up at him with a reassuring smile. "It's perfect… says exactly what needs to be said while keeping enough private that it doesn't feel like I'm opening my entire life to the whole world."

Castle beamed. "Great! So… all I need is a photo and I'll send it to Paula."

Beckett nodded with a frown. "Its so difficult."

Alexis suddenly jumped up and dashed out of the room. Both Beckett and Castle glanced up, startled, and then exchanged a confused look. The teen disappeared up the stairs and Castle shrugged. He slipped down onto the floor besides Beckett and placed his arm over her shoulder. She smiled softly and leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. He turned his head and kissed her hair, taking a quick inhale as well.

"You know, you always smell like cherries…," he commented.

She arched an eyebrow.

"I've got no complaints," he winked and captured her parted lips in a quick passionate kiss.

She clutched at him with one hand, grabbing at his collar and pulling him closer to deepen the kiss. His hand shifted to her thigh, and his fingers squeezed her gently as she moaned.

"Um… gross," they were startled by the sudden return of Alexis.

Castle smirked. "Oh, come on, Lexi, you're old enough to know what two grown adults do when they are alone," he said.

Beckett gave him a whack on the side of the head and he merely shrugged as he raised his free hand and beckoned his daughter over. Alexis shook her head at her father's antics and stepped over, sitting down next to him. Beckett turned her face and smiled, secretly loving this image of all three of them seated on the floor beside the coffee table, Castle sandwiched between her and the teen.

"What you got there, pumpkin?" he inquired.

She looked over and noticed that Alexis had returned with a small white envelope.

"Remember when you and Kate went out to have dinner with her dad?" she asked.

Castle nodded, exchanging a look with Beckett. She rolled her eyes and chuckled softly.

"Here are the pictures Grams and I took," the teen said, opening the envelope and spreading the contents onto the coffee table.

Beckett arched her neck and looked down at the new photos. She smiled, seeing her and Castle standing so very close, his hand wrapped around her waist, almost possessively. She was wearing that green dress he had bought her that covered the small swell of her tummy, and he was very handsome in a dark suit with a matching emerald tie. Beckett then saw that photo of them kissing, and she blushed, remembering how she had lost herself in that kiss, momentarily forgetting about Martha and Alexis taking pictures.

"Wow!" Castle said, clearly impressed. "These are really good." He turned and looked at his daughter. "Are you sure it these are the same pictures that you and Grams took?"

"Positive," chirped Alexis, smiling proudly.

"What do you think, Kate?" Castle asked, shifting through the photos.

Beckett peered down at them, smiling. They were very good photos of them, and she did like how she looked in that dress. She nodded. "One of these might do, yes," she replied.

Castle handed them over to her and she flipped through them until she found one that she liked. It was one right before the kiss; she was gazing up at Castle with unbridled love, his eyes mirroring hers.

"This one," she declared.

Castle took it and scrutinized it for a moment before smiling widely. "Perfect," he concurred. "What do you think, pumpkin?"

The teen nodded. "That's my favorite," she said.

"Alright," Castle let out a breath, disentangling himself for Beckett. "I'll go scan this and then send it and the Kate-approved announcement to Paula and we'll be done with that."

Beckett bit her lower lip, finally accepting that very soon the public was going to know about them and that she might have to suddenly face the press more than she normally did as a homicide detective.

"You okay?" Castle questioned, noticing her expression.

"Yes, I'm fine," she reassured him. "You still going out with Esposito and Ryan tonight?"

He nodded. "I'm off in twenty minutes, and then you, my lovely two ladies, have the place all to yourselves," he said, making a dramatic gesture with his arm to encompass the entire Loft.

"Oh, goody, girl's night in!" Alexis declared, clapping her hands.

"That reminds me," Beckett said with a nod, "I should call Lanie and we can do our little bachelorette party as your dad's out with the boy's doing his."

"Yes! That sounds great!" Alexis nodded, jumping up to run and get the phone for Beckett, who was still seated on the floor and was not as fast at getting up as she had been thanks her growing middle.

Beckett sighed and looked up at a smiling Castle. He held out his hand and she accepted it. Pulling her up, he brought her up close to him and wrapped his arms around her.

"You sure you don't want to have an actual bachelorette party?" he asked. "You know, go out to some place… you, Lanie, and Alexis?"

"No," Beckett said, shaking her hand. "Even if I didn't have these two growing inside me," she placed her hand on her baby bump, "I think I'd still prefer doing a girl's night in."

"Alright," Castle sighed and kissed her forehead, before dipping down to kiss her on the lips.

Beckett smiled into the kiss and hugged onto him. "And Rick?"

"Yeah?" he breathed out softly, breaking away and resting his forehead against hers.

"Don't get too drunk, okay? I wanna have my way with you when you get back."

Castle laughed and nodded. "Deal, detective."

XXX

Lanie was cleaning up the leftovers of the pizza and other junk food they had pigged out on while watching The Notebook, A Walk to Remember (that movie always made Beckett tear up), and, for something a little lighter, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Alexis was sitting next to Beckett on the couch, her phone out as she texted with Ashley. She watched as the teen smiled down at something that her boyfriend had texted. When Alexis put her phone down, she noticed Beckett watching her.

"So, how are you and Ashley doing?" Beckett asked, looking over her shoulder for a moment to see Lanie in the kitchen, searching for the recyclables bin.

"We're good," Alexis said with a nod. "He's going to go to Stanford, and… don't tell my Dad, not yet, but I'm thinking of trying to graduate early so I can go out with Ash."

Beckett raised her eyebrows, already knowing what her future husband's reaction to that would be. Alexis rolled her eyes and nodded.

"I know, Dad's going to freak, but at least with you and the twins here, it's not like the nest will be empty," the teen put forth.

"Yeah, about that… Alexis, we need to talk," Beckett said.

Alexis frowned, looking confused. "What about?"

"About the fact that I'm marrying your dad," Beckett said after a long breath. She had wanted to have this talk for a while. She knew they needed to have it, even if the teen didn't think so. The change in their lives that was coming was a big one.

"I'm cool with that, Kate," Alexis smiled. "You're going to be an awesome mom."

Beckett sighed. That is not what she had meant. Reaching out, she took hold of the teen's hand and squeezed it. "You're still going to be a part of everything, Alexis… an important part," she said. "And even though your dad's attention will now have to be divided between you and the twins, you're still always going to be his little girl."

"I know," Alexis said, nodding, and trying to smile.

She caught that. "You are," Beckett pushed out, needing the teen to understand. "No matter how much at times it will seem like you are being forgotten or put on hold because of something with the twins. You are always going to be his little girl and he will never… never love you any less."

Alexis locked eyes with Beckett. "And what about you?"

"What about me?" Beckett asked, confused.

"You're not worried about having to share him with the twins?" she asked. "I mean, you two haven't really been together-together for a while. You know, as a couple."

"Oh," Beckett raised her eyebrows and letting her hands fall down to her baby bump. She rubbed her fingers along the swell and sighed. "I'm willing to share him. Besides," she smiled, "he's willing to share me."

Alexis laughed lightly and nodded. "I guess you're right."

"And Alexis, just because you're growing up, it doesn't mean that you're no longer going to be his little girl," she went back to that. She knew it was important. As a daughter herself, Beckett relished her father's attention, and still wanted to be his little girl, no matter how old she got.

"I know," Alexis nodded. "I do… and I'm not worried or anything. I'm actually excited, really."

"Really?"

"Yeah," chirped Alexis. "I've always wanted a sibling. And though it's coming a little later than I would have liked, I'm still thrilled about it." The teen beamed brightly and raised a hand, asking permission. Beckett nodded and moved her hands, allowing Alexis to place one of her hands on Beckett's baby bump. "I'm going to be a big sister… and I wanna be the best big sister to these two."

"You're going to be wonderful, Alexis," Beckett assured her. "You're an amazing young woman, and I have no doubt about it."

Alexis smiled. "Thanks, Kate… that means a lot coming from you," she said.

Beckett returned the smile and put her hand on Alexis's. "I mean it," she replied.

"Hey, Kate!" came Lanie's voice.

Chuckling, she looked over her shoulder to see her friend standing in the middle of the kitchen looking lost and confused. "Yes, Lanie?"

"I've been looking for like ten minutes… where do you guys keep the recyclables?"

XXX

Beckett sat up in bed, reading. She glanced over at the clock and frowned. She had told Castle to be back at a reasonable time… but he was still gone. Narrowing her eyes, Beckett began to plan some punishment for him and the boys. Just as she was picturing giving his ear a real good twist as he shouted "Apples! Apples!" the door opened and Castle came stumbling in… drunk (the exact opposite of what she told him to do).

Groaning, she marked her place in the book she was reading and put it down on the nightstand as Castle came wobbling over to the bed, collapsing on the mattress with a sigh of relief.

She folded her arms across her chest and glared down at him, thinking she should do that ear twisting thing and see if he was coherent enough to actually shout "Apples!" Uncrossing her arms, Beckett reached over and slipped her delicate fingers around his ear… and twisted it.

"AH!" Castle hooted. "Apples! Apples!"

Beckett laughed and let go, leaning back against the headboard. Castle shook his head and rubbed his ear, turning his head to look at her with glazed eyes.

"What was that for?" he asked, sounding like a petulant five year old.

Beckett raised an eyebrow and gave him a pointed look. "Do you remember what I told you before you left?" she asked.

Castle shifted onto his side, so that he was fully facing her. He furrowed his brow and his eyebrows came together in hard concentration. His glazed, drunken eyes, flashed with realization.

"Oh… oh… OH!" he mumbled and his eyes shot up. "Damn… does this mean I'm not going to get lucky?"

Beckett snorted and held up a hand over her mouth to hide her smile. "With that breath… no," she said, giving him a disappointed look. "But at least I'm not banishing you to the couch."

"True," he slurred and leaned across the space between them to give her a wet and sloppy kiss.

Despite herself, she found herself moaning into the kiss as his hands rubbed her bare thighs, pushing up the large t-shirt she wore.

"Castle," she warned, shaking her head as she pushed him back. "Not like this… when you're drunk."

He sighed, and nodded. "Okay."

Turning, Beckett reached for the table lamp on the nightstand and turned it off before snuggling on the covers. Castle moved on the other side, kicking his shoes off and shimmying out of his slacks and hurriedly removing his button-down and undershirt. Castle burrowed under the covered with her and his arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his chest. She smirked and wiggled, pushing her bottom into his groin, making him groaned in want.

"Not fair," he whimpered.

"Take it as a lesson to not come back home drunk," she smirked and rested her head against the pillow. Castle let out a breath and she shivered, feeling the hot moister of it against the nape of her neck. He nuzzled the back of her head, his nose pushing into her hair. She could feel him taking in her scent and sloppily kissing at her neck.

"Castle… sleep," she instructed.

He sighed. "Yes, dear," he mumbled.

"And don't call me dear."

"Yes, dear."

And then he was snoring.