I'm dedicating this chapter to Stana Katic, because she is perfect, wonderful, and sweet. Thanks for reading xox
It was Saturday night. Kate scurried around, cleaning everything again. Lanie watched her, smiling.
"It's already clean, honey."
Kate nodded, but didn't stop. She'd never had guests round as a grown-up before – and her mother always liked everything to be clean. Rick appeared from the bathroom with a towel around his waist.
"Shower's free, Kate."
"Okay," she said, straightening the cushions on the couch for the tenth time.
"You know," said Rick as he walked up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, "you've only invited guys. They aren't going to notice."
She leaned against him. "But I will. I don't know. I just..."
"You want it to go well. That's totally understandable. But you don't need to worry – it will go well. What you need to do is go get in the shower and get ready. Okay?"
Kate smiled. "Okay."
Rick walked her to the bathroom, then went to get dressed. He'd been staying with Kate for a few days – he'd suggested it because she'd been worried about her Dad, and about leaving him with Lanie. Rick had still barely seen Jim – he didn't do anything with his daughter. He was hardly ever in the house – and when he was, he was drunk.
He had gone out again. Kate had asked him to stay in and eat with them, but he had refused. Rick knew Kate was upset about it, but he didn't really know what to do. Kate's training officer wasn't coming either – he had been touched that Kate asked, but said he thought they'd have more fun with just the young people. Kate had tried to persuade him, and he had finally agreed to bring his wife out to dinner with her and Rick the next week.
Kate showered quickly, keeping her hair dry, then she put on a rusty red dress, brown boots, and a gold necklace. She put her hair up, letting curly tendrils hang around her cheeks, and didn't bother with make up. She came out into the living room, where Rick and Lanie were sitting. When he saw her, Rick had to catch his breath. Kate saw his face.
"What?" she asked, looking at herself, worried.
"You look... Like a woman. Like a lady. Like perfection," he said, getting up and walking towards her as he spoke. She smiled, her face lighting up, her eyes twinkling. He kissed her softly on the lips, and Lanie, who would normally have made some kind of comment, just smiled. So they really love each other, she thought.
Ryan and Jenny arrived soon after. Jenny was sweet and charming, and settled easily into conversation with Kate and Lanie. Rick grinned at Ryan.
"I don't think we'll get them back until dinner now," he commented, as the girls migrated to the kitchen. "I'm Rick, Kate's boyfriend."
"I know – I've heard a lot about you."
"Good things, I hope," Rick winked.
Ryan smiled. "Very good things."
Esposito arrived, and he, Rick and Ryan were soon having an intense debate about cop movies. Ryan and Espo both accepted a beer, and they all swigged their drinks, happily enjoying a male bonding session. The girls came back through when dinner was ready, and Kate smiled to see Rick getting along so well with her colleagues. Lanie smiled too, when she saw Esposito. He winked at her, and made a point of sitting opposite her at the table.
They were having lasagne – Rick and Kate had made it while Lanie cleaned and studied – med school was tough. Lanie was already 21, and Rick opened a bottle of wine. Kate didn't drink, and neither did he – but they thought it was polite to offer. Esposito couldn't take his eyes off Lanie, but she made an effort to be a part of the whole conversation.
"So, Rick, what do you do?" Ryan asked.
"I'm a writer," he answered with a smile.
"Anything we might have heard of?" Jenny wondered. Lanie looked at Kate, her eyes saying You haven't told them? Kate blushed.
"In a Hail of Bullets?"
"No! You're not Rick Castle?"
Rick nodded modestly.
"The Rick Castle? Youngest New York Times No.1 Bestseller? Wow, Kate, you kept that quiet."
Rick laughed. "She's not one to boast."
Jenny smiled. "I think that's sweet. And I love your books."
"Thanks. I'll try to finish the next one as soon as possible."
Ryan piped up, "And Beckett'll be able to give you lots of ideas, since she's being trained by a homicide detective."
Rick looked at Kate. "Yeah, she will."
Esposito made gagging noises. "Come on, man, not at the table. That's something Ryan would do!"
Ryan looked at his friend, wounded. Rick smiled.
"Don't look upset, Ryan – I respect men who respect and love their woman."
Lanie gave Esposito a look. "You should take a lesson from that, Javier."
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," he said.
"And he calls me whipped," Ryan muttered in Rick's ear. "He's known her for what, an hour?"
After dinner, they all helped clear up. The boys washed, and the girls dried. There wasn't really room for the three of them at the sink, but they made a joke out of it, to the great amusement of the girls.
Kate giggled when she saw their three backsides lined up in a row. She pointed it out to her friends, who giggled too.
"What's so funny?" Rick asked, not turning around.
"Nothing," Kate replied, "We're just admiring the view."
This brought another stream of giggles from Jenny, who Kate was beginning to like immensely. The three of them had already made plans to get coffee the next day, and Kate hoped it would be the start of a long friendship.
It didn't take long for the dishes to be finished. Esposito asked Lanie if she wanted to go out for a drink, and maybe dancing. Lanie grinned, and grabbed her purse.
"See you tomorrow," she whispered in Kate's ear. Kate laughed, and told her friend to stay safe, and have a good time.
"Oh, I will," Lanie said, waggling her eyebrows. Jenny and Ryan left soon after, and Rick and Kate were left to themselves.
"There – what did you think?" Rick asked, once they were resting on the couch.
"It went really well – I had a great evening."
"Me too," said Rick. He didn't say, 'I told you so' or 'I knew it would be fine' – and Kate loved him even more for that.
"I'm glad you have people like that with you at work. It makes me know that wherever you are, you have people who care about you, people looking out for you."
Kate snuggled closer to him. "It is nice. It makes me feel safe. And they've got your back too now. And so have I."
Rick kissed the top of her head. "I feel much safer for it." And he meant it. Kate was the strongest people he knew.
"You know," he commented, "I've never really looked around your apartment before."
"Look away," Kate said. "It's not that interesting."
He grinned, and got up, looking round the room. He was most struck by the huge collection of records, and beautiful record player. He selected one – something French. It had been Kate's mothers. Rick looked at her, asking permission. She nodded, and he expertly set up the turntable, starting the music. There was a piano introduction, and a soft male voice singing about love. Kate loved the music – it made her think of the past. It was like being in a dream.
Rick took her hand, and pulled her into a dance. They moved slowly together, gently swaying to the music. Kate leant her head on Rick's shoulder, and in his embrace, she felt totally safe, protected from the world.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too," he said, wrapping her more tightly in his arms, thinking that if there was such as thing as paradise, this is what it would feel like. Kate was thinking exactly the same thing.
I hope you liked it, thanks for reading. Sorry if it was a bit lovey dovey at the end, but I personally needed to write about something nice after yesterday/today. Loads of hugs and loveballs, please review, and continue to support and love Stana, my idol, the best woman in the world. Take care, Z xxx
