Disclaimer: This piece of fan fiction is for entertainment purposes only. I am not seeking a profit and assert that the characters and universe do not belong to me. Any similarity between my own ideas and ones that end up on Castle will be celebrated. Even if I could afford to sue, I never would. That would be stupid.

Guest I Guess/Alex, you did not come across as a dick and you do not owe me an apology. I was never mad at you. Baffled and amused? Yes.
Mad? No. I enjoyed responding to your review and I wouldn't have written Goat without you. A lot of people liked that chapter. Take the credit. *smiley face*.

Upload Date: 11.03.13

Chapter Rating: T

Summary

Beckett is embarrassed by Castle's exes.

#59
Meredith

#60
Kyra

#59

"Oh, honey!" Meredith exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her daughter in a tight embrace. "Thank God you're ok."

"Good to see you again, Mom," said Alexis.

Meredith took a step back from her daughter and surveyed her.

"I'm so sorry it's taken this long to come out here," she fawned over her daughter, stroking her hair. "This was the earliest I could get off work."

"I understand," said Alexis.

"You're here now, Meredith," said Castle, "that's the most important thing."

"Oh, Rick!"

Meredith turned away from Alexis to hug Castle.

"Thank you for getting her back safe!"

"Well, of course; she's my daughter, too - "

"And Detective Beckett!"

Beckett took a step back but it was no use as Meredith embraced her tightly.

"Thank you so much for all your help - and for keeping me informed."

"You kept her informed?" Castle asked.

"Yeah, well, she's Alexis's mother - and you were kind of... occupied."

"You went above and beyond the call of duty. I know it's always awkward with the Ex but since I am Alexis's mother... can I expect an invite to the wedding?"

Beckett choked on her own saliva.

"Uh, Mom -"

"It's a little soon for that," said Castle, flustered.

"Well, I know you don't have the best track-record, Ricky, but clearly the girl's head-over-heels in love with you."

Beckett blushed.

"Well," said Alexis awkwardly, "I'm ready. I'll call you every half hour," she promised her father, hugging him and her Grandmother before leaving.

"Well," said Martha, "I think I'm going to retire to my bedroom and... yes."

She left.

Beckett took a deep breath.

"Don't worry about it," Castle said before she even opened her mouth. "You know Meredith just likes to stir the pot."

"Is it really that obvious?" she asked, avoiding eye contact.

"Well, she wasn't exactly subtle about it."

"Not Meredith, me; How..."

He raised his eyebrows and inched closer towards her.
"Yes?"

"How crazy in love with you I am," she said quietly.

Castle allowed his smile to break through. She had never actually said it out loud before.

"Sometimes. Those little looks you shoot me aren't exactly cryptic; the way you stare at me in a crowded room like I'm the only man there, the way you smile at me like I'm giving you the world just by breathing..."

"Oh, God, I'm a walking cliché."

He gently took her by the chin and lifted her head.

"I've always had a soft spot for clichés."

"Yes, I know; I've read your novels."

"Hey, I'm trying to make you feel better here."

"Right now? Not possible."

His smile broadened.

"Well, you make me happy, too, Sweet heart."

She kissed him.
"Good," she smiled back.

#60

It was their third day on holiday. Castle had chosen somewhere nice but low-key. They had both decided to just hop into the warm, bubbling waters of the hotel Jacuzzi before dinner.

The moment she sat down, her fingers began to caress his broad chest with feather-like touches.

"Kate?"

"Hmm?" she smiled lazily against his neck, where her head was currently resting in contentment.

"I can see a couple coming over here to join us."

Beckett reluctantly let go of them and turned to face the approaching couple.

She straightened up in recognition.

"Is it just me or is that - ?"

"Kyra!" The expression in Castle's face was priceless.

"Rick!" The expression on Kyra's face was just as stunned. "Uh, you remember Greg?"

"Uh, yeah, good to see you, man," said Castle.

Greg waved awkwardly.
"Hi."

"And Kyra, you remember - ?"

"Detective Beckett." Kyra looked very pleasantly surprised. "Is that you?"

"Well, I'm on Vacation so just Kate is fine," said Beckett nervously.

"You're on vacation and you just happened to bump into Rick... in the Jacuzzi?" she asked, amused.

"Um..." Beckett squirmed.

"No," said Castle, firmly grasping her hand. "Kate and I came here together."

"Wow, that's so nice! Greg, isn't that nice?"

"Very nice."

"Yes, I agree, it's nice. Good one, honey. So, we were going to use the Jacuzzi but I think we'll - "

"Well, don't leave on our account," said Castle.

Beckett shot him a questioning look. He shrugged.

Kyra and Greg looked at each other, and after a few moments, climbed in with them.

"It's not awkward, guys. It's only awkward if we let it be."

There was a pause.

"Yeah, it's awkward," said Greg.

"It's pretty awkward," Beckett agreed.

Eventually, they were able to move past the awkwardness and even had dinner together. The next day, when Kyra and Greg checked out, they saw them off in the lobby.

Kyra had a private word with Castle while Beckett and Greg discussed baseball scores.

"So... it was good to see you again," said Kyra.

"Yeah. Yeah, it was really nice to see you, too. Glad you and Greg are doing ok."

"We're managing. Greg's always found a way to land on his feet. And I like working. It makes me feel like I'm contributing to society. What about you and Kate?"

"Yes, well, things are going pretty well."

"Don't screw this up, Rick. You're never going to better.'"

"Easy, there!" he chuckled.

"Just being honest."

"Well, if history serves, I can do at least as well."

"That was twenty years ago. Cling onto this one for dear life - and if you ever manage to get her to marry you, for God's sake, don't divorce her."

"Way to instil confidence Kyra."

"Seriously, though, I've seen the way she looks at you. I thought she might be falling in love with you three years ago but now? Wow."

Castle smiled as he looked over his ex-girlfriend's head - admittedly not that difficult - to his current girlfriend, who was having an animated discussion about drug-testing.
"Wow," he agreed.

"What did Kyra say to you?" Beckett asked Castle that night in their suite. They still had a few more days. Unlike Greg, Castle could afford more than a weekend.

"Are you jealous?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Castle. I'm just... curious."

"Is that the Czech word for "jealous"?"

"Castle."

He smiled.
"She told me... not to mess it up, that you're way out of my league..."

"Sounds about right. What else?"

"Well..."

"Spit it out, Castle."

"She said it's clear that we - that is, you and I, that we're... in love."

She nodded slowly.

"Does that make you uncomfortable?"

"To be honest... yes, it does."

"Why?"

"Kyra's one of those open-book types who's not afraid to talk about her feelings, even if they're not her own. How you and I feel about each other, that's ours. It's a private thing."

"But... it is a thing, right?"

Beckett moved back slightly, surveying him with a crooked smile and narrowed eyebrows.

"What are you doing?"

"What?" Castle asked, feigning innocence.

"You just want me to say it out loud, don't you?"

It was his turn to narrow his eyebrows.
"'Say it?' Why, Katherine Beckett, whatever do you mean?"

Beckett's smile became less crooked and she shifted slightly so that she was leaning on her elbows, looking up at him.

"Castle, if you want me to say it, all you have to do is ask."

"Say what?"

"Seriously?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

She shrugged and turned over.
"Well, I'm not fussed either way. If you really don't care I guess I'll just... sleep."

"Ok."

"Ok," he squeaked.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

He was an idiot. Why didn't he just ask? No. It didn't work that way. He wasn't supposed to ask. She was supposed to say it of her own volition.

However, that obviously wasn't who Beckett was. Of course, he knew without a flicker of a doubt that... Yeah, she did. Everybody could see it.

Kyra could see it. Well, she always had been pretty perceptive. But still... He'd like Beckett to say it.

Even just once would be nice. If he asked...that would defeat the purpose. He'd leave it up to her. If she wanted to say it, she would; and if she didn't...

Well, that would be ok; because he knew, and that was enough. Castle smiled at Beckett, who rolled over, snuggling up too him, pressing her lips to his shoulder.

"Hey, sexy," she whispered, barely audible.

"Mmm," he replied, grinning.

"I love you."

Oh, wow. It felt even better than he'd imagined. Just the simple, honest truth.

"Kate," he croaked, "you didn't have to - "

"I told you all you had to do was ask."

"But... I didn't."

She stifled a laugh.
"Not with your words but... I'm kind of an expert at non-verbal communication," she said seductively against his skin.

Castle's eyes widened as she continued to caress his body. Yes, she certainly was an expert at... that.

I stand by Beckett calling Castle sexy. I don't care what you say.

Like Castle, I am also fond of clichés - big surprise, huh? I think they get a bad rep but name one story that doesn't contain any clichés.