Moment in Time

A Murder Is Forever

Beckett's eyes were closed as Castle led her into the bedroom of the loft. "Castle, I swear," Beckett told him, "if you're bringing me face to face with Linus, I'm going to pull out my gun and shoot him."

"That will not be necessary," Castle replied.

"Okay," Beckett muttered.

"Okay," Castle repeated, "you can open your eyes."

"Seashells?" Beckett asked.

"Well not just seashells," Castle explained. "We collected those..."

"On our first walk in the Hamptons," Beckett finished.

Beckett's mind flashed back. She had thought she and Castle would be taking long romantic walks on her weekend with him in the Hamptons, but their plans had been sidetracked by a murder. When they returned a few weeks later, it was already well into fall. It was chilly enough that the beach was almost deserted, but she and Castle bundled up in hoodies, gazing out at the waves and filling their pockets with treasures. As they returned to the house, the cold wind off the ocean grew in force, stiffening their fingers and reddening their faces. Despite being held tightly against Castle's body on the walk back to the house, she was shivering.

Castle lit a fire in the living room and made hot chocolate while she crouched in front of the hearth, holding her hands up to the flames. When he returned, they cuddled on the couch, their hands warmed by ceramic mugs, and their faces reflecting the dancing light of the gas log. "Warmer?" Castle asked.

"Mmmm," Beckett answered, resting her head on his shoulder, "warmer by the minute. I think in a minute I'm going to have to start taking off clothes."

Castle grinned. "Don't let me stop you. In fact, I'd be happy to help," he said reaching down to pull the edge of her hoodie upward. Beckett had reached for his in turn, feeling the collection of shells stowed there. Their lips met in a collision of heat and chocolate. Beckett drank deeply, unable to get enough of the sweet darkness. Castle pulled her tightly against him, as he had done once before in almost exactly the same place. But this time there was no Ryan to call and there were no suspects to interview. There was only the two of them, the heat growing in their veins surpassing what flowed from the fire.

"Rick," Beckett whispered. "Let's go." Hands clasped, she led the way to the bedroom, where a fire was burning as well, although the candles were unlit, as light streamed through the windows. No words were necessary as they reached for each other. Fingers found buttons and ties, clothes heedlessly reaching the floor as the bed beckoned. Any remainder of the morning's chill was banished in frantic exploration. Each feverish touch brought the need for more. They were as one person, searching, feeling the way. Movement came in an ever quickening rhythm, until the drumbeat of sensation reached a crescendo, surging though their bodies and leaving them still, in breathless embrace.

Tiny streaks of red were just starting to color the sky outside when Beckett awoke, Rick breathing softly in sleep beside her. It had been hours since they drank hot chocolate and even longer since breakfast. Slipping out from beneath the covers, she pulled on Castle's shirt, burying her nose in the collar inhaling the scent that was uniquely his. Padding barefoot to the kitchen, she surveyed the contents of the refrigerator. It was almost empty. They had intended to go shopping that afternoon, but she considered the time better spent. Still, her stomach was rumbling. She made her way back to the bedroom.

Castle looked innocent in repose, almost like a little boy, with his hair in his face. Gently she touched his cheek. "Mmmm," he sighed, as his lashes lifted over the startling blue of his eyes. "Kate, what time is it?"

She consulted her father's watch, which had never left her wrist. "It's five thirty."

"Morning or afternoon?"

"Definitely afternoon."

Castle sat up bare chested, the covers falling to his hips. "Wow!" he exclaimed, "that was - amazing! How are you?"

"Starving," Beckett answered, "and somehow we missed shopping."

"Can't imagine how that happened," Castle teased. "Do you want to go out? We can pick some things up on the way back"

"Sounds good," Beckett agreed, pulling a dress out of the part of the closet Castle had cleared for her, "just hurry up."

Many of the weekender spots had closed for the summer, but Castle drove to a restaurant patronized by the year round residents, that specialized in seafood. The eatery bought whatever was caught that day, right from the local fisherman. That practice resulted in an ever changing but inerrantly fresh menu. Castle and Beckett both ordered spicy Cioppino, with thick crusty bread and hand tossed salads. Beckett especially loved the house dressing, a tangy wine vinaigrette that she had been trying to duplicate ever since. They finished with espressos and impossibly crisp cookies that had been dipped in dark chocolate.

They were satisfied and almost too lazy to go food shopping for the morning, but Castle insisted that he needed pancake makings, so they went to the market. When it came to stocking up, Castle was almost unstoppable. Not only did he get everything required for pancakes, but coffee beans, bacon, fruit, a variety of deli items, salad makings, snacks, and a roasting chicken. "We can put the chicken in to cook slowly while we - play," Castle explained with a crooked grin.

Sleep cycles altered by their long afternoon nap, Castle and Beckett were up past midnight, rising late as well. The weather had worsened during the night, with a nor'easter slamming sheets of water against the windows. After Castle's sumptuously fluffy pancakes pancakes, with a side of Beckett's crisp bacon, they stayed in. Castle stocked an incredible assortment of games, but Beckett opted for Texas holdem. They started playing for M & M's, but after Castle had stopped the game to put the chicken in the oven, they found they had both eaten most of their winnings, so they changed to strip. Beckett was glad that Castle had the foresight to pick a dinner with a long cooking time. The winds still howled down the beach as they relaxed in front of the fire with brandy, before finally retiring for another session of play.

The morning sun was bright, with a clarity in the air that so often follows a storm. Castle loaded the luggage into the car for a return to the city. Beckett noticed a box filled with objects carefully wrapped in newspaper, but was distracted by an unexpected pre-trip caress before she could ask Castle about it.

"That's what those were," she mused softly.

"What?" Castle asked.

"The box you brought back from the Hamptons, the weekend of the storm. It was the shells. I can't believe you kept them," Beckett said, fingering the display.

"Now I know it doesn't really go with the space," Castle explained, "but at least it won't be hungrily staring at you in the morning."

"You didn't have to do this," Beckett told him.

"No, I did. I finished reading Alice's book and there's a chapter in there that speaks to couples like us. See, we're both alphas, and it says we need to define our shared territory together," Castle explained gesturing at items around the room. "These pieces are all my stories, but the shells, those are ours."

Beckett threw herself into Castle's arms for a hug. "I like our story!" Beckett exclaimed.

"Yeah, me too," Castle agreed.

Suddenly Beckett heard the growl of a lion. "Oooh, that can't be good," Castle said, trying unsuccessfully to suppress a grin.

Beckett grabbed his hand, exposing his phone as the source of the sound. "Seriously?" she asked.

"Look," Castle replied, "if you're scared you can always sleep on my side of the bed tonight."

Beckett pushed Castle toward the bed. "Deal."

A/N Two days to go on the Charity Water Campaign, which means two days left to win lunch with Nathan. Also remember Kids Need to Read and Nerd HQ. Tweet me at CheerfulChemist for URLs. Thank you for all the reviews. They really keep me going.