When they walked in to Manic Mondays, the rest of the team was already there, seated at a table and the captain enthusiastically waved them over. As they weaved their way through other tables Kate looked around and decided the place wasn't all that bad. It was a cross between a bar and a mom and pop restaurant. It was comfortable, with just the right amount of edge. Posters and pictures of music and movie icons lined the walls and there was, much to Kate's annoyance, a karaoke stage in the corner.
They walked up to the round table that the rest of the group was sitting at. Castle pulled Kate's chair out for her and she sat down next to Lanie, ignoring the other womans knowing wink. Castle sat down next to her. Kate leaned over and whispered in Lanie's ear.
"Don't be winking at me and thinking that I don't notice that you are sitting a little closer than normal to Esposito."
She laughed as Lanie's eyes grew wide. They were seated around the table; Lanie, Esposito, the Captain, Ryan, Castle then Kate and Kate noticed there wasn't a spot next to Ryan.
"Jenny isn't coming?"
Ryan shook his head sadly, "No, she already had plans for the night with her mother."
"Ah."
The waitress came around and the captain ordered them all Jello shots. Kate didn't drink much, but she figured why not, its what they were there for, and ordered a pina colada. They all slipped into friendly conversation, most of which revolved around old cases. Castle joined in occasionally, but for the most part he just watched and listened. He loved listening to their stories almost as much as he loved watching the interaction between them. Despite their almost constant sarcastic banter back and forth, it was obvious that they really cared about each other.
Several rounds of jello shots and quiet a few stories later, Lanie expressed her desire to sing something on the karaoke stage.
"Come on Kate, come with me."
She giggled, grabbing Kate's arm.
"Ohhh no. I don't think so Lanie. If you want to sing, you're doing to have to fly solo."
Lanie looked around the rest of the table and everyone else shook their heads no. She crossed her arms across her chest, pouting, and shot a glare at Esposito. It didn't take him long to cave in.
"Oh, alright, fiiiiine. What are we singing?"
"I love Rock and Roll."
Kate almost spit out her drink.
"God Lanie, that is such a cliché karaoke song, while you're at it why don't you sing I've got friends in low places, or wind beneath my wings."
"Yea, not to mention it's a….girly song? I really don't want to sing about taking another guy home…" Esposito quipped. Lanie huffed at him as she stood up.
"Oh just replace the he with she, you'll be fine" Lanie responded as she stood up from the table, tugging on his arm so he would follow her. Esposito sighed.
"Come on Ryan."
"What? I never agreed to do it…."
"That's cold bro, I thought we were partners. I see how it is."
Ryan's mouth dropped open and he glared at Esposito.
"That was low…really low." He muttered as he got up from the table and followed them up to the karaoke stage.
Kate dissolved into fits of laughter as the three of them stumbled though I love Rock and Roll. They only really knew the chorus and both Ryan and Esposito loudly changed every he into she, which made Lanie laugh hysterically. Kate smiled at the three of them as they walked back to the table after the song. She loved seeing them have so much fun, they all deserved it.
"Well that was….interesting." Lanie glared playfully at her as she sat back down.
"Hey, you try singing with these two rambling off key right next to you."
"Hey, you're the one who wanted someone to sing with you." Esposito pouted."Oh, is that what that was? Singing?" Kate laughed.
"Alright, Beckett. You do it better."
"Oh no, I don't sing."
"Oh don't you lie to him girl. I've heard you belt out songs in the car or in your apartment."
Castle raised his eyebrow at Kate and smiled.
"Kate Beckett sings?"
"No, Kate Beckett does not sing."
"Oh come on, what's the matter Beckett, scared?" Ryan joined in the teasing.
"Yes Ryan, I catch killers for a living but karaoke terrifies me."
"Oh, I think Ryan hit a nerve."
Kate glared at Castle and everyone laughed.
"Come on Beckett, let your hair down, have a little fun."
Kate looked him up and down, then met his eyes and raised her eyebrow.
"Castle…do you think you could even handle it if I let my hair down?"
This brought a chorus of "oh!s" from around the table, but Kate only had eyes for Rick. Her eyes sparkled as he recognized a hint of truth in her challenge. He leaned forward, keeping his eyes locked on hers.
"Bring it." He said quietly.
Kate looked at him for a moment, then reached behind her head and pulled her hair out of its bun. She shook her head and let it slowly fall around her shoulders. It wasn't the drinks, like Lanie had said once before, she could take any of them in a drinking contest. She decided to take Lanie's advice and let go a little bit. She stood up from the table slowly.
"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."
Castle's mouth fell open as she turned towards the karaoke stage. He looked around the table and was met by the same expression from everyone else there except for Lanie. Lanie was smiling like she knew something that no one else did. Kate leaned down and spoke to the person running the karaoke for a few minutes, then stood up and smiled at them before stepping up on to the stage.
Castle, Ryan, Esposito and the Captain all tensed at the cat calls that came from the other men in the room as the spotlight hit her. Not that Castle could blame them, she was stunning. He was expecting her to sing some ballad so he was shocked when the first few chords of "Shut up and Kiss me" by Orianthi started. Kate tapped her foot to the beat and the first few lines came out hesitantly.
You're too loud, I'm so hyper
On paper we're a disaster
And I'm driving you crazy
It's my little game
Even from a distance, he could see her bite her bottom lip as she continued.
I push you, and you push back
Two opposites so alike that
Everyday's a roller coaster
I'm a bump you'll never get over
This love (love)-hate (hate) relationship
You say you can't handle it
But there's no way to stop this now
So shut up and kiss me
Kick (kick), scream (scream) call it quits
But your just (just) so (so) full of it
Cuz it's too late, to close your mouth
Shut up and kiss me
So shut up!
So shut up!
She laughed during the instrumental break when a few people cheered, then she looked up and her eyes met his as she continued.
I call you and you pick up
I tell you how much I'm in love
I'm laughing and you get mad
It's my little game
Go ahead now, admit it
You like your world with me in it
Like a record, it's broken
Yeah, I'm a bump you'll never get over
Her voice lost its hesitancy as she got to the chorus again. They all laughed as she danced to the music and belted out the chorus. Castle wasn't all that surprised that her voice was amazing. Everything else about her was, why not her voice too.
This love (love)-hate (hate) relationship
You say you can't handle it
But there's no way to stop this now
So shut up and kiss me
Kick (kick), scream (scream) call it quits
But your just (just) so (so) full of it
Cuz it's too late, to close your mouth
Shut up and kiss me
You'd miss my lips, my kiss, my laugh
The riffs on my guitar
The way we fight, we make up fast
Oooooh yeah …
There was another long instrumental break and she amused the crowd, and them, by playing air guitar before continuing.
So shut up!
Love-hate, love-hate, love hate!
She put the microphone back on its stand and walked back towards the table, still singing loud enough to be heard. Castle's mouth fell open as her eyes met his.
Cuz it's a love (love)-hate (hate) relationship
You say you (you) can (can) handle it
But there's no way to stop this now
So shut up and kiss me
She got to the table and grabbed the front of his shirt, laughing as she tugged on it until he was standing up. She sang the last verse to him, standing a few feet in front of him, and even though the whole bar was cheering, he didn't see anyone but her.
Kick (kick), scream (scream) call it quits
But your just so freakin' full of it
Cuz it's too late, to shut your mouth
Shut up and kiss me
Just shut up and kiss me…
The last guitar riff of the song faded into silence and the whole bar cheered and yelled. She smiled at him and winked.
"Close your mouth Castle."
He snapped his mouth shut, then stammered. "I…uh…had no idea you could…do that…"
"Just another layer to the Beckett onion."
"Yea…I just…wow…"
"Castle? Didn't you hear the song?"
"Hm?"
"Shut up…and kiss me."
He laughed and smiled at her. It was one of his Richard Castle smiles, and the look in his eyes that accompanied it made her knees week.
"Gladly."
He reached out and pulled her closer as he kissed her. It only lasted a few seconds before the broke away from each other laughing as the whole bar, including their table, broke into applause. Kate blushed bright red and took Castle's hand as they sat back down at the table. She rolled her eyes when she looked over at Lanie.
"If you smile any bigger your face is going to get stuck like that." She teased as the ME squeezed her arm. She looked around the rest of the table and Esposito, Ryan and the Captain all had similar smiles on their faces.
"What are you all smiling at?" She asked, blushing even more.
"It took you long enough!" They all answered together, which caused even more laughter.
"Well, I guess you guys know now, Castle and I are together."
"How long?" Ryan asked. Lanie cut in before Kate could answer.
"What do you mean how long? How long has he been shadowing her? Two years? That's how long. Those two were meant for each other from the beginning, it just took them forever to see it."
Kate smiled over at Castle.
"Well, it took forever for one of us to admit it, yes. But, officially, since the beginning of this case. I just…wasn't sure how to tell you guys. This isn't going to change anything at work." She continued, looking pointedly at the Captain, "I've already told him that he has to be on his best behavior."
"Like he knows what that is. I'm not worried about it Detective, I'm just glad to see you happy. And I think he's been warned enough that he knows what is in store for him if he…ends things badly with you."
"Warned?" She raised her eyebrows and looked back at Castle.
"Oh yes, they have all been very clear about what their intentions are if I hurt you. You have a group of very protective friends Kate. They care about you a lot. I have, of course, let them know that hurting you is the farthest thing from my mind." He added softly as he slipped his arm around her waist. She looked around the table and smiled.
"You guys…"
"We're your family, its our job to give him a hard time." Ryan elbowed Castle.
"I know you are."
They all smiled at each other and Kate marveled again at how right everything felt. She never really realized that anything was missing in her life until Castle had come along and all of a sudden she couldn't imagine her world without him in it. She leaned against his shoulder and tried to fight back a yawn. When she glanced at her watch she was shocked to find that it was already eleven.
"Its late, we should probably all get going." The Captain suggested. They all nodded in agreement and said their goodbyes. Castle left his arm draped around Kate's waist as they headed towards the car.
"Are you coming back home or going to your place?" He asked quietly.
She smiled at him referring to his place as her home too; she liked the sound of it.
"Lets go home Castle."
Authors Note:
So, you either loved that chapter or hated it. I had an entirely different ending in mind, but then I watched Under the Gun (Season 3, Episode 3) and Beckett mentions a karaoke stakeout…and this scene just invaded my head and would not leave. The song is called Shut up and Kiss me by Orianthi. There is a really, really cute Castle/Beckett video to it here;
/watch?v=RJqmQr5thuE (add youtube . com, without spaces, before the /)
But they don't use the whole song. The whole song is here:
/watch?v=bL0mztueFD4 (add youtube . com, without spaces, before the /)
A huge thank you to detectivepysch for helping me find the right song and for always being willing to read things when I got stuck J
Also a huge thank you to Duchess of Strumpetness and AdoredCastle. Without them encouraging me, this never would have been posted at all. Also to Castletasmic, who is always so very encouraging. My Castle friends just ROCK!
And we have come to the end. Thank you, so much, to everyone who has read this and left comments. I was very hesitant about posting this at all, and you guys have made it so worth it. Its been a lot of fun. I am writing a sequel to this, so keep an eye out for it ;)