CH37
It was now 1 year later:
Kate was 22 and just a few months from 23. Alexis was presently 4 but was going to be 5 in a few weeks. Kate was year 3 into her rookie time while trying to get to being a detective. She had been out on countless cases, but still had no reason to pull her weapon or be involved in any combat.
Still that didn't stop Kate, Rick and Alexis from going to Quantico for more hand to hand combat training. This trip was a little more advanced than their last trip.
They had gone for a family bike ride roughly every month until Kate decided that Alexis was too big to sit in front of her. They hadn't as yet worked out how to solve that problem.
Kate had just put her bike in the storage shed right next to Rick's and was walking up the ramp. "Hi mom!" Alexis was standing there waiting for her, just like she had every day since Kate started working for the NYPD.
"Hi pumpkin!" Kate scooped her up and carried her inside giving her kisses all the way. "Where's your father?"
"Typing." Alexis answers.
That got Kate to head for his office and saw him lost in a zone typing. That told Kate he hadn't started dinner yet, so Kate took Alexis into the kitchen with her to start dinner.
Alexis got everything Kate asked of her, from bowls to spoons to the single egg that she needed. Handing Alexis a bowl to put the fresh egg into. Kate was simply watching over everything when her cell phone rang.
Looking at the caller ID. Rick had gone out and gotten both of them the very first iPhone the day they came out. They were both still playing with it, learning what it could do.
"Hi mom. … Cooking dinner actually. …. No I'm just watching it for the next 30 minutes so you're not interrupting anything. …. Castle is in his office typing away. It's kind of cute to watch him lose himself in whatever it is he is thinking. …. Well if he did I would hope he would tell me so I could help him hide the body." Kate starts laughing since Johanna started.
"Work is fine, I get to go out into the field more now and I get to watch interrogations and help them put together a murder board with a time line of when things happen. …. No a lot less dumpster diving. Alexis doesn't have to go "You're stinky mom". Right pumpkin?" Kate looks down at Alexis who is waiting in the kitchen with her. And watches Alexis shake her head.
"That's sounds great mom, I'll ask Castle during dinner, if I cay pry him out of his office." Kate had found that when Rick was zoned out, he was really zoned.
Buzzzzzzz. "That's my Que mom I gotta go. …. Bye mom." Kate checks her handiwork.
"Go get your father pumpkin, dinner is almost ready." Kate tells her and watches Alexis take off.
Kate has the table ready when Alexis comes back. "He's not listening mom."
Kate was afraid of that and started searching for her emergency weapon of choice. "Here you go pumpkin." Kate hands over the little air horn that Kate had bought about a year ago. This would actually only be its second use.
Alexis grinned as she took the horn and ran off. Kate soon heard the horn sound followed by. "ALEXIS!" As Rick yelled at her.
Then Alexis ran back into the kitchen and handed the horn back to Kate who hid it back in its place. "Nice work pumpkin." Kate grinned at Alexis who was grinning back at her.
Rick jogged into the kitchen and took a hold of Alexis and gave her a noogy. "You two are a real riot. … I'm going to get you for that." Rick points at Kate.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't hear a thing." Kate responds back.
Rick puts his hand up next to his ear. "What'd you say? I can't hear a thing." Rick counters.
Kate grins at him. "Go wash up you two, dinner is ready."
"My mother called, she wanted to know if we could come over for dinner on my next day off." Kate tells him.
"We can do that, just remind me the day before." Rick tells her.
"What are you planning Castle?" Kate didn't understand why he needed a warning.
"It's a surprise." Rick tells her.
"CASTLE!?" Rick knew she hated surprises.
"It's not your surprise Kate, it's Johanna's, so relax." Rick wasn't ruining the surprise.
"CASTLE!?" It wasn't enough for Kate, a surprise was a surprise no matter who it was for. "Don't make me hurt you Castle."
"Oh you think you can take me do you?" Rick challenges.
"With 117 I know I can Castle." Kate counters.
"That's cheating Kate." Rick moans. Kate however glares at him.
"Ok fine, have it your way. I got both of them new iPhones to replace the antiques they are presently using." Rick tells her.
"REALLY!?" Kate leaned over and kissed him. "I love you, you know."
"I love you too." Rick kisses her back.
Rick went back to typing while Kate played with Alexis till bedtime, and then gave her a bath before putting her to bed. "I love you pumpkin, even after the baby gets here." Kate kissed her head.
"I get to be a big sister." Alexis was smiling.
"Yes you do and you're going to be the best big sister ever." Rick and Kate had been working on her how much fun it was going to be a big sister. Not that Kate was pregnant yet. At least she didn't think she was. Still they had been working on Alexis for months now in preparation for that day.
"You ready for tomorrow?" Rick asked her while standing behind Kate as she stood in front of the full length mirror again, as he slowly wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm not sure I know how to dance, but I'll do it." Kate tells him.
Rick started tracing his fingers over Kate's naked body. "You remember what you looked like all those years ago?" Rick had a question.
Kate could feel her skin light up everywhere his fingers went. "I try not to. That was a different person."
"I told you even then that I saw what I see now." Rick reminded her.
Kate twisted in place till she was facing him with her hands on his chest. "Thank you for never giving up on me. I have no idea where I'd be without you." Kate gave him a quick kiss.
"You're worth it, you always were. And thank you for staying, I'd be all alone without you, we both would." Rick answers back giving Kate a quick kiss.
Kate shakes her head. "You'd have found someone. You're too nice and generous to not catch the eye of someone." Kate countered.
"I might have caught the eye of someone, but my heart would still have been empty. You're the one that filled it. We would both be lost without you." Rick knew there was only Kate for him and his daughter.
"We still on the day after for training upstairs?" Rick wanted to know if she still wanted to train together.
"Of course, you're my husband. There is no one else I want in my life. Besides, I like what it does for you." Kate was grinning as she moved her hands around his exposed chest.
"And is that the only part of me you like?" Rick lifted his eyebrows.
Kate chuckles. "I like that part of you too." Kate grins and then kisses him while one of her hands wonders down his chest till she has him in her hand.
Monique Lhuillier Embroidered Lace Mermaid Gown
Monique Lhuillier embroiders this tulle gown with baroque lace; a beautiful paradigm of feminine romance.
Tulle gown by Monique Lhuillier with lace embroidery. Sweetheart neckline. Sleeveless with wide shoulder coverage. Mermaid silhouette. Hidden back zip; sheer back with keyhole. Nylon/silk; silk lining. Made in Italy of domestic materials. Monique Lhuillier
Embroidered Lace Mermaid Gown
$9,995.00
David Yurman Labyrinth Hoop Earrings with Diamonds in Gold
From the Labyrinth® Collection
18-karat yellow gold
Pavé diamonds, 0.43 total carat weight
23mm interior diameter
Diamond Anklets: Heart, Star & Horseshoe Ankle Bracelet
A Diamond heart, star and horseshoe in 14kt white gold, on a yellow gold chain, make this one of the luckiest ankle bracelets in the world. (B4984) 9" $598
Kate moved her wedding ring from off her necklace that she keeps it on while at work, and only at work, and placed it on her finger for the event. Kate created a habit of moving it back and forth between the necklace and her finger.
At work it was on her necklace, everywhere else it was on her finger. It was one of the things she did just after getting home and greeting her husband, after greeting Alexis who always met her at the top of the ramp.
Having the ring on a necklace prevented her from losing it or having it interfere with her work. Like ripping gloves open. It also got it closer to her heart.
Rick was upstairs waiting for the women in his life. Kate finally showed with Alexis right behind her.
Rick had a flower waiting for both of them and clipped it into their hair just above the ear.
"Thanks Castle, that's sweet." Kate gave him a quick kiss.
"It's a Hawaiian tradition. A flower on one side means you are taken while the flower on the other side means you are single and looking. Or just single in Alexis's case." Rick explains.
It had Kate grinning. "Marking your territory Castle?" Kate teases.
"I can give you a giant hickey on your neck if you would prefer." Rick was grinning while arching his eyebrows a couple of times.
"You do and you're sleeping in one of the spare bedrooms." Kate counters.
It was a gala fundraiser for the NYPD. You had to pay just to get in and then there was a silent auction near the end.
Kate had a hold of Alexis's hand after Rick left the car to valet parking and they walked inside.
Kate soon spotted a number of people that she knew from work, along with one other, who had spotted them and was on his way over.
"Glad you could make it." Bob shook Rick's hand and then did the same for Kate. "And you too Alexis."
"Hi." Alexis smiled back. This was way different for her. And while she knew the mayor, this place was a little intimidating.
"I'll catch up with you two later and see you again next week." Bob tells them.
"We'll be there." Rick guarantees.
"Shall we see what they have to drink?" Rick offered.
They had just gotten their drinks with some apple juice for Alexis, since there were a few other children in attendance. Rick and Kate started looking around to see who they could spot.
"You clean up nice officer Castle." Roy and his family came in from the side.
"Thank you sir. Hi Evelyn." Kate greeted his wife.
Alexis was immediately surrounded and the three girls took off. "I'll watch them." Evelyn took off after them.
"These things are always a little boring, but it's for a good cause. … OH damn, I've been spotted. If you'll excuse me. … Oh and my place next week, don't forget." Roy reminds them before leaving.
"Castle and his money will be there sir." Kate answers, watching Roy walk off.
"Why is it everyone wants my money?" Rick moans.
"Don't take it personal Castle, I want you for your money too." Kate teases.
"Dance with me wife?" Rick offers his hand.
The moment Kate had been dreading was now here. Kate took in a long breath and took his hand and let Rick lead her out onto the dance floor.
Kate started out all stiff and proper, however soon found out that Castle wasn't trying to do anything fancy and soon found herself pressed up against him, resting her head against his shoulder.
Kate could hear the music, but didn't see the people and just let herself feel and smell Castle. She soon found that she liked it like this.
Three songs later they went off in search of Alexis where Rick dragged her out onto the dance floor with him after they found her.
It left Kate standing next to Evelyn and her two girls. "I love your dress." Evelyn tells Kate. "You've got every eye in here on you and that dress."
Kate starts to blush, she had spotted some of the looks a few women had given her, but hadn't paid any attention to the ones the men were giving her. "Castle got it for me."
"Rick picked out that dress? … A man picked that dress?" Evelyn knew Rick had good taste, just not in selecting dresses for Kate to wear.
"It took us 3 stores and it was the only one Castle actually had me try on." Kate confided.
"You hang onto that one Kate, any man that can do that is a keeper in my book." Evelyn was happy for Kate and now envious that Roy couldn't do that.
"I intend to." Kate was smiling while watching her husband dance with their daughter, who was standing on his feet to do it.
"So when is the next one? Your first I mean." Evelyn had been curious ever since they came over to her's and Roy's house to play that first time.
"Right after I make detective, I'm hoping. Still a little nervous about that. I've never handled a baby before. I mean Alexis was young, just not that kind of young." Kate was also nervous about what having another child would do to them or for them. Along with a million other things.
"You'll do fine. You're young and healthy. Plus you have Rick, who is obviously good with children." Evelyn comments, as they both watch Rick get Alexis giggling while dancing.
It got Kate smiling wide. Castle was good with Alexis. He was the perfect father and the perfect husband and he had done the first 2 years all alone.
"Did you have fun?" Rick turned to look at Kate while driving home.
"I did actually. I was sure I wouldn't, but it wasn't so bad. Not sure I want to repeat it anytime soon." Kate preferred the intimacy of being home instead.
"Castle, … what are we going to do with $17,000 of contractor time?" Rick had won one of the silent auctions. In this case it was $17,000 worth of contractor labor, not including materials.
"Oh it's not for us, it's for your parents." Rick explains.
"My parents?" How did her parents get involved in this?
"They can use him to update a bathroom, or maybe their kitchen. Take down a wall and make it open concept. Enclose their back patio, put on a new roof. Build a shed out back to put the junk in their garage into so they can put their cars in a garage designed to put cars into instead of junk.
I don't know, something." Rick offered up.
Kate leaned way across and kissed his cheek. "I love you."
Rick took a quick look at Kate. "I love you too." Then put his eyes back on the road.
They were coming up fast on their 3rd anniversary of getting married and Kate was still amazed by him. He never seems to do anything for himself and now he's doing things for her parents.
Kate would like to think that she would have found him and fallen in love with him without having to go through 2 years of hell, but she knew better.
It only made what she had all that more special. Now what would adding a baby to the mix do to them?
Kate was pretty sure she wasn't pregnant yet, but they had agreed she could stop taking the pill in a few months, and since they made love almost nightly and then again in the morning, it was only a matter of time.
117 had said he had repaired her. It was obvious Rick was capable, Kate just needed to trust 117 that all those drugs hadn't done something to her that he couldn't fix.
Kate really wanted that baby, their baby.
Kate settled back into the car seat and stared out the passenger window, lost in her thoughts. Which was easy since Castle was concentrating on the road and Alexis was asleep in the back seat. Playing with Roy and Evelyn's girls plus dancing with her dad had worn her out.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
www dot neimanmarcus dot com/Monique-Lhuillier-Embroidered-Lace-Mermaid-Gown/prod172030061/p dot prod?eVar4=RR_OOS_PDP
Remove the word dot and replace with a real dot and remove the spaces. This should allow you to see the dress Kate wore that Rick bought for her.