Chapter Twenty-Three
Wind
Season Four AU

"Come on, Castle, you ready or what?"

Rick narrows his eyes at his partner, pretending to be annoyed at her obvious amusement. Inviting her to the Rockerfeller skating rink had been a spontaneous decision, one that Alexis had encouraged when she'd asked to postpone their daddy-daughter day. He's lucky that Kate has the day off and agreed to the last minute invitation, even if she's very close to making fun of him right now.

"I just need a minute," he tells her when she skates up to him. "I haven't done this in a few years. Not all of us have your natural grace, you know."

"Don't worry, I'll help you." Kate grabs his hand once he puts one cautious blade on the ice.

He almost falls over with happiness at the curl of her gloved fingers around his.

They go slow at first, Rick getting his skating legs once again, and after the first couple of laps, they start to speed up. Her hand slips out of his and he frowns. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

His eyes flick to her, willing her to take his hand again, but when he sees the unbridled joy on her face, her mouth upturned in a grin, he can't help but smile again. He'd thought about staying home when Alexis had cancelled, but he's glad she suggested asking Kate. He wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Thanks to the dual distraction of the woman beside him and his thoughts, he doesn't see the small divot in the ice, and before he knows it he lurches forward. He seems to fall in slow motion, has enough time to put his hands in front of him to help break his fall.

"Oh my God, are you okay?" Kate asks, kneeling beside him, a hand on his back.

Rick pushes himself up, wincing when he puts his knee on the ice. At the very least, he'll have a bruise; he'll have to check when he gets home. He takes her extended hand and lets her help him up. "I think so," he says, brushing his gloved hands against his jeans. "No serious injuries. Well, except my pride."

Despite the worry in her eyes Kate chuckles and gives him a onceover before jerking her head towards the exit. "Come on, I'll buy you a cocoa."

"No, no, it's fine," Rick insists. "I promise. I just have to get my groove again."

Kate lifts her brows but she starts to skate off. "Okay. Well, try and stay vertical this time," she calls out before gliding away from him.

Rick laughs, but doesn't try to catch up, just watches her skate as he hugs the wall. She laps him easily, throwing a grin his way when she does, and he can't help but return her smile. She moves with little effort, he notices, not surprising for someone as graceful as she is. He recalls that she skated a lot growing up, and although she doesn't have her bright green skates, she looks like she belongs on the ice.

After she laps him for a third time he steps off the ice, content to just stand at the wall and watch. If they were on a date they'd be hand-in-hand much like they were when they first went on the ice. But it wouldn't be for balance; no, it would be because neither of them would want to let go.

He loses track of time, too caught up in his fantasy, and before he knows it Kate is next to him, her cheeks and nose red, the smile on her face wider than he's ever seen.

"You wanna go back out for a couple laps?" she offers, holding out her hand. "I'll keep you steady."

Her outstretched fingers are too enticing, and he smiles and curls his own fingers around hers. "Only if you don't leave me behind again," he teases.

Kate just rolls her eyes as they go back on the ice.

They glide together in silence, their strides in perfect unison, and he keeps an eye out for any divots in the ice to avoid another spill. As they finish the second lap Rick notices that the plaza lights have come on, and he glances up at the sky to see dark storm clouds. He vaguely recalls the weather forecast including the chance of a snowstorm that night, but the day is either later than he thought, or the storm is early.

Regardless, they better get home.

He gives her hand a light tug and he leads her towards the side. After they step off the ice onto the carpet, he nods towards the sky.

"Looks like we're going to get a storm," he explains.

"Oh, wow." Kate examines the sky for a few moments before walking towards the skate rental booth. "We better get going."

Once they're in their street shoes, Rick nudges his shoulder against his partner's. "Buy you a cocoa for the ride home?"

Kate grins. "Sure."

By the time they emerge from the subway near Kate's apartment - Rick insisting on accompanying her home - there's a steady snowfall coming down. Rick lifts his shoulders up to his ears, mentally cursing his lack of a hat or earmuffs now that the temperature has dropped, and shivers when a gust of wind finds its way under his scarf. He might have to take the subway home if the snow persists, which is certainly not ideal, but walking won't be an option, and a car or taxi would just get stuck in the worsening traffic.

"Why don't you come inside for a bit?"

Kate's voice breaks through his thoughts and he looks up, surprised to see they're already in front of her building. He shakes his head, trying to be polite. "Nah, I don't want to impose. I'll head home."

Kate narrows her eyes at him. "It's not an imposition, Castle. You look like you're freezing. Come on, we can drink more hot chocolate."

The lights flicker a few minutes after they settle on the couch with matching mugs, and Kate disappears for a few moments, reappearing with her arms full of blankets.

"Just in case," she explains when he raises his brows. "It'll get really cold if the power goes out. Assuming you'd stay, of course."

Rick grins. "Katherine Beckett, are you propositioning me?" he teases, turning to face her when she rejoins him on the couch.

Her cheeks flush and she looks away. "Not like that," she mutters, a sly smile making its way onto her face.

Rick chuckles and pulls his phone from his pocket. As he brings up his text conversion with Alexis, the lights flicker once again before going off entirely. He looks up at Kate, who puts a flashlight on the coffee table. "If we have power at the loft, do you want to come over? You can even if we don't. We have a gas fireplace for warmth."

Kate gives him a grateful smile. "Thanks, but I'll just stay here. I'm sure traffic is chaotic out there."

"Let me check with Alexis. She should be home by now."

His daughter's reply is almost immediate, confirming his assumption that his home is dark as well. He lets her know that he'll be at Kate's for a while and to keep him posted, she assures him that his mother is home as well and they're fine.

"You don't happen to have a battery pack I can use, do you?" he asks his companion, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I forgot to grab mine when I left."

Kate slides a basket out from under the coffee table and rummages around. "I do, actually. I have a couple." She pulls out a small black rectangle and charging cords and hands them over. "I've been caught at crime scenes with a dying phone too many times."

"Thanks. According to Alexis, our power is out and so is most of lower Manhattan, so it looks like I'm stuck here for a bit."

"I'm glad to have the company," Kate responds with a smile.

Rick shivers under his blanket and curls up on the couch, trying to stay warm. Kate wasn't kidding when she said it would get cold; he is freezing. His gloved hands curl around the mug of cocoa, hot thanks to Kate's gas stove, and his eyes track her as she emerges from her bathroom holding some candles.

"These should help," she tells him, lifting them up. "Are you warm enough?"

Rick chuckles. "I'm managing. Truth be told, since our encounter with that freezer, I get cold a lot faster, and it's harder for me to warm up."

Kate nods and hesitates, then reaches for her own blanket. "Yeah, me too. This won't help you stay warm, but come here. I want to show you something." She wraps the blanket around her shoulders and goes towards the kitchen.

Rick follows her to the set of stairs off the kitchen, grateful that she's allowed him to stay, that she appears to be opening up to him even more. She lowers herself to one of the steps and pats the spot next to her, and he joins her, follows her gaze outside.

Although power is out in most of the buildings around them, there's enough light from those with generators that they can see the snow still falling and swirling in the breeze. If the window could open he's sure it would be so quiet and peaceful, the kind of silence that only happens when it snows. All of a sudden he wishes he had his snow boots so they could go outside and enjoy it even more.

He hears Kate sigh next to him and he glances over, catches her profile in the shadows. "You okay?" he asks in a quiet voice, almost afraid to break the silence.

She offers him a wistful smile. "Yeah I just love when it's like this. It's so peaceful. Almost…" She turns back to the window and tightens her grip on the blanket around her shoulders. "Magical," she finally finishes.

"Yeah."

He doesn't know how long they sit next to each other, just watching the snow, but all of a sudden there's a loud buzz and the lights flicker on. Rick blinks against the brightness, and he sees Kate press her fingers to her eyes.

"Well, looks like the magic's over," she tells him with a wry chuckle, standing up. She stretches, letting out a loud yawn, and when she puts her arms down she tugs at the hem of her sweater, her ears turning pink. "You'll probably head home, huh?"

Rick shrugs. "Roads will still be too much of a mess to get a car, and I don't want to deal with the subway yet if I don't have to. Unless you want me to leave, of course."

Kate glances up at him through her lashes as he approaches her, and she bites her bottom lip and lifts one shoulder. "I won't mind if you stay," she says, her tone coy, mysterious.

If Rick didn't know any better, he'd think she's trying to tell him she wants more. But she can't be saying that; they're only a few months removed from their conversation on the swings about her walls, and just last week she was dealing with a sniper wreaking havoc on the city - and her.

He'd promised himself that he would wait for her to indicate when she's ready for more, either through actions or words. He won't push her; he can't. If he pushes too soon, he could end up forcing her away instead of pulling her closer.

When she takes a step towards him and reaches for his hands, he wonders if he's misjudged how ready she is.

He manages to breathe her name before her lips press against his and her arms wrap around his neck. His own arms encircle her waist and he pulls her flush against him as she leans into him and deepens the kiss.

By the time they pull apart he's breathless, almost panting, and he can't help but smile as her eyes flutter open. "Well, that was-" He clears his throat. "Unexpected."

Kate raises her eyebrows. "Unexpected?" she parrots.

Rick's smile widens. "You know, something that one doesn't anticipate. A surprise."

"A good surprise?" she asks after a long moment, worry lacing her words.

"Oh yeah. A really good surprise."

"Good." Kate dips her head and presses her forehead against his sternum for a moment before she gazes at him through her lashes again. "Do you want to stay longer?"

Rick cups his hands at her jaw and moves forward, walking her back until she's against the wall, and he drops his own forehead to hers. "I'll stay as long as you'll have me."

A/N: inspired by this writing prompt: ablockforwritersblock dot tumblr dot com/post/636801333477933056/writing-prompt-139