A/N: It only took a pandemic but finally got around to updating this story—hope everyone is staying safe!
"I missed these boots," Beckett said, running a hand over the smooth leather of her favorite knee-highs before tugging them on.
"I missed you," Castle said, coming up behind her and planting a kiss on her shoulder.
"I thought I put a moratorium on cheesiness," Beckett tutted, turning to face him. He pouted and she couldn't help the smile that snuck across her face. "Missed you, too," she said softly, finding his lips again. He deepened the kiss, hungrily sipping from her. Her knees weakened and her hands gripped his shirt collar. "We're late," she managed between breaths. Castle pulled back, his hands coming to rest on her waist.
"We're late? As in both of us?"
Beckett looked down and played with the button on his shirt.
"You should come in with me."
"Really? Are you sure?"
"You were just there last week." She caught the look of apprehension on his face. "If you're worried about the team, there's no need," she said, "I think everyone just wants us to be happy."
"Yeah, ok, I'm in."
She smiled, wide and bright, and pressed it against his growing grin. He broke away, reluctantly.
"I have to call my mother real quick. She and Alexis are coming back later today," he said, pressing the speed dial on his phone.
"Meet you by the door," she said, stealing one last kiss from him.
Tugging her hair out of the collar of her blazer, Beckett stepped out into the front entryway, Castle's bedroom door shutting behind her and stilled at the sound of Castle's voice drifting from the kitchen.
"Alexis, we can talk more about it when you get home. This is my life. I don't need you protecting me, sweetheart," he said, before hanging up and turning around with a sigh, one of his hands scrubbing his face in frustration.
"She's not my biggest fan," Beckett said, causing Castle to look up, guilt flaring in his eyes.
"She'll come around."
Beckett came up to him, her arms circling his neck. "Let me talk to her."
"You don't need to do that," he said, his forehead bumping gently against hers.
"No, I do," she whispered, brushing her lips against the jut of his jaw.
"Mother's thrilled," he added.
"See, not all bad," she murmured, tugging him to her, their lips meeting again, hot and searching.
They were going to be late.
"Nice of you to join us, boss," Esposito said when Beckett walked in by herself over an hour later. Castle had sent her ahead, saying he needed to grab a couple of things.
"What'd I miss?" she asked, tugging off her gloves.
"The ex-wife mentioned an old associate of the vic. He has a criminal background and we just got a hit on our APB. He was stopped at Newark trying to take a flight out of here," he said.
"Do you have him in the box?" she asked.
"Interrogation room one," Ryan said.
"Ok, thanks," she said, moving towards the board and glancing over the facts.
"You going in?" Espo asked, crossing his arms and watching her closely.
She stared at the board pointedly. "I think I'm gonna wait 'til Castle gets here."
"What?" Ryan spluttered.
"Is he really back, then?" Espo followed.
"Are you guys…" Ryan put his two pointer fingers together and lifted his brows in silent question.
She turned to them. "He's really back."
Ryan pumped his fist in the air.
Castle walked in twenty minutes later with a tray of coffees and a box of pastries. The boys glanced at her, waiting for her nod of approval before digging into the flaky croissants and bear claws he presented to them.
"Where were you three weeks ago on Monday night?" Beckett asked.
"Hell if I know," said Todd Channing, their suspect.
"Let me refresh your memory."
Castle hands her the case folder, and she slides over the surveillance photo from the Frick Collection.
"Look familiar?"
Channing glances at it, bored.
"I'm not saying anything without a lawyer."
Beckett assessed Channing. Defensive. Temperamental. She leaned back in her chair. "Brent's wife told us you and him used to work together."
"Ex," Channing snarls.
Castle and Beckett shared a look. He was hiding something.
"Yes, ex-wife," Castle confirmed.
"Were you and Nicole in a relationship?" Beckett asked.
Channing's poker face faltered for a moment.
"With that bitch? Not a chance," he scoffed.
Castle bumped his foot with hers, implicitly asking permission to take the lead. She gave him an imperceptible nod. I trust you.
Castle leaned forward, folding his hands together. "Listen, Todd. Nicole already told us everything."
"You're bluffing," Channing spat out.
Castle stayed calm. "You and her were together. She split-up with Brent when she found out about his laundering. You wanted in."
Channing's face flickered and Castle saw his opening.
"But then something changed. She wanted to get back together with him. So you asked him to meet you in the park and you shot him three times in the back of the head," Castle said.
Channing stood up from his chair, and shouted, "She's lying!"
"So she didn't break up with you?" Castle asked, taunting.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Channing seethed.
"She left you. She didn't call. She broke your heart."
Beckett slipped her hand onto his thigh. I'm here.
Channing slammed his hands on the table. "Shut up!"
Without flinching, Castle continued. "She just didn't love you anymore. You meant nothing to her. So you grabbed a gun and you—"
"He had her once before. What gave him the right to take her from me?"
"Did you ask him that?" Castle asked, breathless.
"He couldn't give me a straight answer, so I shot the bastard," Channing confessed.
Castle turned to Beckett with a triumphant grin.
"I think we're done here," he said.
Ryan and Esposito came into the room as a look of horror crossed Channing's face.
"You tricked me!" he yelled and lunged towards Castle, but Ryan and Espo quickly slammed him down to the table and cuffed him.
"I think we should go," Castle whispered to Beckett.
"Yup," she said, grabbing his hand and heading out of the room.
"Did you guys get a new paint job in here?" Castle asked, reclining in his chair and surveying the precinct as Beckett typed up the arrest report. "It looks different." His phone buzzed loudly before Beckett could reply and he sighed, digging for his cell. He checked the screen, seeing a string of text messages. "Alexis is back and she's bugging me to meet her for lunch."
"Go," she said, sensing tension.
"Will you come by for dinner later?"
"Yes."
He went in for a kiss, but then remembered where they were. Beckett slipped a hand around his neck before he could pull away. "It's okay," she whispered.
His lips lifted into a grin as he pressed his mouth with hers. Cheers and whistles erupted around them and they both broke apart, smiling idiotically. Beckett stood up and addressed the room of clapping uniforms and badges. "Alright, that's enough everyone. Thank you."
Someone shouted, "Again!", while others started to chant. Gates stepped out of her office and everyone immediately quieted, holding in their breaths. Her gaze slowly swept the room before landing on the pair. She then gestured at them.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
Beckett arrived at the loft later that evening in her work clothes and a bottle of wine she bought at the bodega a block away. Martha embraced her with a warm hug when she opened the door to the detective.
"I'm glad you're back," she murmured before pulling away with a soft look in her eye. She led Beckett into the kitchen where Castle was manning the stove. He grinned at the sight of her.
"Hey, you made it," he said as he stirred a pan of fried vegetables. He was wearing a flowery apron over a checkered flannel.
"Nice outfit," she said, arching an amused brow.
"I'll have you know this is a very trusty apron," he said with a chuckle.
"I have no doubt," she said, coming up beside him. "Smells good." His free arm wound around her waist as he drew her in for a kiss. She sighed into him, the heaviness of the day suddenly lifting from her.
"You two are darling," Martha said, and Beckett blushed, hiding her face in Castle's shoulder for a moment. Castle squeezed her gently, a laugh rumbling in his chest.
"Could you help me with the table, Detective?" Martha asked as she brushed by the couple to grab some wine glasses.
"Of course," Beckett said, reaching toward a cabinet for plates. She and Martha worked around each other, setting down napkins and lighting candles. It was almost unsettling how easy it was to fall back into familiar patterns. Like nothing had ever happened. Except..."Where's Alexis?" Beckett asked, pausing in front of a dining chair. She watched a look pass between Castle and Martha and her heart sank. "Oh."
"She had plans with some college friends tonight," Castle said.
"Right," Beckett said, distracted.
"Oh, kiddo, I wouldn't worry about it. She'll come around," Martha tutted. She poured some wine into a glass and pushed it into Beckett's hand. "Here, this'll help."
Beckett flashed her a weak smile and took a healthy sip.
After dinner, Martha said she had late-night plans with some old theater acquaintances. She left the two of them to clean up.
Beckett bumped her hip with his as they washed dishes and he splashed her with soap suds. Soon, they were both wet and laughing but the sound of the front door shutting stopped them short.
Alexis slowed her step as she neared the kitchen.
"I didn't think you'd still be here," the redhead said, dropping her bag on the counter.
"Oh, um, I was just helping with the dishes," Beckett said, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Maybe I should go."
"Don't leave on my account," Alexis said, "But it is what you're best at, so I won't hold it against you."
"Alexis," Castle warned.
The redhead propped a hand under her chin innocently.
"So are you back for good now? Or are you here to just string him along again?" Alexis asked.
"That's enough," Castle said, his face stone-cold.
"Hey, it's okay," Beckett said, putting a calming hand on his chest. "Let me talk to her," she soothed.
"Gram told me there was a ring. Is that true?" Alexis's eyes flashed.
"Can you give us a moment?" Beckett asked, looking at Castle beseechingly. He sighed, torn. He thumbed a soapy bubble from under her eye.
"Yeah, sure," he said after a moment. He knew she needed this. They both did.
He dropped a kiss on Alexis's head as he passed by her. "Be nice," he said firmly. There was a brief, tense silence while they waited for him to hide away in his office. Alexis crossed her arms, her jaw hardening.
"So?" she edged out.
Beckett straightened her hair and finally said, "There was a ring. And I wanted to say yes."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because we were in the middle of a fight. And he made it seem like an ultimatum. Him or the job."
"You chose the job."
"I thought it was what I wanted."
Alexis scoffed and muttered, "Classic."
Beckett shifted her feet.
"Look, I know I don't have much ground to stand on here. I hurt your father, and you want to protect him. But I love him, and if I have to show up here every day and prove that to you, then I will because I'm not going to leave this time."
"Why now? What's so different this time?"
"You'd be a really good lawyer, you know," Beckett said.
Alexis softened. A small smile flitted at her lips. Beckett gave her a long look.
"It's different because I've decided to listen to my heart. I've been ignoring it for a really long time. Ever since my mom died, really. I've had this, um,…"
"Wall," Alexis filled in.
Beckett paused. "You and your dad really share everything, huh?"
"Almost," Alexis said with a sad smirk.
"That wall...I think it's pretty much dust now."
Alexis looked her over. Considering.
"Do you want some hot chocolate?"
