Once Lost But Now Found
Chapter 17 - Homecoming
The three weeks of Rick being on his book campaign went by slowly for Kate. If not for her daughter being with her, it would have been unbearable. Alexis gave her comfort from Rick's absence. As the days of the three weeks passed, it made Kate realize just how much Rick had become part of her life. She could no longer see a future without him present on a daily basis sharing a life with their daughter and being there for both of them 24/7.
Brent was still pursuing her for dates, but she continued to say no. Brent attempted to talk about the shooting and their reaction afterward. She put him off by saying it was just the heat of the moment that led to their reactions. They were after all patrol partners so the potential of losing him to an incident such as what had happened would be an emotional event. On occasion, she got texts from Demming to remind her that if she chose to be with another man, other than Edwards and Castle, he was there for her. Despite all the attention she was getting from all three men, two very actively, she now saw how Rick was quietly waiting for her to decide on them. With each day of Rick's absence, she longed for his company. She came to accept that Rick was the one she wanted, despite the doubts that had arisen in her from his absence and the shooting. He had been patient with her, never really pushing her, but just being there for her. Through all the confusion and angst of their crazy and perplexing union, she had been vacillating on what she wanted for the both of them.
Rick had even suggested she see other men, to truly come to gripes with what she wanted from Rick, from them. The attention of Brent and Demming had further served to make her even more indecisive of what she wanted. Although she had refused to date Brent and ignored Demming's weak suggestions that he was better than Rick or Brent; she rejected both of these men. It was her way to simplify the current situation. It had not worked! There had been times when she seriously considered dating both men while being with Rick. But always there was a hesitant response to the notion of dating other men.
What was it that was causing her to be so indecisive? Had she already chosen Rick in her hidden mind and it was coming out now as she rejected Brent's and Demming's advances? She had to make a choice! She could not go on this way. Time to put on her big girl pants and make a firm decision that is permanent and final.
Had there really been any competition for her heart? She had a history with Brent, he had been her first. However, Brent had cheated on her ending that relationship. True, it appeared he had changed and come to realize what he threw away with Kate. He was attempting to show Kate he was worthy of her, but it was not enough. Demming all along had been just a pretender for her affections. All Tom wanted from her was to sleep with her, and Kate had seen that early on. Rick, however, had sought her out after only one night of intimacy. Upon learning of her pregnancy, he had been there to support her. Every day of her pregnancy he had showed her what she meant to him. After the birth of their daughter, Rick continued to be there for her and Alexis. He had supported her during that trying time at the Academy and now was again there for her during her probationary rookie year.
So had Kate really been given a choice? Rick stood out without challenge, and Kate had been uncertain and doubtful of him. He had only known her for one night and from that one night sought her out. How had she come to deserve him? She had felt unworthy of his love and attention. He was many steps up from her. How could a man who could have any woman come to be with her? She truly felt unworthy of him.
Now she realized that had been the root cause of her hesitancy to acknowledge that Rick is the one, her one. She was a broken woman; how could he love such a broken person such as herself? She had experienced breakups before, and she still had questions on love and what it meant to be loved. But maybe she needed to find those answers with Rick. Together they could find the answers far better than she alone could!
But now Kate saw clearly that it was not the case that she was unworthy of Rick! HIs absence from her had revealed that Rick is hers. He is the one who can make her whole and put the pieces of herself back together. She had been gone from him for almost two months in the past when she was attending the Academy, but these last three weeks of absence was turning out to be a more difficult separation.
Finally the last week of Rick's book tour came. He was coming home and she was picking him up from his 4PM arrival. It was Friday late afternoon of that final week, and Alpha had the next three days off as a reward for Alpha having solved a tough case. The mini vacation had included the uniforms of Alpha, so she had a long weekend ahead.
When Martha came back from her latest theatrical stint, she had suggested to Kate that if Kate wanted some alone time with Rick, she could care for her grand-daughter. Martha had even recommended that when Kate picked up Rick from his tour to take him to their Hampton summer beach home that Kate had yet to see. This was perfect! This is what Kate needed to do and it fit right in with Kate's desire to give Rick a Welcome Home that he would never forget.
Deciding she would go with Martha's suggestion for a weekend away, Kate had packed her bag. She knew that Rick would already be packed from his book tour. The only downside to this plan was that Rick would be away from their daughter for a couple more days, but Kate fully intended to make that up to Rick
Martha had given her directions to the home, the keys to the house and Ferrari, and the code for unlocking the main gate to the access road leading up to the summer home. Martha had even called their property manager and directed him to prepare the beach house for company.
So Kate's plan for Rick's homecoming was now set and finalized.
Heading To The Hamptons
Rick was surprised when Kate took a different route to the loft. When he realized she was not heading for the loft he asked where they were headed.
'Your mother suggested we have some alone time together at the Hampton summer home. She gave me directions and the key to the house. I have the next three days off."
"Wow, this is a great welcome home, but I will not get to see our daughter till after the weekend."
"Not to worry Martha and my dad will join us with Alexis on Saturday. We have tonight, tomorrow, and part of Saturday just to ourselves."
"Well in that case, open up the Ferrari and turn on the radar detector!"
"Really Rick, are you suggesting that I, a sworn officer with the NYPD, break the speed limit law?"
"No, but you can push the boundary of that speed limit, so we get there sooner."
They arrived at the beach house in record time.
As Rick prepared for dinner with a quick shower, Kate cooked dinner. Martha had called their property manager and had the house readied for their arrival. That preparation had including filling the pantry and frig. Kate decided on a steak dinner, with baked potatoes, and grill vegetables. For dessert, Kate had seen an apple pie in the frig and vanilla ice cream in the freezer section. There had also been wine in the chiller and Kate broke out the wine glasses and set them next to the plates.
After dinner, Rick turned on the gas log fire in the family room. It warmed the room nicely as Rick and Kate sat on the couch facing the fireplace, finishing up their wine bottle. There was a comfortable silence as each took in the ambience of that moment, finally being together and alone with no distractions. Rick is the first to break the silence.
"Kate, it was a tough three weeks for me. I thought of you and Alexis everyday. It made me come to realize how much the two you have become my life. I cannot see having you out of my life. I want us to be together always."
"Oh my God, Rick, that is so surprising, I had the same feelings. I want this, Rick. I want us."
Kate enters his space and plants an affectionate kiss to his lips. The Kiss is filled with longing and desire, and Kate lets out a little sigh when they finish. She wanted him and was showing Rick that.
Rick got her message, but wanted her to confirm that, "Are you sure Kate?"
"Yes, absolutely. I have never been so sure at any time in my life. Take me to bed Rick."
Rick knows the moment is right and puts his wine glass down on the small end table to the couch as Kate does the same. He offers her his hand. She takes it and then Rick leads her to the master bedroom. Clothes are shed quickly as they make their way to the bed as passion and lust consume them both. It is a hot and heavy session, much like their first night together. This time however is multiplied ten times over. All the hidden emotions of not being intimate since that first night come out, the absence and longing adding fuel to their fire. They climax together and the sense of their joining is enhanced by their mutual response to their love making. When they finish, they both are sated, and just lay together spooning.
"So what happens now Kate?"
"I plan to stay in bed till our daughter and parents arrive."
"Great plan", Rick replies as the starts round two of their lust filled session.
They go three rounds in all and then fall asleep completely exhausted from the night's activity.
The Morning After
Kate wakes the next morning and feels no Rick beside her. Then she smells the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
She gets up looking for something to put on for breakfast, and then decides, 'What the hey, there is no one here but us, let's just tease Rick a bit more.'
She goes to the kitchen with not a stitch. As she enters, she spies Rick (in a full length kitchen apron, but nothing else under it) at the stove, finishing up their breakfast. Looks like he had the same idea on teasing that she had and all Kate could do was stare lustfully at Rick's bare backside as he cooked. He had such a nice butt and muscular back that sends shivers thru her.
Sensing her presence, he greets her, but does not turn around to face her, "Good morning, Kate. Coffee is fresh and I have prepared my special 'thank you for last night' pancakes just for you, with eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast. Thought we could use some extra energy before getting back to bed and stay there till just before our guests arrive." He wags his eye brows at her in a suggestive manner when he turned to face her.
"Oh Rick, you really do know how to treat a woman."
With that remark Rick puts down the spatula he was using to finish cooking the scrambled eggs. He comes up to Kate, circles around her, and comes at her from behind. He places his arms completely over and around her in a hot embrace, while he plants a kiss on the back of her neck. He finds the spot between her neck and back of the shoulders, the place he knows Kate loves to be kissed, and drives her wild.
With that kiss, Kate feels her blood boil. Her knees grow weak, but she manages to turn around and plant her lips on his. She gives him a passionate kiss with lots of tongue.
"Stop it Rick, save it for later. We need sustenance to get us thru this morning."
With that they fill their breakfast plates and commence to re-energize.
Breakfast done, they return to Rick's bed and only leave it for lunch.
As they eat lunch, Rick asks her, "Would you like a change of venue Kate?"
"What do you have in mind Rick?"
"Let's go for a sail on my Catamaran. Take in the bay and coastline, looks like a good day for it. We could just lay out on the deck, take in the sun, and then just let things happen."
"Sounds great, let me change."
"Just something casual and a bathing suit."
"I have a new bikini just for you."
"You have thought of everything Kate."
"Not really, Martha told me about the pool."
"But there would have been no need for swim wear, we could have just skinny dipped."
Rick gives her that naughty look again and Kate sees it , then gives him the Beckett glare.
"Or not! Just a comment."
A Boat Ride
They make it to the marina, where his catamaran is docked. Rick gives her a tour of the boat. There are four small staterooms: two staterooms each in the port and starboard hulls. Each stateroom has a full size bed. There is a shared jack and jill head between each of any two staterooms. The entry to the staterooms in each hull is below decks, accessed by stairs going down and ending in front of the shared heads. The staterooms are then right and left of the head. Each hull is a mirror image of the other.
The main cockpit/ saloon area house the galley, dining table, and interior helm station. There is outdoor bench seating in the rear aft of the saloon. The saloon and outside seating can be separated with a sliding 'patio like' door. Rick normally keeps that door open to provide a breeze to the indoor saloon and open it up for a large combined indoor and adjoining outdoor entertainment area. In the rear outdoor section, there is an optional collapsible table. The table is inserted in a mounting hole, the opening of which is flush with the deck, and in front of the outdoor seating. In the up position, the table is a dining table. That table when collapsed converts the outside seating to a sleeping area with cushions placed on the collapsed table. The inside helm is starboard and forward of the galley.
There is a fly bridge topside of the saloon and cockpit with outdoor helm station located on port side. The flybridge is accessed with a ladder going up to it. The ladder is located forward and starboard of the outside seating. The catamaran is powered by two 450 HP diesel engines, one in the stern of each hull.
On the bow of the catamaran are the two trampoline nets between the pontoon-like hulls. Each net joining up to the center track rail between them and from which the anchor is lowered. As they leave the marina, Kate is laying on the forward port trampoline net just sunbathing. Rick is driving from the flybridge helm looking down at her and has a hard time keeping his eyes off Kate. She is a stunning beauty, now accented with the revealing red bikini she wore! Rick is aroused by the sight of her and it is showing thru his Tommy Bahama shorts he has on. Good thing the helm station is hiding that view from Kate.
Once outside the Marina, he gives Kate a guided tour of the adjoining bay and surrounding coast line . Once done cruising, they then return to the bay. They anchor there and have dinner and then a sleepover. They watch the beautiful sunset and then make love on one of the trampoline net s, under the stars and moon, while the boat rocks slightly side to side. After their love making, they retire to a forward stateroom to sleep the night. In the morning, fully sated and rested, they head back to the Marina, just as they get a cell message saying their guests would arrive by noon.
Rick has lunch ready as their family arrives. He gives his daughter a kiss and hug when he sees her. He is BBQing in the back patio that leads directly to the beach. Kate has set the outside dining table with all the plates and utensils.
"Hey their Lexy, did you miss Daddy?", he tells his daughter as he cradles her in his arms.
A quick tour of house is given to Jim. "Great summer home Rick", is Jim's response after the house tour.
"Wait till you see his catamaran. We did a quick boat ride on Friday and then did an overnight on it. We just returned this morning", Kate tells her father.
After lunch they head for the marina once again and the catamaran. Rick repeats the boat tour of the bay and coastline for the benefit of Jim. This time the whole family is present. They return early that evening and enjoy dinner at the Beach house.
The weekend goes by all too quickly and soon they are packing up for a return to the city. They had swapped vehicles for the return as the Benz had the infant car seat. Jim got to drive the ferrari for the first time, Martha being his passenger. They give one last look at the summer home as they prepare to enter their vehicles for the trip back to the city. Rick promises them that they would do more family Hampton weekends together.
It had been the best homecoming Rick had ever received and he could not wait for the next book tour. He vowed to himself, however, that any future book tour would be with Kate and their daughter accompanying him.
The couple had finally committed to becoming a true couple with a lasting family and Rick wanted to take the next big step in their relationship! He had a small velvet box sitting in his s luggage just waiting for the day Rick could propose to Kate. He had bought it on tour at Tiffany's of Los Angeles. Rick just needed to create the right moment to do it. Maybe he could plan on another Hampton weekend where he could 'pop the question' to Kate. His mind was already making a plan to do so.