Falling Down
Chapter 21
It had been two weeks since Vegas. They'd talked a lot about the, "time to tell." Beckett remained nervous over how everyone would respond. Meanwhile for Castle, the child was on the loose. He kept mumbling, "She's going to marry me." Beckett walked into the study one evening and caught him. He'd turned his chair around so he did not see or hear her enter, he spoke quietly to the wall, "She's going to be my wife."
She stood silently in door way, but when she heard him, she stepped back quietly and walked over to the window and looked out. She wondered how anyone could be this crazy about her. She'd had boyfriends, and lovers, but after the newness wore off, they'd lost interest. A couple had even cheated on her, or just drifted away. But this man, he'd worked with her for three years, had seen her at her best and worst. Endured her wrath, selfishness, the moody and cranky days, but always faced her with dancing eyes as though he was observing magic itself.
When she first turned from the door way, she felt a surge of emotion, her eyes stung a bit, but she was tired of tears. Instead she smiled, and took a deep breath, inhaling what felt like palpable affection emanating from him in the next room. She reversed course and walked back to the office.
"Hey," leaning against the door frame, "What are you doing?"
"Well well, if it isn't my lovely lady." He curled his index finger and beckoned her near.
She moved across the office, he swung the chair to face her, pulling her onto his lap. With his arms wrapped around her, "Have I told you I'm crazy for you today?"
She leaned back and offered a bright appreciative smile, "You have...but I think I'm ready for an update."
XX
Later that night as they lay in the dark, hands intertwined, they returned to the subject of the announcement.
"We need to let our secret out, before I head out of town for the next couple of weeks on tour."
She groaned, "We have talk about that."
"The tour or the announcement?"
"Both."
"What? You've changed your mind about marrying me or, you've quit your job and are going to traveling with me?" He chuckled into the dark.
"Cute. I have not changed my mind about stealing your name and your money! Gold digger that I am..." The next thing she knew, he'd pulled her up against his chest and locked one leg between his, ""I take it you're holding me until the police come."
Clearing his throat, "Ah, you are the police and..."
"Shut up Castle."
"Fine, so do you want to publish our engagement?" His eyebrows raised.
"No, I don't care what New York knows, but, Gina may have another view on that."
His jaw dropped, "What? Forget Gina, what are you thinking?"
She did not respond, but moved on, "Just a causal way to tell them, maybe a dinner?"
"My mother keeps dropping hints, so I don't think she's going to be surprised."
"OK, if we do a dinner, who do we invite?"
"Your Dad, my Mother, Alexis, Lanie, Espo, Ryan..."
"Gina!"
He groaned, "Why her?
"Because we need her on our team."
"How can you say that, she tried to get you to leave the State?"
"I'm not delusional, Gina will never trust me...nor I her. But we need to be pragmatic. If she's on board from the beginning we'll have more control. Besides you work with her constantly, she needs be one of the first to know."
Castle just shook his head, "Did you just hear that? That's the cop lady I used to chase."
Beckett simply grunted.
"What about Montgomery? Would you be OK with him here?"
Beckett was quiet, then "I don't want to do anything that would interrupt your working with me...don't know how he'd feel about it...what if he feels obliged to enforce the rules. You're not a cop, but he treats you like one..."
"We'll have to think about him. Anyway we've got a pretty good size group...but they're all important to us. With maybe one exception..."
"I like when you say us, it holds a completely new meaning for me...so when are we going to do this?"
"Let me grab my phone, look at our calendars, sort it out."
As he started to get up, she grabbed him arm, and held on. He turned to face her, "About the calendar...how long will you be gone on this tour?"
"I think three weeks."
"Don't like that…at all."
"I have to earn my keep, you know that."
She laughed, he didn't need to earn another dime, but he did need to be creative to be happy. She would not get in his way, too much. But three weeks was not going to work for her. "You were telling me how well my 'trust' has been doing, and I was trying to think of ways to spend my...your money." She had drifted back to her pillow and with room, swatted his stomach. He groaned.
"What does money have to do with a book tour? You plan to buy all the books, so I don't leave home?"
"Hardly, I just thought you could get Gina to work a night or so each week for you and I to rendezvous. We've got the dough, lets be together. "
Castle sat up and switched on the light.
"Castle what are you doing, that too bright...anyway we're suppose to be going to sleep."
He stared at her, and smiled, "Who has stolen Kate Beckett?" He flopped back the covers and ran his hand to her hip, his finger landing on a small mole on her left side. They even gave you a mole like her."
She pushed his hand away, "What are you talking about?"
"There was a time when you'd been happy to leave me at the curb with the trash, and now...you want me to work it out so we won't be apart." He leaned over and kissed the mole, "Can you check my pulse to make sure I'm in a coma and dreaming this?"
"Just come up here and kiss me. Let me see what I can do about your pulse."
Without another word, he switched off the lights, moved toward her, and thought, "the calendar can wait."
XX
The plans for the dinner were put together fast. Castle had six days until the book tour started. That meant the dinner would be on Saturday evening, he'd travel on Sunday. Because of the time, he decided to have the meal catered. It would be easier.
Kate had confirmations from everyone, including Captain Montgomery. They decided to take the chance by inviting her boss. Otherwise, the close family members and friends were all on board.
Tuesday morning, Martha caught up with her son, "OK Richard, what's the deal with this party? You did this very quickly, so just tell me know, am I going to be a grandmother again?"
"What? Mother what did you drink last night, no wait, I don't care what, how much?"
"I'll have you know I had nothing to drink, I was doing a cleanse."
"Define cleanse for me, but don't gross me out."
"Fine, 72 hours with no champagne."
He barked out a laugh, "That's a cleanse?"
"For some us, most certainly."
"OK Mother...and no Kate is not pregnant. Please do say that out loud, she would be..." He shook his head, "I don't know what...just don't." Wanting to leave this madness behind, "can I trust you to behave at the dinner?"
She feigned insult, "You have nothing to worry about with your Mother, you should know that I am a professional." Holding her head up high.
"A professional Mother?"
"Richard, we're done. I've go to get cleaned up, lunch with friends."
As she walked away, he muttered, "Don't forget the cleanse."
XX
In his office he started to work, but then grabbed his phone.
Hey, cornered by Mother, wanted to know if she was going to be a grandmother again?
It took fifteen seconds for a response, LOL, you gotta be kidding!
No! Dead serious.
I'm calling.
Castle picked up on the first ring, "So Detective, is there something you need to share with me?"
"You wish. Has your mother been...drinking?"
"Funny you ask, that was first thing I asked her."
XX
The week seemed like it was fifteen minutes long. Beckett had caught a new case and Castle wanted to work with the team as much as possible. The problem was he needed to work the phone at Black Pawn. While the office could call and make arrangements for each of the planned stops it was just the nuts and bolts of putting the tour together. But call from the author could make all the difference in the tour.
They knew book stores and shopping centers had authors in all the time. It could be like having an old acquaintance drop by, unexpectedly. It was one more thing to add to an already busy week. But when Castle called and spoke to the mangers about the upcoming visit, all the stress seemed to vanish. He was good with people, and the busy people always seemed to appreciate a reaching out by the author himself. He normally asked if he could bring something, as a guest in their store. His rule was, whatever they asked for, and if it was within his power, he would honor the request. Many wanted one of his books, normally their favorite autographed, he'd always complied. But he always added a note of thanks and a gift card to a near by coffee shop, signed on the back by him.
One manager he spoke with was new at her job and confided to him that one day she hoped to be a writer instead of a book store manger. When he asked, if it was not too much of an imposition, for a few pages of notes, or a copy of his outline. She told him the book she liked the most. After hanging up Castle smiled and dove into his closet to find and old zip drive that contained what she asked for. But there was more.
Even though all his writing was done on a lap top, he made notes on napkins, scraps of paper and in a small journal he carried in his back pocket. It would go everywhere with him. After digging for awhile he found the pile of stuff and put it in a small leather binder. He hoped she would like it.
XX
Saturday arrived with Beckett fussing, about everything. She didn't know what to wear, she didn't want him to go. She didn't know if the food would be OK and fretted that they hadn't taken time to make the meal themselves.
The party was set for 7pm. It was 5:45 and she was pacing around the bedroom.
He'd finished his shower and headed for the closet, but she didn't hear him, "Kate." She jumped.
"Castle you sacred me to death."
"Coming out the bathroom after a shower?" He looked confused and then read her taunt facial features, "Are you OK?"
She sat hard on the side of the bed, "No."
"No? What...whats wrong."
"I am so nervous…I want this to go well…" she trailed off.
"But?" Sitting beside her.
When she said nothing, he spoke softly, "Hey, you chase people with guns, who are trying to shoot you. You don't get nervous...these are your friends and family. What's bothering you?"
"Rick, what if they think I'm a flake, rushing into this, we've only been together a few months..."
"Are you having second thoughts about a wedding?"
"No...no, not at all. I'm having seconds thoughts about them, and what they might think."
He wrapped his arm around her, pulled her close, "They'll be delighted, trust me."
XX
The first arrival was Jim Beckett. Kate greeted him at the door.
"Hey Katie, you look beautiful."
Her eyes immediately glistened and she stepped forward to give him a hug. His daughter was not a hugger, yet she held him close and long. She whispered into his ear, "I love you Dad, I wish Mom was here tonight."
He stepped back and laughed, a warm happy laugh, "Oh, I wish that every day my dear."
He could not remember when he'd seen his daughter so happy, so content, a trait that seldom visited his one and only tightly-wound child. What the senior Beckett did not say to her was that he and Rick had met a couple of days earlier for lunch. Castle wanted his blessing to marry Kate, but he also wanted to assure her father that no matter how things turned out with his cancer, he would make sure Kate was financially secure for life.
When they met for coffee he greeted Kate's dad, "I feel like I owe you an apology Mr. Beckett."
The lawyer held up his hand, "Please Rick don't me make me feel older than I already am, just Jim, plain and simple." Before Castle could speak he pressed on, "And what on earth do you have to apologize to me for? You've made my daughter the happiest she's ever been."
Castle looked down at the table, "I feel like a thief. Still I have loved her for years. There is no one like her, and I've met a lot of people during my days as an author...but...I don't have a full life to offer her...her happiness comes with an unavoidable portion of sorrow. I can't promise her a long life or that we'll grow old together. It's...just uncertain."
"It has been nearly fifteen years since I lost her mother. There is not a day that I don't think about her. She was as wonderful to me, as Katie is to you." He paused and looked out the window, then back to Castle.
Rick had never seen a face transform into such sorrow so quickly. He had been on numerous calls with Kate, informing a victims family of the terrible news. They reacted in many ways but it often took time for the news to sink in. But Mr. Beckett looked like he'd slipped on a mask, but there was no mask, just the weight of grief, accumulated over all the years, and allowed to reveal itself. It nearly took his breath away. He could think of nothing to say.
"I have thought about you two. The challenges you face, the limits imposed by your health. Needless to say I would give everything I have, and more, for just one day with Johanna. She was so much fun, so funny, so ornery. She was a lot smarter, a lot wittier than me. So I get that you guys have some time restraints. Don't apologize and don't trade a single day, for a worry about tomorrow."
"I will try to honor that."
"Do more than try. Seize this gift that only you two share. Enjoy each minute. Waste nothing." He paused, "And yes, you have my blessing to marry my daughter."
As he looked at his daughter now, he smiled at the thoughts of the earlier talk, he looked forward to the, "official announcement."
Beckett momentarily scrutinized the look on her dads face, "What Dad, what are you smiling for?"
"Katie, when you look like you look tonight, nothing could make your Dad happier." He stepped around her, "Where is he?"
XX
At 11:15 the last guest left. As the front door shut, Castle turned and leaned against it, laying his head back to rest. As he studied Beckett he was not sure what she was feeling or thinking. "What's that look?"
Then she smiled, "That was so much fun...I think I might have a broken rib from either Espo, or Ryan or your Mother hugging me so hard."
"I had to tell them to go easy on my hand, I am a writer."
She hooked his arm and they walked over to the window. "I was surprised by Alexis, she was...pretty emotional. I think she hugged me a half a dozen times."
"She thinks the world of you Detective."
She turned and faced him, "I'm glad she is with us on this, I never want to come between you and your daughter."
"Don't think you have to worry about that. She asked me when we got back from the Galapagos if I was going to marry you."
"Really?"
"I told her my health might make that a problem, she would hear none of it. She told me to live my life like I had forever."
"Did she? And..."
Pulling her close, "You are my forever Kate."
After a few moments she asked, "Did you talk to Montgomery?"
"Yes and no. He asked what took so long, and added he knew by the end of the our first month together, it was a partnership that would not end. Then he laughed and said we are the two the of most stubborn, and lame, people he has ever, met...wondered if he was going to have to draw us a chart."
"Did he?" She laughed, "He told me that since you are not an official employee of the NYPD, and if we agree to avoid PDA's, he does not think our marriage will effect our working arrangement."
"PDA's?"
"Really Castle, and you call yourself a writer...public displays of affection...come on."
He pulled her closed, starting tugging, "How about FRC?
"Pray tell?"
"And you're a Detective….fast removal of clothing."
She swatted his hand. "Wait, let me tell you what Lanie said...she laughed, let me see if I can quote her...the only thing missing from your marriage was the sex and the rings, who are you trying to kid? You guys have been married for years...she then squealed and hugged me."
Later, the lights were out, they lay beside each other, but not yet asleep. She heard his breathing start to change. "Hey, Castle."
He stirred, moved closer and covered her stomach with his hand, in a sleepy voice. "Yes...what can I do for you?"
"You told my Dad...before tonight."
The hand retracted, "What?"
She sat up, grabbed her pillow and started whacking him.
Jumping away, "Beckett...crap what are you doing."
"You...told...my...Dad!"
"I what?" Thump, the pillow hit him in head. This time he jumped out of bed and hit the light switch.
"What is wrong with you woman?"
She sad in the middle of the bed, pillow cocked for another onslaught. She blew the hair from her eyes, "Just fess up Castle."
"Ah...well...I had to ask him for his daughters hand in marriage...especially to a guy like me."
She sat down the pillow, "A guy like you? Care to explain?"
"No," stretching the 'o' out, "I just want to go to sleep."
She gave him her cop stare, "Well...that's not happening...so spill."
Ten minutes later the story was out.
She just shook her head, "Let's go to sleep, and by the way...you two are as easy to read as a billboard in Times Square." Thump.
He groaned.
AN: Again, thank you for the many comments and your thoughts on this tale. Thanks for taking the time to follow along. Madreag.