I OWN NOTHING!

LJ

Just as Kate was coming down the stairs the there was a knock at the door. Kate shot a look to Rick, as it was usual for Ed, the door man, to ring up for anyone. After all people might start to question things when Kate starts opening the door to what they believe to be Rick's loft.

'I told Ed to just let them up, can't detain our guests in the lobby can we?' He said with a smirk and walked over to the door. Kate quickly did a scan of the room, making sure there was no evidence of their relationship left anywhere; there wasn't. She quickly made her way down the last few stairs and decided to lean against the bar and pour herself a drink.

'Are they here yet? I didn't want to be late, are we late? Bro tell me I didn't drive that fast for nothing!' Esposito fired off as soon as he entered the loft with Ryan and a noticeably pregnant, Jenny in tow. Who both looked like Esposito had forced them to run up the stairs, instead of taking the elevator, in case they were late. Kate had to smile at herself; Esposito was really excited about tonight and it was kind of funny to see him get so worked up when they were the first ones here.

'Chill Esposito, you're the first ones here.' Rick said as he ushered them all in and the first sight they took in was Beckett leaning against the bar downing a glass of wine. Rick then noticed his slip. 'I mean... the first ones here after Beckett of course,' he said hoping that they would buy it. Instead of waiting for a response he led them all over to the bar and got behind to serve out some drinks.

Kate was just smiling to herself, for that little slip she got to be on top tonight. She was pulled out of her musing by Ryan and Jenny both taking seats at the bar,

'Hey Beckett, how long have you been here?' Ryan asked as he took the beer Castle offered him.

'Oh um, not long…how are you Jenny?' Kate asked trying to shift the attention away from herself.

'Exhausted, really. It's very frustrating I am only four months pregnant and I feel ready for this baby to just get out of me. A little advice for you, unless you like pain don't ever have kids.' She said in an exasperated tone. 'But as tired as this pregnancy is making me, I wasn't going to give up a chance to see my husband lose at Poker.' She said with a laugh and Kate joined in.

'Hey! Who said I was going to lose? I thought you came along for support and to talk pregnancy stuff with other people for once' Ryan replied in a playfully upset tone.

'Oh I'm sorry Kev, yes that is what I meant but you do kind of have a tendency to lose.' His wife replied taking the fancy glass of lemonade from Rick and upon Rick's insistence, going to make herself comfortable in an armchair.

'So when are these writer buddies of yours coming around Castle? You weren't making it up were you dude, that would be way un-cool!' Esposito said from across the room, getting quite annoyed at the idea that Castle could have lied.

'They will be here any minute Espo so please calm down and don't embarrass me' Rick said in a playfully warning tone. Just as Esposito was about to reply there was another knock on the door. Kate looked over to Rick who had just spilt a bright red Cocktail down his white dress shirt. Kate sighed and stood up from the bar, 'I'll get it; you go change.' Before walking over to the door to find Rick's three writer buddies and the mayor with his wife in tow, all staring at her with smiles.

She let them into the loft taking their coats and putting them in the hall closet, when she realised she should explain Rick's absence, just as she was about to he walked down the stairs in a pale blue shirt this time. Kate couldn't help but smile, that was her favourite shirt to see on him and he knew it. This shirt always had a way of making him look even more handsome than he already was and tonight was no exception.

'Hey Boy's! Oh and of course the lovely Marissa,' he said addressing the mayor's wife, 'How are you all?' Rick started the small talk which gave Kate the chance to relax and get herself another drink.

As Rick was making introductions there was another knock on the door. Without thinking Kate walked over and opened it, thankfully no one noticed how natural that action was for her. When the door opened she was greeted with the Captain and his wife, who had recently become a good friend of Kate's.

'Beckett!' The captain greeted, slightly surprised she was answering the door, and she responded with a 'Hello Sir' and went to take his wife's coat.

'Castle's through there, along with everyone else,' Kate directed, as soon as they were out of sight, Kate slumped against the hall closet door. This was going to be a long night, she thought to herself.

Finally, they were all seated around a huge poker table that Rick had hired for the night. It had been a debate of whether to sit next to her husband or to sit somewhere else. But in the end no one would honestly think twice if they sat next to each other, so that's what she did. They were half way through their first hand, when there was a knock on the door. Kate turned and met her husband's eye; they weren't expecting anyone else, were they?

Rick gave a curious look and got up to answer the door, a second later all that could be heard was a woman's voice saying, 'Hello Rick, hope I'm not too late am I?'

And after the last four days that was a voice Kate would recognise anywhere; Agent Serena Kaye.

Oh this was going to be fun, Kate thought sarcastically as she downed her glass of wine. Let the games begin!

So I decided to stretch out the poker night to the next chapter as well. Some interesting stuff will go down, I think.

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