Have I mentioned how much I love writing this story? Because I really do. Enjoy!

Summer at the Cabin Part One

Martha was all for Castle spending the summer at the Becketts' cabin.

"I'll be out at rehearsal all summer anyway," she said once he'd asked about going upstate to the cabin on the lake. "You'll be lonely. Might as well go and have fun with all your friends while you have the time."

"Gee," Castle grumbled, "thanks for the reminder."

He still hadn't forgiven his mother for enrolling him at Edgewyck and Martha couldn't really blame him.

"I'm sorry, Darling," she said, "but I can't just leave you home by yourself while I'm touring and we can't afford anything close by. At least, at Edgewyck, you'll be safe and sound. And it's only for this year; you'll be back at one of the local schools before you know it!"

"I hope so," Castle had groused, before leaving his mother alone in the living room so he could go pack.

When the tenth came, Kate practically dragged him out of the apartment at five in the morning.

"The sun's not even out!" he whined, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

"Come on, Castle!" she replied, taking his bag from him and shoving it into the back of her father's Jeep. "Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I think I may have left it under my pillow," he snarked, climbing in next to a sleeping Lanie. Kate rolled her eyes and got in next to him, buckling her seatbelt.

"Let's go, Dad!" she exclaimed. Jim nodded, smiling at her in the rearview mirror and started the car.

Castle dozed on and off for the entire trip, being shaken awake by Kate more than once when she saw something that excited her in a way that befuddled him.

"Why are you so energetic this morning?" Castle groaned. "You're shaking like a Chihuahua."

"Dad let me have my first cup of coffee this morning!" Kate exclaimed, grinning madly. "It was great!"

"Don't worry, Rick," Jim said from the front seat. "I'll never make that mistake again."

"Please don't," Castle said, groaning when Kate elbowed him in the side. He poked her back and she giggled like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

At around six, the sun was just starting to peek up above the trees and Castle turned to watch Kate's face as she watched the sunrise. Her green eyes glittered and her smile could have lit up all of New York City. Castle couldn't keep his own smile from spreading at the sight and he reached down, interlocking their fingers and squeezing, his smile widening when he felt her squeeze back.

Kate smiled back at him and leaned her head on his shoulder as she continued to watch the sun. Castle couldn't resist pressing a kiss against her forehead, his eyes checking to make sure that her father was not watching as he did so.

Jim, for his part, had excellent peripheral vision and while the thought of his little girl dating anyone at her age was heartbreaking, he couldn't be happier about her choice.

X_X

When they arrived at the cabin, Castle's jaw practically dropped to the floor. It was huge. Much bigger than anyplace Castle had ever lived. He estimated it must have had at least four bedrooms and it was probably the kind of place with its own balcony and deck overlooking the lake.

"This place is amazing!" Castle exclaimed, his smile lighting up his face. Jim stood next to him, grinning.

"Yeah, it's a beaut, isn't it?" he said. "Took me three years to make enough money for it, but I think it was worth it, don't you?" Castle nodded.

"Definitely," he sighed. Jim laughed and patted his back.

"Come on," he said, "let me show you to your room; you've got your own until Javi and Kevin get here."

"Awesome!" Castle exclaimed. Jim laughed again and led him into the house, up the stairs and to the left, where he opened a door to a large, east-facing room, with a door leading to the balcony. Castle grinned, knowingly.

The room had a pair of wooden bunk beds on one side and a single, twin-sized bed on the other, with drawers underneath. There was a dresser next to the bunk beds and a bookshelf next to the door, already filled with classics. Castle glanced at it, already taking a checklist of the books he wanted to read from it.

"So what do you think?" Jim asked, startling from his thoughts.

"This is great!" Castle exclaimed, walking over towards the balcony doors and opening them, glancing out. There was another room at the end of it, with a small gate partitioning them off.

"The girls will be in the room adjacent," Jim informed him. "And Jo and I will be right across the hall from you." He said this pointedly, looking straight at Castle. The boy gulped and nodded in understanding. "You just call us if you need us, okay?" Castle nodded. "Oh, and go ahead and choose with bed you want since the boys aren't here." Castle grinned and jumped onto the single bed, stretching out and sighing. Jim laughed. "That's what I thought," he said. "You go ahead and get unpacked. Jo and I are gonna start breakfast soon so get ready for some good, warm food."

"Thanks, Jim," Castle said, smiling gratefully, "for inviting me and all."

"Anytime, Rick," Jim said, grinning. He knew, of course, that one day he and the boy were going to have to have a talk about his relationship with his daughter, but that day wasn't today. He might as well let him settle in for now.

That was part one; I have class! REVIEWS!