I've spent an inordinate amount of time on this particular section, which I think is time to bring to a close now. I want to move on with the story.
Spring Break Conclusion
The rest of the week went by almost in a blur.
After paintball and Mario Kart, Castle dragged the girls out for the first ice cream of Spring, despite the slight chill still in the air. But he was buying so they didn't really mind.
The next day, they took a trip to Coney Island. None of the rides or booths were open yet, but it was still fun to ride around on their bikes and spend their day racing from one place to the next. They spent all day there before retiring to their respective apartments. That night, Castle snuck into Kate's room and they sat out on her balcony, watching the lights of Manhattan twinkle like stars in the night, huddled together under a blanket.
Javier returned from Florida two days before Kevin got back from Ireland and Lanie spent practically the entire first day on his back—literally. Javi didn't mind, though; he was just as happy to give her piggy back rides as she was to take them. Kate and Castle teased them with gagging noises the entire day, but they didn't even seem to notice.
Together, they spent the day in Times Square, standing in line at the TKTS and getting the cheapest tickets possible for some show about a town where you had to pay to pee (Castle sang the songs all the way home, until Javi threatened to punch him out). They all spent the night at Kate's—Javi in Castle's room and Lanie in Kate's—and woke up early to watch the sunrise from the roof of the building before going to Remy's for breakfast.
After that, the couples split ways for a date night, making plans to meet up at Kevin's to welcome him home.
Castle took Kate to an Off-Broadway that his mother's friend had hooked him up with and they spent the entire night laughing at the over-dramatic acting and lame comedy. Afterwards, he bought them each a hot dog and held her hand as they walked through Bryant Park on their way home.
When they returned home, Johanna was in the kitchen, talking with her visiting father.
"Katie Bug!" Grandpa Stanley boomed, embracing her immediately. Kate sunk into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his bulky frame.
"Hi, Grandpa," she greeted, kissing his cheek. The man was large and while his head was shiny and bare, he had a long white beard. Castle's eyes widened when he saw the jolly old man.
"Whoa," he gasped. "Kate, is your grandpa Santa Claus?"
The old man boomed out a laugh. "This must be Rick, then!" he exclaimed. Kate nodded, grinning.
"Rick Rodgers," she said, "this is my Grandfather, Stanley Klaus."
"Your last name is Klaus?" Castle gasped, his eyes growing big. "No way!"
Stanley nodded, still grinning. "Yes way," he replied. "My mother and father emigrated from Germany after their marriage. Klaus is a German name."
"It sounds suspiciously like Claus," Castle commented.
"Shh," Stanley replied, putting a finger to his lips. "You'll give away my secret."
Castle laughed, shaking his head. "Your grandfather is awesome," he commented. "I can't believe I never met him before."
"Well," Stanley said, "that is partially my fault. I've been on tour, you see."
"Tour?" Castle asked. "Are you a travelling Santa Claus?"
"Rick!"
"Castle!"
Both Johanna and Kate spoke at the same time, but Grandpa Stanley just laughed. "It's all right, dears," he said, patting his daughter's back and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "The boy is just curious, is all. And a tad bit slow, I'd say," he whispered to Kate, who snickered.
"Hey!" Castle complained.
Stanley's gut jiggled as he laughed and he shook his head. "My apologies, boy," he said. "But to answer your question; no, I am not a travelling Santa Claus—those days are over. Instead, I travel about the world doing a different kind of magic."
"You're a magician?" Castle gasped, taking a seat at the table at the same time the old man did. Stanley nodded.
"For the last fifteen years now; since my dear Katarina passed." At the mention of her mother's name, Johanna placed her hand over her father's and Stanley gave her a small smile, kissing her temple. "You look just like her," he whispered. "More so, every single day." Jo smiled and squeezed his hand, encouraging him to continue with his story. "Anyway," he said, "before then I had been a lawyer with some fancy shmancy law firm that now has new partners and a new name. When Kat died, I was lost. I stopped going to work, stopped bathing, even stopped eating for a while…" he trailed off for a moment to collect himself. "Finally, it was my Jojo who pulled me back to my feet, encouraged me to go back to work, which I did. But it only took me a week to realize that I didn't want to do it anymore, you know? I didn't want to sit at a desk all day or argue about money and find loopholes to get wealthy people even more money—which was all that I was doing at the time. So…I quit. I packed up my desk, handed in my resignation, and went home. A week later, I was practicing magic, which I'd long ago given up in favor of building a life for my family. It took less than a month for me to begin appearing at children's parties or in Central Park as a street performer. It started with simple tricks—pulling bunnies out of hats, making doves appear, pulling flowers out of thin air, and so on. But as it got more complicated, I became a little more well known and, soon, I was on the road. But I had the profound luck to be here for my little Katie Bug's birth before I left. I've been all over the world for the last decade and a half and, now, I am back for good."
Kate perked up at that. "Really?" she asked, a smile blooming on her face.
Stanley nodded. "I am far too old to spend another moment away from my family, my dear," he said. "I want to stay and see you graduate high school and college and, perhaps one day, marry young Mr. Rodgers here."
At that, Castle choked on nothing and Kate had to whack him on the back before he could get his breathing back to normal.
"Relax, Castle," she said. "We still have years before that's even an option; don't worry."
"Worry?" Castle gasped. "Who's worrying? I'm just mad he ruined my perfect proposal."
Kate rolled her eyes and nudged him, but she was blushing slightly and he noticed. Under the table, he brushed his fingers against hers in reassurance, shooting her a small smile and a wink that didn't go unnoticed by either adult.
He didn't really care, though; they'd be family soon anyway, right?
CBCBCBCBCB
After Kevin got back, it was just like old times.
They spent the day playing basketball in the park and walked around the five boroughs until their feet hurt. They stood in line at Magnolia and stole bites out of each other's desserts. They went for one more round of paintball and played girls against boys and, despite being outnumbered, the latter was dominated by the former.
They ended the week the Monday after a very Beckett-filled Easter (in which Castle received the death glare from nearly every male member and the "what do you want to do with your life?" from every female member, and vice versa. Aunt Theresa is the only one who deviated, with pictures of her thirteen cats and their life stories) at Remy's for lunch, where they would have to say goodbye to Castle, at least until his next visit back from school.
Kevin was the extra wheel this time and felt it as Javi and Lanie played footsy under the table (ew) and Kate and Castle practically held hands over their burgers (double ew). They all talked about their vacations and didn't dwell too much on the fact that, out of all of them, Kevin was the only one who remained without a significant other, but he couldn't help but notice what he was lacking.
That is, until she walked in.
"Hey," Javi said, nudging Kevin. "Isn't that the blonde girl you got the hots for?"
"Her name is Jenny," Kevin whispered through gritted teeth. "And shut up."
Javi gave him an evil grin. "Ooh, Kevie's got a cruuuuush! Kevin and Jenny, sittin' in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N—ow!" Javi turned to glare at Kate, who'd kicked him. She lifted one brow, challengingly, and he shut up, sticking his tongue out at her, eliciting an eye roll.
Kevin continued to watch her as she was led to a table by two older girls who looked just like her (possibly her sisters?) and his heart nearly stopped beating as she glanced his way and gave him a brilliant smile and a little wave.
After that, he's pretty sure he died and went to heaven because he can't remember anything.
Only her smile.
REVIEWS please! There will be Jenny/Kevin soon!