Chapter 4: You Wouldn't be Here if you didn't Want to be.
Disclaimer: I wish I could tell you guys that over the course of the last few days I somehow came to own Castle, but sadly I still don't.
The Friday before the wedding Kate Beckett stood in her apartment still dressed in her pajamas and contemplated what she needed to get done before that afternoon. The team had been given Friday, the weekend and Monday off for the wedding, and so far the only thing Castle had told her about the upcoming weekend was that they were leaving in the Friday afternoon. The wedding wasn't until Sunday, but she knew by now that he obviously had something up his sleeve.
It was only 7 am, and she was awaiting a text from Castle with more details. She figured he would probably roll out of bed in the next few hours and she had time for a run and a shower before then.
Pulling on her running gear, her hat and mitts, she was off. She loved to run, even in the winter, as long as there hadn't been a major snowfall in the past few days, the sidewalks would be generally clear. She was lucky it wasn't a freezing morning like it had been recently. But spring was right around the corner. It kept peeking out and hiding away once again, but it would be no time till it was here for good.
Running gave Kate a chance to clear her mind, to not focus on what this weekend held. She was glad for the chance to clear her mind, because it had been going a mile a minute for as long as she could remember lately. Running was definitely working well for her at the moment; it was just what she needed. But when she neared her apartment, after doing her normal run, only twenty minutes later, she wished that she had gone slower, taken a longer route, anything to prolong the clear mind it gave her.
Castle finally sent Kate some details at almost 10 am. What a sleepy head she thought. He told her simply to pack for three nights, bring everything she needed for that and the wedding; he would be picking her up at noon, and not to worry about a thing. She wished he had given her more than that. The detective in her wanted to interrogate him for details. What exactly was this weekend going to entail. And why were they heading out to Garden City already when the wedding wasn't until Sunday afternoon, so many questions and so little answers.
Noon rolled around quickly as Beckett packed all of her things she assumed she may need for the weekend and received the text from castle that he waiting for her out back.
As she walked out of her apartment building to the parking lot in the back she found Castle leaning against a silver SUV that she had never seen before. The outside was shiny and sleek, but rugged at the same time, clearly built to withstand the horrible winter in New York City, yet the inside full of buttons and switches, things to play with and controls for the vehicle. She was soon not surprised that Castle owned this car at all, it had him written all over it.
"Nice car, Castle," She said as he opened the back of the SUV for her to throw her overnight bag in.
"I thought you may like it detective, but one thing you wont enjoy so much," He replied. "I'm driving." He said as he jangled the keys in his hand towards her only to quickly snatch them away and walk around to the driver's side and climb in. Beckett simply shook her head, sighed and climbed in the passenger seat.
"Don't get used to this Castle." She said. He just grinned at her and pulled out of her parking lot.
"Are you at least going to tell me where we are going Castle?" Beckett asked. They had been on the road for less than five minutes and she was already itching to know what exactly his plans were for this weekend.
"Ahh, Katherine Beckett? Getting antsy about not knowing what this weekend entails, are we?" Castle asked with a laugh. "Well get used to it. My lips are sealed." He finished while pursing his lips together.
"I know exactly how to get those lips of yours unsealed Rick." She said with a raise of an eyebrow and a sly little grin.
"Do you now?" He replied matching her previous look.
"Castle- the road!" She yelled realized that they were caught in the look they shared. Rick quickly snapped his head back to the road as she began to laugh. He was completely fine and there was nothing to worry about. But Kate knew once he had given he that look and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth that she needed something good to get him.
"You may have won that round Beckett, but like you said, don't get used to it."
Her laughter filled the sounds of the car and Castle smiled. He had the radio playing quietly in the background for a reason, and now he remembered why, he didn't want the radio to drown out the sounds of the lovely Katherine Beckett. He had grown to love her laugh, hearing it more often in the past few months than ever before. It was beautiful, just like the rest of her, and that sound; it was music to his ears. As he snuck glances at her sitting in the seat next to him he couldn't help the grin that formed on his face.
"But really Castle, can I at least have a hint to where we are going?" She asked. She knew they were headed in the direction of the wedding currently, and that they were just about to leave town, but she wanted to know more than that.
"We aren't going to Garden City until Sunday I'll tell you that."
"Castle," she groaned. That was almost no information. They were headed somewhere east, but not to the city the wedding was held in until Sunday, so she had no clue as to where he was taking her for the next two days. And that was when it dawned on her. Some detective she was, not figuring this out sooner. What was east of New York City that would be likely for Castle to take her? The Hamptons. She should have figured that one out much sooner.
Kate found herself grinning like a schoolgirl as she kicked off her boots and pulled her feet up into the seat, crossing her legs underneath her. She was finally making it out to the Hamptons with Rick. It made he happy and sad at the same time. It brought back the memories of the last time he invited her out here, and although it hurt, she was glad that he was surprising her with a small trip out here before the wedding. Even if she didn't get to wear that string bikini he wanted to see her in because it was the middle of February.
She decided to keep this newfound bit of information to herself and play dumb. Castle was trying to surprise her, and she didn't want to ruin it.
As they found themselves driving for almost two hours, Kate curled up in the passenger seat; quietly singing along with the radio that was playing softly and watching the scenery go by. She watched as it changed from the tall skyscrapers, traffic, noisy, back drop she was used to highway roads cars zooming by each other, to quaint country roads, snow covered, and tree's with no leaves but icicles in place, and finally the roads that were lined with the mansions.
Kate found herself thinking how gorgeous it was here. She couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like in the summer time. She would be able to smell the ocean, feel the breeze in her hair, and hear the sound of the waves crashing. She would have to make a point to ensure that a trip did indeed happen back out here in the summer. She could still remember Castle's words the first time he invited her out here, the ocean and her being able to lay out and get a tan. It sounded like the perfect way to spend the few days of vacation she took every summer.
Castle slowed the SUV, and turned into a long driveway. The house was gigantic. It was the only thing that Kate could think. It was bigger than anything she'd ever seen before, let alone step foot in. But as Castle parked the car at the rotunda at the end of the driveway, steps away from the front door, Kate found herself nervous. He had yet to say anything since their joking comments in the car as they left New York.
"Welcome to the Hamptons KB," he said coming around her side of the car. He desperately wanted to pull her into a hug. He could see the wonder and amazement and terror written all over her face. He knew she had figured it out long before they had gotten here just exactly where he was taking her, he knew if she hadn't she wouldn't be speechless right now.
"You finally managed to get me out to the Hampton's house Castle." She said turning to him with a smile gracing her lips.
"I know you figured it out on the drive Kate, I could see it in your eyes, the annoyed look in them left and you were smiling to yourself. Don't think I didn't see that." And that was when he decided to go for it. Pulling Kate into his arms. He forgot that it was the middle of winter and they were standing outside in the cold. She wrapped her arms around his back, resting her head down just a bit to lie on his shoulder. In her boots she didn't come eye to eye with him. She was just a little bit shorter, like when she would be in the loft in her bare feet. He loved when he was able to bend his head and bury his nose in her hair. It was one of those simple things about her, yet he was completely taken aback by it.
He unwrapped his arms from her as he felt her shiver the tiniest bit.
"Go on in Kate," he said handing her the keys, "I'll grab our bags and follow you."
She did as he said, and as she entered the giant house she was instantly warm once again. It smelled like home, strangely like the loft, but with just a little something extra, that she accounted the ocean being responsible for. It was extravagant. High ceilings, decorated with paintings, the Derek Storm novels, and pictures of him, Alexis and Martha.
Kate made her way further into the house, she heard him come in behind her and set their bags down, but she wanted to continue to explore on her own for a little bit. She knew he'd follow behind her and make his presence known shorty.
"Rick, this house-," She said, turning to face him after some time. The two of them had made their way to the kitchen, her exploring and him simply watching from behind. "It's amazing."
He smiled at her comment. She was adorable, searching every inch of the bottom floor not a care in the world that he was watching behind her. She moved to join and sit on the bar stool next to him.
"I love this house Kate." He replied. "And I'm really glad you sort of agreed to come with me this weekend." He smiled.
"Sort of agreed?" She asked. "More like I was kidnapped and brought here. " She laughed, the light in her eyes shining.
"Oh come on Beckett, we both know that you wouldn't be here if you didn't want to." He said, matching her grin.
"Now let me show you the guest room so you can get settled, and I'll make us some dinner. I've got big plans for us tomorrow detective." He announced, ushering her back to the front room to grab their bags.
She couldn't help but smile. She was glad they were here, they would get a chance to relax before the wedding, and she found more and more these days that she wanted to spend all of her time with Richard Castle. And in the Hampton's, in his amazing house, going to Ryan and Jenny's wedding in a few days, she couldn't think of a better way to be spending it.
Thanks again guys for the incredible reviews. I was actually floored at the responses from the last chapter. You guys are amazing and your kind words give me all the inspiration in the world! So let me know what you think of this one! I struggled with it in some parts, simply not knowing where to take our favourite writer and detective. But I'm happy with how it turned out. It was not the original plan, but after choosing the wedding location and seeing that it was close to the Hampton's I just had to. So leave me some feedback, and hopefully either tomorrow or Wednesday I can have Chapter 5 up!
