AN: Reviews are welcomed and appreciated. Critique is welcomed as well. As one reviewer pointed out, we are finding out about another layer of the Castle Onion. That's the plan for each story in this series. There are only a couple of chapters left in this installment, but there is much more to be told.

Once again, enjoy!

Chapter 5. Guess who's coming to Dinner?

Friday morning, Kate woke up and looked over at Rick. She stretched and rolled over to look at the clock. It was about ten minutes before the alarm went off and she took that time to look at her man. Relaxed in sleep she could see a bit of the playboy that had come into her life years before. His relaxed features took years off of his appearance and made her think back to the revelation she had gotten Wednesday evening.

Rick had walked out of that conference room grinning. He sat the courier pack down on his desk and nodded to McCord. "We'll get you a desk and you can start reviewing what we have; let us know any suggestions you have and we'll try to make it happen. We'll get you introduced to Penelope and then just grab Jordan, Kate or myself if you need anything else."

She nodded. "Sounds good." Kate led her over to the desk that JJ had been using and left her to settle in. She found Garcia and told her to speak with McCord in ten minutes before heading back over to her desk.

Jordan looked up and smiled. "So who is that?"

"Rachel McCord. She's an old friend of Rick's, it seems."

"Why is she here?"

"The AG sent her. She's going to assist in trial prep."

"And how is she an old friend?"

"Seems she used to be FBI and Rick did some profiling for one of her cases."

"Huh. I don't remember her but that's not unusual. So have you guys set a date yet?" Kate smiled as she talked to Jordan about some of the wedding plans.

TCOP2

He walked out of the coffee shop with a plain black coffee and a newspaper. He had cut his hair and colored it blond; he wore an expensive looking suit and was similar to dozens of people around him. He sipped his coffee and smiled. No one would recognize him. He so loved being able to blend back in after a job. His usual handler had gone quiet and he suspected that he had been nabbed. The next job had already been paid for and he was biding his time while researching the target. He checked his watch and noted the time before finding a park bench and settling in to peruse the paper.

He kept his eyes on his surrounding, knowing that his contact could be anyone. He watched as an attractive woman walked by. She was dressed way too sexy to work in an office. She was probably a working girl going home. There was a blind guy with a dog making his way over so he made a point of shaking his paper to alert the man that the bench was occupied.

The man came up to him. "Mind if Sally here and I join you for a few moments?"

He narrowed his eyes. "If I were to say no, you'd be upset I bet."

The blind man grinned. "Upset? Probably not, but then I can see you're a good man at heart."

"Take a seat, then."

The blind man nodded and moved without pause to the empty edge of the bench. "Much obliged. You're Ted, I presume?"

"Yes. And you're Bob?"

The blind man snorted. "Our friends are imaginative, aren't they?"

"Not very. What do you have for me?"

"Not much, I'm afraid. They've rounded up all but a few of us so we are low on resources. We are continuing with the plan, however. Are you aware of your target?"

"Yes, but I have no specifics."

"I have a file for you but it's hidden at the moment. When I get up I will leave a note that contains its location and how to retrieve it. You've lost your followers?"

"I have. I spoke to one earlier and shook his hand; the fool had no clue who I was."

"That's why you have eluded the police. You are very good at not appearing to be who you are."

The man grinned. "You are not blind at all, are you?"

He chuckled. "No...Sally just needed a walk. But people don't think a blind man is capable of subterfuge, so it works."

"Nice. Mind if I borrow that idea?"

The blind man stood. "Not at all. Well, thanks for the chat. Sally and I have work to do. Have a good rest of your day." He nodded and ambled off.

'Ted' looked over and retrieved the note. He opened and read it before standing and making his way back the way he had come. He wanted to get into position to watch her and make sure he had her routine plotted. No rest for the weary...

TCOP2

Tommy sat in his new office thinking back on the past two days. No one questioned his ascension to his new role; everyone knew better than to question Joey. Tommy had taken his first assignment on and had already found a couple more skeletons in Bracken's closet. He was starting to put the details together and had asked for a meeting with Joey to brief him on the details.

He looked up to see Lucy walk in the door and smiled. "Hello, il mio cuore." He rose to kiss her.

She smiled. "How are you settling in?"

"Pretty well. Joey has me working on things for Derek."

She grinned. "Ah, the infamous Derek...righter of wrongs! I have never met him but hope to soon."

He winked at her. "Should I be jealous?"

She laughed. "No, love. I've found my own white knight."

"That's probably for the best as he is engaged."

They talked for a few minutes before she left him to work.

TCOP2

He awoke to a new sound. He heard some voices and a thump from the main room. He had not expected someone to come in as the place was owned by an offshore shell company and was only there to be a safe house for hi. He pulled his weapon from beneath his pillow and carefully made his way towards the door. Thankfully he had learned to sleep fully dressed and he was ready to make a run for it if necessary. He slowly raised the blind and peered through. There were two teens with a baseball bat poking around.
Vandals or thieves, he suspected, but he could never be too careful. He watched them for a few minutes before he decided to confront them. He slowly opened the door and held his pistol loosely. "Well, what do we have here?"

The two boys jumped. "Jesus, man you scared me. We were sent to find you."

He raised an eyebrow. "And just who sent you to find me?"

"Some old dude. He gave us this address and a phone to call him with when we..." As he said this the room flashed in a bright light and he knew no more."

TCOP2

Kate entered the loft and set her purse down. Martha was in the kitchen and Alexis was sitting at the counter. Alexis looked up and smiled. "Hi Kate. Is Dad with you?"

She shook her head. "He dropped me off and said he had a quick errand to run. I wanted to get a quick shower before our company arrived."

Alexis looked up as Martha spoke. "Richard invited company over?"

Kate nodded and walked towards the bedroom and the en suite beyond. "He didn't say who, exactly. He just mentioned that it was someone I hadn't met yet. I won't be long."

Alexis looked to Martha. "Gram, something doesn't feel right. Dad usually warns us if we're having company."

"Well you know your father, dear. Always expect the unexpected."

"I think I will go change clothes just in case." Alexis hopped off the stool and headed to her room.

Martha smiled. "That is a splendid idea...I could use with some freshening up as well."

TCOP2

Rick had dropped Kate off at the loft and drove to Alphabet City where he made a few stops. First he dropped by his favorite vintner and picked up a bottle of 2002 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserve Ducale. He ran by Venerio's and grabbed an almond torte before heading over to order a delivery from another of his favorite Italian restaurants on East Second Street. On his way back to the loft he stopped at a flower shop and grabbed a bouquet of flowers.

He walked into the loft to find it apparently empty. He set the wine and flowers on the table and the torte in the kitchen before making his way into his bedroom. He heard the shower running and smiled. He looked at the clothes Kate had laid out and went into the closet to make his own choices. Normally, meeting with Joey would mean jeans and a casual shirt, but he mimicked Kate and pulled out a casual suit and accessories.

He heard the shower shut off and looked at the clock. He still had over an hour before he expected them to show up. He needed to take a quick shower and get ready in time to do some explaining to Kate. He looked up as she entered wrapped only in a towel. "Have I told you today how exquisite you are?"

She smiled and fought back the blush rising in her cheeks. "At least once, Rick. Did you get your errands run?"

"Yeah. I just need to take a quick shower and I'll tell you what I have planned." He leaned in a kissed her before making his way into the bathroom and closing the door.

Kate heard the shower start and dropped her towel to put on her panties and bra. She went over to the dressing table and sat to comb out her long tresses before blowing them dry. By the time she had her hair ready to be put up the shower stopped. She had thought about stockings but decided against them, so she put her dress on just as Rick emerged and went to put on his own clothes. She padded back to the table to grab her brush before she went into the bathroom to put on her makeup.

Rick quickly dressed and made his way back out to find the flowers were already in a vase and the wine was decanting. Alexis was starting to set the table for dinner. She looked up at him questioningly. "Set it for eight, Pumpkin." She nodded and got to work. Rick once again looked at the clock and noted that the food should be here shortly. He started towards the kitchen when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Kate had walked up behind him just as he told Alexis how many places to set and put her hand on his shoulder. He turned around and she leaned into him. "I think it's time for details, Mr. Castle."

He nodded and pulled her towards Alexis. "Ladies, let's wait for Mother and I will answer your questions." At the staccato beat of heels from above, he grinned. "Ah, the wait will be short."

Martha came down the staircase and came over. "This looks serious."

Rick grinned. "Not too serious, Mother. Why don't you all take a seat and I'll tell you a story?"

The three sat and Rick began. "As you all know, many years ago I attended boarding school. When I first arrived I was friendless and alone. Soon though I met my classmates and we became fast friends. There were seven of us that became very close and we grew to be inseparable. One that you all know as the mayor was Bobby Weston to me. Mikey, my best friend is better known as Michael Valenzio, Deputy Attorney General. One name you may have heard of was Joey Palono."

Kate gasped. "THE Joey Palono? Head of the Palono family?"

Rick nodded. "That's him. He's one of the ones coming tonight. Another one of us was Tommy Maretti, who is also in the Palono family. We were all the same age and in most of the same classes. The oldest of us was Derek Hough. He was our 'leader' and was two years older than us. The last one was Lillian Rose. She was a year younger and our adopted little sister."

Kate was sitting there processing that Rick knew members of the Palono family. "Rick, we'll have a lot to talk about later but let us know what we need to know for tonight."

"I knew you'd say that. Okay first of all...My second year with them Derek went missing. He was found a week later dead in the woods. He had been stabbed and the local police couldn't solve it. After we all mourned him it was decided that whoever became our new leader would be called Derek. When a vote was taken it was decided that I was the new leader. So they will probably call me Derek at times. And yes, Kate, that's where Derrick Storm got him name...I just changed the spelling. Also, when we were in school I saved Joey from falling out a window and I am counted as family to him - and that designation extends to my immediate family, so the three of you are considered family as well. I will explain more about that later. Any questions on this part?"

Kate looked at the others who were as flabbergasted as she was. "Hundreds."

Rick laughed. "Well, gather them up and I will answer them later. Just relax tonight and we'll go from there."

There was a knock at the door and Rick went to answer it. He took the bags from the delivery person and took them into the kitchen. He went back, gave the boy a tip and closed the door. He headed into the kitchen to get out the containers of food and put the bags in the trash.

There was another knock at the door and Kate answered it to find her father on the other side, "Dad?"

Jim smiled. "Hi, Katie. Rick asked me to dinner." She opened the door and let him in before closing the door and heading towards Rick.

Rick looked up. "Evening, Jim. Thanks for coming."

Jim smiled. "Thanks for inviting me. Katie looks surprised, though."

Rick laughed as she lightly punched his arm. "Yeah, I may not have told her that you were coming. Iced Tea?" At Jim's nod he poured a glass. "We're waiting on the last few people." As if by magic there was another knock at the door. Rick smiled and headed to let the last of their guests in.

TCOP2

Rachel McCord went home on Friday, planning to return on Sunday evening. She had gone through the majority of the details that had been collected and was impressed at the level of detail. She had found a couple items that they may need further research on, but Rick had said he was still reaching out to sources.

She collected her luggage and made her way towards her car when she saw her boss standing there. He looked up and smiled. "Have fun?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes. We partied the entire time."

He laughed. "I'm sure. Have time to grab a bite? I have some things to discuss with you."

Since all she had to look forward to was going to an empty apartment, she shrugged. "I suppose. Should I follow you?"

He shook his head. "Give me a ride? I was dropped off."

"Sure I would say yes?"

He grinned. "If all else failed I would have made it an order.

She rolled her eyes and headed towards the car with him in tow.

TCOP2

They made it through introductions and had sat down to eat. Joey stood up and raised his glass. "A toast to the newly engaged. Casa senza fimmina 'mpuvirisci!" Kate smiled. She spoke enough Italian to know that he said 'A house without a woman is poor'.

They all drank and Rick stood. He looked around the table at each person and smiled. "To family."

After they had all taken another drink, Tommy looked over to Joey, who nodded. "Derek, I wanted to thank you for inviting us. It's been too long since we've seen each other."

Rick nodded. "It was hard to see anyone since Rosie's funeral."

Joey raised his glass. "To Little Rosie, may she rest in peace." They all solemnly took a drink. "She was a wonderful woman."

Rick grinned. "And a pain in the ass little sister."

Joey chuckled. "At least you didn't marry her."

Kate's eyes widened. "Sorry, but Rick didn't tell me much about her. What happened?"

Joey looked down. "Lily was a pistol. We met her when we were fifteen and she was fourteen. I think she had a crush on Rick here and hung around us a lot. After Derek's funeral and Ricky becoming the new Derek I spent more time with her than he did. She was funny and had a heart of gold. After we all graduated she lost her parents in a car crash; we all went to the funeral and Rick had her mortgage paid off. I remember that she tore into him because she took no charity.
"He told her that family took care of each other. She slapped him and told him to never do it again. He smiled and kissed her forehead. She and I had started dating before that and she let me help her settle their estate. We were married just before Rick married the actress. Sorry, Alexis, but your mother is a piece of work."

Alexis grinned. "I know…it's okay."

He sipped his wine and continued. "Lily found out after we married that she couldn't have children. It hurt her badly but I was okay. I had her and that was enough. But in 2007 we found out she had cancer and she died about four months later."

Tommy looked at Joey. "I was the one that named her Little Rosie. When we first met her she was so soft spoken that when she said Lily Rose it sounded like Little Rosie."

Rick laughed. "I remember she kicked you in the groin when you first called her that. She definitely could be loud when she was mad!"

Joey laughed. "Oh, Derek...she could be loud. She once yelled at me so loud my bodyguard broke down the door. Then she turned and yelled at him!"

Tommy wiped his eye. "For someone that was five feet tall she cowed people more than a foot taller than her."

They spent the next hour eating and sharing stories about Joey and Lily. Soon enough it would be time to reveal what they had found out.