15 March, 2014
xxx
"There's a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling wind can be turned away
An enchanted moment and it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you
Can you feel the love tonight?
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide-eyed warrior
That we got this far
Can you feel the love tonight?
How it's laid to rest
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best"
xxx
They make their way back through the corridor, the winding turns of which reveal another flight of stairs. How many stairs does this place even have? She thinks. Castle is putting on a brave face even though she knows their dancing accident is giving him more grief than he would care to show. He just doesn't want to be the one to rain on their parade.
A door opens at the head of the stairs and a blast of wind hits them. Of course. It's the terrace. The first thing she spots is a lamp post in one corner bathing the rooftop in a golden glow. A single table awaits them. She walks falteringly to the railing instead; rooftops have way too much significance for her. He comes up from behind her, pulls her into his chest and for a long while, they admire the quiet resilience of the city lights against the dark night sky, the bay waters so serene. The darkness masks the evil. She doesn't hear the cars honking or the blazing sirens or the grotesque, seedy underbelly of the city. Everything blurs into the night sky, it seems, leaving only beauty and silence to be seen. "Oh Rick, you overdid yourself. This is the best date I've ever been on in my life and we haven't even eaten yet." He can almost see a tear form in her eye, the emotional side of Kate Beckett taking over. She's touched by every tiny detail he's looked into so that she can live the night her parents lived what feels like a few lifetimes ago. She pulls him into a hug and she's careful not to put too much pressure on his foot.
He momentarily thinks back to another embrace on another roof top with another woman and the sense of regret and loss he's felt ever since he let her slip away. But with Kate's fingers running patterns at the back of his neck, the feeling's erased. His fingers dig deeper into her back as he sinks into her arms.
The waiter interrupts the moment and they take their seats back at the table. He pre-ordered the antipasto, leaving them to ponder over the main course. Spaghetti in meatball sauce is too cliché, he claims. He wants the wild mushroom and tomato ragout; she's rallying for the veal lasagna.
"Marriage is compromise, Beckett," he teases.
"Oh really? Since when are you the authority on marriage?" she teases back.
"Pick your battles Detective," he says retiring his hands in submission.
She'd love to taste the lasagna…But he's done so much for her this evening that she relents. "Ok Castle. Get the ragout." He gives her a puzzled 'Really?' She affirms. He goes a step further and orders vintage Chianti; she doesn't even protest. 'Oh Beckett! You're so easy tonight!' he says to himself. Out aloud though, he says, "Trust me on this one Kate! It'll be amazing." He wants to order dessert right then and she has to stop him before he orders an entire bakery. He wasn't kidding about working up an appetite.
They're finally alone, seated face to face now, content with staring deep into each other's eyes. A pleasant breeze is blowing. She loves the way the wind is ruffling his hair to one side. He's trying to blow it back into shape, goofing around as usual. It's not too cold but he notices the goose bumps on her skin. They'd worked up quite a sweat before under the gleaming force of the chandeliers. She must be freezing! And being his gentlemanly self, he lends her his jacket. "Wouldn't want to turn into an ice sculpture now would we?" he masks his throbbing foot with humor.
But the words take them back to a time, not so long ago, when they'd both in fact been close to freezing in each other's arms. It was simpler then- no words to convey thoughts, only actions and meaningful glances. He still remembers the pallor of her face, the feel of her ice cold fingers on his chest, the words that never made it out of her lips, the horrible, jostling ache in the pit of his stomach when she didn't respond to his calls, that terrible specter of helplessness as he transcended into oblivion himself. He recalls promising himself that he would never let her that close to death again. But they've been there again, over and over and he's helped her survive. He's helped her survive, every single time.
Her voice pulls him back to the real world. "Castle, are you sure we shouldn't ice your foot or something? It's getting worse I think." She's seen him hobbling. Of course she notices. "Aah no. It's nothing that can't wait till we go home."
xxx
"Every single second's a lifetime memory
I'll be holding on to each moment
'Cause you make me
Laugh a little louder
Love a little harder
And I feel alive when I'm with you"
xxx
Their wild mushroom and tomato ragout arrives just as they're finishing their antipasto. Just the smell of it is enticing. She's glad she trusted him on this one. The man knew his way around gourmet, for sure. He gloats for a bit, glad that he knew what she would like.
She can't really explain what it is. She'd swear she hears an eerie whisper in the wind, calling out her name. Katie…Katie. It's as if her mother is right there, watching over her, scolding her for chewing on her lips, seeing her be so open and warm-hearted and wise and beautiful with the man that she loves.
He can't read her mind; she seems lost in contemplation but he can't stand the silence. He needs distraction from the pain. He says the first thing that comes to mind. "I love your brooch."
"Thank you."
Seeing her smile back at him shyly, he continues, "So where DID you learn to dance like that?"
"Ballet lessons when I was five. What about you? Martha taught you?"
"Dance lessons with Meredith."
Yikes! Perhaps mentioning his romantic escapades with his ex-wife and mother of his only daughter is not a good idea right now. But the words are out there already. Besides, he didn't want to lie to her.
"Seriously Beckett, this sauce is so good," he speaks through a full mouth.
She knows already because oh she's moaning gently as she tastes her first bite. She doesn't even pause to talk, she's engrossed. He gapes for a bit because Kate Beckett purring over wild mushrooms is hot. She catches him opening and shutting his mouth like a goldfish, unabashed but she goes back to her dinner. The Chianti goes well with their dish. He gulps down an extra sip of the fruity wine and coughs to clear his throat. He's so distracted. She's making him weak in the knees.
Pretty soon, the wine is gone, their plates are empty and she's brushing her leg against his under the table as they talk of cases and lovers and families and happy memories and bar brawls. Her stomach's full but he still wants dessert. "You can pick the dessert, Kate!" he says trying to convince her. She only needs a glimpse of his puppy dog eyes before she caves in and asks for the Panna Cotta with caramel sauce.
"Ooooo Beckett. Caramel sauce. Kinky!" he smirks as the waiter stares in awkward horror before hurrying off downstairs.
"Don't tempt me to actually drill a hole in your toe, Castle! That was so embarrassing. Could you not have waited until he'd left at least?"
"Sorry. It was in the heat of the moment. At least he left fast. I'm pretty sure he spent more time staring at your neckline than taking our order."
"Oh please Castle. Where do you even come up with these theories of yours?"
"Oh come on. Who wouldn't see that one?"
"It could have been worse. He could have hit on me."
"I guess in the greater interest of how amazing this night's been, I will let that slide."
"It is a pretty great night."
"If he'd hit on you, it'd have been total déjà vu. "
She smiles a knowing smile because she knows he's just admitted that he talked to her dad. She catches him on his word before he can change the topic.
"Spill it Castle."
"Ok Fine. I talked to your dad. I was doing research."
"Research? I thought you were an expert at this."
"I'm an expert because of all the research I do. I think that's been proven already."
They both know he isn't just talking about the date. It's the books too. The same research that enabled them to get to know each other, blemishes as well as merits; acquaintances to friends to partners to lovers and in a few weeks, married.
"It was sweet of you to call him. Apparently my dad was very impressed by your sincerity."
It's his turn to blush.
Their Panna Cotta arrives and they eat it agonizingly slowly for neither of them wants to leave. It's too soon. But the creamy goodness of the pudding is now over and it's time to make a move home.
"Let's go Kate, it's time for the gifts!" his excited voice calls out.
He pays the bill and they walk down the stairs to the lobby, pausing to look at the delicate interiors one last time before the door shuts behind them. Castle is still limping slightly and the two of them have had way too much wine to drive. They call a cab and take off into the darkness, headed home.
xxx