A/N: Happy Thanksgiving Enjoy

XIII
The Ball
Castle et al

Castle awoke late that morning, having talked into the early morning with Kate. They had not discussed any topics that was earth shattering, instead they and talked of their pasts. Kate recounted some of her memories growing up is a middle class home, while Castle regaled her with tails of life as the child of a traveling actress. It was the type of conversation that lovers might have on a rainy Sunday morning. While they had not yet consummated their relationship, they still had the comfort between them to allow such conversations.

Kate had left for her room around 4AM. She went to her room and collapsed. Her time with Castle had cemented her feelings for him. She rarely talked of her childhood, mainly because of the death of her mother. While she was a young woman when her mother had died, talking about her past make her think of what she was missing, mainly her mother. It had been very cathartic to talk of her past. Opening up to Richard had been easier that she had though it would be. While they had talked she had felt none of the judgment she was afraid he would express about her upbringing. When he had talked about his childhood with Martha, she could hear the pain and regret he felt towards his somewhat transient childhood. While for the most part he had spoken of regrets and missed childhood experiences, he did tell her about some of the amazing people he had gotten a chance to meet.

Most of the morning Castle was sequestered in his hotel suite with the last minute details and emergencies with Rene. As always when big parties were planned, many details require last minute scrutiny. Rene handled these minor last minute emergencies with increasing panic. Castle thought that Rene was a 'sprinter' when it came to planning rather that a 'long distance runner'. Rene did his best work in the last seven-two hours before the event, but these were also the most stressful hours of Rene's life. So Rick and Rene spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon finalizing the party details. In the late afternoon Richard left Rene and started getting ready for the ball. Around 6PM the hotel kitchen staff brought in dinner for Castle and his family.

Kate spent the morning going over cold case files. Mid afternoon Alexis came by after school had let out and took Kate to her favorite salon. The women spent time talking and being pampered before going back to the hotel to get ready for the ball. Kate snuck over to see how Castle was holding up. She found his sitting on the couch eating.

"So you are relieving stress by eating?" She queried.

"Just eating to keep up my strength. How was your day?"

"Cold cases and paperwork, you know, just another quiet day at the 12th." Kate supplied.

"The sacrifices you make to keep the city safe, they should give you a raise."

"With the budget cuts the city has been making? Not a chance in hell."

"All the more reason to have fun tonight." Rick added.

"Huh? You lost me."

"When you are under paid, work is not as enjoyable as it could be, so you have got to get your fun where you can get it. Free Food and dancing, wearing a beautiful dress and a mask, you can eat drink and be anonymous."

"I doubt that people will be fooled by a mask, Castle "

"It's psychological anonymity. Oh, I do want to warn you, there will be press there so be prepared for Nikki Heat questions."

"I really hate the press; I don't see how you can stand the probing."

"They're a necessary evil. They keep my name out in the public domain, sometimes good and sometimes bad but they keep my name out there. If it is any comfort, sometimes I hate them too."

"You know what I would really like to do tonight? I would like to be curled up with you in front of the fire, on your couch, with a bowl of ice cream and some hot chocolate." Kate said wistfully.

"We could do that you know, the only problem is the press would get wind of it and we would plastered all over the papers tomorrow. So attending the Ball is a good way to spend time together while not letting the entire world know that we are togeth…. That brings up a good question. What is our designation? Colleagues, Friends, going steady, what exactly are we?"

"Well be are certainly Colleagues, probably close friends, we can't be going steady cause you haven't taking me out yet." Kate was somewhat relieved that he had not brought up lovers.

"Well then, I guess this is our first official date." Castle said somewhat surprised.

"I guess it is." Kate agreed. That realization made her feel even more nervous. "Will we get outed tonight?"

"So long as we keep the PDA's to a minimum we should be fine. So if you feel the need to shower me with kisses or.. .. You know, ravish me, you need to do it here…. Now, if you want."

"I think I can manage my PDA's just fine, without ravaging you." Kate smiled, hoping that Ricks good mood would last.

"Pity, it has been a long time since I have had a good ravishing, I kind of miss it." Rick Lamented.

"Do you have your meds, just in case?" Kate said changing topics.

"I gave them to Alexis earlier. She'll be keeper of the Drugs tonight. The Ball starts in about an hour, so if it takes you awhile to get ready, then you better start. There is food out over at the mini bar if you want something before the Party."

Kate watched Rick move off towards his room and wondered if she had done something or said something that had triggered the brisk behavior. She hated the fact that since Rick had gotten out of the hospital, he seemed to be very thin skinned. He seemed to take offence at the slightest misstep. She moved purposefully to his room. She entered to see Richard pulling off his tee shirt. Again she had to admire his physique, for someone who had such a sedentary joy, he was very fit. She walked over to him. Gently she reached out and caressed his shoulder. He shuddered. She moved in front of him and looked into his face. She had been expecting to see hurt, but instead she saw curiosity. They moved together. As their lips touched she felt the familiar shock of pleasure. His arms wrapped her into a tight, comforting embrace. She knew it would not be much longer that she would want to stay at this plateau. Richard's kiss promised an erotic experience in bed. She knew that they both wanted to move the relationship along, but at the moment they were stuck in 'go slow' mode. Kate was sure that Castle was just waiting for a signal from her to move on. She promised herself that soon she would give in to their desire for each other.

"What was that for?" She asked as they broke their kiss.

"That one was for me, in case I get lonely tonight, while at the party."

####

Forty five minutes later Kate returned to Castle's suite to find Alexis and Martha waiting to go down to the Ballroom. Martha gasped at the beautiful off the shoulder gown that Kate was wearing.

"Very nice, Kate." Martha crooned "You'll have to beat them off with a baseball bat. My son is going to have a difficult time tonight. Every red blooded man is going to be prowling for you. Richard's eyes will be glued to you tonight. Let me see it with your mask on."

Kate complied, pulling the mask out of its box she gently put it on.

"Oh my!" Martha commented

"What?" Kate panicked. Did the dress not go with the mask?

"I had wondered where that mask had gone."

"Did Rick take this from you?"

"What? No, no I had just seen that mask at Tiffany's a couple of weeks ago and had wondered who had purchased it."

"Tiffany's, the mask is from Tiffany's?"

"Well I seem to be the luckiest man in the city tonight." Rick said as he entered the room. ."There can't three more gorgeous women out there."

Rick was dressed in Tails complete with an Opera Cloak. His mask was an unadorned white and was reminiscent of the Phantom's mask from "Phantom of the Opera", covering three quarters of his face. His mouth was set in his traditional sardonic half grin. Kate realized that his mocking smile, which she once had thought to be patronizing, was in truth turned inwards. Rick Castle mocked himself as well as the fools of the world. He did not take himself seriously, so he would suffer no fools who took themselves too seriously, which is why he did not get along very well with the Blue Bloods of New York, who took themselves way too seriously.

"You all look ravishing," Rick gushed. "Kate, all I can say is, oh my!"

Kate grabbed Rick arm and pull him off to the side. "You bought this mask at Tiffany's?"

"Yes." Castle answered.

"The purple, red and green stones?" Kate whispered.

"Garnets, Rubies and Emeralds, Kate I am disappointed in you the box was clearly marked."

"I really didn't pay attention to the outside of the box." Kate hissed.

Richard sighed. "I did something wrong? Why are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you, Richard. I am mad at myself."

"What? Why?"

"I left this box in my car for a week. It could have been stolen… How much did it cost?"

"You know, you are not supposed to ask the price of gifts. It's rude."

"How much?" Kate persisted

"You don't really want to know." Castle looked into Beckett's face and saw the determination there. He sighed again. "Around ten thousand, it cost around ten thousand dollars."

Kate went pale. "I can't accept this, it cost too much."

"You are going to keep it Kate. You have already accepted it, and I am not an 'Indian Giver'" Rick's voice was unusually firm. Kate was surprised to see how determined he was. "Kate, I would do anything to make you happy. Including buying you little baubles like the mask." He pulled her into a gentle hug. "Nothing is too good for you, Kate"

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Rick moved toward the door.

"That should be Ryan, Esposito, Lanie and the Captain. I invited them to go down to the party with us." Castle said.

Alexis moved over to a still disturbed Kate. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, you dad neglected to tell me that the mask had real gems set into the mask. I thought that the stones were paste or glass. I left the box in the car all week."

"Oh my, but Kate have you every known my dad to buy 'faux' anything?"

"That's the point, Alexis; I don't know what your dad is going to do from one moment to the next. I just did not think he would go out and buy me something that expensive. This was before he footed the bill for the dress."

"When have ever seen Dad skimp on anything? He bought the top of the line coffee maker for the precinct, for goodness sakes."

"I know, but back then I just though he was showing off. I didn't realize how generous he is."

"Ok everybody it is time to go." Richard called.

The elevator ride down was full of complements to the ladies and their dresses. The Captain introduced his wife, who was a huge fan, to Richard Castle. Kate was able to watch Rick work his 'fan' magic. He had developed a talent for treating a fan with a humble appreciation that ingratiated him with his fan without making them feel uncomfortable or over awed. Kate noticed that he paid each of the women in the elevator a compliment and made sure to get in a good natured ribbing at Ryan and Esposito expense. It could be said that Rick Castle could work the room. At last the doors opened and the group was disgorged into the Lobby and They were immediately surrounded by reporters and paparazzi.

Richard's skill at working the press rivaled the Mayors. He appeared to be genial and open while not giving the press any fodder for page six. The press would draw their own conclusions and report what they wanted to anyway. Several of the reporters zeroed in on Kate, wanting to know what is was like being Richard Castle's inspiration. Kate had to marvel again at the ease at which Castle handled the press.

The Masquerade was billed as the Fall season's must attend gala. Consequently the blue bloods and the party circuit all seemed to be in attendance. The Grand ballroom was decorated in simple elegance. Candelabras were space out around the room and the light from the candles added a mystical, fairytale feel to the room. The overhead lights were dimmed enough to allow that candlelight to accentuate the atmosphere. At one end of the hall a string quartet was playing at the other a rock band was setting up.

"The Quartet will play for the first couple of hours then the band will play until the end of the ball." Alexis explained. to Kate "I guess the quartet is for the older guests who will leave after they have been seen and fulfilled their obligations,"

"So it's all smoke and mirrors, make the appearance and look good then leave."

"For the old money, yeah, but the younger crowd, they're here to party. Oh, Dad wanted me to tell you that he is going to dance with a few women, mostly like Lanie and the Captain's wife. He has to play the good host, but he wants to make sure you keep your 'dance card' open so he can dance with you too."

"Ladies and Gentleman, if I may have your attention." Castle voice came over the speakers. "Thank you for coming to my party. I would like to start off the night by giving the first donation to the F.O.P Widow's Fund." Richard held up a check which he handed to someone that Kate assumed was the chairman of the Fund. "I have been working with the 12th Precinct for almost a year and I have seen first hand the good that the F.O.P. can do, so please be generous."

The Chairman gasped "One hundred thousand Dollars!"

A/N: This was ready last night but for some reason I was not able to log on. As always your interest in this story keeps me focused and going. Thank You.