Learn to Have Been
November 2014
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Thanksgiving was different this year; Jenny had warned her parents that dinner was off the table because Kevin had been insistent they were doing it with his family - his precinct family. It'd been the first time he'd ever made a decision unilaterally, not even asking her, but instead of being upset (well, only a little upset), she'd been honored.
Rick and Kate had asked them over for Thanksgiving. So of course they went.
The loft was stuffed like a turkey with people. Sara Grace was mewling on her mother's shoulder at the stimulation, but Jenny couldn't bear to be left out of the conversation, so she just bounced the girl and ate with one hand while she talked and laughed. Kevin took their daughter halfway through dinner, and though the table was long and people were shoulder to shoulder, it didn't matter.
It was kind of amazing. A great place to be thankful - these were the people who had saved her husband from a burning building, saved him for his daughter.
And the food was even better because the only thing Jenny had actually made herself was the corn pudding. Any holiday in which she didn't have to oversee the process getting all of the meal to the table was a good holiday.
They broke up the formal setting for dessert. Rick looked so pleased with himself as he passed out slices of pie: apple, pumpkin, pecan, chocolate. Jenny took her own piece and sank deep into the couch, enjoying the freedom of being both baby-less at this moment and also in someone else's house for Thanksgiving.
Esposito had taken up with Kev on the couch with her, shoulder-punching involved, Lanie was arguing shoes with Alexis, Mr Beckett was in an armchair, hunched over a pice of apple pie and nodding at Kate. "Just like your mother's."
Martha was flitting from one group to the next, but she eventually settled near Alexis up at the bar and seemed to want to preside over the pie selections.
"The pumpkin is delicious," Jenny called out.
Rick turned around, beaming at her. "I made it.
"No way," Kevin piped up. "You made this? Thought the short term stuff was on the fritz."
Jenny elbowed him hard, but Esposito chuckled and leaned in, did that stupid hand shake thing that looked like the baby sign language sign for 'more' but whatever. Bird-feeding? Boys were stupid. She was so glad Sarah Grace was a girl; girls she could manage.
"Yeah, on the fritz, but I managed. Only had to ask what came next-"
"Like forty times," Kate put in, rolling her eyes. "He asks a lot of questions."
The whole group laughed, a tender thing though, softening it for Rick's sake. He was still looking proud of his contribution to their Thanksgiving dinner, and he sat down with his pie in the big armchair beside Jim's.
Kate had a slice of Rick's pumpkin as well, and she sat on the arm of his chair, leaning towards him. He settled a hand at her back as if to stabilize her for just a moment, and then he picked up his fork.
"I'm sure I annoyed the crap out of Kate, but she was very patient." He was smiling still, fork digging in, and he shoveled a bite into his mouth.
"I've resigned myself to the constant questions," she said, lifting an eyebrow at him.
"And so have I," Rick shot back. He had a snarky look on his face when he said it, and Jenny didn't quite understand the undercurrent, but Kate pressed her lips together.
"He's talking about my constant questions," Kate answered for the group, but her cheeks were stained a little pink. "Which is - I suppose - the best segue I'm going to get for this."
And then she was setting her pie plate down on the floor with such careful precision, slowly, and standing up from the chair. Rick wasn't entirely paying attention, but he glanced up at her in time to see Kate take off her engagement ring.
The loft went silent. Jenny cut her eyes to Alexis and Martha, but they both looked stunned.
Kate leaned in and took Castle's pie from him, put it on the side table, and then reached for his hand.
"One question I know you're sick of hearing," she murmured, almost too quiet for any of them to hear. "Sick of me asking you why. Why can't we, why won't you. So forget the why, Rick. I'm not asking why any more."
The room was holding its breath when Kate unfurled his hand and placed her ring in his palm. And then she closed his fingers over it.
"Kate," he rasped.
"Instead of why," she said, and then sank to her knees before him. "Will you - will you, Richard - Alexander - Castle - will you marry me?"
"Kate," he breathed. Rick surged to his feet, grabbing Kate up with him, crushing her into his embrace. "Yes, of course, yes."
He said more, something into the fall of Kate's hair that made her laugh and bury her face into Rick's neck, but no one else heard it. "Finally," she choked out. "Now give me my ring, Castle."
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