We'll Do a Meeting

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Castle made me an offer I couldn't refuse, but I don't own it. Rating: K Time: AU between Seasons Two and Three

As usual, Kate woke up early. She smiled to find herself still all tangled up with Rick in his bed. She slowly disengaged herself from her lover, kissed him very lightly and got out of bed. She inhaled the scent of freshly brewed coffee. Just what she needed. Still half awake, she walked out of the bedroom and stopped dead. Martha was sitting at the kitchen island. She looked at Kate and smiled. "Someone had a good night, or should I say two someones had a good night?"

Kate realized she was stark naked. She froze. She thought about covering herself with her hands, decided not to, but did blush deeply. "Um, Martha…I…"

"Dear, there's a bathrobe hanging on a hook on the back of the bathroom door. Grab it and come back and have some coffee with me."

Kate found the robe and pulled it around her. It was obviously Castle's and was huge on her. She walked back out and sat down next to Martha. "I am so sorry for walking out like that. I shouldn't be walking around here like I own the place. In the future…"

"In the future, Kathryn, remember, that you own Rickard's heart and that means you get all the rest, the good as well as the bad. Believe me, Alexis and I couldn't be happier that you're here. Now, if you'd just…Um, regularize your relationship?"

Kate busied herself with pouring herself a cup of coffee to avoid answering. She checked the bedroom and could hear Rick's soft snores. He was still asleep. "Martha, I do love Rick so much, and I'm sure we'll get married. But I told Rick when we first met, I'm a one and done girl. As long as there's the slightest chance that he doesn't feel the same, I'm just too frightened to go through with it. I'm sorry. I wish I could just say yes."

"Kathryn, I know Richard a lot better than you, I believe, and I also know his two prior wives. Believe me, he never felt the way he feels about you with them. He was exactly as you first met him with both Meredith and Gina, a man child, and if I say so myself, a spoiled man child. I'm sure you could add some comments to that."

Kate smiled. "Egotistical? Self-centered? Vain? Childish? I thought he was an ass when I first met him."

"And now?"

Kate thought. "He's a lot more complex than I had first thought. He's a writer not a cop, but he goes with me and my team almost every day. He solves crimes in his own bizarre way. He cares about people. He's different."

"Kiddo, before he met you, he cared about Richard Castle, Alexis and me. Oh, he had loads of friends he'd be happy to do anything for. He is generous, sometimes to a fault, as his ex-wives can attest to. But I cannot imagine Richard risking his life again and again until he met you. I suppose that Richard Castle was always there, hiding under the fun loving playboy, but you brought it out. That's why I want you two to get married. You'll be happier, Kate. He'll be happier, and the world will be a slightly better place if he stays as he is. Without you, he might relapse into…Well, an ass."

"You're getting me there, Martha." Kate said.

They heard Rick moving around in the bedroom. "We have to get ready to go to work. We're going to ask Captain Montgomery if Rick can come back and work with my team, even though we're together."

"Is that a problem?" Martha said with concern.

"There are strict rules about colleagues dating. I could get into trouble."

"Hey? Where's my bathrobe?" Rick called.

"I have it. I'll be right in, Rick." Kate turned to Martha. "I'm also planning to call my dad and ask if we can see him today. I'm not sure how he's going to take all of this."

"I'm sure he loves you and will be happy for you."

"I hope."

After a shower that Kate had to cut short to keep Rick from getting too frisky, they came out fully dressed.

"We have to get going." Kate said. "Martha made coffee and I saw some muffins around. Hurry up."

"Hurry up? I like a nice big breakfast, and time to enjoy it. You know, read the paper and watch the TV news."

"Do you want to make a good impression on Montgomery so you can get back with me?"

Rick checked his watch. "Time's a wasting, woman. We're burning daylight."

"Coffee and a muffin and we can be in by eight o'clock." Kate replied dryly.

Kate and Rick got off the elevator at the precinct. Kate quickly took her hand from Rick's. He gave her a look.

"We want to look professional for Montgomery, not like we're going to be all over each other on top of my desk."

"Never happen. Your desk? Way too hard, I suggest we try the couch in the break room."

"Castle!" She hissed at him.

When they saw the two of them, Ryan and Esposito both smiled. "Good to see you two back." Espo said.

"I think the captain is in a good mood. The numbers came out just now and our closure rate is up and it's well above average." Ryan said, giving them a thumbs up.

Kate stood at the captain's door. "Sir, can we see you?"

"Beckett. Castle. Come in. I haven't seen you in a while, Castle. I thought you were off writing. What can I do for you? Sit down, sit down."

Kate and Rick sat. Kate took a deep breath. "Sir, Castle and I have been dating."

Montgomery smiled. "I hope you don't think that was a secret."

Kate looked shocked. "Sir! You knew?"

"Kate, long before this badge said Captain, it said Detective. How hard do you think it was to see how good for each other you two were? It took longer than I expected, but it was obvious."

"It was?" Kate said weakly.

"Are you worried about the rule about colleagues dating?"

"Yes, sir. I do want Castle to continue with my team. He's very valuable, sir and it would be a shame to kick him to the curb over this…"

"Agreed. He can stay as long as you two both want him here."

"Sir? What about the rule?"

"Castle is not your colleague, any more than any other civilian who walks in here to do his civic duty and helps the police. I have a buddy who does the legal work for the police union. He's looked into the matter for me and he says there's no doubt that Castle cannot be considered a colleague in any sense of the word."

"You checked, sir?"

"Beckett, I didn't get to be a captain just because of my great good looks and winning personality. I anticipate."

"Sometimes, sir, One Police Plaza can punish people who piss them off without going through a disciplinary procedure. There was that rookie out in Queens when I was a rookie. Three cops with him were killed and he couldn't account for where he was. Everyone thought he ran away, but there was no proof. He was buried in Personnel and eventually quit."

"He didn't have a captain who'd scream bloody murder if someone took his best homicide detective and buried her in some office. And the police union would scream if you were punished for something that isn't in the books. And, I wouldn't be surprised if someone put some pressure on the mayor to look into such a gross miscarriage of justice."

"Somebody would be all over the mayor and a lot of other people." Castle said very seriously.

"Captain, there's one other thing." Kate reached over and took Rick's hand. "We're having a baby."

Montgomery smiled. "When? You don't look pregnant."

"In about seven plus months, sir."

"When's the wedding?"

Kate looked at the floor. "I haven't agreed to marry Rick yet."

"You did ask her, Castle?" Montgomery's eyes narrowed as he looked at Castle.

"Absolutely, sir. And she will marry me, and soon. I'm wearing her down. You're invited, of course. Open bar and lots of food."

"I know I'm a little old fashioned, Kate, but if you think Castle isn't crazy about you, you're very wrong. You should marry him."

"Sir, this is all very sudden for me. I didn't expect to be with Rick so soon, or at all, well, not that I didn't think…"

"What Kate is trying to say is that it'll just take me a little time to convince her to marry me. Don't worry about a thing."

"Okay, you two. Kate, keep me apprised about your pregnancy so I'll know when to take you out of the field. And yes, Kate, you will be out of the field, sooner rather than later. Now you two get out of here and get to work. You've been slacking off, Beckett, I expect better from you."

"Yes, sir."

The rest of the day passed with no murders. For once, Castle didn't complain about being bored while Kate did paperwork. He did play games on his phone, but at least he didn't complain.

"Five o'clock, Rick. Time to go see my dad."

Rick stood up and faced Ryan and Espo. "We who are about to die salute you." He said solemnly.

"I told you I'd protect you, Castle. Don't be such a big baby about this."

"Oh, I'm sure that once he gets over the shock, I'll have one more person on my side on the issue of weddings."

"One more? How many do you have now?"

"Everyone."

Ryan and Esposito nodded. "We're with Castle on this one. " Ryan said,

"You're good together, you should stay together." Esposito added.

"Espo, you're in favor of a marriage? Will wonders never cease?"

"I'm in favor of your marriage to Castle. Not mine to anyone else. There's a difference."

"We'd better go." Kate said, grabbing Rick's hand and leaving.

The Beckett home was a comfortable brownstone on a quiet leafy street. Jim had obviously been waiting for them as he opened the door as soon as they set foot on the front steps. "Katie! It's so good to see you again. And I recognize this fellow. Hello, Rick. You look just like your pictures on your books. Come in, come in." Jim kissed Kate on the cheek as she came in and shook Rick's hand.

"You said you two had something to tell me?" He said with a happy smile on his face.

Kate nodded, and wrapped both of her arms around Rick's arm. "I guess the easiest thing to do is to just say, Dad, I'm pregnant."

Jim kept smiling, but looked back and forth between Kate and Rick. "And…?"

"Were not getting married."

"Were getting married." Rick and Kate said at the same time.

"What?" Jim's smile faded.

"Dad, I love Rick and he loves me, but I won't marry him if he's just marrying me because I'm pregnant."

"Mr. Beckett, I want to marry Kate because she's the one for me. Period. And we will get married. I guarantee that."

Jim looked back and forth between the two, his smile long gone. "Katie, can I see you alone, please?"

Kate tightened her grip on Castle. "No. Anything you have to say to me, you can say to Rick."

Jim shook his head. "Katie, you always were stubborn."

Kate nodded. "And I still am. I'm going to move in with Rick. We're going to have our baby and raise him or her together. We'll be together for as long as Rick will have me, and hopefully we'll get married. But I won't get married just because I'm pregnant."

Jim looked long and hard at his daughter. Then he sighed. "Stubborn." He shook his head. "Katie, I don't like this one bit, you're not getting married that is. I don't really know Rick, but from everything you've told me, after a rough start with you, he's proven himself a fine man. That said, you're my daughter and I will always love you, and I will always love your child. And Rick, I'm holding you to your promise to marry Katie. Welcome to the family, son." He shook Rick's hand and hugged Kate. "Now tell me all about Rick and what you two have been doing."

Later that night, Kate snuggled up to Rick. "Every time we do it, the sex gets better. Is that possible?"

"Obviously. I shudder to think what it'll be like in another couple of years. Worlds colliding? The end of time?"

"Just better will do." Kate kissed Rick's cheek. "We have to talk."

"About?"

"Baby names."

"Easy, if it's a girl, she'll be Johanna. Obvious."

Kate smiled. "That's sweet, and what I was thinking. Johanna Martha? Both grandmothers?"

Rick nodded. "Sounds good. And if it's a boy I have the perfect name."

"What?"

"Elvis Bubba Cooter Castle."

"No!" Kate screamed. "Castle I'm serious, now what do you think."

"I imagine Cosmo is out?"

"Definitely.

"Okay, I've always liked Malcolm. It's a good strong name. And Mal, for short, is bad in Spanish."

"Middle name?"

"We can't use my dad's name because I have no idea what it is, so how about James. Malcolm James Castle."

"Agreed."

She ran her hand over his chest. "I've been thinking about something your mom said."

"That doesn't sound good."

"It is, actually. She told me that she thought you loved me so much that you'd never care why you married me, that you'd just be happy that you did. And that if it didn't work out, which she didn't believe, it wouldn't be about how we originally got married, but about something that happens in our future."

"Sounds right. Why?"

"Because that means I could wait for twenty years and never be sure, really, really sure."

"I agree. So why not marry me now?"

"There's one thing. I hate the idea of going down the aisle preceded by a baby bump. Everyone will know. And twenty years from now, when anyone sees the wedding pictures, they'll know."

Rick thought for a second. "Wait. You're telling me that you'll marry me if we get married before you show?"

Late thought for a moment. "Well, yes."

"No problem." Rick jumped out of bed and went to his dresser. He came back with a small jewelry box. He opened it and took out a ring. "I bought this after I told mom and Alexis about us." He sprawled onto the bed. "Katherine Houghton…"

"No." Kate said quickly.

"NO!" Rick yelled. "But you just said…"

"When people ask how you proposed to me, I won't reply, we were both stark naked in bed just after great sex."

"You want us to get dressed?"

"Tomorrow. In the meantime, I'd like to celebrate my engagement. Any ideas? But first, what's your idea for our wedding?"