A/N: The next chapter… thanks guys for all the reviews. :)
Beckett had finished cleaning her apartment when she heard a knock at the door. It was Sunday morning, the only time that Beckett had a chance to clean anything. She worked 24/7 and barely had a chance to clean herself, let alone her apartment. But she had taken a routine up to clean up her home, so that when she came back after a long day, she could rest her feet and switch the TV on, or if the day was longer, a Richard Castle book and a hot bath.
She made her way to the door, and pulled it open, with a disapproved expression.
Castle was on the other end, instantly making her stomach flutter, despite her want to stop it. It made her feel uncontrolled and she didn't like that at all. Kate Beckett was one who needed independence and the upper-hand. She needed to know that she was the one in control; she needed to feel like the Queen in the colony of ants.
"What are you doing here, Castle?" she asked in that disapproving tone of hers.
He seemed unbothered, the wide smile still plastered evidently across his face.
She noticed a box in his arms, movement in the box made her jump back.
"Is there something alive in there?" she demanded.
"A gift…" he grinned.
"For a homeless person?" she said sarcastically, and wishful thinking.
"For you…"
Of course it was.
"Castle," she warned.
"Open it, you'll love it," He shoved the box in her arms as she tried her best not to drop it. She made her way to the kitchen bench and placed the box on top with caution. She heard starching. Something live! A rabbit… Rats… anything was possible with Castle.
"What is it?" she asked turning to him, he shrugged childishly and gestured to the box.
She was suspicious of the contents in the box, and cautiously lifted the lid. She jumped back when the small head popped itself out of the box.
"A- a- do- dog?" she stammered. "You brought me a dog?"
"YES!" he screamed excitedly. "It's gonna be GREAT! He's so cute…" he snatched the golden retriever puppy from the box and cuddled him. He nuzzled castle's neck as he covered the dog in kisses.
"If you like it so much, you keep it," she offered.
Beckett was a working girl, how on earth did Castle expect her to take care of a dog. It was a responsibility. It meant cleaning up after it, it meant being home to feed it and walk it, and make sure it got the right training. A dog meant patience, patience that Beckett, as a working girl, didn't have. What had he been thinking?
"You do this ALL the time!" she snapped. "You make a decision without thinking. Castle, I CAN NOT have a dog. I work TOO much. I am NEVER home, how on earth am I supposed to look after it?"
"Look at him…" Castle pouted. "How can you say no to this face?"
She glared at him. "Castle…" she warned.
He stepped back, seeing the unwanted expression on her face.
"I can't take him back, he loves you…" Castle raised the puppy in front of his face and it leaned over to lick Beckett's cheek. She pulled a face as the wetness of its tongue glued to her skin. Not that she'd dare admit it but she had always wanted a dog… knowing she worked hard, she never took the time to look for an animal to take care of as her own. She had always stopped as she walked home, patting someone else's pet, when it seemed friendly and playful. But this was different. This was HER responsibility. It would mean change, and a lot of it.
"I hate you, Castle…" she muttered snatching the dog from him.
He grinned looking pleased. "I knew you'd love it," he said with joy.
"OUT!" she ordered gesturing to the door.
Castle pouted but got the picture.
"I've paid for it all, the registration and all, immunizations have been taken care of…" he said as she pushed him out the door. "It's all in the bottom of the box."
"Thank you," she muttered. "Goodnight."
She slammed the door behind her.
"He's insane," she told the dog. "Right?" the dog licked her face. "Yeah, I knew you'd be on my side," she smiled.
I have some good stuff coming up… so I hope you like it. Update coming soon… to a FANFIC page near you :)