A/N: i can't believe i actually finished the chapter today! i've been out since 7 x.x. The next chapter won't be up till friday, i'm about to start it but again i have classes all day, so...
Anyways! happy reading! and if anyone from Venezuela is reading.. Happy Castle Day :D
Please let me know what you think?
"Kate, there is something I need to tell you and just hear me out first before you ask or say anything, please?"
"Ok…?"
"We've known each other for three years now, and I would like to think I've gone from annoying shadow to annoying partner and friend – she nodded with a smile on her face – but in that time, well, you see - there was a pregnant pause in which she was looking at him funny - Ugh, I'm a writer for Christ sake! And my mind goes blank! This is the effect you have on me Kate, I'm a writer and when you look at me like that with those beautiful hazel eyes and perfect face I'm at a loss for words. You're extraordinary in every sense of the word, besides Alexis you're the most important person to me. What I'm trying to say is that I …
He couldn't finish because a certain detective's lips were on his. At first he was too shocked to response, that didn't last long. He cupped her face with both hands. The kiss was gentle, slow, not like their 'unofficial' first, well, second kiss that was intense, full of repressed passion and longing. No, this kiss was tender, almost shy. That was until she carefully asked for entrance with a delicate brush of her tongue on his bottom lip. He immediately allowed entrance and deepened the kiss himself. Her hands went to his hair, not letting him go and pushing him deeper within her. A battle for dominance took place, much like their everyday dance, full of passion, teasing and fun.
When the need for oxygen was too much they separated; foreheads together, eyes closed, panting. After a few moments he broke the silence.
"That was…"
"Rick, don't"
She opened her eyes but quickly wish she hadn't. He looked hurt. Like a child who's puppy just got run over. She needed to explain, and space. She sat a little further from him.
"This past few weeks had been intense, to say the least. I don't want us to begin in the 'we almost died; let's make up for the lost time' kind of situation. I want to make sure that what we feel it's natural and not due to the heat of the moment. Does that make sense?"
"Are you saying that you have feelings for me?" – His smile was pure and happy, and the spark on his eyes was back.
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
"Castle, that was not the point. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"You need time"
He was serious again.
"We need time, yes."
"I'm willing to wait Kate," - he took both of her hands with his – "all the time in the world you need"
She squeezed his hands and smiled.
….
Not long after that, he left. She needed to get up early and finish with the last minute preparations. He felt lighter than air when he walked out of her apartment.
Early bird that she was, she was all ready to go at 8 the next morning. Her dad was with her taking the suitcases to his pickup truck.
"Katie, Is there something you need to tell your old man?"
"What? No. Why?"
"You have this look on your face, you seem… happier"
"I'm fine, dad" – she said while trying to hide the blush from her cheeks.
Of course, Jim Beckett knew his daughter and saw her blush. He said nothing more but figured that new spark on her eyes had something to do with a certain writer.
A few seconds later a text buzzed on her phone, she smiled at the recipient, Castle.
"Morning, Kate . Is Mr. Beckett there yet? Say hi for me!"
While she read the text she didn't noticed her father walking behind her to read it.
"Mr. Beckett, uh? I like the boy"
"Dad! What are you doing!" – She said sounding more and more like a teenager and less like a tough as nails detective. The blush didn't help either.
"Sorry! But I wanted to see who was putting that silly smile on your face"
"I wasn't smiling!"
"Oh, but you were! Now answer the man or he's going to think you were kidnapped or something"
She sighed but complied…her father was right after all.
"Morning, Castle. He says hi. I'm on my way to the airport now, leaving in a couple of hours"
Not a minute passed when another texted arrived.
"=( text me when you get there? Just to know you arrived safely. Please?"
"I will, ttyl"
Dismissing the grin on her father's face she continued with the last preparations. Checking that everything was in order they went to the airport.
After saying good bye to her dad and getting in to the airplane she was about to turn her phone off when she saw a couple of texts; one from Lanie and one from Castle. The one from Lanie said "Girl! You're leaving and no details on last night's date? Call me after your arrival! Have a safe flight!" she rolled her eyes and smiled, quickly responding with a thanks and a promise of an update ASAP. The one from Castle made her laugh.
"Have a safe flight my dear Kate. Hoping I'm not being too much of a cliché here but I'm missing you already"
"Such a girl, Rick. I'll call when I land. Shutting down my phone now"
On a certain loft in New York City a writer was about to do a happy dance right there in front of both daughter and mother. She had called him Rick, willingly! Not at a serious moment or a daring situation. Needless to say there were two red-haired women looking at him funny.
"Richard, is there something you need to tell us?"
"Yeah, dad, you seem very happy. I'm guessing the brownies were good?"
"Oh, she loved them. Other than that there is nothing more to tell, yet"
"Yet, uh?"
"Yes, mother. Nothing yet. You can ask me again in the fall"
"Well, I'm happy for you kiddo, finally. I'm off! Need to do some errands for the school. Don't wait up!"
After kissing each Castle on the cheek she left with flair, very Martha Rodgers style.
"Alexis, are you ok if detective Beckett and I get together?"
"That's a silly question. Of course I'll be ok with that. I know how happy she makes you. Plus, I'll have someone to watch over you while I go to college" – she said while smiling sweetly at his father.
He hugged her and kissed the top of her head
"Thank you, pumpkin. Now, off you go, school"
"Oh, right! Bye dad! – she gave him a peck on the cheek and ran to the door - Love you!" – She yelled while closing the door.
…..
Some hours later Kate arrived at the airport, turning on her phone she called her dad to let him know that the flight went well and then she called Castle.
"Detective, I assume that your flight went well?"
"Hi Rick, yes I just got off and picked up the luggage. I'm on my way to rent a car to drive to the cabin"
"Yes, about that…"
"Castle, what did you do?" - She asked, her tone was a warning
"Uhh…"
"Castle…"
"I…I…just rented you a car?"
His voice was losing its confidence after every word, resulting in a mile whisper.
"You did what?" – Her voice came off as a whispered yell trying not to draw attention to her in the middle of an airport.
"I'm sorry! I didn't want you to waste time, plus I know a guy and he just delivered your car to the airport but if you don't want it you can take it back, no payments…"
'He was nervous; he was so cute when he did that.' She thought,' and he was thoughtful,' not that she would ever tell him.
"Castle, you're rambling"
"Shutting up now"
He could practically feel the eye roll.
"I guess you did save me some time. But I will pay for the car, castle, understood?"
"Yes, ma'am"
She could practically see the childish smile on his face.
"There will be someone waiting for you at the exit of the airport to hand you the keys, the money arrangements will be solved at the end of your trip."
"Ok, I think I see said person. I'm going now"
"Call when you get to the cabin or at least text me, ok?"
"Ok, Castle"
"And Rick," – she said after a beat – "Thank you"
"Always"
And the line went off.
….
She went to where a guy was holding a sign that read "Kate Beckett". Said fellow was a tall man, maybe 6'5, wearing jeans and a plain white t-shirt. He was maybe in his early 60's and was much fitted for his age.
"Hi, I'm Kate Beckett. Richard Castle said you were waiting for me?"
At this, the man beamed at her.
"Yes! Miss Beckett, please come! When Rick called me this morning I was so glad that I could do something for the boy"
"Oh, you know Rick personally?"
They began to walk and talk to the parking lot, the man took her luggage.
"Yes, indeed I do. He is such a kind soul, you know. He did something for my family a long time ago so anything I can do for the boy I'm glad to help"
"I see"
"Oh what a fool I am. My name is Joseph Storm"
"Nice to meet you Mr. Storm"
Storm? She would have to ask rick about that one, she thought.
"Oh please, call me Joe"
"May I ask you Miss Beckett, are you two..?"
"Oh no, nothing like that. He is just a very good friend"
"Too bad. You two would make a cute couple, you know"
At this point they had already reached a blue SUV.
"This is your car, gas is full and it's been recently cleaned, here are the keys"
She thanked him and went to look for her wallet but Joe placed a hand above hers.
"Don't worry, it's the least I can do. We'll see each other in three months if Rick's information is reliable enough. Here – he said while reaching for a card on his wallet – call me if there is any problem with the vehicle"
They said their goodbyes and she went to the cabin.
The cabin was a good 30 minutes from the airport, trough a path on the forest. It was made of wood and had access to a fishless lake on the back. Her dad loved the act of fishing more than the fishing itself. The cabin was still like she remembered 12 years ago. They had stopped coming after her mom had died, although her dad visited a couple of weeks a year to visit a few of his fishing buddies and to maintain it.
The family pictures were still there, also the poker table on the living room (here is where she learned her poker face), and that damned deer head on top of the fireplace; it had always crept her out. She felt like part of her was in this place, it made her mood a lot better.
She went to her old room and placed the suitcases on the bed. She opened them and found a piece of paper on top of her things. She quickly grabbed it and immediately recognize the handwrite. It was the recipe for the brownies; she smiled and couldn't help to roll her eyes at his thoughtfulness. On the back of the paper there was a note at the end of it. It read:
"Hi, KB, I hope you're not mad I opened your suitcase. There is a badge of brownies on a Zippo bag on the other one to sweeten you heart a bit. – RC"
Her phone buzzed. It was Lanie.
"Hello, Lanie"
"Hello to you, Kate. You sound happy, is writer boy with you by any chance?"
"Very funny. No, he is in his loft, I think"
"Oh, so have spoken to the guy recently, uh?"
"Don't use that tone on me, Lane. Yes, I have. He texted before the flight and I called him when I landed"
"You did, didn't you? Not your best friend that you own huge details on last night dinner. That's ok, I'm not hurt"
"Oh come on Lanie, don't give me that. You know he gets all paranoid and he is extremely impatient. You're a reasonable person who can wait until I get home and call like normal people do"
"Sure. Now I want to know everything!"
After sitting down on the end of the bed Kate told her about dinner and dessert at wish the ME was congratulating her on getting a man who could cook. Then she told her about the kiss.
"That you did what!"
Kate never thought a person's voice could get so high.
"I kissed him?"
"After all that he told you? Good girl"
"So, are you two officially together?"
"Uh, no"
"Katherine Marie Beckett what are you saying? Why the hell not?"
Kate explain what she felt, that they needed space after everything and she needed some time to process her mom's case.
"And he was ok with that?"
"He said he would wait all the time in the world if that was what I needed"
A loud squeal sound at the other end of the line. It made Kate laugh.
"Girl, I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks Lanie. Oh I got another call, say hi to the boys for me, please? I'll call you later"
"Greetings to writer boy"
She hangs up before Kate can response. The worst part was that it was Castle calling.
"Castle, hey"
"I was beginning to think you had been kidnapped"
"I was talking to Lanie" – she said, a little exasperation in her tone.
"Potato, potatoe. Was the car good?"
"Yes, and Joe is a very good guy"
"Oh, Joe went, uh?" – He asked seeming uncomfortable by that little piece of information.
"Yeah, why? I thought you'd sent him"
"Well, he owns the place. I didn't think he would actually show. I did a favor for his son ages ago and he is still very grateful. I didn't want you to think I'd sent him to brag about me"
"It didn't occur to me until you said it. What was the favor?"
"Oh, nothing, I just got James a job after he got out of juvi with the promise of his good behavior, of course"
"Really?"
"Yeah, well. I use to go to Sleek Creek when I was still a kid, 18, maybe 19, until I got my second best-seller and married Meredith. It was a great place to write and I've known the Storms for years"
"That explains a lot"
"You mean the last name? Well, he kind of inspired the character, James not Joe that is"
She could sense there was a little bit more to it than that, but he seemed very uncomfortable with the subject so she changed it.
"Interesting. I got the brownies, how did you get to my suitcase?"
Her tone of voice could be either of annoyance or amusement
"Uh, well, do you remember when I was doing the dishes?
"Yes…?"
"Well, your suitcases were there by the door of the kitchen, so when you weren't looking I tugged the recipe and the brownies. I thought it would be a nice surprise. The brownies were a bribe so you wouldn't kill me"
"You're proud that you slipped it to my suitcase without me noticing, aren't you?"
"Kind of"
"You're such a child Castle" – she said laughing.
"And you love me for it"
"You wish, Castle"
"That, I do"
And she froze.
He was mentally kicking himself.
"Kate, I didn't mean that, it was just a slip of the tongue, a figurate speech. Kate? Are you there?"
His voice showed fear and concern, but mostly fear.
"Yeah, no, I know. It is ok, Castle. Look, I should call my dad to let him know I'm here and all. I'll call you, ok?"
"Yeah, ok. Take care, will you? And I'm a call away, know that"
"I know, Rick"
After hanging up she plopped to the bed. She needed some serious thinking to do.