Pros and Cons

Previously: Party's starting without Kate. Castle thinks she is planning to come. Lanie finds Kate's list of Pros on Castle's dresser.

4

Kate's phone chirped. "Where the hell are you?" came the text from Lanie.

Yeah, um, no. She didn't want to explain herself right now. She ignored the text.

xox

Castle finished leading the loft tour and everyone headed back to the living area where there was food, drinks, and music.

Lanie caught him by the back of his shirt and pulled him into his bedroom after the others had passed by.

"Explain."

"You gotta give me more than that, Lanie. Explain what?"

"Why is this here-" she pulled Kate's list from under the book, "-but Kate isn't. And she's not answering her text message."

"Uh…" Castle gave her a look that was part "why were you snooping in my room?" and part "oh crap, what's going on?"

"Don't look at me like that, Castle. You know I butt in. It's part of my charm. So tell me about this list and what you did to mess it up."

"I didn't do anything! I challenged her to write the reasons why we should date. And I wrote why we shouldn't-"

"You did what?" She glared at him like he was an idiot.

"I wrote a really good list of how she could break my heart and how much more distracted we'd be if we were all in. It was supposed to show her that she wasn't the only one risking something, and that it would be worth it."

Lanie's face thawed as she realized what he meant. "Oh. So where is she?"

"I was wondering the same thing."

"Well, did she say what time she was coming?"

"Uh, I don't know. I didn't actually talk to her about it, just the guys. I told her my feelings - you know how hard that was to do? The ball was in her court. You were the one that told me she was coming."

Lanie was dumbfounded. "You didn't invite her? I swear you can be so stupid for a smart guy. Javi told me you two worked out whatever was going on earlier today. … JAVIER!"

She stormed the kitchen, scaring her boyfriend. "What made you tell me Kate was coming tonight?"

"I didn't say she was coming. I just said it looked like there was trouble brewing," he gave Castle an apologetic shrug, "then I said it looked like they'd worked it out. She spent twenty minutes on the phone in the restroom, and came out all happy."

Now Castle was really confused. "But I didn't talk to her on the phone after I left."

Ryan had been watching with a bemused expression. He offered up the only detail he had. "She said she was having a girls' night out with Madison, but it sounded like she was making it up."

A look of fear and rejection came over Castle's face. "So, either she has a date she didn't want to tell you about, or she is going out with Madison but didn't want you to know what they were doing." And she'll get swept off her feet by the cancer-curing gorgeous astronaut.

Lanie rolled her eyes. You idiot. "Or she just didn't want to admit that you didn't invite her. After that list, she's not out with someone else." She shook her head at his stupidity.

Ryan and Esposito looked at each other, silently asking, "What list?"

"Oh. …So, um, your sure she's not out, somewhere…" Castle didn't want to finish that question. He'd rather look dumb than incredibly insecure.

She pushed Castle toward the door. "Go pick her up and bring her here. We'll eat your food and drink your booze while you're gone."

As soon as the door shut behind him, he heard Esposito's muffled voice, then heard everyone else break out in laughter.

xox

Kate rummaged through her cabinets; the few strawberries and slices of turkey weren't enough to fill her up. She was contemplating eating the stale Cheetos she found when she heard a light knock at the door.

"What are you doing here, Castle?" She left him in the open doorway and turned back to the kitchen. He wasn't sure if he should invite himself in or stay at the door.

"Uh, I thought you were coming to the loft."

He was cute when he was unsure of himself, but she made herself keep a blank expression.

"Well, Castle. You didn't invite me to the loft. You invited Ryan. You invited Esposito. You invited their girlfriends. But you left me with a list of why we shouldn't date, then you very specifically did not invite me."

"I just thought…" he sighed and let himself into her apartment, closing the door and joining her in the kitchen, "I thought you'd know I wanted you there. That either you'd call me, or you'd just know."

"Oh, I see. I'm supposed to know what you don't say. What you keep inside your head, but you don't actually say. To me."

"Come on, Kate. That's not fair. I thought that list was a pretty good way to say what I've been thinking. And I rather appreciated your list, too." His lips turned upward with that last part.

He liked my list? Straight face, Kate. Come on. "I bet you did. Stroke your ego, did it?" Why exactly am I antagonizing him?...So I know it's not a game to him? …Because I'm too chicken to just kiss him and go to his party? Kiss him? Where'd that come from?

He stared at her, trying to figure out the confusion in her eyes and keep himself from being goaded into an argument. "Look, Kate. If you'd rather stay here alone with your stale snacks and bad TV than be with me and our friends watching a movie and having fun, it's your choice. But I came here because I want you there. I meant what I wrote on my list - you're not the only one risking their heart; and I think you know what you wrote - that I'd never hurt you on purpose - is true. No relationship is magic and double rainbows all the time, but we'd be good together. And I want to try it. You make me crazy, but I don't want to be with anyone else. Just you. But… if you don't think we're worth a chance, tell me. If you truly don't care about me, don't think I'm worth the risk, then tell me to go. If you can take a chance, just on tonight, just on a movie with our friends, then can you just go get in the car?"

Kate stared at him for a moment, blinked, then walked past him and headed to her bedroom. His heart sank as he watched her disappear through the door. He laid it all out there, and she walked away. He turned to leave, alone.

But she immediately came back out of her room, Nikes in hand. He hadn't asked for forever. He asked for tonight. And he came for her. He didn't give up when she got scared. He said what she'd been needing to hear for months; longer, if she was honest with herself. She felt a little shell-shocked. And embarrassed for complicating everything so much. She took in a shaky breath. He came for her.

Rick needed her to say something. He couldn't see her face as she knelt on the floor tying her shoes. But she was at least going to go with him. And she had complained that he didn't say what was on his mind. The woman was going to slowly drive him insane.

She saw him squirming and decided she could finally control her emotions enough to look him in the eye and talk to him without being all girly. She stood, stepped up to him, and placed both hands on his chest. "Thank you for coming, Rick." She started to turn, then stopped herself. "And you are worth it." She kissed the corner of his mouth and walked out the door.

xox

On the ride back to his place, they actually did talk and figured out where the misunderstandings came from, mostly from misinterpretations by their friends, who passed on misinformation. They wondered what kind of crap they would get from Lanie for letting this little list and party business get so out of hand.

Except they didn't discuss the obvious; that they should have just been adults and picked up the phone themselves; that the blame lay squarely on their shoulders.

But it didn't seem to matter just then. They were on the same page, finally.

He couldn't hold it in any longer. "So you think I'm adorable? And strong?" His sexy smirk had her rolling her eyes.

"Mmm. You really think you could make me lose control?" She said it, sure that he could, but unwilling to let him know how easy that would be.

He grinned. "I know I could." He caught her eye with a look that made her completely believe him.

She bit her lip and smiled, turning away from him to try to hide the blush creeping up her neck. He knew exactly why she turned away and had to force himself to focus on driving instead of on what he wanted to do to her and what reactions she would have. And when she didn't turn to look at him again, but her hand tightened on her own leg for a second, he was sure she was imagining the same kinds of things.

xox

They could hear the music and laughter in the loft from the hallway and walked in on what looked to be big trouble in the making. Martha had come in and was telling stories about Rick's misadventures, and the group had clearly indulged in Rick's expensive alcohol supply.

"Well, Richard! Lovely for you two to join us for the party you abandoned. I take it you two have removed your heads from your respective rears?" Martha had definitely had more than a glass of wine.

Her comment had Castle shaking his head, Kate blushing, and everyone else trying to stifle laughter. Martha continued watching their entrance with a serious look. She placed her hands on Kate's shoulders, dramatically said, "Hello, dear, I am very pleased you came," nodded her head, and turned back to the liquor cabinet.

Kate looked to Rick, quietly questioning, "I take it everyone knows what's going on?"

"Lanie's involved. What do you think?"

"Richard, darling! Be a good host! Come get your fabulous girlfriend a drink!" Martha was being rather assuming. Lanie must have shared everything. Rick made a mental note to never again leave them with unlimited access to his alcohol.

"Mother-" He changed his mind. He was about to correct her, that Kate wasn't his girlfriend yet. Instead, he said, "I think I will. Wine or soda?"

Everyone noticed. Kate's mouth dropped open, and she quirked a questioning eyebrow, while everyone else was getting whiplash from watching the exchange. Nobody wanted to miss the look on her face after he said that.

Esposito was the first to venture a comment, "Yeah, what'll his girlfriend drink?" Lanie laughed out loud. Ryan mouthed, "Ooh, no." Jenny wasn't sure why it was such a big deal.

And Kate had a decision to make. Two, actually. She answered both with one word.

"Wine."

xox

With their friends so relaxed and enjoying themselves and affectionate towards their dates (mostly due to the high quality alcohol), Rick and Kate didn't feel so much like they were in a fishbowl. They were being watched, of course, but nobody tried to hide their amused observations like they normally would. They, in fact, exaggerated their thoughts.

When Rick placed his hand on Kate's lower back, Lanie told him it was inappropriate to try to grab her butt in front of everybody. When he wrapped his arm around her, Esposito told him not to start a makeout session. Ryan opened his mouth a few times, but Jenny elbowed him. He did manage to whine a loud "Eewww! They're gonna kiss!" when Rick whispered in Kate's ear.

When Rick offered her more wine, she declined. After the day they had, she figured that tonight would not be a good night to lose control. Especially with an audience. A fairly drunk audience. Of course, I'd probably get the nerve to do some of the things they're accusing us of doing.

While that little idea detoured her train of thought for a moment, she was afraid that she'd end up doing something she'd regret after the others went home if she drank too much.

Rick saw that Kate had stopped at one drink, so he did too. He saw her blush at their comments, but he also whispered a few things that made her blush even more.

As the movie got started, their friends gave them little peace. At least through the first half. After that, the three couples were comfortably settled in, snug with their dates, for the rest of the movie.

Being joked about in the open seemed to be better than being whispered about behind their backs. It made Rick and Kate relax and not worry about what their friends thought. If they tried to sneak a look or a touch, someone saw and harassed them, so after a while, they quit trying to sneak.

Ryan made the comment that broke the last of their awkwardness: "Oh, come on. As if any of us are surprised by this happening." He gestured back and forth between Rick and Kate. "You've got to be dumb as bricks to think we didn't know you two have something real." For a half-drunk guy, he was damn perceptive.

It was actually kind of liberating to get to touch, smile, whisper, and even lean into each other on the couch without worrying about how it looked. And being that close gave them both wonderfully naughty ideas, oblivious to the other couples seated closer to the screen.

x

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A/N: That's not the end. We're only halfway through the movie.

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