Kate handed the cabbie a twenty and stepped out of the cab and onto the sidewalk in front of a edgy, hip-looking club. She took a deep breath and pulled open the door, taking a few steps in. It was chaotic. A Lady Gaga remix blared from the large speakers in every corner, and posters advertising Dylan Mills's book, "Mass-Murder in Manhattan" hung from the ceiling. The author himself – a young guy with black hair and a scruffy beard – was sitting at a table on the edge of the dance floor. And sitting with him were Gina and Rick. Kate slipped her coat off and hung it on a peg next to the door. A few more deep breaths, and she was making her way towards the table where Gina, Rick, and Dylan sat.
Dylan was earnestly talking to Rick about something, and Gina was sipping a martini and nodding every few seconds. As Kate got closer, she could hear Dylan saying, "….and then I'll end it with the 5th book, where the serial killer is caught and Detective Morgan is awarded a medal of valor!"
Rick nodded, and looked up from his scotch, where he had been pushing ice cubes around with a tiny straw. The straw slipped out of his fingers and he gaped.
"Kate…"
"No, the detective is named Jacob Morgan. I –"
Gina put her well-manicured hand on Dylan's arm and pulled him up with her.
"Dylan, some Hollywood producers are here. I think they would be very interested in your plan for the rest of the 'Mass Murder' series. Shall we?"
Dylan nodded, already forgetting about Castle. "Yes!"
Kate slipped into Gina's now-empty seat, and took Rick's hand.
"Hey."
"Hey," he said back, staring at her. "That dress is…."
She blushed. "I read your letter," she said, biting her lip. His face remained neutral. She squeezed his hand. He stared past her at a poster on the wall.
"Hey, look at me. Rick, I am so sorry. I was careless and selfish, not thinking about the people who love me. About you."
His face softened. "You weren't completely selfish, Kate. I know how badly you want to find your mom's killer. I know that passion, that deep need for justice. It's what drew me to you from the first time we met. It's how I felt when you got shot. It's why I started the murder board. I thought maybe –"
"Maybe you could catch him? Be the hero?" Kate smiled, her eyes sparkling. Rick smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah, I guess."
"I love you so much for that," Kate said, scooting her chair closer to Rick's. "And I promise I will slow it down."
"We'll catch him, Kate. I swear to you, we will catch him." Rick leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Kate smiled and inside breathed a sigh of relief. Possible blowout fight avoided.
"Hey," he murmured into her ear, placing a small kiss on her neck. "You wanna dance?"
She nodded. "I'd like that."
They got up from the table and Rick held his arm out to escort Kate to the dance floor. She took it and just as they hit the dance floor, the song changed to 'In Your Arms' by Stanfour. Kate grinned.
"I loove this song!"
"Well, that's perfect, 'cause so do I. But, not as much as I love you.," he said, sweeping her into his arms and putting his hand on her waist. She winced, and he laughed.
"Too cheesy?"
"Just cheesy enough," she whispered, kissing him. They twirled around the dance floor, and in that moment Kate was perfectly 100% happy. When she whispered this in Rick's ear, he smiled and replied, "Me too."
xxxx
3 weeks later, Kate was in a deep sleep when she was woken up by a strange, tickly feeling on her stomach. She cracked open one eye and saw Rick's head laying on her stomach. He kissed her stomach again and she felt the strange, tickly feeling again. She opened the other eye and peered at him, clearing her throat.
"Hey there. Whatcha doing?"
"Um, being cute?"
She laughed as he pulled the bottom of her black tank-top nightie back over her thighs and moved up to lie next to her, pulling her into his arms. She winced slightly.
"What's wrong?," Rick asked, his tendency for concern kicking in.
"I think I slept on my back funny. There's this muscle in my right shoulder that really hurts," Kate said, rubbing it. Rick grinned and she was confused.
"Why does that make you happy?"
"Because –" Rick said, sitting up and pulling her with him. He moved behind her. "- I can give you a famous Richard Castle back massage."
Kate laughed. "Famous?"
He nodded and started to knead her right shoulder. "World renown."
Kate was about to laugh again and say something witty and maybe a little mock-insulting when she ate her words.
"Oh my god, that feels really good."
He smiled. "Told you."
She moaned happily as he continued to work his way down her back.
"Hey Kate, I've thinking, we need do switch it up. Do something different."
"What do you mean?," she asked as he made his hands made their way to her neck. "Oooh, yeah, that spot right there."
"I mean, living together and being domestic these past 3 months has been fun, but every once and a while we need to have some fun, do something exciting."
"And what do you have in mind?"
"Well, in 4 weeks I have to do a book tour, which I just found out today. You know, tease the first few chapters of the new book, get people excited for the release in May. Now, I know you can't take too much time off of work, especially with Gates around, but I was thinking you could join me for the last half. There are 2 stops in Texas, but then…. California!"
Kate smiled. "That actually sounds like a really good idea, Rick. It would be nice to get away."
"I know, right?" He asked excitedly, starting to talk faster. "My longest stop is in LA, and I was thinking we could stay in the same hotel room as last time, but you know, maybe share a bed instead of having separate rooms…."
Just like that, his voice became low and, well, sexy. He kissed her neck and she turned around, kissing him hard and pulling him down on top of her on the bed. They were getting lost in each other when Alexis's voice pulled them out of there makeout session.
"Dad? Kate? Is it okay if I come in?"
They sat up, and Kate smoothed her hair and straightened her nightgown before Rick yelled back, "Come on in, honey."
Alexis opened the door of the bedroom slowly, peeking her head before fully stepping into the room. The sight of Kate sitting in bed with her dad, in his lap, was something she was still getting used to.
"Morning, sweetie. What's up?," Rick asked. Alexis was dressed in yoga pants, sneakers, and a hoodie.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to the gym with Paige. I should be back in about 2 hours. Hi, Kate."
"Hey, Alexis," Kate smiled, trying to not be awkward.
"Got your phone?," Rick asked. "And your key?"
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Of course, dad."
"Great, have fun," he said with a smile. Just as Alexis turned to leave, he said, "Hey, honey, later Kate and I want to talk to you, I have a book tour coming up soon and we have to figure some stuff out."
"Okay," Alexis nodded. She smiled at them. "Bye dad, bye Kate."
"Bye, Alexis," Kate said. Alexis pulled open the door, but before walking through it, she turned around and looked at Kate.
"Hey, Kate, do you think we could go shopping later today? I know it's your day off, and my friend Anna is having a birthday party next weekend, I want to get a new dress."
Kate grinned. "I would love to, Alexis. How about we shop in the afternoon, and then see a movie?"
Alexis matched Kate's grin with one of her own. "That sounds perfect! Thanks, Kate."
"No problem, Alexis. Have a good run!"
The second Kate heard the front door close, Rick punched Kate's shoulder gently and laughed.
"Hey, look at you! Nice goin'!"
Kate tossed a pillow at him. "Shut up," she laughed. "I'm just trying to be a good mom-motherly figure-ish person…"
Rick laughed again, then kissed her forehead. "And you are doing a fantastic job. She adores you, Kate, she really does. I think you two will have fun together while I'm away. Some good bonding time."
He got up and pulled Kate with him. "C'mon, sexy. Any longer in this bed and I'm afraid I will have to rip that black sleep-shirt right off of you."
She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. "So I take it you don't want to watch me make breakfast wearing just an apron?," she whispered, nipping his ear. He moaned and slipped out of her arms.
"I'm gonna take a shower!," he called, heading into the bathroom. She grinned and walked into the kitchen. She grabbed Rick's phone off the counter, plugged it into the docking center in the dining room, and turned on her favorite 1940s jazz Pandora station and waltzed around the kitchen, singing along to Rosemary Clooney and Ella Fitzgerald. By the time Rick got out of the shower, she had made blueberry muffins, scrambled eggs, and bacon.
Rick emerged from the bedroom in jeans and a white t-shirt, tousling his wet hair with a towel. His face broke out into a huge grin when he heard Kate's sultry voice coming from the kitchen.
"Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore, pull me close, sway me more…"
Kate did a little salsa dance move as she pulled the eggs off the stove, setting the skillet on the counter. When she turned around, she saw Rick smiling at her. She blushed and he clapped. He helped her set the table and pour orange juice when "Witchcraft" by Frank Sinatra came on.
"Ooh! I love this song!," Rick exclaimed, grabbing Kate's hand and twirling her into his arms. "Dance with me."
She smiled and put her hands on his shoulders. They swayed around the living room, laughing and smiling and singing lyrics to each other. When the song ended, Kate curtsied and Rick bowed, and then he pulled out her chair for her. They dug in to all the food Kate prepared, and Rick moaned with satisfaction.
"You kick a lot of ass everyday, but the thing you kick the most ass in is definitely making brunch," he said appreciatively, biting into his second muffin after finishing his first one in 5 bites. "Ya mom 'ould be tho pwoud of yew," he said, with a mouthful of muffin.
Kate laughed at his childish behavior and then smiled. "Thanks, honey. That means a lot to me."
He took her hand and swallowed before he spoke. "Always."
They were doing the dishes forty minutes later when "Witchcraft" came on the Pandora station again.
"It's a sign!," Rick almost yelled, dropping the pan he was washing into the sink with a clatter. He grabbed Kate's wrist and twirled her around the kitchen. She rolled her eyes and grinned, letting the music move her. She and Rick were laughing again when the front door opened and Alexis entered, Martha behind her with 2 armfuls of shopping bags. They were chatting about the beautiful weather that New York was having, especially for the beginning of February. But when they heard the laughing and the Frank Sinatra coming from the kitchen, they stopped and watched the oblivious couple sing the last verse to each other as they danced. When the song ended, Martha and Alexis applauded enthusiastically.
Kate and Rick turned around. Rick bowed and grinned that cute, attention-loving grin of his. Kate just leaned against his shoulder and blushed.
Martha smiled. "Kate, I didn't know you could dance so well!," she exclaimed. "You remind me of Anna Duvall. Granted, she and I were rivals for twenty years, but boy, could that dame cut a rug. She had that 40's glamour you have, dear."
Kate blushed even more. "Thanks, Martha."
"You're welcome!"
"There are muffins and fruit salad left if you guys want," Rick offered, saving Kate from being even more embarrassed. Martha shook her head.
"No carbs before 3 pm, dear. That's the rule." She waved her silk-blouse clad arm and swept into the living room and settling onto the couch with the newest issue of Vanity Fair.
"I'll take one!," Alexis said with a grin, grabbing a blueberry muffin off of the counter. "My workout made me hungry!"
"That's good," Kate smiled. "I bet you're going to be in perfect shape by the time summer hits."
"I hope so!," Alexis said. "It will be so nice to not have schoolwork to worry about for once..."
Rick snorted. "Like you're going to stop worrying about school once you get in!"
Kate elbowed him. "Rick!"
Alexis narrowed her eyes. "You're just afraid to lose the title of Laser Tag Champion to me. Once I get some time to practice, you should sleep with one eye open." She grabbed an apple from the bowl on the kitchen table and then headed up the stairs, stopping at the top to do the "I'm watching you" finger gesture. Rick returned it, and Kate just stood there, trying not to laugh. It was silent for a few minutes as Rick scratched his head, likely trying to figure out a good sneak attack plan.
"So, what are you kids doing today?," Martha asked, ignoring Rick's scheming.
"We don't really have plans yet. Maybe go for a walk or –"
Rick's eyes widened and he grabbed Kate's arm, pulling her into his office. "I need reinforcement! Today, Katherine Beckett, is your first day of Laser Tag!"