« So, you still don't want us to know what we're doing tomorrow?" Esposito asked as they were all leaving on Friday night.
"Nope" Kate answered as they all got in the elevator. "But I'm sure you'll love it! And, there is a free dinner at the Old Haunt at the end of the day" she added, knowing how to make her boys work.
"Well, I'm in then! Your food is amazing Castle!" Ryan said, already thinking of what he could eat the following night.
As they arrived in the parking garage, the four of them parted ways with only one instruction for the following day: be at Kate's place at nine. When Kate and Rick arrived at the loft, Alexis was at the dining table with what looked like the week worth of newspapers.
"What is all that?" Rick asked, sitting on the chair next to her while Kate went to change
"It's all the articles about you and Kate, I'm trying to find which one is the best"
"Really?"
"No" she laughed "I was wondering which one to send to Jim"
"What, why? Why would you send him some article with is daughter being kissed in a park?" Rick asked, almost blushing
"I have my reasons" she said mysteriously, gathering the newspapers clippings and heading up the stairs
Rick heard the door of his bedroom open and Kate's footsteps approach. Without turning to her, he took one of the pictures of the two of them left on the table.
"I think we have a problem, I think your father and my daughter are plotting something against us" he said
"Well, I have another problem right now, I don't have any clean clothes left here" Kate said.
Rick turned slowly, keeping his eyes shut "Please tell me you're naked, please tell me you're naked …"
"Sure, I'll have absolutely no problem walking around naked with your daughter upstairs" She laughed at his disappointed expression when he saw she was dressed.
"Do you want to go and pack up all your clothes now, so you have something to wear for tomorrow. I really wouldn't mind you moving everything out of your apartment naked but I don't really want to share this wonderful view with the rest of the moving company." He said, pulling her in his lap and playing with the hem of a T-shirt of his that she was wearing.
"We can't just leave Alexis here. She hasn't even eaten yet"
"Kate, Dad, I'm going to the movies with Ashley. Don't wait up. Bye!" Alexis yelled while going down the stairs and running out of the door.
"Well, I'm sure she'll understand" Rick answered Kate, kissing her. "So, shall we go and make the most of that next to be former apartment of yours?"
Needless to say that that night, they were not as efficient packing clothes as doing more pleasurable things not including any clothes.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
The next morning, the Castle clan – now including Kate – went to her place a bit before 9 with pastries for everyone. When the others arrived, they were glad to have something to eat.
"So, can you tell us why we're here now?" Esposito asked Kate
"Well, today is a very special day" she answered, looking quickly at Rick, seeing one of the biggest smiles she had ever seen on his face, "we're moving all my stuff into Rick's loft!"
She didn't even had time to see the others' reaction that she heard that she heard a non-human squeal coming out of Lanie, who literally jumped in her seat.
"Well, Kate, I think we have found the most excited person excepted us" Rick laughed.
"Let me get this straight, you made us come here to move you out of your apartment and into Rick's?" Ryan asked
"Yes, exactly"
"But you tricked us!" Esposito whined.
"You made us suffer for three years, now you're going to suffer" Rick said, getting up. "So, the boxes are over there, just take one each and start filling them with … well … everything"
By the end of the morning, everything was packed in boxes and they began moving everything into the truck Rick had rented for the occasion. All were very impressed by Jenny's strength. She put Kate and Lanie to shame for letting their men deal with what they considered to be heavy boxes. Of course, the actual moving process was not as smooth as the packing one. Once they arrived at Castle's building, there were considerably slowed by the mass of reporters and photographs. After Rick's press release of his relationship with Kate, things had been a bit hectic but quickly reconsidered after his comment on the third morning in a row that Kate was late for work because of them.
"Hello everyone" Rick had started "as I'm sure all of you know by now, Detective Beckett and I are involved and have been for a while. You know me, I'm happy to give you some pictures and everything but I won't tolerate any intrusion in our personal or professional life. I think you'll have enough with public appearances and stuff. We don't mind some pictures on the street or anything, it's quite nice to know how good we look on paper" he said, making the photographs laugh "but I won't accept any disturbances regarding police work. If you want to live in a safe city, you have to let the best detectives do their work. As long as we understand each other, we won't have any problem. Kate will not speak to you or answer any question, she is a very private person, if you want anything you come to me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some laundry to do"
The novelty of their relationship had not passed yet so they were still followed pretty much everywhere they went when not on the job but Rick had promised Kate it would not last. "A month, tops" he had said. She did not like to have her picture in the paper every morning but she'd live with it. For him. It was part of the package. Now that she was moving in with him, she couldn't blame them for being there, it was their job after all, even if she didn't like it. To avoid the press questions as much as they could, they sent Ryan and Esposito to go to the truck to get the boxes, getting them up into the loft from the lobby.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
The meeting was set up for 9 this evening at the Old Haunt. When Rick and Kate arrived, they let all the photographers at the door. Rick had hired some security guards for his pub, and they were particularly needed that night. The group of friends ate and talked all night long. Ryan and Jenny were giving details on their weeding which was to take place a month later when Rick's cell phone rang. Seeing that it was Gina calling he excused himself from the group and went in his office. When he came back about fifteen minutes later, he took Kate's hand and led her to the bar. She got concerned when she saw his face.
"Rick, what's wrong ?"
"It was Gina"
"And?"
"She reminded me of something I had completely forgotten."
"And what is that?"
"I have a book tour to France. I completely forgot about it. It has been arranged for at least six months but I …"
"When are you leaving?" Kate asked, pretty sure that she wouldn't like the answer
"Tuesday morning …" he answered tentatively "I don't want to go but Naked Heat is coming out in French next weekend and the first one sold really well there I just … I don't have a choice, honey" he said, seeing Kate's eyes sadden.
"I know" she answered, "but I don't really like it. How long is it for?"
"Three weeks …"
"Oh, well … I'll get you to the airport" Kate said
"You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad? It's part of your job, you don't really have a choice. There will be more book tours anyway, I can't just ask you not to go on any just because we're together now." She laughed "I have one question though"
"Anything you want"
"Could you restrict yourself to signing books … and not certain body parts, please?"
"I stopped signing chests a long time ago Kate, the only one I will ever sign again is yours … if you'd let me of course"
"Sure" Kate laughed "I don't want you to put any hickey on my neck but I won't have any problem with Richard Castle written across my chest"
Rick kissed her passionately. How on earth had he been so lucky as to fall in love with such an understanding woman
"Hey, if you want to be alone we can just leave you know" Esposito called from the booth where the group had settled.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
"Kate, I'm sure by the time I'll come back you'll be disappointed not to have the big loft for yourself anymore" Rick said.
They were at the airport and he had another fifteen minutes before boarding his plane to Paris.
"Me and Alexis, maybe we'll send you to the acting school to live with your mother in her tiny studio" Kate said
"I'll miss you" Rick said, pulling her against his chest
"I'll miss you too" she whispered in his neck "try to come back without any French policewoman"
"Why would I do that, I already have the perfect policewoman at home"
"I love you" she simply said, before kissing him. For once she didn't mind that photographs were around them, trying to hide or playing innocent by-standers. She wasn't going to see her man for three weeks, she would definitely not let them ruin their last few minutes together.
"I love you too" Rick answered, hugging her until he heard the call for his flight.
They separated with a last kiss and the promise of a phone call later that night. Just as Rick was passing the gate, Kate's phone rang.
"Beckett" she answered, starting to walk out of the airport, knowing that the paparazzi were following her. "Yes Sir, I'll be right there" she said before starting running. She didn't have to run, the poor guy was already dead, but the journalists didn't know that and the fastest she was out of there, the better, for her but mostly for them.