Chapter 16
He stood by the bedroom door, watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful. He had looked over his morning texts already, and was glad to see that they had planned for a girls day, with her and Lanie.
He still couldn't believe that they were pulling this off. Everyone was doing such a fantastic job. He had watched the camera feed of her and Ryan yesterday and it looked so effortless. They really all were so much like their characters and had been living with them so long, that it almost felt natural. The sound of a phone vibrating pulled him from his thoughts.
He looked down, and realized it wasn't his phone.
"Hey, Castle." Beckett said, sleepily. "I just got a text from Lanie, she has the day off and wanted to get together. Would you mind?"
Geniuses! They used her phone this time. They really are good at this. "No, not at all. I need to get some writing done anyway, so I'll just head over to the loft when she gets here and you can text me when you gals are done."
"Are you sure? I mean, we haven't really got to spend much time just the two of us since I've been off." She yawned as she got up and put her arms around his neck and stared up at him.
"It's fine, I'm a big boy, I can share you with your friends."
"You're amazing, you know that?"
"Well, you're pretty extraordinary yourself, Ms Beckett."
She leaned in to kiss him, just as there was a knock at the door. Thank god! He thought, as he placed a quick kiss to her forehead as he stepped around her to open the door.
"Hey, Lanie."
"Hey, girl!" She squealed. "I'm so glad to see you're doing ok. Writer-boy hasn't made you shoot him yet?"
"Not yet. Close a couple of times." She laughed.
"I'm standing right here ya know!"
"I see that," said Lanie. "The question is why? Get the heck outta here. This is a girls day, and unless you're a girl..."
"Nope, most definitely not a girl. I'm gone! See ya later, ladies. Don't bash me too bad while I'm gone."
"What makes you think we'll even be talking about you, Mr Ego?"
"Come on, Lanie. I know you just want details on how amazing I am."
"Get over yourself, writer-boy!"
"That's writer-man, Lanie. Writer-man!"
"Whatever! Now get outta here before I smack ya!"
"Yes ma'am!" He said with a salut as he dashed out the door.
"You sure have your hands full with that one, girl." Lanie smiled as she shook her head.
"I know, he can be such a man child sometimes, but he makes things so much..."
"Fun?"
"Yeah, fun. But it's more than that, Lanie. For the first time since I lost my mom, I feel like I'm not alone. I know you and the boys have always been there for me, but it's just..."
"Different."
"Exactly. He understands me better than I do sometimes. It's like he always knows just what I need, even before I need it. It's kinda scary sometimes."
"Scary because he knows you so well?"
"No, scary because I want him to. I let those walls fall, but now I just feel so vulnerable sometimes. So exposed. I trust him, I really do. Sometimes I think I don't trust myself. Can I really have a happily ever after, Lanie?"
"If anyone can, and if anyone deserves one, it's you two. You're like a walking fairy tale."
Beckett smiled. "Speaking of walking fairy tales, how are things with you and your handsome Latin prince?"
"Oh, girl! Don't even get me started on that man unless you got a big old bottle of wine ready."
Beckett smiled as she pulled a bottle out of the wine rack. "As a matter of fact, I do!"