Title: Not the Best Kept Secret
Summary: Something's changed between Castle and Beckett and Ryan is determined to find out what. Takes place shortly before Ryan and Alexis get married.
Genre: General/Humor
Characters: Ryan
"No way bro."
Ryan shook his head in disbelief, "Really? You seriously don't think so? I mean something has definitely changed."
"There's no way they're together. I would have noticed," Esposito responded as he took a sip of his coffee from his favorite mug on the homicide floor.
"I swear something's different. Just watch them."
The pair sat quietly and watched Castle and Beckett make coffee in the break room, the blinds slightly blocking their view but not entirely. Beckett's thin hand grabbed a sugar packet while Castle's reached for cream, both smiling when their hands accidentally bumped. "See!" Ryan whispered excitedly. "They just touched making coffee, they're totally together."
Javier looked at him in disbelief, "We touch when we make coffee, does that mean we're together?"
Ryan slowly turned and met his eyes before winking, "If not for Lex I'd take you right here on my desk." He burst out laughing when Esposito pursed his lips and shook his head. "Seriously though, I swear something's different. Look how close they're standing."
With a sigh Esposito leaned his head back, "It doesn't mean anything, we're always that close. Maybe Castle has no concept of personal space like you. You're always touching me, like right now."
Sure enough when he looked down their chairs were so close that their arms were brushing as they continued to sip their coffee. "I only do that with you, you're my brother from another mother." Doubt began to seep into his eyes. "Right? I don't do that with other people… do I?" he wondered.
"No, I'm used to having you under my feet all the time. I've come to terms with the fact my personal bubble includes you. Other people though, that'd be creepy as hell and I'd stop you."
"Thanks for not letting me be creepy Javi."
Esposito grinned behind his coffee cup, "Anytime bro."
The following week Ryan wandered down to the morgue and greeted the medical examiner happily. "Hey Lanie, got anything new for me?"
She smiled easily and looked up from the body she was currently examining, "Not yet honey. Where's your other half?"
"Interrogation with Beckett. Actually speaking of Beckett, have you heard anything about her and Castle?" he asked.
Her eyebrows rose, "No, should I have?" She couldn't help but smirk at Ryan's excited grin, whether they admitted it or not both he and Javier were gossips.
He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels, "I just feel like something's different but Javi thinks I'm just crazy. I swear though, they're together."
Lanie slipped off her gloves and threw them away with a contemplative expression, "Kate did say she had plans Thursday night, but she wouldn't say with whom. She usually tells me these things."
Ryan's eyes widened as he began to shake from excitement. "Castle said he couldn't watch Dev Thursday night because he had to work on his book. No such thing as coincidences. I can't believe they're lying to us."
"Not lying, omitting."
"Lying by omission," he countered. His phone beeped and he quickly pulled it out and read the text from his partner, "They're done, I've got to get back upstairs. Bye Lanie." He was almost out the door when Lanie called to him.
"Ryan, you hear anything I want to be the first to know."
He giggled, honest to God giggled, and nodded. "Done."
Friday morning Ryan walked off the elevator into the precinct and noticed Beckett leaning against the edge of her desk looking over the murder board. "Morning Beckett."
She waved distractedly before she tapped her chin in thought and didn't even look over at him when he sat down next to her. "What time did you get here?"
"Six," she answered instantly.
He crossed his feet at his ankles and stuck his hands in the pockets of his grey slacks. "Wow that's early. Did you come straight from Castle's?"
She whipped around and glared at Ryan who was looking at her innocently, a smidgen of amusement dancing in his azure eyes. "Smooth Ryan."
"Sooo is that a yes? Or a no?" he asked slowly.
His only answer was a harder glare.
Two weeks later Ryan, Alexis, and Devlin all exited the elevator on Castle's floor and began to make their way down the hallway towards his apartment. Devlin giggled happily as they swung him back and forth in between them until they arrived at the door. Alexis grasped the handle and entered her father's home but everyone froze as soon as they stepped inside.
Right in front of them, standing in the living room, were Castle and Beckett. Kissing. Quite passionately.
Devlin stayed silent but began to smile as he realized the implications of what was happening and Alexis could only watch in shock as they pulled apart and Kate laughed softly at whatever Castle was whispering to her. They stayed standing closely, hands wrapped loosely around each other as Beckett tipped her head up for another kiss.
"I knew it!" Ryan shouted victoriously as he pointed to the startled and blushing pair who looked at him owlishly with mouths agape. "Who's the best detective at the 12th?" he asked before pointing to himself with his thumbs. "This guy!"
Beckett dropped her face into her hands before sucking in a deep breath and looking up at Castle who was trying to act like he hadn't just been making out with the woman he had been pining for for years. "Hey guys, you're early," he said with an unsure smile.
Alexis grinned widely and tapped her wristwatch with her finger; "Actually we're a little late for dinner. It's after seven."
Ryan couldn't stop smiling smugly, his expression beginning to make Beckett nervous. "Ryan, you can't tell anyone. If this gets back to the captain…"
"It won't," he assured her. "You eating dinner with us?"
He seemed to be letting her off the hook and for that she was thankful. With a nod she smiled, "Thanks Kevin."
Ryan watched everyone walk to the kitchen happily before whipping out his phone and dialing quickly. "Hello, Lanie? I was totally right."