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Remember this is sort of AU because it doesn't quite happen like this in life for Kate Beckett.
Chapter 8: Game
Getting Rick out of the house that morning hadn't been such a hard task. All Alexis had to do was wake him up with coffee and chocolate chip pancakes then quietly suggest that they go and find Kate a congratulations present. Kate said she'd spend a few hours with her Dad before they left, so Rick and Alexis left Kate with a coffee. However, the coffee was put into a travel mug as soon as the others had left because she had to go collect Castle's surprise.
Shopping turned out to be relatively simple, they had stumbled past a Yankees store and upon realisation that they were going to the game later he had a brainwave; Yankees jerseys, with their names on. Alexis agreed and while she was unable to go to the game later, four jerseys purchased with their names on. Alexis meanwhile had decided that she needed some new clothes, just to make sure that they had been out of the loft long enough for Kate to return.
Kate fortunately had been lucky too in the fact that the Chief had come through on his word and all was ready to be collected. She had shot her father a quick text to meet her at the loft early. It had all gone so well that she had made it back to the loft in time to pack. Only her stuff though, Rick had to do his because only he could do it, apparently. It didn't matter that she'd be repacking it last thing regardless.
"Hey, Dad"
"How are you?"
"I'm good thanks, looking forward to the game. How about you?"
"Yes definitely and I'm good. Katie, where's Rick?"
"He's out with Alexis but should be back anytime now."
"Oh, ok. Well done on your promotion again by the way. I'm so proud, my little girl a Lieutenant."
"Actually, Dad."
"Oh no, you're not going to D.C. again are you?"
"No, no nothing like that. After what happened on Thursday, Captain Gates has decided to retire." Before she could finish her sentence a big smile came over her face. Her father was the first person she was telling and it filled her with an immense sense of pride. "So when I go back to work after Corsica it will be Captain Beckett."
"Captain?"
"Yep and the best part is that not much is going to change. We've sorted it so that I'll still do work in the field just with a few more responsibilities."
"Wow, that's amazing Katie. What does Rick think of it?"
"Actually, Dad, he doesn't know about the Captain part yet."
"Why? You're not going back to the days of secrets are you?"
"No, no it isn't anything like that. I've done something and he's going to love it."
"Can you tell me at least?"
Kate looked around to make sure nobody was going to appear and spoil the surprise. "Ok, yeh sure but you have to promise you won't tell anyone. At least until I've told Rick."
"Do you really think I'd spoil your surprise?"
"Oh shush. Anyway, after I accepted the job, Chief Hamilton asked" just then Rick and Alexis walked in to find the Becketts sat on the sofa.
"Oh hey, Jim. I'm sorry we are late back, Alexis here found a dress."
"Woah, Dad it was you who"
"Ok, I got us some presents in light of Kate's promotion. Here you go." Passing Kate her present bag and Jim his.
Taking the jersey out the bag and turning it around to look at the back of it "Wow Rick, these are amazing. I love it. Thank you."
"Yes Rick, these are great. I got Katie one of these once, when she was a little girl then she got older and it wasn't cool for a girl to wear sports gear."
"Whatever, Dad. Seriously though Rick, I love it."
"Shall we get going then?"
"Yeh sure I'll just go grab some shoes." As Kate left the lounge and walked into their room to grab some pumps. When she returned the others were surprised of her shoe choice.
"What, no heels today?"
"No, it's game day. Don't feel like it either." The last comment earned a look from the other three occupants of the room who were in shock. Kate Beckett, no heels? What was going on? "Can we just go already?"
"Bye Alexis, enjoy your day." The two men exited the loft, as Kate turned to leave she mouthed "Thank you."
After the game, the three went to the Old Haunt where they continued the discussion that had lasted from when they left the gates continued into the car and then into Castle's bar.
"Rick, you must be a good luck charm as I told Katie here."
"Yes, Dad it was all down to Rick. It didn't matter that they were bottom of the league and hadn't won in eight."
"Are you kidding, Kate? Of course it was my charms that lead them to..." Castle said looking at Jim for help.
"The biggest win of the season, in fact the biggest winning margin for any team this season."
"Yes, the biggest win of the season. Thank you, Jim"
"Dad, do not give him an ego boost. I'm surprised we can all get in here." This earned a glare from Castle.
"Hey, Katie, why don't we grab some food and we can talk some more about your promotion?" Kate gave her father a threatening glare.
"Yeh that sounds great. Normal Jim?"
"Yes, that would be great thanks."
As Rick went to order their food, Kate had to remind her father of a few things. "Dad, do I have to tell you again that Rick doesn't know about the Captain job yet."
"No"
"Then why are you going on about it, my job?"
"You always enjoyed raising my blood pressure, thought it was time for some payback."
"You're getting as bad as him."
"I wouldn't say that."
"I would."
"So, can you tell me now what it is?"
"I suppose. Well what I've got him is something that will blow his mind."
"Ok, I don't want to know anymore."
"Nothing like that, I'll tell you when we are back. For now, can you keep it as if I had only got Lieutenant please?"
"No problem, Katie." Kate returned a smile to her father who could only imagine how proud her mother would be of all that their little Katie had achieved. Maybe not so little, anymore. "Katie, is there another reason that you aren't wearing heels?"
"What do you mean?" A look from her father that only meant one thing, "Oh, no Dad. No absolutely no. Rick and I agreed that we'd"
"What did we agree?" Oh yes, Rick. He chose one of the best moments to walk in.
"I was just asking Katie here, if there was another reason she wasn't wearing heels other than she didn't feel like it."
"No there isn't, Dad. We agreed that we would wait a while, just have sometime of being married before."
"You do know that I'm not getting any younger, right? I want to be able to teach them how to play baseball properly not like some of the idiots who coach the kids nowadays."
"Yes, Dad. I'm not exactly getting any younger either. Let me get settled into my new job and then we will see." After finishing her sentence she looked at Rick with the look of lovers, one of happiness, one of promise for their future.
"Ah, yes, your new job, Katie. Let's talk about that."
"Oh, yes, you never told me about your Lieutenant interview. What kind of questions did they ask you?"
"Do we have to talk about it? Can't we talk about the game?"
"No, so where's your new desk going to be? Are the elephants staying?"
Kate knew that there was no getting out of this one, so she answered a range of questions from both her husband and father that went on throughout their meal. It was becoming so hard not to just blurt it out to her husband that she wasn't Lieutenant, she was Captain Beckett.
They dropped Jim off at his apartment, Kate walked him in and just as she turned to leave her pulled her into a hug
"I'm so proud of you, Katie. Your mother would be too. All a parent wants is for their child to be happy and I haven't ever seen you this happy." He pulled out of the hug to look at her, he took both her hands and said "Rick is a massive part of that; goodness knows what your Mother would have said, her favourite author is your husband. I want to know about this surprise as soon as possible because I'm intrigued but for now enjoy your time in Corsica. It is a lovely place, so call me when you land and a postcard would be nice too."
"I think I can splash out on postcard."
"A grandchild would be wonderful too." That earned a discerning look from his daughter. "It'll give you plenty of time to settle into your new job still."
"You'll be the first person we tell, I promise."
"I love you so incredibly much, Katie."
"I love you too, Dad. Now I've got to go otherwise Rick will be sending out the search party."
"Ok, have a great time and come here." He took her back into a tight hug.
"Bye Dad, I'll call you as soon as we land."
"Bye, Katie." Kate managed to finally escape her father and made it swiftly back down to the cab where Rick had been patiently waiting.
"What was that all about?"
"Just a father daughter thing. He says he wants a postcard and a grandchild and that I'd still have time to settle into my new job before said grandchild arrives."
"We will see. C'mon let's go home."
A/N: I promise the surprise will be in the next chapter, this was getting too long. I wanted to bring Jim into it. I wish he was in the show a bit more. I also love how Martha is in it slightly more now. She's such a vibrant character and adds a special something that no other character could.
Next week's episode :D :D
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