She fills up two cups of coffee; making sure one is decaf for her father, before she's carrying the two mugs out onto the porch.
"Here you go." The edges of Kate's lips curl upwards slightly as she moves over to the edge of the deck where her father is residing. She hands him his mug, and he thanks her before she slips into the seat beside his and leans back, her eyes taking in the view of the lake out in front of them.
They'd been here for exactly a week now, and although she did love living in the city; she'd never get tired of waking up to the blissful peace that surrounded them. Instead of horns honking and people yelling for taxis, all she was greeted with was the sounds of birds chirping and the dips of the water when something met it.
There was of course, one reason – one person that was making her miss the city even more than she usually would whenever she came up here.
Rick.
Although they'd been in contact, as promised by her; One phone call in the morning, and another at night. It wasn't the same as being able to see him in person. She missed seeing his face light up, and the way his eyes would shine whenever he looked at her. But, she only had one more week to go before she'd be returning to the city.
She could handle one more week.
It surprises her, how much she's allowing herself to really fall for Rick now that they're trying to be more than just friends. She's never been this attached to someone; never gone away and missed them like crazy. She's not that kind of person, but with Rick, it's different. And although it scares her, it's a good kind of scare.
She hums to herself, her body sinking into the chair as she takes a sip from her mug.
She peers over to her father beside her, sees the small smile on his face and the edges of her own curve up more behind her mug.
Her father had been doing so well since they'd left the hospital. He was becoming more mobile upon letting his ankle heal and rest. And although he had an arm in a sling, he wasn't completely incompetent. He'd also kept his word about staying sober; and hadn't touched the liquor since a week ago.
She did have to do a major clean out when they first got up to the cabin. It'd been awhile since she'd last gone up, and there were liquor bottles stashed around the place. Some empty, and others completely full.
But, he'd been doing good. Any time he did have urges, she'd do her best to distract him. It worked sometimes, and other times she'd have to retreat outside and give him some space.
Rick had been helping in the sense he'd been sending Kate recommendations for rehab facilities. One of the facilities Kate thought would be helpful for her father had been packed to the brim. But after a few calls and promises made from Rick – that Kate still isn't sure what he promised. As soon as they got back to the city, they were taking a tour of the facility, and if it was perfect for her father; he'd have a room available straight away.
It made her able to sleep properly for the first time since her father's crash – knowing that he was heading in a direction where he was going to get the help he needed.
She really needed to thank Rick properly for all his help. Maybe a home cooked meal when she got back – a dinner for the two of them.
"What are you thinking about, Katie?"
She snaps out of her thoughts to see her father staring at her, one brow arched in her direction.
"Uh – just, the view." She shrugs, lifting the mug to her lips once more as she tears her gaze away to look out at the lake once more.
Since Rick and her were keeping their relationship a secret for the time being; the details she'd told her father about him had been kept minimal. She referred to him as a friend, blurted out that he was still married – which, technically Rick was. She just left out the part that he was separated and in the midst of dealing with a divorce. She didn't want to get into it with her father, not when her sole focus was him and his recovery.
"Mhm hmm. Sure you weren't thinking about that friend of yours? What's his name again… Rick?" A smirk plays on his lips, brow arching and she quickly shoots her father a look, a small lump forming in the middle of her throat.
"Dad!"
"What? Every time you bring him up, Katie, your whole face lights up. And I've seen how you'll count down the minutes till he calls, and how big you smile when you're finally talking to him."
She feels the heat rush to her cheeks, a light shade of roseate coming to wash across her cheeks.
"Look, I know it's not my place to get involved, but, you said he was married…"
A sigh falls from her lips, her tongue dipping out of her mouth to run along her bottom lip before her teeth are sinking into the flesh and pulling it into her mouth. "Dad…"
"I just don't want to see you get hurt. Getting involved with a married man is never good."
She brings her hand up to her face, her index finger running over her brow before they're pulling together. "He's not… he's separated, they're getting a divorce." She breathes out, swallowing the lump in her throat as her finger comes to circle the rim of her mug.
Her father's head tilts to the side, his brows pulling together in confusion as he keeps looking over at her. "Did this just happen?"
She shakes her head, chewing on her bottom lip. "Almost a year ago now."
"A year ago? Then, why did you tell me he was married?"
Her eyes fall closed, brows pulling together tightly. "Because we're focusing on you dad."
It's Jim's turn to sigh and she opens her eyes as she hears his mug being placed down on the small table between them.
"The night of the crash… you were all dressed up. You two were on a date, weren't you?"
She pulls her lips to the side, eyes opening as she keeps her gaze focused on the cup of coffee in her lap.
"Sort've, not really." She shrugs once more and her father shifts slightly in his chair.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it was his book launch. We were supposed to go on a date afterwards." She swallows, unsure why she's so uncomfortable talking to her father about all of this. Then again, whenever she was in relationships it was her mom she was always going to for advice.
"Uh, so he's the Richard Castle. That's who he is, isn't he?"
She can feel the edges of her lips twitching upwards at the mention of his name and she nods her head, turning to face her father.
"How'd you guess?"
Her father curls his lips as he looks over at her. "Aside from the fact I heard you call him Mr. Castle the other night. I saw one of his books on your bedside table. I know your mom loved them, and I wanted to see if it was one of the ones she'd gotten to get signed for you. but when I opened it…"
Kate's pulse starts to pound, her head snapping away from him as another lump forms in her throat. The dedication. She thinks to herself.
"That was quite some dedication."
Her heart flutters as her chest rises. "Yeah… it was." She murmurs, her lips twitching slightly more.
"He seems like quite a catch. Book dedications – helping you find me a facility."
She can't control the smile that spreads across her lips as she gazes out to view the lake again. "He's – he's a wonderful man, dad." She tears her gaze away to glance beside herself to look at her dad.
"And he's separated? Getting a divorce, you said."
She nods before continuing. "His ex – Meredith, she cheated on him. When we first met, it'd been a few weeks since she'd left. He said he would've gotten back with her if it hadn't of been for me coming into his life. His heart was broken but he was still going to try put their family back together for their daughter."
"He has a daughter?"
Kate smiles, glancing over at her father. "Alexis. She's five, and the most adorable and smartest little red head you'd ever meet."
"Are you sure you're... Are you sure his intentions are good?"
Her brows pull together, confusion starting to sweep across her face. "What do you mean? Of course his intentions are good."
"Aside from his help, and the friend he's been to you – you don't think he's just trying to find a replacement for his daughter?"
"Dad." Her head shakes, disbelief starting to course through her veins as she sits up a little. She couldn't believe what her father was insinuating.
"Now just listen to me, Katie. I want the best for you. I want you to be happy, and if Rick makes you happy – then I'll back off and give him a chance. But I want to make sure his intentions with you are pure. You came into his life at a rough time, I don't want you getting hurt – being some rebound or replacement."
"I'm not a rebound dad, or a replacement. I can't believe this." She huffs slightly, her head shaking once more as she starts to rise to her feet. "Look, I'll admit I had my doubts when he first wanted something. But –" A sigh falls from her lips, a hand coming to rake through her curls. "I pushed him away, and he fought tooth and nail just for me to say yes to a date. He wouldn't have done that if I were a rebound or some replacement mother to his daughter. He's not that kind of man. He wouldn't do that to me. He's – he's kind, and funny, and a complete idiot at times. But I can be myself with him. He knows – he knows about you, about mom, and he's… he's still here."
Her gaze falls to the ground, another sigh falling from her lips. She'd never been with someone who knew most of her darkest tragedies. She'd gotten into relationships, and as soon as they'd found out about her mother or father, they were gone within a week. Nobody stuck around like Rick had. Nobody had fought as hard as he had. He was different – so much more special than anyone she'd ever met.
She did have her doubts about his intentions. But those doubts had been extinguished, and she didn't want her father putting anymore into her head.
"I'm sorry, Katie." Her father struggles to rise for a moment and she steps forwards to help him, but he waves her off and grabs the walking stick before he moves over to her carefully. "I just want you to be happy. And I haven't done a very good job at making you happy, so I want to make sure who you have in your life… that they're making you happy. That they're not making things harder for you like I've been. Us fathers, we just want the best for our kids. I'm sure if you asked Rick that, he'd say the same."
He tries to get a smile out of her, and the edges of her lips twitch as she glances up at him.
"He really makes you happy, doesn't he?"
She nods her head, a smile breaking out across her face. "He really does. Happier than I've been in a long time…"
"Then I like him already."
"Hey, you." Kate smiles, closing the front door as she moves down the porch steps and towards the dock.
"Hey yourself." Rick's voice fills the side of her ear where the phone is pressed against it. "Sorry I couldn't call at lunch. Turns out after you release a book, your publishers are on your ass to get the next one finished. And Meredith had some more demands, so once again the divorce papers are being re-written." She can hear the frustration in his voice as she carefully sits herself down, dipping her feet into the water.
The suns just starting to set, and although she'd been disappointed about not being able to speak with him at lunch; their usual time, it didn't matter now.
"What demands could she possibly be making now?"
"Well, turns out she doesn't want the house in the Hampton's anymore. Says she wants more money to be able to buy a beach house out in L.A" Rick shrugs, leaning back in his chair as he stares at his computer, half a page of writing on it.
"But, enough about my hard life. How was your day? How's your dad doing?"
She can't contain her smile growing wider, her heart fluttering in her chest. Sweet man. She thinks. Pushing his own worries to the side to ask about her and her dad.
"He's doing good. We uh, we had a talk earlier this morning."
"Well, usually when two people are away somewhere they do talk." She can hear the chuckle fall from his lips and she shakes her head, rolling her eyes as she pulls on her bottom lip.
"That's not what I meant, and you knew it."
"Maybe. But, do go on. What did you two talk about?"
"You."
"Me?"
"Mhm hmm."
"Well, what about me? Good things I hope."
"You know, I'm not sure if there are any good things." She teases, her feet beginning to lightly move back and forth under the water as she hears Rick's fake gasp on the other line.
"Katherine Beckett, I am wounded. Very, very wounded. In fact, I may just hang up right now."
"No, no! Okay, I'm sorry, don't hang up." I've missed hearing your voice. She thinks, stopping herself from letting those words fall from her lips. "He wanted to know what your intentions with me were."
She can hear a pause and she chews on her bottom lip, her fingers playing with the bottom of her shirt.
"And, what did you say?"
"I said that… I said that you were a wonderful man with very good intentions." She decides to not tell him her father's exact words. He didn't need to be worried about if she was having doubts again, because she wasn't.
"Well, some of my intentions aren't very good, but I don't think you should let your dad know about those."
"Rick." She warns, though her chest does hitch, warmth starting to come up the sides of her neck.
"What? I think I've made it pretty obvious that I find you extremely attractive and beautiful, Kate. Oh, and that you have very nice lips. Very soft lips."
She groans, her head rolling as she places her hand behind her to lean back. "You're killing me here."
"It isn't any easier for me, trust me." He pauses, and she can hear some shuffling from the other line. "So, your dad knows about us then?"
She nods before realising he can't actually see her. "Yeah… that's okay, right?" Her brows arch as her teeth chew on her bottom lip more.
"Of course, of course it is! And… maybe even more since I may have let it slip to Alexis." His words come out fast, and she can just tell that his face is scrunched up as if he's bracing himself.
"You told Alexis?"
"It sort've just slipped out."
"How exactly does you and I being in a relationship just slip out, Rick?" She laughs slightly, not really at all that mad at him. More anxious for what Alexis thought, and if she was okay with the two of them being together.
"She wanted to know why we hadn't seen you in a while, and I told her that you were away taking care of your dad and you'd be back soon. She said we should do something with you when you get back and I said we had a date. It slipped out before I could think of something."
"It's okay, Rick."
"You sure?"
"Well, I can't exactly get mad when my dad knows." She shrugs slightly, continuing to dip her feet into the water. "So… what does Alexis think?" She can't help but hold her breath as she awaits for Rick's response. Alexis' opinion mattered to her, and her approval would mean everything to Kate. if Alexis wasn't okay with it, she'd stay clear of Rick.
"Honestly? She's over the moon about it." She hears his laugh from the other line and her body softens as she lets out the breath she'd been holding.
"Really?"
"Uh huh. She loves you a lot, Kate. Loves having you around and spending time with you. She knows that Meredith and I, that we won't be getting back together. She said she's never seen me so happy as I am when I'm with you."
Kate's pulse pounds beneath the cage of her ribs, her breathing becoming shallow as a smile spreads across her face while she chews on her bottom lip.
"Wow." Kate breathes out, unsure of what to really say. Both of the Castle's filled her heart with so much joy.
"You make us both very happy, Kate."
"You both make me happy too, Rick." She stops the movement of her feet, and stares down at her reflection in the water. "And I'm – I'm glad Alexis is okay with this, with us. Her approval means everything. She's just as important to me as you are."
"You're such a wonderful woman Kate Beckett." She can hear the content sigh from the other line, and it makes her feel all warm inside.
The sun had set in the blink of an eye, it disappearing behind the horizon as darkness started to envelope her. She knew she should head inside soon, probably end her phone call with Rick and start making dinner for her and her dad.
"Katie?"
Speaking of the devil. She thinks to herself, a small smile stretching across her lips as she glances over her shoulder to see her father out on the porch.
"Be there in a minute." She calls out to her father as she carefully takes her feet out of the water and rises to stand. "I should get going…" She chews on her bottom lip, tucking loose curls behind her ear.
"One more week." He sighs out before continuing. "I won't keep you. Say hi to your dad from me, until tomorrow, Kate."
"One more week… Until tomorrow, Rick." She smiles to herself as she pulls the phone away and hangs up. She sucks in a breath, letting it out with a content sigh before she's making her way back towards the cabin where her father is.
"Rick says hi." She says coming up the steps, sees the smile beginning to spread across her father's face.
"Have a good talk?"
She nods, a sad smile creasing her lips as she taps the phone with her fingers. "So, vegetable soup okay?" Her brows arch and her father nods as they both head inside.
"You miss him, don't you?"
She starts filling up the pot, glancing over her shoulder at her dad briefly, caught off guard by his question. "Uh… yeah." Her brows pull together as she turns her attention back to the stove. "But, I'll see him in a week." She shrugs, trying her best to not look or sound so phased. She's never been like this, and it's making her frustrated with herself.
Jim only nods to himself, his gaze tearing away from his daughter to glance at the phone. A few ideas starting to run through his head. "I'm gonna just call Suzanne, make sure everything's sorted." Suzanne was his assistant, and since he was taking a lot of time off work, all his cases had to be transferred to someone else. But, he'd sorted everything out properly yesterday, and if there were any problems – he'd be available to help for the next week. Though, Kate didn't need to know that.
"Okay." Kate nods, not turning away from the vegetables she's currently chopping up and sliding into the pot.
Jim grabs the phone and carefully makes his way down the hall to his bedroom, closing the door behind him before he presses the redial button on the phone.
