Chapter 15 This is Home
The Saturday morning sun was just beginning to peek through the blinds when Kate arose with a yawn. She and Rick were carelessly tangled in a mess of sheets and clothes on his plush bed.
Making an effort not to wake him, Kate shifted out of his arms and grabbed a shirt and a pair of pajama pants from the jumbled pile of clothing near the foot of the bed. She swiftly slipped on the clothes and turned to watch Rick in his deep slumber. He snored lightly, with the occasional unintelligible sound escaping from his throat. Leaning over, Kate smiled softly and brushed his cheek, giving him a light peck on the lips as she left the bed.
After washing up, Kate padded down the stairs and felt her stomach growl, so she decided to make breakfast for the two of them. She turned towards the kitchen and set to work.
Rick's kitchen was well-stocked, much unlike hers, and she had no difficulty finding all the necessary ingredients for pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon, the perfect Saturday morning breakfast. Kate even plugged her iPod into the mini speakers on the counter and turned on some music to hum to while she cooked
She began by mixing batter for the pancakes in a large bowl, as closely to her mother's recipe as the ingredients that she had at hand would allow. Kate was so engrossed in her task and the music that she didn't hear the sound of the front door unlocking and suitcase wheels rolling across the hardwood floor. She had just poured some pancake batter into the pan when she heard a familiar voice call her name from behind.
"Detective Beckett?"
Kate recognized the young voice instantly and her eyes widened in shock. She turned around promptly to greet the teenager.
"Alexis!" Kate said with surprise, feeling caught in an unwanted situation. She and Alexis weren't very close and Kate was worried what Alexis would think of her relationship with her father and their living arrangement.
To make matters worse, she had to face her alone for Rick was still fast asleep upstairs in his comfortable bed.
"I, uh, didn't know you were coming back today. Rick, I mean your dad, didn't tell me..." she stuttered awkwardly as she turned the music down.
"Oh, well I had a really early flight and I just arrived." Alexis took notice of Kate's casual state of dress and early morning presence at the loft. It didn't take a detective to solve this case or a famous novelist to figure out the story.
"How was your trip?"
"Good, but I'm glad to be home. As much as I love my mother, I can only handle her in small doses. I've shopped more in these few weeks than I've shopped in the past 6 months."
"Sounds fun but tiring."
"Definitely."
"And your flight?"
"It was okay. I'm not a huge fan of airports or airplanes. Especially the food," Alexis said as she moved her bags to the side. "Speaking of which, I'm starving."
"Do you want some breakfast? I'm making pancakes, eggs, and bacon."
"If it's not too much trouble."
"Of course not. I was already cooking before you came in."
"Is there anything you need help with? I can help you cook."
"No, it's fine. You're probably exhausted from the flight."
"A little bit, but I'd still love to help."
"Okay then. Can you set out some plates then crack the eggs and whip them up?"
"Sure." Alexis grabbed three plates out of the cabinet and utensils out of a drawer. She then opened the fridge to grab a few eggs and milk. Expertly cracking the eggs into a bowl, Alexis finished mixing the ingredients in minimal time.
"Anything else?" she asked.
"Not for now. The pancakes should almost be done, then I'll start the eggs."
"Hmm... okay." Alexis climbed onto one of the high chairs that was situated in front of the counter where Kate was cooking.
She watched Kate quietly for a few moments, thinking of how to phrase her next question. Alexis wasn't too surprised that her dad had started seeing Kate—she knew how much he liked her and it was practically inevitable that they would get together eventually.
However, she didn't expect them to move forward together so quickly. Alexis had only been gone for a few weeks and they were apparently already having sleepovers and cooking each other breakfast.
"So Detective Beckett," Alexis began tentatively.
"You can call me Kate." She flipped the last pancake once more then lifted it out of the pan and onto a plate. Kate took the bowl of eggs that Alexis had prepared and poured the contents into the hot pan.
"Kate," she tested her name out. "You and my dad... Are you two together or something?"
Kate bit her bottom lip and looked up at Rick's daughter. She knew the question was coming up and was dreading having to answer it.
"Well, we're um..." Kate stalled, trying to come up with a response. "Making perfume ads," she said lamely, referencing Rick's book for lack of a concrete answer.
"Huh?"
"Um, never mind," she shook her head. "It's complicated."
"How so?" Alexis asked.
"Well it sort of just happened. Neither of us was expecting it and we're still trying to figure things out. I know it's a vague answer, but I'm not even completely sure of what we're doing yet," she replied as she stirred the eggs.
"Oh okay. Sorry for being intrusive by asking."
"No, it's fine. You have a right to know since you're his daughter and you want what's best for him."
"I sound like a parent don't I?"
Kate chuckled at the remark. "Sometimes I wonder who's the adult in this house. But it's really sweet that you care about your dad that much."
Kate's worries were dispelled as she continued chatting with Alexis. She relaxed into the conversation, finding it easy to talk with Rick's daughter who was years beyond her age in maturity.
Kate finished cooking the eggs and plated them up next to the pancakes. She laid down strips of bacon into the hot pan to complete the meal.
"Hey, I'm going to unpack and then take a shower, okay?" Alexis said. "I'll be down for breakfast in a bit. In the meantime, just think about things I guess, and we can talk more later."
"Sure thing," Kate flashed a smile at the girl. Alexis hopped off the high chair and headed to her room with her suitcases.
That went smoother than expected. It was kind and respectful of Alexis to give her space and some time to think about things and the least Kate could do in return was to give her some answers.
After all, Kate was essentially barging into her home and stealing her dad without any warning to the teenager. She knew that Alexis just wanted her dad to find someone good for him and Kate hoped that she could fill that role.
Kate began to mentally plot revenge against Rick for not telling her that Alexis would return today. Surely he had known when his daughter would be back in town and yet he chose not to tell her about it. Images of torture flashed through her mind as she wickedly thought of the many different ways she could punish him.
As she continued cooking and conspiring, the distinctive aromas of breakfast wafted through the air, permeating the apartment to create a homelike atmosphere. The scent reached the bedroom where Rick was still asleep. His nose picked up on the smell and his stomach growled hungrily in response.
Rick yawned and stretched out his arms, waking up from one of the best rests that he had ever had. He groggily reached over to the other side of the bed, expecting to feel Kate's presence next to him, but found it empty. Not yet fully awake, Rick sat up, climbed out of the bed, and slowly treaded to the door in search of Kate.
He rubbed his face, his eyes still heavy from his state of peaceful slumber, and tried to coherently absorb his surroundings. Descending down the stairs, Rick found Kate cooking in the kitchen, with her back to him. He paused for a moment just watching her perfect figure poised at the kitchen counter, swaying to soft music as she cooked. He couldn't help the smile that slowly formed on his mouth.
This scene, domestic as it was, felt natural in every way. They were so comfortable with each other, so used to one another, as if they had been together for many years. Waking up with her, cooking and eating breakfast with her, spending a whole day with her—these were the simplest yet most meaningful joys in life. He wanted every Saturday to be like this. She made everything feel like home.
Feeling the need for her proximity and yearning to kiss her, Rick snuck up quietly behind Kate, slipping his arms around her waist and whispering into her ear.
"Mmm... Something smells amazing and it's not just the food," he breathed.
All her plans of revenge flew out the window when she felt his presence behind her, gently pulling her towards him and holding her close. He pushed her hair aside and lightly nibbled her earlobe, tugging at it and sucking it, as his hands moved up her sides sensually. She let out a moan when he trailed his way down the column of her throat, kissing the flesh where her neck met her shoulders while his hands groped at her breasts.
"Morning," she sighed. "Sleep well?"
"Oh, you have no idea."
"Hmm..." she hummed. "I think I do."
"Last night was amazing," he mumbled in between kisses. "Every night with you is amazing. Every second I spend with you is amazing."
He spun her around to make her face him, taking in the brilliant smile that adorned her face, and reflected a smile equally as dazzling back at her. Pushing her against the countertop, he wedged himself in between her legs and leaned forward slowly to kiss her. He hesitated briefly, their mouths barely an inch apart, and took the moment just to enjoy the sparkle in her eyes.
When he pressed his lips to hers she brought her hands to his face, touching his cheeks and jaw bone lightly as he kissed her. His hands roamed their way down her back and eventually rested comfortably on her waist, holding her steady.
She lowered her hands from his face and linked them together, playing with the ends of his hair at the nape of his neck. He deepened the kiss, eliciting a moan from her that reverberated into his mouth and he hummed in response. She ran her fingers through his messy hair, kissing him back equally as hard.
The soft kiss had escalated to one with passion and desire and Rick had to stop himself before things went even further. Reluctantly, he broke the kiss but he didn't move from their spot against the counter. When they parted, they were both left breathless, gasping for air.
"That was some good morning kiss," Kate panted.
"I think I said good morning pretty well," he grinned.
She rolled her eyes at him but smiled to herself as she moved back over to the stove. Everything was cooked and plated up nicely, ready to be enjoyed for a hearty breakfast.
As Kate reached to pick up the plates to move them to the higher counter where they would eat their meal, Rick tried to snatch a piece of bacon from one of the plates. Before he could grab one, Kate swatted his hand away.
"Ow," he frowned and rubbed his hand. "Can't I have a piece?"
She shook her head at his childishness. "It's hot."
Kate took the spatula and lifted a piece of bacon to her mouth, blowing on it gently to cool it down before she gave it to him.
"Here," she said as she fed it to him.
Rick munched happily. "What would I do without you?" he asked rhetorically.
"Sear your tastebuds?" she joked.
"Very true." Rick walked over to the fridge, pulling it open. "What do you want to drink?"
"Coffee, please."
"Of course. I swear, you're addicted to that stuff."
"Mostly because of my job."
"Alright, two cups of coffee coming up."
"Oh, and you might want to get a glass of juice or something out too."
"Sure thing."
Rick poured out some orange juice into a glass and then started the coffee pot. He eyed Kate carefully as she set out not two, but three plates and sets of utensils onto the kitchen counter.
"Are we expecting company?" he questioned.
"Yes, in fact. Is there something that you have been neglecting to tell me?" Kate tested him cryptically.
"Ummm..." Rick attempted to wrack his brain for an answer, coming up empty with a response. "Like what?"
Just that moment, Alexis Castle came bounding down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"That." Kate said pointedly.
"Dad!" Alexis exclaimed as she enveloped him in a hug. "I missed you."
"Hey, welcome back Lex! When did you get home? I thought you were returning later this afternoon."
"Nope, I had an early flight. Did you not tell Kate that I was coming back today?" Alexis had detected Kate's surprise when she came into the apartment. Ironically enough, Alexis was equally surprised to see Kate there cooking in their kitchen.
Rick threw an I'm sorry glance at Kate, who had a knowing look on her face.
"Must've slipped my mind. I'm so glad you're home though, Lex. How was California?"
"Awesome, but I still think I prefer New York."
"That's New Yorkers for you. Genetically designed to hate everywhere except Manhattan."
"So, did you guys do anything interesting while I was gone? Solve any interesting cases?"
"Oh we've had our share of excitement these past few weeks," Kate said as she sat down to eat. "A serial killer, FBI agents, a bomb at my apartment."
"A bomb?" Alexis gasped. "What happened?'
Kate caught Rick's eye, knowing he was eager to tell the story. "Would you like to do the honors? You're the better storyteller."
Rick nodded and finished swallowing the food in his mouth to begin telling the story. "Hmm. Where should I start?" he wondered aloud, building the suspense. "Ah, the first DBs."
Rick recounted the events of the Nikki Heat serial killer case, adding a certain Castle-esque drama to the story.
Both Alexis and Kate were absorbed by his narration and Kate occasionally added a detail here and there to correct him on some facts. The case, retold by Rick, seemed even more interesting in story form than Kate had experienced firsthand. Rick especially emphasized and dramatized the bomb scene in her apartment, describing his heroic act of busting down a door to save Kate in the midst of fire, smoke, and chaos.
The morning passed quickly as the trio enjoyed their breakfast and Rick's story. By the time he reached the thrilling conclusion, it was already midmorning. They all had their fill of breakfast and lazily relaxed into the homey atmosphere. Rick happened to glance at the clock and remembered that he was supposed to be at a meeting with his publisher about his upcoming book.
"Oh, Gina's going to kill me. I'm going to be late again. Ugh, I have to take a quick shower and go meet with her. Mmm, thank you for the breakfast, Kate. It was delicious." He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and stood to bring his plate to the sink.
"You can just leave it. I'll take care of it later. Don't be late for your meeting."
"Too late for that," Rick responded. He walked back to the high chairs and kissed Alexis' head. "See you later sweetie."
"Bye Dad," she said as he rushed out of the kitchen.
"Wow, that was some crazy case," Alexis turned back to Kate. "I'm still trying to make sense of all the twists and the bomb. How do you survive something like that?"
"Well my cast iron tub protected me from most of the blast, which was focused in my living room. And a brush with death like that definitely makes you think about the important things in life."
"Like the people who care about you." Kate's mind drew instinctively to a certain partner turned lover.
"Yeah..." she trailed off in agreement. A moment of silence passed between them. "Are you okay with all of this? With me living here and... being with your Dad?"
"I'll admit, it's a little sudden and unexpected, but I think... you're good for him. You make him happy. Truly happy." Alexis smiled warmly at Kate.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I've seen the women that he's dated over the years. He's never cared for any of them as much as he cares for you. You're not just a number on a list or another pretty face. You're really special to him, Kate." That statement coming from his daughter really meant a lot to her.
"This whole situation will probably take some getting used to, but you know I'll be going to college soon and I need someone to look after him," Alexis continued.
Kate grinned. "And that's my job." She had plenty of experience with that working with him side-by-side on a daily basis at the 12th precinct.
"Yup. All I ask is that you don't hurt him. I think he would be devastated if ever lost you."
"I would never hurt him. At least not intentionally..."
"I know you wouldn't. But I think he cares about you more than you actually realize."
"Oh..." Kate pondered.
"Hmm..." Alexis thought. "Ground rules. Keep the PDA to a minimum around here. And always lock your door. Please."
"Of course. And I promise I won't get between you two. One of the things I love the most about him is what a great Dad he is to you. You guys have an amazing relationship and I definitely won't try to steal him away from you."
Alexis laughed. "Don't worry. I know how to share." Kate laughed alongside Rick's daughter.
"Do you need any help with the dishes?" Alexis asked as she got up from the high chair. "Saturdays are supposed to be my dish washing day."
"We can do them together then," Kate smiled at Alexis. She was such a great daughter: polite, kind, responsible, and respectful. Kate couldn't help but hope that she could have a daughter like Alexis one day. She briefly entertained this thought as she and Alexis worked in sync to wash the dishes.
They chatted like old friends for the rest of the morning with Kate sharing her experiences in college and her summers abroad and Alexis listening eagerly. The two discussed the future and Alexis' college plans as Kate gave her tips and guidance on applications and majors.
Around noon, Alexis excused herself to go upstairs and finish up some studying.
"Thanks for all the advice, Kate. It helps me a lot."
"Any time, Alexis. I know going to college is going to be a huge transition for you, so if you ever need anything or just want to talk, don't hesitate to ask."
"Will do. I appreciate having someone like you to talk to. You're a really good role model."
Kate was slightly surprised at this comment, but she accepted it graciously. "Oh, umm... thanks."
"We should do this again sometime."
"Definitely," she grinned.
Alexis gave her a quick hug before dashing back up the stairs to study for AP exams. Kate had a small smile lingering on her mouth, having enjoyed her conversation with Alexis and bonding with her. She had a feeling that this was where she belonged, somehow, as a part of their unorthodox family. Everything, for once, just felt right with them.
It never felt more like home.
This is home
Now I'm finally where I belong
A/N: It's finally summer :) Which means more time to write! My goal is to finish this fic already... It's been over a year. D: (we're still in season 2 mode, haha) Expect more chapters soon-ish.