CH39 (118)
It was now 5 years later:
The Castle clan; Rick, Kate, Emily, Kali, Alexis, Andre and Maggie were headed down in a shuttle from one of the now 7 cruise ships to the surface of Tellus. While traveling down to the surface they could see the second military destroyer, one military cruiser and one cruise ship all under construction.
They were all here to attend the graduation of Elena, who was going to receive her permanently attached weapon after the ceremonies. This would be followed by her receiving her own personal AI unit roughly a week later.
There were about to be 2 detectives in the Castle clan.
Alexis had married Andre Schurrle almost 1 year to the date of their first trip on the Lady Kate.
The wedding itself was like Alexis's parents a mixture of Tellus and Earth traditions selected by both of them. It had taken place on Athos with a sailing party on the Lady Kate immediately after.
Alexis and Andre (Alexis called him Andy while Andre called her Lex) had moved into a unit of one of the mile high city towers on Ariel.
Alexis was a part time Ranger for the National park system on Ariel and part owner of a garden center (Castle Gardens). Andre had opened a hydroponics store within the garden center. They grew and sold plants, vegetables and fruits to people, grocery stores and restaurants. Most restaurants that got their produce from them advertised it as being from Castle Gardens. Even the produce in grocery stores were tagged as being from their garden center. The Castle name still had appeal.
The Castle clan owned hundreds of acres that Alexis was using to grow produce plus plants for sale to the populace. Not to mention the dozen or more greenhouses so they could supply what was wanted year round. They also had a number of workers, all trained by Alexis.
Alexis was officially, Alexis Harper Castle – Schurrle. Maggie had been born roughly 3-1/2 years after their marriage. Like her mother Alexis set up a deal. She got to name the girls and he got to name the boys. Hence Maggie Lynn Castle – Schurrle.
Maggie however did not like the trip down to the planet and was indicating her displeasure by crying and screaming. Nothing Alexis or Andre could do would get her to calm down.
"Here let me show you how it's done." Rick takes Maggie from Alexis and in less than a minute she is quiet and trying to catch a hold of Rick's lower lip.
"Oh great, another daddy's girl." Kate moans. Remembering he was the only one who could calm Kali down when she was little.
"You're just jealous." And Rick sticks his tongue out at Kate. This would have earned him a swat to his chest or arm from Kate, however he was holding Maggie, so Kate just glared at him.
Everyone else was just glad she was quiet again.
"What do you think the big surprise is?" Kate asks now that everyone can hear her.
"I, or we have a suspicion but no concrete evidence to back it up." Alexis offers.
All eyes turn to Alexis and Andre and wait for them to say. "And?" Kate can't take the silence.
"I think my brother is going to or already has, …. asked Ell to marry him." Andre tells them. (Ell is short for Elena inside the Castle clan).
Kate shrieked a sound worthy of Lanie, then suddenly clamped her hands over her mouth and looked at Maggie who was still content in Rick's arms. "Seriously?"
"He sounded nervous the last time we talked, and every time the conversation went towards Ell he would deflect. So it's either that or they had a fight and they broke up." Andre gives what little he has.
"And we all know Ell can put up a fight, but she sounded happy last time. So I think she knows or suspects. She is a detective." Alexis offered.
"You think your parents know?" Kate looks at Andre.
"If they do they are being tight lipped about it, but I don't think they do. I know there's going to be a party when they find out. My parents love Ell even more than their own sons." Andre chuckles.
"There are only 5 new detectives this year. I hope this place is big enough. … Between all of us, Madison, Shawn, Matt, Jill, Lanie, Javi, Kevin, Jenny, Sarah, Victor, Jenn, my dad and Martha, we are going to take up a lot of space." Kate chuckles.
Jill was Madison and Shawn's 3 year old little girl. Sarah was the almost 6 year old little girl of Jenny and Kevin.
Rick and Kate had done their best over the years to get everyone they could out on their ship each year, so they got to see everyone at least once a year.
"Plus my parents." Andre adds. "They are only going to miss this if they are in the hospital in an operating room."
When they landed the found Jim and Martha waiting for them.
"Hi dad." Kate hugged her father, who was looking older now. "How long have you been here?" Jim was back on Athos helping the construction teams just like he was doing when he left for Callisto. It got him closer to Madison and Shawn and their kids, plus he was already there when summer came around.
"I got in yesterday. The Quellers send their regrets that they can't make it." Jim tells her.
"And who is this gorgeous little girl?" Martha coos at Maggie. Then holds out her arms to take her from Rick. "You two have done good darling." Martha talks to Alexis while playing with Maggie.
"Thanks grams." Alexis grins as Martha only pays attention to Maggie.
"Do we have time to find our rooms?" Rick asks.
Kate pulls out her phone. "We've got just over 6 hours to the start of the ceremony." Kate answers his question.
"Perfect, you can get our room I have a task to perform." Rick gives Kate a quick kiss.
"What are you doing Rick?" Kate was curious, she could see the 12 year old leaking out.
"It's a surprise, you'll love it." Rick kisses the side of her head and starts to leave.
Kate however grabs his arm. "Rick no!" He knows she hates surprises.
"One little surprise?" Rick moans sounding exactly like a child.
Kate shakes her head and holds onto Rick tight. So Rick leans in and whispers into her ear so only she knows. It wasn't perfect but he would take it.
Kate's face was one of shock and then she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted up on tippy toe to kiss him soundly. Then watches him walk away.
"Where's dad going?" Alexis has watched her parents.
"He's going to go buy something." Kate tells her and starts walking for their rooms.
It was here that they met up with everyone else except for Elena herself and Andre's brother.
"We'll meet everyone downstairs in the lobby say an hour before the ceremony." Kate offers.
Kate was just stepping out of the shower when Rick entered. "Have any trouble?"
"A little actually, my math sucks. I had to go back and buy a few more tickets. 21, right?" Rick was still a little confused.
Kate started counting in her head for everyone involved. "We need 23 unless Jim and Martha don't want to go."
"Damn it!" Rick has screwed up and he didn't know how he did it.
"It's alright babe, it's a lot of people. We can stop and get the extra two after the ceremony. Now hop in the shower. We want you looking good for all the cameras that are going to be there." Kate gives him a little push.
"You coming with me?" Rick grins.
"I just took a shower, but I can take another one tonight." Kate lifts up and gives him a quick kiss.
"The tickets are on the bed." Rick tells her and heads for the bathroom to take his shower, alone.
Kate picked them up and counted, finding exactly 21 Disneyland tickets. Kate wondered which 2 he forgot to buy tickets for. He had the right number of children's tickets. 23 was a lot of people. This was going to be a challenge.
Rick came out wearing the Tellus suit that Kate had bought him years ago. "It still fits." Rick was grinning, then he saw Kate and he was awed yet again at how beautiful she could really be.
It was a simple black shoulder less dress with enough of a slit up one side to show off her legs.
"Like it?" Kate spins in place so he can see all of the dress.
Rick steps up and brushes his hands across her bare shoulders feeling Kate shudder. "Can I take it off of you now?" Rick whispers as he leans down to kiss her.
When they broke from the kiss Kate would like nothing more than have him rip it off of her and let him have his way with her. "We have a ceremony to attend. Our daughter is expecting us." Kate manages to rein in her own desires.
"Daughter, …. right." Rick removes his hands reluctantly.
"Let's go babe, …. phone?" Kate asks of him. Seeing Rick pull it out of his pocket.
"Haven't forgotten everything." Rick puts his phone back in his pocket.
"This is the first time we've had literally everyone in one place. Even I'm amazed just how many people are in our lives." Kate tells him playing with his suit.
"Says the lady that at one time was all alone." Rick runs a finger down the side of her face.
"You're going to make me ruin my make-up." Feeling Rick wipe away the start of her tears. "You've changed me, you saved me. I don't know how I'll ever tell you how much I love you. You're the writer my love, I don't have words. I just know I can't lose you.
You've already given me more than I've ever dreamed. Twenty three people Rick. I can't even begin to wrap my mind around that number. And all I had to do was crash where you were camping." Kate still can't believe how she got to this point.
"You're not the only one who was saved that day babe. I had given up finding anyone and was content to live alone and raise my daughter. You've breathed life back into my, … our lives. I'm not sure I can count that high either.
And just imagine, the rest of our daughters will get married and likely have children. We're going to need an auditorium soon." Getting Kate to giggle.
"Let's go celebrate our daughter babe. She's almost a detective." Kate was so proud of her.
The organizer hadn't considered how many people were going to show up. Only Martha, Jim, Victor and Jenn got to sit down, everyone else had to stand.
Elena was the third one out and Rick was the first one to start yelling and whistling, soon followed by Alexis who prodded Emily and Kali to join them. Soon however everyone was clapping while Rick whooped and hollered.
It got Elena to cover her mouth from the grin she was showing and blush a little.
After the last of them there was a speech by the organizer and Elena and the others were released. Elena leaped off the stage and ended up in Kate's arms.
Elena was crying and her lower lip quivering, getting Kate to cry with her. However before anyone else could get in close, Kate noticed someone standing behind Elena.
Elena felt him behind her and turned and smiled and then launched herself into his arms.
After breathing. "Everyone this is Leon Schurrle, Andre's older brother and my fiancé."
"Fiancé!?" Kate was grinning wide.
Elena held up her hand to show her ring. "He proposed just before the ceremony. It was just us. It was so sweet and romantic."
Louise and Joachim Schurrle introduced themselves after congratulating their son and hugging Elena. "We have food and drink for everyone in the common area of our tower, everyone will come of course." Joachim informs everyone.
Louise and Joachim lead the way and small groups follow. Leaving only Elena, Kate and Alexis the last to leave.
They have started to follow the others when Kate stops Alexis. "Your dad and I bought tickets to Disneyland for everyone. Do you know if anyone has plans for tomorrow?"
Alexis shakes her head. "I only know Ell gets her weapon late tonight, then she has to stay 24 hours while they watch her."
"Then I guess we'll wait till later to get a consensus on when to go. … Come on, we need to catch up with your sister." Getting Alexis to pick up the pace as Kate starts walking quickly.
Elena was on cloud 9 a little out in front of her mother and sister, while a little behind the others, including Leon. When suddenly someone stops in front of her.
"TOM! … What are you doing here?" This was not who she was hoping to see.
"Now that we're not classmates I wanted to see if you would go out with me, dinner or a movie maybe." Tom looked soft but sounded serious.
"No Tom, I didn't then and I don't now. Besides, I'm engaged." Elena walks around him to catch up with the others.
Tom however has caught her wrist and spins her back around to face him. "Engaged! …. How could you? …. I thought we were together."
Elena yanks her hand out of his grasp. "Just because we were in the same class doesn't make us together Tom. Now leave me alone." Elena turns to leave.
Tom however stops her. "You're with me."
"Problem honey?" Kate had increased her speed when she saw Elena with someone.
"This does not concern you. Get lost." Tom only quickly turns to look then turns back to Elena.
"I think it does concern me." Kate counters.
Tom lets go of Elena and turns quickly and gives one of his better moves to dispatch the bitch interfering with him.
Kate however blocks it with relative ease.
Tom however is undeterred and proceeds to go on the attack, with Kate blocking each attempt.
Finally getting a good judge of Tom, Kate goes on the attack and soon has Tom lying on the ground, holding him with one hand, while everyone watches his lower legs twitch.
"You alright honey?" Kate looks up at Elena.
"I'm find mom. I could have handled him." Elena knew from school that Tom wasn't a threat to her.
"I'm sure you could have honey, but if you were nice to him much longer he might have managed to hurt you. …. So who is this idiot?" Kate finally asks.
"His name is Tom Demming, he's from school. He seems to think we're together somehow." Elena explains.
"Have you, …. Never mind." Kate trusted her daughter.
Kate leans down and can see that yes he can still comprehend what is going on around him, just that his body is no longer under his control.
With his legs still twitching. "I'm going to have a little talk with your Master. If I were you, I'd think about changing careers. Your being a detective just came to an end." Kate releases Tom and then stands and watches his legs stop twitching.
Kate motions Alexis to join her and Elena as a solid front.
Tom rises slowly, barely able to feel his legs. Once he feels better. "You've made a mistake Elena, and you're going to learn from it." And Tom walks off.
"Come on girls, we have a party to get to." Kate wraps an arm around each of them.
"Yeah, there's a new sheriff in town." Alexis comments.
"It's an Earth saying." Alexis explains after getting blank looks from Kate and Elena.
The Schurrle's did know how to put on a party. Food was shipped in from Alexis's and Andre's garden and prepared by a local restaurant. There was a small 3-piece band that mixed up fast with some slow music to satisfy everyone. There was no alcohol as they both remembered Jim had a problem with the stuff from talking with Alexis and their son.
It had gotten late and Elena with Leon in tow approached Kate. "We need to go mom, I'm scheduled for a late night surgery."
"My daughter is one step closer to being a detective. …. When do you get your AI unit?" Kate was beaming.
"In about a week. I have a number of tests to take first." Elena responds wondering what that was going to be like.
"Yeah, I remember those. It's how I was paired with Lucy. He or she will soon become one of your best friends. Someone you will learn to depend on for as long as you're a detective. …. Come on you two, I'll go with you." Kate offers.
"You don't have to mom, it's not far." No GETS train necessary and it wasn't in any city tower.
"Indulge me honey. It's not every day I get to escort my own daughter to get her weapon." Kate was grinning.
They were not far from the tower but still a little ways away. "I told you that you made a mistake Elena." Tom and four of his friends step out.
"Tom, don't!" Elena offers.
Kate had, had enough of this guy. "Go away Tom." Kate gave him his one and only warning.
Tom however just stood his ground.
"Let's break some bones honey." Kate offers. "You can run for the party Leon." Kate offers him an out.
"You could just stun them mom." Elena knew her mom was armed and what it could do.
"Where's the fun in that?" Kate offers.
"I'm an E4 1st Lieutenant Marine Mrs. Castle, we don't back down to anyone. Certainly not 5 punks." Leon tells her.
"Let the lesson begin." Kate strides for the group of four.
Elena and Leon head for Tom.
The fight was a little fluid so Kate got in two hits on Tom while Elena and Leon got in a couple of shots on his 4 friends.
In less than a minute there were 5 unconscious guys lying on the ground. "You said this Tom was in your class?" Kate asks Elena a little skeptical.
"Yeah, he never did show much promise." Elena explains.
"Understandable, if he was any good he would still be standing. … Welcome to the land of being a real detective Tom.
You have an appointment honey, so you two should get going." Kate reminds her.
"You sure mom?" Elena didn't like the idea of leaving her alone with them.
"I'll be fine honey, it's just 5 idiots. You two should get going, you don't need to be late." Kate kisses the side of her head. "And I don't think your friend here is going to be a problem again. Not with 2 broken knee caps." Kate points out.
"Thanks mom." Elena hugs Kate.
"Thanks Mrs. Castle." Leon is appreciative too.
"That's Kate to you Leon." Kate calls after him to his back.
Kate pulled out her phone and dictated a report to Lucy who then forwarded it. An hour later Kate was back at the party having fun with her girls and her friends.
All 21 of them! For now, since Elena and Leon were not here because her daughter was working on step two of being a detective.