A/N: First off, sorry for the wait. This chapter was incredibly hard to write and on top of that it's not very good. I was intending it to be quite fluffy but it ended up rushed and I can't seem to find a way around that. I will probably come back to it at some point in time and add more detail to their game but right now I can't make you wait any longer so here it is.
"Okay, Kate, you have our numbers. You know where the first-aid kit is. You know where the hospital is. You know when Richard needs to take his meds. Am I forgetting anything?" Martha questioned as she and Alexis were about to leave for their shopping trip. Alexis dressed quickly and had been sitting with her father on the couch for a half an hour. Not only was she waiting for Martha but her presence gave Kate an opportunity to shower and change.
"Mother," Rick said "Kate is a responsible adult, a cop even, not some sixteen year old babysitter. Relax, I will be fine."
"For once, Martha, he is actually right," Kate laughed. "We will be fine. Now, go have fun with your granddaughter."
"Very well, dear. Richard, behave for Kate," Martha called as Alexis pulled her out of the loft.
"I am sorry about that Kate. I have no idea why she is talking to me like I am ten."
"Maybe it's because you were just seriously injured and it's her way of showing that she cares…Or she just doesn't trust you."
"Probably a little of both. So, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know," Kate said strolling over and plopping down next to Rick on the couch. "Anything in mind?"
"Let's play 20 questions?"
"20 questions? Really Castle?"
"Yeah, I feel like you know all this about me and all I know about you is your coffee order. That's not how best friends are supposed to be." Kate caught herself before she corrected his "best friends" to "partners."
"Oh, so we are best friends now? Who told you that?" Kate laughed.
"Alexis mentioned it. We are right?" Rick asked, suddenly looking very worried.
"Yeah, you know, I guess we are."
"Good. And just so you know, I wasn't planning on calling that nurse."
"Excuse me?" Kate said, caught off guard.
"I saw the glare you gave her when she gave me her number."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Come on, sure you do. She was blonde, busty, and a little air-headed." Kate rolled her eyes.
"Your type."
"Naw, I don't plan on calling her anytime."
"Why not?"
"It just doesn't feel right."
"But don't you usually go for women like her?" Kate asked. Mentally she was screaming at herself to shut up but the question slipped out.
"Yeah…usually…but ever since I woke up…I don't know. No women have caught my eye. Except for you my lovely detective." Rick smiled and batted his eyes. Kate felt herself start to blush. Although Rick wasn't kidding.
"Always a flirt," Kate laughed.
"Always."
"Question one: What is your favorite color?" Rick asked with a pen and paper poised in his hand.
"Purple," Kate answered. Rick scribbled down her answer. "Are you really taking notes?"
"Yes. Question two…"
"Wait, don't I get to ask a question?"
"You did. Twice. Now there are eighteen more for you, nineteen more for me." Kate slapped his leg. "Hey, watch it. Abuse results in loss of questions."
"Fine," Kate grumbled.
"Question two: Who is your favorite author?" Kate tried to glare at Rick but it failed because of her smile.
"Deep questions Castle."
"Just trying to cover my bases."
"Fine. Don't laugh," she said. Rick nodded solemnly. "Richard Castle." Rick's face lit up into a dazzlingly bright smile. Kate couldn't help but smile back. "Question three…"
And for the next hour they laughed. Rick couldn't remember ever laughing as hard. And they flirted. Rick never had a women throw back as much witty innuendo as Kate had. And in that hour, not once did snipers, murders, amnesia, or anything bad cross Kate's mind. And she felt happier than she had in weeks. And more free than she ever had been with Josh. And Rick felt the same. He felt light and happy and there was a feeling bubbling inside of him he could not explain, but it felt extremely familiar. There were deep questions he was dying to ask but at the sound of Kate's laughter he couldn't ask them in fear of making it stop. So he kept his questions light, and tried to draw out her chuckle. They were on question sixteen when the doorbell rang and they were both laughing so hard they did not hear it the first time.
"Yo! Open up!" Espo called knocking hard on the door. Kate jumped up from the couch and ran to the door. She opened it to an annoyed looking Esposito and Ryan. "Bout time."
"Sorry guys. Come on in," Kate said, ushering them inside.
"Boy, don't you two look cozy," Ryan joked, referencing the snacks strewn across the coffee table and the pillows and blankets spread out across the room.
"Shut up, Ryan," Kate said.
"Castle, why are you being so quiet bro?" Esposito asked the man sitting on the couch staring curiously at the three people conversing in his living room.
"Um…Alexis and Kate have informed me on your names and I know generally who you are but not much more than that."
"Oh, right. I kind of forgot about that," Espo said.
"Yeah, that's been going around lately," Castle joked.
"Sorry man. Kevin Ryan. NYPD Detective. Madden Professional."
"Javier Esposito. NYPD Detective. And I will kick your ass at Madden. Yours too," Espo said to Ryan. Rick laughed.
"Well, good luck to the both of you because I plan on winning."
"Yeah, good luck," Ryan laughed, joining Rick on the couch. They started trash talking each other about their immense video game skills. Kate took that opportunity to pull Esposito aside.
"Remember, if you guys talk about anything from before the thing, leave out the fact he helped us on cases. Please," Kate whispered.
"Got it, Beckett. I'm still not sure this is a good idea, though."
"It will be fine. This is good for him. Trust me."
"Whatever," Esposito chuckled.
"Man, you're gonna get beat so bad you will be spelling words backwards in your novel for the next month," Ryan joked to Castle.
"Dude," Esposito said leaving Kate and joining Ryan and Castle on the couch, "you cannot trash talk. It's actually kind of sad." Castle laughed.
"Are you two always like this?"
"Yes," Kate answered, purse in hand. "Rick, you know where everything is. Ryan and Espo text me if you need anything. We'll be back around 4. Have fun boys."
"Yes, Mom," Ryan and Esposito answered in unity.
"Bye, Kate," Rick said smiling at her. Kate smiled back.
"Bye, Rick." And she walked out the front door to join Martha and Alexis.
Rick watched as the door closed and then turned to Ryan and Esposito who were looking at him curiously.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing," they replied in unison, again.
"What?"
"It's good to see her smiling like that again. That's all," Ryan said.
"Is that because of me?"
"It always is," Esposito answered.
"Now, enough of this. Let's play."
A/N: Okay, so now that you finished the chapter, I apologize for the hastiness of their game. If you want to review and give me some ideas over what I could have them ask during their 20 questions game I would be grateful. Nice reviews are always appreciated!