A/N: Oh my gosh! Record high story views for the last chapter! Thank you so much, everyone that favorites, follows and reviews. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. And, this being my VERY FIRST fanfiction ever, my goal was 70 favorites. 72! Thank you again. Now, this chapter is on the shorter side but the next one...let me tell you, I am exited just writing it. Wait until you read it! ;)
After dinner Kate made an attempt to start collecting the dishes but was quickly stopped by Ryan.
"No, Beckett. You made dinner. Javi and I will clean up." Esposito looked at Ryan, confused. "Come on," Ryan sighed, standing up and collecting his plate.
"Well thanks guys. I didn't know you could clean," Kate joked, as Esposito took her plate.
"Very funny, Beckett, but I cleaned house in Madden earlier," Esposito retorted.
"Hey Kate, I have a couple of outfits upstairs I'd really love your opinion on. Would you mind?" Alexis asked.
"Of course not Lex," Kate responded. "Lead the way." After kissing her father's cheek, Alexis led Kate upstairs.
"Mother," Rick started, "can you wheel me into my office before you go?"
"Sure thing, kiddo." Martha grabbed the handles of her son's wheelchair and rolled him into his office, behind his desk. "Okay, why do you need me in here?" Castle's eyes widened in a 'how do you know' sort of way. Martha's short response was "I am your mother." Rick seemed satisfied at the answer and proceeded.
"I have a couple questions about Kate," Rick stated. Martha nodded understandingly. "I feel like we were more than what she says we were. Are you completely sure we never 'dated' or anything like that because she seems to know her way around the loft pretty well?
"Plus, she seems to get along great with you and Alexis. I just can't wrap my head around why she would lie about that." Rick's eyes were wide with confusion as she continued, running his fingers through his hair.
"Richard…" Martha started but Rick quickly cut her off.
"We dated right? We were dating," he finished assuredly. He pressed his pam to his forehead. "But why would she lie?" Martha opened her mouth to speak but was again cut off.
"I got it. We dated but broke up and still remained 'friends'." Rick looked confident in his analysis.
"You two never dated Richard." Martha was able to get in, hurriedly. Rick looked at her utterly confused.
"I mean, I based a character off of her. We had to be pretty close, right?" Martha thought long and hard before she answered. She thought back to the previous night when she overheard Kate talking to herself in the kitchen. She thought back to Kate's actions in the hospital. She remembered how that handsome doctor kept his eyes on her almost the entire time, but how Kate's eyes never left Rick. She thought about how distraught she was after the shooting. Finally, she decided a little 'push' wouldn't hurt.
"There was always something between you two," she finally managed. "From what you told me, the two of you never moved past mutual friendship but cared for each other deeply. There were a lot of ups and downs, I must say. Both of you had horrible timing. One was ready, the other one wasn't. One had a significant other interrupting the moment. Your timing was straight up awful. She does come over for dinner on occasion and a year ago she stayed at the loft for a week after her apartment blew up." Martha paused and turned away from her son. She moved towards the bookcase and picked up a copy of HeatWave, setting it down in front of Rick. "Here. I think you two were a lot like this."
Rick gingerly picked up the novel as Martha left the room. He began flipping through the pages, stopping when he came across a corner that was barely noticeable but definitely intentional. He began to read.
Martha exited the office and stopped off at the sink where Ryan and Esposito bickering over the dishes. As the sound of her footsteps approached the boys conversation slowly drifted off.
"Thank you, gentlemen, so much for your help."
"No problem Mrs. R," Ryan responded. When the older woman was no longer visible Ryan turned back to Esposito. "I'll take that," he said snatching the towel from his partners hand and began to dry the stack of plates in front of him. "What do you think she and Castle were talking about?"
"My money is on Beckett. I mean the look they were giving each other during dinner. I am surprised she didn't just drag him to the bedroom then and there."
"Gross dude."
"Still true."
"Maybe…He's got it bad."
"He. It's more like she. He barely remembers her. He's been all she thinks about."
"Touché," Ryan replied, finishing the last dish in his stack. "Now…where do these all go?"
"Beckett!" The partners called in unison.
"Okay," Alexis said stepping out of her closet. "What do you think of this one?" She took a few steps towards Kate who had made herself comfortable in Alexis's bed. Slowly, she twirled, letting the skirt of her knee length sundress swirl around her. Kate let out a small gasp, she couldn't help it. Alexis looked at her worriedly as she bit down on her bottom lip.
"Is it that bad?" she asked timidly, fiddling with the thin strap of the dress.
"No…no, no, no, Alexis. It is gorgeous," Kate replied happily. Alexis looked relieved. "I absolutely love the color. It looks fantastic with your eyes."
"You don't think it washes me out?"
"Not at all."
"What about the neckline? It's not too low?" It was a deep v-neck and Rick may not have approved but it looked lovely on the girl.
"Naw," Kate laughed. "I think it looks great. It makes you look much more mature and very chic. However, I cannot speak for your father. It may be too much for him." Alexis laughed.
"I'll work on Dad." She retreated to her closet and within seconds reappeared, having changed into leggings and an old tee shirt. She situated herself next to Kate on her bed, among the vast array of multicolored pillows.
"I don't know if I ever told you this, but I just love your hair," Kate said fingering the ends.
"Can you…can you braid it?"
"Sure." Alexis grabbed a brush and hair tie from her bedside table and handed it to Kate. She began to slowly work the brush through Alexis's long red hair.
"When I was little, I hated my hair," Alexis said after a long silence.
"Really, why?"
"It made me stand out more than I wanted to. Dad always said I was so special I deserved to stand out. And the orange is what gave me the nickname…"
"Pumpkin!" They said in unison.
"Always the detective," Alexis laughed.
"It's subtle." Kate tried to keep a straight face but failed and both ladies broke out in a fit of giggles.
"Anyway, Dad always pushed me and now I really love it."
"That doesn't surprise me. Your Dad is a big pusher. That's one of the really great things about him." Alexis caught the dip in Kate's tone as she finished. "All done."
"Thanks, Kate." Alexis opened her mouth to add something but was overpowered by the yelling for "Beckett" that arose from downstairs.
"It looks like Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber need help." Kate rose from the plush mattress and headed downstairs, Alexis close behind.
A/N: Get ready!