AN: It's only been ten days since I've posted, but it feels so much longer. I was on a cruise this weekend with my other favorite show the Walking Dead. I also been working on a novel that I want to publish someday. Thank's to everyone for following, favouring, and reviewing this story. Here's the next chapter everybody, enjoy. Don't forget to Review. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or it's characters.
Say Uncle
Things have been going smoothly lately. I'll be eleven in just a couple of weeks and my aunt's and Castle's relationship have been pretty stable. There was a small little squabble going on between them when my aunt had to look after some billionaire named, Eric Vaughn.
He was kind of a creep, but he looked like he could be a comic book character. Maybe Johnny Storm, The Human Torch, or maybe Reed Richards, Mister Fantastic. He'd probably be Mister Fantastic, he seems like that kind of guy who can stretch to unbelievable proportions and super smart. After that, things have been going honestly well. No incidences have been happening and everything's been safe.
Well maybe not exactly safe, we did have a slight scare a few weeks ago when my aunt stepped on a pressure-plate bomb. That was a scary day for all of us, but thankfully Castle and Aunt Kate were able to figure out the code to disarm the bomb and my aunt was safe and sound.
Today I was hanging out with Castle. I don't know why he asked me to hang with him to day, but I figured it was so we could do some bonding. I don't know how much bonding we could do, I already feel super close to him. But it doesn't hurt to get even closer to my favorite friend.
"So mini Beckett, do you want to get some lunch with me?" Castle asked.
"Sure, I'm hungry," I said.
"Okay, I know this small little café where we can sit outside."
"Sounds like fun."
"All right, let's go."
We headed to the small café where they had a few tables outside and some inside. We ordered a small lunch which consisted of a sandwich and chips. We sat outside with our food and started digging into the delicious lunch. Half way through our lunch Castle stopped and was fiddling with his napkin.
I watched him with confusion and wondered what was wrong with him. Truth is, he's been acting kind of strange all day. He wasn't his funny and weird self. He was kind of quiet and stayed a little distant from me.
"What's wrong Castle?" I asked.
"I brought you out with me for a reason. I just can't seem to get to the point," he said, looking serious.
"I don't think I've ever seen you this serious."
"Yeah, it's definitely something I don't do often."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, its fine. It's not bad news, I promise."
I put on a small smile and said, "That's a relief."
He put on a small smile too and said, "When I ask you this, I want you to answer with what you really think. I don't want you to think about anyone else but yourself. Okay?"
"Okay… so, what is it?"
"You can't tell you Aunt Kate. This is between you and me."
"I won't. I can keep a secret."
"I hope so…"
"Come on Castle. I want to know."
"Okay, how would you feel if I asked your aunt to marry me?"
My eyebrows shot up as soon as the sentence left his mouth. He wanted to ask my aunt to marry him. I was so happy that he was thinking about marrying my aunt, but at the same time, I'm shocked to the core. I couldn't speak, so many emotions were running through my head.
"The silence isn't helping me mini Beckett."
"Sorry, Castle. I'm just really surprised that you want to ask my aunt to marry you."
"It's okay, it's a lot to process."
"I want you to marry my aunt. I always wanted you guys to get together and now that you are, it would be great to see you two get married."
"Really? You mean that."
"Of course I mean that. You're like my best friend Castle. You're even more than that, like a father figure. It would be an honor for you to marry Aunt Kate."
"Thanks mini Beckett. I appreciate that. I just hope Kate feels the same way."
"Yeah me too. I know she loves you, Castle. I don't think she'd be stupid enough to turn you down."
He chuckled and said, "I hope you're right. I also have another question for you."
"Sure, what's the question?"
"I was wondering if you'd help me choose the ring."
"You want me to help you find an engagement ring for Aunt Kate?"
"Yeah, would you like to do that?"
"I'd love too. This is so awesome Castle."
"Yeah it is. I'm glad you're excited about this."
"Did you think I wouldn't be?"
"Kind of… There was a lot of different ways I thought this talk would go. I'm just glad it was the good one."
"Don't worry Castle. I love you a lot and I want you to be my uncle."
"Thank you Emily."
"You're welcome. Speaking of possibly being my uncle, can I call you Uncle Rick, or Uncle Richard, or maybe Uncle Castle?"
"I think you could call me Uncle Rick. It has a good flow to it, but we have to wait and see if your aunt says yes."
"True. I hope so, that would be so awesome."
"It would. Come on, let's go to the store I picked out and find ourselves an engagement ring."
"I'm right behind you."
We headed to the jewelry store that Castle picked out and it was called, Julia's Fine Jewels. It was kind of large and the inside was beautiful. Especially the way the different jewelry shined in their display cases. It made the whole place look sparkly and bright.
"Wow, this place is really cool," I said, looking around.
"Yeah, and kind of expensive," he said, looking awkwardly at the prices.
"What do you expect Castle? It's a jewelry store in New York City and you're looking for an engagement ring."
"You sound like your aunt."
"I have to stop doing that."
"It's cute. You really are a mini Beckett."
"Did I hear you were looking for an engagement ring sir?" a woman, who was slightly older than Castle, asked.
"Yes, ma'am. I am," he said.
"I have a whole display right here. What price range are you looking for?"
"Um... I'm not real sure."
"He can afford anything. He's a writer, he makes a decent amount of money for his novels," I said.
Castle threw a hand over my mouth and said, "No, I have a slight budget that I'm trying to maintain, but nothing to cheap."
"Okay, sir. Here are some reasonably priced rings, which should be around your price range. I'm going to go help another customer while you decide," she said.
She left us at the display case and Castle let go of my mouth.
"What was that for?" I asked.
"You can't just tell the sales lady that I have a high income. She'll try to sell me a very expensive ring that I don't need," he said.
"Well what do we want?"
"Something not too expensive and simple. You know your aunt, she doesn't care for all that girly stuff. She's simple and down to earth."
"You're right. She'd want something genuine and simple."
"Exactly, so help me find it."
"Okay."
We looked at the section of rings that she pointed out to us. Some of them were huge and flashy, while some were small and simple. There was about a hundred rings in just that section alone. It was hard trying to find the right one. I knew my aunt would probably like whatever Castle gets her, but it'll still be nice if it's the perfect match for her.
We continued looking and I looked on one side while Castle looked at the other. I was almost giving up on the search, until my eye caught one pretty ring in the corner of the case. It was the definition of simple, but even though it was simple, the ring was still beautiful. It was a thin gold band and a medium sized diamond.
"Castle, look at this one," I said.
I pointed it out and he said, "That's a nice one."
"Yeah it is. I think Aunt Kate would like it."
"Yeah me too. Are you sure this is the one mini Beckett?"
"Yes, I'm positive. I think fate led me to that ring because I almost gave up hope."
"Well, okay. That ring shall be the ring I give to Kate."
"Yay…"
The lady from earlier came back and asked, "Have you found what you were looking for?"
"I think so. Can we take a look at that ring for one thousand two hundred dollars?" Castle asked.
"Sure."
She got it out of the case and Castle and I looked at it.
"Are you sure mini Beckett?"
"I'm positive, Castle. I think it's great."
"Okay then. We'll take it," he said to the sales lady.
"Okay, I'll put this in a box for you," she said and she headed to the back of the store.
She came back a few seconds later with a pretty dark blue ring box. Castle handed over his credit card and paid for the engagement ring. We left the jewelry store and headed back to my aunts apartment.
"Castle?" I asked.
"Yeah, mini Beckett?"
"When are you going to pop the question?"
"I'm not really sure yet. This was a big step just getting the ring and asking your blessings."
"I understand. No pressure Castle. I just can't wait."
He smiled softly and said, "Yeah, me either. I just hope it turns out all right."
"I'm sure it will. You guys are Caskett. You'll be together, always."
"I hope we will."
"I know you will."
"Thanks, mini Beckett," he said as he pulled me into his side.
I looked up at him and said, "No problem Castle. This is exciting and nerve-wracking for the both of us."
"I guess it is."
We continued on in silence and when we got closer to the apartment Castle spoke up again, "You know you can't say anything mini Beckett."
"I know. This is a secret, a big secret."
"Yes, please keep this between you and me. I know you can do it, but I'm really serious about this."
"I know."
"Good, I'm glad."
He brought me to aunt Kates and we knocked on the door. Aunt Kate opened the door and smiled at the two of us.
"Did you two have fun?" she asked.
"Yeah, it was great. Castle's the best to hang out with," I said.
"I'm glad. Thanks for spending time with her."
"No problem. I love hanging out with mini Beckett. She makes me happy when we hang out and bond. It's something I don't do much with Alexis any more, now that she's in college," he said.
"I understand, I'm glad you can have that with Em."
"Me too."
"I'll see you later, Castle."
"See you later, Kate."
They gave a short kiss to each other and Castle waved goodbye before he left and Aunt Kate closed the door behind him.
"So you had a good time?" she asked me.
"Yep, it was great."
"What did you do?"
"We just hung out and had some lunch at a café."
"Sounds like fun. I'm glad you two get along so well."
"Me too. He's like the dad I never had."
"Yeah, I'm glad you get to have a father figure in your life."
"Me too."
"Em, I kind of have to talk to you."
Another conversation. It felt like all the adults in my life were just dumping information on me. I didn't mind the deep conversations with them, but it's kind of weird. Aunt Kate guided me over to the couch and we took a seat.
"Okay, I need you to keep a secret for me. I also need to have your opinion on this too," she said.
"On what?"
"I'll tell you, but I need you to promise to keep this between us, okay?"
"Yeah, I promise."
"Well, I've been offered a job in Washington DC to work for the FBI. It's a great opportunity, but I don't know if I should take it."
"In Washington DC!? We'd have to move and everything. What about Castle?"
"I know, this is a hard decision, but this job is great."
"I don't want you to take it. I like it here and the twelfth precinct."
"I know Em, but this will be a wonderful opportunity."
"I know I can't persuade you to not take the job, but I don't want to leave New York, or Castle, or the twelfth precinct. This is my home."
"I know it's mine too. I'm still weighing out my options, but I think I want to take it."
"This sucks," I said standing up.
"Em, come on. It could be fun."
"It's not fair. I think it's stupid."
I started walking away to my room and Aunt Kate said, "Emily, come back here."
"No," I said and slammed the door behind me.
I locked it and hopped into my bed. I had hot tears running down my face and on to my pillow. She couldn't take the job, Castle wants to propose to her. It would be crazy to have a long distance relationship with each other. This job also sucked because I'd have to move with her to Washington DC. I just found a school I liked and had friends. I didn't want to go through that process again.
Just when things started to look up, something had to ruin it. I just hope things work out for the best.