THE PLAN

Chapter 2

"So what should we do?" Rick asked Kate.

Kate rolled her eyes. "How should I know? This is your date, which isn't actually a date-date."

"Ooo, tough crowd. How about we go downtown and see what we can find?" Rick suggested.

"If we must." Kate grabbed her coat since it was cold out and followed Rick so she could lock the front door.

Their taxi ride was in complete silence. Rick couldn't think of anything to say to crack her frosty exterior, and Kate didn't have anything to say at all.

"STOP!" Rick called out as they passed something. "Come on! I have an idea." Rick took her hand and pulled her toward what he was thinking.

"Ice skating?" Kate didn't quite know what to say.

Rick sighed. "Don't tell me… You don't skate."

"I've skated before, but it's been a while," Kate admitted.

"Good, then you can teach me." Rick proceeded to drag her to the skate rental.

They were putting on skates. "What did you mean that I could teach you? You've never been skating before? Really?" Kate just shook her head. Famous author or not, this guy was nuts!

"Not on ice. But I'm sure it's the same as what I'm used to." Rick tried to sound upbeat. "After all, how hard can it be?"

Kate got on the ice and waited for Castle. "Well, are you coming or what?"

"Right." Rick stepped onto the ice and made a spectacle of himself as he went out onto the ice. He was all over the place and crashed into Kate.

"Whoa, there, Mister." Kate helped him up. "Take it nice and slow. No big steps. Nice and slow. I've got you." Kate held him up and took him around the rink.

"You're getting the hang of it," Kate told him as he got better. "So what did you do before this? Since you didn't skate on ice."

"Oh, I did. I used Maglev skates," Rick told her. "They're skates that utilize magnetic levitation."

Kate looked at him like he had lost his mind. What was Maglev, and what did that have to do with skating?

"You're a very good teacher," Rick commented, which distracted her somewhat. She was still trying to figure out what a Maglev was.

"And you're getting good at this." Kate was amazed at how fast he caught onto skating on ice.

~oo0oo~

"That was surprisingly nice," Kate told him while they change into shoes. "So what's next on this date?"

Just then, Rick's stomach growled. "I'm hungry, are you?"

"Yes, and I think I know just the place." This time Kate was out in front, taking him to her place of choice.

"Is this a food truck?" Rick queried.

"Yep. And they make some of the best Bento I've ever found. In case you didn't know, that's Taiwanese food," Kate told him and got in line.

"Hm, I did not know that."

"I'll take the Minced Pork and he'll have the Shredded Chicken." Kate stood off to one side, waiting for their orders.

"You've done this before, I take it?" Rick asked her.

Kate shrugged. "A few times, yeah. It's been a while, so I wasn't sure they would still be here." She focused her gaze on him. "What's Maglev?"

"Maglev is a form of transportation utilizing magnets. The trick is getting going, but once you do, it's a smooth ride." Rick didn't get it; why didn't she know about them? "Don't you have Maglev?"

"Are you talking trains?" Kate was totally puzzled. "And no, we don't have that."

"You don't? Then pretend I never said it." Rick was saved by having their lunch ready. "This is Bento?" He looked at it.

"Yep. Give it a chance, you'll love it." Kate walked away with hers, headed for someplace they could sit down. It was cold out, so they needed to eat fast.

Rick took a bite, and his eyes opened wide. "Wow, this is good, really good."

"Told you." Kate smiled at him and ate hers as fast as she could while it was still hot.

~oo0oo~

"So, what's next on this date which isn't actually a date," Kate asked him.

"I was thinking," Rick said, "that we could go shopping if that's all right? I need a few things still."

"Then follow me." Kate took off, and Rick had to hurry to keep up with her.

~oo0oo~

Rick saw the sign on the front of the building. "The Fulton Center."

"If you need something, this is the place for it," Kate told him.

She led him into a clothing store and followed him around. She was bored, but didn't say anything.

She stared at what he was holding. "Flannel pajamas? That's what you need?"

"It gets cold at night," Rick said defensively.

"I suppose I shouldn't say anything since I wear those at night for the same reason," Kate confessed.

Rick smiled. "Good to know." Suddenly Kate wished she had kept her big mouth shut.

"Anything else you need?" she asked.

"No, that's about it, but we can keep looking." Rick took off looking for something else.

Kate wandered into in London Jewelry and she couldn't help but look at the beautiful jewelry.

Rick looked over her shoulder. "Find anything you like?"

"ME?" Kate shook her head. "No, nothing." But she lied since there was a lot she liked.

"This one looks nice." He motioned for a saleswoman to come over and show it to them. "What do you think?"

This time Kate answered truthfully. "It's beautiful."

"We'll take it," Rick told the saleswoman, and she took off to box for them.

"WHAT!? No, you don't need to do that," Kate exclaimed.

"Of course I do," Rick insisted. "You like it, and I can afford it. Don't for a minute think you don't want it. I saw you looking at it."

Kate looked at him with new eyes. She watched as he paid for it, and eventually she had the box in her hands. "I… I don't know what to say."

"Thank you, will do nicely," Rick told her.

"Thank you." Kate followed him out of the store, still in shock.

Roberto Coin Love in Verona 18k diamond and sapphire necklace. 18k rose gold beaded necklace features a round medallion with diamonds, mother of pearl, mixed color sapphires, and tsavorites. Total diamond weight 0.25cts.

Kate felt guilty. "I forgot to look at how much it cost."

"The cost doesn't matter, Kate. You like it, and that's all that's important," Rick told her. She didn't need to know that it cost him seven thousand dollars. He had ten million in the bank, so yes, he could afford it. Easily.

"What is this place," Rick called out.

"Jamba Juice? They specialize in Smoothies." Kate watched him make a beeline straight for it.

"I'll have a watermelon breeze." Rick looked at her. "Do you want anything?"

"I'll have an orange-c booster, please," Kate said.

Kate waited patiently for her drink. "Thank you for this. And thank you for the necklace. You really didn't have to do that."

"I may not have had to, but I wanted to, and you're welcome." He walked around sipping his drink, as did Kate.

~oo0oo~

Rick escorted her back to her house and stopped outside it. "Thank you for your time. I had a good time with you."

"Yeah, it was nice." Kate was surprised that she'd had that much fun. "And thank you for this." She held up the box that had her necklace in it.

"You're more than welcome. Well, good night." Rick retreated to find a taxi so he could go home with his pajamas.

Kate watched him leave. Then she unlocked the door and went inside. She didn't expect to find her parents home yet, and in that she wasn't disappointed. She put her coat away and headed for her bedroom, where she opened the box and looked at the necklace again.

It really was lovely. Kate decided to put it on. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw she was smiling. "Why are you smiling? It's just a necklace. And it wasn't a date," she told the young woman in the mirror.

"Katie, you home?" her mother called out.

"Be there in a minute, Mom." Kate exited her room. "You're home early."

"Your father has a case that requires his attention. I, however, had nothing to do, so I decided to come home." Johanna noticed her necklace right off. "And where did you get that?"

Kate took it in hand to help hide it. "It's nothing."

"Nothing, huh? Did Castle buy that for you?" Johanna crossed her fingers behind her back.

"Yes, but it doesn't mean anything, so don't go getting any ideas."

"Let me see." Johanna stepped in close and made Kate take her hand away. "It looks nice." Johanna looked at her. "Are those real diamonds?"

"Maybe," Kate hedged.

"He bought you a diamond necklace, and it means nothing?" Johanna's eyebrows almost reached her hairline, and she stared at her daughter. "Right, whatever you say. Now, I want you to come into the kitchen with your diamond necklace and help me with dinner."

Kate moaned at the entire thing. So help her, she was going to kill Castle for this when she saw him.

~oo0oo~

Johanna was deep into preparing dinner. "So when's the next date?"

"It wasn't a date, Mom. It wasn't. And I don't know. Wait, I mean, there isn't going to be a next date, not that it was a date. I'm going to shut up now." She was digging herself deeper and deeper.

"Uh-huh." Johanna smiled at it all. "You might want to take that necklace off before your father gets home...unless it was a date."

Kate touched it again and didn't take it off. She would deal with her father if or when he said anything.

~oo0oo~

Thankfully he didn't notice, and her mother said nothing about it. She was in her bedroom getting ready for bed. Kate took off her necklace and placed it in its box. It was now her most prized possession.

She thought about her date, which wasn't a date. She was conflicted and couldn't decide if she wanted another one. She went to sleep thinking about her date with Castle.

Meanwhile, Rick went home and got out his pad. He used it to figure out where to go on their next date, which wouldn't be a date, but was a date.

He also used it to look up the real Richard Castle, this time frame's Castle. He needed to make sure they never met and that the man in no way interfered with his mission here. He didn't need the hassle.

He looked up where he lived, how old his daughter was and where she went to school. "Soho, huh?" Well, he could deal with that. He would stay in Brooklyn as best he could and Castle could stay in Soho.

Happy with that, he used the pad to order delivery. He liked pizza, so he ordered another one and waited for it to show up.

~oo0oo~

Rick spent the entire next week getting the lay of the land, including taking a look-see at where Castle lived. "He lives here, does he? Interesting." He thought it was nice, given how small it looked from the outside. It was a brick building and was only five stories tall. But it had windows all the way around it.

He made sure to move on before someone noticed him.

He also took a quick look at where he planned to take Kate on their next date. If there was going to be another date. He debated all week long on what he was doing.

He was here for Johanna on a specific date. But that date was a year away. Staying close to Kate was a way to be close to Johanna.

~oo0oo~

"What has you down, Katie?" Johanna sat next to her and noticed she was wearing her new necklace.

"It's nothing really," Kate tried to tell her.

But her mom was pretty smart. "Nothing is code for something, so give. What is it?" Johanna coaxed.

"He hasn't called!"

"He? He who? …Castle?" Johanna watched as she nodded. "I thought you said it wasn't a date."

Kate looked at her mom like she was stupid. Of course, it was a date. And He. Hadn't. Called.

"Did you give him your number?" Johanna saw the light go on over her head. "Katie, honestly. You're sitting here wondering if he'll call when he doesn't have a number to call."

"I screwed up." Kate sat back in her chair and sighed. How could she have been so stupid?

"He got to you, didn't he," Johanna challenged her. "And after just one date."

"NO! Maybe…All right, yes," Kate groaned. "What am I going to do, Mom?"

"It sounds like you do nothing. If the man wants to see you again, he'll be here." Johanna put an arm around her. "You, sweetheart, get to wait."

Kate moaned. She hated waiting.

~oo0oo~

"What's Katie's problem?" Jim asked his wife.

"Castle is her problem," Johanna said and shook her head. "She didn't give him her number, so he hasn't called to ask her for another date. A date which isn't a date, but actually is."

"Really? Hm. So the man who she thought was just another man is now suddenly important to her," Jim said thoughtfully.

"So it would seem." Then the doorbell rang, interrupting them.

Johanna got up to answer it. "Castle?" She was surprised to see him.

"Is this a bad time?" Rick started to turn away. "I can go."

"NO! I mean, no, don't go. Please, come in." She stepped aside to allow him to enter.

Jim held out his hand to shake. "Mr. Castle."

Rick had worked out that you shake a person's hand, and he did so. "I came to ask Kate if she wanted another date. Though, it's not really a date."

"Give me a minute, and I'll get her." Johanna retreated to Katie's bedroom to get her daughter.

"So, another date?" Jim asked.

Rick nodded. "Yes, if that's all right with you."

"I have no objection," Jim said just as Kate showed up with a surprised look on her face.

Kate slowly walked toward Castle. "Hi."

"Hi, I came to ask if you're interested in another date. Not that it'll be a date," Rick assured her.

"YES!" Kate replied loudly. "I mean, yes." She tried to sound like it was no big deal.

Rick didn't get it. "Okay."

Johanna butted in. "She needs your number, and she has to give you hers, so next time you can call."

"YES! I... If you want to." Kate sounded like she wasn't that interested when actually, she was.

"Uh, sure." He gave her his number and had to give it again so she could write it down.

"Are you ready to go?" Rick asked her.

"Let me get changed." Kate turned to rush to her room.

"No need," Rick was quick to tell her. "You're perfect just as you are."

Kate blushed. "I am?" She thought she wasn't anywhere near ready to go out on a date.

"Shall we go? We'll be back late," Rick made sure to tell her parents.

They were outside. "Where are we going?" Kate inquired.

"We're going to see a movie." And Rick grinned. "Then we're going to have ice cream."

"A movie. Sounds nice. What movie?" Kate wanted to know so she could have a say if she liked it or not.

"It's still out, or so I learned. It's called Mouse Hunt."

"OH, I wanted to see that movie, but I haven't yet," Kate said excitedly. "I approve." She watched him flag down a taxi.

~oo0oo~

They both laughed their asses off at what the mouse was able to do to these two. It was hilarious.

"That was so good." Kate said happily on their way out. "What that mouse was capable of was something else."

"Are mice always that smart?" Rick listened to her laugh. It was a sound that he liked resolved to hear it more often.

He didn't get an answer but maybe hearing her laugh was his answer.

Baskin Robbins was their next stop. It was late, but not that late. It closed at 10 o'clock, and it was only 9 o'clock.

Kate quickly made up her mind and ordered her favorite. "I'll have a two scoop cone of Very Berry Strawberry."

Then it was Rick's turn. "And I'll have a two scoop cone of Mint Chocolate Chip."

Once they got it, they sat down and ate, and laughed, and talked.

~oo0oo~

They made it back to the Beckett house. "I had a good time tonight," Kate told him.

"So did I," Rick said. Now, what Kate wanted was for him to kiss her.

"Well, goodnight." Rick turned to leave without kissing her.

"I don't have class tomorrow," Kate called out to him.

Rick waved a hand at her as he went down the stairs to the sidewalk. "I'll call you."

Kate stood there and watched him leave in a taxi. She wondered what she had done wrong. Why hadn't he kissed her? He'll call her? What was that?

She went inside and didn't see her parents. She leaned against the door for a moment. Then there was a knock. She turned to open it, and to her surprise, Castle was standing there.

"I forgot something." He leaned down and kissed her. And she kissed him back.

"I'll call you tomorrow. Good night, Kate." Rick left again and got back in his taxi.

Kate stood there smiling. He had kissed her and it was a nice kiss. She closed the door and leaned against it with a smile on her face.

Their not-a-date had worked out. Now, Kate needed him to call her tomorrow. She wanted another not-a-date with him.

She went to her bedroom and didn't want to know what her mother would think of her not-dating Richard Castle.