This story might be a slow one, sorry guys. I'm trying to stay out of my comfort zone - a whole story of pure fluff and joy and NO ANGST (and I know it's not gonna happen) but I'm trying! Haha. Anyways, I have rewritten this chapter too many times and I just need to post it so I can move on with the story. If it's bad, I don't want to know. Just bear with me and hope I get better at this haha.
Thank you so much for your patience! The next chapter is already outlined, I'm just filling in the details and whatnot.. so it shouldn't be too long until the next update (no promises though, sorry).
Enjoy : )
Rick sighed and tossed his keys on the bench. His day had dragged out much longer than he expected it would: another reading in a quaint little bookstore by Central Park, a business dinner with Paula to discuss tomorrow's talk-show interview followed by a 'casual' drink (and the not-so-casual reminder of his expected behaviour) with Gina and the suits in charge of his promotion schedule. He was exhausted and had one thing (and one thing only) on his mind: bed.
The loft was quiet and so he came to the conclusion that his mother and daughter had drifted upstairs for the evening. He would go up to them to say goodnight, to let them know that he was home, but first he just needed a quiet moment to himself, a second to sit and relax.
He flopped down into the couch, sighing as the soft cushions clouded around his body; so welcoming, so comforting. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the headrest for just a few blissful seconds.
"You're home!"
He opened his eyes and turned to look over his shoulder, watching as his daughter descended the stairs.
"Hey, Pumpkin," he called back to her with a smile. "How was school?"
She sat beside him, snuggled up against his side as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"We had a pop quiz in algebra. I aced it," she informed him proudly.
"That's my girl."
"Claire is back from her family's annual DC trip. She brought me this charm of the Washington Monument." Alexis held her wrist in front of them, letting her father inspect the new charm that dangled from her bracelet. "How was your day?"
Rick sighed.
"A lot of reading, signing, pretending to listen to Gina rattling on about the new schedule," he grumbled.
"You know, you probably should be paying attention to that," Alexis urged.
"Mm, probably," Rick agreed.
"D'you do anything else?"
"Nah, just the usual tour stuff." He grew suspicious under his daughter's studying eyes. "Why?"
"You forgot to mention your coffee date." Alexis smirked mischievously. "Is she going to be my new Mommy?" she teased.
Rick looked at his daughter, mouth agape but secretly just a little proud how easily she had led him into that one.
"I think your real mother might have an issue with that," he sneered. "How'd you know about the coffee?"
"CastleFan508 spotted you and posted about it."
"What have I told you about staying off the fan sites?" he asked, hoping his voice sounded at least a little authoritative.
"Who is she, Dad?" Alexis asked, completely unfazed by his weak attempt at scolding her.
"She's... a friend."
"Right-" Alexis rolled her eyes. "That's why you didn't come home on Saturday night: because she's just a friend."
"What makes you think I was with her on Saturday night?"
"You made Page Six, Dad."
"Oh." He had forgotten about that. "Right."
"Seriously though; is it... serious?"
"I told you, she's just a friend."
"Then what's with the big, goofy, love-struck smile on your face?"
Oh.
Three weeks had passed since the too-short 'coffee date' with Rick.
Three impossibly slow weeks.
Between his book tour commitments and her roster, they hadn't had another opportunity to catch up but they talked daily. She woke up every morning to a text from him. The conversation would flow throughout the day; he'd message her in between interviews and meet & greets, and she would reply as soon as she had the chance. And for the past week, he had called her just to say goodnight.
She knew that this wasn't the friendship she'd had in mind, already so attached, but so far it seemed to be working for them.
Each day she learned something new about him. He so willingly shared stories of his past: from growing up backstage on Broadway to his wilder and (she assumed) heavily redacted college days. He spoke so fondly of the early days with Alexis, how much he appreciated that his job allowed him the opportunity to be such a hands-on father. Her heart broke for him when he revealed how important that was to him due to his own father being absent from his life.
With each insight he offered her, she offered up something of herself in return.
She told him about her time in the academy; how she strived to be the very best she could be (and broke several records in the process). She shared memories from her childhood and teenage years and revelled in the fact that he seemed genuinely interested in every aspect of her; asking questions, gently pushing for more. He wanted to know her, really know her. And so she tentatively began to share small pieces of her life between high school and the academy, well aware of where the conversation would lead.
When he - as she had expected him to - asked about the transition from lawyer-in-the-making to kickass-homicide-detective, she had almost reverted back to the days of being completely closed off, protected by that siege-proof wall. She had put her phone down, walked away and (tried to) push the question from her mind only returning hours later and after significant internal debate. With a heavy heart, she recounted the events that had led her to this very day: her mother's murder, her father's dependence on alcohol, the rabbit hole she found herself falling into and how it led her to such a dark, sorrowful place.
He was there for her in a way she had not expected, in a way that made her... lighter. He didn't pretend to understand, didn't act like he had any idea how she must feel. He simply assured her that - should she ever need someone to talk to, to lean on - he would be there and he would try his hardest to be whatever she needed at that moment. A sentiment she never would have expected to mean so much to her. Without hesitation, she vowed to do the same for him... should he ever need it.
With the exception of Lanie, Ryan and Esposito; Richard Castle had (in just a few weeks) learned more about her than anyone else ever had. And as for the storm clouds they had discussed; they seemed to be drifting further and further away from her city with each day that passed.
Kate shifted from her spot on the couch, slipping to the floor by Lanie's feet.
"You okay?" Esposito asked.
She leant back slowly, lowering herself to lay on her back.
They (Lanie, Esposito, Ryan, Jenny and herself) had been playing Never Have I Ever: a mistake from which they never seemed to learn.
"Should've eaten first," she mumbled.
She stared at the mouldings on the ceiling, the only clear thought in her mind right now was how much she missed Rick.
"There's leftovers from dinner in the fridge," Esposito informed her.
She grunted in response. Not unappreciative, of course, but leftovers just seemed like too much effort for her right now.
Esposito chuckled. "I can heat it up for your drunk ass if you need," he offered, seemingly reading her mind.
"Not drunk," she mumbled, all but reinforcing his conclusion. "Don't want proper food."
Lanie laughed. She had always found amusement in the many different states of 'drunk Kate'. Energetic and flirty or a little messy and emotional: Lanie loved and embraced all versions of her.
"What do you want, then?" she asked Kate.
Before Kate had a chance to answer, her phone began to vibrate on the couch beside Lanie.
Lanie looked down at the phone, then to Kate; astonishment evident in the light in her eyes and the curve of her smile. "Wow, this really is a smart phone."
Kate forced herself to sit up and snatched the phone from beside her friend. She - unlike Lanie - didn't really believe in signs from the universe; but she couldn't ignore the timing of Rick's call. She furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes in Lanie's direction, but she couldn't put a stop to the smile that slowly crept onto her face.
With the swipe of Kate's thumb, the vibrations ceased.
"Fries. I want fries."
"Sure you do," Lanie teased.
She brought the phone to her ear.
"Hey," she greeted with a cheer in her voice she knew her friends would later tease her mercilessly for. "Aren't you supposed to be at some charity thing?"
"I smiled for the camera, gave them my money. That's really all they want," he said: seemingly unfazed, but she knew better.
Over their many conversations, he had alluded to the fact that his rise to fame had come with drawbacks. Everybody wants something from me, he had said during one late night phone call. She hadn't known what to say at the time, but in that moment she had made a silent vow to never want anything more than his company.
"How was your day?" he asked.
"Not bad," she answered with a shrug he couldn't see. "Finished work early, went to check out an apartment but it's a seventeen hundred dollar shoebox and Lanie has threatened to end our friendship if I even consider signing a lease, so..."
"She's a good friend," Rick commented.
Kate looked at Lanie and smiled thoughtfully. "Yeah, she is."
"You should invite him over!" Lanie called out.
Kate covered her phone with her hand and her smile turned into an icy glare.
"Shhh!" she urged quietly, but she wasn't sure why: Rick had most definitely heard, evident by the chuckle coming from his end of the line.
"Sounds like you're having a good night," he commented.
"Yeah. There might be some wine and card games involved."
"Oh yeah? You winning?"
"I think I'm losing." She frowned as she looked at her friends, who all seemed much more level-headed than she felt. "I missed the dinner portion of the night."
Rick laughed. "Oh, rookie error."
"I know, right."
"Well, I'll let you get back to it. I just wanted to say goodnight."
"You don't- you don't have to," she stuttered nervously. She locked eyes with Lanie, silently asking her friend for confirmation before continuing.
Lanie - the master of reading Kate Beckett's mind - nodded enthusiastically before puckering her lips and kissing the air.
Kate rolled her eyes, the flush of embarrassment burning in her cheeks.
"Do you want to come over?"
"I don't want to interrupt."
"Lanie wants you to come."
"Lanie wants me to?" Rick asked, his voice a skilfully balanced combination of glee and accusation.
He was gonna make her say it...
Kate remained silent, smiling to herself. She could drag this out all night if she really wanted to: a battle to see who could be more stubborn.
She knew she could win, but would that really be winning?
"I want you to," she admitted quietly. "How far are you from East Village?"
"Can be there in 15 minutes."
"I'll text you the address."
"Perfect. I'll see you soon."
Twenty minutes later a knock on the door had her sick with nerves: stomach flipping like an acrobat, head spinning too fast and heart racing too erratic.
She hadn't seen Rick in weeks and yet their relationship had developed so much in that time. Already, this friendship seemed so much easier when they weren't physically together. She could be vulnerable, be flirty, be whatever she wanted without having to worry about staying in control because what could actually happen when there was a whole city between them?
But now that he was here...
She inhaled deeply and opened the front door, her nerves melting away the instant she saw his smiling face.
Her gaze raked down his body, taking him in: his neatly coiffed hair, perfectly tied bow tie, mystery brown paper bag in his hand.
"You're wearing a tux," she stated in lieu of an actual greeting.
Rick narrowed his eyes. "Hello to you, too."
"Sorry," Kate laughed and stepped aside to let him in.
"I was at a charity gala," he reminded her as he stepped inside. He smiled his greetings to the rest of the group before turning his attention back to Kate. "What'd you think I'd be wearing?"
She didn't answer, just took a moment to look him up and down once more.
"I look good, right?" Rick flirted, smirk on his face.
She shrugged, tried to ignore the vivid memories of him in various states of undress. "You've looked better."
Rick's jaw dropped and he gasped, feigning the offence he couldn't quite muster as he watched Kate bite down on her bottom lip, flirtation lighting up in her eyes.
"I guess I'll have to eat these fries myself then," he said as he held up the paper bag in his hand.
"We think you look good," Ryan called across the room, flicking his finger back and forth between himself and Jenny. "Do we get fries?"
Rick pointed to the couple and smiled bright. "You do!"
"You look very suave," Esposito added.
"Thanks man," Rick said as he tossed the bag toward the group.
"You didn't have to bring food," Kate told him.
"You said you wanted fries," he justified with a shrug. "Besides, I was starving. I scoffed down a cheeseburger on the way here. Now, go eat before it's all gone."
Kate laughed, shook her head and rolled her eyes playfully.
"Thank you."
She linked her arm through his and led him over to join the rest of the group.
Rick sat on the floor with his back against the couch, his legs stretched out under the coffee table in front of him. It hadn't taken long for Kate to migrate toward him.
At first it was the gentle combing of her fingers through his hair as she shifted to sit on the couch behind him, his own fingers wrapped around her ankle as his thumb brushed delicately across the protruding bone.
Gradually, as the night continued, their touches became less subtle. Kate slipped from her spot on the couch, wedging herself against Rick's body as he wrapped his arm around her waist. The warmth of his body and the low hum of his voice as he quietly conversed with her friends were a comfort; slowly but surely lulling her toward sleep.
2am was fast approaching and the night's shenanigans had long quietened down. Ryan and Jenny had said their goodbyes and headed home, and Lanie had dragged Esposito into the kitchen in search of something to snack on well over twenty minutes ago, leaving just Rick and Kate in the living room: more 'alone' than they had been in weeks.
"You asleep yet?" he whispered, sounding all too pleased with himself.
She shifted slightly, hiding her face behind his arm so that he couldn't see her eyes that just refused to stay open.
"No," she grumbled into his bicep, the slight croak in her voice betraying her.
Rick chuckled and pressed his mouth to the top of her head: the possibility of a kiss lingering, but not yet fulfilled.
Kate held her breath as she waited, curious to see if he would take that step or not. Her eyes flitted open as the fatigue drained from her body, replaced with anticipation.
"I should go."
She let out the breath, couldn't help but feel disappointed despite the hours they had already spent together. The effortlessly pleasant hours.
"You could come with me," he added.
She smiled and tilted her head to look into his eyes, the glimmer of hope shining bright in his baby blues magnetically pulling her closer, tempting her. Lines had, after all, already been blurred tonight; each touch, each innuendo, each flirtatious smile.
"Is Alexis home?" she whispered.
"No," he whispered in return as his fingers gently grazed down her side. "Just me."
She shivered, goosebumps peppering her entire body. Fingertips traced circles on his thigh as he did the same on the exposed skin of her hip.
The smell of his cologne, the warmth of his body pressed to hers and the tenderness of his touch all beckoned to her, daring her to forget her own rules.
"I shouldn't," she said with a heavy sigh of regret.
He nodded and let out a slight chuckle. "Worth a try, right?"
Finally, he pressed that kiss to her hair before removing his arm from around her.
She forced her body upright, unaware of just how heavily she had been leaning into him, as he rose to his feet.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, typed out a quick text message and then tucked the phone away again.
"Hey, do me a favour?" Kate asked.
Rick turned to face her, held out his hands. Kate grabbed them and he pulled her to her feet.
"Anything," he said as he pulled her closer.
She smiled and bit her bottom lip. "Don't quit trying just yet."
Rick's smile brightened.
"Wasn't planning on it," he assured her. "That was an open invitation, too, just so you know. If you happen to change your mind. Ever: in an hour, or a day, a year..."
"A year?" she asked incredulously.
She couldn't help but laugh awkwardly. The idea of this man - someone she barely knew - being willing to wait so long for her, being so certain of her already, made her nervous.
Rick just shrugged. "I'm hopeful it won't take that long for you to see what I see."
"Oh yeah? And what exactly do you see?"
Confidence curved his lips and he slowly leant forward until his nose grazed hers.
He could see her eyes flutter, the gentle tilt of her head as she moved closer and, when her lips were just millimetres from his, he pulled back.
"That this is something great," he informed her, matter-of-factly. "And we've barely scratched the surface."
He dropped her hands from hers and stepped back, smiling to himself as she let out a frustrated huff of air.
"I've gotta go," he said as he checked his phone again, loud enough for Lanie and Espo to hear him from the kitchen. "Gregory is outside already."
He tapped his pants pockets - left, right, back - checking for wallet and keys before heading toward the door.
"Later, Castle!" Espo called out.
Lanie followed suit. "Bye Rick!"
"Oh, your jacket!" Kate called out to him, lifting his tuxedo coat from where it had been left; draped over the back of a dining chair.
With one hand already on the front door knob, he turned to her and smiled.
"Yeah. I, uh, I was actually going to accidentally leave it here so I had an excuse to come back."
Kate rolled her eyes and shook her head, but couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face.
"You don't need an excuse, you know?"
"I know." Rick shrugged. "Better to have one anyway... just in case."