Only Just Begun
by Castlefan6
A/N: This is the sequel to "Trying To Forget." Please read that first. This picks up immediately after that story ends, and there will be a casket ending now after they have talked and talked well in a different manner. What happens? This will be a love story between Caskett that also deals with the consequences of actions, righting wrongs, and how some past history for each of the love birds is revealed. AU.
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I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only.
Chapter 8
LeCerq Restaurant
Two Hours Later
Rick and Kate had enjoyed the private room and a meal worthy of a king. The laughter and conversation seemed to flow with ease, starting with Rick's impression of Doctor Burke and his expectations.
"So, what did you think about Dr. Burke, Rick? I don't want to prejudice the decision of who we see as a couple, but he's always afforded me a comforting feeling. I can relax and open up there." She said as she took his hand
"I noticed your comfort level immediately, and I really liked his approach: he let us talk, then offered tidbits of his expertise where necessary, but for the most part, served as our guide rails to keep us on task. I was surprised and proud of you for opening up so much about the events leading to the misunderstanding." Rick said,
"Babe, I love you, but you have to stop being so polite; it wasn't a misunderstanding; it was a fucking trainwreck of our potential relationship all caused by a lie, my lie. I have to own that and never forget what it cost us both." She said as she held his hand tighter,
"Kate, remember there is enough fault on both sides. We don't look back; we only look forward. You took that giant leap and pushed me out of my comfort zone to tell you how I was hurt, something I'm not good at, by the way. Usually, I crack a joke and move on without ever trying to resolve what had hurt my feelings." He said, holding her hand and lost in her eyes,
She leaned in and kissed him, not hot like I want to screw you right here, but a passionate kiss pouring out her love and admiration for this man who made her life so much better just by being in it.
When the kiss broke, "I could get used to that, just so you know," he smiled,
"Good, get used to it, and Babe, I'm yours now; you can kiss me whenever and wherever you want, EXCEPT at the precinct." She laughed, "We'll need to close my office door and pull the blinds first." She said and noticed a look come over his face.
"Did I say something wrong, Rick? I can tell by the expression on your face that something is going on in that brain of yours." She said softly,
"It's just you mentioned the precinct. You do know it can never be the way it was. I know the commissioner and Bob wouldn't go for me sitting in a Captain's office all day, and the Nikki Heat character was closed out years ago. I guess it just reminded me of what we lost and what decisions we need to make fairly quickly," He said, squeezing her hand.
"Rick, tell me what you want. I mean, for far too long, all you heard was me screaming that it was MY LIFE. Now, I can't say that, nor do I ever want to. It's our life, Babe; what do you want to do?" She asked.
"I think I would like to hold you in my arms for a few dances, then go home, draw you a hot bath, and discuss our next moves at home. It seems we're both more comfortable there and won't get interrupted. I changed the locks to my library and bedroom, making them Martha Proof," he laughed.
"That sounds wonderful, Rick; I miss you when you're not holding or touching me. I know, I know, the old Beckett pretended to hate it when I actually ached for your touch so many nights, Rick." She said, biting her lower lip,
They went out to the dance floor just as the band was starting to play an oldie by Eric Clapton, "You Look Wonderful Tonight." They were lost in each other's eyes as the singer sang the words, telling them both what they already knew: They felt wonderful tonight.
It's late in the evening.
She's wondering what clothes to wear.
She puts on her makeup,
And brushes her long blonde hair.
And then she asks me, "Do I look alright?"
And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight."
We go to a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That's walking around with me.
And then she asks me, "Do you feel alright?"
And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight."
I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you
It's time to go home now.
And I've got an aching head.
So I give her the car keys.
She helps me to bed
And then I tell her, as I turn out the light.
I say, "My darling, you are wonderful tonight."
Oh, my darling, you are wonderful tonight.
They held each other close, and Kate closed her eyes, just thinking of how many nights she had spent alone or with someone else, always pretending, wishing, and hoping that when she opened her eyes, it would be Rick in front of her. She didn't need to dream any longer; she opened her eyes to see her love with his eyes closed, singing softly to the words.
They left via the private elevator to continue discussing what came next in a more intimate setting: their bedroom. When they arrived home and reached their floor, Rick picked her up and carried her bridal style to the door. She said, "Oh Shoot, you should have gotten your key fob out before you picked me up," as she stole a kiss.
"Kate, can you reach into my top pocket?" he waited as she retrieved a duplicate Key Fob. "I know we haven't discussed this, but hell, you had a key when you lived with us, so I just had it reactivated for you. I hope that wasn't too forward. " He blushed, but Katel caught his lips in a whale of a lip lock. She deftly opened the lock, and he pushed the door open, still locked on each other's lips.
They made it as far as the couch before the make-out session any high school kid would envy ensued. Twenty minutes later, Rick finally said, "I think we came home to discuss some pressing issues. Why don't we dress for bed and continue this discussion there?" with a wink,
She laughed, the laugh he had missed and loved to hear so badly. She had a beautiful laugh, one that she couldn't disguise or fake; it came from her soul. "I'm so happy to hear that laugh, God, Kate. You don't know how many nights I lay awake just thinking about it.
"I missed you, Babe, Lord only knows how much, and I" the tears came to her eyes,
"Hey, what are these? It's all good. We're here together, but we need to discuss a few things tonight." He said as he kissed her gently and laid her on his bed.
"You're right, Rick, so I'll take the guest bathroom and get ready for bed," she stopped talking when she saw the look on his face, "What?"
"I was just going to say all my stuff is in the guest bath, and all yours is in here," he said as he pointed to the en-suite. That wonderful man, always putting her first, she kissed him and whispered, "Don't be long," as she hurried into the bath.
When she came out, Rick was sitting on the bench at the edge of the bed, "Is something wrong, Babe? Why are you sitting on the bench?
He laughed, "We didn't decide which side of the bed is yours?" and she broke out into the giggles, something she hadn't done since junior high school.
After a few minutes, she regained control of her voice, "Babe, which side do you normally sleep on? I mean, we both have slept alone for so long. I guess it doesn't matter to me." She smiled,
"Are you sure? I usually sleep on the side closest to the door, but."
"Babe, get into bed on your side so you can hold me while we discuss some things. I think we can mark this issue resolved. Your side of the bed is closer to the door." She laughed until he caught her in a kiss, and then the laugh turned into a moan.
"Rick, let's get the discussion done. I like where this is headed, but if we try to do it afterward, it won't be done." She gently broke them apart, just until he was in bed on his side, and she joined him, her head on his chest, the hands intertwined with each other.
"OK, I mentioned the precinct, and I could tell you were upset. What do you want me to do, Rick? She asked,
"I know you love your job—hell, you're the youngest female Captain in over seventy years—but I don't want to get what is left after the job takes most of you from me. I'm sorry if that sounds selfish—it is—but I love you.
"As we said about the Boylan victims, no one's tomorrow is promised. I want to spend every minute I can with you with the time we both have left." He said as both of their memories raced back to the casual hand-holding they did. They had to hide and break apart when Ryan came with an update on the case.
"I've been thinking about that, Rick; I don't want to be away from you one more second than I have to, so can we try it with me still working, WITH the guarantee that I leave the precinct nightly at 5:15 PM as Roy did for so many years.? Eventually, I have more permanent plans, but I don't want to frighten you off so soon," she whispered against the skin of his neck, sending shivers down his spine.
"Are you serious? Would you leave the precinct just as Roy used to do? If that works for you, I think it's worth a try for us." He said his smile back on display.
"What about you, Rick? I know you have the option to return to Fox Run, and I'm sure that if Black Pawn were stupid enough not to re-sign you, plenty of other publishers would snatch you up, that is, IF you still WANTED to write." She asked, her eyes locked on his,
"I do miss writing, well, creating my storyline and characters, although the offer from the U.K. would provide more wealth than even Mother could squander, as hard as she tries now." He laughed,
"If you took the offer from Fox Run, how often and how long would you need to be in the U.K.? Kate asked,
"I think I could negotiate three trips per book, for a max of one-week duration, for each trip. If they demand more, then I have the luxury of turning them down, and Lord Barrow knows they have a good chance of increasing his yearly revenues more than any other writer he has." Rick said,
"Well, may I ask you this: would you be opposed to sharing a bed in England with an NYPD Police Captain? I have so much vacation built up I could accompany you on the trips IF I didn't get in your way, I mean," She said,
"You would do that for me? Leave your job for a week with no contact and accompany me?" He asked his look of disbelief all over his face.
She looked deep into his eyes, "Babe, if you need me to quit work, to be a kept woman, whatever you want to call me, as long as I can be with you, just say the word.
"For so many years, you worked so hard to prove to me that you were what I needed all along; well, I know what I need, and I won't let him slip away again." She said, tears in her eyes,
He kissed her eyes and held her, "We only need to decide one more thing tonight, and then I can show my lady how much she means to me," he said,
"What else do we need to decide, Rick? I mean, we determined the sides of the bed, our future work status, IF Fox Run will go along with it, and plan B just in case you need me to quit, I will. What's left?" She asked, a puzzled look on her face.
"Where are we, you, me, going to sleep next week once you return to work? If you plan on leaving at 5:15 PM, I can have David or one of the drivers waiting for you to either bring you here or to your apartment. I know there will be days you won't feel so romantic, and if you want to spend those days at your apartment, I'll understand, provided that A: you leave work on time, and B: we have discussed it beforehand, no last minute I didn't feel like being around people moments." He said,
"Remember Rick, we have homework from Doctor Burke that we need to work on alone and then together, so we need to schedule that one night," She said, not taken back by the conditions he had placed on her as she would have acted earlier in their relationship.
"Oh, yeah, that's right. And knowing you, I'm sure I won't get the slightest peek at your answers; I mean, before we collaborate on those, we have to turn in to Dr. Burke." He smiled, pleased that there was no pushback on his conditions for her working.
"You heard Doctor Burke? It was practically a plea to me to stay strong and not share my answers. He knows you better than you think, as much as we talked about you in my sessions." She said with a smile, and from what Rick could tell, there had been a great deal of discussion about their lack of relationship, why, and how to correct it going forward.
"Speaking of, can we just schedule to spend Monday night in my apartment? I really need to pay a few bills and do some small chores." She said,
"I'm sure that can be arranged. Wait, did you say WE, as in you and me? Are you telling me that you want me to visit your apartment and not leave until the sun rises the next morning?: His voice had climbed an octave when he finally go out the next morning. Kate laughed, kissed him like there was no tomorrow,
"I've gone without these for over four years. If you think I am going to waste one more day without sleeping next to and with the man I've loved for years, you have rocks in your head." She smiled as the grin, the true smile just for her, was back.
"Rick, I didn't know how you would feel, but since you already broached the topic, here, this is for you." She said as she handed him a small, gift-wrapped box,
"Do you have any ideas or wild conspiracy guesses before the truth is revealed?" She asked as he tore at the paper as if his life depended on it. Well, in one way, it did, at least the new life they had just started.
He opened the box and found a fancy key chain engraved RC with a shiny key on it. "Is this what I think it is?" he said, his eyes like those of a kid on Christmas.
"What do you think it is to Rick?" She played with him,
"I'm afraid to say, I mean, it's early in the relationship, but."
"Rick, it's your key to my apartment; we are cohabitating at both locations unless you feel strongly against it," she said, holding her breath. I mean, I don't want to give up my apartment, at least this early, and I know how much the loft means to you."
"It's perfect. I couldn't have asked for anything better, and you're right. I think it's best if we both keep our individual residences, well for one, until we get farther into this, eh, … relationship," He seemed to struggle with the word relationship.
"Rick, I'll be your woman, your girlfriend, your floozy, whatever title you want, as long as I can be with you. Let's declare here and now that we are a Couple, monogamous and faithful to each other unless one or the other discusses potential cracks in the relationship, THEN we talk before anyone acts.
"I want to keep it alive and exciting, not grow old, boring, and stale where you will want someone else. I've seen too many couples split because they took each other for granted. I've learned my lesson. I don't ever want to go through that time away from you again, ever again in my life." Her tears, joy mixed with some fright, fell, even as hard as she tried to hold them in. He pulled her close and kissed her tears away,
"Hey, Girlfriend, just trying that name on for size; how do you like it?" His face was beaming with a smile, her smile the one she had dreamed about so many nights.
"Hey Lover, Babe, Rick, I reserve the right to interchange those names, Babe. It just feels so right, like everything else doesn't matter. As long as we keep doing what we are doing, we can overcome anything." She said, a new tone in her voice, one of optimism Rick had only seen on very rare occasions before,
"Babe, didn't you say that was the last item we needed to resolve?" She said, nipping at his neck as she said the words so sexy,
His answer came without another word being spoken and lasted long into the night before both fell asleep in each other's arms, lost in love.
TBC
A/N: If you've ever encountered a new experience, such as living with someone, there are SO many nuances to settle; I chose the bathroom selections and side of the bed to keep it within my T rating for the story. There are so many habits we take for granted that we feel are acceptable, especially the guys, until one day, the Come to Jesus Meeting occurs, and we find out just what slobs we are and what pet peeves our significant others have, whether it's justified or not, it's a concern that must be addressed as adults. This is the background of Castle and Beckett becoming Caskett. I think the writers missed many golden opportunities to bring them closer outside the precinct. I understand that they tried to capture ratings, but seriously, The Squab episode? That sucked to high heaven and started the writing to go downhill, at least IMO.