12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Early the next week, Beckett's phone rang not long after she got home, and Castle's picture was showing on the screen. She grabbed it eagerly and answered.

"Hey, Castle. Are you and Alexis having fun?"

"It's great having her back."

"Are you taking walks on the beach again?"

"We did that yesterday around dusk. She even splashed along the edge of the water for a minute."

"Good memories?"

"Good memories of both of you. Will you come and spend at least your weekend off with us? She's fine with it."

"It would feel awkward now, being there with Alexis. If I did come, I'd need to move back into the guest room."

"You'd need to do no such thing. I'll talk to her before you get here so she understands."

"Castle, I've never dated a man with a child. I don't have good feelings about moving into your room for a few days in front of your teenaged daughter…sort of blatantly announcing, 'I'm sleeping with your father.' I don't know how to do that with any grace whatsoever."

"Let me take care of that. When I'm back in New York, we're going to have to work it out anyway. I'm not going to start sneaking out in the middle of the night to stay at your place and sneaking in before she's awake, and I won't have you at the loft that way, either."

"But you said you don't bring women home. She isn't used to this."

"She'll get used to it. She knows how important you are to me, that this is much more than a passing affair; and she wants to give you a fair chance. Please do the same for her."

Kate sighed "I'll talk to Roy about a couple of extra days that week," she agreed, still sounding hesitant. "I really do miss you."

"I really miss you, too."

"Are you still getting a lot of writing done?"

"Yes, Ms. Muse. It's going very well."

"Still living dangerously, aren't you?"

"You're too far away to hurt me right now; and next time we're together, you'll be so glad to see me you'll forget about it…missing me so much and all."

"Pretty full of yourself, aren't you?"

"Somebody's been building up my ego."

"Maybe I need to tell her to stop?"

"No. No need for that."

She laughed. "We'll see."

"Alexis is calling, so the popcorn must be ready. We're about to watch a movie. Just wanted to hear your voice. You'll talk to Roy tomorrow?"

"I will."

"'Night Kate."

Captain Montgomery was already in his office when Beckett arrived the following morning. She deposited her things on her desk and turned on her computer, then she took a deep breath and walked to his door.

"Morning, Detective. What can I do for you?"

"A couple more vacation days?"

"Beckett? Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine, Sir. Castle and his family invited me to spend a few days with them at his beach house. It sounds like a nice way to spend some of the last days of summer."

"Sure does. Which days did you want?"

"Two days either before or after my weekend off to make it a four day weekend?"

"We can do that," he agreed after checking. "One day on each side, so you get Friday through Monday. It's good to see you take some time to relax. You push yourself too hard. Let me know if you want to take a couple more."

"Thanks, Roy."

"No problem."

xxxxx

Cases came and went over the next weeks. Lanie and Kate planned a spa weekend in late September, when Castle and his family would be back in New York. Castle was back in town for another meeting before Kate's trip to the Hamptons, and he stayed overnight with Kate, again soothing her worries about Alexis. He hadn't mentioned sleeping arrangements to Alexis yet but promised he would before Kate arrived.

It turned out that he put it off until Alexis discovered it on her own. A week before Kate was scheduled to be there, Castle heard Alexis call him from upstairs.

"Dad, what is this?"

He went up to check on what she was talking about and found her in his room at his dresser, looking shocked.

"I was finishing some laundry and found some T-shirts you left behind, and I was going to put them away for you. This has always been your T-shirt drawer. Does all this belong to Detective Beckett?" Walking over and opening his closet door, she said, "Her clothes are here. Has she moved in? How could you not tell me something like that?"

"Honey, she hasn't moved in. When we're back in New York, there will still be two separate apartments. I suggested she leave her clothes here so she wouldn't have so much packing to do going back and forth. When she leaves this time, she'll take them all with her. We'll be back in New York before we see her again, and she won't need them here. I wouldn't move somebody into our home without talking to you first."

"But they're in your room, Dad. Is that where she'll be staying? This doesn't look like taking things slowly."

"I won't try to justify it to you, Alexis. Kate and I have known each other, been friends for a good while now, and we've been attracted to one another for close to two years. It isn't like I just met her this summer."

"So when she was staying with us…"

"No. We moved her things to my room the last time she was here. As long as we've known each other, I think that could qualify as taking things slowly."

"It's just... You've never done this before."

"I intended to tell you before she was here, and I'm sorry you found out this way." He pulled his daughter into his arms and held her. I might as well admit it…to myself as well as to you. I've never loved anybody this much before. If I can't make things work with Kate, I don't think I'll ever try again.

"She's important enough to make you break your own rules?" she asked, clinging to him.

"Looks like it. I'm sorry, Honey."

"If you love her that much, you shouldn't have to be sorry."

"Married or not, I'm committed...we're committed to doing our best to make it work. I don't want to sneak around behind your back. I'm not the least bit interested in any woman other than Kate, and I won't treat her like a dirty little secret. Having her here with me is part of loving her as much as I do. Can you try to understand that?"

"I guess so."

"And this doesn't give you license to consider doing the same thing, understand? I'm pushing forty, and Kate is pushing thirty, with the life experience that goes with it. You're pushing sixteen, with almost none of that. There's a big difference."

"That might take a little more explaining."

"Alexis," he reprimanded, letting her know he was serious.

"Well, at least I have a week left to get used to the idea."

"I promise not to spring anything else on you."

She didn't say anything else, just nodded as she pulled away and then went to her room and closed the door; and Castle leaned his head back against the door frame as he watched her walk away. He closed his eyes and wondered how much damage he had done by not talking to her earlier…and how much damage he might have inflicted on the relationship between Alexis and Kate.

In her room, Alexis paced for a couple of minutes and then called her grandmother.

"Alexis! What a nice surprise."

"Do you have time to talk?"

"I have the whole afternoon free if you need it, Darling. What's wrong?"

"Dad is in love. Enough to have her staying here in his room."

"Oh, my. It is Katherine, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Well, at least it's somebody we like. I like her, anyway."

"I like her, too, but it's different now."

"You said your father is in love. Does it look like she's in love, too?"

"She won't be here until next week. I can't tell yet."

"Then how do you know?"

"I went to put some of Dad's T-shirts away, and it wasn't his T-shirt drawer anymore. It had her stuff in it…and she had clothes in his closet."

"That must have been a shock."

"Yeah. He said he was planning to talk to me about it before she gets here next week." She hesitated, then asked. "Can you be here that weekend? I…"

"You don't want to have to greet her alone, do you?"

"I guess that's it. And I don't know what to expect from Dad. The only time he's had anybody stay in his room was when he married Gina. I've never heard him sound this way... like he's really in love with her. He says he trusts her with me…and with him, and when he talks about her…" There was a deep, resigned sigh from the teenager. "I must have missed a lot while I was gone."

"When will she be there?"

"Next week…late Friday afternoon through Monday."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks, Grams. I must sound like a spoiled little kid."

"No. Only like a surprised daughter. Anything for you, Darling. You know that. Truth be told, I could use a little break. I'll claim a small family emergency. There's no doubt my understudy would be delighted to take over a couple of performances. I'll see if I can arrange to leave after Thursday's show and be back for Saturday night.

"Thanks, Grams. I'm sorry to mess up your performance schedule."

"Nonsense, child. We're talking about my son…in love with someone I'd actually enjoy having in the family, and I'd like to witness this new phenomenon firsthand. I'll call later and let you know if I can arrange it. If I can, we'll have a spa afternoon so you'll be all relaxed when Katherine arrives. We'll be back in time to meet her at the door."

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Dear."

xxxxx

The day Kate was scheduled to be at the beach house, she called Castle before he was out of bed, and a groggy voice answered.

"Kate? You're still coming this afternoon, aren't you?"

"Hi. I know I'm not supposed to be there until this afternoon, but is it okay if I come earlier? Everything is ready to go, and it won't be any less awkward with Alexis if I wait. I have everything ready to put in the car."

"Miss me that much, do you?"

"Apparently."

He chuckled. "I'll call the car service and have them pick you up whenever you want."

"Ten minutes ago?"

"I wish one of us could wiggle a nose like Samantha and have you just pop in here next to me."

"Me, too, but we'll probably have to settle for the car. I can't believe I'm not arguing with you about that."

"If you're ready to go, I'll call and see if somebody can get over there now."

"Okay."

"The driver will call with the time."

"See you soon."

Darrell called about ten minutes later to say he'd meet Kate at 9:00 again, and she was waiting outside at the curb when he drove up.

Castle got a text right before the car stopped in front of the house and opened the door just as Kate reached the top step. They fell into the same kind of easy embrace as the last time, each nuzzling into the other's neck, just soaking in the presence of the other. He didn't let Kate go, but this time Castle did acknowledge Darrell's presence as he brought Kate's bags into the house. "Just leave them there, Darrell. I'll get them in a minute. Mother and Alexis are leaving for the spa in a few minutes. Would you wait and drop them off there?"

"Be glad to, Mr. Castle."

"Sorry I messed up your schedule." Kate said, turning her head in his direction.

"It worked out for the best, Miss Kate. There's a family gathering tonight that I thought I'd have to skip. Now I won't have to."

"I feel better about it, then. Thank you."

He nodded and went back to the car, leaving the couple alone, as far as they knew. At the moment the door closed, though, Martha and Alexis reached the bottom of the stairs and moved just far enough to have a good view of the small foyer before they stopped in their tracks and watched. Kate and Castle were back in their original embrace; then he cupped her cheek with one hand, lifted her chin, and kissed her; and she moved her hand to run her fingers gently through the hair at the nape of his neck.

"You feel so good," he whispered.

"I couldn't wait to get back to you," she whispered in return before he kissed her again.

"It certainly looks like love," Martha whispered to Alexis before taking some of the awkwardness out of the moment by calling out, "Katherine, is that you? I didn't think we'd see you until this afternoon."

Kate quickly separated from Castle and apologized as Martha and Alexis approached them. "I'm sorry to just barge in. I called and told Rick I'd be here earlier."

"And neither of you were up then to tell you," Castle added.

Kate shyly tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and said, "I guess I missed him more than I thought."

Castle was watching her with pride…both that she could admit that so easily now, and that she just told his family that she could hardly wait to see him again. Martha walked over and wrapped Kate in a motherly hug. "We're all happy to have you anytime, Darling."

"Including me," Alexis added, also giving Kate a hug.

"We were just going for an afternoon at the spa, planning to be back by the time you arrived. And planning to allow my son to take three lovely women out for a nice dinner."

"Since we'll have all afternoon, Kate and I can make dinner for you."

"Dad, she's a guest. Detective Beckett shouldn't have to make us dinner," Alexis scolded.

"I don't mind at all," Kate answered. "And please call me Kate. It's much easier to say, don't you think?"

Alexis smiled and nodded.

"Darrell is still here," Castle told his mother and daughter. "He's going to drop you off at the spa. Do you want coffee and breakfast first?"

"No, Dear," Martha said. "We're due there in twenty minutes, so we'll go and give Darrell something to do."

Castle handed his mother some folded bills and asked her to give them to Darrell and thank him.

"See you this afternoon," Alexis said with a little wave in their direction as she left with her grandmother.

After opening the door just enough to see that the car was out of sight, he then closed and locked it.

"They're gone," he announced…and the clothes ripping began.

Kate was pulling his shirt out of his waistband while he was unzipping her jeans, all while moving in the direction of the stairs. Sandals were left trailing behind to make it easier to step out of the jeans that were pushed off as they moved. A trail of shirts and underwear was left on the stairs and in the upstairs hallway before they pushed the bedroom door closed and fell gracelessly on the bed.

When their sudden burst of lovemaking was over, Castle asked, "Was that what you imagined in your fantasy?"

"Yeah." Kate grinned. "How was it for you?"

"A quick fix." He grinned back. "Want to try again…and savor it more?"

"Let me catch my breath first."

"Me, too."

"I hope they didn't forget anything and have to come back for it."

"That would be a lot harder to explain than your lingerie in what used to be my T-shirt drawer."

"Castle, is that how Alexis found out?" Kate sounded horrified. "You said you were going to talk to her."

"I was, but she was trying to help and went to put away some of my T-shirts. I talked to her then. I think she called my mother to be here with her today…because Mother doesn't usually leave a part for an understudy if she can help it. She got here very late last night, and she's leaving tomorrow afternoon."

"See. I've made Alexis uncomfortable in her own home. I should go back."

"No, you shouldn't. It's in the open now, and we'll work it out."

"Let's at least go and clean up the trail of clothes."

"Would it make you feel better?"

"Much."

"Then let's go clothes gathering." Castle stood and started for the door, naked.

"What are you doing? At least put on a robe."

"We're the only ones here. I thought you liked my naked body." He grinned and wiggled his backside at her.

"I do, but if they came back for some reason…"

He went to the closet and returned with their robes, and they put them on.

"You do realize, don't you, that us being downstairs in robes picking up the clothes we were still wearing when they left would make a much bigger statement than your undies in my T-shirt drawer."

"But at least we wouldn't be naked."

Castle laughed and started down the stairs. Kate picked up his boxers from the floor outside his room and her panties from near the top step. Her bra was about halfway down, and she tossed all the sandals to the side of the stairs at the bottom. When she reached the last step, Castle had their jeans and shirts, and he kissed her playfully before they went back up.

"Is the paranoia under control now?"

She backhanded his arm, and he laughed. "Have I ruined my chances for savoring a round two?"

Waving their clothes at him, she answered, "As long as all of this is behind closed doors and we've finished savoring long before they get home. We should be downstairs by then, looking as innocent as possible."

"You're being ridiculous," he said indulgently.

"I don't care. And you should stop mocking if you expect any savoring to happen."

He laughed and dramatically closed the door. Then he picked her up, and dropped her on the bed, falling in beside her.

By the time Martha and Alexis returned, the couple had savored, showered, spent some time on the beach, showered again, organized dinner, and had the meal almost ready to serve.