Hey! So I think this will probably be the last chapter! Thanks for sticking with it :) Hope you enjoyed. Comments are always welcome!
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle but I LOVE it.
"Um, well, um," Castle stammered.
Esposito looked at Ryan, "What's wrong with this dude bro?" he asked pointing his thumb at Castle.
Kate tried to laugh Castle's awkwardness off, "He's just tired." She patted him on the back and started to pull him away. As they walked off Ryan and Esposito exchanged confused glances.
"Is something…" Ryan began.
"No way, bro." Esposito cut him off, "Castle would never be able to keep something like that from us."
Ryan nodded hesitantly, "If you say so."
"Castle seriously; we are the worst people at keeping secrets." Kate laughed as she opened the door to his apartment.
"You're keeping secrets?" Martha floated across the apartment toward Kate and Castle. "Not from me I hope." She raised her eyebrow as she scanned the two partners.
"Man we just can't catch a break today." Castle chuckled as he took off his coat and took Kate's coat from her and hung them both up.
"Ah, so you are hiding something from me." Martha scolded. "Could it perhaps be that Kate stayed over last night?"
Kate gawked, "How can we possibly be so transparent! Everyone knows!"
"Not Ryan and Esposito," Castle reminded her.
Kate smiled a little. "Oh so you are together!" Martha exclaimed grabbing them both into a large embrace, "It took you long enough!"
Castle and Kate both felt a little awkward as the hug lasted a surprisingly long time. "Um, thank you mother but if you could let go of us that would be wonderful."
Martha immediately let go, "Yes, yes. Can't a mother show a little affection toward her only child!"
"Ever the dramatic mother." Castle said as she walked back into the kitchen which is when Castle noticed something, "Are you cooking?"
"Yes! I have to give Beckett a proper welcome!" Martha through a pot into the oven behind her.
Castle looked down at his feet and shook his head, "Mother how did you know I was going to bring Kate here tonight?"
"Richard, I am your mother. A mother knows these things."
Kate laughed enjoying the light banter between Castle and his mother. She took his arm and pulled him toward the couch where they sat down together.
"Not quite the night I had planned." Castle said apologetically.
Kate smiled, "No worries Castle, I think it's nice that your mom wants to cook for us."
"You might not think that after you've eaten. Ow!" Castle grabbed the back of his head and looked up to see his mother holding an oven mitt in her hand. "What was that for!" Castle grumbled and Kate laughed as Alexis walked down the stairs.
"Hey guys!" She said going to join Castle and Beckett. "Hey sweetheart, how was school?"
"Kinda boring" she answered taking a seat near them. "So how did hiding your relationship go?"
Castle leaned over toward Alexis and whispered, "Let's just say Kate's not very good at keeping a secret." Kate pushed him playfully, "Your father is just as bad as me." She defended. Alexis laughed, "So, everyone knows?"
Kate looked at Castle, "Actually, not quite everyone."
"Hey that's right, Ryan and Esposito!" Castle nodded remembering that they still hadn't clued in.
"Rather surprising really." Kate said, "I mean, even Gates knew!"
"I know! And she barely knows us!" Kate and Castle laughed and Alexis smiled at the happy couple.
Ding. Alexis got up from her seat to answer the door as Castle and Kate got lost giggling.
When she opened the door she heard a loud Ah Ha!. And the two men at the door barged into the apartment.
Castle jumped up from the couch "What the heck are you guys doing here!"
"We knew it!" Esposito pointed from Castle to Kate, back to Castle.
"No you didn't I did" Ryan jumped in.
"Well so much for them not knowing." Kate laughed and gestured to the men so they were sit down.
"Esposito and I were suspicious of the way you were acting at the crime scene. We had a bet. I said that you were dating and he said that you wouldn't hide that from us." Ryan explained with his hand held out toward Esposito who reluctantly handed him ten dollars.
"We're sorry we didn't tell you. Not that that lasted very long." Kate said. "We just wanted to make sure that the precinct would be ok with it and to get you know, us, straight." Castle finished.
"We understand." Ryan said.
"Yea, I totally get it, I mean Lanie and I hid our relationship too when we first started out." Esposito said.
"Yea, but when we found out we didn't burst into your apartment." Kate laughed and the other three joined in.
"Dinner's ready!" Martha chimed, "Everyone's welcome!"
The group got up and enjoyed Martha's home cooked meal together happily.