A/N: I've been struggling with coming up with more ideas for this fic, but I feel there are still some more one-shots that I can add. This one I've been working on every once in a while but didn't complete until tonight. And I also love the grocery store trope.
"Evie Baby, please stay by Mommy!" Kate called out as her four year old daughter ran down the store aisle.
"I want to find Daddy and Finn though!" Evie turned to face her mother, who was pushing two year old Westley in a grocery cart filled to the brim with food.
"Daddy and Finn will be right back, they just went to get another cart."
"Momma is it time for candy soon?" Evie asked once Kate caught up to her.
"Candy! Candy! Candy!" Wes shouted from the cart's seat.
Kate shushed her son before answering, "Halloween is in 6 days."
"I can't wait, Momma. I get to be the Doctor! I just wish I had her hair like Lexis does." Evie said, as she pointed an imaginary sonic screwdriver at a can of beans, before taking off like she was running from Daleks.
"Evie, please watch out for other people." Kate warned again, but Evie was just like her father and had a strong and whimsical imagination.
Since she wasn't paying attention, Evie ended up running into a man examining the label of a can of soup. Evie fell back as her bottom hit the concrete floor.
"Evangeline Johanna!" Kate shouted at her daughter as she rushed to pick her up from the floor. "I told you to be careful!" Kate turned to the man whom her daughter had bumped into. "I am so sorry, sir. She's had her head in the clouds today."
"It's all right." The man assured, turning to face her and smiled. "Is your name Kate?"
Kate hesitated. "Yeah… it is. Do I know you?"
The man held out his hand, "Brent Edwards. I believe we went to Stuy together."
Kate's face reddened in embarrassment. "Oh, Brent Edwards! I'm sorry I didn't recognize you!"
"It's so great to see you! I haven't seen you at any of the reunions over the years."
"I was probably busy with work the first few and I believe I was about 10 months pregnant with this one for the 20 year." Kate chuckled as she ran her fingers through Wes's brown hair. Kate noticed her daughter wandering again and called for her to come back.
"You either have an incredibly large family or you are feeding an army." Brent commented on the overflowing cart.
"My husband insisted we throw a Halloween party. He actually went to get another cart."
"Momma, when's Daddy coming back?" Evie asked looking up at her mother.
"He'll be back in just a second, baby." Kate answered.
"So what are you doing these days?" Brent asked.
"Other than chasing down my kids in grocery stores, I am the police captain at the 12th precinct. What about you?"
"Color me impressed." Brent smiled. "I am an English professor at NYU."
The sound of quickly spinning cart wheels against the tile floor forced Kate to turn and see her husband pushing a grocery cart like a maniac with their eldest son riding in the basket with a giant grin. Rick made fake car noises like he was braking suddenly as he came to a stop beside Kate.
"Mom, did you see that?" Finn exclaimed as he jumped out of the cart to stand beside her.
"Yeah I did. My nine year old pushing my seven year old." Kate muttered as she glared at her husband.
Rick shrugged his shoulders like he didn't know what the big deal was.
"So Brent, this is my husband, Rick Castle. Castle this is Brent Edwards. I knew him from high school."
Rick and Brent shook hands. "So you're the guy my wife had a huge crush on during senior year. Please tell me about teenage Katie Beckett. She's threatened her dad into silence about the subject, so I need to get the scoop on this highly classified information."
Kate smacked Rick in the shoulder. "I think it's time to finish this shopping trip!" she announced, hoping to steer clear of the topic.
"No, no, no, Kate! You can't get out of this that easily." Rick exclaimed wrapping an arm around his wife's waist to draw her closer. Kate sighed and avoided making eye contact with Brent. Brent chuckled nervously.
"Babe, go get Evie. She's wandering again." Kate instructed, subtly nudging her husband to catch their daughter.
"Okay fine Kate, but see if I share my Halloween stash with you." Rick pouted and turned to chase after the 4 year old.
Kate faced Brent again. "It was nice seeing you again Brent, but I should really get this shopping trip done while these guys are still mostly content."
"I understand." Brent grinned. "Maybe I'll see you at the 25 or 30 year reunion."
"Maybe." Kate smiled hesitantly. "Finn can you push that cart and follow me?"
"Yeah Momma." Finn said as Kate waved to Brent and strolled down the aisle.
Rick approached his family with his youngest daughter holding his hand beside him. "Aw Kate, I don't get to interrogate him more?"
"Oh stop, Castle." Kate admonished with a smirk. She quickly leaned up and gave him a quick peck on his lips.
"What was that for?"
Kate shrugged, "I don't know, I just love you."
Rick's face beamed before changing to a smug grin, "I love you too, but don't think I will stop questioning people about Rebel Becks."
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