AN- I'm back. This chapter is a bit shorter, which I realize is annoying when I've been gone so long, but hopefully the content will make up for it.

Chapter 8

Kate walks into where Castle's reading is being held as he is finishing up. She spots Eddie, Alexis, and Paige hanging out in a corner, and is glad she had decided against the dress. She doesn't think showing skin would help Paige's crush, and it might send the wrong message to Alexis, given that her and Eddie are circling each other at the moment. Not to mention she doesn't think Eddie would appreciate it.

As Kate approaches, it's easy to tell when they notice her. Paige's head snaps to her and her eyes widen, quickly followed by the others checking what she was looking at. She sees Eddie whisper something and Paige seems to calm down. Kate is glad Eddie is helping her, rather than being resentful.

Kate had been happy to learn that there had been circumstances that Paige felt prevented her from coming out, rather than the girl being ashamed. She is, however, slightly alarmed that Eddie didn't know if her parents knew. She once again found herself in a situation where she was conflicted. It wasn't really her business, but she knew not telling her parents could be more trouble than a bad reaction. Of course, I could be worrying over nothing. They might be perfectly aware of her sexuality.

"Hey guys. What are you up to?"

"Hey, Detective Beckett. I told these guys what I was doing, and Eddie begged me to bring him, then Paige invited herself," Alexis answered, shooting a smirk at each of her friends as they were referenced.

"I did not beg. I simply inquired strongly about the possibility of attending."

Paige laughs. "So either you begged or you threatened her."

Now Alexis laughs. "Yeah, Eddie's a real scary guy."

Castle approaches them then, having finished. "Hey Beckett, tracking your kid down?"

Kate tenses up at the way Castle referred to Eddie. "Castle! He's not my kid!"

Looks of surprise bloomed across everyone's face, except Eddie's, who looks wounded instead. Kate saw Eddie's face, and guilt hits her like a freight train.

"I, uh, gotta go," Eddie says, and starts walking quickly towards the exit.

"Eddie, wait!" Kate calls, but he keeps going.

"We got it!" Paige says as she takes off behind Alexis after Eddie.

Kate sighs. They're good friends. I'm glad he has someone to talk to when I'm the problem. Kate turns her head to see Castle staring at her. "Say what you want to say. I know I screwed up."

"I just have a question. Do you really feel that way?"

Kate hesitates before answering. "No. But shouldn't I?"

"So it's about guilt. Want my advice? Tell him that. It'll help if he know it's not about not wanting him."

"I've said something like that before, and he didn't seem upset. How did he hide that it bothered him? He's terrible at that. I hope Alexis and Paige catch up with him." Kate bit her lip in worry.

"They were right behind him. He won't get far without them. And I think you know that if Eddie has a moment, he can compose himself, if he tries. Plus, I bet this is the first time you've said it to someone who knows your relationship. It's different."

"Oh god, I'm a terrible person!"

"If you were a terrible person, you wouldn't feel guilty."

"Yeah, well, I have a lot to feel guilty for."

Castle was about to address that when his mother walks up. "Richard, did I see the kids leave? Hello, Katherine."

Castle is a bit annoyed. "Yes, mother. They're fine."

"Oh. Well Denise says you're going to be number one this week. And look! Everyone is buying your books. Now don't you feel silly for believing those reviews?"

"Yes. Yes I do."

"Let's just hope Nikki Heat does as well."

"Nikki Heat?" Kate asks suspiciously.

"The character he's basing on you."

"Nikki Heat- you know what, Castle? You can have this one. Call it penance. Eddie will think it's hilarious. I'm going to wait for him at home. Goodbye, Castle"

"Until tomorrow, Beckett."

"I'm actually hoping the captain will let me use a holiday day last minute."

"I won't be seeing you then. That man adores you."

Kate rolls her eyes. "Shut up, Castle." With that, she walked away.

"Dammit," Castle mumbled.

"Something wrong, Richard?" Martha asked.

"We didn't finish our conversation."

"Oh. Sorry, dear."

Castle sighed. "It's fine, mother." Just then his phone rings. "It's Alexis." Martha nods in understanding as Castle answers. "Hey pumpkin, everything alright?"

"Yeah, dad. We're gonna grab dinner, if that's okay."

"That's fine. Is Eddie going to tell Beckett?"

"We made him text her."

"Good girl. I'll see you later."

"Bye dad."

Paige and Alexis rush out onto the streets of New York, hot on Eddie's heels. They see him speed walking down the sidewalk, and Alexis calls out to him. "Eddie! Wait up!"

Eddie looks back, and upon seeing them, stops and waits. When they catch up, he speaks before they can say anything. "Sorry, girls. I shouldn't have ran out like that."

"Eddie, it's okay to be upset," Alexis says as they continue walking.

"Yeah," Paige agrees, "whatever you call each other, she's as much a parent to you as ours are to us. You should be hurt by what she said. But if it's any consolation, I'm pretty sure she immediately regretted it."

"If that's true, then why did she say it?" Eddie asks in frustration. "I mean, I know she's my sister, but, if I'm being honest I don't really see her that way. It hurts that it might not be mutual."

"That is definitely something you need to discuss with her," Alexis advises. "But I think it is. I've seen you guys together. She'd do anything for you. I mean, she's helping you teach your friends a language. That's a lot of effort."

"I, uh, I didn't even ask her to help. She volunteered."

"See? You guys need to talk, but I think things will be better after," Alexis encourages.

"But that can wait a bit. You need a bit of time to cool off. It's best friend time!"

Eddie has a look of surprise on his face. "Is- uh, is that what we are?"

Alexis smiles at him. "Are there other candidates for the spot?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Then, obviously, we're your best friends," Paige says with a grin. "Now that that's settled, what do you guys think? Food? I'm getting hungry."

"Uh, yeah, sure."

"Sounds good. But we should let our parents know. Eddie, at least text Kate. You might be mad at her but she doesn't deserve to worry about you."

"You're right. I'll let her know.

Kate is waiting in her apartment for Eddie to return. She had gotten a text from him that he was on his way. She is anxious about the upcoming discussion, but she knows it would be a mistake to avoid it. She keeps running over everything she wants to say in her mind. She's determined to fix her mistake.

Kate hears the door open and moves to greet Eddie. "Eddie, hey. I think we need to talk."

Eddie sighs. "Yeah, we do."

"Russian?" Kate hopes that having this conversation in a language she taught him will promote a sense of closeness.

Eddie gives her the ghost of a smile. "Sure."

"Good. First of all, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did. I didn't mean to hurt you. It's, unfortunately, a knee jerk reaction. I'm also sorry I didn't realize that it hurt you before. I should have been more aware."

Eddie stared at her for a moment, before responding. "Do you really feel that way?"

Kate was fully expecting that question, but it was still hard to answer. But, eventually, she was able to force herself to answer, very clearly. "No. Absolutely not. What I said was a mistake. I did not mean it. You're mine, and you have been since you were five years old. I'm sorry I haven't made that clear before."

Eddie gave her his first real smile since he entered the apartment. But then it faded. "Then, why?"

Now it was Kate's turn to sigh. "Because I feel guilty. It feels like I'm betraying our parents by feeling this way. Like I've replaced mom. And, and dad's still around. Sometimes I think I should've made you go back to him." She saw the alarm on Eddie's face, and placated him. "Don't worry, I won't. I don't want you to go any more than I do. But I hope you appreciate that he could have forced the issue, and you're only here because he didn't."

"I do. I should probably tell him that, huh?"

Kate smiled at him. "I think that's a good idea. Now, since we're talking about how we feel, I think I should take this rare opportunity to ask you how you feel about me. So?"

Kate saw the look of alarm on Eddie's face, and couldn't help but feel comforted. She was glad she wasn't alone in her discomfort. "I, uh, I mean, you're my- I don't, um, I don't think of you as a sister," he finished meekly.

Kate would laugh at his discomfort, but she isn't better. But she knew she had to respond to that."I don't think of you as a brother, either. But I think the most important thing is that I love you. But now that we've vaguely discussed our feelings,what do you say? Never again?"

Eddie laughed merrily at that, then looked like he was thinking. Then, he responded."We have an accord. And I love you too."

Kate understands the problem. "Accord."

"Thanks."

Kate decides to revert to English. "I have tomorrow off. You have anything specific you want to do?"

"Well..."

AN2- Hope you enjoyed! I'm back in a good place, so you should be seeing more from me. Also, if anyone is interested in Harry Potter, I recently posted a new story in that category.