Yet again he sat there staring intently at her while she finished up the paperwork for the case they'd just finished. She had forgotten how many times she'd told him it was creepy. She'd ignored it long enough by letting the hair tucked behind her ear fall loosely beside her eyes. This afforded her the chance to glance sideways at him to watch his facial expressions change as he was trying to get inside of her head.
"Castle, what do you want?" Beckett snapped. "You've been staring at me for 20 minutes."
"How do you know that I've been staring at you for twenty minutes if you haven't been staring at me behind this," he says as he softly pushes her hair back behind her ear. "Admit it you've been staring at me just as much as I've been staring at you except I've been doing it openly."
"I have NOT been staring, you do realise I have better things than to stare at you all day." Beckett said pointing to her paperwork.
"Ok I'll concede that you probably haven't been staring, but you have been taking long meaningful glances at me for extended amounts of time." Castle smirked.
"Argh" Kate groaned. How was she expected to not shoot him when his being incredibly annoying. 'If I'm totally honest with myself I would have been glancing at him' she stood and grabbed her mug from her desk. 'I'm never ever going to tell him that.'
Castle followed her to the break room "Kate, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."
"You didn't? Well fine by me just leave me alone." Beckett said harshly.
"If I didn't know you better Kate, I'd say you sound disappointed. Are you disappointed?" Castle smirked as he made himself and Kate a coffee.
"And why does that matter? You're never going to get the chance to act on it." Kate smiled as she took a sip of coffee.
Castle didn't respond, he took a step towards Kate pinning her between the counter and himself taking their mugs and sitting them down "See Kate you never know whats going to happen, you could stop me right now if you wanted to but I'm gunna bet I can do this" Castle paused closing the distance between his and Kate's lips, allowing them to meet softly before pulling back "And like I thought, you didn't even attempt to push me away. Can I do it again?"
Kate took the initiative this time leaning forward brushing her lips against Ricks harder than he had, within moments her arms found their way around his neck. Suddenly there was a forced cough from the doorway followed by chuckling.
Kate and Rick sprung apart like teenagers that were caught making out by either of their parents. The heat in Kate's cheeks spread all over her face, as she dropped her vision to the ground. Rick slowly straightened his shirt and smiled at the guys standing in the doorway.
"So, now we know why it takes you two so long to get coffee." Esposito said crossing his arms over his chest.
Kate raised her eyes up to meet his.
"I... we... excuse me." Kate said shoving roughly passed both Esposito and Ryan and headed towards the ladies room.
"Kate..."Rick begun but the door to the bathroom already closed. "Guys really, Was that necessary?" He groaned.
"Hey man, sorry. If I were you I'd either follow her before she thinks this through too much or run for the hills when she comes out." Esposito said stepping out of the door way to let Rick walk passed easily.
"Castle, can you tell Beckett we're sorry. We'll cover for you guys if anyone asks."
Castle walked quickly towards the bathroom, glancing around making sure nobody was watching him except the boys before stepping into the ladies room knocking gently on the door "Kate" he said as he stepped through the door. He could hear the soft sounds of someone crying. He walked towards the only closed door in the room, knocking once again. "Kate, I'm so sorry." He started but was quickly cut off by Kate.
"Don't worry about it Castle, I'm fine. Just I can't believe I let that happen. I should be the one apologising anyway, not only to the guys for how I reacted, but also to you. I really did enjoy what we were doing, it just that..."
"You don't need to explain Kate, I mean I understand. Can you please come out so I can see you?" Castle said softly.
The door to the cubicle slowly opened with a squeak, Kate's eyes were slightly puffy and red, but she looked gorgeous in Castle's eyes. She walked towards one of the sinks to wash her face, hoping the cold water would help diminish some of the puffiness in her face. Rick watched her for a moment, before striding towards her and rubbing her back gently.
"Kate, I shouldn't have put you in that position." He noticed her head lift slightly and caught her eyes in the mirror. Her walls crumbled around her, eyes stinging from new tears beginning to form. "I'm not sorry we kissed but I should have waited till we were alone, and preferably not somewhere so public like your work place."
Kate reached for paper towel to dry her face, she felt Rick run his arms down her back and in front of her. His closeness made her heart skip a beat. She thought about taking a step away from hi, pulling away further, but she didn't want to be out of his arms.
"Rick... What are we?" She said spinning in his arms to face him, nervously looking into his deep blue eyes.
"Well that depends." Rick smirked at her.
"Depends on what?" Kate questioned
"On what you want us to be, I'd like it to mean that we're trying this... Us." Rick began rubbing his hands over her back again.
"I would too." She said softly.
Rick smiled at her, and leaned down slowly meeting her lips once more. She moaned softly and pulled him closer to her. They broke apart after a few minutes. Rick noticed tears slowly rolling down her cheeks.
"What's with these tears gorgeous girl?" Rick asked carefully cupping her cheeks in his hands
"I just" she took a deep breath before exhaling shakily "I love you." Kate said a shy blush forming on her cheeks.
His lips met hers softly for a second or two, before saying "I love you too."
Ryan and Esposito couldn't hear anything breaking, or any screams and most importantly no gunshots from inside the toilet. They had finally just rested their backs against the wall beside the door, jumping when they heard the door open and Kate and Castle stepping out smiling.
"Beckett we're..." Ryan started until Kate raised her hand placing it on his shoulder.
"Don't worry about it Ryan" she placed her other hand on Esposito's shoulder. "You guys did nothing wrong. You guys are like my brothers; no you guys are my brother. I love you guys." The two men's mouths dropped open; it was the first time Kate had ever admitted such a thing to either of them. They closed their mouths and looked at castle who smiled.
"Kate thanks." Ryan said.
"Yeah thanks" Esposito said.
"Ok guys, come on back to work." Kate smiled at their dumbfounded looks.
The three detectives and the writer returned to work when Kate heard her phone chirp registering a text. She opened the text taking a deep breath 'Girl, what did you do to Javi and Kev, their acting like someone just gave them a pay rise. Come down and see me when you get a chance.' Kate smiled, shaking her head. Rick noticed this and reached for the phone. Kate handed it to him. Rick smiled handing it back "You've really made those two so happy. You know that they'll never forget this Kate."
"I should have told them sooner. They've always been there no matter what I did; ready to beat the living daylights out of anyone who did or said anything to me that caused me pain." Kate smiled placing her hand on his. "And you, I should have told you I loved you sooner as well. I'm done hiding behind my fears. If we're going to do this don't let me hide behind my fears, but we can't be to open about us at work."
"Sure thing Kate, you should probably go see Lanie before she comes up here on a rampage for information. I'll go grab us some food, Chinese or Remy's?" Rick smiled rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.
"Remy's sounds great." Kate stood and let him kiss her cheek "I'll be back up probably in 20 minutes. If not text me when you get back."
Rick watched her walk towards the elevator, he smiled.
The elevator reached the floor of the morgue with a ding. Kate took a deep breath before stepping off, knowing this was going to be a difficult conversation, and probably loud conversation. She pushed through the morgues door, seeing Lanie leaning against her desk finishing her notes.
"Hey girl" Lanie said without looking up.
"Hey Lanie" Kate sat on the empty slab, swinging her legs back and forth.
"So what exactly happened up there that made Javi and Kev like they did?" Lanie asked joining her friend on the slab.
"I'm guessing you want the whole story not just what caused their reactions." Kate watched as Lanie nodded her head "Ok, Castle was staring at me again, and it pissed me off so I snapped at him and then walked off to get coffee. He followed, pinning me between him and the counter and kissed me." She stopped again when she heard Lanie's breath catch in her throat.
"You and Writer-boy finally kissed. About damn time girl! Anyway how was it?" Lanie asked smirking
"It was good; I mean once he pulled back he said he wanted to do it again. That's when I leaned forward and kissed him." Lanie shrieked. "God, Lanie. I haven't even gotten to the worst and the best bits of this story."
"What do you mean worst and best bits?" Lanie said sounding slightly confused.
"Well the guys caught us, I walked off. Upset that I had allowed this to happen. Don't worry too much though, that's the worst bit. The best bit will make up for that." Kate took a deep breath watching Lanie motion for her to continue "OK well I walked into the ladies room, Rick follo"
Lanie cut her off "Its Rick now?"
Kate sighed "Lanie are you going to let me finish I'm getting closer to the best bit." She saw Lanie nod "OK, he followed. We talked a bit through the cubical door. I was crying. He was so worried. He asked me to come out so he could see me, and we kissed again, I also told him I loved him, which led to another kiss, and him saying it back."
"You told him that you loved him?" Lanie asked dumbfounded.
"Yes, I did." Kate smiled.
Lanie jumped off the slab and pulled Kate off with her pulling her into a hug.
"Girl, finally!" Lanie held her tighter "But that doesn't explain the guys."
Kate pulled out of the hug. "Well I reacted badly to the guys catching Rick and I so I barged through them, once me and Rick stepped out of the ladies room, they tried to apologise, and I stopped them. I apologised to them, and told them they were like my brothers, but corrected that saying they were my brothers and also added that I loved them."
Lanie shrieked louder than the first time "Honey... Wow, I..." Lanie took a deep breath clearing her head and started again "No wonder the guys looked like they won the lottery, you made them so happy. But wow, once you tell one man you love him, it opens the flood gates to the other important people in your life." Lanie smirked at Kate again.
"Yeah I guess Rick kind of broke through all of my defences." Kate laughed. "Now there's only four other people I need to talk to."
"What do you mean girl." Lanie questioned.
"Well I of course need to speak to Lex and Martha. But I also should probably talk to the captain and thank him for everything he has done." Kate said in a matter of fact tone.
"That's only three." Lanie commented.
"Oh yeah, well I better tell the fourth how much of an impact on my life they've had, how much I love them. And how important their friendship and how I consider them my best friend maybe even the sister I never had." Kate watched Lanie's face go from a blank gaze to a smile to shock. "I love you Lanie more than I've ever told you or ever shown. You are my sister; you've always had my back, even if you kicked my arse about this Rick thing. You are irreplaceable."
Lanie took a step back, leaning against the empty slab again, and tears forming in her eyes. "Wow Kate, you really know how to make someone feel great about themselves I now see how the guys felt." Lanie took a breath and continued "I love you too girl but you already knew that."
Kate pulled Lanie into a hug. "Thank you for everything. I'll owe you forever."
"Don't worry about it girl. I'm just glad you've finally acted on your feelings for Castle... sorry Rick. Where is he anyway?"
"He went to get lunch; I should get going he'll be back soon. I promise not to wait so long to tell you or the guys how much you mean to me. Hopefully one day it won't come as such a shock." Kate smiled as Lanie laughed.
"OK, go have lunch. If you see Javi can you send him down here?" Lanie smirked
"Sure thing Lane." Kate walked out of the morgue.
"Well about damn time girl" Lanie said to herself.
Rick had grabbed the burgers and shakes, and had just sat back at Kate's desk when he felt a hand touch his shoulder. "Hey Castle, you got a moment" Esposito asked.
"Yeah sure, what do you need?" Rick asked
"Not here, break room." Ryan commented as he walked away.
Rick stood, slightly confused but followed anyway. Stepping through the break room door
"So, we just wanted to let you know that if you hurt our sister, in anyway, Lanie, Ryan and I will kill your arse faster than you could say "Nikki Heat'." Esposito said stepping closer to Castle.
"And if they ever found the body, Lanie will swear black and blue that it was a natural death. So are we clear." Ryan added.
"Sheesh, guys I'm not going to hurt her. I've waited so long for her; I'm not going to do anything to hurt her. I promise." Rick said seriously.
"Good." Ryan said. "Well get back out there before she gets back to her desk"
"And this conversation doesn't leave this room." Esposito said stepping away from Rick.
Rick got back to Kate's desk shaking his head as she stepped off the elevator a smile forming on her face when she saw him.
"Hey, I got you a hamburger with the lot, light on the onions; I also got a medium fries to share and two double chocolate surprise thick shake." Rick said as Kate took her seat.
"What is a double chocolate surprise thick shake?" Kate questioned taking the drink looking at it suspiciously.
"Taste it before you judge it. I promise you it's great." Rick smiled grabbing the burger bag and his drink and headed towards the break room once again.
Kate took a small sip, noticing a fruity flavour with the ever present chocolate. "Mmm, wow."
"Rick what is in this? It's awesome." Kate said sitting across from him.
"It's got a scoop of cherry ice-cream in it." Rick smiled.
"Cherry ice-cream, really? Wow. I love it." Kate smiled at him.
"Well good. I hoped you would. I saw the cherry ice-cream, when I ordered and thought; well you like to smell like cherries so why wouldn't you like cherry ice-cream." Rick handed her a burger and opened the fries.
They ate lunch quietly, just enjoying spending time together. Their hands met when they reached for fries. Both smiling every time they bumped hands. Esposito walked in to grab a coffee, glancing quickly at the new couple.
"Oh..." Kate begun with her mouthful, she swallowed quickly "Hey Javi. Lanie wanted you down at the morgue. She should still be there."
"Thanks Beckett." Esposito left his mug and headed towards the door.
"Javi, when I call you Javi, you can call me Kate. When I call you Esposito call me Beckett. I'll tell Kev the same." Kate smiled.\
Javi took a glance over his shoulder and shrugged.
"Wow this is a different side of you Kate." Rick commented softly
"Yeah I know, I think I'm freaking them all out, but hey I'm happy, you have brought out the best in me. I guess." She reached for his hand.
"Glad to help." He brought her hand to his lips kissing it gently.
Kate left Rick to throw out their empty containers and wrappers as she went to talk to the captain.
She knocked on his office door and waited for him to signal her in "Hey cap' you got a moment?"
"Sure thing Beckett, come in." Montgomery said looking up from his paper work. "What can I do for you?"
"This isn't exactly work related, so you sure you got time?" Kate said softly avoiding eye contact. He nodded.
"I have the time, Beckett whats this about?" Montgomery folded his hands onto his desk
"Well, I need no want to thank you for everything you've done for me, from helping me get my footing when I first made detective and also pulling me back into line when I need it. I really do appreciate everything you've done." Kate sat forward in her seat
"Kate, is this your way of saying your quitting? If it is, I'm not going to accept your resignation. Not a chance." Montgomery said firmly.
"What, no. That's not what I was getting at Roy. I really am just thanking you and saying I appreciate everything you've done. I'm not quitting I love this job, this precinct." Kate smirked realising now just how her confession sounded.
"Well, I appreciate the thanks Kate, but seriously whats brought all this on?" Roy prompted.
"I guess you deserve to know, Rick and I have started dating. I guess his brought the best out in me, Don't worry you're not alone with the freaking out over my behaviour today, I've now succeeded in freaking out Esposito, Ryan and Lanie and I guess I can now add you to that list as well." Kate smiled, noticing Roy moving out of his seat and walking towards her.
"You haven't freaked me out, you've given me the chance to see the woman I knew you were, the darkness in your eyes has lifted, you've realised you have a family outside of just you and your dad." Roy sat on the front of his desk "You Kate Beckett, are important to all of us here don't you forget that." He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you Roy for everything, and I know and I'm finally acknowledging that fact. Well I've taken up enough of your time now. I better get back to work." Kate said heading back to her desk where Rick sat in his chair playing with his iPhone.
Sitting back at her desk opening the folder she abandoned earlier and reread the information presented. She felt that Rick was staring again.
"Rick, just because we are now us, doesn't make you staring less creepy you know that right?" She laughed.
"But I'm looking at you in a different light now, your better than you were before. More open to everything and your eyes look happier." Rick smiled sitting back in his chair dragging his eyes from her.
"Thanks Rick. If you behave we'll leave here early, pick Lex up and have a movie night or something. How does that sound?" Kate shifted her focus back to her paper work
"That sounds great. But what exactly is involved in being good?" Rick asked excitedly.
"For one no staring for more than a minute and you stay in that seat quietly and don't try to invade my personal space for the next 10 minutes. Fair?" Kate gestured his hand sitting on her knee.
He pulled it away, smirked and nodded. He started playing with his phone again thankfully allowing Kate to finish her paper work.
Paperwork finished and filed and also happy that Rick could listen to directions. She stood up and grabbed her coat and bag from her desk. She placed her hand on Ricks shoulder "You coming, writer boy?"
"Yep" Rick replied standing.
"Night boys, head home soon." Kate called to the boys.
"Night guys" Both Esposito and Ryan replied, looking up to watch the couple walk away.
"You think this happy Becketts gunna last?" Ryan asked.
"You never know, but if it doesn't we'll still have fun using this day against her." Esposito smiled evilly.
Kate and Rick sat in his car outside of Lex's school waiting for her to come out; she had told the captain she was taking the rest of the day off at 3. They were holding hands when Lex opened the car door.
"Hey dad, hey Kate How's it going?" Lex asked sliding into the back seat, noticing the adults hands joined together. "What's this about?" she gestured to their hands.
"Well pumpkin, we noticed earlier today what was standing right in front of us. So we're giving this a chance." Rick said smiling at Kate
Kate turned to face the back seat reaching for Lex's hand. "You ok with this Lex, I mean it's so new for us, but I wanted you to know right from the beginning."
"Kate, you're kidding right? I mean I noticed there was something between you and dad since the first time you came over to the house. I love dad and you make him happy." Lex thought about telling Kate how much she meant to her, but didn't think it was the time.
"Lex, thank you so much" Kate released the girl's hand turning back to the front of the car.
"So what do we want to do? Grab some snacks and stuff and have a movie night" Rick asked looking from his daughter to his girlfriend.
They both nodded their heads. Rick smiled to himself thinking he could get used to this.
Six months later.
"Hey Kate" Lex yelled from up stairs
"Yeah Lex" Kate yelled back.
"Can you come up here? I need your help." Lex yelled again.
Kate looked at Rick, shrugged and leaned over and kissed him. "I love you."
"Love you too, gorgeous." Rick said as she headed up stairs.
Kate knocked on Lex's open bedroom door.
"So whats so important I had to come up here for?" Kate said faking an annoyed tone.
Lex laughed softly "Well, I have a date with Ashley tonight and need your help picking what to wear. I've been staring at all of this" She gestured to everything on her bed "for the last 15 minutes and have come to the conclusion I have nothing to wear."
Kate smiled, stifling a laugh that threatened to escape. "You have got to be kidding me. I can see about 8 different outfits, that I'm sure you would look fantastic in. But I think you need to choose this for yourself."
"Kaaaattte" Lex groaned, looking just like her father "Come on help please. I'll do anything if you'd just point out these 8 so called outfits. Please." Lex looked at Kate with her version of her father's puppy dog look.
"Ok ok, Lex geez you really are his daughter. Fine I'll put the eight outfits together but that's all I'm doing." Kate said placing different items together.
5 minutes later Kate had the 8 outfits she promised put together, there was 6 different outfits consisting of jeans and a cute top, one that was a skirt and top, and the last one was a dress with a pale purple cardigan.
"Wow. Kate how did you do that?" Lex looked at her stunned.
"Practise grasshopper, it takes heaps of practice." Kate smiled bumping her hip against the younger woman.
"You've been hanging around Dad to long. 'Grasshopper' Seriously?" Lex laughed.
"Ok now that I've helped. I'm going to get back down stairs, and consider what I can get you to do for me, since you did say you would do anything." Kate smirked again kissing the girls forehead, before walking out of the room laughing.
Rick looked up to watch Kate walk down the stairs laughing.
"What's so funny?" Rick asked curiously.
"Oh nothing just an inside joke" Kate smiled sitting beside him again, curling her legs up underneath her. "And she's so much like you. Except her Puppy dog eyes are way more effective."
"She used them against you too huh? What did she want now?" Rick said kissing her cheek.
"She didn't think she had anything to wear, I could see 8 clearly Alexis date appropriate outfits, and she wanted me to put them together for her." Kate said leaning her head against his chest. "She such a great kid, you've done yourself proud with that one."
"You sound surprised." Rick commented
"It's not a bad kind of surprised though, it just makes me think to the future." Kate said softly.
"Is it our future together?" Rick asked sitting up a little moving Kate's head off his chest. She stretched her legs out and slid further along the couch, resting her head on the pillow he placed on his lap looking up at him.
"Yeah our future together" Kate reached a hand up to touch his cheek.
He reached a hand down and stroked it through her hair.
"Do you... How..." Rick stammered.
"What Rick?" Kate asked noticing the fear in his eyes.
"Do you want kids, one day, with me?" Rick asked.
She paused; she bit her lower lip slightly, dragging out his pain.
"Kate?"
"Yeah I do want kids." Kate smiled up at him. His face brightened and he leaned down capturing her in a passionate kiss.
"Awesome." Rick smiled "Hey does this mean the next time you're talking to Madison; you have to tell her she was right?"
"What do you mean?" Kate questioned.
"Well she did say you wanted to have little castle babies during your interview with her." Rick smirked, earning him a slap.
"I guess it does." Kate grabbed his shirt pulling him down to her so she could kiss him.
They kissed for a few moments until they heard Lex clear her throat on the stairs.
"Hey guy, I'm headed out." Lex said slowly walking towards the couch.
"Wow Lex, you look great." Rick smiled at her.
"Thanks dad, but I can't take credit for it, this was Kate's Idea. I noticed this was the outfit you held onto longer than the others, so I considered you liked this one the most." Lex said beaming at Kate.
"Yeah Lex, you look absolutely gorgeous. Ash won't be able to keep his hands to himself." Kate laughed as she looked from Lex's shocked face to Rick's.
"KATE" Both father and daughter said together.
"What did I do?" Kate smiled innocently.
"Ok well I'm going before someone says anything else that's embarrassing. Night Dad" She kissed his cheek "Night Kate" kissing her cheek and whispering in her ear "Can I talk to you later tonight?"
Kate nodded saying "Have fun."
"Not too much fun kid. Love you. Call if you're going to be late." Rick said sweetly.
They both watched as Lex walked out the front door.
"Are you trying to corrupt my darling daughter Katherine?" Rick asked prodding her side.
"No, I think you've tried that enough for the both of us Richard, what I said was the truth." She noticed his face twist in worry and panic "And honey that's a good thing, she's not going to make a silly mistake. Shes in love but shes not ready to take that step. Trust me with this one ok." Kate smiled sweetly up at him.
"How did I get so lucky to not only have one of the most gorgeous and mature teenage daughters out there and the most beautiful, considerate and loving girlfriends in my life at the one time?" Rick asked his tone soft. "I really do love you more and more every moment of every day. And I love that you love Lex so much as to give her your honest opinion and advice on guys. Thank you."
"I love you too. Rick I wouldn't no couldn't love Lex more if she was my daughter, she's so important to me that I won't allow her to get hurt in anyway. Anyhow, why don't we talk about something else before I get any mushier?" Kate sighed as Rick began running his hands through her hair.
"Sure thing sweets, how about we watch another movie?" Rick said.
A few movies later, the front door to the loft slowly opened waking Kate from her slight doze. Rick yawned and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Kate signalled to stay quiet so they could hear the soft conversation the teens were having.
"That was a great evening; I can't believe you ate all that ice-cream that fast without even the slightest hint of an ice-cream head ache." Ash laughed
"Hey, I didn't eat all that ice-cream I remember I had help, but anyway tonight was great. I love you Ash." Lex's voice was hinting that she was smiling.
"Love you too Lex. Maybe we could go out again tomorrow, or you could come by my place we can do that English assignment." Ash said before the conversation dropped away.
Rick looked towards the door, and quickly looked away. Kate looked up at him confused. To answer her he kissed his hand dramatically, causing Kate to smile and roll her eyes.
"That's cool, I'll text you later once I run it passed Dad and Kate, they might have plans for tomorrow night. I love you Ash."
"Love you, Lex. Sleep well beautiful" Ask replied followed by the sound of the door closing.
Kate smiled at Rick, as he looked down at her again mouthing the word 'Wow'.
Lex walked into the lounge, noticing the TV was still on. She turned the corner and smiled when she saw her dad and Kate smiling at her.
"Good night Lex?" Kate smiled sitting up from her comfortable position on the couch.
"Yeah it was great." Lex sat down on the chair to the right of the couch bringing her legs up to her chest.
"What was this we heard about the ice-cream?" Rick asked sounding slightly jealous.
"We ordered almost all the ice-cream flavours available at the parlour. I got through most of it in 10 minutes, before the nauseous feeling hit." Lex smiled as she told them.
"Ok, well I think it's time for bed." Rick said slowly standing up from the couch.
"Kate, do you mind if I talk to you for a few moments before heading to bed?" Lex asked looking at her knees.
Kate glanced quickly at Rick, smiled and offered her hand to him.
"I'll be there soon Hun." Kate said.
"OK" Rick said leaning over to kiss her forehead. He walked over to Lex "Night pumpkin." He placed a kiss on her forehead before walking off to his room.
"Night dad, see you in the morning." Alexis smile widened.
The women waited for the bedroom door to close before the conversation begun, Lex moved from the chair and sat where her father had just moved from.
"OK Lex, whats up?" Kate said crossing her legs underneath her.
"I don't... I can't... I... Wow this is harder than I thought." Lex sighed. Kate reached a hand out and placed it on Lex's leg "Whenever you're ready sweetheart."
Lex closed her eyes, and took a deep breath "I've been thinking a lot about this, and I think that it might happen soon."
"As in sex?" Kate said softly.
Lex nodded her head. Kate inhaled deeply 'wow, Lex is ready for that step, and shes discussing it with me.'
"Kate" Lex said faintly "I'm scared, I'm ready for this well at least I think I'm ready."
"Have you and Ash talked about this?" Kate prompted.
"Yeah, we've been together for over a year now, his never pressured me. I was actually the one that brought it up." Lex replied never meeting Kate's eyes.
"Lex, you don't have to be nervous or embarrassed talking to me about this stuff, I've been in your shoes, except I was talking to my mum, you're lucky because not only are you going to get the parental side of the discussion but you can also have the friends side of this discussion if you want." Kate smiled sliding closer to Alexis.
"Thanks Kate, I'm sorry for interrupting your movie night, and now making you stay up later. But do you mind if we talk more tomorrow, I need some time to think about stuff." Lex said cautiously.
"Come here" Kate opened her arms for the younger woman "Never ever think you need to apologise for needing girl talk. I'm here whenever you need me to be, no matter whats going on. And yeah sleeping on it would be good. Also, I don't mind talking about anything. I love you Lex." Kate squeezed her tightly.
"Thanks Kate, I love you too. Can you not tell dad about this just yet, I want to have this talk with him myself." Lex said curling her face into Kate's shoulder.
"Sure thing sweetie, go to bed we'll talk more tomorrow." Kate said pulling herself and Lex up from the couch.
As she watched Lex walk up the stairs to her room, she shook her head. 'Wow that girl never ceases to amaze me' Kate walked to the kitchen a grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge before heading towards their bedroom. She slowly opened the door, to see Rick sitting up with his laptop on his lap and head phones in his ears, watching another random video off the internet. She smirked as he noticed her watching him.
"That really is creepy isn't it?" He asked removing the headphones and laptop from the bed.
"Yeah, but you get used to it after a while." Kate slowly made her way over to her side of the bed, handing him a bottle of water, placing her own on her bedside table before moving to the bathroom to change into her sleep shirt.
When she came back wearing nothing but the loose fitting shirt and her underwear, he lifted the blankets from her side of the bed and patted the mattress.
"So did you and Lex have a good talk?" Rick prodded.
"Yeah we did, but you're not going to know about it until she mentions it to you herself. I promised I wouldn't Rick. She trusts m, plus I'm pretty sure she'll tell you sooner rather than later." Kate slid under the sheets and moved closer to him.
"I love that you and Lex are getting closer that's so important to me." Rick smiled as he place a soft kiss on Kate's exposed shoulder. Snuggling closer after he turned off the la
When Kate woke the next morning, Rick wasn't beside her; she slowly climbed out of bed and walked into the bathroom. She came out 15 minutes later, dressed in her work clothes and hair tied back for the day ahead. She walked towards the door pulling it open slowly to see where Rick and Lex were. She saw them both sitting at the kitchen bar, eating fruit and pancakes. She smiled as she saw them lean their shoulders together. Rick turned to the bedroom door and his smile widened.
"Kate, you're up. I'll get you some coffee and make you a pancake if you've got time." Rick said walking towards her.
"Morning Rick" Kate walked quickly towards him meeting his embrace and gently kissing him for a moment before pulling away and walking over to Lex. "Morning Lex." She placed an arm over the girl's shoulders.
"Morning Kate, well I better be off, I'm meeting up with Ash before school." Lex said kissing Kate's then her dad's cheek.
"So choc-chip pancakes sound good?" Rick asked passing her a cup of coffee.
"Sure thing" Kate said taking Lex's place at the bar.
"Ok give me about 8 minutes and you'll have your pancakes." Rick smiled as he turned back to the pancake mix. He has been planning this moment for a while, and he had finally thought of a cute way to ask.
He poured a large amount of pancake mix into the pan, and spread it around the base until it was about the size of a bread plate. He slowly started to spell out his message in choc-chips when Kate asked "How many choc-chips are you putting in these pancakes?"
"Don't you worry that pretty little head of yours Kate; you'll burn the sugar and calories off at work." Rick smirked as he continued quickly.
He waited as it cooked on one side and then he had to flip it. He watched anxiously as it cooked, hoping that this worked or he'd have to accidentally drop this one. He turned to Kate and leaned over towards her kissing her cheek gently as she read through the paper slowly.
Rick carefully lifted the pancake out of the pan and flipped it onto a plate; his message was still perfectly clear, as he lowered one hand to his jeans pocket and felt the jewellery box within it. He smiled as he placed the plate in front of Kate. She looked at him saying thanks, before finally looking at the pancake, where she saw his choc-chip message of 'Will you marry me?"
"Rick?" Kate questioned.
He walked silently around to her side of the kitchen bar and pulled the box from his pocket, kneeling down on one knee in the old cliché "Kate Beckett, I love you now, and will love you forever. I want our future to begin now. Will you marry me?" Rick smiled as he saw tears forming in her eyes.
She swallowed deeply, willing the tears not to fall. "Yes." Rick slid the ring onto her finger and kissed it once it was in place. "I love you Rick."
"I love you too Kate." He moved in closer wrapping his arms around her waist pulling her closer before kissing her passionately, eliciting a moan from deep within her. She pulled back slowly.
"Eat your breakfast, so we can head to work sweetie." Rick said stepping back into the kitchen to grab another cup of coffee.
She pulled out her phone and took a picture of her pancake proposal. Lanie would so want to see this. She smiled again looking down at her ring, it was an understated ring, the diamond and emeralds were more delicate, set on a simple silver band. She pulled it off her finger slowly not really wanting to remove it, but looked at the inside of it where she saw engraved "KB+RC Always." She felt the tears she had manage to stop slide down her cheeks. She slipped the ring back on. She ate her pancake smiling.
TBC-if you want it to be.