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Title: Detectives and Dustbunnies
Author: Cindy Ryan
Notes and summary: See part one
Epilog
Detective Kate Beckett stepped through the doorway and into Rick Castle's apartment. She was the last to arrive having already gotten texts from Castle, Ryan and Esposito asking where she was.
She wore black slacks and a simple lightweight green sweater. Kate paused just inside the door and simply stared at what was around her. She'd known the party would be over the top….anything Castle was.
And it appeared Alexis had inherited that from her father.
Small search lights splashed across the door behind her as they swept back and forth. A red carpet straight out of a Hollywood premiere stretched in front of her around the kitchen and to the hallway beyond.
Mounds of food spread across the kitchen island. Movie posters dotted the walls. A stuffed four foot tall King Kong hung from the handle of the refrigerator. Music played and Kate recognized the Twilight soundtrack.
"Detective Beckett!"Alexis greeted as she followed the red carpet from the hall. "You made it."
"Of course she did."Rick interjected coming to stand behind his daughter. "I told you she'd said she was coming."
"This is amazing."Kate complimented as she turned taking in more of the room. "You did a great job, Alexis."
"I had lots of help."Alexis replied with a smile. "Raiders of the Lost Ark is currently playing in the media room. There's plenty of popcorn and food."
"Later there will be an intense game of charades."Castle added grinning.
Kate shook her head as she moved farther into the living room. "Charades?"
"Movie themed."Alexis stated. "That was the only way I'd include them in tonight's activities."
"You still chopped three of my movie requirements from the list."Castle admonished half heartedly as he wrapped his daughter in a quick hug.
"Only had so much time tonight, Dad."
Kate laughed softly as she watched the two. It was nice to see sparkle back in Alexis's eyes.
Ryan must've come through.
"Thank you for hosting this."Beckett commented as she walked over to the kitchen island.
Her stomach growled reminding her that she'd skipped lunch.
"Least I could do."The teen replied as she retrieved four bright colored large plastic bowls from the counter. "I'll be in the media room if you need anything."
"Have fun."Castle called after the disappearing red head as he leaned against the kitchen island.
"She seems happy."Kate commented as she piled mini hot dogs onto a plate followed by chips and dip.
Rick nodded. "She and Ryan cleared things up a few days ago."
"So he's off your most wanted list?"Kate asked with a grin as she spooned some fruit salad onto the plate.
Castle glared slightly as he picked up a sugar cookie shaped like a space ship.
"Because the NYPD needs all the good detectives it can get and I don't have time to train somebody new…."
"Funny."
Kate laughed as she took a can of diet soda from the small cooler on the floor. "You're just too easy, Castle."
"Seriously from what she told me."Castle began through a mouthful of cookie. "He handled it well."
"Told you."Kate stated as she opened the soda and moved back to the red carpet. "Seriously what are you going to do when she starts dating?"
"That's not going to happen till she's thirty."Castle replied as he joined her. "Shall we join the others?"
"Definitely."
On screen Harrison Ford was fighting off bad guys in a village with a whip.
However the real battle was shaping up in the media room itself.
Castle blinked, grinned and shook his head.
Ryan, Esposito and Montgomery had taken up defensive positions behind the small concessions stand.
The women lead by Alexis were hunkered down among the stadium seats. Everyone was armed with popcorn and prepared to throw.
"Did I miss the battle plans?"Rick asked as he looked from one side to the other and back again.
"There's serious money riding on this." Esposito explained his gaze never wavering from the 'enemy'.
"Who fired the first shot?"Kate asked her eyes glinting with amusement.
"It started with Kevin stating he could take out every bad guy with popcorn no matter how fast they were moving."Alexis reported as she scooped up another handful of popcorn.
"And it went from that to Gettysburg how?"Castle asked as he walked to the concessions stand and picked up one of the plastic bowls. He moved to the popcorn machine and filled it.
"Taking sides before knowing the battle, Castle?"Kate prompted.
"Just getting prepared to aide New York's finest."
"Javier here challenged Ryan that he couldn't."Montgomery chimed in.
"And I said that there's no way he has better aim than I do."Lanie commented with a grin as she chucked a fistful of popcorn at Ryan.
Instantly a free-for-all started and Kate thought it was snowing inside from all the popcorn flying.
She quickly set her plate and soda down by the left wall and grabbed a bowl full of ammunition. Kate joined the women and added her own popcorn into the volley.
Half hour later laughter mingled with curses as the battle ended as a draw. Kate sat on the floor by the popcorn machine next to Castle. She watched as Kevin brushed kernels of popcorn out of Alexis's hair earning a smile of thanks.
"I'm going to have to pay the cleaning service double."Rick stated with a wide smile as he munched on a handful of popcorn.
"I'll chip in."Kate offered as she looked at her smiling colleagues. "They needed that."
"Yes."Castle agreed as he slipped an arm around Kate's shoulders. "We all did."
Kate's gaze traveled back to the movie her right hand sneaking into Castle's bowl of popcorn. Her's having been a casualty of the battle
Their fingers brushed and she could almost feel the intensity of Castle's smile.
Could feel his breath as he leaned towards her.
"Don't even think of it, Castle."
"You think I would in front of witnesses?"
"Yes you would."Javier interjected from his spot to Castle's right.
"Quiet you two I'm trying to hear the movie."Kate ordered as she leaned back against the wall.
She noticed that Castle didn't move his arm from her shoulders and Kate decided that she didn't mind.
end