Title: Different Kind of Family

Summary: Castle and Beckett go on their date and work things out. Last chapter:)

Disclaimer: Chapter One

A/N: So so so so sorry… I thought I finished this one.. I really thought I was done with it until I went back and looked to see what I needed to update and I was like… it's not done? Okay here it is! Long chapter warning… well long for me but it's the last one of this story.

He looked at his daughter and smiled. "Let's make it a bet, say $100? I don't think that Kate cares what I think about what she wears."

Martha smiled at Alexis. "What are you going to do with your money kiddo?"

She laughed. "Well there are some new clothes I've been looking at."

He finished eating and then got up to put his dishes in the sink. "Okay now I think I could write some and all of this gave me an idea for the book."

Chapter Five: Our Own Firsts

Kate got dressed and then called Lanie as she paced. "Girl, I thought you were getting ready for your date."

"I'm dressed Lanie, I'm just nervous. What if he's so used to how I look at work that he sees me like this and well, I don't know what I'm trying to say?"

"He will love the way you look laid back and in date mode, just keep in mind that tonight you are with Rick, not your partner."

"Oh Lanie, what if this doesn't work?"

"And how many years has it been working?"

"But once sex enters in to it then that's it, and not that we're going to have sex tonight but once we do I mean. I don't know what I mean."

"Like once you have sex you'll always picture him naked?"

"You aren't helping Lanie. This isn't just about Beckett and Castle partners will they or won't they anymore okay? I've gotten to know Alexis and Martha, become like an honorary member of the family and I love them too Lanie. I would never hurt want to do anything to hurt them or him."

"Just do what you said you were going to do and have fun, then talk and be honest. He loves you Kate."

"Okay, I can do this." She almost drops the phone at the knock on the door. "He's here, I'll talk to you later." She hung up and then walked to the door.

Kate opened the door and there was Castle wearing her favorite shirt holding a bouquet of wildflowers. "Hey Kate, these are for you." He looked her up and down. "You look very beautiful."

"Thank you Rick, please come in and I'll put these in water. The flowers are beautiful, very thoughtful of you." She kissed him on the cheek before she walked away. He smiled and realized at that time he owed his daughter some money, Kate was wearing a green shirt which was V-neck, skinny jeans and flat sandals. She never wore flats but he loved the difference in their height when she wore flats or was bare footed.

He put his hand on the door knob. "Ready to go?"

"Yes, just let me grab my purse and a sweater for later."

They got outside and he reached for her hand. "I can get a cab but I thought we might walk since it's not far."

She smiled. "Walking is good, so did you pick a movie?"

"I thought we might go to the 10-plex, see what's playing and pick from there. We do like some of the same movies. I guess I should have checked in advance."

"No Rick this is fine, you're right we do like many of the same movies."

They walked up to the cinema and saw there wasn't much of a line so they started looking at the movies and suddenly she pulled on his arm. "See one you want to see Kate?"

"Rick, the original Star Wars." He saw something in her eyes, like the night they saw Forbidden Planet.

He smiled at her and kissed her on the head. "Star Wars it is then Kate, let's get in there and get our popcorn and drinks so we can get good seats."

They walked up to the ticket counter and the girl working there looked college age, a little older than Alexis. She looked up and Kate could tell she knew exactly who Rick was. "Oh gosh you're Richard Castle, I love your Nikki Heat books." She sees the look Kate is giving her of this is my man. "So what movie and how many?"

He smiled. "Thank you for reading the books, I always appreciate my fans. I'll take 2 for Star Wars."

The girl smiled. "Enjoy your movie Mr. Castle and, sorry ma'am I don't recognize you."

Before Kate could say anything Rick smiled. "Sorry this is my girlfriend Kate." The girl nodded and smiled.

When they got inside he looked at her and she smiled. "That was nothing, I just totally gave her the back off this is my man look. I mean face it babe she was flirting and we are on a date."

He laughed while they walked to the snack stand, the guy there looked up and just looked at them and then smiled. "Hey Richard Castle, cool I bet my girlfriend was flirting like crazy with you out there. She reads your Nikki Heat books and is always like I bet Nikki and Rook are really in love." He rolls his eyes. "Girls right?"

Rick reached back where Kate was and pulled her in beside him and put his arm around her then he smiled. "Sure girls." Then he pointed to the popcorn. "So sweetheart, what do you want?"

"Let's just get a big popcorn and a large soda to share, okay babe?"

Rick looked up and the guy pointed. "You're Beckett, now she's going to be rubbing my nose in it all night because it's like with you guys here together and really together it is like Nikki and Rook in love."

Kate leaned forward. "I wouldn't worry about it and she was so focused on Rick, she had no clue who I was." Rick paid for his purchases and when the guy smiled and asked for not only his but also Kate's autograph on a napkin, they obliged.

They went in to sit down Kate smiled and pulled him to seats in the back winking and suggesting that maybe they may not be paying attention to the entire movie. He laughed. "Kate Beckett, are you planning on misbehaving during the movie?"

She smiled and blushed. "I guess you'll have to find out Richard Castle." He had to admit that he was enjoying this more playful side to Kate and wouldn't mind seeing it more often.

After the movie at Remy's

Kate and Castle walked into Remy's, he was holding her hand and they were laughing when suddenly she heard someone say her name. She looked over and saw Lanie and Esposito at a table so they went over to say hi. Lanie smiled. "You two should join us, we haven't ordered yet since we just got here."

Kate looked at Castle and smiled. "We can eat with them and then talk at my place after?"

"Sure that's fine if you want to."

So Lanie got up and moved over by Esposito so they could sit together, she got the hostess to bring more place settings and menus for them and they ordered drinks. Kate smiled. "I'll just have water because I'm getting a shake."

While the guys were talking about a new video game coming out Lanie took the opportunity to ask Kate about the movie. Kate moved her hand into Castle's lap which he immediately wrapped his hand around her hand without looking up or breaking his conversation at all. Lanie smiled at Kate. "So what did you go see?"

"We saw the original Star Wars?"

"Haven't you each seen that movie like a million times?"

Kate smiled. "Yes but if you've seen the movie that means you don't have to sit in the front and pay attention to ever detail."

Lanie laughed. "Kate Beckett, you did not sit in the back row and neck during Star Wars."

Kate smiled and shrugged. "And maybe I did. The girl at the ticket booth started flirting with Castle the minute we walked up there and she looked at me like oh I don't know you. I felt like saying, oh please open a Cosmo and maybe you can put on some make-up sweet cheeks."

Lanie laughed out loud. "Are you telling me you got jealous?"

"Me jealous?" She laughed. "Oh hell no, I totally gave her the back off glare and she did in about a second. He told her I was his girlfriend."

About that time the guys stopped talking and Castle looked over. "Kate?"

"Yes babe?"

"I just got a call me text from Alexis so I need to step out and call her, order for me?"

"Sure, everything okay I mean we can leave if we need to."

"No I'm sure everything is fine she probably just wants to know what you're wearing and if she should plan to shop."

"What is what I'm wearing have anything to do with her shopping?"

He smiled. "I'll explain later." He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "Want to walk with me Esposito?"

He laughed. "Sure bro, we need to make plans about going to pick up that game gear anyway."

When the guys were gone Lanie looked over at her and smiled. "You just called him babe again and he never flinched."

She smiled and nodded. "I've been doing it a lot just to see if he would mention it, he never does like it's normal for me to call him that. It's like he expects me to use that endearment, I asked Alexis and she said no one has ever called him that and she said she would know."

"So you made that up about making out at the movie to see if he was paying attention to us talking just now, right?"

"No, we sat in the back row and ate popcorn plus shared a large soda. Then when we were done he took our trash out when he went to the restroom. When he came back he put his arm around me and pulled me close, I felt like he was holding off just because we haven't talked everything out yet. So I kissed him, I just pulled his face down and planted a big one on his lips. It just kind of spiraled from there and before I knew it we were making out like teenagers, it was pretty hot."

The server came over and smiled. "So did you lose your guys ladies?"

Kate smiled. "No we're going to order for them, Castle had to check in at home with his mommy."

This server had waited on them many times and laughed. "If I pick on him about that what's he going to say?"

Kate laughed when Lanie looked at her. "Okay it's his daughter he needed to check in with but I have to pick on him."

The girl laughed with them. "You guys are so sickening sweet at times, I'm surprised you aren't married yet."

Suddenly Kate's head jerked up. "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing just that you guys have been together for so long it's surprising you haven't gotten married yet."

"Taylor this is our first date."

"Oh wow, no one would have guessed that one. So what can I get you ladies and your guys?" They ordered and handed her the menus."

Kate looked over at Lanie. "Does everyone think that?"

"Seriously Kate? Open your eyes sweetie, yes even his daughter wouldn't be shocked if you guys ran off on Friday and came back on Sunday married. She would be pissed for about an hour but she wouldn't be shocked."

"I guess we better have that long serious talk tonight then."

"Question is how do you feel about him Kate, I mean how do you really feel about Castle?"

Lanie saw him behind Kate but she hadn't seen him yet. "I love him Lanie, but he knows that, I told him last night."

"You told Richard Castle last night that you love him?"

"Yes we were on the phone getting ready to say goodnight and I told him I love him."

"But did you say you were in love with him?"

Kate's eyes got wide and she looked at her friend. "I mean we got ready to hang up and I said I love you and he said I love you too, like that. Do you think maybe he thought I meant like a friend loves another friend?"

Lanie shook her head. "Looks like both of you better be talking and the first thing you need to discuss is what you mean by love." Then Lanie looked up. "Oh look who decided to come back and join us."

The guys sat down and Castle immediately went back to holding Kate's hand, she smiled but not like before. "So everything okay with Alexis?"

"It is now, we'll talk about it later if you don't mind."

Esposito looked across to Castle. "So how is her arm doing?"

"She's not in as much pain anymore and thanks to the software that Kate got for her she is keeping up on her assignments and her writing projects. We have to move our trip to the Hamptons back a couple of weeks because of her cast but that's just some rescheduling really no big deal."

Kate looked over at him. "I didn't know all of you were going to the Hamptons."

He shrugged. "I wasn't but now I am, I was going to talk to you about it later actually."

Lanie looked over at Castle when she noticed that Kate looked a bit uncomfortable. "So you boys get all of your talk about games and game gear straight?"

Castle smiled. "Oh sure we just have to talk to Ryan about it and make sure he doesn't have any of it yet." Their food came and they ate, Esposito argued when Castle tried to pay for all food but he let Esposito leave the tip and they walked out with the guys in front talking about their video games and Lanie reminding Kate behind them about everything she needed to discuss with Castle.

Kate's apartment

They walked into Kate's apartment and she smiled. "So have a seat and I'll make us some coffee so we can talk."

She kicked off her shoes and then carried the coffee into the living room and joined him on the couch. He took a drink of his coffee and then put it down. "Look Kate, things were different tonight when we first went out but when I came back from calling Alexis you changed. It's like you were guarded and I hate it when things are like that with us so I'm going to say this and you can get mad at me or whatever. I love you and not like a friend but you know that because you heard me say it when you got shot, when I asked you if you remembered anything from the shooting you didn't look at me when you answered. That's why I wasn't available when Alexis fell, I was upset and I went to the bar so I could just be left alone to think. I just couldn't understand why you would continue to lie to me about not remembering, then I figured you did it to spare my feelings because you didn't want to tell me you didn't love me back. Then all of this happened and we got closer, basically Kate I'm confused."

She wiped the tears off of her face and put her coffee on the table. "I lied only because I was so scared and not just of one thing but so many things. I mean Rick you have come to be one of my best friends, my partner and yes I do love you but not only that but I'm in love with you as well. I lied because what if we mess this up? I can't lose you forever, as much as I wanted you out of my life years ago that is how much I need you in my life now. But then I decided to take a chance a try us after what happened to Alexis because family really is important and I feel like over the years your family has become mine. We should have talked this out before we started going out, I mean really when I said I love you on the phone I think I meant it in a different way than you did."

"How did you mean it?"

She took his hand and held it tight. "I meant just that, I love you as in you are my one and done."

He nodded. "I love you too then, I'm in love with you Kate." He moved closer. "So about the Hamptons it was supposed to be mother and Alexis but now it's a family trip and apparently it's supposed to be all of us and yes I'm expected to ask you. Well mother said it was a family trip that she expected the two of us would be joining them. They were going next weekend but we're going in three weekend instead, so it's Friday through Monday."

She nodded. "I'll tell Gates I'm going somewhere and I need to use vacation days, she'll be glad to get rid of me for a few days." She stood up and picked up their cups and headed to the kitchen. On her way back through she looked at him. "Have we covered it all or is there anything else we need to discuss?"

"I think we covered it all, where are you going?"

"Did you come prepared to spend the night here?"

"No, why?"

"Well then I guess I need to pack and go home with you then if we are sleeping together tonight." She stopped halfway to her bedroom and turned around just to mess with him and asked. "You do want to sleep with me, right?"

He smiled because he had an idea of what she was doing. "Kate I believe we've already had that discussion. I believe that was after our first case, it hasn't changed the only thing different is the reason."

"Good because I still believe you have no idea."

He got up and approached her. "I'm going to have fun finding out, you know you could pack for a couple of nights."

She smiled. "Okay but then we come back here for a night so we don't have to be as quiet as we have to be at your place. Plus here we can have sex anywhere without anyone walking in on us, we can pretty much walk around naked."

He went back to the couch. "Just get packed.

The loft

Castle walked into the loft and heard female laughter, he turned around. "Oh good they're still up and we waited so late." He took her bag and walked to his office door. "I'll just put this inside the office door for now."

Kate smiled. "Thanks babe."

Alexis looked at Kate and smiled. "So Kate you look very nice, is that what you wore on the date with dad?"

"Thank you Alexis, yes it is."

Alexis walked over to her dad and put her hand out. "I'll take my money now, you should know better than to bet with one woman about another one."

He pulled his wallet out and handed her the money and smiled. "You are a teenager not a woman but you would think I would learn by now."

Kate looked at Martha. "What just happened here?"

"Alexis told him you would wear a brown or green shirt with a V-neck or low cut, skinny jeans and low heeled shoes. Pretty much fact on wouldn't you say?" Kate nodded as her face turned red.

She looked at Alexis. "How did you know?"

"Green or brown are his favorite colors on you, he loves you in skinny jeans and you hugged him once while you were in bare feet and he loved the height distance. He told Lanie all of this, didn't she tell you?"

Kate smiled. "Well yes but I didn't think she would tell you."

"Why do you think I was so confident in making the bet?"

Kate laughed. "Who do you think went shopping with me to pick out my outfit?"

Castle looked at his mom. "I feel like I have been had by Lanie but that's okay because I have been out on the best date ever."

Alexis smiled and sat down at the table beside Kate. "So what movie did you see?"

"We saw the original Star Wars."

She looked at both of them and at her grandmother and then made a face and got up before she started easing out of the room. "Ewww both of you have seen that movie a million times, the only reason to go to a movie like that is to sit in the back and make out. I'm going to bed now because I've had my fill of gross. As much as I really want you guys together, I don't want to actually know you're going to a movie to make out because that's something my friends do not my parents. I'm going to get that image out of my brain now." She ran up the steps while the adults laughed.

Martha shook her head. "So really how was the movie?"

Kate smiled. "Well the few minutes we actually watched was as good as it always is."

He laughed. "Don't encourage her Kate." He started for the bedroom then stopped. "So mother I talked to Kate and we are going to the Hamptons in three weeks with you and Alexis."

"Wonderful so it will be a true family trip, well I'm off to bed." She kissed Kate on the head as she walked by. "So lovely that you're here Katherine but you should just move in, I mean you two can call this your first date or whatever but you've been in a relationship for years. You've had detours along the way but I knew when you showed up here that night I had goo on my face and they were playing laser tag that you were here to stay. So I mean really what's left to say besides you love each other?"

She looked up at Martha and smiled. "No we had that talk tonight before we came here, that we were in love with each other."

Martha started for the steps. "Well then there you go, there comes a time in your life when you have to stop finding a reason to make everything complicated and just go for how things are. When you love someone sometimes you need to dive in with both feet before you lose them suddenly, it can happen and we all know that."

Kate stood up and hugged Martha. "You're right Martha, goodnight." She started for the bedroom and looked at Castle. "Let's go to bed babe."

His mother was part of the way up the steps when he looked at Kate. "Are you tired?"

"Not really but if you work at it I might be."

He laughed. "Goodnight mother, sleep well." He followed Kate through the office picking up her bag on the way through and closing the doors just in case.

The End :) Because it has to end somewhere I felt I resolved it all!

Ended up not being as long as I thought it would be... but that's okay I said all I wanted to say and I have more stories in the works... thanks for reading.