294. Chapter 294

After Home Is Where the Heart Stops

Episode 1.07

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: My heart would stop if I claimed to own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above

Kate Beckett finished telling Martha and Alexis all about her evening out with Castle.

"It sounds like you had a good time, dear." Martha said with a smile.

Kate shot a quick glance at Castle who was smirking at her. She knew he was dying to hear that she'd had a good time with him. On the other hand, after her description of the party, she could hardly deny it. She decided to say as little as possible. "Yes. I did." There. Accurate, but brief. She looked over at Castle who was now beaming.

"You should have seen Beckett in action at the party. She should be there anytime the NYPD needs someone to go undercover at a charity event for New York's one percent." Castle said, still smiling at her.

"And you looked wonderful, dear." Martha added. "Simply stunning."

"You really did, Detective Beckett." Alexis said.

Kate looked away, trying not to blush. "Thanks, but I'm a lot more comfortable with what I usually wear. And do."

"And she is very good at that, too." Castle was still grinning. "It was a good call having me stay in the car. Nadir might have gotten away if he hadn't been busy trying to kill me."

Martha looked over at Rick. "Richard! You told me that he hit you and that Detectives Beckett and Ryan and Esposito were on him like that. What do you mean he was trying to kill you?"

"Mother, I'm a writer. I occasionally, and only occasionally, exaggerate for dramatic effect. He swung on me and caught me on the side of my face. I mean, you can see. I've cut myself worse while shaving. It really was nothing."

Martha swung around to face Kate. "Is that true, Katherine?"

Kate could tell Martha was worried, and she could see Castle trying his best to look very unconcerned. "Martha, we were right there. Nadir never got in another punch. You can see Castle was only hit once."

"Well, I worry about him. I'm glad he's with you. I feel much better." Martha looked so relieved that Kate decided not to comment.

"I'm glad she's with me as well. I feel much better myself."

Kate managed to glare at Castle without either of the other women noticing.

Alexis put her hand of Kate's arm. "Thanks, Detective Beckett. I know my dad can be a handful at times. But after all the effort I've put into raising him, I wouldn't want to lose him."

"No, of course not." Now if I could just lose Castle. That reminded Kate of something. "Castle, I brought your dress back to you. I left it on the couch in the front room. Is that okay?"

"My dress? I don't recall owning or wearing a dress. Are you sure you're not mistaking me for someone else? Didn't you say something about Esposito? Or was it Ryan?" Castle tried to look thoughtful.

"You know what I mean. The dress you bought for me, Castle. I can't keep it."

"And why not?"

"Because I can't accept that kind of a gift from you."

"Again. Why not? It's not like I have any use for it. It's really not me."

Kate glared at Castle and then rolled her eyes. "You can return it and get your money back."

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Katherine." Martha interrupted. "The dress has been worn and it was altered for you. It can't be returned."

Kate frowned. "How did you get it altered for me?" She turned to Castle. "How did you get my measurements? Tell me."

"That was me, dear. I have a great deal of experience in the theater, and it was a snap to figure out what needed to be done. I know this darling seamstress, she has been working with me for forever, and she was able to alter the dress based on my description of you. I can give you her card if you ever need any work done."

Kate looked back at Castle. "You could give the dress to Alexis, couldn't you?"

"It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, Detective Beckett, but with my pale skin and this red hair, the dress wouldn't look good at all on me. Not at all like it looks on you." Alexis lowered her voice. "Besides, Dad thinks I should wear a hijab when I go out."

"You should wear two hijabs." Castle said sternly.

"Daddy!" Alexis gave a very good impersonation of the Beckett glare and eye roll.

"Could you use it, Martha?"

Martha shook her head. "With your figure, dear, men see that dress and want to less dress and more you. If I wore it, the men would want to see more dress and less me. I'm afraid it's just not me. But thank you for thinking of me."

"What about giving it to charity?"

"Why didn't I think of that? Just what some homeless woman needs, a dinner gown." Castle smirked again. Beckett was getting a little tired of that. "What people like that need is a good, warm winter coat."

"Dad knows, Detective Beckett." Alexis suddenly said. "He always helps out with the Winter Fund. They get that kind of clothing for people in need. And he doesn't just donate money, either."

"Yeah, Beckett. If you think I bug you, you should talk to some of the clothing manufacturers I deal with."

"So what am I supposed to do with that dress?" Kate asked, getting exasperated.

"You wear it." Castle said as if explaining things to a child. Kate really wanted to hit him, but hitting a man who got warm clothing for the homeless wasn't an option.

"And where would I wear it? To my next interrogation? On a stake out in Hell's Kitchen? Chasing down a suspect?"

"Just take it home and put it in your closet, Beckett. I'm sure you'll find an occasion to wear it."

"Yeah. That'll be the day." Kate muttered.

2015

Rick Castle put his arms around his wife's waist and hugged her. "See? I told you you'd find an occasion to wear the dress."

Kate undid the ties in back and slid the dress off. "And an occasion to not wear the dress." She said, teasing Rick.

"As I've always said, you do know how to make a statement with your clothing. You should start your own clothing line."

"The Nikki Heat collection?"

He nodded. "You could do worse."

"No thanks, Castle. Your wife is a cop and nothing else, I'm afraid."

"Oh, you are so much more than that, Detective Beckett. So much more."

"Right. Tonight I was the woman that cleared the way for Bob Weldon to run for the Senate seat vacated by our former Senator Bracken. Weldon could hardly stop thanking me."

"I made sure that he knew that when he moves into the White House that he'll need to reward his political friends with more than mere thanks."

Kate turned and stared at her husband. "Castle! You didn't! What were you thinking of? We live here in New York. And I'm still a cop."

"Well, we could use a change of scenery. How about one of those ambassadorships that go to the President's political friends? Katherine Beckett-Castle, Ambassador to, say, France. Or maybe a job in Justice? You could get back at the people who fired you. Have them sent to man Border Patrol stations in the New Mexico desert. Or some federal job here in New York?"

"Castle! I am going to call Mayor Weldon tomorrow and tell him that…"She saw her husband was laughing. "You didn't ask for anything, did you?"

"Of course I did. I told him I wanted him to invite us to one of those fancy White House dinners so that I could show off my beautiful wife. He agreed." Castle looked thoughtful. "You may need some more dresses, though."

"Luckily, I know a guy. A guy who'll buy me dresses."