Happy birthday, Beckett!

[thebestseller]

WHO: Castle thebestseller, Beckett themuse, and you!
WHAT: It's Beckett's birthday, so Castle feels like she needs a little fun and decides to throw a party for her. The fact that she doesn't know about it is just a bonus.
WHEN: Backdated slightly to November 17th
WHERE: The conference room at the precinct
WARNINGS: Everyone on the island is invited, so please, feel free to show up and mingle. There won't be any alcohol, as it's at the police station, unless someone brings it, but then you might get arrested for disorderly conduct, oh, my...

---

Keeping secrets was one of Castle's skills, he thought. And keeping them from Beckett was a nearly impossible task, so when he was able to actually do it, he felt quite proud of himself.

It was sheer luck that he managed to smuggle an entire party into the precinct under her nose, however- but then again, it wasn't much, because he knew she wouldn't want much, and the part where he was even throwing her a surprise party could be delicate to begin with. But there was cake- two cakes, in fact, a handsome red velvet and a chocolate cake Castle had baked himself- some sandwiches and other assorted snacks, and coffee, and hot chocolate, and balloons and presents.

It wasn't the grand party he felt like she deserved, but he hoped she would, at least, enjoy herself.

Now he had to hope people showed up.

Comments

BEFORE THE PARTY - Locked to Castle and Beckett

[thebestseller]

Now came the hard part- getting Beckett to the conference room without her knowing what was up. But Castle felt up to the task, and asked her to meet him at the coffee shop after trusting Miss Kaylee and Dr. McKay to get everything set up for him in the meantime. Coffee was always their way of saying hello, and a good segue into discussing- well, anything.

[themuse]

Beckett was looking forward to nothing more than a quiet cup of coffee with Castle. She was well aware of the fact it was birthday, and even more aware - and thankful - that Castle wasn't going to make a big deal out it. He had been acting a little weird, of course, but his offer to take to her to coffee, mixed with the fact that she had told him she had to work that night, quelled her fears.

But there was one thing that had put a damper on her day. Kate had taken an hour to work out with Rose - which had been well needed - but the younger woman hadn't been kidding when she said she had superhuman strength. And Kate had learned that the hard way.

So she was, uncharacteristically, sporting a pair of dark sunglasses to hide the developing black eye she had earned when she entered the cafe. Kate looked around for Castle, offering a wave when she saw him and coming up to his table.

"Hey, sorry I'm late."

[thebestseller]

"Hey. Going incognito?" Castle asked casually, nodding toward her. "I think it helps give you an aura of mystique, so I'm not going to object. What can I get for you? I know your usual, but it doesn't hurt to not assume."

He was careful to not seem too anxious to get to the point, not wanting to tip his hand quite yet. Wouldn't do to spoil the surprise.

[themuse]

If she hadn't been wearing sunglasses, her glare would have probably tore right through him.

"My usual is fine," she said, sitting down and crossing her arms. "I'm sorry, I have to get back to the precinct soon anyway."

[thebestseller]

"Oh, in that case, let me get it to go and I'll come with you," said Castle, infusing his voice and his smile with all the charm he could muster before going to order. "You know, escort you back like a gentleman."

[themuse]

"Gentleman, Castle? Really?" Kate just raised her eyebrows, and without thinking, took off her sunglasses. "That's fine, anyway, there's some stuff I wanted to run by you about that home invasions case."

PARTY TIME

[thebestseller]

[Feel free to make your own threads and mingle!]

Re: PARTY TIME

[hot4engines]

Kaylee had been more than happy to help set up Kate's birthday party when Mr. Castle had approached her about it at the book store one day. She was her Captain, after all, even if it had only been for a brief period, and Kaylee was growing more and more fond of the older woman by the day. There was something in her strength and way she spoke and carried herself that reminded Kaylee a little of Zoe, and it almost felt like having a piece of home back.

So she had agreed to help with the setup, and in the mean time, she had worked hard on knitting Kate a new pair of gloves and scarf, both from a pretty skien of yarn she had found that was many different shades of red.

After the birthday girl arrived, Kaylee took a seat near the door, munching on a sandwich and people-watching.

[themuse]

After doing some meet-and-greet rounds, Kate got a moment to grab and sandwich and made a bee-line for Kaylee, pulling out a chair and settling down next to her.

"Castle told me you helped organize this," she said, pulling a piece of bread of her sandwich and taking a bite. "Thanks. It was really thoughtful."

[hot4engines]

"Ain't nothin'," Kaylee replied with a big smile, swallowing her mouthful. "Mr. Castle was so excited about the idea, and how can ya say no to someone like that? You deserve it."

[themuse]

"I'm surprised he managed to keep it quiet," she admitted. "Not that... I didn't suspect. I mean, he's pretty easy to read."

To be fair, she wasn't lying. If she hadn't been so wrapped up in work, she probably would have suspected it, anyway. "And yeah, he's pretty hard to say no to."

[allthezpms]

Rodney wasn't normally much of a party person, much less planning surprise parties- he wasn't much for suspense, after all- but seeing as how Detective Beckett was one of his few friends and always treated him with respect, he couldn't really say no.

That didn't stop him from retreating to a corner with a plate piled high once the party was underway, however. He didn't have to be social.

[themuse]

After Castle got distracted chatting with some of her workmates, Kate found her way to Rodney's corner and leaned against the wall, looking out at the room.

"I wasn't expecting you to show up to something like this," she told him.

[allthezpms]

"Neither was I, to tell you the truth," Rodney replied around a mouthful, stopping to chew and swallow. "But, well, free food, and a chance to hang out with grownups and be away from my students for a while... and... Once-ler practicing music. The company is hard to resist."

[themuse]

That made Kate laugh and she nodded.

"Yeah, there is something to be said about spending time with other adults." She cast a sideways glance at Castle. "Though, I think the definition of adult is pretty flexible around here... How's school going, anyway?"

[themuse]

When Kate comes in, she's still sporting a pair of dark sunglasses and looking none-too-happy about the part she had just walked into.

But her friends are there, and she knows the work Castle put into this, and it softens her. She's not really used to anything like this - she can count on one hand how many birthday parties she's had since her mom died - and she forces herself to relax and mingle.

She even takes off her sunglasses, showing off the already forming blue and black bruise over her right eye - courtesy of her afternoon training with Rose who was, in fact, just as strong as she had bragged. But in retrospect, with the party around her and her friends surrounding her on her birthday, Kate decided it was actually kind of a funny story and no reason to sour her mood.

Besides, there was cake, and everyone know how Kate felt about cake.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

A very short while after Castle started planning the party, Koizumi had approached him and offered his assistance. How he had known about it in the first place was anyone's guess, given that it was supposed to be a closely guarded secret, but Castle had accepted his help. Koizumi was an excellent event planner, with lots of experience in making sure that Haruhi was never bored.

He didn't know her terribly well, but they had always been pleasant and agreeable. What's more, they had formed a bond during the pirate event, when he was her right hand man and she was his captain. The memories of things they had done together were... unsettling, to say the least. Nevertheless, Koizumi felt that the loyalty they had had to each other was genuine and something worth pursuing in this reality as well.

Besides which, Koizumi knew how hard she worked at the station to help people, and that it could sometimes be an incredibly thankless task. She deserved a night like this, and he was glad to help make it happen.

Once at the party, however, it was hard to miss that he was one of if not the only minor there. This would make many uncomfortable, but of course, even if he were, he'd never show it.

He didn't retreat from the people, but circulated among them, always remaining on the periphery of the conversation - often just listening and not contributing - never intruding too far on what was clearly, for some of them, a respite from kids and students his age.

He saw that Kate was busy, but she had a lot of people to get around to. Anyway, she seemed to be having a good time, so he continued to simply wander, confident that she would eventually have the chance to pass by and converse with him, should she be interested.

[themuse]

It had taken Kate a little while to relax into the feel of the party. But once she did, she through herself in completely, laughing and making the rounds and catching up with everyone. She was sporting a rather awkward birthday black eye, but even that didn't seem to bring down her spirits.

She had caught sight of Koizumi ages before, but it took a while to politely peel herself away from conversation. She waited until Castle started stealing the show with the current group to bow out silently, snagging a glass of punch off the table before making her way over to Koizumi and offering him a warm smile.

It was true - they didn't know each other that well. But Kate had the same memories as he did from the time they were pirates, and Koizumi had been there again to help save Castle. So Kate felt not only connected to him, but indebted to him, as well.

"Hey," she said as she approached him, extending her hand to offer him the glass of punch. "You having fun?"

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

Goodness only knows if Koizumi knew how she felt, but he most certainly did not feel that she owed him a debt. He was used to saving the world with nobody the wiser; fighting the good fight was simply what one did. What's more, harsh though it might sound, he didn't help save Castle because of his friendship with Kate; he helped save Castle because Castle needed saving. That was it - he could have hated the man, and he still would have been there. And since Kate is hardly responsible for Castle, from his perspective, there was no logical cause for her to be in his debt.

He takes the punch graciously, smiling beatifically at her as she approaches him.

"Ah, I have no cause to complain."

Not truly an answer, of course, but good luck getting a better one out of him.

"Truly, though, you're missing the more important question here. Are you having fun?" His voice is gently amused as he pauses to take a sip of his punch. "This is, as they say, your party."

He notes her black eye, but says nothing. A closer look at him will show that he still has several visible scrapes and bruises, some fresh, although he does look quite a bit better than he did a month or so ago.

[themuse]

Knowing his thought process, Kate could certainly relate. She had her own fair share of experience saving people for saving people's sake - but unlike a lot of cops, she did always develop some kind of emotional attachment to the victims. But this, of course, had been different. And she did blame herself for Castle's predicament, even if she would have never admitted it to anyone. His insecurities were rooted in what had happened to them over the last few years, and she couldn't deny a certain responsibility she had felt for his pain.

Beckett pauses, noting the scrapes and bruises and wondering if it was nothing more than her own situation - some good-natured sparring that got out of hand. But every time she talked to him now, he always seemed injured in some kind of way. And after what she had seen during the Dark Hour, she suspected there was a lot more to the story than just poorly choreographed fighting.

"I am, thank you," she said, deciding to forgo questions for casual conversation. She didn't like it when people pried into her own business, but it was generally her job to pry into the business of others. For now, however, she would let it go. "I've been to some of Castle's parties back home, so I can't say he's outdone himself... But it's still really sweet. It's nice to see everyone."

[mindoirsurvivor]

Shepard is inexpressibly disappointed at the lack of drinking, but he'll manage somehow.

[themuse]

Kate feels the same - it wasn't as if they hadn't broken out the booze a time or again back at the twelfth, with the Captain none the less. But that was usually for special occasions and brushes with death. Plus, she still has a murder she's supposed to be working, and birthday or not, she's not planning on partying the night away.

"Should I safely assume you were in on this too, Sir?"

[mindoirsurvivor]

"Guilty as charged," he admits, with a wry twist of the mouth. "If Castle's not careful, I'm going to conscript him as unit morale officer."

That's mostly a joke. But only mostly.

[themuse]

Beckett just gaped for a moment before her mouth curved into a smile. "Don't mention that to him. He'll take it seriously and I'll never get any work done."

She casts a glance at Castle, shaking her head. "He does have a knack at keeping people's spirits up. He's fun." She looks back at Shepard. "When he's not being annoying and immature, obviously."

[mindoirsurvivor]

"My kind of guy." Shepard has an excellent deadpan.

"Anyway, I was more than happy to host the party."