#reference material verse

Library Visits (Reference Material verse)

 She knows from their last text message that he's been in the library for almost two hours, so she doesn't feel too bad about interrupting him when she comes striding over to his table. Normally she wouldn't join him like this, but she'd felt compelled to find him today; not because they have plans and they're pressed for time or anything like that, but frankly she just misses him a little bit (though a sentiment like that is never getting repeated outside of her own head).

 "Hey," she murmurs once she's close enough, keeping her voice low to avoid disturbing the others working at various tables and against the bookshelves around the room. "Getting stuff done?"

 Her study partner-turned friend-turned boyfriend leans back in his chair, accepting the carefully covered travel cup of coffee she offers and releasing a breath. He doesn't speak at first, instead taking a long sip of coffee and blinking his focus on work away.

 "Hey, yeah. I'm almost done with the paper," Rick says, nudging the chair at his elbow out for her in invitation. Smooth, Ricky, very smooth. "What're you up to?"

 Kate's shoulder lifts toward her ear, though she doesn't quite think she managed the nonchalance she was trying to display with the gesture. "Just needed to get out of my room and stretch my legs. Thought I would see if you needed anything. Food, a break, a hammer?"

 Rick laughs, tapping the rim of the coffee. "This was great, Kate. Thank you."

 "Good." She licks her lips. "Need anything else?"

 She already knows what his response will be, just based on the mischievous lift of his lips and the wiggle of his fingers.

 "A kiss would be good."

 Leaning over, she presses her mouth to his. It's chaste at first, a gentle little peck that's "right" for the location, but before they part she makes sure to give his lip a little nip that promises more to come.

 "Finish your paper, Rick," she murmurs, squeezing his neck gently. "Then give me a call, okay?"

 Rick blinks, looking between her face and his laptop.

 "Tell you what," he starts, already reaching out to close the lid. "Why don't I just do the rest later."

Extending Vacation (Reference Material verse)

 "You're up early."

 Her boyfriend looks up, his fingers stilling on the keyboard. "Mmm, hey. I wanted to get a head start on this chapter, so we won't have to worry about going out later on."

 Kate yawns into her hand, nodding. "Good plan," she murmurs, checking the clock on the wall and glancing into the kitchen.

 It is sweet that he'd thought of that, making sure their plans don't get ruined because his editor had imposed a harsher deadline on him than he'd originally thought. He doesn't need to do it; as much as she likes the thought of walking around and shopping for souvenirs for her parents and his mom, she doesn't mind having a lazy day inside with him either, if that's what he needs to do.

 "Coffee?" she asks after a second.

 Rick turns, gesturing toward the kitchen. "It's made, should still be hot; if it's not, I'll make another pot."

 She smiles, brushing her fingertips over his bare shoulders. "Kay, I'll be back."

 Kate snags his empty mug as well, moving to the kitchen for coffee for them both. As she putters around, she hears him go back to work, the rapid tap of his fingers hitting the keys, even the quiet way he mumbles to himself to work through whatever block it is he's hitting.

 "Hey, Kate?" he calls.

 "Hmm?"

 "What do you say we stay an extra day or two? Since I'm spending some of the time working?"

 Her lips lift. He doesn't have to twist her arm.

 She lifts the mugs, carrying them over and placing them on the table beside him, just out of knocking reach. Her arms slip around his shoulders, and she cups the back of his head gently.

 "I would love that, Rick," she says, pressing her lips to his temple. "Make the call, get us a few more days here."

 He turns, dusting his mouth over hers. "Kay."

 "But," she adds, gesturing to his computer. "Do it after you've finished this, so your editor can get off your back."

Working to Rest (Reference Material Verse)

 "You're studying?"

 Kate hums, lifting her eyes to his for a moment before going back to marking the document in front of her. "Just for a little bit."

 Her boyfriend makes a little noise of discontent, crawling back onto the bed with her. His lips brush the shoulder of her nightshirt, nuzzling her quickly before he rolls onto his back.

 "It's Thanksgiving, Kate. It's break. You should be resting while you have the chance."

 She chuckles, shifting her weight onto her elbow and reaching out to pat his chest. "I'm resting, Rick. I'm resting. I just wanted to get this done and over with so I can enjoy the rest of the day and the weekend."

 He nods after a moment, rolling closer. "I'll bring you some coffee and a cookie and then when you finish, I'll make you breakfast, 'kay?"

 Her lips lift with affection. He's already made some food and prepared a few things for the day, she knows, not counting the Bloody Mary for his mom, but it's sweet that he's willing to hold off on doing more until she's ready to eat.

 "Thanks, babe," she murmurs, pecking his mouth quickly. "I'll work fast, I promise."

 He nods in agreement, lifting gentle fingers to comb through her hair. "Take your time; I'm recording the parade and we can rewind it to watch."

Pumpkin Hollow (Reference Material verse)

 Kate Beckett eyes her boyfriend as they make their way from the gravel parking lot toward the red barn in the distance. "Welcome to 'Pumpkin Hollow,'" she reads. "Rick, you do know that Halloween is over, don't you?"

 He grins. "Well, one," he starts, looking completely unfazed by the skepticism in her gaze, "Halloween is never over if you don't let it end. But barring that, we have my second point, which is that while Halloween is over for most people, Fall is not. And how better to celebrate than with pumpkins? After all, do we not eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving?"

 "You are a dork," she says, but her fingers tighten around his. He has a point, though. Jack 'o-lanterns may be out, but pumpkins are still a staple of the season. And it's nice to be with him doing something other than asking him to quiz her for a class. "Okay, Ricky, lead the way to Pumpkin Hollow."

 Rick nods, looking pleased with himself.

 "They also have a general store and hundreds of different jams and jellies, ciders, et cetera; it's not just a pumpkin patch and a barn. Supposedly they have an award-winning pumpkin bread that only gets sold right here each year."

 "Well," she says hugging his arm to her chest. "I guess we'll just have to give that a try."

 She lifts onto her toes, catching his mouth in a quick kiss. "This is going to be fun," she admits against his lips. "Thanks, Babe."

Words: 2,220 Genre: Romance/Drama Rated: T Character: [Kate B., Rick C.]

Character Sketches and Schmoozing (Reference Material Verse)

 Even in a crowded room, his eyes follow her.

 She's in the process of schmoozing, chatting up her parents' friends and seeing what connections she can forge for the summer to make it easier to find a job. Every few minutes, though, Kate glances over her shoulder, grinning in his direction.

 Rick chuckles, waving. He doesn't want her to worry about leaving him to his own devices. He's fine on his own, mingling a bit and taking the opportunity to observe when he's not conversing with the Becketts' guests. Already he's planning a few character sketches for his new book and new ideas are brewing as the night goes on. He might have to slip away in a little while to make sure he can jot everything down before he forgets.

 Of course, he doesn't hesitate to stay when Kate strides over.

 "Hey, you," he says, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

 "Hey, baby." Kate cups his jaw, pressing a wet kiss to his cheek. "How's it going? Sorry I disappeared on you."

 Rick shakes his head. "You didn't disappear, you just gave me some time to figure out what I want to do with my next book."

 She grins, smooching him again. "Well, that's good. I think I got someone to see if there's an opening for me."

 He rubs her arm. "Perfect. Now, I think we've both earned a drink, don't you?"

Stolen Shirts and Penance (Reference Material Verse)

 "Mmm, that's my shirt."

 Kate Beckett laughs, leaning over her boyfriend and dusting a kiss to his jaw. "Newsflash, Babe, I wear your shirts all the time. Sometimes when you're not even here."

 He gasps, feigning shock. Kate grins, nudging his nose with hers. "I know, terrible. How on earth can I make it up to you?"

 Rick grins, stretching his arms over his head before reaching for her. "I can only think of one thing that will truly do it," he murmurs, slipping his arms around her waist and drawing her into his body. She settles against his chest, humming in contentment.

 "By all means," Kate murmurs, holding his chin with her hands. "Tell me, dear. Let me complete my penance."

 He hums, dusting his mouth to her fingertips. "First –"

 "First?" she asks, feeling her jaw drop. "How many steps are there?"

 "First is breakfast in bed," he continues, ignoring her incredulous questions. "Or if we don't have any food, then coffee in bed while we wait for food to be delivered. And then next, we forget the shirts altogether."

Massage Therapy (Reference Material Verse)

 Hours later and her fingers are still shaking with the remnants of adrenaline from the day. Between the take down, the fact that they'd come so close to having everything fall apart, she's not surprised about it, but it's still enough to make her open and close her fists a few times, hiding her hand away under her pillow.

 God, she needs to get a grip. She's a cop, she can't get shaky over a couple of bad guys and close calls. There will be more close calls, more bad guys; she can't fall apart over one. Not if she's going to make it in the job like she's wanted for so many years.

 "Kate."

 Her head snaps up to find her fiancé leaning in the doorway, concern etched on his face.

 "I'm okay, Rick," she says quickly, though it sounds weary and unconvincing to her ears as well.

 He nods anyway, giving her that. "You look so tense. How can I help?"

 She blinks, licking her lips. "I… just come here? Sit with me."

 Rick does exactly that, sliding onto the bed beside her, not quite sprawling on the pillows. His fingers curl around her wrist, drawing it out from under the pillow and slipping across her palm.

 "Hand hurt?" he asks, pressing his fingers into the meat of her hand, kneading with near expert precision.

 She gives a little nod, surrendering to the hand massage. "Clenched for too long, I guess."

 He offers her a smile, hearing what she's not saying. "This helps when I write for too long and end up with cramps."

 Kate nods. He knows what he's talking about because her hand is already starting to feel better. The touch is soft enough to soothe, but firm enough to force the muscles to relax and the tension to drain.

 "Mother went through massage therapy training when I was a kid and the bills were piling up. I was her test subject a lot of the time. Picked up a few things."

 "And retained them," she murmurs, leaning her head against his hip. "Good job."

 "It's helping?"

 "Yeah," she exhales, surrendering to the relaxation he's offering. "Yeah, it really is."