New York, March 1991 - London, October 1993
Richard Castle, Watcher
Author: Starfox5
Rating: FR18
Crossover: “Castle”
Written for: TtH August Fic A Day Challenge
Disclaimer: BtVS/AtS characters belong to Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy. Castle Characters belong to Beacon PIctures and ABC Studio. Please do not copy or take this story without my permission.
Summary: With great fame comes great responsibilty. Or at least, invitations to conventions.
New York, March 1991
‘The Vampire Hunter’ was a surprise hit, according to the sales numbers he got from his Publisher. Royalties didn’t surpass his paycheck from the Council yet, but it was getting close. And he was already working on his next book in the series. So to further boost the book’s popularity and therefore sales, they had wanted ‘Richard Castle’ to make an appearance at a few conventions, such as the 33th Annual Convention of the New York Science Fiction Society - the Lunarians. Richard Rodgers hadn’t thought twice about getting a paid trip back to New York for himself and Mary. Even if they wouldn’t be able to avoid visiting his mother.
To meet fans of his work was a really great experience. Not that there were that many of them around, but those he met were enthusiastic. A number were odd - eccentric, he corrected himself, and that had to be expected from people who loved a rather bloody tale of vampire hunters - but most were nice people genuinely happy to meet him.
Needless to say his ego got a rather large boost out of it, even though no pretty girls wanted him to sign their chests. Which, given Mary was present, and could get a crossbow cocked and loaded in less than a minute, was probably a good thing. She wasn’t wearing the reasonably close version of the leather outfit he had put his female lead in that he had found at a stall at the convention, alas. But if he had interpreted a few whispered remarks of her correctly, she’d be wearing it later tonight, in their bedroom. He was, of course, looking forward to it.
“Hello Mister Castle! Would you sign my copy of your book, please?”
Richard didn’t quite stare, but he did blink at the pre-teen girl holding out a copy of ‘Vampire Hunter’ to him. She couldn’t be older than 12, and she certainly wasn’t among the target audience for his book. Hell, while it didn’t contain actual adult material, the descriptions did get rather graphic. He managed to keep smiling, and gracefully accepted the book, but the girl’s mother must have noticed his expressions.
“She’s very advanced for her age. And she loves Fantasy novels, especially those with strong female characters.” The woman smiled in a slightly embarrassed way. Richard suspected that the girl was rather stubborn to, enough to be allowed to attend the convention. Though a fan was a fan.
“You’re a precocious child then. What’s your name?” He smiled at her, and saw her blush while he wrote ‘To my no. 1 fan...’ on the first page of her copy.
“Kate. Kate Beckett. With two ‘t’s at the end.” She craned her neck to make sure that he wrote her name down correctly, prompting another embarrassed smile from her mother.
Richard was chuckling when he handed the book back to the beaming girl. Had his mother had the same expression, back at the science fair in 5th grade?
He shouldn’t be doing this, but… he couldn’t resist. “Say, Kate, have you ever seen a real crossbow? Like the one Alice used to kill the Master Vampire’s first minion? My friend Mary over there can show it to you.”
The girl was at Mary’s side, pestering her with questions before her mother could react. He had a feeling she’d not rest until she could hold the crossbow too, and would be disappointed she couldn’t fire it.
Hm. A range for a crossbow… maybe some demonstrations with swords and stakes… He and Mary had the training, and he knew how to put on a show. He had to speak with his publisher.
And maybe he’d get Mary to wear the leathers for the next con.
*****
London, July 1993
“Have you seen the broadswords? And did you get the permits to bring them to the US? I’ve already packed the stakes and crossbows. If anyone asks, those are for camping and hunting. I’ll not get into an argument with an overly religious customs officer about Fantasy novels spreading witchcraft again.” Richard Rodgers, known to his many fans as Richard Castle, author of the very successful ‘Vampire Hunter’ series, yelled to his girlfriend Mary.
“I also packed your convention outfit as well already, I had some room left in my suitcase.” She had ‘forgotten’ her outfit for the last con. This was the Gen Con, the biggest gathering for Fantasy fans in the world. Gina Cowell, the woman handling his series for his publisher, had insisted that they needed some ‘eye-candy’ to draw attention to their booth since many attendants there would be in costume. Mary didn’t like Gina, and the feeling was mutual, but Richard’s girlfriend did acknowledge that the woman knew her business. Richard still didn’t know how his publisher had managed to persuade Mary to wear that outfit - his girlfriend had vetoed the booth babes Gina had wanted to hire, after all. Well, his was not to question why, his was just to stare and die.
“Did you return the Codex Polgari already to the library? I think Rupert asked for it, something with the incident in Wales.” Richard didn’t want to find out if the rumor that Rupert Giles, a polite, distinguished fellow watcher, would go berserk if he couldn’t get a book he needed within three days, were true. He didn’t think a man could get a nickname like “Ripper” for shredding books.
He suddenly realized that Mary hadn’t answered any of his questions. She hadn’t said anything, not even told him to shut up and stop bothering her while she packed. “Mary? Darling? Is something wrong?”
He found her in the bathroom, staring at a small slip of plastic. She turned her head and looked at him with a shocked expression. “I am pregnant.”
He took a few seconds to understand what she had said. His girlfriend was pregnant. She was having a baby. He was going to be a father!
He moved to hug her, with a huge if also slightly shocked smile on his face, then froze, staring at her - still flat - stomach.
“I am pregnant, not brittle.” She scowled, then smiled and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Richard. What will we do? When my parents hear of this…”
“We’ll marry of course. As soon as possible.” There was no way he’d follow in his unknown father’s footsteps.
She looked at him, surprised again, but nodded. “Of course.”
*****
London, October 1993
The wedding preparations had gone through without a hitch, despite Richard’s mother trying to help. The Wilkinsons were old money, and knew how to get things done quickly and smoothly, when the family honor was - sort of - at stake. Of course everyone suspected the reason why, after three years of living together in sin, as an old and almost deaf great-aunt had called it at a rehearsal dinner, Mary and ‘that yankee’ were suddenly tying the knot, but no one would say anything. At least not in their presence.
It turned out that Martha Rodgers knew a surprising number of British actors and actresses, and so the groom’s side in the church wasn’t just filled with ‘more yankees’, even though most of Richard’s American friends were quite surprised to find out he had become a librarian. Oh, how he wished he could reveal his success as an author without running the risk of earning the ire of that evil old fossil, Travers!
At least the Wilkinsons had quietly spread the word that their new son-in-law was well-off to the point of being independently wealthy. Which sufficiently impressed their Watcher friends and acquaintances - being rich and risking one’s life was quite more respectable than risking one’s life for money. Though he had a feeling that he’d still be ‘that yankee’ for years to come.
He scoffed at the thought, drawing some glances from the guests, and a glare from his mother. Martha Rodgers had more than once mentioned that she had expected her son to wake up one day in Las Vegas with a hangover and a marriage certificate he didn’t remember getting. To see him married at a British Upper Class wedding was a dream come true for her. The amount of rich elder gentlemen among the guests impressed by a middle-aged actress didn’t hurt either, of course, no matter if they were terrible snobs or not. His mother simply had no luck with men, and no taste either. His own, unknown father being the best proof.
Richard didn’t really care. He was a successful author, with a horde of adoring fans. He was marrying a beautiful, brave and smart woman, who would soon bear his first child. And he was doing his part to protect humanity from demons. And he was quite proud that he hadn't sent an invitation to Kyra, to show her and her parents just what kind of man he had become.
When Mister Wilkinson led the bride through the church gates, down the aisle, when Richard saw just how beautiful she was, in her wedding dress, he knew he had achieved his wildest dreams.
Author: Starfox5
Rating: FR18
Crossover: “Castle”
Written for: TtH August Fic A Day Challenge
Disclaimer: BtVS/AtS characters belong to Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy. Castle Characters belong to Beacon PIctures and ABC Studio. Please do not copy or take this story without my permission.
Summary: With great fame comes great responsibilty. Or at least, invitations to conventions.
New York, March 1991
‘The Vampire Hunter’ was a surprise hit, according to the sales numbers he got from his Publisher. Royalties didn’t surpass his paycheck from the Council yet, but it was getting close. And he was already working on his next book in the series. So to further boost the book’s popularity and therefore sales, they had wanted ‘Richard Castle’ to make an appearance at a few conventions, such as the 33th Annual Convention of the New York Science Fiction Society - the Lunarians. Richard Rodgers hadn’t thought twice about getting a paid trip back to New York for himself and Mary. Even if they wouldn’t be able to avoid visiting his mother.
To meet fans of his work was a really great experience. Not that there were that many of them around, but those he met were enthusiastic. A number were odd - eccentric, he corrected himself, and that had to be expected from people who loved a rather bloody tale of vampire hunters - but most were nice people genuinely happy to meet him.
Needless to say his ego got a rather large boost out of it, even though no pretty girls wanted him to sign their chests. Which, given Mary was present, and could get a crossbow cocked and loaded in less than a minute, was probably a good thing. She wasn’t wearing the reasonably close version of the leather outfit he had put his female lead in that he had found at a stall at the convention, alas. But if he had interpreted a few whispered remarks of her correctly, she’d be wearing it later tonight, in their bedroom. He was, of course, looking forward to it.
“Hello Mister Castle! Would you sign my copy of your book, please?”
Richard didn’t quite stare, but he did blink at the pre-teen girl holding out a copy of ‘Vampire Hunter’ to him. She couldn’t be older than 12, and she certainly wasn’t among the target audience for his book. Hell, while it didn’t contain actual adult material, the descriptions did get rather graphic. He managed to keep smiling, and gracefully accepted the book, but the girl’s mother must have noticed his expressions.
“She’s very advanced for her age. And she loves Fantasy novels, especially those with strong female characters.” The woman smiled in a slightly embarrassed way. Richard suspected that the girl was rather stubborn to, enough to be allowed to attend the convention. Though a fan was a fan.
“You’re a precocious child then. What’s your name?” He smiled at her, and saw her blush while he wrote ‘To my no. 1 fan...’ on the first page of her copy.
“Kate. Kate Beckett. With two ‘t’s at the end.” She craned her neck to make sure that he wrote her name down correctly, prompting another embarrassed smile from her mother.
Richard was chuckling when he handed the book back to the beaming girl. Had his mother had the same expression, back at the science fair in 5th grade?
He shouldn’t be doing this, but… he couldn’t resist. “Say, Kate, have you ever seen a real crossbow? Like the one Alice used to kill the Master Vampire’s first minion? My friend Mary over there can show it to you.”
The girl was at Mary’s side, pestering her with questions before her mother could react. He had a feeling she’d not rest until she could hold the crossbow too, and would be disappointed she couldn’t fire it.
Hm. A range for a crossbow… maybe some demonstrations with swords and stakes… He and Mary had the training, and he knew how to put on a show. He had to speak with his publisher.
And maybe he’d get Mary to wear the leathers for the next con.
*****
London, July 1993
“Have you seen the broadswords? And did you get the permits to bring them to the US? I’ve already packed the stakes and crossbows. If anyone asks, those are for camping and hunting. I’ll not get into an argument with an overly religious customs officer about Fantasy novels spreading witchcraft again.” Richard Rodgers, known to his many fans as Richard Castle, author of the very successful ‘Vampire Hunter’ series, yelled to his girlfriend Mary.
“I also packed your convention outfit as well already, I had some room left in my suitcase.” She had ‘forgotten’ her outfit for the last con. This was the Gen Con, the biggest gathering for Fantasy fans in the world. Gina Cowell, the woman handling his series for his publisher, had insisted that they needed some ‘eye-candy’ to draw attention to their booth since many attendants there would be in costume. Mary didn’t like Gina, and the feeling was mutual, but Richard’s girlfriend did acknowledge that the woman knew her business. Richard still didn’t know how his publisher had managed to persuade Mary to wear that outfit - his girlfriend had vetoed the booth babes Gina had wanted to hire, after all. Well, his was not to question why, his was just to stare and die.
“Did you return the Codex Polgari already to the library? I think Rupert asked for it, something with the incident in Wales.” Richard didn’t want to find out if the rumor that Rupert Giles, a polite, distinguished fellow watcher, would go berserk if he couldn’t get a book he needed within three days, were true. He didn’t think a man could get a nickname like “Ripper” for shredding books.
He suddenly realized that Mary hadn’t answered any of his questions. She hadn’t said anything, not even told him to shut up and stop bothering her while she packed. “Mary? Darling? Is something wrong?”
He found her in the bathroom, staring at a small slip of plastic. She turned her head and looked at him with a shocked expression. “I am pregnant.”
He took a few seconds to understand what she had said. His girlfriend was pregnant. She was having a baby. He was going to be a father!
He moved to hug her, with a huge if also slightly shocked smile on his face, then froze, staring at her - still flat - stomach.
“I am pregnant, not brittle.” She scowled, then smiled and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Richard. What will we do? When my parents hear of this…”
“We’ll marry of course. As soon as possible.” There was no way he’d follow in his unknown father’s footsteps.
She looked at him, surprised again, but nodded. “Of course.”
*****
London, October 1993
The wedding preparations had gone through without a hitch, despite Richard’s mother trying to help. The Wilkinsons were old money, and knew how to get things done quickly and smoothly, when the family honor was - sort of - at stake. Of course everyone suspected the reason why, after three years of living together in sin, as an old and almost deaf great-aunt had called it at a rehearsal dinner, Mary and ‘that yankee’ were suddenly tying the knot, but no one would say anything. At least not in their presence.
It turned out that Martha Rodgers knew a surprising number of British actors and actresses, and so the groom’s side in the church wasn’t just filled with ‘more yankees’, even though most of Richard’s American friends were quite surprised to find out he had become a librarian. Oh, how he wished he could reveal his success as an author without running the risk of earning the ire of that evil old fossil, Travers!
At least the Wilkinsons had quietly spread the word that their new son-in-law was well-off to the point of being independently wealthy. Which sufficiently impressed their Watcher friends and acquaintances - being rich and risking one’s life was quite more respectable than risking one’s life for money. Though he had a feeling that he’d still be ‘that yankee’ for years to come.
He scoffed at the thought, drawing some glances from the guests, and a glare from his mother. Martha Rodgers had more than once mentioned that she had expected her son to wake up one day in Las Vegas with a hangover and a marriage certificate he didn’t remember getting. To see him married at a British Upper Class wedding was a dream come true for her. The amount of rich elder gentlemen among the guests impressed by a middle-aged actress didn’t hurt either, of course, no matter if they were terrible snobs or not. His mother simply had no luck with men, and no taste either. His own, unknown father being the best proof.
Richard didn’t really care. He was a successful author, with a horde of adoring fans. He was marrying a beautiful, brave and smart woman, who would soon bear his first child. And he was doing his part to protect humanity from demons. And he was quite proud that he hadn't sent an invitation to Kyra, to show her and her parents just what kind of man he had become.
When Mister Wilkinson led the bride through the church gates, down the aisle, when Richard saw just how beautiful she was, in her wedding dress, he knew he had achieved his wildest dreams.