A/N: This story takes place somewhere in season 6. Castle and Beckett are engaged. Kate works for the NYPD and still has her apartment. They haven't moved in together yet.

Chapter 1

It had been months since his last public appearance but strangely, Castle was not as excited about it as he thought he would have been. He had tried to find multiple excuses not to come, he had dodged the participation to this kind of events for weeks but it was inevitable this time. He was still a writer, which he would sometimes forget as his consulting at the precinct was taking a larger part of his life every day. His job as a writer required to show up at fancy parties. He had signed a contract and had to abide by it. There were compromises to be made... just like in a marriage.

Not so long ago, he was having fun at these parties, being surrounded with beautiful women wanting their boobs signed and drinking a few glasses of champagne. But lately, it had become a burden. Had he grown older? Had he become wiser? When Castle got out of the car sent by his publisher, the first thing he did was taking a look at his watch, sighing. He was already feeling blasé, impervious to the excitement surrounding this party. He would be better at home. With her. He breathed deeply and motivated himself. Just a few hours and all of this would be over.

# # #

Kate was alone, Castle having to attend a party with other writers and publishers at the Lincoln Center. She had had several nights lately where she had hardly found any sleep. She needed to rest. It was 9:15 PM and she was already in bed that night when her cellphone rang. She couldn't help but smile when she saw his face show up on the screen.

"Hey, Castle. Already bored?" she teased.

"Nah, I haven't had the time to be bored yet. I tried the champagne and twelve different appetizers, not bad. But I think boredom will come pretty soon. Just five more appetizers and I'll get there..."

"I thought you liked those parties."

"When I didn't have anything better to do. Our parties are better," he whispered before being a little more serious. "I knew you were going to bed early and that you'd turn off your cellphone so... I wanted to call you... to hear your voice, wish you good night," he said gently.

"Thanks, that's sweet. Actually I'm already in bed," she said, cuddled up in the quilt, softly brushing his pillow.

"Oh... I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked, wincing as he waited for her answer.

"No, you didn't," she said with a tender smile. Castle sighed of relief. "You know what? Turns out, I hate going to bed alone. Your side is cold, I've got no one to cuddle up with," she said with a sad tone in her voice.

"Just two or three more hours and I'll be able to join you. You can warm up my side of the bed if you want."

"Already am," she said. Kate had moved to his side, attracted by his scent. "You can wake me up when you come home, okay?"

"Maybe I will."

"Good," she whispered. "You should. That way maybe we could enjoy one of our parties you are so fond of..." she teased him with a sensual voice.

"Hmm, that sounds good," he grinned. "What are you wearing? Nothing? No, don't tell me. I'll find out myself. Like a surprise... I think I'll definitely wake you up," he said making up his mind. Kate laughed. "Okay, not that I don't like the sound of your sweet voice but I gotta go. Still have a few hands to shake and I need to find Pete Daniels. He still owes me a few bucks from a poker game we did last year. And you need to rest so... Sweet dreams! I see you later."

"Bye. Try to have fun," she said gently.

"I love you," Castle whispered.

"I love you too," Kate answered before staring at the screen for a second until his face disappeared of it.

She pushed the sleep button of her phone once, and twice. So that it would light up again. She smiled at the sight of her background picture. Their relationship and engagement being public, she had changed her background for a picture of them together. A picture they had taken with her phone when they had spent an afternoon cuddled on the bed. Sweet dreams...

Castle looked around when he hung up. He had sneaked out of the ball room to make the call. He was alone. The silence around him was peaceful. If only he could be home.

# # #

The banging wouldn't stop. First she thought it was part of her dream from which she was slowly emerging. But she wasn't dreaming. She kept hearing it in the distance as she woke up. Someone was banging on her door, calling her name. She looked at the alarm clock. 10:03 PM. She felt she had already slept for hours... and yet it had only been less than an hour. She reluctantly got up, grumpy and walked down the stairs carefully as she did not want to miss a step.

"Beckett! What were you doing? I tried to call you!" Esposito said as soon as she had opened the door.

He was anxious, impatient. Something was definitely wrong but Kate was still half-asleep and didn't notice.

"I was sleeping. Why? What's going on?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"You haven't heard?"

"Heard what? I told you, I was sleeping," she chuckled.

"There's been a shooting."

"Where?" she asked, being alert all of a sudden.

Esposito hesitated for a second. How would she take the news?

"Lincoln Center." Kate felt the strength leaving her body. Her imagination took over as bloody images were already flooding her mind. She was completely awake now and he had her full attention. "Ryan's already over there. I came to take you."

"Castle..." she said under her breath.

"We don't know yet. We couldn't reach him. He's not answering his phone."

To Be Continued...

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