A/N: I was a little upset at the ending of this episode, so I figured that's what fanfiction's for, right? Spoilers for 2x06. The title was a last-minute idea, so apologies if it sucks.

A (belated) birthday present for the best friend in the world - Rhianna. This is the best I could do; I'm sorry. You're the light of my life, and one of the most incredible people I know. Words can't describe how much you mean to me. I know it's late beautiful, but please forgive me! Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I'm at least 97% sure I don't own it. All mistakes, however, are 100% mine.


"Hey Poe, looking for me?"

Castle knew that musical voice all too well. Spinning around, he saw Beckett, dressed in all her cop-looking glory, standing there staring at him. He was surprised. If she was going to turn up, at least she could have actually dressed up! It was a costume party after all.

"You're you!" was all he could make out. He was equal parts happy and upset. He was happy she'd shown up, but upset that she hadn't even worn a costume. She could have dressed up as anything; it didn't even have to be Halloween-y. Anything but a cop. He may or may not have thought about how good she'd look in that nurse's costume…

"You sound so disappointed, Castle." The voice of the woman in question brought him back from his probably over-the-line-of-appropriate thoughts.

Well, of course he was disappointed! Even if she didn't have the nurse's costume, it'd be interesting to see what she'd come up with. But no, she'd come as her. How was that even a costume?!

"I said costumes mandatory! I mean, dress up. You know, be a little scary."

He was so not ready for what she said next.

"Yeah, well, I was going for sexy."

Sexy…sexy… Detective Katherine Beckett was going for sexy…He had to admit, his heart started beating a little faster, his breathing hitched, his eyes probably widened a little. His mind raced at the million and one sexypossibilities that could be contained under that black coat of hers.

He came back to earth when he noticed her hand slowly making its way from her side to her belt. Her long, slender fingers wrapped around the loose end, hesitating slightly. His eyes followed her hand, darting back up to meet her eyes briefly, and he knew his widened. He quickly looked back at the belt, not wanting to miss one second. Beckett tugged sharply on the belt of her coat. It fell away from her front, and with a shrug of her shoulders it landed softly and silently on the floor at her feet.

Castle couldn't tell you what was going on elsewhere in the room at that moment if you paid him a million dollars. The other girls in the room looked good - great even - but Beckett looked absolutely drop dead gorgeous.

He started his appraisal at her mile-long legs, which were encased in tight thigh-high leather boots. Laced up to well past her knee and at least four inches tall, the boots made Castle's jaw drop a little. How could he have not noticed them before?! Surely they at least peeked out of the bottom of the coat when it was done up. The next thing that caught his eye was the skirt she was wearing. Or lack thereof. The skirt, which was also made of leather, was so short Castle knew if she turned around, it would barely cover everything. There was only about five inches of skin between the top of the boots and the hem of the skirt, but even that made Castle appreciate Beckett's height, and therefore longer legs, that much more.

His eyes continued their survey of her body, travelling up past her bare midriff, showing even more of her toned body and creamy skin, and finally reached her shirt. Or, once again, lack thereof. A skin-tight leather tee clung to Beckett's every curve, the 'v' in the neck dipping down agonizingly low. A small imitation police badge was sewn into the fabric on one side of her chest, though Castle barely even registered.

He finally tore his gaze away and managed to look at her face. Her brilliant green eyes sparkled with mischief, a small smile played on her lips. She looked absolutely radiant. Her costume would probably have been inappropriate at any other party – especially if this was a work Halloween party – but at Castle's party she fit in just fine amongst the scantily clad mummies, zombies, vampires and the like. Not that Castle noticed any other girl after seeing Beckett's costume. The smile that was toying with the corner of her lips broke into a full-blown grin when she noticed Castle's bewilderment.

"So, what do you think Castle? Did I do Nikki Heat justice?"

My god, Castle thought, you look so much better than I could have ever imagined Nikki Heat looking.

Instead of voicing his thoughts, he gulped and settled for the option that was probably the least likely to get him shot. "Well, you see, I'd imagined her a little more-"

"Castle, shut up and appreciate Nikki Heat for tonight, you won't be seeing her again outside of your book," Beckett's voice held a strange mixture of laughter and warning.

"Or my imagination," Castle retorted, with a waggle of his eyebrows, managing to pull himself together enough for a witty comeback. Beckett simply rolled her eyes in response.

Pretty much every eye in the room was trained on the exchange between Castle and Beckett, even as they continued their own conversations. After Castle managed to compose himself fully, he smiled at Beckett and offered a hand.

"Can I get you a drink?"

Beckett looked at his outstretched hand with one raised eyebrow.

"Come on, Beckett. Just let yourself go for one night. It is a party."

Beckett bit her lip. "Fine," she sighed, rolling her eyes, but taking his hand anyway.

xxx

Beckett had to admit, she felt a little weird under Castle's intense scrutiny. But she did get butterflies in her stomach as she watched his gaze rake appreciatively over her costume. She'd known it was a good choice, and if his reaction was any indication, she'd done what she'd set out to do.

As they were sipping on Castle's 'special concoction', Castle had an idea. Placing his drink on the table beside the two of them, he turned to face Beckett.

"May I have this dance?" he asked with an overly elaborate bow.

Beckett dipped her head briefly, and looked up at Castle once he'd stood back up to his full height, only a few inches taller than she, especially with her heels on.

"I don't think this is the place for dancing Castle," she said.

"Of course it is!" he replied, gesturing to the dance floor, which was, quite simply, a mass of writhing bodies.

"No, Castle," Beckett's voice was filled with stubbornness, and her tone conveyed in no uncertain terms that she absolutely was not going to bend on the issue.

"But Beckett! We all know you're a lovely dancer."

"You just want an excuse to put your hands on me."

"Maybe, but come on. Please? I promise not to annoy you for two whole days." Castle held up two fingers to emphasise his statement. He really did mean it. If he could have just one dance with the gorgeous detective standing in front of him, it would certainly be worth not annoying said detective for two days.

"Castle, it's Friday night. The next two days are the weekend." But Castle could hear her starting to agree with him.

"Monday and Tuesday. I'll be good. Promise. If not, you can punish me." This statement was accompanied by a suggestive tone in his voice and a wink.

"You wish," Beckett finally relented; taking the hand that was still hanging in the air between them. "But no funny business. And you have to make good on your promise."

"Of course!" Castle said, pretending to be shocked that she would doubt him. As they made their way towards the dance floor, Castle couldn't help but notice out of the corner of his eye that Beckett had taken a strand of her hair and was twirling it gently around one long, slim finger.

Just as they managed to reach an open space on the dance floor, the quick, upbeat song that was blaring finished, and the first few notes of a slow song started to float through the air.

"Oh, no," Beckett said, pulling away from Castle and beginning to walk backwards off the floor, "this is not what I signed up for. Be as bad as you want Castle, I'm not slow dancing with you."

"Come on, one dance?" Castle pleaded, catching hold of her wrist and pulling her back.

Beckett rolled her eyes, a gesture Castle realized he loved beyond words, and sighed, but allowed herself to be pulled into Castle's arms.

"I'm not getting out of this, am I?" she asked, and Castle recognized the defeat in her voice.

"Nope!" he grinned smugly, as she delicately wrapped her arms around his neck and his automatically rested on her waist. The warmth of her soft, bare skin heated his palms. The urge to run his hands all over every inch of her exposed skin was almost unbearable, yet out of respect for her, he restrained himself. He figured just one dance would be worth being good for two whole days. But if he screwed this up, no dance, and, knowing Beckett,she'd still expect him to be good on Monday and Tuesday.

They swayed gently from side to side in time with the music, and Castle loved the dreamy look that crossed over Beckett's eyes as they did so. She rested her chin on his shoulder, and he leant his head on an angle slightly just to touch her head with his. Her sweet cherry scent wrapped around him as her body did, and he discovered that it was one of the most wonderful smells he had ever experienced. He would have to add in that small factor into his next Nikki Heat book, if he could. Oh, and the eye rolling. He couldn't forget the eye rolling. Over the top of the crowd, he spotted Alexis standing on the staircase, her brilliant blue eyes sweeping the room, even as she conversed with her friend. His daughter raised her eyebrows at him in question when she noticed him and Beckett. Castle just smiled sunnily in response, and Alexis gave him a look that simply said 'be careful with her', and turned back to the conversation she was in the middle of. She really was too wise for her age, that one. He wondered where she got her brains.

Beckett pulled her head from his shoulder as the song started to end. She looked so beautiful, there, at his party, in his character's costume, in his arms, that he couldn't help himself. He leant his head over, and gently touched his lips to hers. The kiss was hesitant, a barely there brushing of the lips, but he could still feel how soft they were, just like the rest of her. To his complete and utter surprise, she closed the distance between them and kissed him back.


A/N: So, here you are. I already have the next one or two chapters written, so I won't wait forever like with my other fic... (I mean, what?). At least one review will encourage me to post more. Let me know what you think of it so far?

P.S. If you think of a better title idea, please let me know!