Three-shot, set pre-caskett. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or the characters.
It was the first morning off Beckett had had in a while, not having to start her shift until later this afternoon. Castle had texted her earlier this morning, asking if she wanted to get breakfast with him and she hadn't even hesitated before she'd said yes. She had wanted to see him again, had been missing him, even though it had been less than twenty four hours since she'd last seen him. He'd left the precinct early yesterday afternoon to see Alexis and she'd spent the entire time missing him, counting down the hours until she'd see him again which was thankfully earlier than she was expecting thanks to his text this morning.
Beckett entered the small coffee shop, looking around and smiling when she saw Castle sitting at a table over by the window.
He gave her a small wave, smiling as she approached his table and gestured for her to take the seat opposite him.
"Hi," she greeted, taking the seat he'd pointed to just as a waitress placed two coffees on their table along with two croissants.
"Hi. I hope you don't mind but I ordered for you," Castle replied as the waitress left, looking over at her with a slightly nervous expression on his face.
"Thanks," she smiled, the smell of coffee and warm food hitting her nose, making her realise just how hungry she actually was.
"What's this for?" Beckett asked, gesturing to the food in front of her before she picked up the cup in front of her and took a sip of her coffee.
"Can't I buy my favourite Detective breakfast?" Castle asked, causing Beckett to blush which she desperately hoped that Castle didn't notice.
"You do that every morning anyway," Beckett replied, smirking when Castle was the one to blush now. It was true, he did buy her breakfast most mornings now and he always brought her a coffee but since it was her morning off, he'd wanted to take her out for breakfast instead. Well, no. Truthfully, he'd have liked it even more if he could make her a home-cooked breakfast, pancakes included, after they'd woken up in bed together but they weren't quite there yet in their relationship but he hoped they'd get their very soon.
Castle shook that thought from his mind, hoping she hadn't noticed his thoughts drift to a future where they were more than just friends. He'd also just wanted to see her again, he'd left early yesterday and he always missed her when she wasn't around. Of course, he loved spending time with his daughter and wouldn't do anything to compromise that relationship with her but he still missed Beckett when they were apart. The strength of his feelings for her scared him sometimes, scared that she could never feel the same way about him in return, but the soft look she was giving him right now gave him hope that maybe she could.
"True," he answered, smiling at her, "and since I do it anyway, I thought I should buy you breakfast on your morning off as well."
"You think I can't feed myself?" she asked, looking mildly offended, but he knew she was only joking, could see it in the smile she was trying to hide.
"I'm not saying that," Castle replied, eyes alight with mischief as he spoke, "but I didn't want you to go hungry if you'd forgotten how to cook."
"I know how to cook, Castle," she said, giving him a look before her gaze softened, "and you do know you don't actually have to bring me breakfast every morning."
"So, you're saying I should stop bringing you food and coffee then?"
"You better not cut off my coffee supply," Beckett said, raising her eyebrows at him as Castle tried not to laugh, he knew better than to deprive her of good coffee.
"I won't," he answered quickly, "and I know I don't have to bring you breakfast every morning, I do it because I want to."
"Well, thanks," she smiled, the blush back, staining her cheeks a dark red colour that there was no way he could miss.
He smiled and they settled into a comfortable silence as they ate their breakfast and drank their coffee, just enjoying the company.
"I can cook, you know," Beckett said quietly not long later, seeming almost shy as she did.
"I know," Castle replied quickly, worried she'd taken him seriously earlier, "I was only joking before."
"I know, but what I mean is, I could cook for you sometime, if you like. You feed me most days, I should at least try to return the favour," Beckett said, now fidgeting nervously with the napkin in front of her while she tried to keep eye contact with him.
"I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty before," Castle replied, hoping that that wasn't where this conversation was coming from, that she felt like she owned him.
"No, Castle," she said, laughing nervously, "that's not what I meant. I'm not doing this very well."
Castle just looked at her confusedly, waiting for her to continue, wondering what she was trying to say, hoping she was going with this where he thought she was.
Beckett took a deep breath, puffing it out again quickly before she spoke, "do you want to come over to my apartment for dinner, show you that I can actually cook."
"You're inviting me over for dinner?" he asked incredulously, while he'd hoped that was what she had been trying to do, he was still surprised that she was inviting him to her place.
"Yeah, I am," she replied, trying not to laugh at how surprised and excited he now looked. He really was cute.
"Then I'd love to," Castle answered quickly, smiling brightly at her, causing the laugh Beckett was trying to hold in to escape.
"Good, then it's a date," she replied without thinking, her eyes widening as she realised what she'd just said.
Castle's mouth dropped open, "a date?"
She really was blushing a lot today, something she did a lot around Castle, "well, I mean, just a meal, between friends."
Was this conversation really happening in the middle of a crowded coffee shop? Castle's heart was pounding as he spoke his next words, "are we just friends though?"
It was Beckett's turn for her mouth to fall open, not knowing how to respond. She certainly felt like they weren't just friends any more but could she say that to him?
"We're not," Beckett finally admitted, shaking her head as she spoke, finding she couldn't lie to him, not about this too. He deserved to know the truth about how she felt about him, especially when she knew how he felt in return.
If it were even possible, Castle's heart started beating even faster, "we're not?"
She smiled at him then, reaching her hand across the table to rest it over his, "I don't think we've been just friends for a while."
"What are you saying?" Castle asked, hope surging through him as he thought about everything that her words could lead to in the future, one where they were more than just friends and they could actually be having breakfast in bed together liked he'd imagined earlier instead of in a coffee shop.
"I don't want to wait anymore," Beckett breathed, her voice almost lost in the sounds of the busy coffee shop but Castle was listening so intently, there was no way that he could miss her words.
"Does that mean that dinner at your place can be our first official date?" Castle asked, putting his heart on the line because this could be it, the moment he's been waiting for since he realised how much she really meant to him and how good they could be together.
"If that's what you want," Beckett asked, wanting to know what he wanted instead of assuming that he still had feelings for her after all this time. She wouldn't blame him if he didn't though.
"What about what you want?"
"I want you," she replied, voice strong now, wanting to leave no doubt about what she wanted, that she wanted nothing but him.
Castle's breath caught in his throat, had she really just said that? He really hoped he wasn't currently asleep and dreaming all of this.
Her hand was still rested on his so he settled his free hand on top of hers, trapping her hand between his. And then he was grinning over at her, his whole face lit up with such joy and love that it made Beckett wonder why it had taken her so long to finally do this, admit to him that she wanted him too.
"Next evening we have off together, I'll cook us dinner, how does that sound?" Beckett asked, new hope swelling in her chest at the thought that this was finally happening, that they were going to finally have a chance together.
"Sounds perfect."
They stood to leave not long later, both with matching smiles on their faces that would probably not vanish any time soon. Castle pressed his hand to the small of her back as he led her from the café, their previous talk making him feel brave.
Castle offered to walk her home, knowing there were things she'd probably had planned for her morning off that he'd interrupted which she could still do now since there were still a few hours before her shift at the precinct would begin.
It was Beckett who was brave next as she reached over and twined her hand with his as they walked side by side towards her apartment, Castle smiled over at her, his hand tingling from the contact, before he used their now joined hands to pull her closer so their sides bumped together.
They walked in mostly silence, just enjoying being able to spend some time away together outside of the hustle and bustle of the precinct.
Beckett was glad that this wasn't awkward, something she'd feared would happen when they did finally take the step into a relationship together. She was already completely comfortable with him which was something she'd never had with anyone else she'd dated before.
They arrived at her apartment far too soon for both of their liking.
"I'll see you at the precinct?" Beckett asked as they stood outside her building, both reluctant to leave.
"Of course," Castle said, squeezing her hand before he released it, already missing the contact.
He gave her one last smile before he said goodbye and left, the fact that he was going to see her soon making it easier to leave now.
Beckett waited until he was out of sight before she turned and entered her building. She really hoped they'd get a free evening soon, she couldn't wait for their date.
What did you think?