April 9, 2009

Kate Beckett stared at her computer screen, her eyes crossing as she tried her best to concentrate on the paperwork she needed to complete. She had been working since eight that morning and now at two in the afternoon her mind was starting to wander. She found herself against her better judgement hoping that they would get called out to a crime scene.

At that moment a large silhouette appeared over her computer screen. It unmistakably belonged to the six foot plus shadow of a man she had had following her around for the past few weeks. That of one Mr. Richard Edgar Castle.

"What you doing Beckett?" Richard Castle quipped peering over her shoulder, before she had a chance to respond to his presence.

"Paperwork, not that you would know what that was if it hit you in face Castle." she retorted, spinning her chair round to face him, causing Castle to hastily move back bumping into the desk behind hers.

"Ouch, that stings Beckett" he replied, hand over his heart pretending to look hurt.

"Anyway, why are you even here? There's no dead body for you to pine over today." said Beckett, ignoring his comment.

"I am stealing you"

"Stealing me?" she smirked, before she could stop herself.

"Yup, taking you on a magical mystery tour. Grab your coat and we shall be on our way."

"Really Castle, I have quite a lot to do here and I am sure Montgomery wouldn't want me to just disappear."

Castle turned then, calling through the open door that led to the Captain's office, to ask for permission to take the young detective out for the afternoon.

"Go ahead," the Captain Montgomery replied. "Just don't leave town or anything."

"There you see it's ok. Come with me." Castle pleaded, basically pulling Beckett from her seat. She grabbed her coat as she stood, allowing Castle to pull her towards the elevator.

"You guys have fun!" came a faint shout from the office as they walked into the elevator, the door closing behind them.

Beckett turned to face Castle, arms crossed over her chest. "Where are you taking me?" she demanded.

"Well, it wouldn't be a mystery if I told you, would it?" he said mockingly, waving his finger in front of his nose, before tapping it lightly to her temple. He pressed the ground floor button of the elevator moved slowly down.

On arriving at the ground floor Castle headed straight for the exit, waving cheerfully to the security guard as he passed through, marching onto the street. He turned to double check Beckett was still next to him, and looped his arm through hers as she caught up.

"This way," he said, continuing to walk down the street. "It isn't too far away."

They walked down street after street, occasionally changing direction, until they found themselves outside a small coffee shop.

"You took me out for coffee, Castle? We can make this at the precinct." Detective Beckett asked inquisitively.

"Today is a special occasion, and I wanted to celebrate." replied Castle, pushing open the door and settling them down at a table in the corner.

"Your birthday was last week remember," Beckett mocked, glancing around at the interior of the cafe. With a wall full of books, comfy armchairs and black and white photographs adorning the bare brick walls; she could see why Castle had been attracted to the cafe. She was still unsure as to why she was here though; they usually drank their coffee to go, or at her desk.

Beckett looked back towards Castle realising he had taken the opportunity to escape and was now stood by the baristas bar, waiting for his order. He turned around, carrying a tray full with two steaming mugs of what she guessed would be coffee, as well as two red velvet cupcakes, each with a single candle on top. Castle walked slowly back to the table, balancing the items on the tray with expert poise. He grinned at her as he walked, a full smile that reached all the way to his eyes.

"Happy one month anniversary!" he exclaimed as he sat the tray on the table. Beckett smiled, laughing at the somewhat crazy man who had been following her round for the past month. "I thought I would bring you out to celebrate, to say thank you for putting up with my crazy ways." Castle continued, setting the cakes and coffees on the table, before sitting down in the other arm chair.

"It wasn't exactly out of choice Castle," replied Beckett, "but I do like cake, so thank you. One month with you hasn't been so bad after all." She reached across, swiping a bit of frosting off the top off his cupcake, before digging into her own. As much as the man in front of her infuriated her on a daily basis, she really couldn't falter his choice in food.

The conversation slipped between topics as varied as the cases they had solved during the past to Alexis' upcoming violin recital. Each of them grinning as they chatted, unaware of the young server who watched them from behind the baristas bar as she prepared another set of coffees to bring over to the couples table. The girl walked over to the table, quietly slipping the two new mugs on the table, they were too wrapped in their own conversation for them to notice. She had been instructed to keep giving them new mugs of coffee for the next two hours each time their drinks were running low, and she was more than happy to do so.