AN: So this is my first fanfic, I'm aware that it isn't very good. Please give me as much critique as possible, I want to get better at this!

I don't own Castle, or any of the characters, sadly :(

"I was thinking…" began Castle.

Beckett's breath caught in her throat. She felt herself blushing, and heat rushing to her cheeks, but she didn't know why. She noticed a spark of some sort in Castle's eyes. She hadn't seen it since their undercover kiss. The thought of the kiss caused the butterflies in her stomach to go bad. Staring back into his eyes, she anxiously waited for the rest of his sentence.

"I was just thinking, maybe…we could go out…as in, grab a bite…I don't want to go home to an empty house…maybe we could go to Remy's?"

God, he was adorable when he was nervous, Kate thought to herself. He was so flustered, and handsome. Castle continued to stare at her, timid with anticipation.

"Yeah, I'd love to."

Castle's face lit up like a little kid on Christmas. Kate found herself beaming back at him, it felt so good to make him happy. Why had he been so nervous? We go out for dinner all the time. Kate was slightly mollified by Castle's apprehension. He extended his arm to her and she grabbed it, while the fangirl in her began to freak out. Three years ago, she never would have expected to ever be linking arms with Richard freaking Castle. Things like this were reserved for past fantasies, when Castle wasn't a nine year old on a sugar rush, but when he was Richard Castle, the famous author who helped her through her mother's death. She continued to muse about the development of her and Castle's friendship while they rode down the elevator in comfortable silence.

Yes, he was always good looking, in a ruggedly handsome way. But he had been irritating, and arrogant.

The man she met three years ago was not the same man as the one on her arm. The man beside her was her partner, her best friend, her keeper of secrets. She had been so ready to tell him she loved him before the summer. But then ex-wife number 2 had to enter the picture again. Beckett had been broken on the inside; she threw herself into her mother's murder. She got a new boyfriend, Josh, just to try to get over Castle.

As if on cue, her phone began to vibrate. Josh calling, the screen read. Castle looked over her shoulder, and saw his shoulders fall and the spark fly out of his eyes. Beckett felt broken. She impulsively realized she would do anything to make him smile at her again. She hit the ignore button, and slid her phone back into her pocket.

"Kate, did you just do that? Why did you do that?" Rick asked, slightly uncomfortable but trying to hide how pleased he was.

"Honestly Castle, Josh just isn't who I want to talk to right now. He didn't experience almost dying in a freezer, getting exposed to radiation, and almost dying from a dirty bomb. Sure, he would try to understand, but ultimately he wouldn't. I want to be with someone who understands that past two days I've had. We need each other to lean on right now."

Castle smiled warmly at her. "You really are extraordinary Miss Beckett."

Kate's face flushed bright red as she looked down at their arms, still intertwined. She wanted to feel guilty about this, she wanted to feel guilty about this not being Josh, but she couldn't. All she could think about was how right things were at that moment and how she always felt happiest when she was with Castle. "Thanks Castle, I guess you're not that bad…"

"Hey!" Castle playfully hit her arm, and proceeded to hail down a cab. Before she knew it they were at Remy's, ordering the usual. They engaged in small talk, playful banter and the usual flirting while waiting for their food. Staring into her eyes, Castle muttered "Josh doesn't know how lucky he is." Beckett looked up into his eyes, surprised by his unexpected comment. The wonder and awe in his eyes was unmistakable. Kate's heart began to race, and her breathing turned frantic as she stared back. A smile crept up to her face as his piercing blue eyes dove into her soul. Sparks were flying, and the sexual tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Neither one looked away, the heat increasing every second. Beckett found herself getting light-headed. How can he do this to me? She wondered exasperatedly. Both dazzling and dazzled, their silent conversation continued, picking up heat and intensity.

"Your food." The water informed them politely, placing 2 plates down in front of them. The connection broke, but heat still coursed through Beckett's veins. Every nerve in her body was electric, craving Castle. It took all her strength and will power to simply stay in her seat and eat her burger. She kept her head down, but felt him watching her. Nervously, she peered through her eyelashes and looked at him. His eyes were apprehensive, but there was something still smoldering beneath the surface. Her breath caught in her throat as Castle inched his face forward across the table. She could feel his breath on her lips, and wanted more than anything for him to close the distance and kiss her. He smirked seductively, and asked "enjoying your burger, Beckett?"

Beckett exhaled sharply. She threw a fry at him, and their evening returned to normal. On more than one occasion she felt the flames of desire licking her skin, craving Castle's touch. She'd push them out of her conscious thought, and would focus on the conversation at hand.

Castle paid for the bill, which was a little out of character. Rather than taking 2 cabs, they shared one. Beckett's house was on the way to Castle's, so she got dropped off first.

Kate was stepping out the cab door, when Castle grabbed her arm. "Kate?"

"Yes Castle?" she asked, her voice sounding uncharacteristically fretful. What had this night done to her?

"Sleep well." He whispered to her.

Castle was about to close the door, but Beckett stopped him.

"Do you want to come upstairs for a bit?"

All reviews/comments are much appreciated!