Author's Note: Okay, as promised, I have a few outtakes I've been working on from Heart. These will show up in no particular order to the storyline...just depends on when I get them done and when inspiration strikes at four in the morning like it did tonight (yay). This one really isn't finished, but the scene is so I wanted to get it posted. It was so very fun to write, so I hope you enjoy!

Summary: It's date night-'Nuff said!

Disclaimer: I shudder to think what I'd do if I actually owned any of these characters...

Of Date Nights and Kitchen Countertops

Their latest case was finally over, much to Castle's relief. It wasn't so much what the case was about—that didn't matter. It had just been a little bit more physically tolling than he had originally expected, and while he was well into his recovery from getting shot, some things were still not always easy.

Beckett was finishing up her paperwork, so not really paying much attention to him. In short, he was getting a little bored, but he was determined to stick around. Deciding that he might as well entertain himself, he inched his hands toward hers on the desk. Her eyes flicked toward the movement before moving back to the task at hand, but he knew she was still watching when she shook her head slightly, moved her free hand, and tangled it with his.

"How much longer?" Rick asked, trying not to sound quite as bored as he felt.

"Almost done…maybe fifteen minutes," she estimated without taking her eyes off the papers in front of her.

He checked his watch quickly. Plenty of time. "You still up for tonight? We can always reschedule."

"Yeah, tonight's still good," she answered with a smile. Ever since they'd decided that there was more to this than just a few bedroom games, they had agreed that no matter what, they would always have at least one date a week—on Friday nights at various restaurants around the city. "Remy's, right?"

"You got it."

She smiled.

"And then, we could, you know…go home, watch a movie…"

"Using code words, now, Castle?" Her hand moved from his hand to his knee, which she gave a squeeze.

His body reacted immediately. "Somebody's feeling frisky today."

"Long week."

He leaned in, his voice lowering. "I could maybe remedy that for you, Detective. You just have to pick the time and place."

Beckett's predatory smile and the sidelong glance probably would have only added fuel to the fire, except Esposito and Ryan chose that very moment to walk into the bull pen arguing over kitchen design, of all things.

"I'm telling you, man, you may like the thought of it now, but in a couple years you're gonna wish you'd listened to me," Esposito warned.

"Yeah, but Jenny likes Earth tones," Ryan replied.

"You know, you can overdo it with that," Esposito continued before turning to Beckett and Castle. "What would you two do? Chucklehead, here, thinks that he should make the new house's kitchen 'earthy,' but don't you think that having too much to that might make it too…"

"…Bland?" Castle finished for him.

"Yeah, my suggestion was maybe add some darker notes to offset the other colors… Maybe a black countertop or darker wood cabinets—" Esposito began.

"—But I'm afraid that if we do something like that, she'll hate it," Ryan finished.

"Have you thought about maybe—I don't know—consulting Jenny on this?" Beckett asked.

"It's supposed to be a surprise," Ryan replied sheepishly.

Castle nodded, vocalizing his praise at Ryan's thoughtfulness. "I know, how about you get me some color ideas you have and maybe I can help? I redesigned my kitchen a few years ago, so I might be able to give some good advice."

Ryan and Esposito both seemed satisfied by that answer and moved on to their own desks. Beckett shook her head. "And I thought they were going to drive me insane with the wedding plans."

"Are you kidding? They were stressing me out, and I've been the groom at two weddings!" He leaned back in his chair, looking over at the team. "I'm not surprised at all that he wants to get this just as perfect. It's endearing."

"You can't really blame him, can you?" Kate asked absent-mindedly.

"No, I'll probably be the same way."

She almost didn't catch it, so it took a moment to process. "You will?"

When their eyes met, he could only smile, and her returned gesture was just as genuinely adorable.

Okay, I promise I'll get out the continuation of this tomorrow! I was just so excited I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to post this part of it. I hope you enjoyed it! Even if you didn't please review and I'll love you forever!