A/N: I don't own Castle, or any of the characters. Read and review, if you please... Thanks!

When Kate Beckett woke up on Valentine's Day, the last place she thought she'd end up was sitting at a candle-lit table for two across from Richard Castle. But as they wrapped their case, agreed on the mutual need for a drink and made their way toward their usual bar, they began noticing that all their usual haunts had already been transformed to encourage canoodling couples to come in.

After passing their four favorite places, they finally decided on an Irish tavern a few blocks from Beckett's apartment. Nestled into a corner booth, they tried to ignore the couples surrounding them as they settled into their usual banter.

A couple hours and more than a few beers later, the growing line outside the bar made them feel guilty enough to ask the waitress for the tab.

Castle reached for the bill instinctively, and cut her protests off before they were even audible.

"Kate, it's Valentine's Day. I'm getting this one," he insisted.

It may have been the beer. It may have been the candle-light. But she sat back in her seat and smiled, watching him fiddle with his wallet. The last few weeks had had their ups and downs for the pair. It began with a heated conversation. She had come so close to hearing him admit the real reasons he's still working at the precinct when that kiss had changed everything.

The kiss was amazing. Incredible. It was simultaneously pretend and real. Kate was no idiot. She knew Castle had felt the fireworks she felt during that kiss too. Those kinds of fireworks didn't happen when two people were acting strictly for business. And while it should have been the moment that sparked them to stop pretending, it scared them both. Just as they had started to make progress, they put their walls back up and retreated.

During their next case, Kate found herself all too eager to accept the chance to go back undercover with Castle. She didn't think twice about slipping into that slinky dress and applying a little extra makeup before they left for that nightclub. And when she heard Martha Castle ask if they were headed out for a date, she also found herself longing to say yes. That night, as she danced with Castle, she allowed herself to momentarily revel in the feel of his hands on her, his eyes on her. She knew they were still pretending. But she had never wanted this badly for this to be real.

"Beckett…?" Kate snapped back to attention to see Castle standing before her, waiting to help her out of her seat and into her coat.

"Sorry, Castle," she fumbled. "I guess I had a couple more beers than I expected to."

"Well then I guess I should uphold my reputation as a perfect gentleman and walk you home," he smiled. His hand found its way to the small of her back as he guided her through the maze of tables and out the door.

The city was humming with the excitement of lovers passing them by. She realized that everyone they passed would assume Castle was her boyfriend. This made her smile. And whether it was because she was so used to putting on a show for the benefit of what others thought of them, or because she was tired of pretending, she looped her arm through his, leaned into his frame and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you yesterday, Castle," she said quietly. "I know you—"

She stopped when she felt him turn his head and press a kiss to her hair.

"No, Beckett," he said softly. "You were doing your job. Regardless of how everything turned out, I was out of line."

"You're great at what you do, Castle," she began again, a little unsure of herself. She took a deep breath. "You're the best partner I've ever had. I don't like working cases without you. So please work on your objectivity so I never have to again."

She was a bit frightened when he didn't say anything. But then she felt his arm unsnake itself from the loop between their bodies and wrap instead around her shoulder, pulling her in closer.

"I don't like the thought of you working cases without me either," he said simply.

They fell into a comfortable silence until they reached Kate's building. They slowed down and Castle released his hold on her.

"So, I guess I'll see you tomorr—"

"Come up with me, Castle," Kate said bluntly.

His eyes met hers, questioning what she meant.

"Please," she whispered. "We've done this for too long. I don't want to be alone tonight." Her hands found his and clutched them, holding him in case he decided to turn and run away.

"What about Josh?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for his shift to end?"

"Castle, we broke up a while ago. I just wasn't ready for everyone to know yet. He wasn't what I was looking for," Kate admitted. Castle released his hands from her clenched hands. She closed her eyes in defeat, content on not opening them until he was a good ten blocks away.

"Kate, are you coming, or not?" His voice came from behind her and she spun around while letting out a sigh of relief. She beamed as she caught up with him and took them both by surprise when she clutched his lapels, pulling him down for a sweet kiss, right in the middle of the sidewalk.

Rick's hands traveled to her hips, holding her in place as he smiled into her lips. She felt her own mouth smiling back and she realized she never wanted this moment to end. As the kiss continued, she allowed herself to reveal everything she had been trying to hide from him. Her hands gripped his hair as his wandered over her back and sides.

She heard herself release a whispered moan when his teeth nipped at her bottom lip and he quickly pulled away.

Rick's hand cupped the side of her face as they each caught their breath. A car horn from across the street brought them both back to reality.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Kate," whispered Rick.

With a devious grin she turned sharply and took the last few steps to the building's door. With a look behind her shoulder and a beckoning motion with her fingers, she giggled and opened the door, waiting for him.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Rick. Now hurry up and get inside."