When Castle walked in the Precinct he sensed something was different. He went to Beckett but everything seemed to be fine. As usually, Beckett was doing paperwork and he just sat there, watching her. This continued the whole morning. In the afternoon he was tired of waiting for somebody to call and announce a murder, "I have an idea." Beckett looked up with a surprised look on her face. "Do I even want to know?".
"We could take the afternoon off .. I mean, you're just doing paperwork and I'm just sitting here, not that I mind, but you know."
"Yeah, I guess I could..." His face cleared all up when she said that. "Really? You're not even gonna argue with me ?"
"Nope, I think I'm just gonna go with it and consider it as a great idea." she said with the sarcasm dripping off the last part.
She stood up to make herself a coffee. Castle jumped up and followed her. "No, really Castle, I think we should take the rest of the day off, 'cause I have only used one week of my vacation and that was for looking for a new apartment." He couldn't believe it. She was seriously willing to take the rest of the day off, with him. That was something she'd never done before. "OK, so what do you want to do, Detective?" She looked at him for a few seconds and turned back around at her coffee. "I don't know, smart ass, it was your idea. Where do you want to take me ? " He didn't really care where, everything would be OK for him as long as she was there with him. "What do you think of the theater?"
"Really Castle, of all the places you could take me to, you want to go to the theater?"
"Well, we can go somewhere else if you like."
She actually really wanted to go to the theater, it had been a long time. She was always so busy with things at work that she just didn't had enough time. "No, actually the theater sounds good."
With the biggest smile on his face he offered her his arm to lead her out the building. She took her stuff and left. Not much later they were in the car, Castle called the Captain to tell him that he was getting the rest of the day of to have some fun with Beckett. He was actually very happy to hear that and said they could stay out as long as they want.
"So, which movie are we gonna watch, Castle?"
"Don't know yet, we'll see when we get there."
When they arrived at the theater they looked for a movie and chose 'For Lovers Only'. Castle insisted to pay the tickets of course and found some lame excuses to do so.
They bought only one box of popcorn so had to eat out of the same. While doing that, they "accidentally" touched hands. A shiver went through Beckett's body and on Castle's face only appeared a smile. Half way through the movie, Castle looked at Beckett, back to the screen and again back to Beckett.
'What?'
'Nothing, it's just that you look very much like that actress..'
'Is this some kind of pick up line?'
'No no, I'm serious!'
'Okaay, that's positive, right?'
'Yeah, definitely. She's hot!' At that, she gave him a pointed look and he quickly corrected himself. 'I mean, euhm, there's no one more beautiful than you but, I mean, she's not ugly ...'
She felt the heat start to rise to her head and just simply thanked him and then focused again on the movie.
When the credits rolled , Castle saw that Kate was totally relaxed so suggested to go to his building to get dinner. Strangely she said 'yes' … again, and off they were. They drunk some wine and sat in the couch to watch another movie. Without really realizing it, they sat closer to each other than normally, almost touching. Castle couldn't ignore the perfect smell she had hanging around her body. He didn't know why but needed to look at her, he needed to see her. It was weird but he was way too distracted to continue watching TV. When she noticed him staring she turned around to tell him to stop, but when green eyes met blue ones and she saw that look in his eyes, she knew. All those feelings she had felt weren't just some feelings, it wasn't just a crush. No, it was real, it was love. When he leaned forward, she totally panicked. She didn't know what to do but knew that this was what she wanted all this time. He was surprised that she didn't push him away so got closer. At the time their lips touched, Alexis stormed in.
"Dad, I can't take it anymore!"
Her face totally changed when she saw them together on the couch almost kissing. "Oh, am I interrupting something?"
"Hey sweetie, how are you?" Castle said while pulling away from Beckett.
"Euhm, I'm good, even better now." she said with a big smile on her face. "Hi Beckett."
"Hey Alexis." Beckett pulled away feeling awkward.
Castle didn't really know what to say or do at this moment until Beckett started "I should probably go… yeah … I'll see you guys later." And a few seconds later she was gone.
"OMG, dad, I am so sorry to interrupt like that! I had no idea, you could have sent me a message or something. Then I could go to Paige or something ..."
"Oh no, honey, you had no idea. Me neither actually…"
It was like a dream come true. He wanted this for almost three years, but not only this, so much more. He wanted to be with her, hold her, kiss her .. .
"Again, sorry dad, but now I have to go. I have to be up early tomorrow so I'd better go to bed now. Night." And after a quick hug she was gone. Castle better headed to bed too, he probably had a big day coming up tomorrow ...
Beckett just got home from her afternoon off with Castle. It was a really nice day, she did all of the things she loved. She worked, went to see a movie and of course, spent time with Castle. But about the best part of the day, she still couldn't believe that really had almost happened. She really almost kissed Richard Castle and the strange part was that she didn't mind … at all. She actually liked it.
The next morning at Castle's place, Alexis was up making breakfast when Martha came downstairs with a sleepyhead. "Good morning. Mmmm, smells good, what is it?"
"Morning, grams, I made pancakes."
"So, you were early to bed last night, I didn't even see you anymore."
"Yeah, I know. But I have to be at school soon, for the trip." Alexis said while looking at her watch. "Did you see dad last night?" she asked with a smile.
"No, he was already to bed too. Why?"
"Oh, so he didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Well, that Beckett was here and that they were kind of making out when I walked in … !"
"Really? Well, it's about time. What happened afterwards?"
"She went home and I went to bed. That's all I know. But I really have to go now. Give kisses to dad for me. See you later." Alexis gave Martha a hug and hurried to get her coat.
"Have a good time." Martha said when Alexis went for the door.
"Gooood morning, mother." Castle said. "Did I miss Alexis?"
"Good morning, son. Yes, she just left."
"Oh, I'll call her later." He said with a bit of a sad look.
"So, what did I hear from your daughter? Kissing Beckett, huh?" Martha couldn't hold the grin that appeared on her face.
"Yeah well, not really. But I don't feel like talking about that right now. I have to go. I'll see you this evening."
"You haven't even had breakfast." Martha said, but he was already gone.
Back at the Precinct Castle saw Esposito and Ryan do paperwork but he couldn't find Beckett.
"Where's Beckett?" he asked Ryan.
"Captain called her in, don't know why though."
Castle took his seat at her desk and started playing on his phone. After a couple minutes she was back. "Already tweeting about things live offer?" was the first thing she said after sitting down.
"Good morning to you too, and no, not tweeting, texting Alexis. She's going out of town with the class today and just wishing her a nice day." Beckett started doing her paperwork where she left off the day before. Minutes past by and not a word was said. Castle didn't like this silence so started
"Look about yesterday... I'm sorry, I didn't really know what was happening. It just did..."
She looked at him with a look he didn't recognize. "Castle, I know you didn't know and to be honest, me neither. It was a moment of passion and I'm sure it will never happen again."
Moment of passion? It wasn't a 'moment of passion' for him, but he thought it would be better to just leave it by that, for now. He leaned back in his chair and started playing with his phone again. Beckett continued her paperwork.
Some time later, Castle went to the break room to get him and Beckett a coffee. Just when he leaved, Esposito and Ryan appeared at her desk. "Yo." Esposito started. "We found the wife, we're heading over to tell her the bad news, but before we leave... what's going on between you and Castle? And don't say nothing 'cause we kept an eye on you two." Beckett felt her cheeks turn red and looked down. " Guys, there's nothing between me and Castle and there never will be. "
Castle came back just in time to hear what Beckett had to say to the boys. He stood there for a second, watching her. When he realized what she said he turned around and walked away, his eyes getting blurry.
"Yeah, really nothing. I bet that that's the reason he's looking so sad just by hearing that." They both got in the elevator and disappeared.
After ten minutes Castle came back with their coffee. He put her cup down on her desk and started sipping from his one. "So, nothing huh?" He said with that same look.
"Castle ..."
"No, I understand. It was a mistake and it will never happen again. But you know that we actually didn't even kiss. Because I have to tell you, if that really happened, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."
"I never said it was a mistake, I just said that it was a moment of passion."
"I know what you said, trust me." Inside he still wasn't all to happy, but he put his poker face on and stared at the white board. She really felt bad, he wasn't supposed to have heard that.
After all her paperwork was done, she called Esposito to see how it's going with the wife.
"Esposito" sounded on the other side of the line.
"It's me, how are things going down there?"
"Not good, his wife started crying and still is. I think she's already crying for like an half hour. Ryan is trying to comfort her but that isn't really helping."
"OK, good luck then. We're heading out so see you tomorrow." and she hung up.
"So, how's the wife?" Castle asked.
"She's still crying, poor her. How can you live with it when your husband kills himself just for money. But anyway, we're done here. We can go home now." Beckett wasn't really in the mood to go home and be there all by herself thinking about the awful day she just had.
"OK."
"You want a lift?"
"Sure, thanks."
They went to the garage without saying anything. The ride was a little awkward, and there wasn't really al lot of talking. After a couple more minutes, what seemed like forever, they were at his place.
"Thanx for the ride."
"No problem."
"See you tomorrow."
"Yep, see you tomorrow."
And that was it. He got out of the car and went to his loft and she drove away.
When she arrived at her place and was in, she threw her jacket on the couch and went straight to bed. She didn't even change in her pj's. She wanted this day to be over as quickly as possible. After five minutes she was asleep.