A/N: This is a collaboration between me and 4evercaskett. We did this together on GoogleDocs and had a blast! I am not sure how long this will be yet but we have several parts finished and several others already plotted out. We are going to try to post one chapter a night for as long as we can.

Disclaimer: We don't own these characters but we probably wouldn't mind borrowing Castle every now and then.

Chapter One - Baby Steps

Rick sat across from Kate in the small diner that had visited so many times before but tonight was different. They were finally on a real date, not anything fancy, but a real date. He had asked her out as she finished up her paperwork and she accepted, after their meal he was going to pay and then walk her home. Maybe she would allow him to hold her hand on the way and maybe... just maybe, he'd get a goodnight kiss.

They chatted about friends and family while they ate but Kate fell silent for a few moments as she contemplated how she got here tonight. Granted they had gone out to Remy's for burgers before and he often paid but tonight was different. He usually would just say a few words in a questioning manner, such as 'Fancy a burger?' or 'Italian?' and she would nod, stop whatever she was doing and let him feed her. This time was different. He had waited until she was shutting down her computer and then reached for her hand.

"Let me take you out tonight, Kate, anywhere you want."

Kate had realized as soon as the words left Rick's mouth, that this was a date. She had known that this was the first step toward what they both wanted, but she was extremely nervous. Kate had looked at their joined hands for a moment and thought, 'This is it, make it or break it, tonight would determine our future. I can pull away and just treat his invitation as any of the others over the years or I can take that first step.' She took a deep breath and decided.

"OK, Remy's good for you?"

They had smiled at each other as they walked out of the precinct, hands still joined, her free hand twirling her hair. They had still been smiling when they were seated in their usual booth. They had a good dinner but as the date came to a close, Kate started to get a bit more nervous.

"Second date is my choice." Rick whispered in Kate's ear, surprising her a bit with his proximity as they walked out the door, his hand gently on her back as usual. He smiled down at her and her slightly flushed cheeks before he stepped back and hailed a cab.

Kate held her tongue until they were comfortably seated in a south bound taxi. "Nothing extravagant, Castle."

"Low profile, I get it." Rick said with a smile. "That doesn't mean it won't be more romantic than you've ever dream of."

Kate rolled her eyes and then glared at her partner. "If my picture ends up on page 6, you're a dead man."

"Gotcha!" Rick affirmed, and placed his hand over hers.

Kate tensed when she felt Rick's hand cover hers but she didn't pull away. She wanted to move forward with him, she was finally ready to admit that he was her one and done. "I don't want to mess this up, Rick."

Rick brought his other hand up and caressed her cheek, drawing her eyes to his. "You won't. We won't." He leaned in closer and his breath tickled her ear as he continued to convince her. "This is fate, Kate."

"But I don't believe in fate," Kate nervously chuckled to mask the shiver that ran down her body when his lips grazed her flesh.

"I'll teach you," he said as he lightly kissed her earlobe.

The tension drained from her body and she turned to face him. Her eyes locked onto his lips and her tongue came out to moisten her own. "You seem pretty confident of yourself."

Rick let his fingertips lightly trace a line from her cheek to her lips. His eyes were closed and he spoke softly to her as he delicately teased her luscious lips. "I have no doubt about how I feel for you," his mouth moved closer to hers, "And I know you feel it too."

Kate sighed when she felt his lips touch her cheek. "I do, but..." her voice wavered as his lips neared hers and her eyes closed. "Rick."

"We're here, boss," the cabby shouted out as he pulled up to the curb. "Fare is twelve twenty."

Rick mumbled a few swear words as he pulled out his wallet and tossed a twenty to the driver. "Keep the change."

Kate stepped out of the taxi and placed her hand on Rick's chest when he went to follow her, she leaned in and kissed his jawline. "Night, Castle."

The writer slumped back into the seat he had just vacated. He forced a smile for Kate, bid her goodnight, shut the door and gave the driver his address.

x-x-x-x

That night was restless for both partners. Kate beat herself up all night because she had ran from her feelings once again, and Rick didn't sleep because he thought he had pushed Kate too hard. They both had reached for their cell phones several times during the night, wanting to apologize but neither of them worked up the courage to press send.

The ringing of her phone woke Kate just after the sun came up. She growled into the device and mumbled that she'd be there ASAP. She called Castle and informed him of the body drop and told him to be ready in 45 if he wanted to go. Standing in the shower, Kate cursed as she relived every moment about last night and the 2 minute phone call she had just made. 'Would it have killed me to ask how he was?' she thought. 'Dammit! I could have at least said good morning.' She shut off the water, quickly dried off and dressed, pulled her wet hair into a messy bun and exited her apartment.

Rick was standing outside his building and he smiled when he recognized her car as she pulled up. He juggled the items he was holding as she reached across the car and opened the door for him. He handed her the travel mugs full of freshly brewed coffee then climbed into the car and fastened his seat belt. He took back his coffee and as he saw her eyeing his pastry, he asked, "You want a bite of my croissant?"

Kate smiled at him and leaned across the console, her eyes studiously avoiding his. His offer to share his breakfast with her and her willingness to accept the offer meant more than any apologies ever would. Rick thought Kate would take the pastry from him but she just opened her mouth and waited for him to bring it closer.

Rick held his breath as Kate chewed and then swallowed the bite she had taken. "Pretty good, right?"

Kate took a sip of her coffee then tilted her head as she looked at her partner. "You put Nutella on your croissants?" Rick nodded his head, anxiously waiting her approval, glad when she smiled. "It's pretty good, give me another bite."

He held out the buttery confection for her to take another bite before she pulled away from the curb. "What do you know about the crime scene?"

The duo arrived at the crime scene and made their way to the ME and got the preliminary findings, just like any other time. "Whatcha got for me Lanie?"

"Single GSW to the chest, small caliber. ID in his wallet says his name is Lance Mikkelson, and what the Hell is on your mouth Detective?"

Kate looked over to Rick as she brought her hand up to wipe her mouth off. "Did I get it?"

Rick shook his head and made a motion with his hand, trying to show her where the remaining breakfast leftovers were.

Dr. Parrish smirked at her friends when she noticed Rick's dark blue jacket had crumbs near the wrists. "It's all over your coat sleeve too, Castle. What have you two been up to this morning?"

"Oh my God, Lanie!" Kate bellowed. "We had a pastry on the way over here. No touching, no kissing, and no sex. Just breakfast, on the go."

"Damn, girl. No need to take my head off."

Rick decided to play peacemaker. "Can we just focus on the victim?"

"Seriously, Castle?" Lanie asked shocked. "Isn't that Beckett's line?"

"Yeah, Castle," Kate said with a slight smile realizing that she went overboard in her denial.

"But I just, I'm," he stuttered. "I'm going to go help the guys."

The women looked at each other and smiled as he walked away before Lanie spoke. "So, Beckett, what's up?"

"I'm sorry I snapped at you, I just had a long night. I had finally gotten to sleep when Esposito called me."

"If you were with someone then that sounds like a good night to me," Lanie said moving her eyebrows suggestively.

"I was alone, as I already said," Kate said humoring her friend.

"Well, you know I no longer have a sex life so I need to live vicariously with someone."

"Yeah, I don't have one either. So you'll have to find someone else to get your thrills from."

"You know where to find me when that changes though."

"Of course. Can we focus on the case now?"

"That's better. It was just weird hearing Castle say that."

They continued to work the case and soon had some possible leads. They headed back to the precinct and Kate started to write the details that they knew. The following three days showed more and more notes being added to the board until finally they had broken the suspect and he had confessed to the shooting. Beckett sent the perp down to booking with Esposito and Ryan while she started to attack the stack of paperwork that each case brought. She smiled a bit later when she saw Castle taking down the pictures from the murder board and wiping it down.

Rick had told her once, that he had fond memories of wiping down the old timey chalk boards in school. He said that he loved the way the words disappeared and the dust that remained was on his hands and clothes. Now, if anyone asked, he would claim that since he wasn't a real cop, he wasn't able to help with the paperwork, but she knew that he just hated to deal with it. She was always a bit amused by the writer who didn't like paperwork. She signed the last of the papers and knowing that the bullpen was nearly empty, she just watched him for a few moments.

Kate thought about how three nights ago they had finally had a real date but then she pushed him back again. She was trying to take those steps forward and she didn't want to take any more backwards. Castle had been a bit quiet on this case and she was worried that she might have made a major mistake.

"So, Castle..." Kate called out as she drew closer to him. "Any plans for our second date yet?"

Rick's eyes lit up when he realized that Kate was, in her own way, asking him to take her out again. He quickly reached for his phone and started tapping at the screen. "Give me one minute, Beckett."

"Oh. You're a minute man, huh?"

Rick glared at her and then leaned over her shoulder as if he was looking for something on her desk. "It may only take one minute to get me raring to go but I can go... all... night...long."

"That's what they all say," she said unable to move away from him as one arm was on the back of her chair and the other was stretched out to her desk.

"Care to make a wager, detective?" he said as he lightly inhaled the lingering scent of her perfume.

"We haven't even gone out on a second date yet," her eyes met his. "How easy do you think I am?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that," Rick said afraid he had truly put his foot in his mouth.

"I know, Rick," she said sincerely, letting him know that she wasn't mad at him.

"Hey, I'm willing to wait as long as you want," he said before his voice dropped to a husky whisper. "But when we do finally get there... You won't be disappointed."

"I'll be the judge of that," she said, her fingertips lightly touching his chest and pushing him back so she could stand.

Rick held out his arm for her to take. "Shall we?"

"Maybe..." Kate chuckled as she took hold of his arm and let him lead her towards the elevator.

The beginning of the second date was just as pleasant as the beginnings of their first date but more romantic. Castle had found a little out of the way restaurant and gotten a table in the back away from any prying eyes. They both enjoyed their dinner and the company but they both noticed that something wasn't quite right. He was so afraid of making the same mistakes and assumptions he thought he'd made on their first date that he acted completely opposite of that night. Kate noticed the change and that didn't comfort her, it confused her even more, and made her more unsure that what they were attempting to do was ever going to work.

On the way back to her car, Rick never reached for her hand, tried his best not to stare at her, and steered away from most sexual innuendos. She held her tongue until she pulled up to his corner and looking intently at the steering wheel she finally spoke. "Is it just me or do we suck at this part?"

"Oh thank God... You feel it too?" he asked causing her startled eyes to meet his.

"I don't think it's a good thing, Castle. Maybe this dating thing isn't a good idea."

"Kiss me, Kate."

"What?" she asked surprised at the sudden command.

"Kiss me and then tell me that this isn't right."

"I thought you would be a little more romantic about our first kiss, but I guess that's just another thing that I was wrong about," she said trying to hide her disappointment.

"Second kiss," he insisted.

"Technically," she said rolling her eyes.

"You felt it that first time, didn't you? I know I did," he whispered as his hand moved to caress her check. "I remember how you dove back in for more and how you made that sound. I want to hear that again, Kate. I crave the taste of your lips..."

Kate pressed her lips to his and silenced his monologue. At first, the kiss was simple, just a chaste, almost friendly kind of gesture. Yet as soon as Rick parted his lips and his tongue tapped at her lips, the tables turned. Kate unbuckled her seat belt and turned to face him, her hands went into his hair and her teeth came into play. She nipped at his lower lip, then his upper one, and then her tongue soothed over any marks she may have left.

Rick pulled her towards him and moaned when she straddled his lap. His mouth now assaulted and worshipped hers the exact same way she had just done his. One of Rick's hands tangled in her hair, holding her in place as the other slipped down her back resting just above her waistline pressing her closer to him. Kate threw her head back, letting him have access to her neck and arched into him. She felt his erection pressing against her core and growled as she claimed his lips again. She finally broke the kiss when she felt his fingertips slip under the hem of her shirt and slide across her bare skin.

"You can't tell me that this is wrong, Kate," he said as his forehead rested against hers, struggling to catch his breath.

"No, I can't," she whispered. He reached out to kiss her again but she pulled back. Seeing his confusion, she continued, "No, I don't think this is a mistake, but I do think this is pretty fast."

"How long have we both been waiting for this?" he quipped, earning him a glare. "Look Kate, if you want to take this slow, that's fine. You just need to tell me. It's a big step for us. I know this is right but it doesn't mean that it doesn't scare the hell out of me."

"This scares you?" she asked softly.

"Terrifies me," he admitted as he caressed her cheek. "I would loose so much if I screwed this up. I have no problem with slowing things down as long as we keep taking the little steps forward and not backward. I'll wait as long as you need. I promise. And you won't be disappointed," he said suggestively as his thumb traced over her lips.

Kate pulled back a bit and looked at him with some sadness. "I might not be disappointed, but you probably will be."

End Chapter One