Prompt: Based on the song Galway girl by Ed Sheeran. AU, strangers. Kate is bubbly and not really her usual protective self so slight warning for out of character behavior. Second chapter is M-rated.

Staring at the cursor blinking on the document in front of him, Richard Castle sighed and wiped his face with frustration running through his veins. He'd been trying to write the whole day and he still hadn't added one single word to his story. It had been like this for days and he still couldn't come up with a good way to continue the Derrick Storm novel. He'd even sent away his mother and daughter for the weekend in order to stay focused on his task, they'd gone late Thursday to get a jump on the relaxation of the spa he'd sent them to. But still, it was late Friday evening and he still hadn't hadn't written a word.

"Maybe I need a break," he grunted to himself as he leaned back in his chair, putting his hands over his face as he laid back his head against the back of the chair.

He took a few deep breaths before he looked back at the document in front of him. He set his fingers on the keyboard but as he danced with them above the keys he still couldn't come up with what to write next. With another grunt he closed the lid of his laptop with more force than necessary and stood up from his chair. He considered just pouring some scotch and play video games but the second his fingers clenched around the bottle he decided he didn't want to mope alone. Letting go of the bottle he went into his room and looked at himself in the mirror. With a quick whiff on himself he decided to take a shower before heading out. Not that he was really expecting to talk to anyone but there was no way he would risk running into a fan or talking to the bartender and smell of sweat. It took him about 15 minutes from he decided on the shower till he was out the door and calling for a cab to take him to one of his favorable bars. In the cab he checked his phone and saw his daughter had texted him goodnight, so he answered a goodnight of his own before tucking it into his pocket again. When the car stopped he paid the driver, adding a small tip, and got out of the cab to stand in front of the bar. Taking a deep breath to feel with the traces of the alcohol and the scent of the bar he decided he definitely needed this. He steered his feet inside and went straight to the bar where he sat down at one of those high stools.

"What are you having?" a bartender came up to him and he decided to order a beer to begin with.

As he waited for the beer to be poured he looked towards the small stage not far away and caught sight of a band he hadn't seen before. At first he started to watch the entirety of the band, one man of the drums, another man on piano, one woman with the microphone but once his eyes laid on the guitarist he was stuck. The woman had chestnut brown and long hair, her face was... like an angel's and he couldn't help but wonder what her eyes would look like in close. Her fingers danced across the guitar as if it was something she'd done since she was old enough to hold a guitar and he couldn't help but wonder if that was indeed the case. He could tell her mind was in the music, the way she had her eyes halfway closed at times and her body kept swaying along with the beat. He couldn't tell what made him do it but he started swaying along too, his eyes stuck on hers. God, she's beaut...

"Here you go, sir," the bartender interrupted his thoughts and he jerked a little at the sudden voice behind him.

He cleared his throat and said his thanks before he grabbed the glass and took a small sip. It didn't take long before his eyes travelled back to the woman on the guitar though. The music she was playing was catchy and reminded him of an Irish style mixed with American, like it wasn't completely Irish but there was a clear hint of it. He couldn't help but wonder if that's where she came from, Ireland, or if she was just a fan of the music. Perhaps one of her band members was from there. He tore his eyes from her for just a few seconds in order to get a second glance at the other members. Maybe the guy on the piano could be but he figured so could the other three and he decided he wouldn't jump to conclusions. Maybe none of them came from Ireland or everyone did, he wouldn't know unless he got to talk to them. His eyes found the woman again and he sipped his beer, almost choking when her eyes suddenly snapped to meet his. She had a blinding smile and he could almost swear her lips pulled up a little further when she saw him looking at her. For a couple seconds he was stuck, looking into her eyes that appeared dark from the distance between them so he figured... brown? Then he snapped out of it, his cheeks heating up with embarrassment of getting caught and he looked away. Actually, he trained his eyes in his beer, feeling the small shame go up his ears. He forced himself to keep his eyes away from her for several minutes, managed to keep them away for the duration of him drinking half his beer before he just had to look up again. This time she wasn't looking at him anymore, thank god, but the music was intensifying before it came to a full stop.

"Thank you all for tonight, we'll be back the usual time next Friday!" the woman with the microphone called out as the others waved to the crowed, showing their thanks by their gestures.

Rick put his glass down in order to clap along with the rest of the crowd. He felt his heart take a leap when the guitarist looked his way and threw a small kiss and a wink at his direction. His eyes widened at the shock and sudden butterflies in his stomach as he watched the members get off the stage and disappear into what he assumed was the rooms for the bands and solos playing at the bar. His heart sunk at seeing her disappearing, and he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. He'd seen beautiful women before, hell, he'd signed very attractive women's chests before. Why would this woman be any different? Especially considering he hadn't even talked to her! Or seen her up close! He couldn't even be sure of her eye color! He suspected they were of a darker color, maybe brown, but it could as well only be the light and distance that fooled him. Turning around to sit towards the bar he picked up his glass again and sipped on it. When the beer was gone he asked the bartender for another one, thinking he would stay and listen to the background music for the duration of his new glass and then head back home. He jumped at the sudden weight of two hands slapping onto his shoulders and he couldn't stop the small yelp from leaving his lips.

"You know, staring is creepy." The voice was melodic, hypnotic, and right beside his ear.

"So is sneaking up on a guy without any warning or whatsoever!" He was surprised by his quick response and the way his voice didn't tremble with the small fright he'd been exposed to.

The melodic voice laughed and he felt the hands leave his shoulders as he felt the woman pull away. He turned a little to see the guitarist he'd been ogling for the past twenty minutes sit down on the stool beside him. He suddenly felt his mouth go dry. She was even more beautiful up close.

"Baby," she teased with her tongue sticking out of her grinning mouth. Turning to the bartender she only gestured with one finger up for the barkeep to start pouring a beer. So, she was a regular at the bar as well as the stage. "So, you here to drink and ogle or do you dance and play pool too?"

He was a bit taken back by her boldness, her playful smile and he was finally close enough to see her eyes were hazel, not only brown but with glimpses of green too. The bartender handed her the beer she'd ordered and she thanked him, returned her eyes to Rick and took a sip from the glass.

"I-ah, I came to get a break from my work, if that involves dance and pool then," he shrugged his shoulders, "so be it." If she could be confident, he would too.

She smiled with a hum, her eyes tinkling in a way that was beyond hypnotizing. She sipped her beer again and he couldn't escape the drawing her lips had over his eyes. There was a small glance to them and he couldn't help but wonder if she'd put the lipgloss on before or after she was on stage.

"What's your name?" His eyes snapped back up to her eyes and they told him she noticed his eyes' travel.

"Rick," he offered, not wanting to risk her recognizing his last name. If she saw him as a guy she met at the bar and not the famous writer he might actually get honest reactions from her and not some crazy fan throwing herself over him because of his money and fame.

She smiled at him with the same grin she'd held when she sat down, and reached out her hand. Once he took it she returned with her own name, "Kate."

Retrieving his hand again, the touch had his body tingling with a feeling he had never felt before, he smiled big at the woman. "So, Kate, how did you get so good with the guitar?"

Her lips stole his attention when she pulled in her lower lip to bite it, most probably trying to conceal the excitement he had read in her eyes. Damn, he had a sudden urge to be the one biting that lip.

"My mom taught me," she said with a sense of pride in her voice. "She would play for me when I was a baby and as soon as I was old enough to help, she would sit in front of me on the floor letting me play the guitar with her." He could see she was zoning out a bit, happy about the memory she'd just relived.

"Sounds amazing," he let out before he could think and her eyes went back to him.

"It was," she nodded and raised her glass. Before he said anything else he raised his too and they clinked glasses before drinking.

After they stopped drinking she challenged him in a game of pool and he pretended to think about it for a few seconds before he agreed and they set off to the pool tables. They were in luck of one table being available and immediately snatched it. Being the gentleman he was he let her be the one taking the first shot. He had to admit, she was good, and he even accused her of playing it more than him. She was laughing with him and kept teasing him the way he teased her. He'd brushed his hand over her back once and the electricity shooting into his hand was undeniable. She had just bit her lip again and given him a smile with a quirk of her eyebrow, almost as if she was challenging him to do it again. He had. And then she'd done the same to him and he'd almost not been able to hide the shiver going down his spine at her sudden touch. He was so intrigued by her. It was impossible for him to tear his eyes off her, couldn't stop but observing her every move, and he could swear she was being extra careful with how she moved her body just to tease him.

"Oh come on! You probably rigged the game before I got here," he complained, faked complaining, when she shot the winning bowl in one of the corner holes.

She laughed lightly. "Be careful, Rick, or I might think you're a sore loser." Her teasing had him chuckling back as he shook his head.

"Well played," he complimented instead as she walked up to stand in front of him.

He reached out his hand carefully, the way he always did after a great game, but he saw her eyeing his hand for only a second before she rolled her eyes and her cheeks turned pink. Just before he could ask her what was wrong she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Now it was his turn to blush and the spot where her lips had been definitely burned. She reached out to grab a hold of his cue in order to put down the two they'd used onto the wall where they'd retrieved them before the game. Once she came back, he was still frozen on the spot, she grabbed a hold of his hand and pulled him with her.

"Come on, let's dance," she giggled and he followed without a second thought.

The new band played some really upbeat, swaying music and Kate started dancing the second they were on the dance floor. Rick started dancing too and it didn't take long before they were holding hands, him twirling her around and they pulled in and out in a dancing matter. There were times in the dance they didn't hold hands but simply danced closely apart. Rick had no clue as to how long they were dancing but he was definitely starting to get tired and overwhelmed with all the excitement he had felt in his body ever since she'd scared him with her hands on his shoulders. Hearing her laugh and seeing the beautiful smile constant on her lips while they danced kept his energy up though, it was as if he could live through the warmth radiating from her. Without much warning she wrapped her hands around his neck and as her body moved close to his he put his hands on her hips and they danced together. He could see, in her hazel eyes, that she was arguing with herself about something and was just about to ask her what was wrong when she stood on her tiptoes and claimed his lips with hers. The small chock had his body freeze for a second before the movements of her lips had him snapping out of it and kissing her back with full force. The way she was kissing him he was almost certain she'd forgotten they were surrounded by people, and the way his whole body came alive he was beginning to forget it too. He pulled her body closer to his by the hands on her hips and asked permission to her mouth by brushing his tongue over her lower lip. She parted her lips and the instant her taste filled his mouth there was nothing more he wanted than to taste those lips for the rest of his life, he'd never tasted something so good. He deepened the kiss, nibbled at her lower lip the way she'd bit it earlier and he more felt than heard the moan escaping her lips onto his. When they eventually pulled away it was for both of them to catch their breaths.

"Well, well, well, look at you, Kate," the voice of a woman had the two turn their heads to see a latina coming towards them.

Rick immediately recognized her as the woman with the microphone and looked back to Kate when he felt her creating a little space between them. He saw her cheeks were flushed and pink from what he assumed was not only the heated kiss but also some sort of embarrassment.

"Shut up, Lane," Kate muttered and he caught a glance of a death glare directed to her friend, who only replied with a smirk.

"Hi, I'm Lanie," the woman said, reaching out her hand towards him.

"Rick," he took her hand and shook it.

The woman, Lanie, continued to smirk as her eyes flicked between him and Kate before she settled onto Kate.

"The guys and I are heading home, but I suppose you're not coming with."

Rick watched with newfound amusement how Kate's face turned even more pink, which apparently amused the latina just as much because she was very visibly laughing.

"No, I'll take a cab home later, see you at work," Kate said in a hurried tone, as if she wanted to get rid of her friend and Rick couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping his lips.

"Yeah, and I want all details," Lanie said in a demanding tone before she turned to him. "Don't get into a drinking contest with her, she can take you."

He chuckled with a shaking of his head, "Thanks for the heads-up."

The latina walked off with a smirk on her lips and a sway on her hips. He couldn't help but be amused by the whole conversation and turned to see Kate was clenching her eyes shut. Most likely trying to calm her nerves with deep breaths.

"What are you thinking?" he said with the chuckle still evident in his voice.

"Trying not to plan a murder, wouldn't look good on my job," she muttered.

He bit his cheek, laid his hands on her hips again and pulled her closer only to see her eyes open with wonder evident. "I can help you think of something else," he whispered as he leaned down to place his lips only a fraction away from kissing her.

"That actually sounds like a good plan," she brushed her lips against his and it didn't take long for him to claim them again.

He wasn't sure he'd ever felt so... hooked? before. Her taste was addictive and, somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if she could feel the same sparks that he did or if it was just him. Slowing down the kiss again, he wouldn't let it get too heated, he ended up pecking her lips once, twice, and then moved to peck her nose before pulling away completely as she giggled.

"You have another gig tomorrow?" he asked and watched her biting her lip.

"No," she shook her head. "Have to work on Sunday though."

"Where's the gig? Can I come watch?" He saw her eye tinkle as she laughed, shaking her head again and he quirked his eyebrow in question.

"It's not a gig, I-ah, I'm a homicide detective." She explained it with a small uncertainty hanging over her. "We-ah, mostly play here on Fridays, some occasional days off we play here after a hard case. The owner is family to Ryan. Oh, the piano guy," she added when she remembered he didn't know any of the band members' names.

"You're a cop?!" His tone might've been a little too high and she broke eye contact in order to look down.

"Yeah, I... should go," she mumbled but before she could fully turn around he put his hand on her arm to stop her.

"Why? That's so cool! I got so many questions!" He tried to smother his excitement but it was too great to smother completely and he saw her eyes widen in surprise.

"Really?"

Why did she sound so surprised? He nodded excitedly in response. The woman in front of him was not only the most hypnotizing he'd ever seen, could play the guitar in a way he could only dream of doing and she had the most interesting job in the world! Well, except for being a spy then. But it was so surprising and so thrilling!

"So, when you say you have to work on Sunday, does that mean you're free tomorrow?" he carefully moved closer to her, hearing her breathing pick up the closer he got.

"It does, why?"

God, she smelled so good. He leaned down to brush his lips near her ear, accidentally, or perhaps it was very purposefully, filling his nostrils with the scent of her.

"Perhaps I could buy you dinner, learn more about you?" He said as carefully and gently as he could. He couldn't help but dip his head down further, letting his lips brush against her neck, he could feel her body shiver at his touch.

"Like a date?" her voice was not louder than a whisper, but he could hear her loud and clear.

"Mhmm, definitely a date," he agreed, started kissing and nibbling on her neck.

She hummed, and he wasn't sure if it was due to the assault of his lips against her skin or if it was in agreement to his suggestion. Perhaps it was to both. He let his hands smooth up her body from her hips in order to smooth them down her arms again, taking a hold of her own hands. Pulling away from her neck he used his hands to spin her around and pull her back to his front, gently swaying their bodies to the music. She started dancing almost immediately and it didn't take long before they were back at it again, dancing around like they had before their kiss. Only this time they didn't restrain themselves from small teasing touches, like a hand to the lower back, lips teasing earlobes. He didn't know how long they kept on dancing this time but as the dance floor started clear of people it didn't take much longer for them to go back to the bar in order to get some drinks. Sitting at the bar they started talking again, both grinning and laughing without really knowing how they could be enjoying each other's company as much as they did.

"You're too curious for your own good!" Kate chuckled as he once again had asked a question about her work.

"Oh come on," he pleaded with the biggest eyes he could muster.

"No," she repeated from earlier with a big grin still on her face.

"Fine," he grunted with fake annoyance, he loved that grin she had on her face and didn't ever want to wipe it off. "Can you at least teach me how to play the guitar?" His total change of question had her pulling her lower lip into her mouth, her teeth sinking into it in what he figured was a try to stop grinning as big as she was.

She raised her glass and took another sip from the almost empty glass. He couldn't stop staring at her, couldn't stop observing her, the way the liquid went from the glass over to her lips and down her throat. God, he wanted to kiss her again. He found it ridiculous how addictive he already was to her lips, her taste, but there was something inside him that kept calling out for her.

"Maybe I could teach you a couple of chords, if you're a good student," she teased and he nodded excitedly.

"Oh, I'll be good," he promised and she laughed when he winked at her.

He really wasn't sure what had gotten into him but he badly, really badly, wanted to stay with her. He hadn't been the one night stand type since he had gotten his little girl and decided she shouldn't have to deal with seeing a ray of different women coming in and out of their lives. He still wasn't a one night stand kind of guy, he felt a strong field pulling him to this woman in front of him, yes, but it wasn't in a 'just once' kind of feel. But he also wanted her now. Now and for a long time. It suddenly struck him what the field could be but no. It certainly could not be, could it? It couldn't be love at first sight, right? Those kind of things only existed in books... right? He'd read about it, hell, even written about it, but it wasn't real. It couldn't be. Right?

"Hey, Kate, we need to close up. I know you're a friend of Kevin but we can't let you stay here without him," a woman came out of nowhere and Rick figured it must be one of the owners.

Kevin? That must be the piano guy Kate had told him about. Ryan, she'd called him Ryan. Probably his surname. He'd asked her about that during their talk at the bar. Apparently cops, at least at her precinct, mostly used their surnames when talking about and to each other. She called her partners Ryan and Espo, short for Esposito if he remembered right, while they called her Beckett.

"Sure thing, Alannah, we'll just finish our drinks," Kate told the woman who nodded and turned on her heel. Kate gave Rick a look and he immediately nodded, clunking back what was left in his drink as did she.

The two thanked the bartender before they raised from their stools. To Rick's small surprise Kate took his hand and didn't let go of him again until they were outside, he immediately missed the warmth of her fingers twined with his. Rick followed her when she started walking down the street, didn't want to part from her and by the smiling look she gave him he had a feeling she didn't either.

"So, what do you wanna do?" Rick asked and she shrugged her shoulders.

"I dunno. I'm thinking home?" she said in an asking tone and he wrinkled his forehead in question, wasn't sure if that was a cue for him to leave.

He'd thought they would be spending a bit more time together, but on the other hand he might be able to convince her to eat dinner with him the next night. With his eyes still observing her she was biting her lower lip again and he had to clench his fingers in order not to grab and kiss her.

"I mean, ehm," she cleared her throat and looked ahead as she let out the rest of her words. "Do you wanna tag along?"

Whatever worry he might've had before was definitely gone now and he wasn't able to stop the grin from pulling his lips up.

"I'd love to."

The grin on her lips mirrored his as her fingers slid down his arm in order to pry his fingers open and without hesitation he tangled his fingers with hers.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and hope you enjoyed it! There will only be one more chapter and this is a small reminder that chapter is M-rated. It will most likely be up Friday as long as nothing gets in the way. Until then, xxxx