I haven't forgotten about Small Gifts but I had this idea and wanted to get it down.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or the characters.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine, why?"

"You're not at the precinct?"

Beckett should've known that when she didn't turn up at the precinct this morning, that she'd be receiving a call from Castle. She'd called the boys this morning to tell them she was taking a sick day but she'd be back at work tomorrow. Castle must've shown up and when he'd seen that she wasn't there, had called her, she knew she should've called him too.

"No, I'm taking a sick day," Beckett answered, trying to decide whether or not to tell him why. She wanted a break from work, some time to relax, something she hasn't had the chance to do in a while. They've had case after case recently, and all that death, all that sadness, she just needed a break from it.

"Well, then, you're not okay if you're sick, are you?" Castle asked, already thinking about going over to her place, maybe with some soup or something.

"Don't tell the boys but I'm not actually sick, I'm just taking a personal day," Beckett said, wondering if Ryan and Esposito could be listening to this conversation but she couldn't hear the background noise from the precinct so she assumed he'd gone back home already.

Castle's jaw dropped slightly at this information, surprised that both Beckett was taking a day off of her own free will and that she'd told him that she had.

"Are you okay?" Castle asked, wondering what this was about, trying to think of anything that may be the cause for Beckett taking a day off.

"Yeah, I just needed a break, a day where I don't have to think about murder and I can just relax," Beckett admitted, glad she had Castle to confide in.

"So, then, what are you planning on doing on your day off?" Castle asked, deciding not to push any further, he was already glad that she'd been willing to tell him about this much.

"Don't know really," Beckett answered, unsure about how to spend her free time today since she so rarely got any and since this had been a spur of the moment thing, she didn't have anything planned.

"You're telling me you have a whole day to yourself and you have nothing planned?" Castle knew how often Beckett had time off so he thought that having the time now, she'd at least have a plan on how to use it, especially because she took the day off herself.

"Not really, I was going to do some reading or watch a movie, maybe go for a walk later," she replied, which all sounded nice and relaxing but also kind of boring without her partner by her side to crack jokes all day. She may act annoyed at him sometimes and roll her eyes at his jokes and childish behaviour but she's happier when he's around to make her smile.

"That sounds nice," Castle replied, glad she can take the time and relax by herself, can do something for herself for once.

"You don't think that's a boring way to spend a day?" Beckett asked, because if it sounded boring to her, it'd definitely sound boring to him. In the past, she would've been quite content to just sit around and read a book all day and she's going to do that today, knows she'll enjoy it but she stupidly misses Castle after only twelve hours of not seeing him and that's going to make today harder to get through.

"No, I think that's exactly what you need after how much you've been working recently," Castle replied, almost tempted to ask if she wanted company but he shouldn't, she has to put up with him at the precinct, she probably doesn't want him following her around her house as well.

"Yeah," Beckett agreed, and it was true, she did, which was why that was exactly what she was going to do, have a relaxing day at home alone, and tomorrow she'd go back to work and she'd get to see Castle and everything would be fine.

"Enjoy your day off, call me if you need anything," Castle said and then he hung up.

Beckett was left with her mouth actually hanging open, the phone still pressed to her ear as the tone rang out through the phone. Even though she'd just accepted that she was going to spend the day alone, she'd expected him to push more, to at least want more details about how she was going to spend her day. But she also knows he's not always like that, he's actually a very thoughtful and kind man, she just forgets that sometimes with all his jokes and how he pushes her.

And now sitting here alone, she almost wishes that he had invited himself over for the day because she knew she would've easily caved and said yet, she didn't want to spend the day alone.

She tried to be strong but she lasted half an hour after he hung up before she called him.

"Is everything okay?" he asked again after he answered his phone, surprised to hear from her so soon and hoping it means that nothing is wrong or she hasn't been called back into work.

"Do you want to come over?" she asked before she could chicken out and change her mind about asking him over. She wanted to spend the day with him and now that she's actually thought about it, she knows she'll have a boring day without him here to at least keep her company.

"Beckett?" She'd just told him she wanted a break and now she wanted him to spend time with her?

"I'm already bored," she admitted , not used to all this free time.

"You're bored and you want me to come to your place so you'll be less bored?" he asked and Beckett could hear the surprise but also the slight smugness in his voice.

"Don't let it go to your head but, yeah, you make things fun and I could use a bit more of that right now," she replied, knowing that he would be smug about it but not really caring if it means she got to spend the day with him. She may spend most days with him at work but spending time out of work together is one of Beckett's favourite things to do.

"Then I'll be over as soon as I can," Castle answered, now trying to think of things they could do that would make her less bored, "you had breakfast yet?"

She was still in bed but would need to get up and shower soon if he was coming over, "not yet."

"Okay, I'll pick up something on the way then," he answered. He'd taken coffee to her this morning but had given it to another officer when Beckett hadn't been there so he'd stop and get her another one as well as something to eat on the way from his place to hers.

"Thanks, Castle," she said, smiling into her pillow at how thoughtful he really could be, "I'll see you soon."

"See you," Castle replied and then he was gone and now Beckett was excited about what her day off was going to hold.

Thoughts?