Chapter 1: Time Off (First 3 Days)

The few days had passed since Captain Montgomery had told Beckett to take some time off to deal with the emotional punch Madison Keller had thrown her way.

That night Beckett and Castle had left for drinks at the Old Haunt. Once they had gone, Ryan and Esposito had asked Montgomery what was going on with Beckett as Madison had refused to answer more details about Beckett when they were interrogating her. Montgomery only replied that he knew as much as they did. The boys could tell there was more to it than that but for now they had to respect Beckett's privacy though as her surrogate brothers they couldn't help but be both curious and concerned.

While at the Old Haunt, Castle had shown Beckett the wall of fame and a much younger photo of himself was on it, taken back when he was writing 'In a Hail of Bullets'. The two mainly spent their time catching up and talking about their lives after they met. On that first evening there was no mention of Alexis.

By late evening after the two said goodnight, Castle was hard at work on his novel. He'd only been on two cases with Beckett or rather a case and a half as the pair had not seen the Wolfe case through but there would be more time for case details later. For now he was satisfied with elements that gave background information to his new characters.

The following day wasn't easy on Beckett. She had never truly taken a day off work. She had called Ryan at the office but Montgomery had intercepted the call telling Beckett not to go into work.

Around noon there was a knock on Beckett's door.

"Castle," Beckett said sounding surprised. Castle smiled. "How do you know where I live?"

"I'm just as good at investigating as you are."

He held up a cup holder with two cups of coffee and a brown bag. "Grande skim latte, two pumps sugar free vanilla, a bear claw, and a few others," he said as he walked in.

"How did you- please come in," Beckett said closing the door after he was in her apartment.

"Figured you could use the company," said Castle. "Thought we could hang out, see a movie, get into some trouble."

"You do remember I'm a cop right?"

"Okay forget the trouble."

Castle had walked over to some shelves and a few things caught his eye.

"So what do we have here," he asked.

Beckett could feel herself getting embarrassed. "It's, it's nothing," she said.

But was too late, Castle was in full view of the collection: 25 books that Castle had written.

"Why Detective Beckett, I had no idea that you were such a mega fan."

"It's nothing."

"This," Castle said waving his hand in front of the books, "Is not nothing."

"So I happen to like the genre that's hardly a big deal."

"Oh it's not just the genre that you like because if you did you'd have other books and the only ones I see in this genre are mine. I'd say it's a pretty huge deal."

Beckett looked at Castle closely before saying, "Okay you really want to know?"

"Only if you want to tell me."

Beckett went over to the books and pulled down A Rose for Ever After and Storm Warning. She also went and grabbed the coffee and breakfast donuts Castle had brought. The two took a seat on the couch.

"Your first novel," Beckett said indicating to A Rose for Ever After, "I was genuinely curious." She then picked up Storm Warning, "But this one, this one got me through my mothers' murder. I don't know but they somehow became a lifeline. I know that it sounds stupid."

"No it doesn't. At least they were there for you when I couldn't be. There wasn't much in the paper, how did it happen?"

Beckett took a deep breath. "The cops attributed it to random gang violence.

"But you don't believe that," Castle said being able to tell by the sound of her voice and the look on her face.

"No but it doesn't matter what I believe. I went down that rabbit hole once Castle, I won't do it again."

"Have you at least tried other avenues, maybe there was something you missed. You've got a partner now, maybe if I could-,"

"Castle, don't," Beckett said. "You go near my mom's case and whatever we have, whatever this is, is over so don't ruin this before we've even gotten started."

Castle stood as well. "Okay I won't."

"I mean it Castle. You have an act for getting into places where you don't belong so I'm asking you please stay out of this one."

"I can see that you mean it and you know what, I mean it too. Look if you don't want to look further into your mother's case then we won't."

"How do I know you won't do it on your own the first chance you get?"

Castle laughed a little, "I probably would have sure but things are different now because I now have a genuine chance with you. I don't want to risk betraying your trust. Speaking about trust, I have to ask: When you were talking to Madison in the interrogation room you called Alexis by the name of Harper, why?"

Beckett shook her head. "It's just the name I called her to myself. Since I was giving her up I didn't want to get so attached but I went ahead and privately named her anyways."

"Now was Harper a middle name or a first?"

"Castle, why?"

"I want to know."

"It was her middle name. Her first name was Joan. Joan Harper."

Before Beckett could comprehend what was happening, Castle had placed his lips on hers, gentle at first and then deeper, his tongue brushing the inside of her mouth and Beckett moaning in a way that was familiar but long forgotten and remembered at the same time. After a slow glide into a buoyant ecstasy the two finally came up for air.

"Wow," they both said at once.

"That was-," said Castle unable to find the words.

"Yeah," said Beckett, "What was that for she asked," still catching a bit of her breath.

"Consider it a thank you."

"For what?"

"For calling her Harper even if it was only silently." Beckett still looked a bit confused and Castle smiled taking Beckett's face in his hand. "Harper is the middle name I gave to Alexis."

Beckett gazed into his eyes, "You're serious aren't you?"

"I am. I was searching for the right baby name and I thought Harper was a good fit for her."

"And you gave her the name Alexis after your middle name Alexander."

Castle nodded, "So Joan, you named her after your mother Johanna didn't you?"

"Castle-,"

"Castle put his hands up in defense, "I'm not trying to look into her case. I want to get to know her through you."

Beckett smiled at him. She could tell that it was killing him a bit to not do the research and to stay out of her mother's murder but it was cute to see him trying.

"Well in that case, yes I did privately name her after my mom."

"It's a perfect name," said Castle.

"So is the one you chose for her," said Beckett.

The two continued to spend most of the day together, hanging out at the apartment, going out for lunch and then ordering in Chinese at Beckett's apartment.

Now the two stood by the door as Castle was getting ready to leave.

"Today was perfect," said Castle.

Beckett smiled, "It was. I hadn't had a day like this in a long time. Thank you, Rick."

Castle smiled, "You're welcome, Kate. Hey listen, don't make any plans for tomorrow okay?"

"You've got something in mind?"

"I do, you'll see." Castle leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Beckett's lips. "Until tomorrow Detective Beckett."

"Night Castle."