Chapter 1

The morning sunbeam coming through the window touched her face. She woke up but didn't open her eyes. She just smiled. She remembered how great yesterday was, because it was her birthday. Funny presents from friends, sincere laughter all night long… and lots of alcohol. Kate knew it would be difficult to work the next day, but it didn't bother her at all. Everything was perfect for her yesterday except for Josh being absent. He was on duty that night, as usual when he was needed. She turned her head to the window and opened her eyes to let them meet the sunlight and what she saw shocked her. There was Castle lying half-naked in the bed. Her pupils contracted, she could say nothing but…

"CAAAAAAAAASTLE!"

Not only Rick but Lanie, Esposito and Ryan sleeping in the living room woke up too. Castle fell to the floor with a thud and hit his head. He couldn't realize anything, or more precisely, one thing – what the hell Kate was doing in his bedroom. Richard looked at her and the smile from ear to ear appeared on his face when he saw Beckett wearing only bra…maybe only bra, as everything below waist was covered with blanket.

"Am I dreaming?" he whispered. "Gee…" said Rick and moved his hand in the direction of Beckett. Kate was watching what he was going to do at first and when she realized she was without a camisole or something kind of it, she hit Castle's hand and covered her naked part of the body with the pillow.

"You insane? And what the hell are you doing here?"

Castle began to understand something was wrong. He looked around and noticed that it wasn't his apartment. When his eyes opened widely, seemed he got everything.

"This is not a dream?"

"NO, CASTLE!"

"Then reality appeals to me much more."

"What happened?" said Lanie. "And what the hell…?" She noticed she was lying on the sofa with Esposito. They were almost naked. After a head-to-toe look-over of each other their eyes met. And before one of them said something, strange noise broke the silence. Behind the table there was someone lying on the floor. Esposito saw Lanie was scared so he got up and came to the body. In a second he burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" ask Lanie.

Esposito couldn't say anything. He just pointed his finger on the body.

"Who's that?"

And the body got up. It was Ryan. When Lanie saw him she was shocked and said nothing, just began laughing too. The matter was that Ryan was wearing a dress! He couldn't understand what was wrong till he looked in the mirror.

"Oh my…" These were the only words he said.

"Hey, pal, I thought you were interested in women." said Esposito through the laughter.

"I wish I remembered." Ryan made a pause. "And why are you both nude?"

After these words laughter quieted down. Lanie and Esposito exchanged glances.

"Oh, somebody had a great time, right?" said Ryan smiling.

"Shut up" said Lanie through set teeth. "Turn around. I need to dress." She looked at Esposito. "Both."

"Does anyone know what that scream was?" asked Ryan.

"It was coming from Kate's bedroom." answered Lanie buttoning her blouse. "I'll see what happened."

Castle was shaking himself, Beckett was still sitting on the bed motionless, covering with the pillow when Lanie came in. Eyes wide open, she only said "Wow!" The caught ones were looking at the "uninvited guest" with mouths open. Kate tried to say something but was interrupted by the words "You did it, honey. At last, you've followed my advice." Kate narrowed her eyes and seemed like she was gonna kill her friend.

"Don't look at me like that", said Lanie. "You should've done this before."

"Actually, we didn't…" began Castle. "No, it can't be."

Kate cast a glance at Richard.

"What do you mean it can't be?", she asked.

"Come on, Castle. Don't be shy! It doesn't suit you" said Lanie.

Beckett was ready to explode.

"Now you and you." detective pointed at the craftily smiling medical expert and scared half-naked writer. "Get out!" And then she pointed at the door.

"Next time, tell me beforehand you'll be with a man. The man" said Lanie.

Reaching the pick of rage, Kate threw the pillow in the ME but missed as she ran out of the room in time. And Castle saw her naked again. He couldn't look aside.

"You, son of a bitch, get out!" shouted detective and threw another pillow at him.

Rick was running to the door and near it realised that he was without pants. He came back, got his jeans and rushed out of the room.

The first Kate's thought after that was "Oh my…Did we really…"

Four colleagues of her were sitting in the living-room when Kate came out of the bedroom wearing jeans and T-shirt. Esposito and Ryan looked at her trying to hide laughter. Lanie winked at Beckett and got the answer in the form of a contemptuous glance. Castle watched what was happening outside through the window as he can't just look into her eyes. He was afraid. Afraid of her. If she only knew that, she would definitely be proud for herself.

"Now, everyone, listen to me. Nobody…Hear? NOBODY should know about this night. Or I'll kick someone's ass" said Kate and glanced at Javier and Kevin.

"What?" asked Esposito. "You think we can do that? Oh man! How cou…"

And the door bell rang. The room got at once filled with dead silence. Another and another ring sounded.

"Maybe, you'll open the door?" Lanie asked Kate who was standing still.

For some seconds Beckett stayed at the same place but soon came round from the stupor and moved in the direction of the door. She looked in the spyhole and shivered with fear because of who she saw there. On the other side of the front door was Josh waiting with a huge bouquet of roses and a bottle of expensive red wine. Kate wanted to ask Lanie what to do next but it was too long she didn't open. The snap of a lock sounded in the air. The door opened. Kate looked out and sincere smile appeared on her face. He smiled too.

"Hi!" said Josh looking at her nice face. "May I come in?"

"Err…Sure." asked Kate and fully open the door.

He stepped the threshold and stopped right in front of her as he was to say happy birthday to her.

"Sorry for not being with you yesterday. You know, my job…"

"I understand"

"But I wanted so much, really. Very much."

"Never mind, I'm glad you're here now."

They were looking in the eye of each other silently.

"Maybe you'll invite me to the living room?" smiled Josh.

"Of course, I do. Come in. But…", she didn't know how to explain what he would see.

Entered the room, Josh's smile disappeared in a second when he saw what a mess dwelled in there. He looked over everyone present and stopped his gaze at Castle. No one doubted who he would pay attention to.

"Could you…" began Josh.

"I'll explain you everything", Beckett's mobile rang. Montgomery was calling. "But later." she answered the phone call.

And just now after all these morning incidents she felt relieved.

She came into the room.

"Guys, we've got a job."