I own nothing except the computer where I wrote this story.

ABC, MARLOW, DISNEY,etal
They get to keep all the good stuff. That is actually fine with me because the stories they tell are much better than mine.
OK This story does not follow the show at all. As I said in my bio, I like to drive down different roads than the TV program. Gives me more flexibility to dream up stuff.
For my readers: I plan the angst in this story to hopefully be fun

CHAPTER 1

Detective Beckett looks up from her desk in the 12th when she hears the familiar sound of the elevator bell. She sees Richard Castle exiting thru the elevator doors. He walks briskly toward her desk carrying two cups, one in each hand. He starts to set one cup of steaming hot coffee down on the desk near the detective's arm,

"Good morning detective" There is almost singing in his words

With a smirk on her face, detective Beckett looks over to Castle and comments with an accusatory tone "Really?"

"What?"

"Loose the 'I just got laid voice'!"

"What do you mean?" he responds innocently

"Oh! Don't try to deny it. I'm a trained detective"

"OK. Then I won't"

"OH! So you're not denying it?"

"You just told me not to." Then in a whisper "Anyway, if anyone knows all the facts about who just got laid, it's you"

Beckett blushes then pokes him gently in the arm "Castle. Shush! You're going to get us both in trouble"

"Hey! You're the one who started this. Not me"

Before Castle can to let go of the cup, Beckett reaches over, wrapping her fingers around his for a brief moment before he releases his grip. She smiles at him and he cannot help but to smile back. To these two, this is his good morning kiss to her each day since he started following her over four years ago. Only now he gets to give her real kisses. Just not here at the station.

No matter how long these two have known each other. No matter how many times he has brought coffee to her. No matter how many smiles she has given to him, it is always fresh, warm, and makes him happy and today is no exception.

Beckett returns her attention to the tasks on her desk.

"Kate, how would you feel about a little road trip?"

"Road Trip? What do you mean? Road trip? When? Where?"

"When, is next weekend and the where is Las Vegas"

"Las Vegas? What is this about?"

"Paula called me after you left this morning. She has set me up to do a book signing at the Western Grand Hotel on the strip to coincide with the release of the latest book and they all want me to bring 'Nikki Heat' so everyone can meet you"

Beckett looks at Castle with a questioning look on her face. "Rick, I can't take off work and even if I could, this would look really funny to everyone around us that you an I took off to Vegas. Together!"

"Look, Kate, Paula worked it all out already. The mayor is on board and has convinced the commissioner to give you time off. Anyway, you are the model for Nikki and everyone is aware of that. So it really just would make sense that they want you to go represent the department".

"Castle, don't you think that this is going to send up all kinds of red flags if you and I go there together?"

"Kate, the mayor and police commissioner both think that we have been together for over three years anyway. Ever since that first book came out, they really believe that I was telling the story of you and me this entire time. Including all the intimate details"

Beckett lowers her voice to attempt to keep the information away from the two other detectives sitting close by. "WOW! So we really get to go to Vegas? Together?"

"Yes we do"

"Great! Can I borrow your credit card so I can go shopping and gamble?"

"Let me think about that for a minute. There is this one little shop off the strip that sells lingerie. They advertise 'Items For Women With Their Man in Mind'. We could go there and pick something up"

"How do you know about that shop?" he gets another poke. "Anyway, I thought you preferred me with nothing on?"

"You know, it's getting hot in here. We'll talk about that later, too." Castle's eyes are becoming dilated with this conversation.

"Hey, you got any good homicides?" Castle continues trying to get his mind off the beautiful, teasing woman sitting next to him.

"Nothing right now. Totally quiet. Sorry"

"Oh, well. I need to go to a meeting at my publisher anyway. I was hoping that you could distract me from that."

"Oh! So the only way I can distract you is to have a murder for us to work on?"

"No, wait, that didn't come out right. Did it?"

Kate laughs at his failed attempt to dig his way out of the hole his mouth just put him into.

"Well, call me if someone drops off a building or gets run over by a train"

"OK. Have fun fighting with Paula"

Rick gives Kate a smirk as we walks over to the elevator and gets in.

Kate just smiles back while she watches him until the doors close.

All the while, detectives Ryan and Esposito are sitting watching these two carry on like no one knows what is going on between them.

"How long are they going to pretend that they don't have feelings for each other" Ryan starts up

"I wish I knew" Esposito replies "If they only knew how long we have all wanted for them to connect? They are perfect for each other. They love each other. Everyone can see it. Why don't they? Why don't they just do it?"

Ryan and Esposito go back to their paperwork. After a very few minutes Kevin's phone rings "Ryan! Ok! Give me the address. Got it! We're on our way"