Disclaimer- I do not own any of the Castle characters.

"I should go," sighed Kate, running her hand through her hair. It was getting late and she knew that if she didn't go she would only end up doing something she'd regret.

"Yeah," replied Castle, a clear note of longing in his voice.

"Goodnight," Beckett murmured. As she walked out of the door she was struck by a feeling of déjà vu. It was so similar to another time when she had walked lout, hiding her true feelings, and hesitated just too long. If she hadn't things could have been so different. As the door shut behind her she paused, her hand curled tightly around the door handle. She made her decision and swung open the door. Castle was still sat on the couch and as she walked towards him he held his arms out, pulling her close as he gently kissed the top of her head.

Kate Beckett stretched and glanced around her, puzzled, at the strange surroundings. The sun was shining through a crack in the curtains and the bright light hurt her eyes. It was only as she sat up that she remembered the events of the night before. She looked to the side of her, only to find the bed empty. She mentally scolded herself. What exactly had she been expecting from the egocentric Richard Castle? A declaration of undying love? She had simply been letting her imagination run away from her when she had let herself believe that he might possibly care about her. She found her clothes lying on a heap on the floor and pulled them on. Then she left.