Her day was not starting off well at all. He asked her out for dinner and she was not sure she should go. It was her birthday and that day was usually reserved for her father. They would plan a day and go to the ballpark and dinner just like when she was a kid. She always enjoyed these outings with her father especially since her mother's murder. It was just the two of them now and any time she could manage for him was always special. How would he handle her not showing this year? Maybe she should cancel this date, she only just met him.

He was with the detective division of her precinct but she had never had reason to work with him before the runaway teem murder. He was called in as an assistant to help with the case due to his prior knowledge of their "person of interest." He worked a case 3 years before that involved the same suspect and his prior dealings with him helped blow the case wide open. After that Laney took over. She talked Kate into meeting him for lunch one day, and it just so happened it was a day Castle went home to check in on Alexis who was home from school sick. It was a very pleasant lunch and they did seem to have a lot in common. She had to admit though, sitting at lunch with him made her nervous. She kept looking to see if Castle was going to show up. She felt guilty a bit, though common sense said she had absolutely no reason to feel that way. Castle had his own life too and while his bachelorette #3 dinner date bothered her a bit, it just fueled her more to begin this process of getting back into the dating circle again.

Now, here was this gorgeous detective who was asking her out for dinner. He didn't know it was her birthday and she didn't want him to know that. This wasn't like that yet. This was a 'first date' and she was only interested in having a good meal and good conversation with this very handsome man. He was handsome, wasn't he? As she sat at her desk mulling all of this over she looked up to see Laney standing beside her desk.

"Hey you, rumor has it you are going to dinner with a hottie tonight," teased Laney.

"Well, I've been thinking about that. I might cancel," said Kate.

"Girl, are you nuts? Whatever for?"

"It's my birthday Laney, I always go out with my dad. I am not sure I want to miss that this year."

"Listen you, what's dinner gonna hurt? You can go out with Dad like always, just the next day. I think someone is runnin' scared," Laney says as she rolls her eyes.

"What Castle have to say about it," asks the doc.

"He doesn't know," whispers Kate. "I haven't told him, but what would he care, right," she asks.

"Ah, girlfriend, you are totally clueless aren't you? The guy has it bad for you. In fact the plan is genius to have him be jealous and then maybe he'll have a fire lit underneath him to ask you out himself!"

"Oh God, no way Dr. Parrish. Me with Castle? You must be crazy," says Kate.

"Yeah, crazy like a fox, KB. I read the book honey, and my dreams were on high afterwards. I bet yours were X rated," the Dr is smiling at Kate as Kate is clearly uncomfortable with the subject.

"Well, look I came over hear to give you your gift," as Laney lifts a small package out of purse and hands it to Kate. "Happy Birthday hon."

Kate hugs Laney. As she is opening the gift in walks Castle with latte's for both he and Kate.

"Well if it isn't the sexiest Medical Examiner in the state of New York, hey doc what brings you down with the living," teases Castle.

"It's my girl's birthday and I wanted to give her a gift." Laney is looking right at Castle now as he appears flustered to know it is Kate's birthday.

Kate opens her gift as she sees a cute pair of emerald earings. "My goodness they are beautiful Laney, thank you!"

"You were lookin' at them last time we were shopping and I thought they would look good on you. It's your birthstone too, so I though tit might bring you good luck."

They hug and Laney speaks first, "Well, I have to get back to the dead. Happy Birthday, you."

"Thanks Laney, I love them," says Kate.

Laney leaves and Castle sits down beside Kate's desk as Kate is looking at the earings with a big smile on her face.

"She's a good friend. I'm lucky to have one like that," whispers Kate.

"Listen, about your birthday but what would you say if I take you out somewhere really fancy tonight and we celebrate, we'll enjoy a good meal and just walk through the park, whatdya say Kate?"

"I can't tonight, I…"

Castle interrupts, "Oh I forgot you probably have plans with your Dad, that's ok. How about tomorrow? We can go to Bravos and order samplings of everything see what we like."

Beckett looks uncomfortable now, " ah well, I have a date….I am…."

Just then Tom comes into the office space. "Hey, beautiful! Don't forget tonight at 7 sharp ok," he is leaning in as he grazes her cheek with a kiss.

He spies Castle staring him down, "Ah is this the writer shadow? Castle right, Rick Castle….. I'm Tom Murphy."

"Can't say I like reading fictional crime stories, Rick but I know you are wealthy so a lot of folks might like that sort of thing huh, me for one, I would much rather live the action than make it up, but to each his own."

"Well, listen about tonight," he is looking at Kate's eyes as his lowers his voice, "wear something sexy and we'll go out on the town Kate. I heard it is your birthday from Laney as I was coming in just now, so we'll celebrate."

He leans in to kiss her cheek as he looks deeply into her eyes, "Later, Kate."

He walks passed Castle as he says, "Happy writing, Ricky….ah Rick…whatever.."

Castle is speechless as he looks right into Kates eyes. He swallows hard as she appears flustered as well. With his mouth wide open he looks down to the floor as he manages to say, "maybe another time, Kate."

He stands up and makes an excuse to leave and then stops. "Ah, I almost forgot, I have something for your birthday. He walks over to Ryan's desk as he lifts off the wrapped package.

"I hid this here so you wouldn't see it…Happy Birthday Kate," he whispers as he leans in to kiss her cheek. He never looks away from her eyes as he walks away backwards for a step or two, then turns to leave.

Kate is left holding the envelope. It is a large yellow 81/2 by 11 one. She opens it and pulls out two pictures. They are of her with Joe Torre.

"Oh my God," she says out loud. "How did he get these?" A note floats to the floor:

"To KB:

A friend of mine works for the Daily News and took these when we worked the baseball player murder. I bought the rights and had two copies made. I thought one for you, and one for your father! Happy Birthday, Kate."

Castle

She is so touched by his thoughtfulness. She holds the pictures to her as she wipes the tears from her eyes. The best gift ever……….

She look sat her watch. 5:30pm she needs to leave and get ready for her date. A date she no longer wants to go on.