A/N: Sooo, what will happen? I know MWAHAHHA

I know that some of you were happy that this story was soley of Esplaine but as this story continues I have a feeling this story will end more Casketty but Esplanie will definitely be a part of it a lot.

Just been watching the cutest movie, Ever After with Drew Barrymore in it, it's so cute

Here we go


Chapter 2

Lanie pulled into the car park around the corner from Kates apartment. She drew into a car space and turned off the engine. She slowly let her head drop to the top of the steering wheel, trying to convince herself that this was a bad idea.

But somehow, deep down, her heart seemed to think this could be the push that could make them come together. She knew the break up was her fault and at the time it seemed like the right idea. Because she didn't think they were meant to be.

Boy was she wrong.

It took her 7 days, 3 hours and 24 minutes to realize just how wrong she was. She had realized it was only a tiff and that she had over reacted, but by then it was too late. And he had already gone off to experience the single life, leaving her to her lonesome nights in her apartment with her ice cream and chocolate. She'd hidden her emotions from Kate but could definitely not hide them from herself.

She ran her hands across her face and drew a deep breath before collecting her changing bag and locking her car.

Making her way towards the elevator she decided to stop pondering about it because it was too late anyway.

She barely even realized where her feet were leading her to and suddenly she was in front of Kates door, and she hesitantly knocked on the door.

She heard footsteps approaching and the door was swung open to reveal Kate in a colour blocked sweater and black leggings, and a nervous smile on her face.

'I was just about to have a shower but make yourself comfortable.'

'Sure will. Got any red?'

'It's six o'clock.' Kate shouted over her shoulder with a frown.

'So?'

Kate shook her head and closed the bathroom door. Lanie heard the shower turn on so she headed towards the bedroom. She stopped up short when she saw the bunch of roses lying on the bed.

Roses.

Lanie arched an eyebrow and dropped her bag beside the bed before picking up the bunch of roses and gently rifling through the flowers to find the small note that lay amongst the red roses.

It read:

Don't hesitate to call me tomorrow, anytime.

Always

Rick x

Lanie jaw couldn't have dropped any closer to the ground.

Maybe this arrangement will end quicker than she thought. He is soooo in love with her. She is too but she doesn't want to admit it. That's why she kept the flowers.

The bathroom door creaked open behind her and Lanie hastily put the note back where she found it and swung around to see Kate standing in the doorway with a towel around her chest.

'Girl, what-'

'Lanie don't-'

'Nu uh,' Lanie held a hand up, 'Explain.'

Kate looked down at the ground, like a child caught with its hand caught in a cookie jar, 'The roses are from Rick.'

'Oh it's Rick now huh?' Lanie crossed her hands with an amused look on her face.

Kate looked guilty, 'Yeah.'

'And what's tomorrow?'

Kate face dropped, and she was silent for a moment before whispering, 'It's the anniversary of her death.'

Lanie was in shock that Castle had remembered and then came back to the situation at hand, 'Honey, are you ok? We don't have to go out tonight if you don't want to.' Lanie sat down on her bed and Kate came to sit down beside her.

'I'm fine. Tonight might even be good for me, get my mind off it.'

'Ok,' Lanie looked warily at her, 'Is Josh ok with all of,' she waved a hand towards the flowers, 'This?'

Kate smiled at her weakly, 'I broke it off.'

'WHAT! And you didn't think to tell me?'

'Well we were all so busy and I-'

'To hell you were busy!'

'I was busy!'

'Busy with Castle.'

Kate went to retaliate but her voice got caught in her throat, 'Well maybe. Josh's going to Camodia for Doctors without Borders and he just somehow forgot to tell me. But it's been on my mind for a while.'

'Because you're in love with Castle.'

'No!'

'Yes! You are just scared to admit it!'

'Stop it Lanie. He's been really supportive and I appreciate it very much.'

'Supportive, he's in love with you.'

Kate, 'Hm, maybe.'

'Maybe?! You have got to be-' Lanie wrung her hands sarcastically, 'You are blind woman. Ok, I'm frustrated with you so get your ass into that dress so I can start on your hair.'

Kate did as she was told and hastily made her way to her closet.


'Ok girl, lemme look at you.'

Kate stepped out into the hallway in a red strapless dress with a skirt that flared out and ended above the knee. Her hair was curled perfectly with her makeup naturally highlighting her features.

'Damn girl, Castle is going to be grovelling at your knees.'

Kate's head snapped up, 'Castle's going to be there?'

Lanies face broke out into a mischievous grin, 'Did I not mention that?'

Kate looked at her with that look that meant I-am-trying-to-be-mad-at-you-but-secretly-I-like-the-idea-but-I-wish-I-could've-had-some-warning-and-I-see-through-your-plan. 'Fine, but I hope somebody else is coming.'

'Esposito is.'

Kate threw her hands up, 'You've got to be kidding me, you two will be dry humping all night so Castle and I will be by ourselves.'

'Such a shame.'

'Bite me.'

'Mhm.'

'Well,' Kate grabbed her coat off the stand next to the door, 'You're not looking too bad yourself.'

Lanie shrugged her shoulders, she was wearing a royal purple halter neck dress which dipped dangerously low at the back. She also grabbed her coat and Kate's purse as well as her own.

'We better get going then, come along Katherine.' Lanie made her way out the door.

'Yes your Majesty.'


Castle was nervously twitching with his tie, loosening it and retying it ever minute or so. Esposito was standing beside him with a raised eyebrow, watching his antics with an amused expression.

'Dude, you look like a high school senior at his prom.'

Castle sent him a sarcastic look, 'I'm not nervous,' He pulled at his collar, 'just a tad-'

'Nervous?'

Castle rolled his eyes and turned to face Esposito, 'So why did you drag me along anyway?'

Esposito twitched nervously, 'Well, Lanie didn't want to have dinner alone so she's bringing a friend, and the only single guy I know, is you.'

Castle frowned, 'Does Kate know about this?'

Esposito grinned, 'Yep.'

Castle's surprise face confirmed Esposito thoughts on his emotions towards Beckett, 'Oh, she does?'

'Mhm.'

'….Did she seem upset?'

'Not sure.'

Esposito's phone vibrated in his pocket, he pulled it out and read the message:

Meet you out the front in 2, 'honey'?

He smiled, he was glad Lanie was latching onto this idea.

He'd never really told anyone but from time to time he did ponder on what it would be like to still be with her, if they would have worked out. But the past was the past and he was pretty sure she'd moved on.

Sure, babydoll.

He snapped his phone shut, 'Come on Castle we're meeting Lanie out the front.'

Castle sighed and slowly followed him out to the front of the restaurant. Esposito ran his hands up his arms as the winter chill slipped into his jacket. As Castle slipped through the front doors of the restaurant, Esposito spotted Lanie hopping out of a cab on the corner a hundred metres ahead of them.

'Ah there's Lanie now.'

Castle sighed and reluctantly glanced toward the cab Esposito was nodding towards. He spotted Lanie, drawing her coat over her satin dress, trying to draw out the cold.

But it was the leg that slipped out of the cab next that drew his attention.

A red 4-inch pump was delicately placed onto the pavement followed by a long slender yet familiar leg. Next came the red matching dress which worked wonders with the female's brunette hair and brown coat. The woman straightened herself up and turned towards the two men to reveal-

Katherine Beckett.

Castle's jaw dropped to the floor.

Only in his wildest dream did he ever imagine Kate Beckett looking as fine as she did tonight, with her blood red lipstick and smokey eyes. He shook his head slowly, knowing that Lanie and Javier had planned this all along and he couldn't believe he hadn't figured it out.

He watched the two women approached their slowly, chatting lightly, but all Castle could see was the way Kate twiddled nervously with her hair or how she smoothed down her dress with her slender hands. She finally glanced up towards the two guys and spotted Castle, and when she did so, she smiled nervously, bit her lip and bowed her head shyly.

He smirked at her actions, 'You little minx.'

The pair finally reached the two of them and Esposito immediately reached for Lanie and snaked his arms around her waist, 'You looked so hot, and beautiful, and stunning, and-'

Lanie leaned forward and kissed him straight, passionately before she muttered a short, 'Shut up.' She continued to make out with Esposito and Kate and Rick stood opposite each other, almost awkwardly.

'Well,' Castle rubbed his hands together, 'Let's head in for our reservations.' He turned to the occupied couple and saw they weren't listening. He slowly turned to Kate with a smile on his face, 'I guess it's just you and me.'

Kate smiled at him before fixing her coat, 'Lead the way.'

Rick held out his elbow in which Kate wrapped her arm around it and was led inside the building, her bundle of nerves matching his own unknowably.


Unlike Castle, as soon as Esposito spotted Lanie, he reacted without thought. He gasped and suddenly got nervous.

Feelings that hadn't been touched for quite a while began to surface. She looked amazing in her deep purple dress, which accented all of her curves which she obviously had. All he wanted to do was run to her and hold her forever and never let go.

Then he realized how silly he sounded and tried to shrug the feelings off as the pair approached them, but as he looked at her again he realized maybe he wasn't so wrong to shrug it off.

She smiled at him with her genuine, dazzling smile. He suddenly had a loss of words ut noticed that no one was talking so he spoke up, 'You looked so hot, and beautiful, and stunning, and-'

Lanie knew then that he would just keep stumbling nervously until someone else cut in, so she acted on her instincts and leant in the kiss him. She briefly drew away from he amazingly-good-at-making-out lips to mutter a 'shut up' before she continued their make out.

Their spark had very much re-ignited something between them and knew it wouldn't be long before something would happen. Lanie decided to ignore that nagging fact and take all the chances she could.

She didn't realize they were alone until ten minutes later.

A/N: Sooooo ladies and gentlemen, what did ya think? Yay or nay?

Personally I didn't think it was too bad so I'll leave it at that!

P.S just to get it out there, I'm really pissed off at all the Pitch Perfect fans who keep going on and on about how the cup song is so great and they are so clever! Thhheeeyy DIDN't make it up, the cast of Full House (an old T.V. show) did! (It's a really good show and it's where MK and Ashley Olsen rose to fame) Sorry if I've offended anyone!

Please R&R!

P.S, Who do we hate more:

A) Meredith

B) Gina

C) Paula

Thanks for reading!

C xx