A/N: I apologize for those I upset, by having the boys and Beckett so unfair, regarding Castle's feelings, but I had in my head that they all thought it was a big joke. I will do my best to fix it. I didn't realize that it was so harsh… it must have been my mood. Again, I'm sorry. I hope this makes up for it. =))

Beckett's usual patience was a little thin this day. She had been thinking about Castle more and more, and despite her efforts, she was distracted by his presence. Especially, when she thought of him in a dating scenario. Candle-lit dinners, walks on the beach holding hands… okay so that was a little too cliché, but it was all the same to Beckett – she wanted Castle to make his move already. The problem was, she didn't know how to broach the subject.

This wasn't something she could talk to Lanie about, because she'd find some way to tell Castle, afraid that Beckett would die alone before she had the guts to make a move. She meant well, she was always looking out for Beckett, but this was something entirely different. This was personal.

So when Castle was being his usual annoying self, Beckett was quicker than usual, to snap at him and as she snatched the coat from the chair in order to hurry up Castle, and the ring came tumbling out and landed at her feet. It left her stunned. She knew what it was, before she even opened it. It didn't take a genius to figure it out.

But Beckett immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion?

Was that why he hadn't made subtle hints regarding a date, or romance. Had he been seeing someone else all along, and had suddenly gotten very serious about her? Castle was a player, he had a flirtatious streak that drew an woman in a 5-mile radius.

"What's this?" she asked bending down to retrieve it, while Castle stood silent for a change. She felt green-eyed monster rise within her as she opened the lid to see a ring of immense beauty, something she would have picked for herself. He had brought a ring for someone else. She straightened her shoulders and shoved the box back at him.

"It's not what it looks like," he stammered.

"And what does it look like?" she said, unable to hide the annoyance from her voice. Who was she to tell him he couldn't marry someone else. She didn't have a claim on him. she had told him instead that she had to work through some issues before she could ever have a relationship that she wanted, and she was just stupid enough to think he may actually wait for her. what a fool she had been. She felt mortified.

"I wasn't going to…"

"It isn't any of my business," she said turning to sit down at her desk. She didn't want to hear who was the lucky woman. In fact, she didn't want to talk about it, ever again.

"I didn't mean that, I just-"

He was trying to spare her feelings, she was sure of it. "It's none of my business who you're dating, Castle," she snapped.

"I'm not dating anyone!" he replied firmly, shoving the box back in his coat pocket.

"Oh, so it's completely normal for you to go around buying engagement rings?" she challenged. "I thought you despised marriage." Unless that was another one of his head games to throw off the fact that he was dating and wanted to marry whatever stupid blonde bimbo managed to capture his attention that week.

Beckett had almost began to believe he was a changed man, and that beautiful, model, looking women were nothing compared to Kate Beckett.

"Maybe I changed my mind," he shot back.

"Maybe I don't care what you do," Beckett groaned. She turned her head away, intending to ignore him for the rest of the day.

"I don't know what the hell I was thinking," he growled. "Maybe I was stupid enough to think things were different with you."

Beckett felt her heart rate speed up, and she looked up slowly, to see a confused look plastered across his face. Had she heard him right? "You brought that for me?"

"Maybe," he muttered.

"Castle, we're not even together," she pointed out, more bluntly than she intended. Now, she was just plain confused. Castle was a hard one to read at times like this.

"I know," he said awkwardly. "I just thought… I don't know what I thought, I just brought it. It looked like you."

"It is me," she said quietly. "But I-"

"I'm not asking you to marry me, he said.

He wasn't? "So, why did you buy an engagement ring?" she frowned.

"I don't… I don't know. Never mind. Forget it. I'm going to get a coffee." He left the bullpen without waiting for a response.

Okay, now she was stunned. What did all this mean?

"Help!" she exclaimed, walking into the morgue.

"What happened?" Lanie asked with a small smile.

This was certainly a friend-help situation.

Castle wasn't serious. There had to be another explanation. Castle with his wild theories and insane head games. How could he possibly be serious about proposing to Beckett when he hadn't even asked her out on an official date, not that she was waiting for it or anything… okay, so maybe she had been. She'd been to his house for dinner several times that week. Wasn't that a hint that she enjoyed his company outside work? And they had talked about a relationship once or twice, it wasn't an entirely insane idea… was it?

But marriage? A ring? Surely, this was one of his Castle-famous pranks, made to make Beckett analyse everything.

Beckett explained what had happened, as quickly as possible and then Lanie, without thinking, laughed aloud. "Are you going to say yes?"

"He didn't ask me?" she pointed out.

"When he does?"

"He's mad at me at the moment," she said sadly. "You should have seen the way he walked out. He looked like a sad puppy. I don't know if I can say anything to make it better. I think I really messed up this time."

"It's Castle," she said. "He loves you. He always has. You know it, and he knows it."

"What do I do, in the meantime?" she asked running a hand through her hair.

Lanie thought about it. "I can't answer that," she said. "I don't know."

"Thanks for the help," she muttered, walking out again.

She had to save face.

It was all she could think to do.

Her stomach exploded as Castle walked into the bullpen. He approached her the desk, an handed her their usual morning ritual cup of coffee. "What no ring, today?" she teased, playfully, hoping that would make everything go back to normal.

"That's just mean," Castle pouted.

Had she gone too far with this one? Why did she have such an issue with being serious when it came to Castle and matters of the heart? It was hard to allow her heart to take the lead when she was so used to working with her head, in every case.

"I thought it was pretty funny," Esposito laughed, from his desk.

"You guys are supposed to be on my team, what happened to bros sticking together?" Castle complained.

"This is more fun," Ryan smiled.

Castle turned back to Beckett. "You told Lanie? I bet the two of you had a good laugh about it. Thinking how stupid I am-"

"Oh, Castle, we didn't laugh about it… we were hysterical."

"Real funny. I supposed you didn't think I was stupid, either?"

"Well, this is reality, not everything is unpredictable," she grinned.

Castle laughed mockingly. "I'll get you for this," he warned. "When you least expect it, when your guard is down, that's when I'll strike."

Beckett only smiled.

Beckett felt like she had taken it all too far. Maybe this once, she could get him alone and have an adult conversation, even Castle could have one of them from time to time. She approached him, in the break-room and stepped behind him, a hand on his shoulder.

He seemed to freeze under her touch.

"You're right, I was a jerk… I'm sorry," she whispered. "I should have thought about your feelings, and I was being immature," she said with genuine feeling.

He shrugged. "Yeah, well…"

"I really am sorry."

"Prove it?" he smiled turning around to look at her.

Beckett took a step back, dropping he hand from his shoulder. "How?" she asked sceptically.

Castle grinned. "Dinner... my place."

Beckett smiled. Why not? She had done it for the past four nights. "Sure," she answered. "That would be nice."

Castle's smile widened. Why did she think he was up to something?

I hope you liked it. =)) Don't know if I'm going to write the proposal, I might let you all think of your own ending… hehehehe