Just to clear something up first, I am not Russian. I am no where near being Russian. Any and all Russian or Eastern Europe references are all what I've managed to find on the internet or pull from my imagination. So, don't bite my head off on those. Feel free to correct me on something though, if you're familiar with it. :) All of that being said, I hope you enjoy it. :) And please review. :)

Chapter One

Kate checks her appearance in the mirror one last time, making sure her eye make up isn't smudged, or there isn't any lipstick on her teeth. Nothing has changed between now and when she stared at herself about a minute and a half earlier, but Kate can't help it. She sighs as she meets her eyes in the mirror, admitting for the first time that evening that she's nervous.

No, Kate thinks firmly, there is no way I can be nervous. There's nothing to be nervous about. I'm just going with Castle to a get together with our friends. Kate grimaces. She isn't going with Castle, they just didn't see the point in taking two cars when her apartment was on the way. Okay, even she can admit that sounds lame, but it's true. This is not a date.

"Then why does it feel like one?" she asks her reflection. She is startled out of her thoughts by loud knocking and after one last, quick, once over Kate hurries to answer her door. Opening it, she can't ignore the slight flutter in her belly at the sight of a very good looking Rick Castle.

He is wearing dark wash jeans that hugged his body in all the right places. The light blue shirt he wears that brings out his eyes is partially covered by a navy sports jacket, his long, dark, winter coat slung over one arm. Overall, he looks very handsome.

She grins at Castle's slack jawed expression upon seeing the outfit she's chosen for the evening. After mulling over her choices, Kate had finally decided to go the 'little black dress' route. The one she wears tonight was dressy while still being casual enough for a dinner party. The skirt flowed down to mid thigh, a suitable length, while the neckline, however, was a little more plunging than Kate was used to. She'd gone with it anyway. Just because this isn't a date doesn't mean she can't tease Castle a little. Her hair is curled and styled with the upper half pulled away from her face, showing off her simple, yet elegant earrings.

"You okay over there, Castle?" Kate asks after a minute, trying desperately to tame her smile into more of a slight grin. She wonders if she will always get butterflies in her stomach when he looks at her that way, as if she is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. Probably, she thinks.

Castle finally recovers and offers her a shy smile. "You look…" He trails off, leaving Kate to finish his statement.

"Hot?"

"Stunning," Castle immediately counters. Kate flushes.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Castle."

"Why, thank you, Detective." He gives a little bow and Kate chuckles. "So are you ready to go?"

Kate nods. "Just let me grab my coat and purse." Hurrying back inside her apartment, she snags her red coat and clutch off the back of the couch. Pausing to lock her door, she flashes Castle a smile.

"Lets go."

The car ride is made in relative silence, each seems too consumed with their thoughts to carry on much conversation. Kate stares out the window, the city a blur of lights now that darkness has fallen. It is the first time she has slowed down long enough to really think all day and the glow from the streets lulls her into an almost trance like state, leaving her vulnerable to thoughts she's tried in vain to keep away.

It's my brother's birthday.

Before too many memories assault her, both pleasant and unhappy, Kate brings herself out of it. If Castle catches on to her melancholy mood, he'll ask enough questions to really make her break down, something she can't do tonight. Tonight is supposed to be fun.

Castle. Her mind turns over images of him, smiling and bright. He's teasing her. They're bantering. He's sharing funny stories about Alexis. She's teasing him. Finally, her brain settles on one memory.

Kate, I love you. I love you, Kate.

She almost groans aloud. Is she trying to torture herself tonight? Kate sneaks a glance at him out o the corner of her eye. His confession was one of the first things to come back to her after her shooting, and lying to him had been an unfortunate necessity. She couldn't face it then, though she has a feeling she's getting close to being able to face it now.

Castle grows tired of the silence. "Oh, Alexis sends her thanks for your help on her history project."

Ah, yes. Alexis's history project. She is doing a project on the lost princess from the fallen empire of Russia. Kate's knowledge of the language, plus the subject herself, has proven a great help to the young redhead. Though, thinking to what has plagued her since that night, Kate is almost sorry she agreed to continue helping her.

"You still planning on stopping by this Tuesday?"

"Yes, of course," she says. "I'm looking forward to it." It's a small lie, barely one at all. While Kate adores the little Castle, Katerina Mikhailovna, the eldest daughter of Czar Mikhail Romanov of Russia, is not a topic she particularly enjoys discussing.

"Good. Alexis is excited to learn more. Did you know today would be the Czar's son, Dmitri's birthday had he lived?" Castle asks, intrigued by the information.

A wave a emotion floods Kate, but she manages a small smile. "Yes, I knew." And if we could not talk about it, that'd be great, she thinks. Time for a topic change. "So, have you met Jenny's sister before?"

"Nope." If Castle notices the shift in conversation, he ignores it.

"I still think Jenny and Ryan were wrong to subject her to us all at once," Kate teases. "I find you guys hard to deal with and I've gotten used to all of you."

The group of them had been invited to a dinner party hosted Jenny's sister Sofie and her husband. Since all four of them were going to be in the wedding party, along with Sofie and Mark, they thought it would be a good idea to get together before hand. Even though she sees them every day, Kate is still excited to hang out with her friends outside of work, without a case looming over them. She is really looking forward to tonight.

"Hey, Esposito and I are fine, it's you and Lanie they should really fear."

Kate snorts. "Yes, because two grown women are much more difficult to be around than a couple of ten year olds."

"Depends on the situation," Castle says, sending her a smoldering look that gives Kate shivers. Then it's gone, and the twinkle in his eye is back. "Wait, I'm ten now? Sweet!"

"Incorrigible," Kate mutters, a grin peaking through.

They arrive at their destination, a medium sized, stone house that seems the epitome of the American Dream, or as close to you can get outside the city. As they walk around to the front door, Kate swears she can feel the heat of Castle's palm as it rests on the small of her back through her jacket. He's drops it as they step on the front porch and they both put on a smile as Jenny answers the doorbell.

"Oh, I'm so glad you guys could make it," She gushes, walking them in and taking their coats.

Kate smiles at her. "We're glad to be here."

Castle nods. "Beckett even let me drive."

"Yeah, well don't get used to it Castle. That was a once in a life time experience."

"I still have to drive you home," he reminds her.

"Wait, you came together?" Jenny asks, smiling.

"Yes," Castle answers immediately, before getting Kate's death glare. "Well, umm," he stumbles over his words. "Not together, together…just…"

"Castle just didn't want to come by himself," Kate stage whispers. Castle playfully swats at her.

"If that's what you need to tell yourself."

The three of them walk out in to the living room. It's a spacious room, modernly decorated with a some antique touches thrown in, balancing it out nicely. Kate is startled to notice that while a few of the older items appear of Irish origin, the majority have their roots in Russian artistry. The sudden reminder sends a jolt of sadness through her and Kate firmly squashes it. She will have fun tonight, no dwelling on the past.

Lanie, Esposito and Ryan are standing near the couch, a wine glass in their hands. The host and hostess are across from them and Kate takes a moment to observe them.

Mark Doyle's light blonde hair is slicked back, his dark suit looks handmade. Kate vaguely remembers Ryan mentioning something about the man being a doctor, and for a brief moment wonders if this is what her life would look like if she and Josh had made it. She mentally shakes herself. Josh was never the one, and Kate knows they wouldn't have been happy. Castle's hand brushes against the small of her back again and she can't help but smiling. No, Josh never made her this happy.

Sofie Doyle is a starking contrast to her husband. Her dark hair curly hair flows across her shoulders, covering the straps of her blue dress and contrasting with her light skin tone. She appears to be about Kate's height, if Kate isn't in heels. Sofie's icy blue eyes meet Kate's, which hide behind green contacts and Kate falters. Quickly schooling her features, she reminds herself that she's mistaken. For the woman she thinks she seeing is long dead. Kate swallows her tears and brightens her smile.

As the introductions are made, Kate is sure she sees Sofie's eyes searching her own but dismisses it. She gets along with them easily and is glad to see that both fit seamlessly into their little group. Within minutes, Jenny lets slip about Kate and Rick arriving together and Lanie is quick to corner Kate with questioning looks and murmurs of, "Really?" Kate wishes she could crawl down into the floor.

"You're making this more than it is," She whispers to Lanie as the two travel with Sofie and Jenny to the kitchen. While the latter need to check dinner, the former (or part of the first two) plan to use this to catch up on some girl talk.

"I would think that, if you weren't starting to blush…"

"I am not," Kate says, ducking her head. But even as she does she can feel the heat on her cheeks.

"What I don't understand is why you haven't jumped the man yet," says Lanie in disbelief.

"I happen to agree with the medical examiner," Jenny chimes in, looking over her shoulder as she grabs some items to make the salad. "The two of you fit, you know?"

"Who are we talking about?" Sofie asks.

"Nothing," Kate replies just as Lanie says, "How she and Castle need to move past all their shit and just jump each other."

Sofie seems to consider this. "My sister is right, you two do look rather cute together."

Kate grins. She's found an opening to switch topics. "Speaking of, and I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but the two of you look nothing alike." She gestures to Jenny and Sofie.

The women exchange glances before chuckling. "I'm adopted," Sofie states by way of explanation.

"Ah. Let me guess, you're more Russian than Irish?"

"I'm all Russian, actually. The O'Malley's adopted me when I moved to the states after my parents died."

Kate sucks in a breath. She knows what that's like.

"How did you know I was Russian?" inquires Sofie.

"Oh, I, uh, noticed some of the pieces you have in your house. Like that one," Kate nods to a decorative plate hanging on the wall. "The appetite comes with eating," she quotes.

Sofie turns toward it. "Oh yes, an old Russian proverb. I'm sure there's a more philosophical meaning to it, but Mark and I thought it'd fit well in the kitchen."

"Where did you learn to Russian, Kate?" Jenny is trying to hurriedly cut up all the fruits to be placed in the salad she's making. Kate offers to help, knowing the sooner they're done in here, the sooner they go back into the living room, where she will no longer be the center of attention.

"I spent a summer in Kiev," she tells Jenny. Grabbing a tomato, she begins to slice it.

"Oh, so you also know Ukrainian," Sofie says.

Kate stills her fingers. "Um, well I can speak a little."

"Hmm…" She hums softly.

"What is it?" Kate's attention returns to her tomato.

"I just haven't heard of many people who spend so much time in Kiev and learning so little Ukrainian. It seems a little odd."

Kate's stomach does a flip. It was a story she'd come up with quickly to explain her knowledge of it to the boys when Castle went undercover in the triads. She hadn't thought of what she'd say if called on her lie.

"Ouch!" In her distraction, Kate missed the tomato, and cut a nice chunk out of her thumb.

Jenny hands her a towel and Kate presses it hard against her wound, wincing at the pain. Lanie hovers, wanting to take a look and make sure she doesn't need stitches.

"That is a deep cut, girl. But I'd say you should be fine with just a small bandage."

"I'll show you where the first aid supplies are." Sofie quickly ushers Kate out of the room and up the stairs, towards the bedrooms.

Kate knows that she can tend to the cut herself but Sofie insists, and so Kate let's her. They sit in silence as Sofie dresses it, Kate inhaling sharply every few seconds as pain shoots through her hand.

"I'm sorry this hurts," the hostess speaks, her voice cutting through the quiet.

"Oh, don't be. It was my fault. I should've been paying more attention."

It's silent for a few more minutes until Kate can't assuage her curiosity any more. "Have we met before? I could've sworn I've seen you somewhere."

"I know what you mean, I've had that feeling about you all evening. I would think I'd remember you though."

Kate nods. "Maybe we'll figure it out before tonight is over," she suggests.

"Maybe," Sofie agrees. It's silent again as Sofie focuses on the cut.