A/N: Wow guys, thank you for your wonderful reviews, follows, faves and PMs. You're awesome, and your lovely words plus requests to continue have inspired me to add a second chapter. I was a little stuck at one point... thanks to crazy4castle for some of the words at the start, that helped get me to the finish.

Here's all the things Kate didn't know about Castle until they became Caskett. Hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Insert usual blurb here.

Actually, She Had No Idea

Kate Beckett had no idea that the arrogant playboy she met four years ago; the cocky, immature, egotistical, self-centred jackass she arrested was not the real Richard Castle.

The smart, funny, soft-hearted man-child who believes in magic and fairy-tales only appears around people he cares about and that man makes her feel cherished, safe and happy; every day. She really had no idea...


No idea that the man who calls himself 'the cool Dad' and has single-handedly raised a mature, sensitive and capable daughter, used to sit beside that tiny sleeping child and question whether he could really raise her alone, terrified that he would totally mess her up.

No idea that he owns dozens of T-shirts printed with almost every conceivable superhero, comic book character, animated legend and sci-fi hero. And let's not forget his underwear and sock collection. She grins and feels a tiny flutter of arousal at the memory of him parading around her almost-dark apartment one night, in nothing but a pair of blue superman boxer briefs; the large luminous glow-in-the-dark 'S' on the front highlighting his rather impressive 'superhero'.

No idea that sex with him would completely blow her mind. He's tender and passionate, adventurous and everything her deepest desires and dirtiest fantasies could have ever imagined, and more. And it just keeps getting better and better.

No idea that he fell just a little bit in love with her right after he first propositioned her; when she smiled, bit her lip, leaned in close… and turned him down. And when she strutted away with her back straight, shoulders back, hips swaying, he knew he was a goner.

No idea that her father had gone to the loft just before her shooting; introduced himself to Rick Castle and pleaded with him to convince his stubborn daughter to stop her quest, convince her that her life was worth more than her Mother's death. They had kept too many secrets about her mother's case, secrets that almost ruined them; this was the final one.

No idea that he gives a head massage that's almost as good as sex. Actually, if she's being truthful, it's probably better than some of the sex she's had in the past. The first time he did it was in the shower; she was already semi-boneless after spending most of the afternoon in his bed and he washed and conditioned her hair for her, massaging the conditioner into her scalp and eventually her already wobbly legs refused to hold her up any longer. He was suitably rewarded for his efforts later that evening.

No idea that during the Candela case, he really would've dropped his pants. When she suggested he and Will Sorenson end their testosterone-fest... just drop their pants and get it over with, he really was game. He can admit it now; she was already under his skin, even back then, and the green-eyed monster reared its ugly head that day.

No idea that for months, he had nightmares about the day she was shot... the terror that ripped through him when the bullet ripped through her, the fear in her eyes, her heart stopping in the back of that ambulance, her blood everywhere; on his hands, his clothes, soaking the cotton of her dress-gloves in a horrifying contrast of red against white. That day has left a jagged and permanent emotional scar, as real as the physical and emotional scars she carries.

No idea that his unfailing generosity extends well beyond his friends, and loved ones. His mother let it slip only recently, that he has made countless, anonymous donations to a variety of charities over the years. He is also the patron of a charity dedicated to improving child and adult literacy in disadvantaged communities. She went with him once, to one of the community reading programs where he read Jack and the Beanstalk, complete with character voices, to a room full of captivated kids. She's not sure who had more fun; him or them?

No idea just how lonely some periods of his childhood and adolescence had been. Or how he turned bullying, isolation and a strong sense of self-preservation to his advantage; transformed the introvert into an extrovert, the serious and deep-thinking loner into the class clown, and basically joked his way through. He resolved to make people laugh and wreak some havoc along the way. Like she'd once said to him... the school's funniest kid. Unfortunately it got him expelled, more than once.

No idea that, for all his suggestive comments, teasing and innuendo about raunchy ladies underwear and kinky intimate apparel, black leather panties and hot-pink studded bras really aren't his thing. He prefers lace to leather, silk to studs and loves it when she wears elegant and beautiful underwear; and yes, the 'briefer' the better. He is still a man after all. But surprisingly, he seems most enamoured when she's wearing the 'Little Miss Bossy' tank top he bought for her and a pair of his boxers; neither of which ever seem to stay on for very long.

No idea that, despite being described as a 'Master of the Macabre' and detailing countless, grisly murders in his books, he actually gets a little sick at some of their more gruesome crime scenes.

No idea that he is the one with the tattoo. It's on the outside of his right hip and she discovered it on their first night together as she was, somewhat frantically, divesting him of his pants. She paid special attention to it several hours later... in his shower. He regrets getting it, she kinda likes it.

No idea that the bump on the first knuckle of his right middle finger is from writing; he literally penned his first novel with that hand, wrote every word in his distinctive, flowing scrawl.

No idea that as he sat at his daughter's graduation, tears in his eyes, his heart swelling with pride at her success, there was also an excruciating ache in his chest and terror coiling deep in his gut at the possibility of leaving the ceremony and being confronted with the words; we regret to inform you that Detective Kate Beckett was kil... she never let him finish that sentence, halting his words with more whispered apologies and tearful, impassioned kisses.

No idea how truly painful it is to ride a horse naked; for a man at least. No idea that for weeks after the now infamous police horse incident, he'd had very serious concerns for the welfare of his manhood. She couldn't help laughing at the way he crossed his legs protectively while reliving the memory and later, she did her utmost to reassure him that in her expert opinion, his manhood was working just fine.

No idea how hot and bothered he'd really been the first time she drove his Ferrari. This particular confession came while she was once again behind the wheel; and concluded with them getting hot and bothered together, in the passenger seat of said vehicle. The resulting bumps, bruises and back pain… totally worth it.

No idea that being loved by Richard Castle, allowing herself to be loved by him, would prove to be so much more than she ever could have imagined or hoped for.

And she has absolutely no idea that he's already told her Dad that he fully intends to marry her one day, and that Jim Beckett has given his heartfelt and enthusiastic blessing and made it clear that he is more than ready to become a Grandfather.


It's really the end this time. Thanks again for your encouragement and I would love you to have your say about this chapter... please.