Valentine's Day 2010
She was reading one of his books, the copy of Heat Wave he had given her before Halloween, to keep the memories at bay, although they were much better than they had been last year, when her mobile rang. She sighed and put the book mark in before putting it on the coffee table before the cup of coffee and picking up the phone that was on the other side.
"Beckett," she answered without looking at the caller ID.
"Hello Detective," came Castle's voice, "What are you up to?"
"Doesn't that normally go what are you wearing?" she teased, settling back into the sofa cushions.
"Not with you, unless I want to be on the wrong end of your gun," Castle shot back and Kate could tell he was smiling.
She smiled too before saying, "Why did you call Castle? Don't you have a hot date to spend Valentine's Day with?"
He chuckled on the other end of the phone before saying, "Nope, I'm all on my own today."
She smiled despite herself, "So why did you ring me Castle?"
"Well," he said slowly, "While we were on the Cano Vega case Alexis was doing a family tree project for school."
"Yes," Kate said, understanding now why he had been 'reading' her mind all day.
"When I got home afterwards we were playing catch in the loft because she wanted to give me something my father hadn't."
"That's really sweet Castle," Kate interrupted.
"Yeah it was." Kate could almost see the proud smile that was no doubt now adorning his face, "Well today she and mother gave me two tickets to the baseball game their having in memory of Vega."
"I still don't see what this has to do with me Castle," Kate said, looking longingly at the book that was on the table.
"I asked mother and Alexis if they wanted to join me but they've already got plans, Alexis is going out with some of her friends and mother is doing whatever it is mother does best." They both laughed as he continued, "So I was wondering, as long as you don't have plans already of course, if you'd like to come with me."
"I'd love to Castle," she answered honestly, not giving her brain a chance to kick in and make her say no, "Beats sitting around here all day on my own."
"Good, I'll pick you up in an hour," Castle said.
"See you in a bit Castle," she replied before hanging up and putting the phone back on the table. She picked up the book again, intending to read for a half hour or so which would give her plenty of time to get ready later.
It didn't work out like that however. The next thing she knew there was a knock at the door. She checked the time and mentally cursed before sticking the bookmark back in and getting up to answer the door. She smiled at Castle and then stepped to the side to let him in.
He walked in slowly and started looking around. Kate shook her head and shut the door. "Give me two minutes to get changed and then we can go," she said, heading towards her bedroom.
Castle sat on the sofa and laughed when he saw what was sitting on the table. "Why Detective Beckett, did you get distracted by my book and lose track of time?"
The glare he got in answer was all he needed to confirm his suspicion. He laughed as she continued into her room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Two minutes later she came out wearing a baseball jersey and smiled at him. He stood and the two of them headed towards the door. "Oh by the way," he said as she locked the door to her apartment and then they headed towards the lift, "I spoke to Joe Torre earlier and mentioned that the two of us were coming to the game. He asked if you couldn't say something since you were the one who closed the case but I knew you wouldn't like that so I told him that and he told me to tell you that he'd happily sign anything you wanted by way of thanks."
Kate smiled, "You were right about me not wanting to say anything but I may just have to take him up on the signing offer, my dad would get a kick out of it I know."
Castle smiled back at her and then the two of them headed out of the building and towards Castle's car.
Kate couldn't help but smile to herself, last year she had read his book on Valentine's Day at work and today she had done the same, but unlike this year she had got to see him today, which was helping with the memories even more.