A/N: Real guns and holsters don't make harsh metallic clicks but for the sake of this fic I fudged the truth a little, thank you to fbobs for all your help yesterday. I really appreciate it. And to everyone that read, reviewed, faved, alerted and tweeted thank you...a lot!

Earlier that evening.

A sharp tap pulled him away from the pans in the sink and when he opened the front door he barely caught sight of her face, peeking out over the top of the box, before she was barging past him and into his home.

"Good evening, Detective." He muttered, as she shoved him aside, drying his hands quickly on the front of his pants, "Come on in."

"It's a gift." She stated fiercely, almost aggressively, turning to face him. She thrust the box out in front of her as if she was going to give it to him, before yanking it back in tight to her chest.

His eyes dropped to her hands, staring as they shook infinitesimally with the suddenly huge weight of the box she held.

"From me." She clarified when he still looked bemused. "It's a gift from me."

She shifted from foot to foot, nudging the box back and forth, her bag hooked over one elbow, making her teeter precariously to the left.

"For me?" Castle smiled, reaching it for but she twisted away from him.

"For you, for Valentines day." She set the box on the table. Her hands on the lid, caressing the cardboard.

"Valentines day is in two weeks." He smiled, confused, "And we..." He breathed out heavily, "We haven't had that conversation yet."

"There was going to be a conversation?"

"Well, yes after the Christmas -"

"Debacle?"

"I was going to say incident but okay. After the Christmas debacle I wanted to be sure we are, were, will be on the same page with Valentines day."

"Are you seeing somebody else?" She asked folding her arms across her chest.

"I...What? No, no Kate, no I'm -"

She held out a hand to silence him.

He shut up immediately.

"Am I seeing anybody else?"

"Better not be." He growled, grumbly and gravelly, a flare of heat weaving through his stomach when she smiled at his reaction.

His eyes flirted coyly with the box she stroked with the tips of her fingers. The almost loving gesture over the inanimate object made his heart flip over in his chest.

"Then I get a gift." Kate rolled her eyes, as if he was being moronic, maybe he was. "As far as the world is concerned you're single and I'm single. As far as we are concerned." She poked him in the chest, "I want a present. Same page now?"

"Yes, same page, same line, same word."

Gift, she had to have a gift.

"Good."

He waited as she turned, then rubbed his chest, that woman and her poking. OW!

He turned slowly, his body following hers, letting his attention settle back on the cardboard box now sitting on his dining room table.

He wanted to touch it.

But Kate seemed to be standing guard over it, like she didn't want to let it go.

Her precious.

"Do I have to wait two weeks to open it?" He asked tentatively, tipping his head from side to side, wishing he could see through the cardboard.

"Nope."

"I can have it now?"

"Yep." She stepped back, a little reluctance lingering in her feet as she somehow managed to drag herself to his side. "Actually, probably sooner rather than later."

"But I haven't gotten you anything yet." He stopped with his hand on the box, checking, but she just nodded her head and gestured for him to carry on. He found himself repeating her movements, almost reverently caressing the soft cardboard edges as if seeking clues.

It was cold to the touch.

Weird.

"I know, but you will."

"I so will." He agreed, his head bouncing emphatically, carefully unfolding the tucked in edges. His eyes darted between her timid but eager smile and the darkness of the now opened box "I will get you the most..." His words fell away, his chin dropping.

Kate bit her lip, her fingers drumming over her mouth as she waited.

"Kate you bought me a..."