All through dinner her mind was on him. His thoughtfulness just tugs at her heart. He should be the one she is with tonight. She feels things for him that she long since buried. His touching gift showed her his feelings for her. Yet here she sits with another man. What is she thinking? Why didn't she call him to thank him? She knows why. It's so hard for her to face her truths. Her feelings have been guarded under lock and key since Will. The hurt following his move to Boston and not asking her to go with him was devastating. She vowed never to let another man ever do that to her again, even if that meant shallow meaningless relationships to follow. She would not let her heart be trampled. Before Will, she trusted easily and loved deeply. After Will, her hardened shell grew over time to be impenetrable. Yet, slowly, methodically Castle chipped away at that.

He made her laugh. He made her feel beautiful again with his roving eye. She noticed how he scanned her when she wore something new or sexy. It made her feel more like the woman she wanted to be again. It was fun to flirt back and feel attractive. When Will left her, she felt it was because of her. She wasn't warm enough, or attractive enough, or a good lover. The reason he left had to involve her. It couldn't be just that he was motivated by his career. But Castle, Castle made her feel that she was Nikki Heat. He seemed to know her, know how she felt and what she thought. Instead of frightening her that made her feel safe.

Tom was talking to her now and she had no idea what he was asking her. She hadn't been listening; her mind was racing back to the look on Castle's face when she said she had a date. Crushed. That's how she would describe it, crushed. When Tom came in, she wanted to hide. She hardly knew him but he seemed to feel so forward with her. He was telling her what to wear and even kissing her in front of everyone at the precinct. What bothered her more was he kissed her in front of him, Castle. They hadn't even gone out yet, and he moved in to her personal space.

She needed to see Castle, talk to him. She wanted to thank him for the photos and for remembering her birthday. He did remember you know. He had her gift at the precinct ahead of time. He knew her birthday! Her heart felt lighter. He remembered….She had to see him.

"Kate, what are you thinking, you seem a million miles away tonight," Tom asked her.

"Listen Tom, I think I need to go home. I wanted to talk to my dad tonight and I really need to speak to a friend. I wasn't very nice this afternoon and I have to apologize. I'm afraid this isn't going to work tonight Tom."

"Sure, I understand, maybe another night Kate. Maybe we could go out to that new club on the Upper East Side this weekend and celebrate your birthday then?"

"Tom, you've been very nice and I think you're a great guy…"

"Ah oh, there's a but in there somewhere…" he said.

"I'm kinda involved in something right now that I have to explore and see if it can work out. I didn't mean to hurt you; I just have to see if this is right for me. I hope you understand," Kate said as she looked apologetically at Tom.

He nodded, and said "Sure Kate, but if it doesn't work out……"

Kate smiled and said, "Thank you Tom, for understanding" she said as she kissed his cheek and left the restaurant.

Martha is beside herself. "He has been in that office all afternoon and I don't think he's writing," she says to Alexis.

"Listen Grams, dad needs a lot of space when he works you know that. Sometimes we don't see him for days….why are you worried now," Alexis asks.

"I walked in a few hours ago and he was sitting on the couch, holding a pillow and looking like someone died. He didn't answer me, he didn't look at me, and he just sat there."

"So, maybe he is blocked and thinking," Alexis offered.

"I asked him if Kate liked the birthday gift and he looked right at me, said 'I think so," and then just stared away. No, no, this has to do with Kate Beckett, I'm sure of it."

"Well, Grams, look, as much as we would both love Kate and Dad to get together here, it looks like Kate has a new beau."

"What?" "What do you mean, a new beau," shrieked Martha.

"When I saw Dad after school, he was walking into his office and I asked him how "Murder and Mayhem" were today….he mumbled that Kate had a date…"

"Ah HA," screamed Martha, "I knew it! Kate Beckett is the reason my son looks like he lost his puppy…."

"Grams, stay out of it. I think they can take care of this. It is between them."

"Oh for Pete's sake, those two need some serious Martha life counseling. The year plan….a big discount, maybe a two-fer or a bogo……"

As Alexis is shaking her head and smiling the doorbell rings…..

There stands Det. Beckett in a beautiful electric blue cocktail dress.

"Det. Beckett, you look beautiful, come in….." says a startled Alexis.

Martha enters the foyer, "Gorgeous, simply gorgeous…..I have a necklace and a bracelet that would be perfect for that dress….. was Richard expecting you, I am sure he is not dressed for the occasion."

Kate blushes and stammers, "Ah, no I am sure he is not expecting me, Martha, but I need to talk to him, is he in?"

Martha reaches for Kate's arm and guides her into the living space. "Kate, I have no idea what is going on with you two, though I am sure something is. How could I know? Well, my son is sitting in his office staring into space looking like someone stole his Twinkie and now you come in dressed to the nines and asking to see him. Whatever he's done Kate, my son always means well."

"I know that Martha, this isn't about something your son did. It's about something I didn't do…..if I could just see him now…."

"Of course, of course, dear, through the door right there to his office."

Beckett walked towards his office door and stopped as she worked up the nerve to knock.

"Go away…Mother. I'm fine. I don't need your advice right now, thank you…." As Castle turns to look at the doorway he is startled to see Kate Beckett in her beautiful electric blue gown.

He stands up from the couch with his mouth wide open as he whispers, "Kate…you look amazing."

"Isn't it a little early to be home from your date," Castle asked as he looked away from Kate and walked back to the couch. He plopped back down and began to reach for the pillow.

Kate sits down next to him and begins to play with the purse in her hand.

"I wasn't having such a good time."

"Oh," he asks, "Why's that?"

"I couldn't stop thinking about the gift you gave to me. Castle, thank you so much for that picture. It was so thoughtful of you to do that for me."

Castle looks up into Kate's eyes as he says, "You really liked it?"

"I love it," she whispers. "It's all I could think about tonight."

Castle smiles as he answers, "Your boyfriend must have loved that."

"Listen Castle, about that, I won't be seeing him again."

"Really, why's that?" he asks.

"I know you stopped coming around as much and I missed you," Kate admitted. "Not having you there to pull my pigtails bothered me."

"You sure you didn't just miss me delivering your latte," teases Castle.

"Well, there was that too," Kate answers smiling from ear to ear.

Kate moves closer to Castle on the couch as she continues, "Rick, I really was touched by your gift and I don't know how to thank you enough."

"Well, maybe I have a few ideas," he suggests as he wiggles his eyebrows and laughs.

"I am open for suggestions," Kate answers with her own eyebrow wiggles.

She moves in closer to Castle as she stares into his eyes. She reaches for him as she brushes her lips across his.

Castle is surprised and it takes him a second to respond. His hands reach for her as his lips search for Kate's in answer to her kiss.

"Did I mention you look beautiful tonight," he whispers.

"Shhh she says, I'm working on an appropriate thank you…."

Castle moves his head away staring in her eyes as his hold on her remains firm. "Happy Birthday, Kate Beckett, maybe we can officially celebrate with a dinner tomorrow, huh?"

Kate straightens up and says rather loudly, "What, are you crazy? I have to show my dad my picture with Joe Torre and give him his copy!"

Castle is laughing, "Now I'm stood up for Joe Torre, ok Friday it is and that's my final offer!"

"Oh, I am hoping for other offers, Mr. Castle. Yes, plenty of other offers…."

They sit on the couch as Kate continues thanking Castle for her birthday gift.

This has been her best birthday in a long time. If Castle has anything to do with it, they will just keep getting better.