Authors Note: After watching the season 4 premiere, I've decided to set this story 4 months after the premiere. I feel that some things can happen that will help with the development of the characters. Sorry if I took a while to post this chapter, writer's block got the better of me. I shall try to get the 3rd chapter up sooner.

The next morning the chill of the previous night still remained, but not nearly as intense. The sunlight peeped through the frost-glazed windows casting patterns on the floor. Kate rolled onto her side and drearily opened her eyes. Blinking the sleep away, she realized she was in her bed with no memory of how she got there. She wondered if Castle was still here so she decided to get up and look around.

The floor was cold when she pressed her feet to its surface, but with no slippers that fit, she just endued it and shivered.

Beckett made her way quietly from her room down the hall to the living room. There on the couch lay Richard Castle, the very same blanket from last night was covering him, his head rested on the cushions he had placed on the couch arm and his legs tucked tightly at his chest. Kate stood there a moment, unable to determine what to do. She took a step closer and the floorboard creaked faintly under her weight. At this instant Castle groaned gently and fisted the blanket, his mouth slightly agape.

She moved closer still, avoiding the creaky boards. With every slow, swift movement she smiled a little as she got closer. She was now standing at his head, watching his chest rise and fall with every breath. She felt hesitant to wake him. With a feather light touch she ran her fingers through his soft hair, adoration spread her lips and a sparkle in her eyes. She turned away and moved toward the kitchen and proceeded to make some coffee.

Castle opened his eyes cautiously and turned onto his back. He ran his fingers through his hair gradually, the tingle of her touch still lingered. He sat up and turned towards the kitchen to steal a look. He watched her, peeping from behind the couch; should he show himself or not.

Kate felt him watching her. She stopped pouring the milk into her cup and looked in his direction. Sure enough there he was; half his face covered by the back of the couch, hand griping the fabric beside his face and his eyes observing her like a child, a sweet, caring child. Those eyes gazed at her making her feel a little uneasy but perfectly comfortable at the same time.

She blushed vaguely and started to talk. "How did you sleep?"

"Fine, though I should consider seeing a chiropractor" he joked.

"I'm sorry about that. If I'd have known you'd be staying the night I would have found you somewhere more comfortable to sleep"

"It's ok; I didn't know I'd be. I guess sleep just got the better of me"

"Hey, speaking of sleep, any idea how I got into my bed when I have no memory of walking there?" Kate raised an eyebrow, teasingly.

"Oh well, you… fell asleep after the movie and I didn't want to let you sleep there… so I… carried you, to your bed and helped you under the blankets" he seemed uncomfortable and the redness had started to spread across his face.

She smiled sweetly at him, "Thank you. You're very sweet Castle. You're too kind to me and I'm sorry you had to sleep on the couch"

"Hey look its fine. You know I'd do anything for you" he really didn't intend on saying the last part, but she blushed anyway.

"Well now that we're awake I guess we should have breakfast. What do you think?" he asked.

"Sounds good" she sipped her coffee.

"I'm not going to find anything moving in your fridge this time, am I?" he joked.

"I'll have you know Mr. Castle that I've acquired a better selection. I cleaned out my fridge a few days ago and went to the grocery store" she defended.

"Mind if I take a look? I have to be sure you know" he kept on with his mocking.

"Knock yourself out"

"I didn't realize your fridge was so dangerous"

Beckett rolled her eyes and smiled "Do you want breakfast or not?"

"Yes"

"Well come and help me find something then"

"Right behind you"

Castle walked into Beckett's kitchen as she proceeded to open some cupboards above her. She grabbed a container of oats and turned back to him. Just about to ask him if he wanted some, she stopped herself when she noticed him juggling some apples.

She shot him a puzzled look "What are you doing?"

"Amusing myself" he said matter-of-factly. "You're not going to eat that horse food are you?"

Kate looked at the container and frowned then looked back at him "Why? What's wrong with oats? It's better than the take-out"

"Yeah, but it tastes like cardboard. You can have food that tastes like food, you know" he was still focused on his juggling.

He didn't react quickly enough and an apple slipped from his hand. The others fell as well. Castle and Beckett both reached down at the same time to pick them up but bumped their foreheads together instead.

"I'm so sorry" he gasped "are you okay?"

"Yes, Castle" she said with her palm to her head "it's ok, it was just an accident"

Castle quickly picked the apples up and put them on the counter.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just give me a sec" She stood bent over the sink with her fingers lightly moving across the tender area.

"Let me have a look" Castle asked taking a step closer.

Beckett lowered her hand and turned to him. He moved to her and gently placed his hands on her face; with one he rested his fingertips on her jaw and the other he threaded his fingers into her hair, his palm resting above the beginnings of a bruise. Castle turned her head to examine it more closely. He applied slight pressure with his thumb and she cringed slightly.

"I think you should put some ice on that"

"I'll be fine, Castle" she grasped his wrists and guided them away from her face.

"Ok, but at least let me make it up to you. Go have a warm bath, take as long as you want, and I'll make us breakfast"

"Alright, but just watch the mess ok?"

"Ok" he grinned.

She left the room and flashed him a look that said, I can't believe I'm leaving you alone in my kitchen. An even wider grid spread on his face as he clasped his hands together and looked around like a kid in a candy store.

After Kate had finished her bath and changed, she returned to the kitchen. She saw all the food the Castle had made sitting in plates spread across the counter; blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, fried tomato pieces, a bowl of chopped fruit and a jug of apple juice. Everything smelt delicious.

"Wow Castle, you did all this?"

"Yep"

"15 minutes and you cooked all this?"

"Yeah, sure. You didn't realize that I such a brilliant cook?"

She rolled her eyes "So are we going to eat?"

"Yes, of course"

He passed all the plates down to the table and they began to eat. Just as Beckett was finishing off her pancake, her phone rang.

"Beckett" she answered. She frowned a little as she listened. "Ok I'll be there as soon as I can"

Castle waited for her to tell him what was going on.

"We got a body at Central Park"

"Oh?"

"Yeah, umm Lanie said she hopes you have a strong stomach"

"Why's that?"

"She didn't say. Just that she was "very disturbed and horrified by the state of the body". It must be a pretty gruesome murder"

"Well let's not waste any time. We better get there before Ryan and Esposito"