Richard Castle wasn't sure what he was doing, as he ripped off the 4th tie. He no longer wore them to crime scenes, reserving them for special occasions and publicity events. His closet had a rotating rack filled with dozens, but nothing seemed right for Beckett. "No, for Kate." He spoke out loud, and then frowned. It didn't feel right. "Beckett." He uttered again, with a smile. She'd always be Beckett.

"Beckett, what?" Alexis spoke from the walk in closet door. Castle stood frozen in front of the large mirror. Looking up he found his daughters confused face.

"Did you need help with something, Pumpkin?" He asked.

"Did you need help with something Dad?" She countered, obviously sensing his discomfort and attempt to steer the conversation away from Beckett. She walked over to him, and took the tie from his hands, hanging it back up onto the rack wordlessly. "If you happen to be going out with her tonight…" She paused, "I think you should skip the tie. I've seen the way she looks at you."

"What?" He asked startled, shifting through his ties once again. Picking up another and holding it up. Most went well with his crisp black shirt, but still nothing seemed right.

"Like she wants to heat and eat you. The tie will only waste time." Alexis laughed.

"My daughter did not just utter those words."

"Dad." She explained, taking the new tie away from him. "I'm nearly 18 years old. I know about sexual chemistry." Castle stared at his daughter in horror, mouth gaping.

"No. You are forever 5 years old and innocent." He stated firmly.

"I'm innocent." She reassured him, "I'm just not blind."

"Thank you." He replied, drawing his daughter into a hug. She patted his back gently. "Promise me you'll always be careful with boys." He told her kissing her forehead.

"Dad." She moaned, "Someday, when that something happens, I promise I will be. Now, please let's not have this discussion, ever again. Ew." Castle sighed onto the top of his daughter's head in relief.

"I agree. Really you think no tie?"

"No tie." Alexis confirmed and reached up to undo her father's top button. "But leave this one open if you're skipping the tie, otherwise you just look bottled up and stuffy." He nodded in agreement, when he skipped a tie the top button was always left undone.

XxXxXxX

Earlier that afternoon she'd texted him just after he'd left the precinct. He'd spent several moments in the women's bathroom after she'd left, hoping no one would catch him willing away an erection. Any woman barging in wouldn't have to go far to find an officer in the building full of them. He'd been hailing a cab when his new phone had chirped.

"Pick me up at 8."

"Can I talk you into dessert first?" He'd practically begged.

"No" she'd responded.

"Can I pick you up earlier?"

"No" she'd scolded again.

"Fine, 8"

A cab had pulled up then, and as he directed the driver to his apartment, he wondered how he'd ever make it 4 hours.

XxXxXxX

But the four hours had flown by making plans and he was scrambling for shoes when the doorman rang up to inform him his hired car had arrived. He'd wanted to get a limousine, a big one and fill it with flowers and wine. He'd wanted to wine and dine her luxury style, but he knew Beckett. She would have refused to take another step once she spotted the limo.

He'd settled for a car, with a single daffodil across the seat. An out of season flower, he'd had to call 15 florists for, before he found one willing to smuggle the single bloom out of a large order destined for a wedding. He didn't even feel bad about it. If a bride noticed one missing flower from a complex centerpiece, surely she wasn't blindly in love enough to get married.

He was so blindly in love that he'd bribed the entire staff there with signed books and a generous tip. Castle knew she loved daffodils. This spring her eyes had strayed to them every time they past a flower shop, or window box garden sprouting them. It would be worth it.

"Pleasure to meet you, sir." The driver said as he opened the rear door for him.

"Could you skip the doors tonight?" He babbled, "I'd like to handle them myself."

"Whatever you'd wish." The driver quirked, arching an eyebrow in surprise.

XxXxXxX

Beckett was debating another piece of double stick tape for her draping neckline when the buzzer for her rental rang. The place was sparsely furnished. It wasn't for the lack of funding; a hefty insurance check padded her bank account. She'd owned the condo she'd lost from the explosion. She'd searched for a replacement for weeks after the explosion with the help of a Realtor. Both of them were disappointed when the search was fruitless. There was simply nothing in her price range in the areas she'd wished to live. She refused to have a commute longer than the time it took her to get ready for work in the morning.

Instead she'd settled for a 12 month rental lease, while she waited for a new property to be completed. There was no point in moving them again when she found a permanent place. For now she was happy with her basic bedroom set, a small sofa, and a limited bookshelf. She'd actually collected a small end table abandoned in the hallway with a 'free' note, her keys and mail collected there until they spilled onto the floor. She was rarely home to eat at a table, but her rental had a small breakfast bar that she bought two stools for, simply so she'd have somewhere to eat occasionally.

A quick check in the mirror she'd finally caved into hanging in the living room assured her the navy top clung, dipped and hung in all the right places while her black pants flattered in much the same manner. Her hair, that she'd carefully curled and pinned loosely low on her scalp, achieved the look she'd gone for perfectly. She felt sexy, despite the amount of her that was actually covered. She could do this, this important thing that they were embarking on. "Nerves of steel." She whispered to herself briefly sweeping her hand under her top at her lower back to slip her weapon into place and she opened the door.

He stared at her intently, mouth slightly agape. His eyes traveled up and down her body, longing to travel the path with his hands.

"I'm the most afraid of you when you're quiet." Beckett told him, and his steely blue eyes flew to her deep green ones.

"Extraordinary doesn't seem to fit anymore." He whispered, stepping forward and touching the deep green gem that dipped dangerously close to the low neckline of her shirt. Beckett reached up and caught his hand as in began to trail down onto her skin towards her exposed cleavage.

"We should go." She whispered, tipping up onto her toes and pressing a gentle chaste kiss against his lips before pulling away to grab her keys and tuck her shield into her clutch. He simply nodded, and moved to lean against the wall outside her apartment while she locked the doors. Mesmerized by her every fluid movement he simply stared at the marvelous things her top did for her breasts. It was art the way the material hugged her curves, making them appear more generous than they were, the places where the material left off enhancing things ever further. His hand reached out and stilled her movements. "What?" She asked, a little more snappish that she'd planned. The way he stared at her unnerved her to the core as his touch burned her hand, "What Castle?" She asked again letting her desire for him slip in. He shook his head, and brought her hand to his mouth, keys and all, to place a kiss on its back.

"You're the most beautiful creature." He confessed. "I'm in shock you're standing beside me right now." The mood was heavy, almost too heavy to breath. It made her want to burst into tears or tear off his clothes, she just was still unsure what would come first. So she smiled, and slipped her hand free to return it to the locks before she spoke.

"That means a lot coming from a man who believes in unicorns and double rainbows."

XxXxXxX

:) I'm kinda stuck how to get them through dinner in character. This long story thing is tricky!