A/N: First off, wow! Thanks for all of the favorites/follows/reviews. Before we keep going, I'm going to answer a few questions…as far as Joe and Kathleen not knowing each other outside of the chatrooms as well as Caskett does, I agree. Since this is focused really on the last half of the movie, I figured there would be a little more wiggle room there, but I can scale it back until the chapter where they spend the day discussing this mystery man, if y'all think I should. To the reviewer wondering about flirty Beckett, in my mind she's kind of hoping that this guy is Castle, much like Kathleen was hoping it'd be Joe. Should I make that more obvious? Castle openly going on this date was more my way of adding a little angst than anything else, but remember it's tied to the first time Joe and Kathleen attempt to meet, and he stands her up. So he's really telling Beckett that he's potentially going on a date with her, just neither of them know it yet. Like I said, this is a little bit AU so everything isn't exactly season 4. And finally, thanks to the reviewer who caught the StormWriter/StormRider mishap. I thought I caught them all. My method is to write something out, then go back and fix it, then fix it again, etc. So every now and then something does slip by. This is a little bit challenging, and it'll probably take some more tweaking even after it's completely finished before it's "done". But I'll keep going and trying if you guys want me too! Any more questions? Let me know! And now, onward!

What the hell? What've I got to lose right? Beckett began to write her reply but then froze, erased it, and paced around the room. I don't even know this guy. But I'm a cop, I can protect myself. Finally she came up with an answer.

KB6: How about this. We meet somewhere for coffee or a late dinner, a get to know you type thing. Then maybe we go from there.

His reply was quick.

StormRider: I'll take it. Meet you at Remi's at 8?

KB6: Sure. But how will you know who I am?

StormRider: Do you own any Richard Castle novels?

KB6: Do I? I own them all. Rick Castle is my favorite author.

StormRider: Great. Bring one and leave it standing up on the table. I'll know it's you.

The next day at the precinct passed by slowly. No new leads, no anything to distract Kate from the upcoming date. She couldn't even remember much of what happened. Just lots of people coming up to her, saying something, moving on, repeat. Castle had only been in for a few minutes too, saying something about a date tonight and that he had a chapter to finish before then. All of a sudden it was 8PM and she was sitting in Remy's.

Castle, having not been sure what to wear strode up to the café and checked his hair in the mirror. "I really am ruggedly handsome, I really am ruggedly handsome," he mumbled, attempting to calm his nerves. It wasn't working, but he was prepared for this. He turned to his daughter.

"Alexis, look in there for me. Tell me if she's there. She's – "

"I know, dad, one of your books is standing on the table. We've been over this."

"Right. Now, look!" Alexis looked. "Do you see her?"

"Not yet. Oh!"

"What does she look like?"

"Oh. Sorry. There's a cute boy in there, all by himself." She grinned as Castle gave her a look. "He's reading one of your books though, so he can't be that bad…" she trailed off and turned to keep searching. "There she is! Oh boy."

"Is she gorgeous? I knew it. She's beautiful, and probably really witty to."

Alexis turned to her dad, looking nervous. "Um, dad? You like Detective Beckett, right? Like her looks and everything?"

"Sure. Why?"

"Well then you'll definitely like this woman."

"Why?" A lead ball of dread seemed to drop into Castle's stomach as he pressed his face to the window. Alexis's confirmation came from behind him, just as his eyes settled on what he feared.

"It is Beckett."

Castle backed away, unsure what to do. Pacing back and forth, he ran his hand through his hair as he came up with possibilities.

"What are you gonna do, dad? You can't stand her up."

He stopped. "Yes. Yes, I can. And that's what I'm going to do. Come on, lets go home." Without waiting for an answer he headed back the way they came. After a moment, Alexis trailed behind him, casting furtive looks back at the restaurant.

Back inside, Beckett looked at her watch. 8:45. She was starting to wonder if this guy was coming at all. How much longer should she wait? Just then, the bell over the door rang, and she looked up hopefully. Immediately her eyes locked with someone's she would know anywhere. Castle. He sauntered over to her, being sure to hide that he knew she was here. After returning to his loft he changed his mind again, and came back to talk as a friend.

"Why Detective, I had no idea you would be here tonight. Are you waiting for someone?"

Deciding to get this conversation over with so that this mystery man wouldn't find her talking to another man – if ever he showed up – she decided to engage in a little conversation.

"I was. He's late," she said flatly. "What about you? Don't you have a date tonight?"

Castle shrugged non-committedly. "I did. She…well, I'm not that guy anymore. Mind if I take a seat, wait with you?" Before she could protest, Castle was sitting down.

"So, who is this guy?"

Beckett shifted nervously. A lightbulb seemed to go off in Caslte's head.

"You don't know! After everything you said yesterday, you went and made a date with someone you don't know. Wow, Beckett."

"I am a cop, Castle. If I really thought he was bad news, I would've stopped talking to him a long time ago."

"Mhmm. Well in any case, he's not here right now, is he? Did he stand you up?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe something held him up." The excuse sounded feeble even to her. Deciding to take a little bit of pity on her, Castle stopped giving her such a hard time.

"I'm sorry if he did, you know. If he really knew you, he'd never let you go." The intensity of his gaze forced Beckett to look away after a minute.

"Thanks, Castle."

He leaned back in his chair, put his hands behind his head, and grinned a self assured smile. "Hey, it's my job."

"Your job?"

"As your partner. I have your back, you've got mine."

"Right. Now, I think it's time for you to go. I don't want him to see us together when he walks in!"

"You're probably right." With that, Castle stood, walked around behind her, and dropped into a seat at the open table.

Beckett turned around. "You're still here." As sweet as he had just been, her tone bordered on frustrated.

"Yes. But I am not there, and therefore did exactly what you asked and left."

She rolled her eyes. It was now 9 o'clock and she was getting more agitated. She was going to snap soon. She felt a tap on her shoulder. "Yes?"

"Tag. You're it."

That was the last straw. "That's it! Get out. I just want my date to show up, and then you insufferable idiot appear and won't leave me alone and I just want to be alone!" She sat there heaving with frustration as Castle stared at her, obviously hurt.

"You think I'm an insufferable idiot?"

"Castle, no. I didn't mean that." She tried to talk him back down as he stood up. "I was just frustrated, alright?" He had his jacket on now.

With one last look at Beckett, he huffed, "guess that's my cue," and walked out the door and into the night.

A/N: So, the precinct should be fun tomorrow…also, bonus points to the first person to correctly figure out why Beckett's username is what it is. With the mess up last chapter, I think we can all figure out the reasoning behind Castle's...