A/N: These ones are all pretty much connected, like little bits from the same story progression. Enjoy!


21. Familiar Stranger

Love turned Javier into someone—something—he didn't recognize.

Love turned him into a person who was moody and prickly and avoided as much contact with his partner as possible.

Love turned him into a man who snapped and snarled whenever he was disturbed, and flinched when his partner laid a hand on his shoulder.

When Javier looked at himself in the mirror, he didn't recognize the reflection. He saw an angry, tense mouth; he saw new wrinkles on his forehead that hadn't been there before; he saw tired, bloodshot eyes; and, above all, he saw fear.

Etched into every feature of his face was a wild panic, lurking just beneath the surface.

His face was the same, yet completely different—alien.

Javi's love had turned the detective into a familiar stranger, but he couldn't bring himself to regret it. He loved Ryan too much to ever regret it.

It was better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.

The Hispanic detective took issue with that statement—because not loving seemed almost preferable at that point—but let it go.

He loved his partner more than he'd ever admit, even now, and now he'd deal with the fallout.

22. Overcompensating For Something

Kevin was completely bewildered by his partner's behavior.

He felt like they were all playing parts in some kind of Greek tragedy, only no one had given Kevin a script, and he was left fumbling to remember his lines.

It was a disturbingly apt analogy for what was happening to his relationship with Esposito.

Where there was once ease and comfort, there was now tension and wariness. His brain scattered whenever they spoke, feeding him lines that made no sense in the first place, and his tongue teamed up to twist and mangle them into something frighteningly different from what he originally meant.

Things even got so bad that other people from the precinct began to notice.

They asked him what was going on, but all Kevin could do was shrug helplessly. He didn't know either.

After almost two weeks, it got better. In some ways.

Espo no longer snapped at him when they touched, and no longer growled when other people touched Kevin. He no longer snarled when people snapped him out of the preoccupation that he was suddenly prone to. He no longer glared at jelly donuts as if they had slept with his sister (not that anyone got that bit, anyway).

While still filled to the brim with odd, nervous energy, Esposito was quick to smile and joke and go on coffee runs. He laughed and talked with others in a civil manner, and didn't injure any more suspects.

But if he was just trying to make up for his behavior before, this was an extreme way of going about it.

No, he was overcompensating for something. And Detective Kevin Ryan was determined to find out what that something was.

23. Pregnancy Cravings

Javier couldn't help but stare.

Cream cheese and a hot dog. With cinnamon. In a tortilla.

The sight was so disturbing that the Hispanic detective almost gagged; then his partner grinned happily through a mouthful of his treat, and Javi suddenly didn't mind so much.

So, his partner was quirky—that was just another reason he loved Ryan.

Shaking his head in mock-disgust, Javier turned to head to the break room for more coffee. He heard Castle walk up to his partner and say in a shocked voice, "What—are you pregnant or something?"

Javier didn't hear an answer, but didn't realize it was because Ryan was gaping at his retreating form.

He didn't realize that it was because he'd voiced that little sentiment about loving his partner out loud.

24. That's Unfortunate

Kevin wasn't sure which was more unfortunate: his partner's recent mood-swings and surliness, or his tie.

What was more unfortunate, though, was Kev's inability to tell his partner—his Javi—how he felt.

Yeah, that was definitely the worst.

25. What Did He Say?

"So, what did he say?"

"…What did who say?"

"Kevin, of course!"

"What did Kevin say when?"

"… You didn't tell him, did you?"

"…" *sigh* "No."

"You are such a wimp, Javier Esposito."

"Thanks, Lex. Way to up my confidence.

"Screw confidence! We need to up your intoxication! Then you can sit Kev down and, after about twenty minutes of talking, casually drop into the conversation that you wanna have lots and lots of sex and babies."

*sputters* "Say that a little bit louder, Mini-Castle! I don't think the people on the other side of the precinct hear you!"

"So, you're not denying it?"

"…" *sigh* "No, Alexis, I'm not."

"Good. Let's get started then."

26. Done And Done

1. Pizza. Check.

2. Beer. Check.

3. Halo: Reach. Check.

Kevin looked over the list that Alexis Castle had provided and their corresponding check-marks. Then he looked at the very last item on his list.

4. Screw up the courage to tell Esposito how you feel so you are no longer distracted during work, thinking about how incredible it would be to kiss your partner. It's gotten pathetic.

Kevin Ryan sighed. Castle's daughter was mean.

In the works.

27. Grow Some Balls

Javi had paused the game to argue with Ryan about something. He couldn't quite remember what.

As they'd teasingly insulted each other, the Hispanic detective scolded himself, Grow some balls, dude. Just kiss him!

Oh, great. Now he was beginning to sound like Castle's kid.

He looked over at his partner, trying to screw up his courage, but couldn't manage it and quickly turned his head to take another bite of pizza.

28. First Attempt

His first attempt was slightly less than successful.

They had been teasing each other about something or other when his partner had stopped and looked at him with a peculiar expression on his face. After a moment, though, he suddenly turned to take a bite of food.

Unfortunately for the Irish detective, that was the exact moment he threw caution to the wind and leaned in to kiss Esposito.

He missed, and Kevin's lips ended up on his partner's throat.

Okay, so his first attempt wasn't great.

When Kevin's partner looked at him gratefully, he knew that the second attempt would be much better.

And it was.

29. Terrible Design

As he and his partner stumbled down the hall, lips exploring each other and hands tugging desperately on clothing, Javier thought wildly what a terrible design his partner's stupid vests were.

It was just ridiculous how difficult it was to get the damn thing off.

30. Is It True?

"Is it true?"

Esposito cracked an eye to look at his Irish partner, and Kevin hated himself for how timid his voice sounded.

They were both lying on the floor of Esposito's bedroom—never having made it to the bed, but Kevin was surprised they even made it to the hall—and trying to get their breathing under control, and Kevin knew he was basically ruining the afterglow, but…

But maybe he read the situation wrong. Maybe this was just a one-night stand. Maybe Espo didn't care about him the same way. Maybe—

Kevin's internal panic attack was cut off by Esposito lightly tugging his hair and bringing him in for a kiss.

After a few moments, his Hispanic partner pulled back slightly and rested their foreheads together.

"Every word, bro."

Kevin couldn't help but sigh in relief, and opened his eyes to see Esposito looking more vulnerable than he'd ever seen his partner before.

"I love you, too, Javi."


A/N: Review, you ungrateful bastards. Please.