So, who else squealed after the final scene of Anatomy of a Murder? It still makes me giddy!

But anywhooo, another chapter up, hope you guys enjoy! And thank you so much for your lovely reviews, always makes my day happier.

Disclaimer: Does not own Castle...

Chapter 3

"I really wish I was coming with you guys." Alexis moaned the next morning, lying on Kate's bed. Alexis had come to think of it as "Kate's bed" even though the Detective would never admit such a thing. Although she lived on campus in Princeton, Alexis had come home enough weekends to know that the guest bedroom in her Dad's loft had slowly become Kate's bedroom. She also knew her father and Kate were in denial, neither brave enough to admit their feelings for each other. It frustrated her, but finally, this week away for them gave her hope! If only she could go! Or at least be a fly on the wall…

"I wish you could come as well, Lex." Kate sat down on the bed next to Alexis and gently tugged the girl's long red hair from its ponytail and began braiding it. Alexis smiled at the gesture. She loved Kate and she wished her father would hurry up and make a move before another Schlemming came along...

"Mom will no doubt drag me to every shop in LA. Maybe I could pretend to be sick, and come and stay with you guys in a few days?" She knew she sounded immature, but she really would rather spend the week with her Dad and Kate.

Kate laughed and bent to kiss Alexis' forehead.

"Alexis, your poor Mom never gets to see you. Indulge her just this once."

"Fiiiiine. Maybe you and Dad could stay an extra week and I could come up then?" She sat up as Kate finished the braid and turned to face the Detective.

"Maybe. You should go get ready, your Mom will be here any minute." Kate smiled gently, understanding Alexis' lack of excitement at the prospect of spending a week in LA with her mother. Her chest ached, because she was sure the look of disappointment on Alexis' face matched her own. She really would have loved for Alexis to come with them. Hearing the buzzer from downstairs indicating her Mom was here, Alexis made a face before quickly hugging Kate and running back to her bedroom to grab her suitcase.

XXXXXXX

"If you need anything, you just call, ok?" Castle hugged his daughter again. Meredith stood impatiently by the door tapping her foot. Kate hovered in the background, not wanting to intrude on the family moment.

"Of course, Dad. And please think about what I said, ok?" Alexis begged. Castle nodded before hugging his daughter again.

"Alexis, dear, we need to go." Meredith slung her large handbag from one arm to the other, her frustration clearly growing.

"Ok, ok." Alexis sighed. She moved over to Kate and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Don't kill each other, ok?" She whispered into Kate's ear. The Detective nodded.

"Like your Dad said, if you need anything…"

"I'll call, I promise." Giving one last squeeze, Alexis pulled away, grabbed her suitcase and headed out of the loft, Meredith chattering behind. Castle closed the door behind them and faced his gloomy looking Detective.

"Cheer up, Detective. I'm sure my amazing daughter will be back with us sooner than you think. Now, are you all packed? We should hit the road. And guess what? Because it's my cabin, and my car, I get to drive! Oh yeah!" Sweeping past Beckett, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back upstairs to her room. She managed a small laugh.

"It's ok Castle. I'm not going to argue with you." Going into the guest bedroom, she closed the door on his shocked face. He couldn't believe it….she was actually going to let him drive? He quickly made his way to his bedroom before he started to break out into a happy dance.

XXXXXXX

"You know Castle, you're lucky I'm not wearing my badge. I would have arrested you for a dozen road traffic violations by now." Beckett said, gripping the door handle as Castle made a sharp turn with the large car. Once the road straightened out, he turned to grin at her.

"Don't tell me your scared, Beckett?" He teased. She released the door and relaxed. Now that they were out of New York City and on the open road she leant back in her seat, kicked her shoes off and placed her feet against the dash.

"Your damn right I was scared. It's no wonder Alexis had me teach her how to drive."

Castle laughed and glanced across at Beckett. She looked so much younger, slumped back against the seat, wearing faded jeans and a NYU sweater, her hair in messy plaits.

"Castle!" She yelled, realising his attention was on her and not the snowy road ahead.

Quickly he focused back on driving, but every now and then glanced across at her, pleased to see a happy smile on her face the entire time.

XXXXXXX

Having grown tired of the radio, Beckett rummaged through the car's glove compartment, pulling a few CD's out. She turned amused eyes to Castle and held one out to him.

"Didn't figure you for a Glee fan, Castle."

He made a 'pff' sound before denying it was his, "It's Alexis'. And so are the Taylor Swift and Beyonce CD's."

"Uh huh. And the Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus CD's...they're not yours? Or maybe they belong to your mother?"

Grinning, Castle reached across and tugged Beckett's plait. She half heartedly swatted his hand away in pretend annoyance.

"Plug in my Iphone, I know for a fact that there will be music to your liking."

She did as he said, and unlocked the phone (secretly pleased that she knew his pin number), then scrolled through his playlist until she found something suitable. A moment later, ACDC's Highway to Hell blasted through the speakers.

"Good choice, Detective. Now, pass me the gummy bears, I'm starving and we've still got a while to go."

XXXXXXX

"Jeez, Beckett, how many layers are there to the Beckett Onion?" Castle turned surprised eyes to Beckett, who had stopped humming along to the songs on his Iphone and had actually started singing. She slouched deeper into the passenger seat of Castle's large SUV, her odd-sock covered feet resting on the dashboard. It seems where Alexis learned eye-rolling from Beckett, Beckett learned the habit of never wearing matching socks from Alexis.

"Don't know what you're talking about, Castle."

He sighed and turned his eyes back to the road.

"I didn't know you could sing. It seems every day I learn something new about you…yet I've known you for what? Almost four years? When will you stop surprising me?" He grumbled this, but a smile was bright on his face.

"Castle, the Beckett Onion has never ending layers...Are we there yet?"

Shaking his head at her, he laughed.

"Not yet, dear. Another hour or so. Please, continue singing."

Grinning, Beckett obliged, but in an off key voice. The rest of the trip was filled with them teasing each other and Beckett's purposely off key singing. Seeing her face relaxed for the first time in months, Castle was beyond relieved she had agreed to come with him. He also filed away the little detail of her singing skill for an idea in his next Nikki Heat novel.

XXXXXXX

Because Castle had no respect for road rules…or speed regulations, they arrived at his cabin less than an hour later. Turning into a small driveway, Beckett couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the "cabin" that belonged to the famous, wealthy author beside her. Castle grinned at her expression as he put the car into park and undid his seatbelt.

"So, you like?"

Beckett took a moment to answer. She thought her mouth probably gaped like a fish.

"Castle…this is…not what I expected at all!" She turned shining eyes to face him, and he knew she liked what she saw.

Beckett had been expecting some massive flashy cabin…but this…it was a small log cabin, quaint and old looking in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, nothing but hundreds of towering trees viewable for as far as the eye could see.

The cabin was two stories, lights were glowing from inside on both levels and smoke was billowing out from a chimney. Snow covered everything, making the scene look like something out of a Victoria St. Clair romance novel.

"We only have one neighbor, Lucy. I called ahead and asked her to put the fire on. There's no central heating but hopefully the fire will have warmed most of the house by now." Opening his door, he stepped carefully onto the slick snow and came around to open her door.

"Ill give you a tour, we can unpack later." Grabbing her hand and helping her down from the car (even though they both knew she didn't need help) he led her towards the cabin, hand still holding hers. He figured so long as she wasn't pulling away or pulling a gun on him, he was safe. There were a few steps, and then he reached the front door and unlocked it, opening and pushing Beckett in ahead of him. He was relieved to find the cabin warm. Bless Lucy!

"Ok, so as you can see this is pretty much an open plan. There's a small bathroom just over there." Castle pointed out numerous things to her. She was surprised to learn that there wasn't one TV in the house, only board games, an old record player and shelves and shelves of books. Everything was cozy and warm. Not at all what she expected.

"When Alexis and I come here, it's to get away from the gadgets and noise of New York. We just read and play games. And eat. It's great." Castle said. He pulled her towards a narrow staircase and walked up ahead of her. Beckett looked at the walls on either side, pictures of Alexis and Castle together adorning every inch of space. There was one of a much younger Castle, his hair long and floppy, cradling a newborn Alexis. She smiled and traced her finger across the picture in adoration, before quickly following Castle up to the second level.

"Up here we have my bedroom. Then Alexis' room is just across here and there's also another small bedroom at the end. You can stay in Alexis' room…unless you want to share my bed and keep me warm?" Castle waggled his eyebrows suggestively and Beckett rolled her eyes.

"Thanks for the charming offer, Castle, but no. Are you sure I should stay in Alexis' room…I don't want to invade her privacy…and you said there's another room?" Beckett walked back towards the spare bedroom, but Castle grabbed her wrist and dragged her away.

"Trust me; it's not set up for anyone to stay in. And I asked Alexis and she's fine with you staying in her room…though she did have the same hope as I did about you keeping me warm…"

Laughing, Beckett pulled away.

"In your dreams, Castle. Now let's unpack and then eat. I'm starving."

He sighed in resignation, but made a promise to himself and Alexis, that by the end of the week, Kate Beckett would be sharing his bed.

TBC

So, review? I will beg. Pretty please? With cherries on top!

P.S. Anyone who's read Naked Heat would have picked up on the little reference hidden in this chapter!