A/N: Here's dessert, as promised. I hope you like the taste of it…

Ch. 4: Mixed Flavors

Everyone gasped as Castle put the giant ice-cake on the table. It was big, with beautiful icing and, the reason why everyone gasped, sparkling firework on top of it, the kind especially made for desserts. Castle gave a satisfied grin when everyone reacted like he hoped they would. He gave everyone a piece and watched as they gave sounds of appreciation.

Beckett had to admit, it was delicious. She ate and suddenly saw him stare at her lips. She licked her lips and watched as his eyes followed her movement. She started to feel a little uncomfortable and coughed softly getting his attention.

"Well, Rick I gotta say, this is truly delicious." Jim said, after he finished eating.

"Well, I can't take all the credit, Alexis helped a lot." Rick said and smiled at his daughter.

After everyone had finished eating Castle and Alexis cleaned the table while Jim, Martha and Kate proceeded to sit on the couch. "Does anybody want some hot chocolate?" Castle called from the kitchen.

"Yes that would be great." Jim said immediately. "I can't remember the last time I had hot chocolate." He said and grinned. "I do remember Kate used to love it. This once when she was fifteen we went out to an amazing coffee bar, but she wanted hot chocolate. When she drank from the cup the cream on top it left a mustache on her upper lip. That was exactly the moment a boy from school walked by…" He told them and Kate turned a light shade of pink.

"Dad!" She said and heard a soft chuckle coming from the kitchen. She didn't need to look up to see who it came from.

"Well, I didn't like the guy but she certainly did." Jim continued ignoring his daughter's angry stare. "She started stuttering some words to the boy, but she didn't know she had a cream mustache."

"DAD!" Kate said again and gave him an angry look. She remembered that event painfully well. It had been very embarrassing and she didn't want that anybody heard about it, especially not Castle.

"Your hot chocolate." Castle said as he and Alexis put the steamy cups of hot chocolate on the table. He grinned at Kate who was still slightly flushed.

"Ah… You should've seen Rick when he was younger…" Martha started. "Once he had brought a girl home that he was tutoring in English. He was very good in English and even in school he always knew what to say. But then with that girl…" She grinned.

"Mom!" Castle called out and shot a warning glance at his mother while Kate let out a soft chuckle and watched him amusedly.
"Well honey, it is true." Martha said and continued, "He was supposed to tutor the poor girl in English, but not a single word of that language came out of his mouth. He was just stuttering and mumbling some kind of gibberish. One study session and the girl requested another tutor."

"Mother!" Castle looked slightly embarrassed.

"Well, don't worry. I think that's the only girl that ever got you speechless." Martha said and continued talking to Jim and Alexis.

Kate Beckett looked into his blue eyes as she remembered the kiss. After she'd kissed him he had been speechless. And he hadn't been since some high-school crush. She felt heat spread to her body as they continued to stare into each other's eyes, having a conversation without speaking. Then she suddenly got an idea.

Castle watched her as she stood up and said, "Rick, we still needed to go through the case-file remember? You told me you found something before…?" She said to him, hoping he would play along.

Luckily he was quick to catch up. "Yes I remember." He said and jumped up. "Excuse us." He said to the rest who were laughing and chatting with each other.

Rick led the way to his study and Kate followed him closely. When they were inside he closed the door behind him and turned around to her. "What was that all abou−" He started to ask but before he could say as much as another letter, Kate pushed him against the door and kissed him.

Their kiss was passionate and Kate's hands slowly moved up over his chest. She let one hand play with his hair while she let the other linger in his neck. Castle's hands were on her waist and pulled her closer to him as he slowly let his thumb caress a piece of exposed skin. She trembled slightly at the touch and deepened the kiss. God, he thought, she tastes so sweet. After what seemed minutes she eventually pulled back.

"Kate, this is… that was… Wow." Rick said as he tried to steady his breath.

Kate let her hands return to his chest and she felt his heartbeat under her palms. His heartbeat raced even more when she leaned in again and placed a quick kiss on his lips, just enough to have another taste. She grinned when she felt his heartbeat.

His hands still on her waist, she lowered her arms and pushed his hands gently away. "I think we should go back…" She said and looked up.

"Yeah. Do you have anything to do tomorrow?" He asked suddenly.

"Well, um just work." She replied.

"Do you want to go out to dinner with me? You know, like a date." He asked, waiting anxiously for her response.

"Yes, that would be nice." She said and smiled at him.

"Good, pick you up at seven?" He asked, looking like a nine-year old in Disneyland again.

"Um, yeah sure." She said and stepped away from him, gesturing him to step away from the door. When she reached the doorknob with her hand she suddenly felt his body heat radiate across her back. She stilled when he leaned in further and heard him whisper in her ear, "I wish I could've been there."

She frowned and slightly turned her head before she asked, "Where?"

"When you had that hot chocolate mustache-moment", he replied with a grin.

"Oh, shut up." She said as she opened the door and re-entered the living room, closely followed by Castle.

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A/N: So far for dessert, I hope you liked it and I would love you to review. In the next chapter I'll probably delve some deeper into the murder. Since I'm gone this weekend, don't expect an update until next week.