Told you, I'm easy to convince but the reviews feel nice though so thanks ! I hope I minimized the number of mistakes in this one.

Also I forgot the disclaimer because the idea that I would own Castle is ridiculous.

It's 5 AM and Beckett's wide awake. She quickly calculates that it's 11 AM where she's last been, in Berlin. So it's no surprise she can't sleep. The man next to her, on the other end, sleeps like a log. Castle doesn't wake when she traces patterns on his bare back, as she follows his muscles' lines. He doesn't either when she plants butterflies kisses on his shoulder blades. She debates internally : waking him or not. She's pretty sure he wouldn't mind the wake up call but they only.. went to bed... a few hours earlier. So she lays there, naked next to him, observing him. It's only fair, he usually is the one staring.

She thinks back to their night, smiling and blushing. She wishes they had talked more, though. Clear the air about the shooting and the last 18 months. She didn't even think to ask about her mother's case and the repercussions here in the press. In Europe, she voluntarily stayed away from the news. She caught a glimpse of the man behind her mother's death on TV once and quickly changed the channel.

Her thoughts wander towards those dark memories of the night they took them down. She doesn't want to relive it. Not here, she doesn't want to quit this state of bliss. But staying here when she so obviously not going back to sleep will only lead to more thinking. So she gets up and gathers her clothes. She puts them on quietly before slipping out of the bedroom.

Once in the hall, she realizes that she has a choice to make. Either stay and take the risk to run into Martha at some point - thank god Alexis is in college - or leave and risk upsetting Castle. She doesn't want him to think she's not all in, but she really can't stand staying awake in a bed for that long. And she doesn't feel like running into his mother just yet... She's going to the precinct, she decides, and she will leave a note.

In his office, she ponders what to write. She finally opts for short and to the point. She sneaks back in the bedroom, let the sheet of paper on the pillow. One last kiss on his - muscular- shoulder, one last longing glance at his - perfect – ass and she's out.

It's barely 7, the bullpen of the 12th is quiet. She walks to her desk with a smile. It's good to be back, she thinks, until she spots a post-it on the pile of files.

"Beckett. You forgot to review these before your vacations. I expect them on my desk by the end of the week.
Welcome back.
Cap. Gates."

Beckett makes a face but there is no one to see. She sighs and open the first folder. The sooner she starts, the sooner she'll be done.

As minutes go by, her colleagues come in. They all stop by her desk at some point making jokes about her long vacations. Their way to say that they care. She appreciates it and tell them so... by snapping back. She knows the NYPD way is a strange way. But she likes it.

When Ryan and Esposito come in she can't help but look at them while tapping her watch.

"Well, Beckett, some of us like to do our job and arrest at least a murderer in the morning", Esposito says. Behind them, a disheveled young man is walking, hands cuffed behind his back, between two officers. They direct him to the interrogation room and close the door.

"Care to watch how the pros do it ?", Ryan adds, winking at her.

She shows them the pile of paperwork on her desk. "I'll pass."

Back at the loft, Castle awakes with a groan. He rolls on his back, lying across his king size bed, and covers his face with both hands. He hates waking up to the feeling that he didn't get enough sleep. He hates even more waking up after such a beautiful dream. He's telling himself, once more, that he needs to stop having such vivid dreams about her. He doesn't know how he can still look her in the eye. His arms drop on the mattress, his body forming a cross. He lifts his head when he feels his elbow crumpling a paper. He takes it, frowning. Lifting himself up on one arm, he reads out loud :

"Good Morning. Solly ? (Hu ?) … Sorry. Couldn't sleep and didn't dale... dare (!) to wake you. You looked like you needed sleep. I went to work. See you there ? xxx, KB. PS : Did something wear you out ?"

His heart is doing summersault in his chest, a warm feeling overwhelms him as he remembers this wasn't a dream. "The little minx !" He throws himself back on the bed, both fists pumped up in the air. "Yes !"

Around 11, Castle makes his entrance in the bullpen, all smile and swagger, coffee in hand. The three detectives are sitting against Esposito's desk, facing the murder board from the case the two men just closed. They are walking their boss through their investigation.

"Incredible", Beckett says, focusing on the white board. Her heart pounding because she saw Castle enter. She hopes he will act "normal".

"Good morning Detective..zzzzzzz", he greets, adding the plural even if he only has eyes for her. He gives her the coffee and looks embarrassed when both Ryan and Esposito extend their hands, as if waiting for a cup as well. Ryan makes a show at being disappointed. Esposito glares. Beckett bites her lips to prevent laughing.

"What, it's not as if I ever brought you coffee before..."

They glare at him for the fun of it. Castle's eyes avert theirs, looking right, then left. He lets the moment pass.

"So, what are we working on ?", he asks when he reckons it's safe to talk.

"We just closed a case. Which you would know if you had come before", starts Ryan.

"Sorry, long night", Castle says, like a reflex. Beckett nearly chokes on her coffee.

"I meant for the last few weeks" Ryan adds. Castle goes to the same tactics as a few minutes ago. Advert eyes, look right, look left.

Esposito takes pity in the end and explains to him how they caught their killer. The young man killed his mother with a car accident because he thought she had poisoned his dad.

"She had ?"

"No, that's the sad part. The dad actually killed himself because he was going to go broke. Depressed, he disguised it in an anaphylactic shock after he ate at a restaurant so his family could have the insurance money", Ryan recounts.

"Ouch !"

It's lunch time when Beckett's phone rings. Castle looks up from his (he's playing Angry birds). But even from his chair, he can only hear her side of the conversation.

"Beckett... Ready ?.. Okay.. Yeah, I know the place... See you in five."

The writer is immediately on his feet.

"Where are we going ?", he asks excitedly.

Beckett rises as well and heads towards the elevator, knowing he will follow. She waits until the door close, then she steps into his personal space. She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him full on the lips, forcefully but briefly.

"Hi", she says

"Hi", he says back, looking dazed. He kisses her again but she pulls away reluctantly as the doors open.

"So, where are we going ?", he repeats.

"I'm going to lunch with Lanie. You ? You go home", she tells him when they walk down the 12th's stairs to the street.

"What ?", Castle's tone is indignant. "What did I do ?"

"Nothing yet. But the more you stayed the more your face bore an expression of 'I've seen you naked'."

He can't help the grin that creeps on his face. "But I've seen you naked", he whispers, well aware that she will cut his balls if anyone from the NYPD hears him. Beckett's doesn't know if she wants to slap or kiss the leer away from his face. It doesn't matter, she won't do either in public.

"See what I mean ? So you go work on that, I'm going to lunch. And I'm seeing you tonight ? Maybe you could come by ?" She congratulates herself because her invitation sounded natural, not awkward, not rehearsed and her nerves barely showed.

"I'd love to" He smiles at her and leans in to kiss her again but sees just in time that they are still too close to the precinct, so he backs away. Instead, he brushes his hand against hers discreetly. "Until tonight."

He walks away and hail a taxi. She has to bite down the huge happy smile threatening to break out. Until he tuns back. "Oh ! And I wasn't even close to tired. But I'll show you worn out later..." He waggles his eyebrows before disappearing inside the yellow cab.