Not sure if I like this or not but... Here you go anyways!


Captain Victoria Gates had not been in IAB for nothing. It had been a career born from an uncanny ability to read people. As a police captain, this was less important, but it always came in handy when dealing with the detectives and officers of the 12th. And of course, a certain troublesome author.

She had realized coming in that there was something different about his relationship with her best detective, and until meeting them, had been almost sure of the fact that they were at least sleeping together. It wasn't until she more closely observed their dynamic that she realized that this was not the case.

When Beckett returned from her resignation/suspension, Gates suspected that something had changed. It didn't appear so, but the energy between the two had changed.


Her mother-in-law was driving her crazy. She had absolutely no idea what the woman was so unhappy about, but it seemed like every time they saw each other, the woman had to show her obvious disdain for her son's wife.

That is why, when she was supposed to be making polite conversation, Victoria Gates was paying attention to anything and everything in the restaurant that wasn't the old hag. She was pulled from her extreme interest in the desert cart passing by when she heard a familiar laugh ring from the front of the restaurant.

Through the throng of diners, Kate Beckett could be seen shaking with suppressed laughter at whatever the tall man beside her was whispering in her ear. Gates watched as she pushed none other than Richard Castle away and tried to glare at him, failing on account of her eyes tearing up.

They were interrupted by the waiter, and Gates watched as Castle led Kate through the dining room with a hand on the skin on the small of her back left exposed by her gown. This should be an interesting distraction from what was happening at her own table.

As she finished her main course and dessert, she watched the pair across the room get more and more comfortable, holding hands and exchanging glances. It was clear that the relationship she had suspected was real. Despite her original qualms about the duo, she was happy to see that they had finally figured whatever it was between them out.

As she drove home that night, she couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for them to realize she knew.


A/N: Sorry this took so long! I wanted Gates to be last and so I was thinking about doing some other people, but didn't really have any ideas as to how. Also, school is about to start and so I've been busy procrastinating my summer homework, and going to cross country (running, for those of you who don't know) practice every day, after which I am usually pretty tired.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read this story, it means a lot!