She was stunning in her gown, and he was beyond handsome in his tuxedo. Lanie, Esposito, Jenny, and Ryan followed them in, also dressed to the nines. The cops had all noticed that the limo Rick had them driven in was one normally used for visiting dignitaries. Armored. He wasn't taking any chances. But no one brought it up. This was supposed to be a fun night out. The friends had a reserved table but quickly reached the dance floor. Kate had danced with Rick before, but this time he was completely focused on her. He whispered in her ear, and she laughed aloud. Rick was a puddle when Kate laughed. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. Thank you, God; he thinks. She catches him staring and smiles that big brilliant smile. "What?" she asks. He smirks and says, "Just finding religion, I guess." She shakes her head and notices for the thousandth time how much his eyes sparkle when he's smiling.

Sitting at a table, enjoying dinner & a glass of wine - sparkling juice for Kate in case she needs her painkiller - the friends are all laughing & having a great time. Everyone notices Beckett's & Castle's flirtiness, but as usual, Ryan & Esposito just give each other a knowing look then shrug it off. But the ladies don't. Lanie and Jenny tag-team an inquisition about why Rick & Kate aren't a couple yet. He gives her a look that shouts, "Yeah, why not?" He decides he'll step in if she gets uncomfortable or angry, but is more than curious about how this would play out. She stammers, and tries to act like they just couldn't. Despite all the nudges from the friends over the last year and a half, she still thinks she's kept her feelings for Rick Castle secret from everyone else. Kate tries to change the subject, but the girls just will not leave it alone. The men (greatly amused) keep their mouths shut. She knows it's futile. Why bother keeping it a secret after all the magical kisses over the last two days? Rick sees and wonders about the mischievous smirk on her face when Kate gives up and says, "Fine." Lanie repeats, "Fine?" "Yeah, fine. You want it, you got it." She turns, grabs Castle and kisses him deeply right in front of God & everybody. The resulting stunned gasps are met with Castle's shocked slack-jawed Holy Crap look. He looks like a teenage boy at prom who just realized he might get lucky for the first time. Ryan and Lanie are still wide-eyed, watching in amazement, while Jenny and Esposito just smile, like they knew it all along.

Castle jumps, hurrying to get up, taking Kate's hand, and saying to Ryan & Esposito, "You guys can grab a cab… I need to take her home now!" But they all laugh at Rick's comment, and Kate pulls him back down into his seat down and grins. He puts his arm around her & she leans against him, and they continue the evening as three happy couples.

Monday morning, with her medical leave officially over, Castle & Beckett arrive together at the precinct. Beckett's not sure how to handle what she knows will be office gossip. She didn't really care when co-workers saw her with other men, but she didn't glow in their presence. She positively radiated with Rick. She just hopes she doesn't act like a giddy schoolgirl and can keep being the calculating professional she had trained herself to be. Castle knows exactly how to handle it. Alone for a moment, he kisses her deeply but tenderly in the elevator, but stops just in time for the doors to open & no one sees. She likes it. Someone rides up one floor then gets off. The doors close, and he kisses her again, this time more passionately with one hand on her cheek and the other in laced her hair. But when they reach the floor for homicide, he doesn't stop for the doors, just keeps kissing her, and lets the door open & everyone sees. The cat calls & howls, a "Go get her, Castle!" and an "About damn time," meet their ears, and he finally releases her. He holds her gaze for a quick moment with a bit of a smirk & cocked eyebrows. Her ears, neck, and cheeks flush bright pink and she walks out trying to act like everything's normal. She figures it is the new normal. Rick saunters out with a smarmy grin, catches up to her with two long strides, and takes her hand. He watches her with a sly smile, not sure if she'll let him hold her hand here, and they're almost to the bullpen so it's only a momentary risk. But she doesn't pull away. Instead, she smiles almost deviously and gives him a quick wink.