Thanks to RoyalDanielle for the prompt on this one. It was "fanfiction, slippers, and glue."

For Educate The Masses, because it's your actual birthday today and you're the bestest best friend ever.

I'm assuming from the lack of response to the last chapter that interest in this story has waned, so this will be the last chapter. Thank you to everyone who has read and commented.


It was nearing one a.m. when Castle finally opened the door to the loft, not surprised to find it dark and quiet inside. His flight home from visiting Alexis had been diverted to Philadelphia due to weather and he'd been stuck in the airport for nearly four hours before he'd finally rented a car and driven the rest of the way home. As good as it had been to visit with Alexis; he hated being away from Kate. Unfortunately, her case load hadn't permitted her to go along on this trip.

As he pulled his suitcase behind him through his study, he stepped on something and heard a crunch beneath his foot. Almost afraid to find out what he'd just destroyed, he turned on his desk lamp and bent down to investigate. The remains of a glue stick were scattered about the floor and Castle shook his head as he kicked off his shoes so as not to track glue anywhere.

"I wondered where that had gone," Kate said from the bedroom doorway.

Castle jumped at the sound of her voice. "Jeez, Kate. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Sorry," she replied. "I heard a noise and came out to investigate."

It was only then that Castle realized she had her weapon in her hand and he shook his head as he straightened back up. "I guess I should consider myself lucky that you didn't shoot first and ask questions later."

Kate smiled and nodded to the bedroom. "Let me put this away and I'll get something to clean that up."

In no time, she was back and armed with paper towels, a wet wash cloth and his house slippers. "Here," she said as she handed him his slippers.

"Thank you," he replied.

After slipping them on, he picked up his shoe and started to clean it off.

"I'll get it," she said. "Why don't you go ahead and get ready for bed? I know you must be exhausted."

Too tired to argue, Castle merely handed the shoe over and reached for his suitcase, leaving Kate to clean up the mess.

He deposited his suitcase in the corner of the bedroom and then headed to the bathroom, deciding to forego unpacking until the morning. After stripping down to his boxers and tossing his clothes in the laundry basket, he quickly brushed his teeth and then headed back to the bedroom.

"Sorry about that," Kate said as she passed him on her way to the bathroom. "I had been working on the scrapbook for Lanie earlier when I got a phone call. When I came back in, the glue stick was nowhere to be found."

"It's not a problem," he replied as he moved to the bed, wanting nothing more than to curl up with Kate and sleep.

Kate's laptop was open in the middle of the bed and Castle moved it to the side as he settled himself in the bed. The movement caused the screen saver to disappear and Castle couldn't believe his eyes as he saw the site Kate had apparently been visiting.

He was so caught off guard that he didn't hear Kate come back in the room. It wasn't until she took the laptop from his hands that he looked up at her.

"I can explain that," she said hurriedly.

"This ought to be good," he replied, leaning back against the headboard, all traces of exhaustion suddenly gone.

"It's not what you think," she continued as she moved the laptop to the night stand.

"Really?" he asked. "So that wasn't a fanfic site dedicated to Nikki Heat stories?"

"Okay," she said as she slowly turned back to face him. "So maybe it is what you think. But I can explain."

"I'm waiting," he said with just a hint of a grin.

"I wasn't reading it," she stammered. "I was just browsing."

"Browsing?"

"Yes," she replied. "I was on this Nikki Heat fan site and there was a link and I clicked on it to see what kinds of fanfic they write about your characters."

"We'll come back to why you were on a Nikki Heat fan site in a minute," Castle said. "First though, I want to know how you even know about fanfic."

"Derek Storm," Kate blurted.

Castle arched an eyebrow. "Oh really? Kate Beckett, have you been holding out on me?"

Kate closed her eyes and sighed. Maybe it was time to come clean. "Back in my college days, when I first got hooked on your books, I used to read some of the Derek Storm fanfic," she admitted.

"And?" he prompted.

"And what?" she asked.

"Was it any good?"

Kate shrugged. "Some of it was."

When she didn't say anything else, Castle gave her shoulder a nudge. "But?"

She shrugged again. "It was never as good as yours."

Instead of the expected gloating, Castle pulled her into his arms. "So what about the Nikki Heat stories?" he asked.

"I really wasn't reading them," she said as she leaned against his chest. "I was just browsing some of the titles and summaries."

"Anything catch your attention?"

"Not really," she replied. After a pause, she pulled back to look up at him. "Does it bother you?"

"That you're a closet fanfiction fan?"

"No," she replied with a chuckle. "That there are people who use your characters to write their own stories."

"Not really," Castle replied. "I like to think of it as a compliment."

"A compliment?"

"They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery, right? So if someone thinks my characters are interesting enough that they want to write about them, I figure I must've done something right."

"I guess that's a good way of looking at it."

Castle leaned forward and brushed a kiss against her lips. When he pulled back, he winked at her. "Now…why exactly were you on a Nikki Heat fan site?"

Kate glanced over at the clock. "My, look at the time, will ya? We'd better get some sleep."

Castle laughed at her obvious attempt at deflection, but let her get away with it. Sliding down until he was on his back, he waited until she'd turned the light off and curled up against his side before he spoke. "The next time we discuss this, it's going to take a lot more to sidetrack me."

"I'll keep that in mind," she replied.

"Goodnight, Kate."

"Goodnight, Castle."

The End


Again, thank you to everyone who has left a review. They have been greatly appreciated.