Time to get ready for dinner together... let's see how that goes

Disclaimer... Nothing's changed. Still the same. Castle & characters do not belong to me.


Kate answered the door, wrapped in just her towel, to a very impatient Lanie waiting on the other side. There was no hello, nothing. Lanie simply barged in, which Kate didn't really mind.

"I can't believe you said yes," Lanie said making her way straight through to Kate's bedroom.

She had come on Kate's request to help her decide what to wear. Kate really had no idea what she was doing, she still wasn't sure it was a good idea she had even agreed to go to dinner with Castle. And even though she was feeling a little nervous about it, she was also quite excited. She was going to have dinner with him, she was going on a date with 'the Richard Castle'.

"I still can't believe it myself Lanie," Kate said following her friend. "I don't even know why I said yes. Why did I say yes?" she asked hoping that Lanie would be able to shed some light on the situation.

"Well, it's obvious you like the guy Kate. We could all see it yesterday. You were totally flirting with him."

"Oh, you saw that?" Kate said feeling slightly embarrassed. "I really hadn't meant to, it kinda just happened."

"You kinda just happened to flirt? Do you do that with all the guys Kate, because if you do, I think we need to have a little bit of a chat."

"No, okay, I knew it was happening, but I didn't mean to. I mean it's Castle. You know what he's like. He's self-centred, he's arrogant, he can be an ass, and well he's just… he's Castle"

"He's fun. Just go out and enjoy it. Get to know him. Maybe there's more to him than you think."

"You really think so?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"But, Lanie… what about all those stories, all the pictures in the paper, the women. I don't want to just be another one of them. This is a bad idea, I should call and tell him I changed my mind."

"Kate, you will do no such thing. Give the guy a chance. He may have that image but I think you'll find he's more of a gentleman than the papers give him credit for. Just go out, have some fun, and talk to him. Tell him your concerns right from the beginning. He's been dealing with the papers for years, I'm pretty sure he'll know how to keep them away to stop those stories from appearing."

"So, you don't think those stories are completely true?" Kate asked. She could sense that there was something Lanie wasn't telling her. Maybe Castle had spoken to Lanie about the papers and their stories. If Lanie believed there was more to him then Kate wanted to find out for herself. She didn't really see their relationship going any further than friendship. She liked him, but he lived in a completely different world, and she was pretty sure she was completely different to anyone else he had ever gone out with. Friends, that's all they would ever be, and she wasn't sure she really wanted anything more than that with him.

"No, I think there's probably some truth to the stories, but I also think that people will print anything in a paper to make money, so I think it's important we don't judge by just the paper alone."

"Wow, Lanie, when did you become so wise?" Kate said with a laugh.

Lanie just shrugged and laughed with her.

Looking at her watch and noticing that Kate was still only dressed in a towel, she asked, "What time is he coming?"

"7pm."

"Oh goodness me girl, we better get you dressed and ready. I mean I'm sure he wont have any problems with you being dressed in only a towel but I think clothing would be a good idea this time round."

Kate slapped her friend with the back of her hand to her shoulder. "Lanie Parish! Behave yourself!"

Lanie then started looking through Kate's wardrobe pulling out a few options. It was important to get the look just right. She didn't want anything too sexy, because that would give Castle the wrong impression. She wanted him to know that Kate was definitely not simply a conquest to add to his list. But she had to be just a little bit sexy to tease him. Both Lanie and Kate knew how much he loved to be teased. They also had no idea where Castle would be taking her, which made the decision difficult. She had to find something that was suitable to wear anywhere really. Knowing Castle though, he was probably going to take her somewhere fancy.

Lanie pulled out a short black strapless dress. It was perfect. The dress was short enough to show off Beckett's long legs, but also was straight cut at the top so there was no large amount of cleavage to distract Castle too much or that would give him the wrong idea. She then found a jacket, just incase it was cold. Putting it with the dress it looked great. She topped it off with some dangly earrings and a touch of make up and she was set to go, except shoes. There was only one answer for the shoes. A pair of black heels. The finished look was perfection.

With everything finished and both Lanie and Kate happy with the way Kate looked, they had about 10 minutes before Castle was due to pick her up.

Lanie picked up her things. "Well, I should be going. Good luck tonight Kate. Have fun, and I want to know everything tomorrow."

"Sure Lanie. Hopefully, I'll have something to tell and it wont already be splashed through the papers. Thanks for your help." She opened the door as Lanie stepped out, only to turn back to wish her luck once more before heading out before Castle arrived.


Castle walked out of his room carrying two shirts and held them up for Alexis to see.

"I need a shirt that says, 'I'm interesting, smart and not in the least bit annoying'. Which of these says that?" he asked.

He usually didn't need help getting dressed, he found himself to be quite good when it came to dressing for the ladies, but this was different. He wasn't so sure of himself. He was still quite surprised Detective Beckett had even agreed to have dinner with him. So, he wanted to make sure he dressed right and he knew Alexis would know exactly what to wear.

"Dad, I thought you were doing this job thing for research, not to impress the detective?"

"I was, well I still am, this isn't work. This is outside of work it's completely separate."

"Hmmm… if you say so," Alexis said with uncertaintly. "I think the shirt on the left is great."

She had chosen a dark blue shirt, actually one of Rick's favourites. He was thinking of wearing that one himself, but wanted to be certain.

"Does it make me look ruggedly handsome?" he asked with a grin.

"Daaaaad!"

"What? I know, I know, I'm always ruggedly handsome aren't I?"

Alexis just smiled at him and pushed him towards his room, "Just go get dressed."

Castle went back into his room and made his way into the bathroom while he buttoned up his shirt. He took a look at himself in the mirror and he had to admit, he did like the way the shirt looked on him. He looked good. He brushed his teeth and made sure his hair wasn't flat.

Looking at himself one final time in the mirror he realised that tonight was different. He doesn't remember ever putting this much time and effort into getting ready for anyone else, not even his ex wives. What was it about this detective that made him want to try so hard? Why was she so different? He had been on plenty of dates before, not once was he ever this nervous. As he thought more and more about it, the heavier his feet felt until it got to the stage where he didn't think he could move his feet.

Alexis knew that Detective Beckett was expecting her father at 7pm and when she looked at the time, she realised if he didn't leave soon, he was going to be late. She wasn't sure what to think about this date that her father had. He went on a lot of dates, but this one was different. This detective that he was going to dinner with was a much more serious woman than the other woman he had dated. But even though she was nervous and unsure about the date, she didn't want her father to be late. She didn't know the detective, but if she was the right match for her dad, Alexis didn't want it to be ruined before they found out, so she decided she should tell him to get a move on.

"Hey dad, if you don't leave soon, you're going to be late," Alexis called, but when she received no response she decided to get up and find out if he needed help.

She walked into his room to find him just standing in front of the mirror staring. His mind seemed to be somewhere else.

"Dad, is everything ok?"

Castle snapped out of his stare and looked at his daughter, looking at him with a worried expression.

"Yeah, yeah, everything is fine. It's just…" he wasn't really sure how to explain what had him glued to the spot.

Alexis could see that he was nervous but he didn't want to admit it. "Since when have you ever been nervous for a date?" Alexis asked taking the last few steps towards her father.

Castle wrapped his arm over her shoulder and hugged her to his side. "I'm not, really, I'm… I guess… This is different. Detective Beckett is different, she's not like the others, so I'm not sure what to expect. I just realised that I don't know what I'm doing tonight. Every other time, I've known what moves to make, I've known how to get anyone to do what I want, but Beckett, she's different."

"Dad, just be yourself. Don't try to be anything else and you'll be fine."

"Be myself? I think I can do that. Thanks Alexis," he said kissing her on the head and giving her one last squeeze. "Well, I should be going then I guess."

He grabbed his jacket and made his way to the door, Alexis following behind.

"Good luck Dad," she said as he opened the door to leave.

He gave her one last smile before leaving for his date.