"What do you mean, you're not going to prom?"

Castle found himself seated at a table near a window, in a coffee shop he recognized from many visits. His notebook lay open before him, a pen lying on it, and the voice he'd heard had come from behind him.

It was a light, young female voice, not Beckett's, but a little familiar nevertheless. The voice that answered was extremely familiar, though also much younger.

"Don't sound so shocked. It's not a tragedy," said the voice of a young Kate Beckett. "I'm not asking you to not go, anyway."

Castle turned his head as if looking for the waitress and caught a glimpse of two young women, teenagers, one blonde, one brunette, two tables away. When he turned back around he closed his eyes and rifled through his memory for the identity of the blonde and came up with -

Madison Queller. Owner of Q3, best friend to "Rebel Becks" in high school, apparently calling Beckett on some behavior concerning prom.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised," said Maddie with a sigh. "After Clove Boy and the grunge musician, I'm sure high school seems positively childish to you by now."

"Not childish, Mads. Just… not me. Not all of us were born to bloom into social butterflies like you. You're good at all that - " her hand wave fluttered in Castle's peripheral vision " - beautiful people, gracious living, gourmet-everything scene. I like the Village, and dive diners, and people who'll argue with me over things I care about."

"You mean, argue and not run away," said Maddie, sounding mildly amused. "Wait, is that why you're not going to prom? Did you scare off any prospective dates?"

Fortunately, Beckett also seemed amused.

"It weeds out the faint of heart," she replied. "My parents don't care if I go. Well, Mom does, but mainly because she says I'll regret it some day if I don't. I'm sure I won't be missing anything - except maybe the sight of you in that gown we saw at Macy's."

"That's what prom pictures are for," Maddie said with satisfaction. "Well, if nonconformity is what you're going for, you've hit it on the head. I don't know anyone who didn't go to their own prom."

Castle, who hadn't gone to his prom due to his participation in a prank involving a cow, smiled to himself a bit ruefully. He took a glance around the room, ascertained that there was no clock visible, and stuck his wristwatch in his pocket first, then turned to the two women and asked, "'Scuse me, do you know what time it is?"

Kate shook her head; Maddie uncovered the watch on her wrist, which looked more like jewelry, and replied, "It's four-thirty."

This Kate was even younger than the Kate of New Year's Eve, tall already, thin, with an intensely focused gaze and a continual wry expression. (It reminded him of her expression the first time they'd met, at the book launch party.) She was wearing jeans and a plaid flannel shirt with boots. (That reminded him of their makeshift honeymoon on the ranch.)

"Thanks," said Castle, having got what he wanted, which was a good long look at Kate, but a moment later, Maddie spoke up again.

"D'you mind if I ask you a personal question?"

Castle faced their tabel again and shrugged. "No charge for asking."

"Did you go to your high school prom?"

"Maddie," Kate hissed. "Aren't you assuming a lot?"

"Like what? He doesn't have to answer, anyway."

Castle said, "Assuming that I'm an American, that I went to school here - "

"That his school even had a prom," Kate put in. "And that he isn't gay."

"Well, I could have gone to school in California," Castle said. "They've had Gay Prom there for - a couple of years now, anyway."

"So did you?" asked Kate.

"No, as a matter of fact. I was born and raised in the City, went to school here - several schools, really - went to one that did have a prom. And I'm not gay, never have been."

"Which reminds me of my original question," said Maddie. "Did you go to your prom?"

Castle smiled and said, "No, I didn't."

Kate threw Maddie a look of triumph. Undaunted, Maddie pressed on. "By choice, or by chance?"

"By consequence," he said. "I got expelled the week before. Tragic. I had a hot date lined up, too."

"Oh, that *is* sad," said Maddie.

"What'd you do?" asked Kate.

"Aided and abetted in smuggling a cow onto the roof of the school."

"Not by yourself, I'm thinking."

"No, but I was the only scholarship student, and my mother didn't have friends in high places, so I took the rap." He sighed dramatically. "I showed them, though - got my GED and became a successful writer."

Maddie opened her mouth to continue the conversation, but her friend stopped her with a look, as if to warn her off further chat with this stranger.

"We should go," she said firmly. "I have to get home by five."

Castle rose to his feet and nodded politely as they went quickly out the door.


A/N: The first "official" Gay Prom was held in 1995 in Hayward, California. Also, Madison Queller appears in the Castle episode "Food To Die For" in season 2.