A/N: Since jasnrob asked for some Ryposito time, I chucked a little in here. This chapter is more to tide us all over until I think of something better to write. :) Still hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.

Chapter 11

"...And then there's Beckett", sang Ryan, while Esposito threw in a "Check it" before continuing his beat-boxing.

Ryan continued, "She misused a bracket. Richard Castle couldn't take it. More 'boom boom bish'-es from Esposito.

"He took his writer pen and made to scratch it. Nuh-uh-uh, Detective Beckett , no misdemeanor bracket!" Ryan said while waving his hands.

Castle could barely control himself. He was shaking all over with mirth and tears were flowing from both his eyes. "That was - terrible you guys! Terrible and hilarious", he choked out.

Beckett glared at the lot of them. This was ridiculous. All because she got distracted and forgot to close a stupid bracket in some paperwork she was filling.

"What?" Espo asked. "Come on, Beckett. It was kind of funny", he said with a chuckle.

"Don't you guys have work to do?"

"Ugh. Fine, fine. Don't laugh - even though we know you want to. You're no fun, mom", Ryan said.

"Don't call me mom!" Beckett replied with narrowed eyes.

"Don't do this. Don't do that. Can we help it that you sound like a mom?", Espo said jokingly, turning to get back to his desk.

After getting back to his desk, Ryan yelled back to Castle, "At least you took it well, dad."

Castle smiled and turned back to Beckett, and instantly tried to hide his smile by pursing his lips at the look she gave him. "What? They're just having fun."

Beckett bit her lip, contemplating until she said, "You think I'm no fun?"

Okay. He wasn't expecting that. "I think you're plenty fun."

"But you'd still be the fun dad while I was the tough mom."

His insides were on a joy-ride, but he didn't let it show. "Well -", he shrugged.

It was probably true, but she couldn't help but look at it as a challenge. She was competitive by nature. "I could be more fun than you, Castle. I just don't because someone has to keep you in line", she smirked.

He snorted. "Please, Beckett", he said confidently, "You're no match for me. I'm the fun dad. Just ask Alexis."

"I'll do you one better. I challenge you to a Best fun parent show-down."

"Beckett, you're not even a parent", he said, clearly amused that she was making so much out of this.

She shrugged and smirked, "Ah see. You're scared I'll beat you. Even without me being a parent."

He mock-gasped. "Scared? Hah! Never! Bring it on. What are the stakes?"

"You get your Sunday with Alexis, and then I get one. Whoever has the Sunday she picks as being the funnest, wins."

"When I win, I want -", Castle began.

She interrupted, "If you win - "

"Fine. If I win, I get to take you out on a date", he said, eyes sparkling.

"Castle - "

"Scared you'll lose?"

"No. That's fine. When I win - "

"If you win", Castle corrected with a smirk.

"If I win, you do your share of paperwork. For a month."

"A month?" Castle said with a real gasp.

"Scared you'll lose?"

"Never! Still, a month of paper work sounds like cruel and unusual punishment."

"Castle, you write for a living", she said, bemused.

"I know. What's your point?" he asked innocently.

Of course Ryan and Esposito had heard the whole exchange which led Alexis to stomp her way up into the bullpen. "Did either of you bother to think about asking me about this stupid bet before you made it?", she asked with a mock glare.

"Oh, Alexis. You're right. I'm sorry -", Beckett began before Alexis cut her off.

"Don't worry about it detective. I'm sure he provoked you somehow."

"Thanks, daughter dear. Good to know whose side you're on."

"We don't have to do this, I guess it's stupid like she said", Beckett said, feeling guilty about dragging Alexis into it.

Alexis surprised her by saying, "NO! This is so happening!"

Castle beamed at his daughter and partly at the surprised look on Beckett's face.

"But I thought - you said", Beckett blubbered, confused. The Castles always had a way to surprise you.

"Forget what I said. No way I'm letting this opportunity pass me. Seeing you two compete against each other is going to be fun."

"That's the spirit, sweetheart", Castle said with a smile.

"Hah. Your sweet talk isn't going to help you win dad", she chided, but added a smile. "I'm going to be unbiased about this. So - make your plans guys. First Sunday goes to detective Beckett since she actually has a Sunday off. You get the next one, dad."

"Fine by me", Castle said. He got up and covered Alexis' ears while she tried to shake them off in indignation, and said, "Prepare to get your ass kicked, Beckett."

"Dad! You're hands are not earplugs, and I am not ten", she said, rolling her eyes.

Beckett laughed while Castle merely shrugged it off. "It's a dad thing."

Just then Gates entered the bullpen, making the rest of them suddenly drop their heads and pretend to work. "What's going on out here? What are you doing here ?", Gates asked.

" needed me to drop off some autopsy reports", Alexis said, while laying down a small file which she seemed to have conjured from nowhere, much to Castle's surprise. Then she turned and left them to deal with Iron Gates.

"Okay. Where are we on the case?" Gates said, getting them all to focus back on the drab, easy murder that they'd already solved, now only waiting for the uniforms to apprehend the suspect. Almost all of them were focusing on the case. Castle was busy focusing on the fact, that Beckett wanted to be the fun parent - amongst the two of them. He couldn't stop the eye-crinkling smile that lit up his face, even with Gates present. It grew even larger when he caught Beckett's eyes and noticed that she was trying hard to hide hers as well.