Firstly, I would like to say sorry for the long delay for the next chapter of this story. Secondly, there were one or two of you who out there who suggested/ requested a chapter set in the present/future showing Castle and Kate and what their life is like. This chapter is the result. I intend to set some future chapters in the present/future. I hope you like this effort.

Chapter 11

Present Day

Castle paused in his typing and stared at the screen. He had been writing for the past hour and saw that he had written five pages. He read over the last page he had written. A small frown creased his brow as he read. It was not exactly what he had swimming around in his head when he had sat down to write. He should have been finishing the latest chapter of his new Nikki Heat novel but what he was reading had nothing to do with Nikki Heat. He scrolled back to the first page and started reading. The frown on his face deepened further.

To his astonishment Castle found that he had written a five page outline of a new story. A story about a time travelling detective. The idea of writing a story about a time travelling detective had crossed his mind not long after starting his journeys with Mr Jones. It had been an amusing passing thought, an intellectual exercise, rather than anything he would actually sit down and write about.

Yet there it was in front of him, a five page story outline.

Castle knew better than most how difficult it was to get such a book published. Somewhere in his files were stored all the rejection slips he had received for the first novel he had written and tried to get published. Gina would hit the roof if she ever found out, would accuse him of having taken leave of his senses. He did not want to think about what his agent Paula would say if he told her. Even if by some miracle he did get approval to write such a book he would never be able to publish it under his own name. Gina would insist that he would have to use a nom de plume lest the Nikki Heat novels be affected. There was no way in the world Gina would allow anything to affect the cash cow that was the Nikki Heat series.

Then there was the matter of finding the time to actually write the book. Writing Nikki Heat was a full time job, as was helping Kate on her cases, and if that was not enough, he had the girls to look after. When would he find the time to write such a book? No it was just a mere flight of fancy, Castle told himself.

Yet there it was staring back at him, a five page outline about a story of a time travelling detective.

As Castle continued to stare at his laptop he suddenly realised that the loft seemed quiet. Too quiet. A normal Saturday morning was filled with the sound of his daughters and his wife. On this particular Saturday morning there was silence.

Hearing the rustling of a page being turned Castle lifted his gaze from the screen and looked across to the couch. Immediately a smile rose to his face. Kate was sitting on the couch with her bare legs tucked underneath her reading a book. She was dressed in one of his large old t-shirts. Her hair had been put up into a messy bun that threatened to come unravelled at any moment. The left side of the t-shirt had slipped to reveal an expanse of her sexy shoulder. He had not heard her come in.

The smile faltered when he saw what book she was reading. Alex Conrad's latest book. A pang of jealousy rose within him. How could his muse, his wife, his partner, his best friend flaunt her infidelity right in front of him and with Alex Conrad no less?

He wrestled down the pang of jealousy and the smile returned to his face as he studied the love of his life. There were times he was sure she did not know how beautiful she was. Kate loved reading

and could not get enough of the mystery writers. He could be magnanimous about it if she wanted to read someone else's book, after all she had married her favourite author, didn't she? That counted for a lot.

Castle's smile widened a little as he watched Kate's brow furrow a little as she read a particular passage of the book she was reading. He knew she was thinking about a particular passage she had just read. Watching Kate had always been one of his favourite pastimes and he knew that it would always be. He would never grow tired of it.

Sensing his gaze on her Kate lifted her eyes from the page she was reading. Her eyebrows rose up in silent inquiry.

"I didn't hear you come in." Castle said.

"You had that 'I'm too busy writing' look on your face." Kate replied. "I didn't want to disturb you."

Castle nodded. It was a habit of his that when he was writing he could shut out everything going around him. Completely zone out.

"I was supposed to have been finishing a chapter of Nikki Heat but I ended up writing something completely different." Castle sighed, waving a hand in the direction of the laptop.

"I'm sure it's good, whatever it is."

Castle shook his head as his smile deepened a little more. Kate was his harshest critic and also his biggest cheerleader. When he had ideas concerning Nikki Heat he would bounce them off Kate seeking her opinion. More often than not those ideas she liked or worked out with him would end up in the book. He was not sure whether he wanted to tell her about what he had just written just yet.

"By the way, where are the kids?" Castle asked, remembering the silence.

"With our mothers." Kate replied.

Castle eyebrows shot up in surprise. Kate saw the expression on his face and smiled indulgently.

"You forgot didn't you?"

"No I didn't." Castle said defensively.

"Yeah, you did."

"No I didn't."

"You did too."

Castle raised his hands in surrender. He had forgotten but he was not ready to admit it even if Kate knew the truth.

"Martha's treating mom and the kids to a show." Kate explained. "And then they'll be staying over at my mother's place."

"You mean to say that we've got the whole day to ourselves?" Castle said with surprise.

"Yeah."

"And night?" Castle could barely contained his growing excitement.

Kate shrugged her shoulders, a coy smile sweeping across her face.

"No kids?"

"No kids." Kate confirmed.

"My God, woman! What are you doing wasting your time reading that hack's book?" Castle exclaimed. "When we could be..."

"Steady on there, stud." Kate laughed. "Finish the Nikki Heat chapter first."

"What if I don't want to." Castle pouted.

"Well I'm not going to protect you again when Gina comes gunning after you for getting behind in your deadline."

"But you have to." Castle said.

"Why do I have to?" Kate challenged.

"You are sworn officer of the law, it is your job to protect your fellow citizens." Castle pointed out.

Kate smiled and shook her head. "Not this time."

Castle let out a loud theatrical sigh. His publisher had threatened him on more than one occasion to do him physical harm for lateness in delivering completed chapters of his books. He did not fancy the prospect of having Gina show up on his door step breathing fire like she had done the last time when he had been late in delivering the final chapters of his last book and had been ignoring her calls and emails. If Kate had not been there he was sure Gina would have physically hurt him, despite the fact that he had a legitimate reason for the delay, he had been working on a homicide case with Kate.

Still, he thought it had been kind of hot having his wife stepping in to protect him, she had looked like a lioness protecting her pride when she had confronted Gina. Yet he did not want it to become a regular occurrence, having his wife protecting him from his publisher and second ex-wife. Kate was right.

"You're right." Castle sighed, unhappily.

"I know." Kate agreed.

Castle let out another sigh as he looked at his wife with longing and desire. Slowly he drew his gaze back to the laptop. He scrolled back to the first page and read the outline again. After finishing reading the outline again he sat there and just stared at the screen.

Five minutes later he was still staring at the screen. He glanced across to Kate.

"What would you say if I created a new character?" Castle asked, breaking the silence in the office. He now wanted to know Kate's thoughts because he valued her opinion.

Kate lifted her face from the book. A questioning eyebrow rose and was cast in Castle's direction.

"Nikki becoming too much for you to handle?"

"No." Castle replied. "But her inspiration sometimes is."

Kate rolled her eyes at him but allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of her mouth. She bookmarked the page she had been reading, closed the book and set it aside.

"Why the question?"

"Just thinking, love."

Kate unfolded her legs slowly and rose from the couch She came over to stand behind him, draping her arms around his neck.

"About a new character?" There was a note of curiosity in Kate's voice.

Castle nodded his head and waved a hand at his laptop.

"About a time travelling detective." He said.

"Branching out into sci-fi are we, Castle?"

"I thought I might try my hand at it." Castle shrugged.

"Mind if I read what you've written?"

"Be my guest.

Castle scrolled the outline back to the first page. Kate rested her chin on Castle's shoulder and started reading. Castle could not hold back the smile from his lips as he felt her warm breath caressing his cheek. It was all he could do not to reach up and pull her down onto his lap and thoroughly ravish her.

He didn't though. Kate would have scolded him for interrupting her reading. He scrolled down to the next page without Kate having to tell him, he just knew when she had finished the page.

When Kate finished reading the story outline she did not say a word. She lifted her chin from his shoulder and slowly removed her arms from around his neck, then she took a couple of steps back.

Castle swivelled around in his chair and looked up at Kate. The smile on his face faded rapidly. Kate stood there with her arms folded across her chest levelling a cool look in his direction. She nodded her head but said nothing.

The silence was not good, Castle thought to himself. And the look on her face was the kind of expression he had seen countless times when she was in the interrogation room interviewing a suspect. Her silence was starting to unnerve him.

"What do you think, honey?" Castle ventured hopefully.

"So what's her name?" Kate asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Whose name?"

"Your new muse?"

"My what?" Castle spluttered.

Castle stared up at his wife stunned.

"If you're thinking about a new character you want to write about, and you've written a story outline, it can only mean you must have found a new muse to inspire you." Kate said, her face hardening.

Castle opened his mouth to say something but no words came out.

"Tired of me all ready?"

Castle was shocked by the sudden turn of the conversation. How could she ask such a question?

"Huh? Wha...No." He suddenly insisted. "No!"

Kate continued to stare down at her stricken husband. The serious look on Kate's face suddenly changed. An amused smile swept swiftly across it.

"So easy." She purred with a shake of her head. "So very, very easy."

Relief filled Castle and once more his heart resumed working.

"Not funny, Kate." Castle grumbled.

"Very funny, Rick." Kate laughed.

Castle jumped to his feet. Kate let out a shriek and dashed away from his lunging grasp. She made to look like she was heading for their bedroom but at the last moment swerved away from that direction and dashed out of the office. Castle could not stop his forward momentum quickly enough and almost crashed into the bedroom door.

"You can run but I'll catch you." Castle called out.

"I'd like to see you try, old man." Kate taunted with a laugh.

Castle growled as he pushed himself off the bedroom door and rushed out of his office. He chased his laughing wife around the living room. He had to concede that she could be nimble and fast when she wanted to be. There had been a moment he thought he had trapped her only to see Kate leap onto the couch and over it then dash away. There was another moment when she was within his grasp only she see her shift her lithesome body and sprint away, laughing at him for his failure to catch her.

He finally cornered Kate in the kitchen. He would never be sure if he had actually caught her or whether she had allowed herself to be caught. It did not matter to him.

He had her trapped against the island. He smiled triumphantly. Both of them were panting rapidly from the chase around the loft. During the chase Kate's bun had fallen out and now her hair cascaded down her shoulders. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Not going to get away this time." He said, trying to catch his breath.

"No." Kate smiled.

Kate let out a yelp of laughter when he lifted her easily and set her on the counter. His hands slid slowly up her thighs and under her t-shirt. He leaned in and started nuzzling on her neck. He let out a little grunt of surprise when his seeking hands discovered that his wife had neglected to put on underwear.

"Not here, Castle." Kate said breathlessly.

"Why not?" Castle murmured in between kisses. "The kids aren't here."

"Remember the last time?"

"Last time?"

Castle pulled back to look at her, a puzzled look on his face.

"Yeah, when my mother brought Jo home?"

"Oh."

Castle suddenly remembered that episode. They had been making out in the kitchen and well, things had gotten a little too heated and clothes started to be shed. He did not know which was more embarrassing, having Kate's mother walk in on them there in the kitchen or trying to explain his young daughter, who had been standing beside her grandmother, what he and mommy were doing.

"No danger of that being repeated." Castle said brightening.

"You want to take that chance?" Kate replied, quirking her eyebrows at him.

Castle shook his head. No he did not want to take that chance. Yet he did not want to move from where he was. His hands continued to caress her hips as he resumed kissing her neck seeking that particular spot just behind her ear that never failed to arouse her.

"Castle." Kate panted.

"Mmmm?"

"Bedroom. Now!"

If the urgency in Kate's voice did not get his attention then when she locked her legs around his hips and her arms wrapping around his neck did get Castle's attention instantly.

"Bedroom, now...right." He stammered.

Castle circled his arms around Kate and lifted her off the counter. Kate immediately attacked his mouth. While he kissed her back he kept one eye open as he tried to navigate them out of the kitchen and in the direction of their bedroom.

XXX

Kate had a soft contented smile on her face as lay draped over Castle using his chest as her pillow. She could hear the steady rhythm of his beating heart as he slowly stroked her hair. She was tracing lazy circles on his stomach with her fingers. They had spent the entire afternoon in bed and she longed to remain in bed for the rest of the night. It had been a long time since they had done anything like this. After making love just laying there in each other's arms just enjoying their contentment, the companionable silence and their caresses.

Shifting her head Kate cast a look in the direction of the night stand to the clock and saw the time. She almost let out a groan of disappointment. It was getting late. As much as she wanted to remain like this or engage in another round of lovemaking or three she knew they couldn't. They had to get ready.

Kate lifted her head off Castle's chest and turned so that she could see his face. She could not help but smile on seeing the look of contentment that was etched deeply on his face as he regarded her. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle. It always gave her a thrill of pleasure to see that look on his face, knowing that she was responsible for putting it there.

Castle reached up with his hand and slowly stroked her cheek. Kate could not help herself leaning into his hand.

"Ready for another round?" He asked, his smile growing.

"We have to get ready for that charity do tonight." Kate informed him.

"What charity do?" Castle asked, frowning at her.

"The one for the NYPD Widows And Orphans fund."

The smile on his face faltered.

Kate slowly rose into a sitting position.

"Do we really have to go to it?" Castle whined.

"Yes we have to." Kate told him. "We've already RSVP'd, can't back out now."

"Can't I just send them another check?"

"Nope."

Castle's hand reached out and took hold of hers. He tried to tug her down to him.

"But I want to spend the night alone with my beautiful wife." He complained.

Kate smiled as she resisted being pulled back down.

"Captain Montgomery is being given an award, we have to be there."

"That's nice." Castle murmured. "Still don't want to go, want to stay here with my wife."

"I went out and bought a new dress for the event."

"Really?" Castle asked.

"I think you're going to love it."

"I love everything you wear." Castle said, grinning as his eyes swept up and down her naked body. "Or not wear, whatever the case might be."

"It's a black floor length strapless number." Kate told him. "With a thigh high slit."

Castle's eyebrows rose upwards. "Really?"

Kate nodded.

"Then I better not disappoint you." Castle murmured. "Seeing you went to all the trouble of getting a black floor length strapless number, with a thigh high slit."

Kate chuckled. She leaned down and gave him a quick kiss. Before he had a chance to grab her she got out of bed.

"I'm going to shower and change in the guest room." Kate announced.

Castle quickly sat up.

"Can't we shower together?" he pleaded.

"Nope." Kate said firmly.

"Why not?"

Kate turned to look back at Castle.

"We'll get distracted."

"And that's a bad thing because..?"

"You'll make us late for the event." Kate said shooting him a look. "I've set out your suit in the walk in wardrobe. So, start getting ready, lover."

Castle let out a groan as he watched his wife, his naked wife, stroll out of their bedroom. He could have sworn that she had put in an extra sway in her hips as she left the room just to torment him. Cruel woman, he thought to himself as he fell back on the bed.

XXX

Castle glanced at Kate sitting beside him in the back seat of the town car and for the upteenth time his eyes dropped down to gaze at the expanse of leg that was on display. Kate had been right, he did love the dress she was wearing. He recalled the moment she had walked down the stairs and he had laid eyes on her. All manner of speech had fled him as he stared at her. She simply had left him stunned and awed as he drank in her beauty

He could only describe the dress as spectacular, and the woman wearing it as breath taking. It was full length black silk chiffon that allowed a modest amount of cleavage to be displayed, tight at the waist showing off her curves to the best affect, and a slit that almost reached up to her left hip, daring and modest at the same time. The ensemble was topped off with a diamond and obsidian necklace and matching tear drop earrings.

His eyes slowly moved up her leg and took in the rest of the dress Kate was wearing before sweeping down the length of her body again.

"You with me, Castle?"

"Huh?" Castle lifted his gaze from Kate's leg.

It took him a moment to realise that Kate been talking to him but his thoughts had been elsewhere.

"Sorry, I was kind of distracted."

"Yeah, ogling me." Kate scoffed.

"Can you blame me?" Castle retorted in his defence.

Kate gave him an indulgent smile. No, she could not blame him she had dressed up for him.

"What were you saying?" He asked.

"I was saying that, the award is a surprise so I don't want you letting the cat out of the bag when you're talking to the captain." Kate warned.

Castle reached out and took hold of her hand, he gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze before bringing it up to his lips to kiss it. He let their joined hands rest on his leg.

"Right, no letting the cat out of the bag, got it." Castle nodded.

As they neared their destination, the hotel where the fund raiser was being held Castle noticed a change come over his wife. He felt her stiffen a little. Looking at her he saw the worried look in her eyes.

"Kate, what's the matter?"

"Nothing." Kate replied hurriedly.

"Kate?" Castle pressed.

Kate did not reply immediately. She bit on her lip as she considered whether to tell him or not what was on her mind. His steady gaze on her reminded her that he would not give up until she told him what was bothering her.

"I'm the one making the presentation for the Humanitarian of Year award." Kate confessed. "And I'm a little nervous about making the speech."

Castle was surprised to hear this for the first time. Despite his shock that that Kate had not asked for his help he was more than willing to provide his support.

"You'll be fine." Castle assured her. "Do you want me to look over your speech?"

Kate shook her head.

"Perhaps I might be able to make some suggestions?" He added.

"No, that's okay."

"Sure?"

Kate nodded her head firmly and then looked out the window.

Castle felt a little put out to think that Kate had not come to him for help to write the speech. After all words and writing was his stock in trade, he would have been more than happy to have helped out. Maybe supply a joke or two to liven things up or break the ice.

"I am perfectly capable of writing a short speech, Castle." Kate announced. "It might not be up to your usual lofty standards."

"I didn't say anything." Castle replied.

"No, but you were thinking it loudly."

Castle chuckled as he gave her hand another squeeze. It never failed to amaze him how they could read each other thoughts some times.

"I have no doubt that the speech will be great." He assured her.

The town car pulled up out the front of the hotel.

"Hey." Castle said softly.

Kate turned to look at him with a questioning look on her face.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" Castle leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek. Kate graced him with a soft smile.

"Once or twice."

"Then I give you fair warning my dear Detective, be prepared to hear me say it a few more times before this night is over."

"You don't look so bad yourself, Castle."

The driver had gotten out and walked around the car and opened Castle's door.

Castle grinned at his wife.

"Ready to knock 'em dead, my dear?"

"Ready." Kate nodded.

XXX

Castle could not help but beam as he strolled through the lobby toward the function room with the most beautiful woman in the world on his arm. There were a few camera flashes going off and more than a few people turned to watch their entrance. Castle knew that they weren't looking at him and he did not mind that at all. It made him smile a little more. He was pleased that Kate had relaxed a little since emerging from the car. Though Kate did not like them she was starting to get used to these red carpet arrivals having been to a few of them over the past few years.

Entering the function room they met up with an all dressed up Esposito, Lanie, Ryan and Jenny who were standing near the bar having a pre dinner drink. Kate had barely said hello to her friends before one of the organisers of the function came over and dragged her away to go over the presentation she was going to make later on in the evening.

Castle spent a few minutes talking to his friends and colleagues. When he asked if they were excited as he was to see the captain getting an award tonight he received furtive looks from both Esposito and Ryan. Lanie too had looked surprised at his question but was able to recover quicker than the two detectives, and she had replied that they were all excited.

Castle would have been curious at the looks he had received to his question and may have pursued it but he spotted some people he wanted to say hello to. He excused himself and started to make his way to the other side of the room. He did not see the looks of relief on his friends' faces

He had only gone a few steps before some one called out his name.

"Hey Ricky!"

On hearing his name Castle stopped and turned around. His face broke into a big smile as he saw who had called him

"Hey Big Cheese!" Castle called out to the big smiling man who was approaching.

His honour the mayor, Robert Wheldon shook Castle's extended hand.

"Good to see you, Rick." Wheldon said with a laugh.

"Likewise, Bob."

Wheldon looked about before turning his eyes back to Castle.

"Where is that gorgeous wife of yours, Ricky?"

"She is doing a run through for the presentation she's making later on this evening." Castle explained. Wheldon nodded his head.

"Let her know that I want to win some of my money back from the last poker game."

Castle smiled at that. Last month Kate had joined the poker game with his Gotham City crew and coolly relieved them all of their money.

"She'll whoop your ass again, Bob." Castle laughed. "I don't want to see you crying like a girl when she cleans you out again."

Wheldon laughed and slapped Castle on the back.

"We'll see about that."

"Don't say I didn't warn you, man."

Wheldon spotted someone a short distance away.

"Come on, Ricky I want you to meet some one."

Wheldon took hold of Castle's arm and drew him over to where a tall fair haired man aged in his early fifties was standing. He was dressed in a black tuxedo which had a US flag pinned to the lapel. The man was talking to a group of people.

As Castle approached, he recognised the man. The smile that Castle had on his face faded quickly and his eyes narrowed. A memory from another time rose in his head. He felt a knot of anger rise in the pit of his stomach and had to force it down and wrestle it under control.

Wheldon called out to the man. The man excused himself from the people he had been talking to and took a couple of steps towards them. A fixed smile was on his face. The kind of smile that Castle knew well having used it countless times at book singings. It was a fake smile.

"Sentaor William Bracken, this is my good friend, Rick Castle." Wheldon introduced.

"Mr Castle." Senator Bracken said, holding out his hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Senator." Castle replied crisply as he shook the man's hand.

"I have read one or two of your books." Senator Bracken said.

"Thank you."

"Unfortunately I don't get much time to read fiction." Senator Bracken smiled. "Unless you include government reports."

The two politicians laughed heartily at the joke. Castle found he had to force the laughter out of him.

Wheldon having done the introductions excused himself and went to speak to some other people.

"I'm told that you assist the NYPD on some of their cases?" Senator Bracken said.

"Yeah, I consult on homicide cases." Castle replied. "I lend what insights and observations I have."

Senator Bracken nodded his head.

"Must be interesting helping to solve murders?"

"It is." Castle replied with a nod of his head. "And it gives my books more authenticity."

"I'm sure it has been quite lucrative."

"It has." Castle agreed.

Castle and Senator Bracken spent a few minutes talking. Castle learned that the Senator had been a long time contributor of the charity ever since his days as an Assistant District Attorney. Then the Senator excused himself and moved off to speak to some other people but not before asking for Castle's support for his upcoming election campaign. Castle made a non committal response but he doubted if the Senator had heard him as he was already walking away.

Castle knew that shmoozing was par for the course at these sort of charity functions. It had not escaped his attention that there was a fair turn out of New York's political elite, councilmen and women, state legislators, a couple of Congressmen, and Senator Bracken. He had no doubt that some of them would make a concerted effort to try and get him to make a contribution to their campaign.

For a few moments he stood there watching the Senator as he was speaking to the group of people. This was the man who in another time had no compunction in ordering the deaths of people so that his secrets would not see the light of day. He felt anger rising within him and he had to look away from staring at the Senator. He did not trust himself from not going over to him and punching him. That would not do though.

Castle noticed that people were moving to their tables. He looked about to see if he could spot

Kate amongst the crowd in the hope of escorting her to their table but there was no sign of her. Esposito, Lanie, Ryan and Jenny had already gone to the table.

He started to make his way to the table. As he did so he spotted a familiar face ahead of him.

"Jim, what are you doing here?" Castle asked, surprised to find his father-in-law at the function.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Rick." Jim Beckett smiled,

"I would have thought playing with your grand children would have been your priority?" Castle laughed.

A hesitant look appeared on Jim Beckett's face like as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Castle thought that it was the same kind of look he had seen on Esposito and Ryan. Jim Beckett recovered quickly and forced a smile to his face.

"Yes, well, I was banished from my own home tonight." Jim said.

"Oh?" Castle looked surprised.

"Girls' night in." Jim explained. "My presence was not required."

Castle nodded his head in understanding. He too had been banished from the loft on a few occasions for for a girls' night in.

"I feel your pain." Castle sympathised.

Castle knew that Jim Beckett adored both his granddaughters. It had warmed Castle's heart no end to see that when he and Kate had gotten together both Jim and Johanna had taken Alexis to their hearts treating her nothing short as their granddaughter and spoiling her as rotten as his mother had. With the addition of little Johanna to the family, the spoiling had just increased.

Son-in-law and father-in-law made their way to their table. Castle broke into a bright smile when he saw that Kate was already seated at the table. She was talking to Captain Montgomery and his wife Evelyn. His heart did a flip when he saw Kate turn to look at him and grace him with that special smile of hers, the one that was reserved only for him, the tight lipped smile that made her hazel eyes sparkle and shine and was full of love.

XXX

The table where Castle and his friends were seated was near the main table that seated the Mayor and other VIPs and dignitaries. Castle's table had a good view of the stage and the dance floor below.

The MC for the evening was a well known TV comedian who got the show on the road by thanking everyone for coming this evening and performing a ten minute stand up routine that had almost everyone on the floor laughing. There followed a series of singers and bands. After the comedian's routine Castle lost interest in the entertainment on the stage. His attention was focused on Kate, keeping the promise he had made by telling her how beautiful she looked. He also shared with the others some funny anecdotes from fund raisers he had attended years ago.

XXX

Castle watched as his wife walked slowly on the stage towards the podium greeted by polite applause. He could not help but smile at how beautiful she looked, and oh so very sexy with the way she moved flashing quite a generous amount of her gorgeous leg.

Kate unfolded the sheet of paper containing her speech and set it in front of her and then smiled nervously as she looked across the ballroom.

"When I was asked if I would make the presentation of this year's humanitarian award I had no hesitation in saying yes." Kate said a little hesitantly. "Then I had a moment's panic when I was told that I had to make a little speech. I'm not the writer in the family."

There was a little ripple of laughter. Kate smiled, her confidence growing.

"After I got over the momentary panic attack, I agreed to make a little speech."

Kate paused in her speech to cast a look in Castle's direction. He smiled and nodded his head in silent encouragement.

"Most of you know tonight's award recipient by reputation, some of you know him by his work, his real job and the work he has done with the NYPD. A few of us have the privilege of calling him friend."

Castle glanced at Captain Montgomery, and saw him smiling as he watched Kate on stage.

"I once described him as a nine year old on a sugar rush, incapable of taking anything seriously."

Another ripple of laughter rolled through the audience. Kate smiled.

The smile on Castle's face dropped. His wife wasn't talking about Captain Roy Montgomery. She was talking about him he realised. He quickly turned to look at her, stunned and with growing realisation that the award recipient was not Captain Montgomery but it was him.

"However I was wrong. Over the years I have learned there are a great many things this man does take seriously. I could list them all but we would be here all night."

There was another ripple of laughter.

"And if I was to list all of the things he doesn't take seriously, we'd be here until next week."

The laughter that followed that punchline was loud. Kate laughed at that as well.

"His generosity is no laughing matter, though. His has a heart big as the day is long. In all the years I have known him, he's always been generous and many charities here and elsewhere have benefited greatly from this generosity. Even I didn't know the extent of this generosity because a lot of the time he does it without a hint of fanfare or publicity. What I do know, what I have learned, is that he has been a staunch supporter of this organisation for over ten years."

Castle could feel the eyes of his friends at the table looking at him but he could not take his eyes off his wife standing at the podium.

"There are a great many things this man is but above all else he is a good son. A loving father. A wonderful and loving husband. He is a good man."

Kate paused and once more looked at Castle, her smile growing.

"It is my great honour and privilege to announce the winner of this year's humanitarian award is my wonderful and ruggedly handsome husband, Rick Castle."

Castle sat dumbfounded in his seat as the applause burst from the audience. He stared up at the stage to a beaming Kate. He shook his head, finding it hard to believe what had just happened.

He loved surprises and this was right up there. He had no inkling of it. As he recovered Castle accepted the congratulations from the people at his table.

Slowly he rose to his feet and walked up on stage. Kate walked up to him, smiling brightly. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely, to roars approval from a particular table.

"Captain Montgomery, huh?" He whispered in her ear.

"Surprise." Kate laughed. "So easy, so very easy."

Castle laughed heartily as he wrapped his arm around Kate's waist and together walked to the microphone.

"Wait till I get you home, dear heart. I'll show you surprise." Castle informed her.

Senator William Bracken finished clapping and sat down in his seat. He reached for his glass of wine. As he took a sip his eyes continued to study Kate Beckett. So like her mother he thought to himself. He barely heard the speech Richard Castle was making. His eyes were only on Kate. And an idea began to germinate in his head.

XXXXX

Your thoughts on this latest effort would be greatly appreciated.

Con