Okay, I am so sorry for dropping off the face of the earth. I had some major computer issues that were just fixed. Ugh, sometimes I hate how stupid technology can be. Though I love technology, I really do. But really, I am sorry for basically disappearing.

I just want to say thank you to all the people who have stuck with my through all of this. Not only this long hiatus but the roller coaster this story has been could have a lot of people running. But I logged onto fanfiction for the first time in forever to find tons of messages asking my where I went and when I was going to update. So thanks, everyone. You guys are awesome!

Oh, and expect another chapter by the end of the day. You guys certainly deserve it.

She tore open desk drawers and hastily checked the floor around her desk to no avail. Where could it have gone? It was right there two seconds ago. She opened the last drawer, sorting through the papers, discarded highlighters and paperclips she thought she lost long ago. Seriously, where was – oh. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the pad of paper peeking out at her from the drawer. Her breath caught as she fished it out, running her fingertips along the paper almost shyly, almost afraid it would bite her.

Words were scrawled across the page in the messy penmanship she knew was his. It was all too familiar, the chaotic outlines of scenes to be and paragraphs with dozens of crossed out words and phrases that wouldn't see the pages of a published book. He'd been working on his latest book, Heat Rises, a title she actually approved of, before she'd, well, kicked him out of the precinct. After he'd given her alter ego a stripper name like Nikki Heat and the second book a title as risqué as Naked Heat she'd expected having to fight him tooth and nail on every decision he made. What she hadn't expected was the conversation that had come of his latest venture into the series.

She heard the light scratching of his pen stop and looked over to find him staring at her, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. They studied each other, her trying to figure out what he was thinking and him doing, well, whatever he was doing. His eyes lit up a moment later and he began frantically writing on the yellow paper again. She'd never admit it but seeing him in action, fictional conversations and scenes pouring themselves onto the paper, was kind of thrilling. She'd read his books for years and a lot of people would classify her as a – for lack of a better term – fan girl.

She'd wondered how he did it from book one; thinking about his process and how he came up with the ideas she loved to read about. And now she got to see just that right from the comfort of her own desk. And that wasn't even getting into the fact that he was writing about her.

"Working on your next book already?" She asked, discreetly leaning over to try and get a peek. Without even looking up he hid the page from her view.

"Mhm, Nikki's off on a new adventure in our beloved city." He stopped writing and looked up at her, his eyes sparkling with a writer's imagination.

"And what's she up to this time?" She raised her eyebrows and turned back to her work, trying to make it seem like she wasn't all that interested. Oh, what a lie that was.

"Oh no, you're just gonna have to wait like everybody else." She fixed him with a quick glare and he backtracked. "I mean, you'll still get an advanced copy, you are the inspiration after all, but you'll have to wait until then. Though I will tell you that the title is Heat Rises." He tipped his pen at her and resumed writing, not paying attention to the confused look that crossed her face.

"Heat Rises?"

"Yup," he looked back up at her, noticing the look on her face, "something wrong, Detective?"

"Actually, just the opposite. Heat Rises, it's no where near as innuendo-filled or as immature as I expected from you, Castle. What's with suddenly acting your age?" She leaned forward, scrutinizing him as he stared back at her.

"I guess I've grown up in the past few months. And I have one person to thank for that," she smiled sweetly at him, "Esposito." She glared at him again, lightly smacking his chest before turning back to her paperwork. She refused to acknowledge the smirk she saw out of the corner of her eye and pretended not to notice when he leaned forward so that his mouth was right by her ear.

"Kate, I had to grow up if I was going to even begin to deserve you." She couldn't suppress the grin that etched itself onto her face as she turned and looked at him, eyes filled with sincerity. God, she hated it when he was that sweet in the precinct. It made her want to drag him off to some dark corner and thank him properly. She settled for quickly taking his hand and squeezing it before both of them resumed their work, sneaking glances at each other every so often.

Selfishly she still hoped he was working on it, still hoped that one day she'd see the promotional posters for it in bookstores. Because if he was still writing Nikki Heat it meant he was still thinking about her, he still found her inspiring enough to base his novels off of. If he was carrying on the series it meant she was still a part of his life, if only through words splayed across paper. God knows she'd screwed up her chance to be more than that.

"Detective," Montgomery's smooth voice and the clearing of his throat brought her out of her thoughts.

"Sir?"

"You better pack up soon if you're going to make it to Ryan's birthday dinner. From what I've heard, Jenny worked her ass off on this." She nodded and tried to discreetly put the pad of paper back into her drawer without him noticing. But judging by the raised eyebrows and the pointed look she failed miserably.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't miss this. I'm especially looking forward to Ryan's face when he sees everyone there." She smiled at him, trying to distract him from the object she'd just been holding. She shut down her computer and returned her papers to their files, waiting for Montgomery to leave before taking the pad of paper back out and bringing it with her.

"Wanna share a cab there?" Okay, so much for him leaving.

"Yeah, sure. Just let me grab my coat." She plucked her jacket from the back of her chair and headed toward the elevator, the captain by her side.

"You know, it's funny." He leaned against the elevator wall as it made its journey to the first floor.

"What, sir?" She turned her head toward him to find him smiling at her, his eyes twinkling with a sort of fatherly sparkle.

"That Jenny went to all this trouble. Esposito kept telling me that she was freaking out over every single detail. But Ryan wouldn't care if she brought him to a greasy biker bar for his birthday. He loves her for her; he doesn't care about anything else." Something told her they weren't just talking about Jenny and Ryan anymore, there was a deeper meaning hidden in the words. The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival, and Montgomery gently squeezed her shoulder before walking toward the doors.

"It is funny, Roy. Very funny." He looked back at her and she caught the slight pride in his eyes. It was the kind of sparkle a daughter would find in her father's eyes when she'd figured something out, when she'd learned something. She offered him a small smile in return, her mind whirring from the double meaning she'd caught in his explanation.

Okay, I have a quick question that has absolutely nothing to do with this story. Does anybody know Alexis' age? Or even just what grade she's in?

Review? Seriously, whether you're screaming at me for doing this to our favorite duo or spreading the love I love them all. Either of those options show me that you're reading and that you're at least a little invested in this. If I can get you angry, even if it's at me, it still shows you care enough to be angry.