Ryan and Esposito drop the papers off at the Pension Department right after they sign off on their marriage certificate. The woman at the desk agrees to process his request and lets them know they'll hear from them again soon.

Over the next week, things really start to look up: Ryan's headaches dwindle to nothing, his stitches are out and he can stay awake for longer than four hours.

Esposito's out at work and Kevin still has an hour or so until Alexis drops off Sarah after school, so he is using the peace and quiet he has left in the day to relax. Naturally there has to be a knock at the door just as he sits down.

Ryan groans, but still stands up to go answer the door. On the other side is a man in a suit with a clipboard. Ryan raises his eyebrows. "Can I help you?

"My name is Tyler Warren from the Pension Department. I'm here about your newly filed domestic partnership," the man says with a no-nonsense tone. He looks down to refer to his notes before continuing, "Are you a Mr. Kevin Ryan or Javier Esposito?"

"I'm Kevin Ryan, but I don't understand. We filed our paperwork and we were approved." Kevin feels himself start to grow nervous.

"It's just standard procedure to make sure no one is lying or creating a fake relationship to get around the system." The man nods and Ryan hopes that the man can't see him swallow visibly. "Can I come in?"

Ryan blinks, snapping out of his trance. "Uh, yes, of course." He steps aside and gestures him to come in.

Warren walks in and glances around his apartment. Ryan holds his breath even though he knows there's nothing in sight that can give them away. "Is your husband home?"

"He's at work."

"I see," Warren says, but it doesn't sound like he's paying too much attention as he glances around the living room.

"Can we rearrange this to another time...maybe when Javi comes home?" Kevin would much rather have his partner with him. Kevin has never been a good liar.

"I'm already here; I'll just talk to you while he's not home." Warren picks up a photo of Jenny, Sarah, Javier and himself at Castle's house in the Hamptons. He turns to Ryan. "Who is the woman and little girl in this picture?"

Ryan licks his lips. "My late-wife and daughter."

Warren pauses and looks at Ryan. "I thought you were gay."

Ryan stays silent for a brief second before answering with a slight aggressive tone to the ignorant man. "I'm pansexual."

Warren laughed. "What? Are you attracted to pans or something?"

Ryan doesn't find it funny. "No. My attraction to someone is not based on gender."

Staring at him like he has two heads, Warren says, "Okaaay." He clears his throat and puts the photo down. "If you don't mind taking a seat, I have a few questions for you. This may take a few moments."

Ryan nods numbly, but sits down anyway. "Sure, what would you like to know?"

"Javier Esposito is your partner- in work, correct?" Warren asks, pen ready in hand as he takes a seat.

"Yes, he is. Has been for 14 years," Ryan says carefully.

"Mm-hmm." Warren starts to scribble on his notepad. "And your Captain doesn't have a problem with your relationship?"

Ryan fidgets just the slightest. "We haven't told anyone except for two close friends. We haven't really changed our dynamic. We act just the same."

Warren raises his eyebrows. "So, you two are just married, but you don't actually have feelings for him?"

"What?" Ryan sits up straighter and gives a nervous chuckle. "No, that's not what I said. We don't change how we act in public, we don't let our relationship get in the way of our work."

"But at home…?"

Ryan furrows his eyebrows. "I don't see how that's any of your business, but yes, we are more open with each other in our own home. Just like any other couple."

Warren hums with a nod and scribbles some more. "Before you mentioned that only two others knew about your relationship, does that mean you're keeping it all a secret?"

"Not a secret, but you have to understand, Mr. Warren, not everyone would react too kindly to our relationship. It's just easier right now." Ryan is glad that he's so absorbed with his note-taking that he doesn't notice how nervous Ryan is.

Warren nods. "And the names of the two close friends?"

Ryan clears his throat, hoping he's not about to get Castle and Beckett in trouble. "Richard Castle and Katherine Beckett."

"Thank you, Detective." Warren smiled, standing up. Ryan hurried to follow Warren to his feet. "I'll be dropping by every now and then for the next few days. I'll have to catch your partner when he's home."

"Can I leave you with my number and we can arrange a time good for all of us-?"

"That won't be needed. I'll be back later." He smiled, walking to the front door. "Until next time, Detective."

Ryan nods with a tight smile as he opens the door for him. It stays on his face until Warren is out of his apartment with the door shut behind him. With no reason left to remain stoic, he lets out a shaky breath.

He needs a drink and he needs Javi, but he can't have either right now. He has to wait for Sarah Grace and he doesn't want her to worry about him. He isn't sure where all the time went, but soon there is a soft knock at the door before it is swinging open.

"Hey, Kevin, we're back!"

Ryan blinks, barely registering the footsteps coming closer. Sarah runs into his lap and giggles. "Hi, Daddy."

Ryan kisses her cheek, but is too distracted to say anything. Sarah doesn't seem to notice and starts to tell her dad all about her day. But Alexis does.

"Kevin, are you okay?" She asks, her voice full of concern. "You look a little pale."

"M'fine," Ryan says, but not very believable.

"I know I have a tutoring session in a few minutes, but I can reschedule and stay here until Javier gets off from work."

"No, no," Ryan says quickly, looking up at Alexis to try and convince her he's fine.

"Kevin…" Alexis trails off uncertainly.

Ryan smiles weakly. "Go, Alexis. I'm sure."

"Okay, but promise me you'll call me or Javier if you feel sick." She looks towards the kitchen. "You know what? I'm going to grab you a glass of water before I leave, okay?"

Ryan nods numbly and holds Sarah close in his arms as she babbles on. He doesn't want to lose her all over a stupid mistake.

Alexis comes back with a glass of water and she puts it on the side table. "Are you sure you'll be okay."

Ryan tries to give her a more sincere smile. "I'm sure. Javi'll be home in few hours. You have to get to the library before you're late."

"Only if you're positive." Alexis raises her the typical responsible young woman she is, she wants to make sure he's okay before leaving.

"I'm sure."

Alexis smiles and places a kiss to the top of his head. "I'll see you tomorrow. First day back on full time duty."

"See you tomorrow, Alexis." He watches as Alexis disappears down the hall and he hears his front door open and shut.

Once again he's alone, except for Sarah Grace, and his smile is gone. He's so tired of pretending to be happy. He just wants to be happy again like he was before all of his messes. Before when he wasn't risking jail time for his family and abandoning his daughter.

Ryan feels himself start to grow shaky and he doesn't want to break down in front of his daughter. She's still telling him about her art project, unaware of her father's rising panic attack, so Ryan interrupts her. "Honey, I'm going to run to the bathroom. Can you stay here for a moment and play until I can come back out and start your homework?"

She stares at him, as if she wants to say something, but just nods and gets off his lap. When Ryan is off the couch and almost to the bathroom door, she calls out, "Are you okay, Daddy?"

Ryan takes a deep breath before responding, "I'm fine, baby girl."

But he's not fine and he knows this as he stares at himself in the mirror. At the moment, he doesn't like the face he sees staring back at him. There are bags under his dull eyes and his hair is still messy from the shower he took this morning. It was nice to be get clean once the stitches were out. But now they left behind an empty patch of hair and an ugly scar. A scar that makes Ryan think of that night with the loud gunshot.

He doesn't remember much of what happened before he fell. But he's seen the news, read the reports and has pieced together enough to fill his memory. And his dreams create their stories and endings that leave Ryan waking up in a cold sweat.

All because of the bullet and the nasty scar.

And now his lopsided haircut would always remind him as well. His hair wouldn't grow from the scar tissue and now he has a strip of hair missing from where the doctors had to shave it. It didn't look as bad with the bandage, but now there's nothing but an ugly scar.

Esposito rushes inside as fast as he can twist the key in the lock. His heart is racing as he looks around the apartment. "Kevin?" He calls. "Kevin, where are you?"

He hopes to find him asleep on the living room couch, but instead Sarah is there playing with her doll. She looks up when Esposito comes in front of the couch. "Daddy's in the bathroom."

Javier nods and runs to the bathroom door. He knocks loudly. "Kevin, are you in there?" There's no immediate reply and Esposito is about to knock again when he hears Ryan finally answer.

"Yeah, Javi."

His voice sounds rough and like he's upset and it doesn't ease Esposito's worry. "I'm coming in," he says, hoping Kevin didn't lock the door. The doorknob twists open and Esposito lets out a sigh of relief.

"Kevin, are you okay? Alexis just called and said you looked sick…" Esposito trailed off, watching Ryan's shaking form as one hand gripped the countertop and the other held an electric razor in the other.

Esposito slowly steps forward. "Kevin, come on, what's wrong?" Esposito makes sure to shut the door behind him so Sarah doesn't hear them.

Ryan raises the hand with the razor. "Was just trying to fix it. Stupid scar. Stupid doctors."

Esposito looks down at the sink where some of Ryan's brown hair is discarded. He feels a weight off his chest when Esposito realizes he was just cutting his hair. Even though he knows Ryan will be pissed at himself later on when he calms down, a bad haircut is easier to fix than anything else stupid Ryan could have done when feeling like this.

"What'd you do?" Esposito asks softly, closing a hand around Ryan's wrist.

Ryan stares up at him and Esposito hates to see tears filling his blue eyes. "My hair, it looked stupid with one part shaved."

Esposito raises his eyebrows and looks at the newly trimmed strip of hair just under his scar. "So you decided to give yourself a haircut?" He lifts his hand to run his fingers through Ryan's hair. "I thought you liked it long."

Ryan nods and stares at himself in the mirror. "I like it long. I don't like what the doctors did."

Esposito sighs. "But, Kevin, they needed-."

"I know. They needed to cut it for the damn stitches that'll leave that stupid scar." Ryan narrows his eyes in the mirror.

"Is your hair what was really bothering you?"

Ryan's eyes fall down to stare his hands, both now gripping the countertop with white knuckles. "I...don't know. I'm just tired of being afraid to close my eyes at night and I'm tired of jumping at every loud sound." He squeezes his eyes shut and a pair of twin tears fall down his cheeks.

Esposito realizes that this is the first time that Ryan has spoken about what happened to him. He always acted so strong about it that Esposito forgot how haunted Ryan must actually be. "Kevin, why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know." Ryan shakes his head. "I thought it would go away after a while."

"You need to talk to someone about it. And that's what I'm here for." Esposito steps closer, pulling Ryan into his arms.

"I wanted to be strong. I'm a cop. Cops don't jump at the slamming of a door."

"Some do. And for now, you're going to. And that's okay. You'll get better and I'll help you, okay?" Esposito wipes away the tears from Ryan's cheeks. "C'mon, don't cry, corazon."

As soon as the word leaves his mouth, Esposito freezes. He's lucky that Ryan doesn't understand Spanish, but that doesn't change the fact that Esposito still said it. Esposito clears his throat and steps away, looking at the damage Ryan did to his hair. "Well, you could always wear a hat," he tries to joke.

Ryan sniffles and looks sadly at his reflection. "It looked stupid before, too. Doesn't matter, it won't grow back."

Esposito frowns. "Just the scar won't grow any hair, but you can easily cover it once your hair around it grows back. You may have to wait a few extra weeks because you cut more of it."

"I was upset."

"Next time you're upset watch your Bachelor reruns and yell at the tv for bad choices during the rose ceremony." Esposito huffs as he inspects Ryan's hair and Ryan continues to stay quiet. "I can shave the sides of your hair so they're even with what you shaved. I'm not going to match the doctor's original unless you want to be bald."

"I can wear a hat."

Esposito sighs. "You don't have to hide it, Ryan. I think it's pretty cool."

Ryan just shrugs his shoulders before going still enough to let Esposito start to cut his hair. For a few moments, the buzzing of the razor is the only thing that fills the silence. Until Ryan speaks up. "I'm sorry," he whispers and Esposito just barely hears him.

"For what?"

"I should have kept my cool or-."

"Don't apologize. You know, for one to always talk about feelings, I'm surprised it took you so long to talk about this. If you kept it in any longer you would've exploded."

"I was doing okay...enough to ignore it, but this afternoon a man from the Pension Department came over."

Esposito stops shaving Ryan's hair for a second. "What did he want?"

"He said it was procedure, but he was asking me all these questions about our relationship. To make sure we weren't lying."

"Shit," Esposito curses as he starts on the other side of Ryan's head.

"I know." Ryan fidgets with his t-shirt. "What if he figures us out?"

"Did you say anything that would give us away?"

"No."

"Then we have nothing to worry about. We'll be fine, Kev." Esposito says, hoping to reassure his partner.

"The investigation is just gonna last a few days. He wants to talk to you, too."

Esposito shrugs his shoulders with a small grin. "We'll get out of this, Kev. We always do."

Esposito finishes the last section of Ryan's hair before putting the razor down. Ryan's looking down at his feet, so Esposito lifts his head up by his chin. "Looking good, Kevin Ryan."

His hair was shorter on the sides, but his usual length on top. It wasn't one of Ryan's better haircuts, but it wasn't horrible.

"If I got you out of your horrible haircut, I can do anything."

The next morning Ryan is up before Esposito or Sarah. His nerves couldn't let him fall back to sleep. Today is his first day back after the accident. He isn't going out to chase killers down the darkest alleys; Gates' wants to keep him on desk duty for a few days. And while Kevin already can tell he's going to go crazy just sitting around, it's for the best.

Alexis comes over and gets Sarah up and ready for school with no trouble. The girls wave goodbye to Esposito and Ryan as they head off to work.

Ryan keeps his Yankees ball cap on his head and no amount of pleading from Esposito can get him to take it off.

"You ready?" Esposito asks as the elevator starts to ascend to the homicide floor.

Ryan scrunches his eyebrows. "For what? Paperwork?"

Esposito rolls his eyes. "It's your first day back. Are you ready for all the cheering and welcoming back?"

"I don't know, Javi. I'll just hide at my desk. No one will bother me." Ryan shrugs his shoulders.

"You're crazy if you think that's true. And don't act like you don't want the attention. You always love your 10 seconds of fame when someone realizes you're Raley." Esposito grins and nudges Ryan's shoulder.

"This is different."

"No, it's not. Just take a deep breath, hold your head up high and smile."

Ryan nods. He can always count on Esposito's advice to help him get through tough times. So he takes a deep breath, holds his head high and puts the smallest of smiles on his face just as the elevator doors open.

He doesn't get a second of silence to sneak to his desk before he's surrounded by claps and cheers. Ryan's eyes widen and part of him wants to shrink in on himself. But then he looks over at Esposito's comforting, steadying smile and Ryan's smile grows. Because Javier is proud of him. And that's the only reason Ryan needs.

"Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!" Ryan hears nobody else, but Castle chanting his name as he stands on his and Esposito's desks. Beckett is glaring at him, so Ryan figures she probably turned him down when he wanted to stand on hers.

Soon the entire bullpen joins in and Ryan finds it harder to get through the crowd around him as they pat his shoulders and give him high fives. He makes it back to his desk just as Gates walks out of her office. Ryan holds his breath, waiting for a scolding when she surprises him with a smile. "Welcome back, Detective Ryan." And then she starts to control the rowdy crowd. "Detectives! Back to work. Save him the headache and give him a chance to breath." She gives Castle a pointed look as she steps back into her office.

The crowd disperses and some detectives pass by Ryan on their way to their desks just to clap him on the back. Ryan's relieved that it's not as loud and overwhelming as it was now that it's just the four of them. He turns to Beckett with a smile. "So that's what that feels like, huh?"

Beckett tweaks the rim of his ballcap with a wink. Ryan swats her hand away and fixes his hat. "I thought you didn't like anything touching your hair?"

Esposito answers that with a roll of his eyes. "He thinks because the doctors shaved his head, he looks stupid."

Beckett grins down at Ryan. "Oh, come on, if Castle comes come to work everyday without a bag over his head I think you should be fine, Ry."

Castle crosses his arms. "I am going to ignore that, Detective Beckett. Mostly because I'm too busy thinking about the big party tonight."

Beckett's eyes widen. "Party? What the hell are you talking about, Castle?"

Castle waves his hand. "It's nothing big- just a celebration at The Old Haunt. Our Ryan's back and that calls for drinks," Castle says loudly causing some nearby detectives to clap. Beckett hides her head in her hand as Castle stands up again. "There will be a party at my bar tonight at eight! Drinks on the house!"

There's an eruption of cheers as Castle sits back down. "Maybe I shouldn't have offered free drinks…" Beckett rolls her eyes. "But I can already tell this is going to be worth it."

And it turns out to be quite the celebration. About the entire 12th precinct shows up, not just the homicide floor and a few others weren't cops at all. Castle tried to keep it to just NYPD, but then a few cops wanted to bring friends and they came along.

Ryan seems to be having a good time as person after person stops for his picture or even autograph the newspaper cover his story was on. Esposito only grows more annoyed as each girl comes over to their table to flirt with Ryan- no matter how uninterested he looks.

He left their small table in the back corner a few minutes ago to get more drinks, but Castle, Beckett and Esposito watch as a brunette woman with a dress that didn't have much cloth to it keeps him from returning to their table.

Esposito glares at the woman as she once again practically sticks her breasts in his partner's face. She isn't the first girl to try and get in Ryan's pants, but she is the most persistent.

"Instead of pouting over here, Espo, why don't you go over and save him." Beckett stares at him with raised eyebrows.

Esposito rips his gaze away from the bar. "What are you talking about? He's probably waiting for her number."

Beckett laughed. "Really, Epso? You think Ryan is interested in her?"

Esposito shrugs his shoulder. Of course he knows his partner would never be interested in any girl that threw themselves on him, but Ryan hasn't had a date or even slept with anyone in over 5 years. Maybe he's looking for someone to spend the night with.

Castle rolls his eyes. "'Sito, if I was in his shoes maybe I would take the bait, but we both know our Kevin Ryan would never. You really think he's gonna bring her home to Sarah?"

"So Romeo, how about you go save Juliet so we can get our drinks sometime tonight." Beckett kicks his shin and nods her head towards Ryan.

Esposito feels himself blush. "It's not like that. I'm not jealous-."

"Yeah, and the Pope isn't Catholic. Just get over there."

Esposito turns back to his partner just as he looks over to their table with a face screaming for help. Finally, Esposito stands up and walks over to the bar. The woman is so busy sticking out her chest and running a hand down Ryan's arm, she doesn't see Esposito coming.

"What's taking so long with the drinks, Kev?" Esposito asks, innocently.

Ryan looks relieved that his partner is there. "I was-."

The woman turns daggers on Esposito. "Listen, buddy, we'll send your drinks over in a minute. Me and Blue Eyes are trying to have a conversation." She pulls Ryan closer to her.

That does it for Esposito. He wraps an arm around Ryan's waist and pulls him gently out of the woman's arm. "That's nice, but I think I'd like to spend the night with my husband."

The woman looks from Ryan to Esposito and then to the ringed finger that Esposito is holding up for her to see. She turns to find a matching ring on Ryan's finger and shrieks. "You're gay? I can't believe you let me go on and embarrass myself like that!"

"I tried to-."

"Just forget it, asshole." She storms off out of the bar without a glance back.

Once she's gone, Esposito laughs. "Women, 're crazy."

Ryan smiles. "I'm gonna tell Beckett you said that."

Esposito stays still for a moment, enjoying holding Ryan close. But then he realizes they're in a bar full of cops and he's still got his arm around Ryan's waist. Esposito clears his throat and backs away quickly. "Come on, Castle and Beckett are waiting for their drinks."

Ryan nods his head slowly. "Yeah, okay," he says softly. He sounds disappointed and for a second Esposito thinks he made the wrong decision on pushing away the girl. But that's ridiculous because Ryan obviously wasn't into her.

Castle interrupts Esposito's thoughts when they return to their table. "I was starting to think we were never gonna get our drinks."

"And I thought I was never going to get away alive." Ryan smiles as he sits down in the booth next to Esposito. He shivers. "She was looking at me like she could see through my clothes."

"How about next time we celebrate privately in the loft," Beckett offers, even though she enjoyed watching Ryan squirm with that woman.

"Sounds good to me," Ryan says. "Because if I see one more camera flash I think I'll go blind."

The others laugh as they raise their glasses for one last toast of the night.

The next morning starts off fine at work. Ryan is at his desk working through financials for their vic on a case. Ryan doesn't know much about it and he's not allowed to go out in the field yet, but he offers to help with the tech. Esposito is sitting by his desk to keep him company and Castle is bugging Beckett by the murder board.

And then Gates is standing in her doorway with her arms crossed over her chest, looking aggravated. She clears her throat. "Detectives Ryan and Esposito, can I see you in my office?"

Ryan and Esposito exchange a look before standing from their desks. Beckett and Castle pause to watch them enter the captain's office as well. They close the door behind them and stand in front of Gates' desk.

"I had a visitor this morning, gentlemen," she starts as she goes behind her desk. "Tyler Warren from the NYPD Pension Department."

Ryan stands a little straighter as the color drains from his face. Esposito speaks up first, "Sir, we can explain-."

Gates raises her hands. "I don't want to hear it. I don't want to know anything about it; I want complete deniability. But I still have to say if your relationship gets in the way of work I will have to separate you two."

"You don't need to do that, Sir." Ryan quickly shakes his head. "Javi's the best partner I've ever had."

"Then let's keep it between you two and out of the paper."

"I'm sorry, the what?" Esposito sputters.

Gates picks a paper off the desk and hands it to Esposito. Esposito skims the article she has the paper open to. "NYPD Detectives- Partners in More Ways Than One. What the hell is this?"

Ryan peers over his shoulder. "It's about us last night at The Old Haunt. Why would someone write about that?"

Gates huffs. "I don't know, but I'm going to have one hell of a time explaining this to the Commissioner."

"Tell him it must be a mistake," Esposito says.

"That's going to be hard, considering there's a picture of you with your arm around Detective Ryan!" Gates pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Okay, that was just to get the creepy girl away from Kevin," Esposito says and Ryan nods beside him.

"With matching rings?"

Esposito's eyes widen. "That's in there, too?" Then his face darkened. "That bitch must have leaked stuff after she left the bar."

Gates sighs. "I understand that it's hard for you now that you've finally realized what you both feel is real. But for both of your sakes, please just keep it low until Ryan's 15 minutes of fame are over."

Esposito and Ryan blink. Did the Captain think they were really together? Then what did she want complete deniability for if not for the lie? "Um, Captain?"

Gates shakes her head. "I don't want to discuss this any further. Get back to work."

Ryan and Esposito hesitate before walking towards the door. "Dude," Ryan whispers to Esposito as they walk into the bullpen.

"I know," Esposito replies.

"So, what was that about?" Castle asks nosily as soon as they're back at their desk. "Did you get in trouble or was it just about more reporters wanting to talk to Ryan?"

Esposito wordlessly drops the paper to the desk and Castle picks it up. He grins the second he looks at the paper. "Hope you weren't trying to hide your marriage." Castle winks.

Beckett looks over Castle's shoulder and then to the boys. "I told you this was going to bite you in the ass."

"We'll be fine, Beckett. Soon this will all blow over and nobody will even remember us." Esposito tries to reassure her, and maybe himself as well.

"And when everyone forgets about this, I will show them the proof. A neat little scrapbook entitled, Rysposito in the paper!" Castle announces proudly, already cutting out the article and pictures.

"Rysposito?" Ryan scrunches his nose.

"Yeah, like Roach but only with your names." Castle doesn't pause his cutting.

Esposito likes the sound of his and Ryan's name together, but he pushes that thought out of his head. "What are you doing with that, Castle?"

"I told you: I'm saving every article in the paper about you and Ryan so when Sarah's older I can show her." Castle grins. "I think she'll find it funny to see how easily jealous you get."

"I wasn't jealous," Esposito says, watching Ryan's reaction out of the corner of his eye. He just looks amused.

"Uh-huh," Castle says, dubiously. "I've only got the first few articles about the accident and this once, but I can tell it will grow. Maybe I can call as an anonymous witness to the marriage."

Esposito leans forward. "I will kill you, Castle."

"Lighten up, Espo. Soon we'll all look back at this and laugh." He paused and pretended to think for a moment. "Well, actually Beckett and I are already laughing, but you'll join in soon."

"How are we supposed to laugh when our captain is grateful that we finally found each other?" Esposito shakes his head.

Castle laughs even harder. "No way! Man, this just gets better and better."

Esposito and Ryan continue to glare at Castle as he laughs his ass off. He actually starts to cry from laughing so much when another detective walks by with the paper in hand.

"Did my invitation get lost in the mail, boys?" He asks with a smirk. He doesn't say it maliciously, or else Esposito would be pounding his head in the wall. It's the regular and even expected 'cop humor'.

He isn't the only one that badgers them about the article. By the end of the day, even Ryan is ready to kill whoever wrote that article. He's glaring at his computer and Castle finds it more amusing than threatening.

"How about this: after work we'll all settle down with a few beers at The Old Haunt," Castle suggest with a grin.

Ryan looks away from his computer to look at Castle with a sigh. "I can't, Castle. Sarah is at home waiting for me. Friday is movie night and Alexis is going to a concert with her friend tonight."

"Hey," Esposito says, sitting down next to Ryan. "Why don't we all head to Ry's place? Sarah's been asking to see Castle and Beckett. I can make us some dinner and we can pick something up for dessert. Sarah'll love it."

Beckett watches Ryan carefully. "But, if you just want to go home and relax then we can get together another night."

Ryan shakes his head and says, "No, it'll be fun and a nice break from all this-."

"Hey, so who took whose last name?"

Ryan rolls his eyes as Castle snorts and feeds the birds with Karpowski as she walks by.

"You really need to encourage them, Castle?" Esposito narrows his eyes, but there's no heat behind it. Castle just shrugs his shoulders.

"Let's go before we make Alexis late," Ryan says shutting down his computer.

"Or before Esposito kills somebody." Beckett smirks as she pats Esposito on the shoulder.

He stands up and the three start towards the elevator, but not without more jabs from the other detectives still in the bullpen. Castle can't stop laughing and Ryan pushes Esposito quickly into the elevator before he can do anything.

Esposito would never hurt any of them though because it was all in good fun and he knows that. On the other hand, if someone ever decided to be that rude to him or Ryan because they're homophobic, they'd be picking their teeth up off the floor.

"Castle, you know what they say: karma's a bitch. Just wait til you get yours." Esposito glares at the now shut elevator doors.

Castle quirks an eyebrow. "You don't frighten me, Espo-."

Esposito pretends to lunge at the writer and he flinches against the wall. Esposito straightens himself and raises his eyebrows. "Yeah, sure I don't, buddy."

Castle straightens his jacket and clears his throat. He sees Beckett staring unimpressed at him. "I was just pretending so he didn't feel bad."

Beckett rolls her eyes with a smile. "Of course you were."

"Castle and Beckett are on their way over," Ryan tells Esposito as he walks into the kitchen. "They just stopped to pick up some ice cream before they get here."

"The chicken is almost done." Esposito flips a piece of chicken in front of him. He wanted to make an elaborate Puerto Rican meal, but he didn't have time.

"And don't forget the Mac and Cheese, Uncle Javi!" Sarah calls out as she continues to set the table.

Esposito turns around to face Ryan. "Ah, how could I forget Mac and Yellow Food Dyes 5 and 6 from a cardboard box?"

Ryan grins as Esposito turns back to the stove. The scene in front of him with Javi cooking a meal and Sarah setting the table is so painfully domestic Ryan wants to walk up behind Javier and wrap his arms around his waist and kiss the curls behind his ear.

He imagines the scene so vividly that it hurts to come back to reality where he and Esposito are only pretending to be a couple. He walks over to help Sarah fold the napkins, but tries to keep his disappoint from showing. Sarah can pick up on his emotions very easily.

A knock at the door grabs Ryan's attention just as Esposito is bringing the chicken over to the table. "That's Castle and Beckett," he says before walking out of the kitchen into the living room. Hopefully the company will be a good distraction.

He opens the door and lets Castle and Beckett inside. His apartment isn't as big and luxurious as their loft, but they don't mind. Castle sniffs the air and grins. "Mmm, what's Espo cooking tonight?"

Ryan smiles and they follow him to the kitchen. "Chicken and Mac and Cheese."

Esposito looks up just they walk through the kitchen doorway. "I wanted it to be homemade with bacon and breadcrumbs on the top, but Mr. Pessimistic said there wasn't enough time. So excuse the cardboard taste."

Castle shrugs his shoulders as he walks towards the freezer to put away the ice cream. "I grew up on Kraft and I still love it."

Esposito stares over at Castle. "That explains so much."

Castle rolls his eyes before taking a seat at the table. "So you're that parent that boycotts Kraft because it's so delicious."

Esposito glares over at the writer as he takes his own seat next to Ryan. "No. I just think home cooked is better...and free of carcinogens." Castle just shrugs his shoulders and takes a large spoonful of his Mac and Cheese.

Ryan turns to help Sarah cut her chicken into pieces, but Esposito is already doing it and Ryan can't help when his lips curl into a smile. He watches for a few seconds as Esposito carefully cuts the chicken into Sarah sized bites, but continues his argument with Castle why Kraft isn't the healthiest of choices.

This is how Ryan wants it every night; his family safe and sound, sitting around the dinner table together. And even though he and Javier aren't together, he doesn't want him anywhere else than right beside him, making dinner so Ryan can't poison Sarah Grace with his cooking anymore.

Ryan turns away from his partner, so he doesn't notice his staring. He looks over to Beckett who is smiling smugly at him. Okay, so, she noticed. He feels his cheeks burn, but thankfully she doesn't make a big deal about it and goes back to her dinner.

Castle's disturbingly dirty moan catches Ryan's attention. He looks over to the writer and sees him looking down at his plate with wide eyes. He finishes chewing and turns to Esposito. "'Sito, if the whole detective thing doesn't work out, you can come work for me as my personal chef."

Esposito rolls his eyes, but smiles. "It's just fried chicken. You should taste Mama's food- mine doesn't even compare."

Castle's eyes brighten. "She's cooking for your next birthday party. I will eat nothing else."

"She makes a mean mofongo," Ryan says to Castle with a grin.

Castle looks offended. "She makes you food?"

"Every time I come over," he replies smugly.

Castle narrows his eyes at Ryan and opens his mouth to say something, but a knock at the door interrupts him. Ryan looks around the table; everyone that visits him is sitting here. "Maybe Alexis forgot something." He stands up from the table, but doesn't believe his excuse.

Ryan walks over to the front door and opens it up to see the last person on Earth Ryan wanted to see on his front stoop.

"Good evening, detective," Tyler Warren says with a nauseating smile.

And just like that, Ryan's perfect night is ruined.

Thank you for TXMedic for beta-ing:)

Thank you to everyone that likes, follows and especially reviews. I love you all:)

Until next time,