Moment in Time

One Life to Lose

Esposito shook his head. "Killing Sarah to keep a lid on her plagiarism? That's cold."

Beckett shrugged. "And pretty ordinary as motives go."

"She didn't want to put in the work, so she took a short cut," Ryan added.

"There are no shortcuts in writing," Castle stated with the authority of experience.

"No, but there is to our favorite bar," Ryan quipped. "I found a new route that will get us to the Old Haunt in eight minutes. You up for a beer?" Ryan inclined his head at Castle. "I know the owner."

"Yeah, I'm down bro," Esposito answered. "What about you, Castle?"

"I might follow you later." Castle told him. Castle pulled a manilla envelope from his coat and handed it to Beckett who was diligently finishing paperwork at her desk. "Got you a present."

A wide smile spread over Beckett's face as she pulled out the envelope's contents. "A signed cast photo from Temptation Lane. How did you even get this?"

Castle wiggled an eyebrow, "I know people."

Beckett's phone signaled a text. "I'll leave you to it," Castle told her.

"No," Beckett told him. "It's just Josh telling me he can't make our date tonight." She continued under her breath, "Again."

"Sorry," Castle told her, meaning just the opposite. "Hey, you can come to the loft with me. We can do a Temptation Lane marathon. Mother's been recording it."

"That sounds nice," Beckett agreed.

The couch at the loft was still warm from a recent occupation by Martha and Lance Hastings, who had hurriedly pulled apart and announced that they were going to dinner, when Castle and Beckett arrived.

"You get to sit where the star sat," Castle teased, "quite an achievement in fandom."

"Yeah," Beckett replied sarcastically, "I'm going to tweet about it all night."

"Why not?" Castle asked. "If I got to sit where Harrison Ford sat, I would."

Beckett smiled and shook her head. "Of that Castle, I have no doubt. You want to start the DVR?"

"Beckett," Castle protested. "We can't start a marathon without popcorn! It'll only take three minutes and twenty seconds."

Beckett rolled her eyes. "Of course you'd know that, Castle."

"When it comes to marathon viewing, I am a true aficionado," Castle informed her. "Popcorn coming up."

"I think Lance Hastings looks better with Martha than he does with Mandy Bronson," Beckett commented, watching the screen.

"Ewww!" Castle replied sticking his fingers in his ears. "Don't tell me that. I'm trying to banish the image."

"Why Castle?" Beckett asked, "your mother is an energetic vital woman. Why shouldn't she have a sex life?"

"I don't object to her having one," Castle answered. "I just don't want a mental picture. Do you want to picture your father having sex?"

Beckett thought about it and gave a small shiver. "You're right. That is kind of creepy."

Beckett snuggled into the couch, with the uncomfortable realization that she wished she was snuggling into Castle. She pushed the thought away with a large handful of popcorn. She coughed as a hull got stuck in her throat. "Beckett, you're supposed to eat that, not breathe it," Castle told her, pounding her back. "You okay?"

Beckett nodded, but she continued to cough and her eyes watered. Castle got her a glass of water.

"Maybe that's enough popcorn," Castle suggested as Beckett sipped the liquid. "How would you feel about some real food?"

"What did you have in mind?" Beckett asked.

"How about Q3?" Castle suggested.

"Castle, I'm not dressed for it and neither are you."

"Beckett, I can change and we can go by your place. I know you. You can change in about a minute flat. How about if I call Madison to get us a table?"

"Okay," Beckett agreed, "if Maddy can get us a table."

Madison Queller was more than happy to oblige her friends. Beckett and Castle were seated almost as soon as they arrived, but Madison drew Beckett aside first. "So," she asked. "are you and Castle finally getting together?"

"No," Beckett told her. "We're just here as friends. We just finished a case."

Madison's brow wrinkled in exasperation. "Honestly Bex, I don't know what's wrong with you. You obviously still have a thing for the man. It's written all over your face. And he has one for you too. He never takes his eyes off you."

"Maddy, it's complicated," Beckett protested, "besides I'm with someone else now."

"Like you were with Tom Demmimg? Really Bex! If it's complicated, it's because you're making it complicated. Maybe if I feed you two something romantic, you'll come to your senses."

Maddy, with a little help from chef Jennifer Wong, did her best. Beckett and Castle were served a complimentary appetizer of oysters, and the entrees were paired with a red wine that made Beckett feel as if she was melting into the carpet. The desserts were sent out with two forks, encouraging Castle and Beckett to share. Their hands brushed as they sampled the unworldly richness of a chocolate cheesecake, causing their eyes to meet. Neither looked away.

"Beckett," Castle asked, "are you going to tell me about Temptation Lane?"

Beckett took another sip of her wine, a faraway look coming to her eyes. "Okay, Castle. I was nine and I had to get my tonsils taken out and I was miserable. And so my mom took time off of work and stayed with me and cuddled up in front of the TV on the couch and we would watch episodes of Temptation Lane. So every time I see it now, it just - it makes me feel like home and safe. So there you go. Judge away."

Castle smiled. "How could I judge? My DVR would make yours look like Masterpiece Theater, but I am glad to know this about you. It makes you a little more - human."

Beckett returned the smile, wishing she could reach out to stroke the dimples that formed around his mouth. "Castle, really, thanks for the photo. It means a lot to me."

"Detective Beckett," Castle assured her, "you can make use of my connections anytime."

A/N Nathan's birthday is coming again. Time to support him by giving to nathan_fillion