Has it really been 20 days since I typed? My life has been SO busy lately…. I'm sorry. But I will type this story till the end, don't worry!

The Old Haunt

The group decided to all meet at The Old Haunt. Lanie, Esposito and Ryan had all arrived there and were waiting on Castle and Beckett.

"It's just a casual night with our friends, Kate," Rick assured her as they approached the bar.

"I know, I just…"

"You just what?"

Kate looked at her partner, then grabbed his hand abruptly and held it tight in hers.

Castle smiled and opened the door to his bar.

"There they are!" Ryan shouted from across the bar.

"You didn't invite Jenny?" Castle asked him as Kate and him came up to the table everyone was seated at.

"She's in a yoga class at the moment… but, I just wanted it be just us from the Precinct. I even invited Gates, but surprisingly, she declined."

"You didn't?" Kate said, shocked.

Ryan just shrugged in reply as they all began to laugh.

"Hey, why don't you boys go and get us some drinks while I talk to my girl for a minute here?" Lanie suggested.

"Yeah, sure," Esposito replied as he and Ryan headed towards the bar.

"That includes you, Castle," Lanie said.

Castle nodded and let go out Kate's hand.

Lanie motioned for Kate to take a seat. "So, how are you two doing?"

Kate took the seat. "There have been a few bumps in the road, but it has smoothed out for the most part," Kate said honestly.

"Well that's nothing you can't expect from a relationship."

"That's true."

Lanie smiled at her friend.

Beckett looked around the bar for minute before bringing her attention back to Lanie. "It's so different, now. Like everything changed in the past two weeks it's incredible."

"As long as you're happy, then change was a good thing for you," Lanie said.

Kate nodded and smiled. "And every since we got back home, we've been taking it slow. I like it, though."

They both smiled about the new relationship for a few moments. Castle, Ryan and Esposito came back with drinks a few seconds later.

"Lanie, you and Jenny need to be friends," Esposito said as he sat down.

"Why are we talking about this here?"

"Because Ryan and I both agreed that it is mandatory."

"Lanie, why don't you like Jenny?" Beckett asked.

"It's a long story."

"Not that long," Esposito said.

"She mentioned the 'M' word the first time we met and we just didn't get off to a good start," Lanie admitted.

"Marriage?" Castle asked.

Lanie nodded then shook her head. "We are not having this discussion right now."

"Fine," Esposito agreed, "so what should we talk about?"

"Castle and Beckett," Ryan replied.

Rick reached for Kate's hand under the table.

Kate took it immediately. "No," she said with a stern voice.

"Why not?" Esposito and Ryan said at the same time.

"Dude…" Esposito said under his breath.

The group finally found something to talk about and began chatting till almost midnight. Everyone started calling taxis because they knew it would be bad to drive home. After Lanie, Esposito and Ryan left, Castle and Beckett remained seated at the table.

"One more drink," Kate demanded.

"No, Kate. You can't even walk straight. I'm taking you home now."

"Please, Rick?"

"Just because you called me by my first name, doesn't make me give into you. Okay, most of the time it does but not today," Castle argued.

"Fine… whatever you want."

After carrying her out to her car and placing her in her passenger seat, Castle got into the driver's seat.

"Where are your keys?" He asked.

"In my pocket."

"Can you give them to me?"

"No," Kate replied with a laugh.

"Seriously, Kate. Do you want to get home or not?"

"This car has a backseat big enough for two of us."

Castle reached for her pocket and grabbed her keys. But Kate gripped his arm before he could pull away.

"You need to sleep this off," Rick said.

She leaned in and pressed her lips against his.

Rick pulled away immediately. "I can't do this when you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk."

"First step to being drunk, is denying you're drunk."

"Shut up, Castle."

"No I'm not going to shut up. I care to much about you to let you do anything stupid," he announced.

"You are so boring. I'm tired."

Castle began driving and before he was a block away, Kate was fast asleep.

Beckett's Apartment

Kate's head felt like a metal baseball bat had hit it. She tried to open her eyes, but the light that came in made the headache worse.

She grunted loudly and crawled under her sheets.

"Kate?" She heard Castle say.

"What?"

"Do you need me to get you anything?"

"I'll be fine," Beckett answered.

"You have a headache don't you? After how drunk you were last night… I'll get you some Aspirin."

Before Kate knew it he was back with a glass of water in one hand and pills in the other.

"Thanks, Castle," she said as she took the pills.

Kate sat up in her bed and rested her head between her knees. "Exactly how bad was I last night?"

"Well, you suggested that we sleep in your car outside of the bar…"

"I'm so sorry, Castle. I… I can get pretty bad sometimes," she apologized.

"It was nothing that I can't handle." He gently sat next to her.

"Do you want me to call the precinct and tell them you're not coming in today?" Rick asked.

Kate's head shot up quickly, but she cringed shortly after from the pain. "I'm still going to work."

"No, you can't. Just sleep off your headache. I'll keep my phone by me to see if Ryan and Esposito find any leads."

"Castle, I have to go to work," Kate continued to fight back.

"You don't have to."

"Yes, I do."

"Kate…" Castle began, "I hate arguing with you over stupid things."

"Me too, but…"

"I'm not letting you go in today, period."

"I guess you're right…" Kate began to reason.

"Thank you."

"I won't go, but only under one condition," Beckett announced.

"And what is that?"

"Let me fall asleep in your arms?"

Castle smiled and moved himself so he was resting his head on the backboard of the bed, then he reached for Kate.

"I love you," Kate said as she settled against him.

"I love you too."

…

I could love you guys, if you review! But even if you don't… I'll still love you, don't worry.

PS: I originally planned to add more of the case in this chapter but all the fluff came over me. I am really happy with how this chapter turned out though!