Disclaimer: I wish I owned these characters... I really do! But I don't.

Eight in the morning, and Kate found herself sitting at her desk. The whole floor was quiet as Esposito and Ryan both sat in the break room with their morning coffee. She was looking over a stack of files, trying to take her mind off of what had happened just a few hours ago. Nothing was helping. Kate smiled to herself as she let her mind drift for a moment. She thought of Castle, whom she had left sound asleep and curled up on the couch around six-thirty.

Before she left his apartment, she had lingered around, watching Castle sleep. He had looked so peaceful and happy. The smile that she loved had settled on his lips, and the tiny wrinkles around his eyes were soft and faint as they fluttered in what Kate could only hope to be a happy dream. The sight of him sleeping had made her heart melt slightly, almost as much as the touch and taste of his lips against hers had. Kate smiled again and bit on her lip as she remembered the softness of the kiss. The perfect kiss, she thought to herself.

As she pulled herself out of the moment, Kate's brow furrowed. A small humming sound was filling the silence that had fully surrounded her, but she had no idea where it was coming from. Lifting her eyes, she slowly scanned the room before catching sight of Castle. He had managed to slip into the bull pen as she was lost in thought, and had somehow managed to sneak up quietly behind her and was now sliding in the chair beside her placing two take-out cups of coffee down on the desk. There was a smug smile across his lips. Had he been there the whole time? Kate turned away from his eye line quickly, her focus trying to stay on the stack of files that were on the desk. She couldn't look him in the eye.

Castle was the first to speak as he leaned into her. She could smell the fresh cleanliness of his aftershave, making her head spin ever so slightly. She swallowed back words as Castle whispered in a low voice. "Good Morning, Detective." Kate turned just in time to catch him flashing his smile and she melted for the second –or was it third? –time that morning.

She coughed through the surprise of her own reaction to him, trying to act as if she were clearing her throat. "Morning, Castle." She turned to him, her eyes narrowed as she questioned the look slightly, trying to make it obvious to him that what happened earlier wasn't something she was willing to talk about now, or maybe ever. She looked away again, closing over one of the files as her lips parted, ready to speak, only to be interrupted by a voice coming from just over the bull pen.

"Beckett, we were just…" Esposito paused, catching the glances between Kate and Castle. His brow raised as he shook it off, deciding now probably wasn't the time to investigate them. "We got a cold one." He finished his sentence and held up a small piece of paper for Kate to see a name and address written down. "Coming?"

Kate sighed, and nodded before glancing to Castle, giving a look of daring. He simply nodded his head, understanding the look as they both slipped out of their chairs. Castle grabbed the two cups of coffee from the desk, and followed Kate as she pulled her coat around her, slipping in her arms, and tying the sash around the middle.

They all stepped into the elevator, Castle still following Kate, feeling slightly clumsy as he stumbled, brushing against her arm as she threw him another look. He simply backed away as he let Esposito and Ryan into the remaining space.

"So, what did we all get up to last night then?" Ryan asked innocently, patting down his jacket to ensure he had remembered to lift his phone from the break room, smiling when he found it tucked nicely into his top inside pocket.

Castle opened his mouth to speak. Catching this, Kate lifted her foot, and let it fall down on Castle's, not too hard though. Just enough. He winced, and threw her one his own confused looks, before adding. "Nothing much. Pretty much the same old boring night at home."

Kate let another small sigh fall passed her lips. Maybe Castle did understand her wanting to not say a word to anyone about what happened. She nodded and agreed. "Yeah, boring old night." This caused Ryan and Esposito to exchange their own look of confusion about how strange both Kate and Castle were acting, before shrugging it off.

As the elevator pinged and the doors opened, the four of them all clambered out into the main foyer of the building. They stopped, and Esposito handed Kate the small piece of paper he had held up before holding the name and address of the victim.

"That's great, Esposito, thanks. We'll meet you there," she mumbled as she held one hand out for the coffee from Castle, and the other to take the paper from Esposito. "Coming, Castle?" She walked off towards the direction of the car, taking a sip of the warm coffee.

"Silly question," Castle laughed out behind her as he jogged slightly to catch up with her, slowing to a walk as they reached the car. "So, Beckett. What exactly is up with you this fine morning? Hmm?" He questioned as he tugged open the door and slid into his usual passenger seat, plopping his coffee into the holder.

"I just…" She climbed into the seat, and adjusted it slightly, before checking the mirror. She followed Castle's lead, and placed her coffee into the holder beside his, and turned on the ignition, listening to the sound of the car start up. "Last night, I just –don't want everyone in the precinct to be talking about it." She sighed, and looked over to him. He had that look of confusion again, and this was beginning to puzzle her.

"Beckett, I won't say anything." He promised and then smiled that smile again. Kate just barely managed to keep it together and not let the fact that it gets to her every time show.

Kate smiled, and pulled out of the space, heading in the direction of the address that was written on the piece of paper. She continued to steal small glances to Castle as she drove. He had picked up his coffee again, and was taking small sips of the steaming hot liquid. She could see he was enjoying it and she smiled, turning back to focus on the road before hearing him speak up again.

"You know, Beckett. There really is nothing wrong with someone needing a little comfort every now and again. And I really don't think anyone would say anything about it if they were to find out." He nodded and took another sip of his coffee.

Kate stole another glance over. He had turned slightly in his seat, and was watching her as she drove. Her eyes narrowed and then her brow rose. "Oh, come on Castle. You know just as much as I do, that if anyone were to hear about what happened, they wouldn't shut up for days –no weeks."

She shot him a look to which he nodded, before adding, "I know, but needing a small cuddle and some comfort. They would understand." He turned back in his seat, and faced out onto the road.

The conversation was beginning to confuse Kate, and she didn't like this. Why didn't he mention the kiss? It wasn't like him to not mention something when they were alone. She was beginning to grow slightly suspicious.

As she pulled up behind a car at a set of lights, she turned to Castle. "Castle, what exactly did happen last night?" She watched him as his brow rose, and she leaned over, pulling her own coffee up from the holder.

"Were you drinking last night, Detective?" Castle questioned as he gave a jokingly disapproving look. "You came over and we chatted for a few minutes. You explained about having not slept in forever. Then…" He paused, lowering his head and voice. Oh god, here it goes, Kate thought. Here comes the part with the kiss. "I kind of, cuddled you. In my defence, you did look kind of desperate for sleep, and it did help. You were out like a light bulb as soon as I was… holding you." He nodded, looking slightly embarrassed.

"You… we… I… That's it?" Kate gasped. Confusion had totally taken over her mind. Why wasn't he mentioning the kiss? Surely to god he wouldn't have forgotten that –would he? "You hugged me? That was it?"

Castle looked over, slight confusion was written in his eyes again, but he just nodded, and Kate could tell he wasn't holding anything back. She knew him too well now.

As the light changed to green, and the car in front pulled out, Kate followed, concentrating on the road as a sudden realization came across her.

It was a dream… The perfect kiss had just been a dream.

Authors Notes: I seem to enjoy getting myself in a slight pickle with this story. Hope y'all are still enjoying it! Thank you for reading!