A/N: I'm sorry for not remembering who prompted me to do something with a date night. Let me know in a review and I'll thank you properly in the next chapter, kay? Anyway, so yesterday's prompt was kind of setting everything up for this. It's a proper one-shot, so it's longer than most of the fics I upload here. I really hope you'll like it ^^

She was dressed in a pretty outfit. No dress, thank you very much, Kate Beckett was not the type for dresses.

Actually, she was, but she wouldn't let Castle know that. She would never hear the end of it.

It was nearly seven PM, and while she had considered not obeying Castle's demand and just sneak out of the house so she could avoid this… date with the person she least wanted to date with, but he would never let her forget that, either.

Probably the next Nikki Heat book would have Heat and Rook going on a date, then. She wasn't willing to risk that.

Lost in thoughts, she nearly didn't hear the bell when it rang. She took her time getting to her door and opened it to find a very good-looking Castle waiting.

'Wow.' The word left her mouth before she could help it. He grinned.

'Thanks. You too. Even more so, if I may say.'

She didn't blush, thank you very much.

'To be honest, I'm quite surprised to see that you put so much work in it. Not picking out a dress like you so obviously wanted to, even opening the door without hesitating. Except slowly walking, of course.'

'What are you, psychic?' She was already getting annoyed. Not a good sign. How did he always know everything about her?

He smiled his Cheshire-cat grin.

'I know you better than you think, Kate.'

And with those words, he pulled her against him and kissed her.

She couldn't help but to react. Her lips parted and all she could think about was how long she had wanted this. Imagine how frustrated she felt when Castle pulled back, smiling devilishly.

'Not now, Becks. We still have a date to go on. Don't want to rush things.'

Oh yeah. The date. Beckett sighed. Probably he had made reservations in some really expensive place where everyone was bound to see them and tomorrow they'd be plastered all over the covers of the gossip magazines.

Castle led her out of the building and into his car. They didn't drive for a very long time, before Beckett could even start to worry about where they were going they pulled over.

'We're here.'

'Where is here, Castle?'

'Rick.'

'What?'

'We're on a date. I think you should call me Rick.'

Beckett resisted the urge to roll her eyes or glare at him. This was not the time to fight with him.

'Fine. Rick. Where are we?'

'We're at the park.'

Now that was unexpected.

'The park?'

'Yes. We're going to have a picnic.'

Now her mouth fell open. Not even if she had been psychic could she have predicted this. It was so un-like Castle…

She looked sideways at him. He looked incredibly proud of himself. Of course he would. He had managed to make her speechless for the first time in God knows how long. He took her hand and led her to the place where he'd had it all set up.

Admitted, it was cold. But he had even anticipated that. He held up one of his coats and she gratefully slipped in it, immediately becoming warmer. Also, he couldn't resist the urge to pull her against him and wrap his arms around her. All for just that little bit of extra warmth, he told her. And she believed him.

Their date went smoothly. Castle mostly left Beckett to do what she pleased, only handing her what she asked for, but never letting go of her. They talked, they bickered (could a meeting between the two of them be complete if they didn't?) and they laughed.

All in all, Beckett had to admit that it was better than she ever could've hoped for.

'Never knew you could do something like this,' she murmured, hoping in a way he didn't hear it. She didn't want to spoil the perfect mood.

'How so?'

'Usually you're so over-the-top. It's tiring.'

'Kate, I would never willingly make the paparazzi shoot pictures of you. You're mine, not theirs.'

She should've said something about the sheer possessiveness of that last statement. Only she didn't.

'Look, I hope you've had a great night but no strings attached, Kate. Want me to bring you home?'

'No!'

God, she sounded so desperate. Castle raised an eyebrow.

'Why not?'

She couldn't answer that. The words refused to leave her mouth. She wanted to tell him, so badly, that he had been right all along. But the words hadn't been used for a long time, they felt rusty, and stuck in her throat.

Actions spoke louder than words, right?

She could barely reach his cheek, but with a little bit of stretching she could. She pressed her lips to the soft skin, and when he turned his head, surprised, she caught his lips so she could kiss him properly.

Castle moved her so he could put his arms around her better, and ended up pulling her on his lap. She didn't mind, only wrapped her own arms around the writer. She couldn't handle it if he left now.

The kiss lasted ages. It would be exaggerating to say that dawn was starting to show, but you get the idea. Beckett pulled away, at last, and put her head on Castle's chest. He started running his fingers through her hair.

'There can't be an us, Rick,' she suddenly said. She had to get it out of her system.

'Give me one good reason, Kate.'

'I can't work with you anymore if we would be involved. I'd be too worried about you.'

'Let me think.' He paused a moment. 'No, not good enough a reason.'

'Castle! I'm serious! I can't have a relationship!'

'Correction, you don't want to.'

Dammit!

'Just forget it. Forget I ever mentioned it.'

'I'm not going to. And you can either read about this in the new Nikki Heat or you can hear about it now. Your choice, Becks.'

She hated it when he did this. He kissed the top of her head and her thoughts ran wild. Shit. She also hated that.

'Now.'

'Do I really have to say it out loud or do you know what I'm about to say anyway?'

She knew it. She stopped loving people after her mother had died, so she would never feel that way again.

'I know it.' It came out as a whisper.

'Good. So, what do you say? Want to try it with me?'

She knew what she should say. But she also knew what she wanted to say.

'I'll try.'

'Good enough for me.'

Of course, their relationship would never be smooth sailing. But at least they had progressed yet another step. Beckett nestled herself in Castle's arms and sighed contently. She could worry about this again tomorrow.