Beckett and Castle left the precinct around five thirty that night. Ryan and Esposito had spoken with Trevor and Sydney again and had found nothing new. Beckett had told the Captain about Haven dropping off stuff at Castle's place that night. He said it was fine, as long as Beckett took home whatever it was with her instead of leaving it at Castle's.

"So, if you stay at my place tonight that's the same thing as you taking it home, right?" Castle asked as slipped his thumb between their joined hands and rubbed her palm as they drove towards his loft. Beckett smiled at how familiar the little moments and touches between them had become in such a short amount of time.

"It probably would be, if I were staying at your place tonight, which I'm not."

"But you said…until the case was over…"

"No, what I said was I would stay that night. And I did. But not tonight. Lanie is coming over after I get home. We're having girls night. Take out food, chick flick movies. The whole shebang."

"That's fine, you can come back when she goes home." He said with a mischievous grin. She sighed at him, but it came out as a half laugh and he smiled wider.

"See? it's a good idea."

"Castle…I'm not staying at your place tonight. I will be just fine at home."

"Fine. You win. For now, but don't think this is over."

She rolled her eyes as he pouted in the passenger seat. He pretended to be mad at her but it only lasted until they were inside his loft. Once he locked the door behind them, he pulled her against him and kissed her. She sighed into his mouth at the shivers that ran down her back as he laced his fingers though her hair. She let herself melt against him; amazed at how most of the worries of her day seemed to disappear while he was holding her. She shoved the doubts and questions that always seemed to pop into her mind during these moments aside as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back; matching his intensity with her own. She could tell she took him by surprise by the way his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer when just a second ago she hadn't thought that possible.

"My day was great! Thanks for asking, how was yours?" Martha called in a sing song voice from the kitchen, making them both jump away from each other like they were doing something wrong.

"Mother, you're home."

"Yes, and so are you. Which is something you might want to announce before assuming you are alone. Kate, hello dear."

Martha walked up to Kate and pulled her into an embrace. Kate hugged her back, glad for the extra few seconds to compose her thoughts.

"Good to see you Martha."

"You too dear. I hear you've been spending more time around here lately?" She said, winking at Castle as she hugged him.

"Umm..yea…about that…I…" Kate stuttered over her words and Martha laughed.

"You are welcome here. Anytime, and for as long as you want to stay."

Kate smiled warmly at her.

"Thank you Martha."

"You are quite welcome. I am going to my bedroom upstairs. I will leave you two alone."

She waved at them as she headed up the stairs. Kate waited until she heard the bedroom door click shut before smacking Castle in the chest.

"Castle!" She hissed. "You could have told me your mother would be home!"

"Hm, I didn't know…obviously. Or I would have said something when we walked in. Sorry, I just can't help myself sometimes…"

He reached for her and pulled her back against him. She laughed and twisted away from him.

"Oh no, I'm sure Alexis will be home soon. One mortifyingly embarrassing moment a day is enough for me."

She pulled away from his grasp and went over and flopped on the couch. He followed her, pouting, and sat next to her. She crossed her arms when he reached for her and glared at him.

"Personal space, Castle."

"Yes…I want you in mine."

She laughed loudly and hit him in the side of the head with one of the pillows on the couch. He raised an eyebrow at her and picked up the other pillow and hit her back. Within a matter of seconds they were both standing in the middle of the living room in the middle of a pillow fight. By the time Alexis walked in the door five minutes later they were both breathless from laughing. Kate couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard. Every time she tried, moments of Castle making her laugh were all that came to mind.

Alexis smiled at them as she dropped her backpack inside the door.

"Kate! You're here. Oooh pillow fight! I want to play."

"Oh, no way. You'd totally be on her side." Castle whined from his protected crouch behind a chair.

"Your point is?" Alexis asked as Kate tossed her a pillow. Castle dropped his pillow and raised both hands over his head.

"I give, I give."

Kate dropped her pillow on the couch and high fived Alexis.

"Well, that was easy."

Alexis smiled as she hugged Kate.

"Are you staying tonight?" The smile on the girls face tugged at Kate's heart strings and she wanted to say yes.

"Not tonight. Lanie is coming to my place later to hang out for a while. I'm just here until someone drops something off for the case. She's supposed to be here at seven."

"Aww, we could watch another Disney movie."

"Next time, I would love to."

"Alright. Its probably better any way. I have a test to study for, and I wouldn't get it done with you here. Hanging out with you is way better than studying. I'm gonna go upstairs. Kate, call me if you need backup."

"Absolutely."

Castle smiled as he watched the interaction between his daughter and Beckett. Alexis was the most important person in his world. He knew she looked up to Beckett a lot and he absolutely loved that Beckett genuinely cared about her in return. He waited until Alexis was upstairs before walking up behind Beckett and wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him.

"Thank you." He whispered in her ear.

"For?"

"Being so good with her. She likes you, a lot."

"I like her a lot too. She's easy to like. She's an awesome kid."

"Hm, she gets it from her dad."

Beckett laughed and rolled her eyes at him. She was about to respond when the doorbell rang. She looked at her watch.

"Its only six thirty. Are you expecting anyone else?"

"Nope."

Castle reluctantly let go of Beckett and answered the door. A very edgy looking Haven stood on the other side.

"Haven. You're early. Come in."

Haven walked inside and glanced at Beckett as Castle closed the door.

"You guys live together?" She asked, sounding confused.

"No, no. I left something at the precinct. She came by to drop it off. I've been interviewing her for book research. That's why I was with her when she spoke with you."

"Oh…okay. I'm early because…I don't want to give you this And if I keep thinking about it, I will chicken out. So I just came, hoping you would be home. Here."

Haven shoved a shoe box into his arms.

"Take it. And I have to go before I want it back. I…just…" Haven's emotions threatened to overwhelm her and she took a deep breathe then looked at Beckett when she spoke. "Just…please find whoever did this. Please. She didn't want to die. I know she didn't. And if you don't find who did it…then all of this…means nothing." A single tear trailed down her cheek.

"I'll find them Haven, I promise."

Haven looked surprised at her promise and looked at Castle

"She doesn't break her promises. Thank you Haven…this is the best thing you could have done to help her."

Haven nodded sharply and walked out the door without speaking to either one of them. Castle looked at Beckett and held out the shoe box. Beckett took it with shaky hands and pulled the lid off.

Inside were several Cds and a bunch of letters. They sat down and unfolded the letters, putting them in order by date. As Beckett skimmed through them she realized that most of what was in them was the same thing that was on the CD they had from Sydney. Hand written letters were better, they could prove it was actually Victoria writing.

She opened the CD cases, there were 4 of them in total. All of the Cds were blank, like the one from Sydney. She guessed they were coded too and was proven right when Castle tried reading them on his lap top. At least the tech team would make quick work of these tomorrow. They put everything back in the shoe box and Beckett thought of taking to the precinct right then. Castle seemed to read her mind.

"There is no reason for you to go back to work. Everyone who could do anything helpful has gone home. They will still be there tomorrow. Go do your girls night with Lanie."

Kate smiled at how well he knew her. She looked at her watch. It was seven thirty.

"Alright. I should get going then."

"I'll walk you to your car."

"Castle…I'll be fine."

He walked with her to the door and waited until she had her jacket on before pulling her close and resting his hands on her hips.

"You know, the invitation stands for you to come back after Lanie goes home."

"Thank you, but I will be fine."

"Will you promise me something?"

"Probably not."

"Kate…please?"

"What?"

"If you have a nightmare, will you call me?"

Kate sighed heavily. The worry on his face turned her to putty.

"Castle…I'll be fine."

"Just promise. I know you don't break your promises."

She knew she didn't either, which was why she didn't want to promise. She hated the thought of calling him at two in the morning because she had a bad dream. It just seemed so childish.

"I'll call you if I have a nightmare."

"You didn't say you promised."

She looked down at the ground, avoiding the intensity of his stare. She didn't want to promise. In her mind, promising that she would call was just about the same as admitting that she needed him. The possibility of that scared her. She didn't like needing people, especially not someone who could hurt her so much if he walked away. Castle watched her face and could almost hear the internal dialogue she was having.

"You don't have to do everything alone anymore Kate. I'm right here, and I'm not g-"

"Don't Castle. Please…don't say things, don't make promises you can't keep."

He put his hand under her chin and tilted her head up so he could look her in the eyes. She avoided his gaze by looking sideways, but at the same time she shifted closer to him. He kissed her forehead so softly she wasn't sure that he had done it at all.

"Okay. I won't say it. But not because I don't mean it…only because you aren't ready to hear it."

She rested her forehead against his chest.

"Thank you." She whispered against him. They stood like that for a few minutes, each of them lost in a completely different train of thought, but both focused on each other. She finally sighed and stood up.

"I have to go."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yea. Good night Castle."

She kissed him softly before walking out the door. He watched her walk down the hallway and called to her right before she reached the elevator.

"Kate!" She turned to face him.

"Yea?"

"Text me when you get home?"

She smiled slowly.

"Okay…I will."

"Thanks." He turned to walk into his loft.

"And Castle?"

"Yea?"

"If I have a nightmare…I'll call you…I promise."