If one of them had manned up when the bomb was about to go off

"Castle," she whispered.

They joined hands, string at each other, dreading the inevitable.

"I love you," she told him, right before he pulled all the wires out.

They braced for an impact that never came, and half-laughed half-cried in relief when they realised Castle had stopped the bomb from going off, embracing

.

"Oh, hey," said Beckett as Josh embraced her, watching Castle board the elevator.

She broke off. "Uh, Josh... we need to talk."

Beckett didn't tell Castle that she and Josh had broken up right away. It was still so fresh. It wasn't until about a week later when they'd wrapped up the Soap Opera case and he gave her that signed Temptation Lane poster that she finally felt ready.

"How did you even get this?"

He shrugged.
"I know people who know people."

She smiled sceptically knowing what he wanted in return.

Castle lead forward, his head resting on his hand expectedly.

"Ok..." she laughed nervously. "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," she beamed as she remembered, "I just - it makes me feel like home and... safe.
"So, there you go. judge away."

"My DVR would make yours look like Masterpiece theatre. But I am glad to know this about you."

They simply stared, smiling into each other's eyes for several moments until Beckett broke the comfortable silence.

"Have dinner with me."

Castle raised his eyebrows.
"Excuse me?"

"Dinner. Have dinner with me. We don't have to go out. We can stay in. My place. I'll cook for you, maybe we'll... watch the Temptation Lane Episodes I DVR'd this week."

"You don't... have plans with Josh?"

"No, not tonight - or any other night. We broke up, last week; after I told you I loved you."

He stared at her.
"I... that was a very charged moment, Beckett; I didn't know..."

"It was a real moment. I'm not asking you to marry me; I'm just asking you to dinner. So, will you have dinner with me?"

Castle beamed.

"I would love to."