To JJ: Thanks for never giving up on me. Happy Birthday!

AN: It's been a long time since I've written a fanfic, especially an AU one. Let's see how this goes.

CH1

It was his first day shadowing a police officer, in the homicide division. He needed some inspiration and Gina, his publisher, suggested he shadow someone. This probably wasn't what she had in mind when she said that, but he took her words and went with it. He called in a favor from the Mayor and he arranged it where he would be shadowing a detective by the name of Kevin Ryan. He looked like a good cop (he did a Google search). He wasn't going to be a cop that he was going to discover he was selling narcotics on the side after a shift or writing fake police reports.

Rick Castle wasn't one to go somewhere for the first time empty-handed. He liked making a good first impression, something he believed he got from his mother. He didn't want to do the cliche of bringing in a box of donuts. However, he did see that a new bakery had just opened up not even a block away from the precinct. If anything, he figured a cup of coffee would be a nice "nice to meet you and thank you for having me" gesture.

Since neither was far from his loft, he decided to walk. Sure, there were sometimes people (mainly women) that stopped him, but he absolutely didn't mind that...especially the women part. He saw the blue chalkboard sign out front that said "Grand Opening" and knew he had found the bakery. He looked to the window, reading the name of said Bakery.

"Johanna's. Named after the owner I presume," he thought to himself. He walked inside, a small bell rang above him as he did so. There was a line, which was a good sign for the newly established business. As he was waiting, he saw that there were two people behind the counter. One was a man, he looked old, but not too old. One that you wouldn't think would be working somewhere new though. The other worker was the one that caught his attention. She had brown hair, gorgeous eyes that he could spot even from far away, a great body, and was quick on her feet. He presumed that she was Johanna. He hadn't realized he had just been watching her move until someone behind him cleared their throat as a way of telling him to move up in line. It wasn't his turn to order yet, but this was New York and it was during the morning rush hour.

When it was his turn to be called up, he got lucky in his eyes because the woman called him up. "What can I get for you?" Well, what he really wanted was her number, but he wasn't about to ask that now when he already had an angry customer behind him.

"Two coffees, actually three. And...well what do you recommend if I wanted to get an assortment of baked goods. I'm shadowing a cop today and I want to make a nice impression."

"You're the author that is shadowing Detective Ryan?"

He was a little taken aback. "You know him?"

"I know him. You're Richard Castle, right?"

"Guilty as charged. I'm assuming you're the owner, Johanna."

"I am the owner, but I'm Kate. Kate Beckett."

"It's nice to meet you, Kate. Do you happen to know what Detective Ryan likes?"

"Don't worry, I'll get you a few bear claws and some cookies that he can't resist." She made the three coffees and prepared a box of the assorted baked goods. He of course watched her the whole time that she was doing so. He was mesmerized by her and he wasn't really sure why. Yes, she was attractive, but there was something else there. And those heels she was wearing. How was she able to spend all day standing in them? "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Um, no, but that third coffee is for you. I figured you might need it to handle the rest of the morning rush."

She gave him a soft smile. "Thank you." He paid for the coffees and the baked goods, making sure to leave a tip as well. "Make sure to stop by again to let me know how that first impression went."

"Oh don't worry, I'll be back." He exited the bakery all while thinking that he should switch to writing cookbooks so he could shadow her.

He walked a short way to the precinct and once inside, took the elevator to the designated floor. He saw Detective Ryan look up from his desk as the elevator doors opened. He got up and walked his way with a friendly smile. "Hi, Castle. Welcome to homicide."

Ooo, Castle. He liked that. Made him sound badass already. "Thank you. Here I stopped for some coffee and some treats the baker recommended."

"Oh, you went to Johanna's! Beckett knows how to bake so I'm sure whatever she gave you is great. Thank you."

"Are you a regular there?"

"Well yes and no. Beckett used to work here. For my birthday, she would always bring in these cookies I liked. We all miss her not only for her baking skills, but because she was a great detective."

"What made her leave?"

"Not my place to say. It wasn't willingly, I can tell you that much. Javi would take her back in a second."

"Javi? Do you mean Captain Javier Esposito?"

"Yea, he was my old partner. He got prompted shortly after Beckett left." As if on cue, Esposito walked out of his office.

"Oh, I hope those are Beckett's cookies in there." He looked at Castle as Ryan started opening the box. "Welcome, Mr. Castle."

"Rick or Castle is fine. And thank you."

Before he could say anything else, Ryan delightedly said, "Ah Beckett, you never disappoint. Castle, you have to try one of these."

He took the cookie that was handed to him. It looked like it had some jelly in the middle and it was surrounded by chocolate. He took a bite and my god that was the best cookie that he had ever tasted. "Wow," was all he was able to say. "Does she make all of these herself or does she have help?"

"It's mostly her. Her dad helps with decorating and serving the customers, but she could do it herself if she needs to. Thanks again for the cookies and the coffee Castle. Pull up a chair and I'll show you a case that I'm working on."