Author's Note: A lot of you asked for this chapter. I hope this is what you had in mind.

3x12 – Poof, You're Dead

"I wanted to thank you for not asking what was going on and for not making a big deal out of it."

"Not a problem."

She smiles all the way out of the elevator and to her cruiser, glancing out of the corner of her eye to see a soft smile on Castle's face as well. He's clutching the flowers like a lifeline, like they mean everything to him right now.

They do.

Because they're from Kate. And because he just broke up with his girlfriend and he should be sad or upset or something, and yet all he can feel is happy because he's going out to dinner with Kate.

She invited him.

And she gave him flowers.

He knows she probably meant it as just a silly extension of the case, just a magic trick she had up her sleeve. Literally.

But he's going to pretend that there was more to it than that. That she cares and she wants to see him smile and that's why she went to the trouble to dig up a bouquet of fake flowers and present them to him with a not-so-hidden smile on her face.

She may have a boyfriend, and she may not ever admit to this, but Castle is pretty sure that what he sees in her eyes when she glances over at him again is more than just respect for him as a partner. If he has to put a name to it, he'd say she kind of adores him.

It's very mutual.

The ride is silent as Kate maneuvers them through the early evening traffic, throwing the occasional glance over at Castle. He's quiet, and it's a bit worrisome. She's not used to him like this, not used to having him next to her but not talking, and it reaffirms her decision to invite him along.

He clearly needs the company tonight and, if she's completely honest with herself, she could use the companionship as well.

They catch up with the Comfort Food Truck a couple miles from the precinct, right across from Central Park. Castle still hasn't said a word, eyes glued to the sidewalk, to the buzz of pedestrians that hustle by as Kate competently steers her cruiser into a parking space.

"Come on," she murmurs as she kills the engine, reaches over to nudge him with her elbow when he still hasn't moved. "Castle."

"Hmm?"

She offers a slight smile, tilts her head to the truck parked on the street corner. "We're here."

"Right, right, yeah," he stammers, and his smile is too forced, doesn't reach his eyes.

He's still clinging to the flowers as Kate checks for traffic, opens her door and slips out of the car. Only once her door slams shut does he snap out of his stupor. Castle unfastens his seatbelt, scrambles out of the car, pausing to tenderly place the flowers on the seat, and Kate smiles, unbidden, because she actually half expected him to bring them along.

She rounds the car, meets him on the sidewalk and nudges him into step next to her as they make their way up the block, settle into the back of the line. She stands next to him with her hands in her pockets, and he's aching to reach out for her. To twine his fingers with hers, to trace the contours of her face, the long line of her neck. The sun is just beginning to sink below the city skyline but the long rays of light catch in her hair, on her skin, making it glow a soft golden color. It's beautiful.

She's beautiful.

Kate catches him staring but instead of calling him out she simply smiles to herself, fixes her eyes on the menu despite feeling his gaze burn into her. It's powerful, knowing she can capture his attention so fully simply by standing next to him on the sidewalk. But today isn't about that, so she ignores the feeling.

They order two giant helpings of mac and cheese, a basket of biscuits, and steaming mugs of hot cocoa, and carry them across the street to the park. Castle stakes out an empty bench and Kate settles in next to him, closer than she would normally sit, but for tonight she can make an exception.

They touch on a little bit of everything while they eat; her grandfather's favorite magic tricks, the case, Castle's secret wish to have an identical twin ("think how much fun you could have playing pranks on people"), the delicious food. Everything except the giant elephant in the metaphorical room. But he's smiling and laughing and while Kate is curious, she doesn't want to ruin the mood so she doesn't bring it up.

Eventually, though, silence falls. The containers of food are empty and they sit side by side, sipping what remains of the hot cocoa and gazing out into the park, the hustle and bustle of the city muted somewhat by the fading light.

"We broke up," he says finally, voice soft and defeated. His eyes are heavy, filled with glimpses of what almost look to be shame and embarrassment, and her heart twists in her chest.

"I'm sorry, Castle," she says softly.

He shakes his head. "I'm not. It was...there was a reason we divorced in the first place."

She rests a hand on his thigh, squeezes gently. "Still..."

"Thanks for bringing me here," he replies, dropping his hand to cover hers.

Kate wants to press for more, would be lying if she didn't admit that she was curious as to why. The fight at Le Cirque, obviously. But she has a feeling that there's more to it than that. And part of her wants to know, though she refuses to admit to the real reason that she even cares about why it happened.

But that's not why they're here and she really doesn't have any right to ask that question, not here and certainly not now. So she clamps down on it, goes along with his blatant change of subject, and offers him a small smile instead.

"You're welcome."

After a few more minutes, they stand, make their way back to her cruiser. She's close to him, much closer than normal, and their shoulders kiss as they wait to cross the street, hands brushing as they walk.

She offers to drop him by the loft because she can't stand the thought of letting him go just yet, of leaving him alone with the obvious loneliness that's settled in his heart. He accepts with a nod, and this car ride is as silent as the last.

Castle is holding onto the flowers again, clutching them tightly in his fist, and Kate doesn't miss the way his gaze falls to the fake bouquet every few seconds. At one point, she almost thinks she sees a smile upturn the corners of his mouth, and she feels a swell of pride that she is able to do this for him.

That she can make him smile.

They arrive at his building and it's a long moment before Castle makes to exit the car. He doesn't want to leave. His mother and daughter are out and he doesn't want to face an empty loft. He doesn't want to be alone, not while knowing that Kate will be across town, alone in her apartment as well. But she has a boyfriend and he's only been single for a few hours and he's pretty sure that if he stays in her proximity much longer, he'll end up doing something stupid. So he forces himself to open the door and step out.

"Thanks again," he offers, raising the flowers in her direction as he plants his feet on the sidewalk, stands and shuts the door behind him.

She fumbles for the control, rolls down the window to call after him before he can disappear into his building. "Castle."

He turns, schools his features.

"See you tomorrow?"

He smiles, and this time it almost reaches his eyes. "Tomorrow."

Thoughts?