Kate was kind of pissed. She wanted to yell, but the only thing she would be allowed to yell in the middle of the restaurant without looking like a crazy person was "Bread!" So she did. When she was tossed a breadstick, she swung an arm out to catch it and plopped back into her seat to take an angry bite.

"Oh my, is everything okay?" Edna asked her.

Oh jeez. "Yea I was just .. um, I was just hungry," Kate stammered out, mentally slapping herself for letting Castle get to her in front of Edna. "Our food should be coming out any time now though."

Then, as if on cue, the waiter strode out of the kitchen carrying a big tray loaded with pizza. He came to the table and set it in the middle, along with two big plates and some fresh drinks. When he asked if there was anything else needed and cleared out, Kate was tempted to dig right in. She couldn't really decide if she wanted to wait for Castle to get back or just eat something.

Edna apparently noticed her internal struggle and started talking again. "You know, I read all those Nikki Heat books. I never pegged her for a liar, though."

Kate choked up a little bit on her drink, the statement catching her by surprise. "I'm sorry. What?"

"You lied. You like him, don't you?"

"Who, Castle? No we're just," Kate started to say and then stopped. What were they? And obviously Edna had seen right through her, so what could she say? Maybe talking to someone she didn't know, that wasn't a therapist, could be a good idea. She looked at Edna now with sincerity shining behind her eyes. "I don't know. With him everything is different, I guess like isn't even strong enough of a word. We're not seeing each other or anything, but he's my partner."

Edna's eyes lit up at the admission, and Kate let out a breath of relief. She'd never actually said this aloud to anyone, not even her best friend Lanie. She could spin theories and coax confessions easy enough, but putting her own feelings into words was just not easy for her. It always seemed easier not to talk about it. It felt good to finally have that out in the open, though, even if Edna was a random old woman that she happened across in a pizza joint. It was probably better that it wasn't a friend anyways. All of hers would just pester her about it every time they saw her and Castle together.

Edna scooted to the edge of her seat and leaned closer to Kate. "Let me give you some advice. You should just woman up and kiss that boy while you're still young. I can tell you from personal experience that you don't want to wait too long, or he could move on to some other hussy."

"From personal experience? Are you married?" Kate asked her, hoping for more motivation.

"I was. My husband, Arnold, passed away when he was only 62. I tried playing the fields a little bit after that, but nobody could keep up with me like my Arnold did." Edna smiled at her memories with a twinkle in her old green eyes before continuing. "When I was seventeen years old, Arnold was my very best friend. I was too scared to tell him that I liked him, and he was going to ask my nemesis, Mary Hawthorne, to the school dance. Three nights before the dance I decided enough was enough, so I went out. That night I went over to that Mary Hawthorne's house and TP'd her car. Then I went to Arnold's house and gave him a big smooch right on the mouth. For our first date he took me to the dance, and we stayed together for two years before I made him marry me."

"That's amazing," Kate said after listening to Edna's story. This old lady was something else. Maybe she should just woman up and 'give him a big smooch right on the mouth.' TPing Rachel's car could be fun, too, but she wouldn't go there.

"Oh I know," Edna replied easily, as if they had been talking about something much less touching than the story of her falling in love with her best friend. "You know, if you want, I can find Rachel's napkin with your man's number on it later and burn it."

….

Meanwhile, Castle and Rachel walked down the streets of New York City, headed to the car for Edna's copy of Heat Rises. They both walked with their arms at their sides, about a foot apart. Castle was making small talk and trying to bide his time, thinking of what he could say to Kate when they got back.

"So, Miss Rachel, how are you liking the big apple so far?"

"I like it, I really do. It's not like home though. Everything here is always so busy and awake," she said adding enthusiasm to her voice.

Castle gave her a smile. "Yea I guess that's why I like it. There's never a dull moment in a city full of exciting new people."

"Speaking of exciting new people, it's so surreal to actually get to meet you. I've read a couple of your books and my grandma just worships them. Where do you get your ideas?" she asked and Castle sighed.

There it was. This was why he never asked out his fans, and this was why Detective Kate Beckett had been different. Kate might've been a fan of his, but she hadn't been interested in using talk about his books to spark something between them or trying to sneak her way into his personal life. She was all about justice, and he was the one who had to do the sneaking.

Now he was her partner, and they might not be together but they were a part of each other's personal life. Whatever it was that they were. Now he realized he probably just shot whatever it was that they were to hell, leaving her with a fan of his and going on a walk with another woman when he was supposed to be out to lunch with her. How was he going to fix this one?

"Is something wrong?" Rachel asked when he just looked distressed and didn't answer her question.

Yea, something was wrong. Just this morning he had Kate at his door, ready to spend two whole days with him. They slept together on the couch and she made him coffee, then they had breakfast together. They walked together down the street, and he had shared one of his favorite places with her. Then, the minute he tried to have fun she resisted. And instead of accepting her will to work, one of her traits that he so admired, he had to get all offended. Now, he was on the street walking with a pretty girl and getting asked the age old question, 'Where do you get your ideas?'

"You know what I don't get?" Rick huffed. "Women! First you help them out, and they tease you about it. Then, they do something nice for you on a whim. So you try to do something nice for them back, but instead they get all huffy because even if you didn't even hint it was a date, you're not allowed to take them out for some fun because it's not a date and the fun can wait. And it doesn't even matter if they think you're smart or funny, they won't tell you when they think you're right or if they're having fun."

"Well for starters Rick, it doesn't matter how smart you are. A woman will never tell you when she thinks you're right," Rachel told him after listening to his rant.

"Well it's annoying!"

Rachel laughed at the stubborn look on his face. "For some reason, I get the feeling this isn't about women in general."

They reached an old Buick, parked a block away from the restaurant and Rachel stopped to stick her key in the door. Castle just watched as she rummaged around the pouch behind the front seat to find the book. "I'm sorry, this probably isn't how you imagined going for a walk with me would go."

"Actually no, it's not. I've heard enough rumors about the playboy author with ruggedly good looks, this is kind of refreshing. Do you want to talk about it?" Rachel asked, retreating from the car with book in hand. "I think I can guess who this is about."

…..

Kate sighed as thoughts whirred around in her head. She was torn between wanting to just give in and kiss Castle senseless and still being angry at him for walking out with Rachel. But the anger won out when she saw the two walk in together talking and smiling like they had a secret. What could they be talking about?

"Hey guys," Castle said as he returned to his seat at the table. Delighted to find the food had arrived, he gave Kate a glance that said 'Shall we?' and grabbed a slice.

"You guys still have to sign my book!" Edna exclaimed and turned it to the title page, laying it on a clear spot on the table. "You too, Nikki Heat," she said nudging Kate with her elbow.

Apparently Rachel had also grabbed a sharpie from the car, so that they didn't have to sign the book with the waiter's crappy pen from earlier. Edna watched excitedly as the two signed the page.

"I just can't wait to show this to that old Mary Hawthorne at church next week. She thinks she's hot stuff since her cookies beat mine in the bake off last month. It's not my fault I accidentally mixed the salt and the sugar up, could happen to anybody. This beats the pants off a little cookie trophy, any day."

Kate gave Edna a genuine smile and handed her the book. It had been more than a little interesting to meet her. As Rachel moved to wheel her away, she placed a kiss on Castle's cheek and wished him good luck. Then the two were gone as fast as they had come. Then Castle, too nervous to break the ice, retreated into his pizza to give himself a minute to think of what to say. He needed to make this up to Kate somehow.

Then there was Kate, who was still angry. She sat and watched this woman kiss Castle on the cheek, and then watched him just start eating like nothing had gone wrong. She got up and pushed her seat in, she didn't even want to stay. Turning to walk away, she got past one table before she turned and looked back. Giving Castle a leer, she stalked back over to the table, grabbed a slice of pizza, and then stomped off.

And here we say goodbye to Edna and Rachel. I couldn't decide if I wanted to keep the story with Kate and Edna in the restaurant, or take it to the street with Rick and Rachel. So voila! I gave you both. This chapter turned out differently than I had planned, but I liked where it went. No worries though, the fighting will come to an end soon.

I hope everyone has enjoyed it so far. Let me know what you think!