Chapter 3 Getting What You Want

Summary: Last we left off, Kate figures things out and decides to confront Rick with her feelings for him and confess she's broken things off with Josh. Meanwhile, Rick was having a very telling dream about his feelings for Kate, giving him courage to fight for the woman he loves.

He's staring at his ringing phone. After the dream he just had about her, his heart rate jumps at seeing her name come up on his caller id. He can't help but smile. It's his Dream Girl, and it's like he conjured her up. He must be very powerful, he thinks and he can feel the Gods smiling upon him.

Today's the day. Victory will be mine… Queue the old Castle charm.

"Good Morning. How's the most beautiful detective in the world doing today?" He says in lieu of a more traditional greeting. "I was just dreaming about you- again." He tosses in huskily, for good measure in his best bedroom room voice. She won't believe him, of course, so this amuses him immensely. If only she knew, he thinks. He'll have to tell her about his dreams one of these days. Especially, the newest one. It was his favorite. Or maybe not, seeing as he's not stupid.

And there it is, her brain registers – the little tingle that dances up her spine from just the sound of that voice. She wonders how the pheromones manage to make it through the phone. If she's honest with herself she can admit it happens a lot with him. He's so damn charming and she's so damn easy. It's like he has her under some sort of spell, or maybe it's just finally hearing his voice after a week apart, she tells herself.

She takes a second attempting to shake off the sensation. If it were only that easy, she laughs to herself. Ok, time to take control of this conversation. Plus, she thinks he's laying it on a little extra thick today. What's he up to? She wonders suspiciously.

"Castle, are you drunk?" she asks with her usual candor, determined to bring him back down to earth.

"No, Kate. I'm not drunk" he answers smiling. "I couldn't be better actually! Why do you ask? Are you surprised I said I find you beautiful? Well, I do, so you shouldn't be. And as for dreaming about you - not so shocking, really…" he murmurs softly, attempting to transmit the validity of that statement.

She doesn't know what to say to that. He actually sounded sincere, for a minute. She instinctively wants to counter with a bit of witty repartee, as he would normally expect from her, but stops herself.

The old Kate would automatically disregard compliments he throws her way, but not anymore. She believes it when he says he finds her attractive. She knows she thinks he's hot, uh, attractive. She likes that he sees her as more than just serious, stuffy, Detective Beckett. Plus, she made a pact with herself and she's determined to keep it. No more running from this thing between them. Time to face it. Head on. If she doesn't lose her nerve first, that is.

Deep breath. She hates that this is so hard for her. "Thank you Castle" she says softly instead. "You're very sweet… and you're not exactly hard on the eyes yourself."

"So, how's your trip going" she then asks quickly trying to change the subject, before he realizes was a sap she can be.

"Huh", he says aloud sounding very confused. Kate Beckett just thanked him for a compliment instead of blowing him off. She didn't call him out when he said he was dreaming about her. Then she complimented him back. No witty comeback. No banter. Now he's suspicious - and worried. She's probably just teasing. She's going to go in for the kill any minute now.

There's a moment of slight awkward silence so he vows to take control of the conversation. "So, anyway detective" he continues, changing the subject "To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"

He's still replaying the last couple minutes in his head when it hits him.

"Wait - a - minute!" he interrupts, not giving her time to answer his question. "It just dawned on me. No way! Could it be you actually missed me Detective?" he teases.

He's calling her on it. Words are frozen in her mouth and she's bracing herself for the inevitable teasing.

"You did! You did miss me!" He accuses, when she doesn't reply. He knows he sounds more like a kid in a candy store than the love god image he was going for, but continues anyway.

"Go on, you can tell me. Admit it! " he teases when she doesn't say anything. He really love pushing her buttons, it's so much fun.

God, he just loves pushing my buttons, she thinks exasperated. Well, two can play at this game. Time to assert herself.

"Actually, Rick" she says with a slight purr to her voice, purposely using his first name. "You're right. I did miss you" she confesses. "In fact, that's one of the reasons why I'm calling. When are you coming back? I've been bored all week, with no one around to play with and pull my pigtails and all…" she trails off. Ha, Take that Mr. Castle!

He doesn't say anything and she can almost feel his confusion building through the phone so she continues.

"So when ARE you coming home?" She questions again. "There's something important I need to talk to you about" she tells him. "In person" she adds quickly.

There's silence on the other end. She imagines he's either confused by her boldness or he's appalled by her flirting technique. She prays it's not the latter.

"Beckett? Is everything ok?" he asks now sounding quite concerned. She's acting very "Un-Beckett like" and it worries him.

"Everything's fine", she assures him and wonders why this has to be so difficult. It's never been this hard flirting with a guy before.

He's not just any guy, reminds the voice in her head.

This is so not going the way she wanted it to go and she's getting frustrated. "Nothing's wrong Castle. Everything's great. It's just not a conversation I want to have over the phone." She tells him.

"Ok, good. I mean I'm glad everything is ok" he says. "Whoa, then you really did just admit to missing me. You realize that, right. The Old Castle charm finally got to you did it?" he gloats. "It was really just a matter of time." He adds cockily.

"Castle?" she asks sweetly.

"Yes, Kate?" he replies entranced by the sound of her voice. It's like music to his ears…

"FOCUS!" she yells into the phone snapping him out of it.

"Ok, yeah. Sorry. You said have something important to talk to me about. Got it." He says, ego back in check.

"So when are you coming home?" she asks yet again.

"Actually, I'm home now. I was supposed to come back tomorrow but I got homesick. I missed my girls too much - all three of them, so I made some changes to the schedule and caught a flight back yesterday. I got home late last night. I'm up, if you want to come over."

"Yes!" She blurts out quickly before she can change her mind and chicken out. "I can be there in half an hour" She says.

Ooohhh, she's coming over. He can't wait to see her. He's missed her so much. He can't wait to kiss her.

His dream from earlier this morning then pops in his head. It's still so fresh in his mind. He smiles, remembering his Dream Girl, and her fashionable attire. Oddly alluring… Maybe he'll wait right here for her – in his king-size bed. Maybe she'll wear the suit again. Kinky.

"Kate, what are you wearing?" he asks without thinking.

"Something slinky, low-cut and red", she retorts sexily, sending shivers up his spine. "But you can see for yourself in half hour Castle because I'm hanging up now, ok?"

Did she just say she's wearing something slinky, low-cut and red? Nah. She's just playing with me. Or maybe it's a bad connection.

That's when it registers she just said she'll be there in half an hour. Panic strikes and he's jumping out of bed. He's not ready for her yet! No! No! No! He needs more time. He has to prepare first. Viva la plan!

There are things to be done. Flowers, dinner, and some other stuff he hasn't figured out yet. He has to think about what the hell he's going to say to her to convince her to dump Josh and be with him.

He has to stall her until later. Stall, stall, stall….think, think, think…

"Wait! Kate! Don't hang up! You can't come over yet. I'm not ready. I mean, now's not a good time." He stutters. "I've got some things I have to do first" he says in what he hopes is a convincing manner.

"How about we meet up later today?" he counters. "Are you free for dinner? Or do you already have plans with Josh?" he freezes realizing he just put his foot in his mouth. He really doesn't want to hear about any romantic date she has lined up with Dr. Motorcycle Boy. Why'd he have to go and bring up – that guy?

This is followed by deafening silence.

And there it is, he thinks, "Say hello, everyone, to the giant, two-ton elephant in the center ring" chants the ringmaster in his head.

It unnerves her more than a little, Castle asking about Josh. He still thinks they're together. Should she just tell him they broke up? She wants to set things straight with him, but decides once again, it's a conversation that should wait till she sees him in person. She needs to see his face, gage his reaction. She wants to look him in the eyes. It can wait a few more hours.

"Dinner? No I don't have any plans for dinner tonight" she assures him. "Dinner sounds great. What time?" she asks.

"How about six o'clock? He asks relieved not to hear more about the elephant. "I'll even cook. I'll make you something special. Then we can talk. But what do say we dress up a little so we can go out and do something fun afterwards? Maybe grab a drink somewhere? Sound good?"

"Sure. Ok, you're on!" She agrees readily. I'll see you at six. If I don't lose my nerve by then that is, she thinks to herself. "What can I bring?" she asks.

"Nothing Kate. Just you and your smile. Oh, and that slinky, low-cut, red number you mentioned before. I'd be ok with that." He says.

"And here I tell people you never listen to me" she retorts, before changing gears.

"I'll bring dessert" She tells him. "And I'll make it something sinful, decadent. Yes, I do believe I'm in the mood for something –decadent- tonight..." she whispers that last part in his ear. They don't call her Nikki Heat for nothing.

She doesn't give him a chance to respond before adding, "See you at six, Rick" and hangs up.

He finds his throat is suddenly dry and he needs some water.And a cold shower.

Sinful, decadent…

"Ok, great! See you later then" he mumbles to no one in particular, because she's already disconnected. How about we make you the dessert, he thinks to himself.

He's left staring at the phone. "Well, that was new and interesting" he says aloud to no one. She's got him all hot and bothered from just a brief phone call. Once he gets her on board with the plan, he swears she'll be the death of him.

He hurries around his bedroom excited to start the day. First a very cold shower, then breakfast, then strategy. He does his best thinking while cooking. Prepare to be dazzled Kate Beckett!

Back at her place, Kate on the other hand, has begun freaking out. She's afraid she'll change her mind about starting something with him. Six o'clock was hours away. She'll be second guessing herself all day. She's a bundle of nerves. She needs some sage advice, a pep talk. She needs some old fashioned girl talk. And she knows just the person who can help her. She grabs her purse and keys and runs out the door.

Authors Note: Sorry it took so long to post this, but Mom's been in the hospital for the past month so RL completely took over. I'm a silver lining girl, so I've learned from this that driving 24 hours, stuck in a car by yourself, can do wonders for your plot line. If anyone's still interested in this story, I am going to try to post the final chapter tomorrow since it's already in my head. Thanks to those of you that reviewed so far! I would love to hear what you think! Reviews are almost better than chocolate!