AN: Another chapter! Thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews, not long to go now :)

IBYL
xo

Disclaimer: Don't own it... don't have anything mildly witty to say this time...

When Kate finally let Rick get dressed, he only took 5 minutes and they were soon getting ready to leave the loft. She grabbed her bag and put it in the boot of her car, before sliding into the driver's side. Rick took her hand as soon as she sat down, and she smiled to herself. It was a simple action, but it made her melt a little inside. She started the car and pulled into traffic on her way to the 12th.

"So how are we announcing?" He asked, genuinely excited to be telling people that the remarkable Kate Beckett was his girlfriend.

"I was going to say we should mess with them but to be perfectly honest with you, I cannot be bothered. So I was thinking we just walk in hand in hand and freak people out."

"Well I like freaking people out." He said, making her giggle.

"God, you make me act like a teenager. All I've done for the past 24 hours is blush and giggle and make out with you." She sighed.

"I would apologise for it, but I wouldn't mean it. I like seeing you happy, Kate. And if it's because of me, well, that's a great bonus." He said softly, and she smiled.

"You don't need to apologise Rick, and I am happy because of you. You know that. It's just… I'm not used to it, to being like this, to being so… girly." She said with a shrug, and he laughed. "I'm so used to being one of the boys that feeling… cherished, is still a little strange." She explained, and Rick beamed.

"I'm planning on cherishing you for a long time yet, Kate." He said softly as she pulled up outside the precinct. She turned and kissed him quickly.

"Good." She said simply, before removing herself from the car. When he was out too, she smiled and twined her fingers with his as they walked towards the elevator, Kate hitting the basement button first. Rick raised an eyebrow. "Lanie." Kate said, and he nodded, before grinning.

"Can we mess with her a little, please?" He begged, and she looked at him.

"Probably not good for your health, Rick." She warned, and he nodded.

"I suppose not." He moaned, clearly disappointed, so she tried to cheer him up.

"She's been trying to convince me to go out with you for absolutely AGES, you know? Since your first case with us, pretty much." She said casually, and his eyes widened before he smiled.

"It's nice to have the best friend on my side." He said with a sly grin, and she shoved him.

"And if you hurt me, the best friend will falsify your autopsy report so that it reads 'accidental'." She said, and he swallowed hard, making her smile. "Rick. Calm down. You'll be fine. We'll be fine." The elevator doors opened and the pair walked out hand in hand, and Kate pushed the door open.

"There are only two people in this place who come visit the morgue without a body and I've just sent Javier away. What's happening, Kate?" Lanie said, her back to the door, and Kate let out a happy laugh, making Lanie spin on her heel to check the situation. She raised an eyebrow at Castle.

"Morning, writer boy. What brings you down to my lair?" She asked, before looking them up and down and spotting their linked hands. She squealed, and Rick laughed, wrapping his arm around Kate's waist. He looked at her and smiled, reading the need for a little girl talk in her eyes.

"I'll go grab us coffee. See you in 20?" He asked, and she nodded with a smile before leaning in to give him a kiss goodbye. He eagerly responded but pulled away all too soon, making her pout a little. He smiled, kissed her softly one last time, before grinning and wandering out of the morgue. Kate had the good sense to finally turn back to Lanie, who was standing in the middle of the morgue, open-mouthed and fanning herself.

"I better be the first to know." She said menacingly, and Kate smiled.

"Well, Martha and Alexis technically knew first. But, you're the first from the precinct. And my dad doesn't know yet."

"You should probably tell him soon so that he doesn't get blindsided when Castle asks him for your hand in marriage." Lanie deadpanned, and Kate choked on air.

"Lanie Parrish! Our first date was yesterday! We're not getting married!" She exclaimed, ignoring the voice in her head whispering 'not yet anyway'.

"Babe, I just witnessed that for myself and I'm telling you right now, you're getting married." She said, smiling, before she wrapped Kate in a hug. "I'm so happy for you, Kate."

"Thanks, Lanie. I'm really, really happy. It's stupidly fast but I really think we'll be okay." Kate said, still clinging to Lanie with a smile. She peeled herself away and grinned. "I'm going upstairs to get my coffee. Drinks later in the week?" She asked as she turned for the door.

"Only if I get details in exchange!" Lanie said with a laugh, and Kate winked at her as she wandered towards the elevator.

When she got in the elevator and hit the button for the homicide floor, the lift stopped at the ground level, and Castle stepped in.

"Timing." She said with a smile as he passed her a coffee. She took a grateful sip and grinned, slipping her hand into his. The elevator arrived at homicide and they walked out together, still hand in hand, directly past Ryan, who did a spit-take at the sight.

"Morning, guys." He coughed, getting Esposito's attention. "Something you want to share with the class?" He asked, and Esposito grinned.

"Took you long enough." He said, walking past Castle and slapping him on the back of his head, before smiling at his boss.

"Yeah, we're happy for you." Ryan affirmed, still trying hard not to pull a face at the new information he'd just garnered. Kate grinned.

"Thanks, boys." She said, squeezing Rick's hand before letting it go and sitting at her desk. "Anything drop yet?"

Rick had to marvel at her – just like that, the fun-loving Kate had flipped to hard-core Detective Beckett. It was a sight to see. He watched as she did her paperwork for the last murder case they'd closed, his lovely girlfriend not-so-patiently waiting for a new body to drop. By lunchtime, the precinct had stayed quiet, so Castle murmured a quick 'be right back' and ducked out to grab lunch for Beckett and the boys. Half an hour later he returned with a few pizzas, much to the boys delight, and Kate smiled at the childish excitement that Ryan and Esposito always got over food. She took her seat next to Castle with a smile, and her and the boys chatted aimlessly about baseball fantasy leagues, pleased to have a reprieve from talking about murder. Just after they'd finished lunch, a call came through from dispatch, and Kate sighed.

"Okay guys, back to the grind. We've got a body." She said, and the group of four left the building to catch a scumbag.

I should be back tomorrow, people. In the meantime, you know what to do ;)