Beckett didn't know whether to laugh, cheer or cry. She felt like doing all three. Castle waited patiently with a pair of puppy eyes. Beckett knew she liked him so much more than just a friend, but was she ready to take the leap into a relationship with him? She averted her gaze for a minute, biting her lip, trying to decide. She didn't remember this being so difficult. It was either 'yes, I'd love to' or 'no'.

"You know what?" She smirked then.

"What?" Castle asked, eager to know an answer but equally nervous. Beckett let her fingers gently stroke Castle's hand that was resting by his side between them. He stared down at their hands as she laced their fingers together. He glanced back up to her. She inched close enough that their shoulders were touching.

"I'd love to." She whispered into his ear. She knew in a way she was doing it out of spite, but the other half of her loved Castle in a madly deep way that she couldn't really describe, only feel.

Castle let out a breath he had no idea he had been holding, and beamed a bright, cheeky grin. Beckett let a giggle escape her lips. She drew her legs underneath her to sit more comfortably. They held their gaze. Biting down on her bottom lip, just showing a few pearly white teeth, Beckett brushed her long flowing hair away from her face. Another giggle.

Is she flirting with me? Castle couldn't help pondering. She was still a mystery he was yet to unravel. He decided not to get lost on her eyes- even though it was so very tempting- so he ripped himself away from her soft, loving gaze and looked over the horizon.

"The sunset is gorgeous tonight." Castle stated, looking at the fiery sky behind the silhouette of the New York skyline.

"Sure is." Beckett agreed as she shuffled closer to the mystery writer. He tensed as he felt her chin rest on his shoulder. Turning to look at her, he realised just how close she had got to him- so close that the tips of their noses lightly brushed against one another. He got a close view of those deep, hazel eyes. No, he couldn't look away again. They were purely enchanting to look at. Beckett felt the corners of her mouth gradually lose the smile she had been wearing for the last few minutes or so. No, not yet she thought it's too soon. But despite everything her brain was telling her, she couldn't stop herself. Deciding it was time to be a little carefree and carpe diem, Beckett tilted her head; let her eyes flutter close…

"Beckett? Beckett you up here?" The shouts of Esposito and Ryan echoed across the warm air circulating around the rooftop. Beckett flung back, jumping at the sudden voices. She signalled at Castle to hide. He got the message. They'd never hear the end of it if Ryan and Esposito knew they had just been so close to each other moments ago.

"Over here!"

"Yo girl what'cha doing all the way over there?" Esposito asked as the partners strolled over to her.

"Yeah you better not be crying. You know what happens when you cry." Ryan added as they reached her.

"Oh yeah, last time an ex hurt me you guys sure drilled into him." Beckett laughed, the memory flooding back to her.

"Yeah, Montgomery sure didn't think it funny we borrowed some of the dogs though." Esposito grinned. But after the mention of their deceased captain, a small cloud washed over them and they found themselves bowing their heads in respect for the captain who had done everything in his power to keep detective Beckett safe.

"Hey guys!" Castle stumbled out from behind the air conditioning unit, looking nothing but innocent. Ryan rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was hallucinating for some odd reason.

"Where did you come from?" Ryan asked, frowning.

"From the door." Castle pointed behind him, still failing to act innocent. Beckett slapped her hand to her forehead.

"No you didn't." Ryan interjected. Beckett watched the scene unfold; praying Castle would come up with something to outsmart the two detectives.

"I did I just came up here to see where Beckett was. I have been searching the entire precinct and just thought in a moment of writers desperation, 'what about the roof'?" Castle explained. It was the perfect truth… just missing out a few details.

"Dude, please, we know you were already here!" Esposito began.

"You do!?" Both Castle and Beckett exclaimed together. They glanced to each other. Esposito and Ryan smirked but stopped when Beckett shot a glare their way.

"Shut up." She commanded.

"So, what were you two doing up here?" Ryan asked innocently.

"We were… I… its just… erm…" Castle stuttered. Both male detectives laughed heartily.

"What?"

"Dude, please, we saw you both brushing buttons." Esposito spoke in a hushed voice.

"We weren't…" Beckett began but realised the blush on her cheeks wasn't going to let her hide the truth easily.

"It looked pretty hot." Esposito teased further.

"It was his idea to interrupt your moment by the way." Ryan added. Esposito looked to his fellow detective, narrowing his eyes and folding his arms.

"And you're supposed to be my partner who has my back." He huffed, pretending to be hurt. Castle smirked, then a thought jumped to mind.

"Yeah just don't let Gates know because she hates me and if she finds out she will be so mad and…"

"Don't let me find out about what?"

Uh-oh.

The small group of friends all turned around, and Beckett stood to see a rather unimpressed Captain standing with her hands on her hips.

"Uh…" Castle thought out loud.

"Actually sir… we were discussing one of Castle's latest antics." Beckett explained after a while.

"Oh, more antics? Don't you already cause enough trouble Mr. Castle?" Gates asked, staring daggers at the mystery writer.

"Well, I…"

"That was rhetorical."

"Oh, I see."

"So when you've quite finished delaying my best detectives, I'd like you all back in the bull pen! There is a pile of paperwork to clear up before you all go home!" Gates ordered before turning and quickly striding back toward the door from the roof.

Ryan and Esposito smirked.

"Seriously guys, keep it quiet!" Beckett stared at them both. They nodded.

"God job she wasn't around when motorcycle boy came round." Ryan added.

"Dude, that's my nickname for him." Castle stated, unimpressed.

"Since when do you call either of us 'Dude'?" Ryan asked. Castle shrugged before glancing at his watch.

"Well, I'll see you guys tomorrow." Castle stated walking away.

"Yo bro, where you goin'?" Esposito shouted after him.

"Well there's no active murder case and I don't think Gates really wants me hanging around so… guess I'll go back to the loft. I really need to get some writing done."

"Oh please! You just want to get out of doing paperwork!" Beckett laughed.

"No, really, if I don't send off the next chapter…" Castle gestured a slit throat motion.

"Alright. But if we catch a case we'll let you know." Ryan added.

"Until tomorrow." Castle grinned, putting his hand up as he walked back toward the door before disappearing for the evening.

Ryan and Esposito looked to Beckett who was staring where Castle was a moment ago with a sweet smile over her features.

"Beckett?" Ryan snapped his fingers.

"Mmm?"

Ryan and Esposito laughed hysterically.

"Shut up!" She mumbled, rolling her eyes but a knowing smile was still on her face as she sauntered back into the precinct with her two friends in her wake.