Beckett looked out her window, watching as the clouds slowly moved across the afternoon sky. She'd awoke in the morning to find her hangover charging through her brain like the forces of Genghis Khan leading his army through a brittle glass store. She'd done all she could to relieve the pain without resorting to a hammer, then, remembering the conclusions she had come to during her drunken rant with…herself…had decided to talk her problem head on.

Stepping away from her handiwork, Beckett was quite pleased with herself…and also thankful that she had the day off. There was no way she could have explained to anyone the new board she had sent up… Gates would have had her thrown in holding on charges of stalking, had she gotten a peak at Beckett's homework.

In the center of her homemade white board was a picture of Rick Castle. It had been one Beckett had managed to nab when he wasn't looking…eyes bugging out and lips pursed after he had taken a swig of bad milk from the precinct's fridge. Underneath it, written in bold red letters, were the words "PRIME TARGET".

Surrounding the image were different names and photos, each one with a brief bio of how they could be used in her quest. Their connection to Castle, their connection to herself, where they might fall when it came to loving/hating the idea of Beckett and Castle being together…all of it was written down in detail, like they were suspects to a murder. Lines connected them to each other, to see how one's actions would affect the others, like some bizarre spiderweb, and Beckett had to admit even she found it a touch creepy. But still, desperate times…

On a tablet of paper, Beckett went over her battle plan. She had spent several hours trying to figure out how best to make this work, considering every option, no matter how silly or crazy, weighing pros and cons until she came up with what she hoped to be the perfect solution.

The problem was that she wasn't going after someone she had never met, or someone who's relationship with her was simply. Castle was someone that had loved her and now had convinced himself he didn't love her…he wanted her only as a friend. As tempting as it was to break into his apartment and let him find her wearing a whip cream bikini, such actions would only push him away.

Beckett sighed, leaning her head back and shooting a shot of whip cream into her mouth. What a waste.

The other problem was that, as much as she hated to admit it, she really wasn't Castle's friend. Yes, she had gone to a Halloween party and played poker with him…but other than those and a few other moments, she had never really done anything 'friend-like' with him. They had been partners, writer and muse, and two idiots dancing around an attraction that would have cause to normal, sane adults to do it on top of the lunchroom table years ago.

Which meant that before she could build a relationship with him, Beckett needed to build a friendship with the writer that was always tagging along. And that too, would not be simple. Because of their history, it would be impossible to simply act as if nothing had happened, like they were meeting for the first time. Beckett would have to take what they had established, chip away at it to rid herself of the routines that only harmed each other, while building up those moments and actions to strengthened their bond.

It was going to be a pain in the ass, that was for sure, but Beckett understood that it was what she deserved. She had failed the first time to fight for love, so this time she would accept the challenge with open arms. It would be like Hercules' 12 labors…except the labors would include wooing a writer and end with a tumble in the sheets.

Beckett shook her head. 'Ok, not like the Labors…but I'm not the writer here, am I?' Looking over her list one more time, Beckett nodded to herself before setting it down and making her way to her bedroom. Tomorrow would begin her operation and she still needed to begin getting the supplies all ready, if she had any hope of getting off on the right foot.

Beckett shook her head, smiling to herself. This was going to be fun, if only to see everyone's faces.

~MC~MC~MC~

The Next Day

"Holy crap, did you actually get us coffee?" Esposito said in mock shock, taking the cup from Castle.

"Ha ha ha," Castle said, passing Ryan his before going to sit down. "You act like I'm never nice to you."

"Well, to be fair, when you are nice to us it usually ends up blowing up in our face," Ryan commented, removing the lid from his cup and blowing.

Castle made a face. "I got you the espresso machine! That was nice and hasn't blown up in your face!" He paused, considering something. "In fact, you rigged the thing to blow up in my face, remember?"

Esposito was about to say something, only to find an apple tart shoved between his lips. Beckett smirked at him before reaching into her bag and pulling one out for Ryan.

Beckett flashed Castle a slight smile as she exchanged her tart for the coffee he had grabbed her. "Thank you, Castle," she said heading over to her desk, bag still in hand. She resisted the urge to squeal (because she was Kate Beckett and she didn't squeal, damn it!) when, after nibbling on the tart, Castle trotted after like a happy puppy, following the bag with his eyes. "So, what do we have today?"

"Hold the phone!" Castle exclaimed. "What's with the pastry goodness?"

"What do you mean?" Beckett asked. She wanted to say it a bit flirty, with a bit of innocence mixed in, but she realized that such an attitude would only set off warning bells and she wasn't in the mood to deal with Castle, Ryan and Esposito digging into her reasoning. Thus, her tone took on a bored air, her eyes remaining on her computer screen.

"I mean what is with you and the pastry giving. Beckett and passing out food are unmixy."

"Unmixy?" Esposito asked.

Castle shrugged. "I fell asleep watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on TNT, ok?"

"Which season?" Ryan asked. "Not one of the later ones, right? Those sucked, what with evil Willow and that stupid preacher Caleb."

Castle made a sour face. "I didn't think…"

"Girls?" Beckett called out, looking at the three men. "Are you seriously debating about a show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer?"

Esposito sighed, rolling his chair over to Beckett's desk and snagging another tart. "Ignore them…what's up with the free food?"

"Found this new bakery…well, I'm sure it isn't new, but it is to me, and after trying some I decided to bring you guys in a treat." That was a bold face lie. She'd found a recipe online to make the tarts in under an hour and, remembering how much she had enjoyed baking with her mother, had decided that starting a new hobby would be fruitful. Especially since founding dough with her fist would allow her to vent her frustrations over a certain 'let's be friends' writer.

Besides… the end product would be the perfect way to bribe said writer. A man's heart was through his stomach, after all.

"But, if you are going to be such babies, maybe I won't bring anymore…"

Beckett suppressed a grin as the three men clamored apologies. 'Oh…this will be fun!'

~MC~MC~MC~

Kate's Checklist of What to Do to Win Richard Castle's Heart

1) Thank him for the little things

2) Repay him for all the times he brought me coffee

~MC~MC~

Author's Note: if you have things you want to see Beckett do to try and win Castle, let me know via PM or review.