A/N: so... I have a few notes to start off with. Feel free to skip over them, but they might help with timing of the story.

1. The story picks up at the end of 03x19 (Law & Murder), after Castle and Beckett go to see Forbidden Planet together. The following episodes - 03x20 (Slice of Death) and 03x21 (The Dead Pool) - are kind of irrelevant to my storyline so you have two options:

A) ignore their existence.

B) pretend Castle isn't there for those cases.

My story will take over from there, recounting (kind of) each episode and changing what needs to be changed to fit my storyline. My own, original scenes will be scattered throughout the canon episodes so I'm doing my best to set it up well enough that you know exactly where each scene fits, but without having to re-hash too much of the actual episode. The story will continue for the rest of the season, including the season 4 opening, and explore "that summer".

2. My dates are just going off of episode air dates. They really aren't that important and are just there to give you an idea of pacing, how much time has lapsed between each part, etc.

3. Josh Davidson will be heavily featured in this story, please don't hate me for it. I know we all love Caskett but sometimes unconventional can be good too... maybe. We shall see, I guess. If you don't like the story, don't read it. I won't be offended. But I do think it will be worth sticking with...

Your feedback is always appreciated! Constructive criticism is always welcomed.

A huge thankyou to MadAboutCastle1090 for being the best sounding board to bounce ideas off!

March 28, 2011

They walked out of the theatre, arms linked, bracing themselves against the night chill. She knew exactly how it looked. But, to be honest, she didn't really care.

Moments like these were rare. Moments when she could lose herself in a feeling. So she was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

"I can't believe I fell for it." She laughed as she leaned into him.

"Fell for what?" He smiled through his confusion, too caught up in her to give it too much thought.

"I actually believed you - of all people - hadn't seen Forbidden Planet."

His jaw dropped, he had been busted. "What gave me away?"

"You were muttering under your breath, reciting lines." The classic Beckett eye roll - the one he secretly loved, that was accompanied by her winning smile - was out in full force tonight.

"Ah, yes. That would give one away, wouldn't it?" He hadn't even noticed he was doing it. And, to be honest, he was a little embarrassed.

She pulled her arm from his, rounding her car to get into the drivers seat. "Get in the car." She called out, noticing he had stopped.

"Oh, I didn't drive this morning so I was just going to catch a cab."

She positioned herself behind the opened door, using it to stop some of the wind chill from hitting her. "I'll drive you home."

"That's like a half hour detour from here." He argued for the sake of being painful, partially hoping to invoke another eye roll.

She shrugged. "I figured you could buy me a burger to make up for it." She slid into her seat, closing the car door, not giving him the chance to decline. Not that she thought he would. She knew his mild protests were half-hearted.

"Okay, if you insist." He muttered to himself before racing to get into the passengers seat.

When he got in the car, she was smiling victoriously... as if going to Remy's wasn't originally his idea. But he would let her have this 'win'. He was just relishing in the fact that she was the one trying to extend their time together for a change.

"Can't keep me out too late, detective." He reluctantly informed her. "I have an early flight tomorrow." And as much as he would love to stay out all night with her, he really didn't travel well. He needed a good nights sleep, especially if he was expected to head straight into meetings when his flight landed.

"I am aware. I promise, I'll have you home before bedtime." She smirked. "Since when do you start your tours mid-week, though?"

"My schedule for today cleared up so I opted for a later flight. Finish up the case, spend more time with y-uh, everyone..." he peaked at her through the corner of his eye, trying to gauge if she had picked up on that little stumble. Her brow, furrowed in frustration at a driver who had cut her off, told him he was safe.

They arrived at the diner just ten minutes later, taking their seat at their usual booth. Soon enough, two large plates were placed in front of them with their favourite burgers and a serving of fries to share.

"So... what was the plan for today? Before it cleared up." She asked, curiousness getting the better of her. There was a part of her that wanted to know what he would be doing when he wasn't with her. Were his days packed full? Or would he have plenty of down time? Secretly, she wanted to know if he would have time to miss her. Because when she was facing long days at the precinct without him, she was pretty sure she would miss his antics. She would never admit that, though.

"I was supposed to be on Late Night..." he checked his watch, "right about now. But my spot was pulled. Ryan Reynolds is promoting a new movie. I mean, I can't compete with that."

"Compete? With Ryan Reynolds?" She was kind enough to not laugh in his face, he had to give her credit for that.

"Right. So now I'm on Thursday night, instead. Which is fine... Thursday was going to be a pretty light day anyway. Mostly just meetings."

Meetings and TV shows. The same TV shows that had A-list actors as guests. Sometimes she forgot that he was a celebrity...

"Two weeks in LA." She mused aloud. Oh, the trouble he could get into. "Is Alexis going with you?"

"No she has exams." He sighed. "I told her I could get her out of them... but she's so much more responsible than I was at that age."

She chuckled. "At that age?"

"Any age, really." He shot her an irritated look that couldn't be mistaken... she'd hit a nerve. But the look was replaced with a more tender concentration. "That kid amazes me sometimes."

She smiled, recognising that tender look for what it was - pride. "She's a pretty amazing kid." She added. Occasionally he needed someone else - an outside party - to reassure him that he hadn't screwed up this 'dad' gig. She was more than happy to be that person.

"This is my first tour without her." He confessed. "So I, uh... I got them to split it. Two weeks away, a week here in the city doing the bare minimum, so I can annoy Alexis as much as possible, and then another two weeks for the greater Tri-State region."

"It's nice that you can do that. I was under the impression everything was just kind of planned for you... you just had to show up."

"It is... usually. But, Gina picked up on my hesitation, I guess. She knew I wasn't too keen on this tour and she asked how she could make it easier for me."

Ah, Gina. Of course she would be there, too.

The woman's name still stirred the feeling of betrayal within her, despite how much things had changed since that day... the day he had left for the Hamptons with his ex-wife and publicist. She smiled, biting into her burger as an excuse to not say anything. To hide her face, her reaction, from him.

This moment, caught up in a feeling, gone.

"Hey, Josh." She answered after four rings.

Castle looked around the diner, trying not to listen in to the conversation - even though curiosity was already eating away at him. She had said Josh was working late... he had thought he'd have her all to himself tonight. Cool it, Castle, he reminded himself.

"Um, sure." She paused for a moment, studying Castle and his reactions to her half of this conversation. "I'm not home yet, but I'm not far."

Castle maintained his best poker face, fixing his slumped shoulders before she could notice the change in demeanour. The night had to come to an end eventually, right?

"Of course. Make yourself at home. I'll see you soon."

Home? He was already at her apartment? He had a key? Of course he had a key... he probably had a drawer of his things at her place, too.

She hung up the phone and looked across the table to Castle, who did his best to pretend he hadn't been hanging on every word she was saying - not that she had said much, at all.

"I'll get the bill." He offered after a few moments of silence.

"Sorry." She offered, genuinely.

"Don't be. It's getting late and I have to leave pretty early tomorrow morning."

"Right." She nodded. She pulled her purse out.

"You got the movie. Dinner was on me, remember."

Digging around, she found a twenty and pulled it out, passing it across the table to him. "I was joking, Castle."

"I insist." He raised his hands, making it clear he wasn't going to accept the money. She rolled her eyes and tucked it back into her purse. "Now... go home."

She smiles at him. "I can still give you a lift."

"Not necessary. Tell Josh I say hi." He teased. He didn't dislike the doctor... but he definitely didn't like him. For obvious reasons. And judging from the look on her face, the feeling was mutual on her boyfriends end.

"Goodnight, Castle." She tapped his hand twice before sliding out of the booth and leaving.

"Night." He smiled as she looked back over her shoulder as she walked out the door.