I haven't been able to spend much time writing of late as I've been ill and also had work get in the way to a certain extent, but I wanted to add a short bridging chapter for this story. I hope you all enjoy it. Gregg.

Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Castle had spent the remainder of the afternoon putting in place his plan for Operation Materialism. If he could avoid having Alexis moving to England for college, then it was a small price to pay. He could deal with her living in the dorms here in New York, but all the way across the ocean? No way!

"Mr. Castle," the auto salesman came up to him.

"Yes?" Castle smiled.

"Everything is set," the man said with real effusiveness. It wasn't everyday that commission on two high end cars was made.

"Great!" Castle exclaimed. "I'll take the Jaguar now, and the Mustang I'll be bringing my daughter down to get tomorrow."

"We'll have it ready, Mr. Castle," the man assured him.

Castle gleefully rubbed his hands together as he was handed the keys to the black Jaguar with the leather and wood interior with all the extras. He'd always loved Jaguars, but he'd never bought one until now. This one was almost identical to the one used in the old show The Equalizer, though this one had modern equipment that was state of the art technology. The main console screen was touch sensitive and fully blue tooth integrated to all his favorite gadgets. Beckett was going to be so jealous! The woman of his dreams, who was, thankfully, the woman in his life, practically swooned whenever she saw a Jaguar, though he knew she'd rather gouge her eyes out and cut off her tongue before admitting it. He knew better, though, as he'd seen the signs all too often.

Getting behind the wheel, he practically bounced up and down in the driver's seat as he turned the ignition and fired her up. The damn thing purred! Now this is what was needed to drive to crime scenes in as Beckett had put the kibosh on his idea of their own version of the Fed mobile a while back. Maybe he'd even get to drive? Yep, this purchase had some real potential. Maybe her iron clad rule about no fooling around during working hours could be softened up a bit. He'd have to check into that one soon. A good old fashioned make out session in the Jag on the way to a crime scene was too damn hot of a fantasy not to indulge in in his opinion.

One hour later, after personally checking the running condition of the new vehicle (let's face it, if Beckett was going to be spending any time in it at all it had to be in tip top condition, and if that meant checking out how well it got up to speed, say 0 to 120, then who was he to argue?) he pulled into the parking garage of his building and went up to the loft. When he opened the door he found Alexis on her cell phone talking with her boyfriend. Another good reason to have her here in New York when she was in college. He could monitor the boyfriend situation. He may be a cool Dad and all, but he was still a Dad who was deathly afraid of his baby girl growing up. Beckett was working on him about the matter, but it was still tough going. Hence the need for Operation Materialism. Fumbling in his pocket he pulled out a small oblong box and handed it to his daughter.

"I'm sorry for being an ass," he said as she hung up.

Alexis raised a brow and turned her attention to the box, opening it up and gasping in shock as a set of car keys with a leather mustang flap key chain came into view.

"Is this for real?" she asked, very excited by the idea.

"Of course," he told her, and inside he was doing his own touchdown dance. "We pick it up tomorrow."

"Yes!" she hugged him tight and then grabbed her phone to rush upstairs and call all her friends. Then she turned at the top of the stairs and looked at him. "I'm still going to Oxford," she told him and then ran down the hall to her room.

Castle frowned, but didn't let it deter him. He had money to burn, so he decided he would just step up the particulars of Operation Materialism. But for now, he needed to see what Beckett was up to. He'd missed her, and he was hoping for some quality alone time now that he was back. Pulling out his cell phone he punched in one on the speed dial and waited for her to answer.

"Welcome back, Kitten," Beckett's distinctive voice, sexy as Hell in his opinion, rang out.

He mentally groaned at her using that hideous, very nonmasculine nickname. He wished she'd never heard of it. "Kate!" he said in an excited tone. "Where are you?" he asked. He heard her chuckle.

"At the precinct looking at the murder board," she told him. "Why? You miss me?" she asked.

"Every minute of every day," he told her, letting the serious, no bullshit, tone sink into his voice.

"I should be done in about an hour," she told him after a pause to collect herself from the emotions that came to her from his sincere words. "How about meeting me at the Old Haunt for a drink, and then we can go to my place and you can get your surprise?"

The more than sultry, teasing tone that was in her voice as she said that last almost had him panting in anticipation right then. As it was he was about to tell her to forget all the murder stuff and get her cute, sexy as Hell derriere over to his place right then, surprise or no surprise. But seeing as that terribly unprofessional attitude would only get him relegated to the couch for all eternity, he sucked it up and said the only thing he could.

"I'll see you at the Old Haunt in an hour," he assured her.

"I'll see you then, Kitten," she practically purred as she hung up.

"Definitely work on the nickname," he muttered as he went to his room to get a shower and ready to meet her for drinks. As it was, if he casually dropped by the precinct and offered her a ride and showed her the Jag, perhaps she could be persuaded to up the timetable on the surprise she had waiting for him at her apartment.

A/N: Next up, Kate sees his newest acquisition and they arrive at the party. It should be posted in a couple of days. Gregg.