A/N: Thank you all for your awesome reviews and alerts, here's the next chapter. Enjoy :)

Despite her hello, something was off, with Beckett. Determined to make things better, whatever had caused her to resort back to the hard-core woman he had broken down over time; he was going to bring her back. The woman who had told him she was glad he was around, that he made her work more fun. The woman that smelt like cherries…

He was pacing the loungeroom of his New York apartment when his mother came in.

"What's with the antsy pants?" she asked instantly in tune with her son.

Castle played dumb. "Just thinking about my book," he lied.

"Hogs wash, Richard. A mother knows the difference between imagination and emotion… go ahead I'm listening," she perched herself on the stool at the kitchen and put her chin in her hands. She had such elegance about her, an air of confidence that gave her the star quality to make it in Broadway.

Castle rolled his eyes. "It's Beckett."

"Of course it is, what about her?"

"She's been… distant since I came back and-"

"She isn't exactly an open book darling. The girl needs time. Patience. Let her know that you're back, in a subtle way…"

Castle thought about it. "I don't DO subtle, mom."

Martha seemed to think about that. "That's true. You really are serious, no sarcasm, so jokes, you seem… sad."

Castle shrugged. "I just missed her over the summer, I don't know, it sounds dumb, but- but I thought she'd at least be happy to see me, you know."

"Maybe you should buy her a gift," she suggested excitedly. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea, a gift would be the perfect thing to make her feel wanted… gifts are always good for a woman," his mother rambled.

"Gifts?" he questioned.

"Yes, darling, presents, jewels," she grinned making a grand gesture of a necklace.

Castle pondered over the idea. A light bulb seems to flash in his mind. "A dog!" he announced.

"A- a what?" Martha choked.

"It's perfect, they are adorably cuddly, and she would go wild with a puppy under her feet, she'd mellow some and she'd never be lonely, no one would break in with a barking dog, and who knows," he said with a smirk. "She might not even need Demming after that…"

"Darling, I don't think that-"

Castle shook his head ignoring his mother. The idea was marvelous. Yes, a dog! He was going to the pound and picking her up a dog… the K-9 would need a home, and once Beckett took one look at the animal she'd be sitting in the palm of his hand. No more moody Beckett. She was sure to cheer up.

Hahahahaha… I know some of you guessed that, but can you imagine the look on her face. Can you imagine what it's going to be like for her to get this, and… OMG! This is so fun. Reviews equal chapters, you know the rules… :)