Hello people! First, let me tell you that each and every review made me freak! You're all so kind 3 So school has started it SUCKS big time, like, it's not even real, but what you're gonna do...anyways, that's why I think I'll be uploading on weekends from now on. I really hope you like this one, I did hehe

Ps: super important thing I forgot- I don't own any of these beauties (except little Belle, she's mine ok). They still belong to the brilliant (and a little mean sometimes) mind of Andrew Marlow

Innocent fantasy

Annabelle tugged the bottom of his shirt before he could continue their way towards Beckett

"I think it's better to wait for her" He stared down at her in disbelief

"Yeah, you're right. Tell me, how can you be so smart when you're only like, 2?"

The girl grinned a ticklish laugh "I am 4, you silly! I'm almost this big" She raised her hand, spreading her fingers, the little nails colored in pink.

"A full hand! That's a big deal. You're just one finger away from being a lady"

At first she was delighted by this idea, but then a frown took over

"When I become a lady, do I stop being a princess?"

His lips turned upward in a half-smile. Oh, sweet innocence "No, of course not. Once a princess, always a princess".

Suddenly he picked her up "Why don't you just…sit here?" He placed her on the top of the trunk, so that her back was facing the house's door. The last thing she needed to see was the body being carried to the M.E's van. Even if it a white blanket was all it could be seen, it was still creepy. And Belle surely wasn't stupid. Luckily, she didn't seem to notice anything, so Castle just continued the chat

"So, Belle, if you are the princess, who do I get to be in this fairytale?"

She gave it a thought "Coswoth, I think"

It took him a while to understand what she meant "Oh, Cogsworth! No, wait, he's annoying, I'm not annoying, am I?" He threatened her with his hand, ready to tickle her short torso. She laughed nervously, even though his hands were still inches away

"No! Stop! How 'bout Chip Potts?"

"He's a kid! Belle, I am warning you"

"Oh, oh I know who"

"Lumière!" They announced in unison, Castle snapped his fingers.

After that, Castle's mind wandered, thinking out loud "Can't really obey but is kindhearted, plus all the charm and the looks. And the great personality, too. I am him"

Annabelle looked confused, but didn't interrupt his reverie, until her stomach growled and snapped his attention back to her.

"Good, Kate is already coming and then we can go. Oh, quick, who is she?"

"Fifi, it has to be!" She pouted. He tried to remember who the hell was that one "Who?"

"Fifi, the Featherduster"

"Why her?"

"Because she's the one Lumière loves" His face gallantly lit up. That kid really was something.

"Castle, no! We cannot simply take an underage murder witness and take her to breakfast. We have to go back to the precinct and call social service asap"

"But she's hungry" He pointed to the girl already buckled up in the back seat

"This is technically kidnapping and I'm the one here actually working for the police, I can't"

"Come on Beckett" He lowered his tone when he realized Belle's puppy eyes pleading them "You said it yourself, she's a witness. We need her trust. Over breakfast will be the best way to get some answers"

"SS will freak when they found out we're question a 4-year-old without psychological accompaniment and we've got have her checked out by a doctor and-"

"If they find out, which they won't. Talk to the boys and they'll help us stall this. When we go back, you do what you gotta do". Becket shot him the I-hate-when-you're-right look.

"Fine, but we've got an hour, tops" He chuckled, opening the driver's door for her

"Mademoiselle"

"Can I eat chocolate chip pancakes and drink hot coco?" Annabelle asked while seating next to Beckett at the IHOP near the 12th.

Annabelle devoured her food.

"Someone was hungry! When was the last time you ate?"

"Lunch yesterday, I guess. But it was really late when ate"

"We? Would that be you and who?" Beckett tried to give her a little space before questioning her, but that was her hook. However, she was the one caught off guard, as Belle continued to chatter as if what she had just said wasn't a big deal.

"You two are boyfriend and girlfriend, right?"

The couple hesitated, but confessed their secret. It's not like she already didn't know, and as long as Gates was unaware, they were good. Sometimes Kate even got herself wandering if the captain already didn't know and that maybe a piece of her heart wasn't made of iron, after all.

"But it's a secret" Kate's voice was sweet. It wasn't the tone she had with the boys and it was definitely different from the one she reserved for Castle. She sounded friendly and protective. "Do you think you can keep it?"

"Yes, I am very good at keeping people's secrets"

"Okay, great"

"I like your hair" cooed Belle and Kate smiled as she held the kid's face to delicately wipe off the chocolate that was up to her wrinkled nose

"Don't worry, shorty. Rick here does a lot more mess"

"It's true." He admitted.

Beckett put Belle's curls behind her ears, running her fingers through the girl's hair. Castle watched her. It was obvious that she and Belle had instantly clicked, but seeing Beckett act so motherly warmed his heart. She was extraordinary. In every way.

"So, what were you too gossiping before, huh?"

"Beauty and the beast! He's Lumière and you're Fifi and you are my friends, like in the movie!"

"No way. I figured you'd be Gaston, Castle. Aren't you ruggedly handsome always flirting with all the ladies?"

He tilted his head "But he always had his heart in just one girl, if you don't remember. And yes, I really am ruggedly handsome, thank you for noticing"

Kate blushed but Annabelle wasn't happy with the situation at all

"No. You're not Gaston" She was really upset, looking down at her plate, where most of the pieces Castle had cut were gone "Gaston is mean just like the guy that sent Uncle Danny to heaven" The tears welled up in the corner of her eyes, but Beckett wiped them away with her thumbs and rubbed her cheeks.

"Don't cry, it's ok, you're with us now. Gaston didn't hurt you, did he?"

She shook her head minimally. Beckett felt so bad for pushing her, but she had to do it. Castle maintained his unusual silence "You always lived with your Uncle Danny?" They both knew she was done talking for now, so Castle got up to pay the bill by the counter, letting Kate calm Belle down again

"You know what? Let's not talk about this" She left out the part where they'd have to go back to it later "Answer another question for me: why am I Fifi?"

Annabelle rubbed her eyes. Poor thing, she was exhausted. Still, she sighed, in a 'adults are so dummy' way. She figured Castle must have made the same question

"Because you love each other. You love Rick, don't you?"

Kate looked over her shoulder and whispered "I do. But that will be our secret, okay shorty?" She wiped her face one more time, before picking her up and taking her to the precinct.