A/N: My tutorial registration for University for today has finished (thank god!), now I just have to wait for tomorrows sign up... I swear it's one of the most stressful things I've ever done! And to make it all better, I seem to type like a madman riiiight before registration opens... It's such a writing dampener.

So anyways, here's the next chapter, hope you all like it! A little more teasing Castle and Beckett (and I really hope I'm not talking the Valentine's up too much. I don't want to disappoint you guys!)

Disclaimer: Do I really have to? I'm pretty sure none of us own it, as much as we would love to!

Monday, February 13th 2012

Another day, another murder solved. Beckett was so very, very glad that they had closed this one. And with an hour to spare. She was off for the full day tomorrow, so she could organise herself and give both her, and Castle, a Valentine's Day to remember. Not that he knew. She had coerced everyone that knew she had a day off to zip their mouths – or else, and somehow that included Gates.

Today had gone very well. She had been staying close to Rick all day; touching him every moment that she could – and he had been noticing it, though she didn't know if it he was aware of it or not, but he had been leaning into her too. Kate felt as though she was more open with him now she had made up her mind, no longer pulling away from innocent touches, but revelling in them instead.

And if she admitted it, Kate was buzzed because she was really excited about tomorrow night.

Beckett hadn't realised she was smiling as she took down the photos and scrubbed the board clean; Castle watching her intently from his vantage point, leaning back against her desk.

'What's got you so happy? Hot Valentine's date you're not sharing with the rest of the class?' Esposito had taken her usual spot next to Castle, arms folded and leaning on her desk.

Bastard! She thought to herself. He knew exactly what she was doing. He was one of the favours she had called in.

And Javier Esposito wasn't making it easy for her.

He was to make sure no one saw the surprise she had planned for Rick at work. Espo was to place it on her desk only when he was sure Castle was the only one who was going to see it. Javi knew everything that Kate was planning for Rick. He even gave some input; which was why she wanted to slap him up the back of the head for his cocky attitude.

Espo was torturing Castle, trying to make him jealous; and it seemed he was doing a good job too. The look on Rick's face was devastating. For a man who was good a schooling his features – almost as well as herself – he couldn't hide the disappointment creeping over his face, with a hint of anger mingled with it. Heartbreaking was the only way to describe it, and even then, that seemed to fall short. It was only for a moment though, and then he was back to a fake quizzical look; Beckett would have missed it if she hadn't been staring at his face so intently.

'No, why would you say that?' She replied, trying to keep her voice as calm with a slight dash of shock mixed in.

'Because you look like a giddy school girl.' A light chuckle was in Esposito's voice.

The death stare she shot him was pure and real. He was a dead man if he kept talking. Esposito, of all people, knew how hard this was for her. She should have asked Ryan; at least he wouldn't have ribbed her for it. It was doubtful he would have kept it a secret from his new wife, and - not that Kate didn't love Jenny - she would have been on the phone to Lanie so quick, she would have given The Flash a run for his money. Both women had been trying to get Beckett and Castle together since the wedding; plotting and scheming together. She was sure they had bonded over it.

At least with Espo, he would keep it quiet until she wanted it known, otherwise Beckett would tell Lanie a few details he didn't want her to know.

Kate wasn't the only hard arse going soft on Valentine's.

She raised her eyebrow at him, daring him to say something, because she would be going to Lanie as soon as the words came out of his mouth.

'You have a death wish, don't you bro?' Castle asked him quietly, but loud enough for Beckett to hear him. At least there was a smile on his face now, enjoying that the stare wasn't directed at him this time.

Esposito smiled and left without another word. Going back to his desk and picking up his phone.

'So what are you doing on Valentine's?' Castle asked. He was trying too hard to be casual about it.

'Nothing actually, I don't see the point. It's just another day of the year. It's too commercialised to be anything really special.' Kate was finding it hard to lie to him about this. He probably had an idea about it, but she was a hopeless romantic – with the right person, of course. The thought of Valentine's with him was giving her tingles, and yes, she was acting like a giddy school girl.

'Oh, come on!' Castle whined.

'Even if I did want to go out, it's not like anyone is waiting in line to ask me.' It pained her to say it, knowing the man in front of her would move heaven and earth to make her happy. 'So I'll stay at home and have a date with a book and my bathtub.'

'Come out with me, then.' Castle said quickly, almost like ripping off a band-aid. He was nervous and anxious. If this was "old Kate", there's a good chance she would have run for the hills - which is what he was obviously expecting her to do - screaming No! at the top of her lungs. "New Kate" was having a hard time saying no to him.

'Castle.' she warned, it was half-hearted but Rick didn't seem to notice.

'Fine, come over to the loft.' That's where I'll be anyway. 'We can celebrate "Singles Awareness Day" together.' Ah, so that's where Alexis got it from.

'Castle-'

'So you do have a date.'

Kate whirled around to him and snapped, for some reason she couldn't control herself. For Rick to actually think - after all they had been through together - that she wanted anyone else but him; after everything that had happened between them in the last few months - and even today - was astounding. Beckett thought he could read her better.

That wall she talked about was rubble at his feet, waiting for him to step across and claim his prize. 'You really think I'd go out with someone else after everything-' she stopped herself. There was no way Beckett was having this conversation at work with him. This is where they are supposed to be professional, not emotional. She ran her fingers through her hair as she glared at him for being so stupid.

His expression softened. A wave of understanding swept over his features; finally that capability of reading her reared its head. Better late, than never, Kate thought dryly.

No, she wasn't going to be mad with him, not with her mood swings – wanting him there, pushing him away. She should be grateful that he can keep up normally.

He pulled her into the break room, closing the door and blinds. The precinct watched them as she was pulled willingly, away from the peering eyes of her colleagues. And it didn't go unnoticed by him either that she followed him quietly.

'What's going on, Kate?' he asked, crowding her. So he had picked up on those small touches, otherwise he wouldn't in her personal bubble.

'I don't want to do this here, Rick.' Kate almost pleaded. 'This is my workplace – our workplace.'

'Then come out with me tomorrow night and we can talk about it.'

She wanted so much to say yes, but that would ruin her well thought out plans. Her willpower was getting a good workout these past few days.

'No. You have no idea how much I want to say yes-'

'Then say it.' He begged, putting his hands on her shoulders, digging his fingers into her gently.

'I just-' she puffed out a breath, trying to keep up her resolve and fascade.

'You're not ready.' Rick deduced bluntly. It wasn't a fully sad or disappointed tone about him, but then again it was. Like he was upset with himself for pushing her that little bit too much.

Oh how far from the truth he was.

So she caved, only a little.

'Friday night, Castle.' she said, like she didn't want to; like it was paining her to give in. That spark of hope shimmered in his eyes, it took everything she had to stop the blush and smile from spreading over her face.

'You can make me dinner and we can talk, just not tomorrow night.'

He took that last step that was separating them. 'I can live with that.' He told her, kissing her cheek with hot lips and breath.

Damn him.

A/N: So I'm gunna take a crack at writing in Rick's PoV (well the omniscient narrator following Writer Monkey around anyways), please feel free to tell me how bad I suck at it if he sounds a little off.

Reviews make my phone buzz and gives me a happy :)