A/N: really sorry if there are any mistakes. POint them out and I'll fix them :)

Tuesday, February 14th 2012

Castle walked into the precinct, two coffees in hand, and heart stuttering, aching to see her. Quick feet carried him off the elevator. He was elated, walking on a cloud as he walked into the bullpen.

Gravity found him when he walked over to her desk; Beckett nowhere to be seen and a present on her desk. A little red bag with a red envelope underneath it.

His world stopped, and his heart fell.

Someone else had taken initiative and bought her something, maybe winning her heart; the thing he had no claim to yet desperately wanted. He wasn't sure if he could survive another man unworthy of her in her life.

Crushed, Rick slumped in the chair, waiting for her to come back so he could look into her eyes and get the truth, the truth that would shatter him into a million pieces. So he did what he did best. He waited for her.

It had to have been fifteen minutes before Esposito came over to him. 'Bro, what are you doing here?'

'Waiting for Beckett.'

'You'll be waiting until Thursday; she took a couple of days off. Didn't she tell you?'

Castle frowned. It didn't make any sense. Hot and cold all over again.

'No, it obviously wasn't that important to tell me.' He said, anger biting in his tone. He sighed rubbing his hands over his face.

'You gunna open that?' Espo asked, pointing at the little red bag, taunting him on Beckett's desk.

'Oh, it's not mine.' Castle replied, waving him off. 'It's Beckett's.'

Esposito frowned at him. 'When did she change her name to "Rick", then?' he shoved the little card that was under the bag into Rick's face.

'What?' He scrambled out of the chair to rest beside Espo.

'Would you open it already? The suspense is killing me!' Castle stared at him; he was winging as much as what Rick usually did. Had everyone gone crazy today or something?

Castle put his hand into the little bag and pulled out a large brass key. This confused him even more. He had a feeling that it had a different meaning, like most of the things they shared; Kate meant for him so see another meaning in this.

Epso didn't look at him as he stared at his gift. 'Open this.' He said, once more putting the envelope in Castle's eyesight. He grabbed it and pulled open an envelope for the second time today, his heart was racing.

Rick,

So you've guessed by now who you're not-so-secret admirer is.

I couldn't make it too hard for you.

You've also guessed that I'm not at work today. Sorry to have gotten you out of bed, making you buy the coffee you always bring me, only to find I wasn't here. I missed it, and you.

The key I'm giving you is symbolic. No other man has gotten this from me, because I've never wanted to give it willingly. But this is you we're talking about. You, who always find a way back in.

It's the key to my heart, Rick.

Love,

Kate.

He stood silently, his breath was caught in his chest. It was probably extremely girly, but he wanted to cry he was that happy.

He clutched the key tightly in his hand, there was no way he was ever letting this go, not letting her go. He'd keep it close, where no one else could find it. No other man was getting her heart. Rick smiled as he opened his wallet, sliding the key into place in a pouch behind a photo of Alexis. The things most dearest to him.

'She gave you a key?' Esposito asked, bringing Rick out of his thoughts. 'Bro, that's a crappy Valentine's gift.'

'I think it's the best one I've ever gotten.' Rick replied wistfully. Looking to the side, he was expecting to see Esposito with a raised eyebrow glaring at him with "you're such a girl" spilling out of his mouth. But he wasn't. The detective was smiling at Rick, a little knowing smile.

'She put you up to this.'

'Don't know what you're talking about, bro.' Espo said, a little smile playing on his lips. 'Now, get out before Gates realises you're here unescorted by Beckett.'

'Thanks, Javi.'

'You hurt her, we'll kill you.'

'Of that I have no doubt.' Rick said, grabbing the little back and card and rushing to the elevator.

It was almost one and Kate figured that she had better stop waiting for Rick to call her and get ready for tonight. She was freaking out, though, she had put herself out there in such a big way and he hadn't called her to even acknowledge the step. She reasoned with herself though, it was after ten when he called the first time and he sounded as though he had still been asleep. She was grateful for it, though, it meant that her plan of sending him coffee would work. With a few calls to Esposito and Alexis, it went perfectly. If it didn't, she was resolved to send it to the precinct. Either way, that had to be the first gift he received.

Her phone buzzed next to her.

The Castle has landed. I repeat, the Castle has landed. – Espo

She rolled her eyes, and texted him back, asking him to let her know when he was leaving.

Kate was collecting her clothing and some ingredients for their dinner when she heard a knock at the door. Checking her phone again to see if Espo had texted, she unlocked the door to the biggest bouquet of roses she had ever seen.

'Miss Beckett?' someone called from the other side of the mountain of flowers.

'That's me.' Kate said bemused. The person shoved the flowers into her as delicately as possible considering its size.

'You have a couple more,' the delivery boy said.

Shifting the flowers to her hip, she saw maybe six more people waiting in line to give her flowers.

Normally she would have rolled her eyes and cursed, but this time all she could do was smile and laugh.

'Ok,' she said, collecting herself. 'Come in and put them anywhere you can.' She opened her door all the way and the delivery guys trooped in, placing roses on any surface available. They were out as soon as they arrived except for the first boy. He had sandy hair, and brown eyes that had a certain innocence about them.

'This is also for you,' he said, holding out a little stuffed bear. It held a fake rose and had a small card attached to its wrist. She took the bear off him and opened it.

Always – it read. Kate once again, couldn't stop the smile from forming on her face.

'He must really love you, miss.'

Kate hadn't realised the boy was still there at her door.

'Yeah, he really does.'

A/N: this really hasn't been checked over, so tell me if i screwed up anywhere. I think there's only one more chapter to go and I'm trying to get it out ASAP. Thanks again readers :)