Disclaimer: I am one of billions of people who do not own Castle. I am one of millions of people who trust Andrew Marlowe and co. to treat my babies well. I am one of one people who is currently wishing I was curled up in bed watching the episode of Morecambe and Wise that had The Beatles on it. That last point may not be particularly relevant...

you and i have memories

longer than the road that stretches out ahead

Year Three

[ in which Castle manages to cleverly avoid being bitter about Doctor Motorcycle Boy ]

It's been a long day and a long trip back home and a long time since she's let him choose the music they're listening to. There's a reason for that, of course, Kate thinks as she watches Castle out of the corner of her eye. Fifteen minutes of her partner begging her to sing along to Lady Gaga songs was more than enough, thank you very much.

"Sooooo..." He's tapping his knee and fidgeting and god, she hopes he's not going to bring up embarrassing childhood stories as a topic of fun conversation again. "How was that Valentine's Day dinner?" Oh. Veering further away from the path of fun and light chatter then, Castle? "Kate?"

"Sorry, yeah," she acknowledges with a slight smile at her companion. "Um, it was nice."

He chuckles. "Well, there'll never be any doubt regarding who's the writer out of the two of us, will there? Nice, seriously?"

"Well, it was," Kate insists, hoping it doesn't appear as defensive as it suddenly sounds to her own ears. "You know, we ate dinner, had a few glasses of wine, talked, it was nice."

"Please tell me he at least bought you chocolates and flowers."

She doesn't deign that question with an answer. She doesn't tell him that Josh had somehow managed to buy her the one type of chocolate that apparently doesn't agree with her taste buds. Castle's always had a knack for getting her perfect presents.

"You should smile more often, Kate, it suits you," he notes, twisting in his seat so he can make better eye contact with her. "I'm glad he makes you happy." She wishes sometimes that he didn't sound so sincere.

"Yeah, he's a good guy. I am happy." And no, Castle, there's no need to pick up on the fact that those two statements don't necessarily have to be connected. This past week, honestly, has been rubbish in terms of a supposedly happy, professional, compatible couple. Josh has been working even more than usual lately and she'd had to cancel plans with him on the one night they had off so she could go chase down a perp with Castle and the boys. As usual, they hadn't talked about it other than a brief acknowledgement that hopefully they'd be able to catch up with each other the next day. He never pushed like Castle did. "So," she returns the volley, "how was your Valentine's Day?"

"Good up until you left me in the bar, alone except for my pout and a memory of your legs in that lovely tight black dress. Mother was out so I actually got to do some writing." He smiles at her warmly. "So, I spent my Valentine's Day evening with Nikki."

Kate refuses to envy a fictional character from a book.