Disclaimer: The wording is mine but the characters aren't

OOOOOOOOO

"Maybe you can share some more stories?" Jim asked hesitantly.

"I'd like that," she said softly.

"Okay Katie, I'll let you guys start your movie. I'll see you around then Rick?"

"Looking forward to it."

"And thank you," he said roughly, "for keeping her safe out there."

"Always," was all Castle replied looking only at Kate, stealing her ability to protest that she didn't need protecting. But there was something haunted there in him. Guilty?

"Night, Katie."

"Night Dad," she answered automatically, her mind suddenly off on a tangent, wondering what Castle had been thinking at that moment.

OOOOOOOOO

She ended the call and slid the phone over to the table. He knew he shouldn't, but his eyes never left her. She didn't seem too angry with him. She seemed happy. Not carefree-happy, just content happy. He knew she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but when she looked at him with that content smile, completely open and 100% Kate, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

That and he was happy that she was happy. He knew her father was very important to her and she felt responsible for him in many ways. It reminded him of his relationship with Alexis. Or rather he couldn't help but hear the ache in Jim's voice when he said that Kate didn't share work with him. One father to another. He was hesitant at first, hoping like hell it wouldn't backfire: after all he barely knew met Jim Beckett. But his plan, to get Kate to share this case with her father seemed to have gone well. She had even seemed grateful. Even now, reclining against the couch once more, she was still looking at her phone with a small smile.

"Well I think that went well."

"Not bad for a first meeting," she admitted, then seeing his triumphant smile added, "But don't think it will go as smoothly when I introduce you two in person."

That's right. The three of them had never been in the same room.

His triumph faded just the smallest amount as he considered her words.

"The hell he gave my boyfriends back in high school…"she trailed off shaking her head.

"Why, Detective Beckett, were you planning to introduce me as your boyfriend?" He leapt on her slip gleefully.

Her head snapped up as she realized her mistake and her mouth fell open just a little as she went to talk but struggled to find words.

"Well, we are going undercover as a couple," she managed.

"And I will prove to the world I can be real man."

"A real man? Are you referring to your Peter-pan complex or your metro-sexuality?"

"Like you would want me any other way," he scoffed.

"You never know," she shrugged, her fingers still laced with his. "It might be a nice surprise every now and again."

"Hey, you know I can be serious," he protested. "Plus admit it, you would be wierded out if I were a man's man; burping and farting right now."

"Ew, thanks for that image there Castle," she grimaced in disgust.

"Ah-ah," he sing-songed. "It's Rick."

"Castle," she deadpanned.

"Kate," he replied matching her look for look.

She kept the staring match up for a while longer before she sighed. "God, you're annoying."

"Peter pan complex," he shrugged.

They both fell into silence. It wasn't uncomfortable and she found she was surprised yet again that he wasn't pushing her.

"Thank you."

She kept her eyes on their hands but he sensed she wasn't finished and waited.

"My dad never liked the idea of me becoming a cop," she supplied. "So I never shared my job with him. I didn't think he would want to hear about it." She paused for a long breath. "And then I didn't know how to start. Or if I wanted to."

"He's pretty good," Rick encouraged. "Asked some good questions."

"Yeah," she couldn't help roll her eyes at that understatement.

"So we're okay?" He held his breath even as he pushed.

Her smile convinced him before she said anything.

"So how about we go and check out this death-machine?" He made an effort to restore some levity.

"You just want to see me in my leather."

He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively and she let out a small laugh she would usually have repressed. Way to encourage him, she thought wryly, but unable to bring herself to care that much.

"Come on then," she sighed and then rocked back into the couch and used her momentum to stand. She used her grip on his hand to pull him up with her. He grinned and she felt herself answering naturally. In that moment she got a glimpse of how easy it would be for Kate and Rick. Not just Castle and Beckett. She refused to let herself analyze it at the moment but she knew how easy it would be for them if she let go and just let herself be Kate with him. As easy as breathing.

She hip-checked him playfully and he reeled away exaggeratedly before pulling her back into his side.

"So Kate, where do you keep this '94 Harley Softail?"

She raised her eyebrows. "Do you remember everything I say?"

"Don't you remember what I say?"

"Kind of hard to considering how much you talk."

In response he rolled his eyes and she couldn't help but laugh to see her trademark expression on his face.

"It's in the parking garage downstairs," she answered pulling them through her door and locking up. All the way down she stayed with her side mashed against his. It was unusual to feel his hip against hers as she walked. As a rule she never walked that close to anyone. Even her boyfriends. She began to get used to it and even enjoy it though, even when he would deliberately bump her. In retaliation she would pull on the cuffs and they would both stagger sideways, almost colliding with the corridor walls. Considering how often they did it, they probably looked drunk. She had done the same thing with Lanie, except the bumping had been far more low-key. It was so weird but so normal that she would be doing it with Rick now.

Thanks for reading. Also for the reviews, it's great to know people are enjoying it.

A warning however: I cuffed them together so they might deal with their issues a bit so it will get a little...dramatic (?) for a couple of chapters.

But I would appreciate it if you stuck with me.

Thanks, MM