"Who is she?" Rick asked, turning around to look at Kate. He didn't like what he saw. She was white. Too white. And she didn't seem to be able to look away from her father kissing this woman. "Kate! Do you know her?"

"No. But that's not the point" she scolded him

"What is the point then?" Rick asked. He had thought she was angry at her father for kissing that particular woman.

"What the point? Really Rick? Isn't it obvious? He is kissing a woman !" she nearly shouted in the restaurant

"And?" Rick asked, now understanding what the problem was.

"And he shouldn't be kissing anyone. Certainly not like that and in public."

"What is really the problem here Kate?"

"He is my dad! He shouldn't be kissing anyone but my mom and …" she stopped as soon as she realized what she had just said. "Anyway, he should have told me"

"What would it have changed?"

"I don't know, he just should have told me."

"You realize that you are actually pouting, Detective Beckett?" Rick asked, trying hard not to laugh at her childish reaction. His smile was definitely gone when Kate kicked him in the shin. "I'm sorry, but try to understand the position he is in and …"

"Are you defending him? I thought you were in my team?"

"I am in your team. I'll always be in your team" he answered, taking her hand. "But, as the father of a daughter, I kind of understand him. You never want to disappoint your children. And judging by the look on your face, I'd say that you're a bit disappointed"

"Wow, you should have been a psychologist, not an author Rock" Kate said rather disdainfully

"Hey, I'm just trying to help here" Rick said, looking at her in the eyes. "If it really bothers you that much, maybe you should talk to him."

"And say what? Hey Daddy, who was the woman you were kissing at lunch? No, I think I'll leave it to him. If it's serious, he should be the one telling me. But it's still … gross"

"What, Kate Beckett, are you telling me that kissing is gross?" he asked, winking at her

"You're stupid" she laughed, hitting him with her napkin. "Do you have any plans for this afternoon?"

"Now I do. I have to go home and change because, I don't know if you noticed, but I have wine stains on my shirt" he answered

"Well, maybe I can make it up to you by helping you change" Kate proposed, looking at him suggestively.

"Katherine Beckett, I'd never … yeah ok, I have, very often, let's go" he said, already getting up.

By the time they arrived at his door, Kate had her hands all over Rick. He was having trouble opening the door and kissing her at the same time.

"Are Martha or Alexis home?" Kate asked, still kissing him

"No. We have the house to ourselves honey" he said, finally pushing the door open and carrying Kate inside.

"Honey uh?" Kate asked

"Yes, and I have many others but I have something to do before I give you the whole list"

"Mmm, and what would that be?"

" mmm … let me see … I don't really know how to explain. Maybe I should show you?"

"Please do" she purred in his ear as he was guiding them to his bedroom.

"Wow" Kate breathed, collapsing next to Rick on the bed. "That was …"

"I know right? We're just the best at everything we do" he smirked, kissing her on the cheek.

"Yes, we really are" she smiled. She had never felt this content before in her life. "It was just so … perfect" she said, turning on her side to face him. Looking in his eyes, she found everything she was looking for : joy, desire, love, and promises of many more 'changing' session in their future. Her eyes drifted above Rick's form and noticed the alarm clock. She groaned and cuddled up in Rick's side even more

"What was that for?" he asked, surprised by her reaction

"It's almost 2:30 pm. I need to go home. I don't want to move though."

"Why do you HAVE to go? You can stay here all you want, you know that right?"

"I know, but Lanie won't be happy when she gets to my place to get ready for tonight" she laughed. "And after last night, I'm pretty sure she'd throw a tantrum if she can't talk to me. Just to warn you, she will not let go until I give her details" she said, blushing "but once she has it she'll be happy enough to leave us alone".

"What will you tell her?" Rick asked, waggling his eyebrows.

"That's for me to know and for you never to find out. Now, Mr Castle, since you literally ripped my clothes of me, would you be so kind as to look for them and bring them back please?"

"Why?"

"Because it's your house and I'm not running around naked to get them"

"Oh … you running around my house naked …" Rick repeated dreamingly

"Rick, focus!"

"I am …"

"On finding my clothes! You have until I finish to shower to find them and fold them on the bed" she said, getting up and walking into the adjoining bathroom.

"So bossy"

"You know you like it Rick" she said, winking at him, before closing the bathroom door.

When she got out fifteen minutes later, her clothes he laid on the bed as if to make her figure. She smiled when she found a piece of paper instead of her head. "Just went into my office. Don't know why but suddenly had a strike of inspiration :-p. feel free to interrupt me xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx " She got dressed and went to join him.

"Wow, that's a lot of kisses" she said as she entered his office, showing him the paper

"Hey, consider yourself lucky, I could have written so many more if I had found a larger piece of paper" he said, looking up from his laptop.

"Well, I have to go now, or Lanie will kill me" she said, walking to him, taking his laptop from his hand and sitting on his lap. "But before, I have a vital question to ask you"

"What is it?" he asked seriously, a bit scared of what she might say

"Strait or curly?"

"What?" he asked again, totally confused

"Tonight, do you want me to have my hair strait or curly?"

"I don't mind, I'm sure you'll be gorgeous anyway" he answered, smiling.

"I knew you would say that" she said, kissing him "but I really want to know which way you prefer I do my hair for tonight."

"Well, I really like both, but I would say … curly"

"Can I ask why?"

"Well, it's a party for your mother and I assume that when she was still here you were younger and so more … natural. I mean, you're still natural but … well … I … I really don't know how to get out of this" he admitted, looking at her guiltily, almost blushing

"I know what you mean. Thank you. Curly it is." She said, getting up. "See you tonight?"

"Of course. I'll be at your door at 4:30 my lady"

So? What do you think?

Next chapter: the fundraiser