Chapter 2

Martha opened the door as if the curtain was opening on her current stage production. A little flip of the hand and a curtsey. Martha lifted her head only to come eye to eye with a tentative Kate Beckett. Martha reached across the threshold and scooped Kate up into an overly theatrical bear hug and tugged her into the loft.

Kate wondered if she would ever be able to breathe again and if Martha would let her go. Sure the hug was over but Martha firmly grasped her hand. Kate's palms began to sweat, how old was she?

It didn't help that Martha was looking Kate up and down. Kate rocked back and forth on her insanely high heels. Martha always wondered how a girl who packed a gun could wear such high heels and not fall over, one day she would ask – but not now.

"Well, well, well – Richard didn't share with me that you were going to the wedding with him."

Kate added a shuffle to her rocking, shook her head no "I thought I would surprise him."

Martha's eyes lit up like two little spot lights, "Surprise?" Martha reached out and squeezed her hand "Oh Kate, I'm proud of you, let me run and get him."

Martha was half way out of the room when she turned on her heel, scampering back to Kate's side and began tugging on Kate's crossed arms. Kate's only thought was 'Do none of the Castles understand personal space?'

Martha demanded than asked "Before I get Richard, how about giving an old lady a little fashion show?"

Kate struggled to keep her mouth from falling open; she knew Martha was a bit forward at times – but a fashion show?

Martha stepped back, let out a catcall whistle and said, "Now take it off and give me a twirl."

Kate shook her head in disbelief as she smiled, "A twirl?"

"Yes, Kate a twirl!"

Kate knew the quicker she gave into Martha's demands, the less of a chance of getting caught by Castle. Her hands swiftly moved to her coat buttons, fingers fumbling as she unbuttoned her coat as fast as she could. Kate coat slide off her body and on to the floor as Martha began to clap.

'What the hell.' Kate thought to herself, as she kicked her coat aside and began to give Martha her twirl, guess two years of tiny tot ballet had finally paid off. Kate was almost enjoying herself; she went for a second twirl that ended in her striking an exaggerated pose, then turning around as if to exit the end of the runway.

Kate heard Martha proclaimed "You look…" when a deep voice took over "…stunning."

Kate looked for the floor to open up and save her from finishing her impromptu ode to the world of fashion. No place to run, no place to hide. Kate stood her ground and finished off the show with another pivot, allowing her to collect herself before turning to face Castle.

Martha stood gleefully rubbing her hands together as she exited up the stairs and proclaimed, "Kiddo, if that cop thing ever gets old, let me know and I'll get you a gig working the runway. I know people. "

Sh*t – it was just him and her.

He looks delicious.

He couldn't remember ever seeing her so, so, what would his mother say 'use your words Richard,'… free. He still hasn't said a word.

Kate feels as if the air is spiked. Castle looks like he is gliding towards her, almost levitating. Then there he is, standing right in front of her, like RIGHT in front of her.

He smells so, so very Castle-ish. And a tux, what is it about a man in a tux pants and an over starched white shirt? That makes a girl's head do crazy things.

Suddenly she realizes she isn't just dippin' into the kiddie pool, she plunged into the adult only pool head first.

Maybe this is a terrible idea, his brow is furrowed and he hasn't said a word, other than 'stunning.' Why did silence hurt more than sound? Should she sit, run, make a joke – it was getting harder and harder to breath. She stood there praying she didn't pass out.

Was she breathing? He wasn't sure; her face had a look of terror on it. No wait a minute that wasn't terror that was fear. The unflappable Katherine Beckett was nervous. A smile began to creep across his face. Now that he knew what that look on her face was, the shy hesitation – the need for confirmation, he knew that she had made her move. The drawbridge was down.

Does he acknowledge it? Let the evening unfold? Or go all out cave man and drag her into his room and lock the door. That dress wouldn't stand a chance behind a locked door, elegant and demure from the front, understated really. And then the back, oh that deep "v" plunging to the small of her back, allowing him to verify that her tattoo wasn't a tramp stamp or anywhere else on her back. Where was that tattoo? How was she wearing underwear? Was she going cowboy?

His thoughts of tattoo hunting were interrupted by the sound of her voice. "Castle, what are you clutching in your hand?" Her voice was softer than her remembered.

With a devilish grin he slowly opened his hand to reveal his cuff links. "Mind helping me with these?"

Her eyes flicker to meet his while she unconsciously wiping her sweaty palms on her dress. Plucking the cuff links from his hand, making sure not to make contact she jokes "Can't dress yourself?" feels good to make a joke.

Castle chuckles "What fun would that be?"

It's going to be okay, they are finding their rhythm.

Kate found it oddly erotic to dress a man. Sure she had undressed a few, more than a few, in her day, but there was something new and special about threading the shaft of the cuff link through the button hole and tightening it into place. Making it all come together. Castle began to sway back and forth on the balls of his feet while holding back a goofy grin. She knew he felt it too, a new level of intimacy. It felt right.

Feeling bold, she reached up to straighten his tie "You look dashing, 007 dashing" and gave him the smile that she reserved just for him.

He took it as a green light and slid his hands to her waist and tugged her a bit closer. "Not sure what you are up to Kate Beckett, but whatever your plan is – I am whiling and able."

Kate gave into temptation and pulled gently on his tie, bringing him all that much closer, diving in deeper and deeper. Castle took the liberty of sniffing her hair. What was it about her hair that drove him nuts? Why does it smell like cherries? Lord knows he had been to enough stores in search of that exact scent, maybe now he could just have the real thing.

They jerked apart with the sound of keys in the lock.

"Hey Dad, sorry I'm late. Get your cuff links and I'll get you ready to go."

It wasn't until Alexis' was all the way in the door that she realized he wasn't alone. She stopped dead in her tracks. A conflicted look passed over her face. "Um, Hello Detective Beckett."

"Kate, can we make it Kate." Kate willed herself not to fidget and hold mini Castles eyes.

Mini Castle intensified her stare. Kate suddenly felt she was on the wrong end of an interrogation. What do they say 'the first one to speak looses.' No way was she losing to a teenager, even if it was Castle's kid.

Castle felt that an odd turf war was about to erupt. "Come on over here sweetheart and give your dear old Dad a hug." He wasn't sure what was going on, Kate and Alexis had always gotten along in the past. Alexis idolizes Kate.

Alexis dropped her backpack to give her Dad a hug, all the while keeping a questioning steady eye on Detective Beckett. Nope Kate, it was suppose to be Kate now.

When Kate heard Alexis begin to speak to her she knew she won round one. Round one, what the hell was she thinking? This was a teenager not a suspect.

"I've always called you Detective Beckett, why the change?" Oops – round one is going to end up going to a decision. Alexis wasn't backing down. This kid is tougher than she looks.

Kate briefly shut her eyes, let out a breath, met Alexis's steel hard stare dead on. Kate's eyes were soft and her voice was confident, "I associate 'Detective Beckett' with my job, the badge, and the gun - sometimes it's nice to just be Kate."

Alexis's eyes lost some of their edge, but still held a questioning look. Kate took it as a signal that more was needed. "And I like the people I like to call me Kate."

Alexis relaxed her shoulders and bent to pick up her backpack. Kate and Castle exchanged a look of relief and a quick smile.

"Dad, Kate - one more question…is this a date?"

Kate's immediate reaction was crap this kid knows how to lull you into a comfort zone and then hit you with the real question, such a Castle. Kate would smile if she wasn't too scared to answer. She says 'no' and she sends Castle all the wrong signals. She says 'yes' and he has only been humoring her then she has jumped off the cliff by herself.

Castle's first reaction was if 'I give the wrong answer Kate is going to kill me.' Sure she showed up looking smoking hot, happy and free. Didn't she play along with his Mother's fashion show? Didn't she get him dressed, okay put a couple cufflinks on him, but his mind went further than cuff links. He says 'no' then he can protect her if she says 'no'. She looks too nervous to give a real answer, in a blushing deer in the highlights kind of way. He says 'yes' and she only came over as her friend, his ultra sexy friend and she says 'no' then he looks like a fool.

They catch each other's eyes and in unison say "Yes"/"No" then quickly switch it to "No"/"Yes".

Alexis begins to giggle and her face turns on the first honest smile since her arrival. "Your right Dad you two are complicated and oh Kate", she like saying 'Kate' it seemed more natural the Detective Beckett, "have him home by midnight."

And with that she scampered up the stairs to her room.