Q3 is empty save for the two of them, sitting at one of the tables in the center of the large dining room. Kate had swung by after shift, Maddie had just finished closing up the restaurant for the night. Every two weeks, they had tried to find time to chat, to keep in touch. Kate had forgotten how much fun Maddie was, a different kind of fun than Lanie was.

"So, you and writer boy shack up yet?" the blonde woman asked just as Kate took a sip of her wine. The woman had to have planned it that way as Kate fought not to spit the liquid across the table.

"What?"

Maddie shrugged. "You know what I said."

Kate had become an expert at avoiding the questions that included some reference to Castle and activities that involved a bed. "What about you? You over Brent Edwards yet?"

"Actually, yeah." Maddie took her own sip of wine, a smile edging around the rim of the wide-bellied glass. "He's going to pick me up tonight, so you'll get to meet him."

"Give me some hints. What does he look like?" Kate asked, leaning her forearms on the table. "Because if I remember correctly, Brent was pretty hot."

Maddie got up, taking the two empty wine glasses with her as she motioned for Kate to follow into the kitchen. "Well, he's tall, dark, and handsome." When Kate only gave Maddie a light punch on the shoulder, her friend sighed. "Completely smokin', Becks. Just wait. Words do him no justice."

As they walked through the dining room, someone knocked on the locked doors. Kate gave Maddie a shove in the direction of the front doors.

"Go let Mr. Smokin' Hot in. I'll grab our coats."

Maddie gave a giggle as she ran for the doors. Kate only rolled her eyes as she went to the coat room, pulling down the two jackets still hanging there. Shrugging her own on, she draped Maddie's bright green one over her arm as she went back out to the dining room to meet the dream man.

They were kissing until Kate cleared her throat. Maddie swiped a thumb over the man's lips to get rid of her lipstick.

"Uh, Kate. This is-"

"Tom?"

He had grown his hair out a little, but the man with his arm still around Maddie's waist was definitely Tom Demming. "Beckett?"

"Maddie?" Kate shot at her friend. "He's your new boyfriend?"

The blonde kept glancing between the two other people, confusion clearly the only expression she knew at the moment. "Wait a second. You two know each other?"

"That's an understatement," Tom managed to mutter.

"What do you mean?"

Kate handed Maddie her coat. "We dated. Once." She smiled at Tom, genuine and heartfelt. "How are you?"

"Busy. But I'm sure you're the same way." Maddie was tugging him toward the door, anxious to get out and on their way, her brilliant green coat a sharp contrast to Tom's navy peacoat. Ying and yang.

Maddie shooed Tom down the sidewalk a bit once she had locked the doors to Q3 behind them. "Kate. Is this going to be Brent Edwards all over again… again?"

Kate shook her head. "No. No, it's good, Maddie. I'm happy for the both of you." She pulled her phone from her pocket, checked the time with a smile. "Listen. There's something I need to do. Have a great night, Maddie," she said as she gave the woman one last hug. "Bye, Tom!" Kate called with a wave down the sidewalk toward the other detective.

She waited until Maddie caught up with Tom, their arms looping around the other's waist as they started down the block. Kate hailed a cab that happened to be passing the restaurant, giving the driver an address other than her own.

"Kate."

He sounded surprised after he opened the door to the woman standing in the hallway. In one hand, he held a book, his finger stuck in the pages as a temporary bookmark. The book fell to the ground as Kate pushed up on her toes and brushed her lips across his. Castle's hands rested against her waist, not pulling her toward him but not pushing her away either.

"What was that for?" he asked breathlessly, ignoring the book with its spine cracked.

Settling back on her heels, Kate smiled softly. "You're my yang."