A/N: this story has turned out pretty much the complete opposite to how it was supposed to. I'm sure some of you will have worked out that the original 'plan' I spoke about in the first few chapters was the twins tricking Castle, and it was going to be the main theme. However I got so caught up in the Caskett scenes and so I decided to just go with it, taking each chapter as it came and using some of your reviews for inspiration - and this is the result. A fair few of you said the tricking Castle thing is getting old now and doesn't seem fair, but I'm taking a risk and going ahead with it - but before you all give up on this story, it's going to be for a small part of the chapter and Kate will put a stop to it (certain emotions come into play;)) so please, give this chapter a chance and after this, Caskett getting together is full steam ahead!

To everyone who has left me a review so far - thank you. I probably don't say it enough but I promise I read every single review and it makes me so happy knowing you're enjoying this story, even if I don't always say it, so thank you. Got to over 300 reviews on the last chapter which is the best response I've ever had to a story, you're all amazing :)

PS: I know it's set just before Always, but we're assuming 47 seconds didn't happen (because Kate told Castle) and neither did/will Headhunters, so the 'case' I talk about is a made up one, not relevant to much really..just to maybe, magnify already present feelings?

With Gates staying longer at a conference than planned, Charlie had joined Kate, Esposito, Ryan and Castle at the precinct for the rest of the week. It wasn't that Kate was necessarily against Gates knowing, it was just that Gates was only just getting used to Castle being around in 'her' precinct, she was hardly likely to welcome another non-detective too.

And as much as Kate hated to admit it, she had actually enjoyed it. It sounded a bit weird saying she 'hated' to admit it, but she'd always tried to keep her professional life apart from her relationship with Charlie, with how things had been between them when their mom died, but Charlie had brought a lighter mood to a particularly disturbing case. Even Castle had refrained from his crazy theories on this case, when the body of a three year old had been found under a house when the new tenants had moved in and begin refurbishments. Charlie and Castle had worked together though, to cheer them all up a bit, without forgetting the reason this case was so hard. They'd made jokes when appropriate and at no other time and Castle had brought doughnuts in after lunch.

They'd made it to Friday and 4.30pm found Kate and Castle in the interrogation room with their number one suspect on the case. Charlie had left, letting them nail their suspect without her around. Normally, Kate would have gone into the interrogation alone, knowing that they needed this more than anything, but she felt as a father, there was no way Castle would screw this one up, he'd already mentioned not knowing how he'd cope if that had ever happened when Alexis was a kid.

They questioned him relentlessly for an hour, neither of them giving in and not letting anything go, but finally, they had a result - he confessed. His lawyer could see no way of bargaining for anything, so it looked like he was going down for the rest of his life.

"Tough case, hey," Castle said, sitting himself down on his chair next to Beckett's desk.

"Yeah it was," Beckett sighed, "but we got the result we wanted in the end, I just hope the family can take it for what it's worth. Nothing will ever bring their little girl back but knowing he can't do it to anyone else should help in the tiniest way."

"You're remarkable, you know?"

"It's just my job, Castle."

"It is, you're right, but you're so damn amazing at it. You can go from slamming a suspect down in interrogation to offering your condolences to a grieving family in ten seconds flat. Not many people could do that, not convincingly anyway, but you can. And you mean every single word you say and I think that makes you remarkable."

"I- uh..thanks, I guess.." She replied. He didn't often say things like this, it was a little surprising and she had to admit, she liked this serious side of him, proved he really was just what she needed. "But um, I couldn't have done any of it without you, you know."

"Well what are partners for, hey?" He smiled. "Now come on, paperwork can wait until Monday. Still on for tonight?"

"Of course, I think we're all going to need a good night anyway, and I can't think of anything more perfect than what you have planned."

"Great, you wanna head home and I'll get a cab, come over when you're ready?" He asked, standing up to leave. They'd all arranged on heading over to Castle's for around 8, planning on ordering in and drinking more than a couple of bottles of wine.

"Sure, sounds good," she said, "I've gotta talk to Charlie about something anyway so we'll see you in a bit?"

"Great, see you later," he smiled, heading towards the elevator while Kate gathered her things. She would have suggested he come with her to her apartment and wait while she changed, but she had to talk to Charlie alone first..

"Hey, you're home earlier than I thought you would be," Charlie said, glancing up from painting her nails as Kate walked in.

"Yeah..dirtbag confessed," she replied, "leaving the paperwork until Monday, we all need a break now."

"So you're still on for Castle's then? I was half expecting you to turn around and say you didn't wanna go.."

"I'm still in," Beckett smiled, "I could do with it actually. But uh..I did wanna talk to you.."

"Really? What have I done now?"

"Nothing..yet. Look Charlie, do you really think fooling Castle is a good idea?" Charlie looked at her but didn't say anything. "I mean, we've done it a couple of times now and the two of us are just getting somewhere..I don't wanna ruin it."

"Kateeeee," Charlie whined, reminding her scarily of Castle, "come on, it'll be fun!"

"It would be..but I just don't think it's fair.." Kate said, "he's..everything to me and I don't want to ruin whatever it is we have.."

"Okay, fine. But you're sure you don't wanna have a little bit more fun? God knows you all need it after this case.."

Kate thought about it for a minute. Charlie had a point, it would give them all a laugh when they revealed who they really were and she knew it was exactly the kind of thing that would amuse Castle.. "Fine, we'll give it a go. But the second I change my mind we stop and tell them we were having a laugh, deal?"

"Deal. Now go get changed, you can't go like that."

An hour later and Kate had showered and changed and Charlie was now painting Kate's nails for her - choosing a dark plum colour as opposed to her own pillar box red.

"So," Kate said, in between blowing air onto her drying nails, "things with Ethan still okay?"

"Great," Charlie beamed. "We've been speaking every night and we're seeing each other again on Monday, he gets back from Dallas on Sunday afternoon so we're meeting for lunch." Kate could hardly contain her smile at seeing her sister so happy about her new relationship.

"Well you'll be pleased to know he passed the big brother test."

"We don't have a big broth- did you set Esposito and Ryan on him?"

Oops. "I um..yeah?" Oh well, might as well admit it now. "Look, I didn't know anything about him, he could have been a mass murderer for all I knew! I just wanted them to..talk to him, get to know him and it doesn't matter, anyway, they said he seems genuine."

"Which I could have told you for myself! I'm not a kid, Kate and I know you're a cop and you worry but I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, Charlie but I still panic. That man we arrested today? He's got a law degree and was a respected member of the community. In this job, I've learnt no one can be trusted and to be wary of everyone, including anyone you date. Maybe you're right, maybe I shouldn't have done it but Espo and Ryan were more than happy to help, they know how much I care about you and they care about me, I just asked them to get to know him a bit."

"I know you care, Kate, you always have, I just..we're the same age and I feel like sometimes you treat me like I'm your little sister.."

"I guess I just worry more than you..probably a career thing, I mean why would you think every person you came into contact with was a serial killer, not really what goes through your head as a teacher!"

"Just..don't do it again," Charlie said, offering a small smile.

"Sweetie, the way you're talking about Ethan I can't see me ever having to," Kate grinned and Charlie threw a cushion at her. "Now come on, let's go annoy Castle."

"Evening Castle," Charlie said as he opened the door to her and Kate - who was pretending to be Charlie. "We're a little early but I was getting the third degree from Charlotte here, so we came over. Hope that's okay?"

Oh, so they were playing that game huh? He almost laughed at the fact that they still thought he couldn't tell them apart. "Um Kate, have you already had one of these?" He said, glancing at the bottle of wine she passed him as she walked into the loft, Kate close behind.

"One of- no! I drove here, Castle, no drinking allowed," Charlie said.

"You just seem extraordinarily happy," he smiled.

"We got the guy, closed the case. It's the weekend, I'm not on call and I'm about to spend the night with some of my favourite people, why wouldn't I be happy?" Charlie asked, hoping she was right and Kate actually wasn't on call - or if she was, that Castle didn't know.

Kate was torn. As much as she loved actually being the one to annoy Castle for once instead of the other way around, she couldn't believe she was about to put a stop to it - because she was jealous. "Okay okay, we can stop now," Kate said.

"Really?" Castle said and both Kate and Charlie turned to face him, "oh come on, you didn't think you'd actually fooled me, right?" He asked, "oh my god you did!" He half squealed. "This is amazing, wait until I tell Alexis!"

"You knew..?" Kate asked.

"Of course I did!"

"How?" The sisters asked in unison and Kate and Castle looked to Charlie before at each other.

"It's normally us.." Castle whispered. It was a bit strange, the saying the same thing at the same time thing with someone else. "Anyway," he recovered quickly. "A few things from that afternoon I came to see if Kate was okay and Charlie answered..but pretended to be Kate: first, I expected Kate's eyes to darken slightly and they didn't - first indication it was Charlie. Second, Charlie apologised like three times in a minute and after the conversation I'd just had with Kate, I thought that was highly unlikely and third, Charlie's face when I started bringing up feelings!"

Charlie looked to Kate - that had been the part she had overheard and taken the wrong way, but thankfully Kate just laughed. "Seriously? You've known all this time and you didn't say anything?" Kate said.

"Why would I? I figured the two of you were having fun and no one was getting hurt, so why not let you play about a bit?" He replied as another knock at the door came. "Could you get that, Kate?" He asked, opening the bottle of wine and pouring glasses. "I just realised I never got the two of you a drink."

"Uh, sure.." Kate said, feeling a bit weird at opening the door to someone else's apartment. "Hey guys," she smiled, seeing Lanie, Esposito, Ryan and Jenny on the doorstep. "Come in."

"Something you forgot to tell us?" Lanie asked, raising her eyebrows, "didn't realise you'd moved in.."

"She hasn't yet, but I was busy so I asked her to get it," Castle said, appearing next to Kate. "Come in, guys, let's get you some drinks.."

The boys made to follow Castle but Lanie and Jenny stayed behind with Kate, and the three of them were joined by Charlie. "Yet?" Lanie hissed. "What's that all about?"

Crap, they'd noticed that? "Oh you know," she joked, "just Castle playing about as usual. So, how are you both?" She asked, trying to change the subject.

"Don't think you're getting away with that, Kate Beckett," Lanie said, following the others to the kitchen.

"Ah, there you all are," Castle said, "here we go, take a glass." He passed around glasses of wine, holding his up to make a toast. "To great friends," he smiled, his eyes meeting with Kate's.

"To great friends," they echoed, a blush forming on Kate's face. "Shall we order? I'm starving.." She suggested.

"Great idea," Castle agreed, "everyone okay with Chinese?" They all nodded and murmured their agreement, and Castle pulled out his phone placing the order. "I just ordered this assortment we've had before, hope that's okay with everyone?" He said as he put his phone down.

Everyone seemed relieved at that, it meant they didn't have to spend twenty minutes deciding what to order.

"Shall we make ourselves more comfortable?" Charlie asked, heading to the lounge. "Jeez Castle, didn't offer us a drink..made us stand in the kitchen.." She teased.

"Oh god..I'm sorry-" he began but Kate cut him off with a laugh, "she's joking, Castle, you're a great host," she smiled as the others followed Charlie's lead. "Let me help you get plates and stuff and then we can join them."

"You don't have to do that," Castle told her, "go join them, have fun."

"I know I don't have to, but I want to," she replied, opening the drawer to pull out the cutlery.

God he loved her. "Uh, Kate?" He asked and the uncertainty in his voice immediately put her on edge, this couldn't be good..

"Yes, Castle?" She asked as calmly as she could.

"Why did you uh, stop Charlie? From pretending to be you, I mean."

Not really what she had been expecting. "I wanted my writer back," she blurted out without thinking.

"I..what..?" He asked, a grin forming in his face.

Dammit brain, why couldn't you stop sending those words to my mouth? "I um.." Might as well admit it, not gonna move forward if you're not honest.. Came a voice in her ear, sounding suspiciously like Charlie. "I wanted my writer back," she repeated, shrugging her shoulders. "Got a problem?"

"Nope, no problem, no problem at all," he said quickly. "So uh..I'm your writer now am I?"

"Well I'm a one-writer girl, remember? Doesn't seem fair if it's not the other way round too.."

"I guess it wouldn't be.." He grinned.

"Oh stop gloating, Castle, it makes you less attractive." Foot, meet mouth..

"Oh, so you think I'm attractive?" She should have known he wouldn't let that one drop.

"You're alright, I guess," she answered non-commitedly.

"Just alright?" He pressed.

Rolling her eyes she whirled around to face him, jumping slightly when she came face to face with his chest - she hadn't realised he was that close. "Yes, Castle, I find you attractive," she admitted, "happy now?"

"Oh ecstatic," he grinned again and Kate turned back around to find the others staring at them.

Crap.

"Well, at least she's finally admitting it," Lanie said.

Sounds like they heard a little more than I would have liked, Kate thought. Cheeks flaming, she busied herself with putting paper napkins on each plate.

"I wouldn't worry about it Kate," Castle whispered in her ear from behind her. "If it helps, I find you pretty damn attractive too."

Damn him.

A/N: *hides under the table* so..thoughts?

twitter - holaitsjade | tumblr - stanaabanana