A/N: I know it is short and I apologize. This was supposed to be part of the last chapter but with the hospital stay I couldn't do it. Already working on the next bit. Stay tuned.

A/N #2: I always wanted to see Castle tell off the other women in his life. This gave me a happy.

The crowd inside The Beacon was just as energized as the crowd outside, if a little more sedate. Kate recognized many of the people that shared the room with them. Actors, officials... even the Mayor was there.

And Rick steered them directly towards him.

"Big Cheese!" He smiled broadly, slapping the other man on the back. "Thank's for coming!"

"Like I would miss it." The Mayor turned to look at Beckett. "And now I am glad I didn't. Detective Beckett you look stunning."

"Thank you, Sir."

He tilted his head at her. "Now didn't I tell you to call me Bob?'

Kate flushed, smiling. "Uh, yeah. Thank you... Bob."

"And you..." The black man turned to Castle, immediately noting the happiness that had transformed his friends face. "I'm glad to see you wised up."

Rick blinked, looking at the Mayor quizzically. "I beg your pardon?"

Bob smiled, gripping his shoulder. "You didn't trade down." He glanced at Kate again. "And you most certainly couldn't trade up."

The detective's cheeks pinked beautifully and it was all Castle could do to keep himself from kissing her right there, in the middle of the room.

"Aaaand on that note..." The mayor cleared his throat.

"Right..." Castle had the good grace to flush. "Drinks?" He looked at Beckett. "Vodka, right?" At her nod he turned to his friend.

The mayor raised his glass. "I'll stick to the sparkling water."

"Kay. Be right back."

They both watched him head to the bar.

Then Bob turned to her, smiling softly. "You're good for him."

"Uhm..." Kate faltered. "I'm sorry?"

"He's grown up a lot in the last three years." He laughed. "I didn't think I would ever stop cleaning up after his... indiscretions. But I haven't had to... since he met you."

The detective shook her head. "He did that on his own."

"Maybe. But he never had a reason to... until now." He held out his hand, taking hers to gently kiss her knuckles. "I need to go be a politician, but I'm sure we will run into each other again. Enjoy yourself."

Kate leaned her head to the side, lost in her thoughts as the Mayor walked away; so much so that when Castle returned and touched her arm she jumped slightly.

"Sorry." The writer grinned as he pressed a glass into her hand. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, of course!" Beckett assured him quickly, raising the glass to her mouth. Before it reached her lips, she suddenly stopped, peering into it curiously before smiling at Castle and setting it down on a nearby table. "You know... I think I'm going to follow the Mayor's queue and stick with sparkling water."

Rick's eyebrows furrowed. "Why?"

She shrugged, as casually as she could manage. "This is a big night." She straightened his lapel absently. "I want to remember all of it."

Again, all Castle wanted was to kiss her. He actually took a step towards her before stopping, taking a long drink of his scotch as he tried to compose himself. "Right."

Kate smiled at him sympathetically. "I think I saw the boys over there." She pointed to the back of the room. "I want to go say hi."

"Sure."

Right as he took her hand, Paula showed up and grabbed Castle by the sleeve. "You gotta minute?"

He could tell by the tone of her voice that his agent was unhappy. REALLY not something he wanted to deal with right now. "Well, actually-"

"It's okay, Castle." She pulled away from him gently. "I know you have responsibilities. I'll catch up to you later."

The writer let go reluctantly, his eyes never leaving her form until he lost her in the crowd.

"WHAT are you doing?" Paula's grating voice dragged his attention back.

Castle looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"That little scene on the carpet? Oh, and bringing her at all? It's one thing to make people wonder, but you're serving up the goose before it's even cooked!" She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "It's bad enough you had to make her you're...playpal... but bringing her tonight... You're losing the unmarried 30-40's. For her?"

The derision in Paula's voice was more than he could take. Squaring his shoulders, he stared down at her hard; his nostrils flaring.

Paula took a step back. She wasn't scared of him.

Not exactly.

But she had never... EVER... seen the look in his eyes that she saw right then. It was like she had crossed a line.

One that couldn't be uncrossed.

"Rick..."

Castle held up his hand. "No." The shake of his head had a chilling finality to it. "Not her. Not ever. Do you understand?"

"Rick-"

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND? That is a yes or no question, Paula. And trust me, if it's no?" He smiled coldly, cocking his head to the side. "I can have a new agent by tomorrow. But her?" He glanced in the direction Kate had gone. "She is ...irreplaceable. Now... Let's try this again. Do you understand?"

Swallowing, Paula ducked her head; nodding silently.

"Good." He grinned charmingly. "I'm glad we get each other. Agents are so hard to train."

Paula blinked.

This wasn't Meredith. It wasn't Gina.

It wasn't the multitudes of celebutantes and harpies she was used to dealing with.

This was different.

WAY different.

She watched him walk away; knowing her world had just changed and she had no choice but to change with it.

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