In season five Javier took a kid in a juve kid under his wing but we never saw him again? I wish we saw him even just the passing reference. How is he doing? We don’t know.

In season- 6 they introduce Kelly Neumann the doctor who steals all 3XK files and disappear. Did they give a closing to this character?

Whats the song that castle plays on his phone at their wedding? The lyrics are gut wrenching and beautiful.

Do you think sophia turner made kate and rick put bags over their heads when leaving the cia building to save the little girl?

Anyone else notice that Kate would ask her suspects a question, and would then interrupt the suspect trying to answering? This would drive me mad!

That one time when Castle sported a mustache, lol.

https://preview.redd.it/ao4qfr9mqqqc1.png?width=1893&format=png&auto=webp&s=f4f51f11d92fa6e527c277f1c76df7536bf81def

Fulfill all these below requirements, appreciate your recommendations!

-Has some kind of romantic interest -Solving murders and/or mysteries -LIGHTHEARTED/FUN -Ideally some kind of overarching story like Kate’s moms murder

Edit for more information: Seen bones (too serious), agents of shield (loved), will continue adding as I think of them

The episode with lucy the AI was so fun, first lucy being jealous of beckett, then Beckett turning her into a him, and Beckett's reaction to rick finding out about that and the AI saying "I don't like to be touched Rick, not by you anyway" and castle's reation was so much fun to watch

I absolutely love this episode, one of my top favourites of the entire show.

This episode paid hommage to the great Captain Beckett of the 12th precinct, man the way she was above all, her dressing in the show, her posture, people at the academy looking up to her in utmost admiration.

And her being a badass captain was just cherry on the top.

What are your views on that episode, let me know

Kate had been captain for about a year. She loved her job, but some parts of it she hated especially the bureaucracy of 1PP and their stupid accountants. "Really," she thought, "Fucking paper clips. Your worried about the 12th precincts usage of paper clips?"

She knew who the culprit was. It was her crazy, goofy, lovable husband. She turned to him and saw he was deeply involved with his phone, playing angry birds. She smiled at him and thought how crazy in love she was with him. "Babe," She asked, "Are you daisy chaining the paper clips again?"

He turned to her and smiled, that smile that always sent a tingle thru her body. He chuckled and said, "Maybe, I don't remember. I would need a lot of kisses to recall such an event."

She smiled and replied, "As much as that sounds like fun, I have to finish this ridiculous crap for 1PP. Their all up my butt about our over usage of paper clips."

"Ahh, how the mighty have fallen. The greatest cop in the history of the NYPD has been reduced to mind numbing mediocrity." He hopped up on the bed and took up a fighter's stance all the while attired only in his Star Wars boxer shorts. "You and I need to go out there and start busting some heads like the old days," he chuckled.

Kate couldn't help but laugh, "What with your vast arsenal of rapier wit?" both of them laughed recalling that day when she had told him that.

Castle laid back down in bed and huffed at her, "What about that time when I broke out the fists of fury and put a beat down on Hal Lockwood?"

Kate looked at him her eyes misting over, "I'll never forget that day Babe. You were my Chuck Norris. You know what else you gave me that day,"

Castle now serious said. "Our word always."

Kate looked shocked, "How did you know what I was thinking?"

"Because I know you wife, and the things you hold dear, it's our secret ingredient."

Trying to get things back on track she cleared her voice and said, "So anyway, can you ease up on the paper clip usage?"

Castle said using his puppy dog eye look. "Yes Kate, I'll try to do better."

She looked at him and smiled. "Shut Up" and she went back to work on her computer. A few minutes later she heard her husband say.

"Soooooo," he queried, "I happened to see a wedding invitation downstairs that you opened, were you ever going to tell me who it's from?"

Kate sighed and realized that she would be getting no more work done tonight, so she closed out her computer and whispered, "It was from an ex of mine."

"And you're hiding this from me why?" he asked.

Kate looked at him shyly and was set to answer before she heard her husband groan:

"Oh no, don't tell me it was from Dr Douchbag."

Kate giggled and said, "What happened to Dr. Motorcycle Boy?"

Castle replied, "He got promoted. You know I used to dream of him burning in the fires of hell. That thought always warmed my heart on cold wintery nights."

Kate laughed out loud, "Geez Castle jealous much?"

Castle flicked his finger out at Kate's nipple.

"Hey" she yelled, "What was that for?"

"Stop being mean." he smirked, "Besides they don't look all that disappointed.

Kate looked down at her chest, "No they do seem interested."

"Anyway, Castle continued, "Do we really have to go Kate, I'm going to be really uncomfortable.

She sighed, "No Babe were not going. I'm not sure why he even sent me one."

Castle was confused, "I thought that the day on the swings you led me to believe that the breakup had been amicable."

Kate rolled on her side to look at her husband, "No, I told you I really liked him, and at one time I did, but at the end when we broke up, it was a knock down no holds barred shit being flung everywhere argument. It was ugly, and I was still recuperating. The more I yelled the more pain I was in, and the funny thing was he's a doctor, yet he didn't even recognize that arguing was causing me so much pain. He was so consumed with anger that he wasn't a doctor anymore just an enraged jealous man.

Castle still confused asked, "What did he have to be jealous about?"

Kate moved over and put her head on Castle's chest. He ran his fingers thru her hair. God, she loved when he did that. She replied "You."

Castle never hearing about this part said, "Me?"

Kate sighed, "Babe I don't want to get all into this, but the short answer is he thru accusations that we had slept together, that I was in love with you, and I kept him at arm's length, and I thru back that he was never there, I was furious when I heard that he had shoved you against the wall. I told him if I could get out of bed that I would kick the shit out of him up and down the hallway. Let's just say it was ugly. So, I have no clue why he would invite us to his wedding. He certainly didn't like you and we ended badly, so the only thing I can think of is that he wants to do a live and let live thing, but in either case I don't want to go either. I just don't see how this would go well even after all this time." Besides she laughed, "I can't have you calling him Dr. Douchbag can I?"

"Fine by me Kate. I'd probably try to put something in his drink anyway. When you had your argument, did you love me then?"

He couldn't see her face has she was laying on his chest, so she smiled and said, "Maybe... Maybe not."

He huffed, "Do I have to flick the other nipple as punishment?"

Kate laughed and said, "Yes please." Kate who had been putting off the next topic until she felt the time was right said, "Rick, I think it's time we discuss making a baby."

Castle trying to reign in his enthusiasm said, "You know me, I'm all on board with this, but what got you thinking about it?"

Kate sighed, "I don't know, Jenny brought the kids into the precinct today, and I just watched, and I started to think that time was running out for us. I'm not getting and younger, Shit I'll be 39 pretty soon and you're so old I can't even count that high." Kate felt a smack on her ass, "Hey you big jerk, easy on the butt. I'm going to claim spousal abuse if you don't stop." she laughed.

Castle chuckled, "You deserve it for being a mean cruel wife. I don't know why I put up with you."

Kate smiled and said, "Because you love me?"

Castle chuckled, "That I do honey, with all of my heart."

"Anyway, getting back to baby talk," she continued, "I was thinking that when our child is graduating from college I don't want to look like the grandparents. You'll be in your mid 60's as it is if we start today, and I'll be in my mid 50s, so what I'm saying is I think we need to start right away."

"Look Kate, you're the one that always put it off, I've always been on board for another child, so the sooner the better is fine by me. I've even picked out a name if it's a girl. I was thinking Lily Joahnna Castle. I remember how much you told me your mother loved lilies, so I thought it sounded right."

Kate sprung up of his chest and kissed him all over his face. "Richard Castle, I didn't think I could love you anymore than I do, but that name is beautiful. When did you even come up with this?"

Castle replied, "Remember when we took care of little Cozmo a couple of years ago?" Kate nodded, "Well I saw you with such a beautiful smile holding that baby and I let my writers mind wonder and I started thinking of us having a baby, then the name just popped into my head. A girl's name that would also honor your mother. Then I remembered you telling me that your mothers favorite flowers were lilies. Look Kate, I love your Dad, and even though I never met your Mom, I know I would have loved her. I thought this way our baby would always share a link with your Mom, to keep her memory alive."

"With a tear running down her face she said, "Rick, thank you for just being you. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Castle wiping the tear from her eye said, "I would do anything for you Kate. I Always have I Always will."

Kate trying to get her emotions back on point said, "I'll set up an appointment with my OBGYN and talk to her about what we're planning and see if she as any suggestions. I'll stop taking my pills when they run out."

"You know Kate, no coffee or wine when you get pregnant. So, you better get your fix in before that happens."

"Ugh, don't remind me. You'll probably find me withering on the floor in the kitchen drooling and going thru withdrawal symptoms." Kate sighed.

"We're partners honey, when you stop, I'll stop."

Kate smiled, "Thanks Babe, that will help. Rick, do you have a name picked out if it's a boy? I mean we could name him after you. I like your name."

Castle laughed and said, "Honey I wouldn't pick that name if it was the last name on earth. When I was in high school and someone would be mad at me, they would say "Hey big Dick, how's it hanging, or "Hey you're a dick Dick," and if it was a girl that I broke up with she would yell "Why do you have such a little dick Dick," if we have a son he'll be scared for life."

Kate had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. "Okay...Okay I see your point Babe, no Rick for a name. But let me tell you one thing Mister Castle, you were right when I first met you that your claims do run on the large side, so how about you show me what a big boy you are and let's practice at making a baby."

"Castle said, " Mmm I hear a rumor that practice makes perfect, so I think we'll be needing a lot of practice time and starting now makes a world of sense."

As Kate melted into his arms she whispered, "Show me what you got...Big Dick."

"Yes, my beautiful captain and wife, let me show you."

And they proceeded to practice all night.

Rewatching Castle and WOW, Stana Katic’s acting as Beckett in this episode especially is above and beyond. The entire hangar scene was so raw and upsetting to watch, her performance was just incredible. I always enjoy her acting as Beckett, but the episodes especially centered around her mom are when we really get to see her stand out.

Man, on a rewatch marathon, season 8 Richard castle is just pathetic loser and Kate beckett is a cold spoilt bitch (sorry for the crass language).

But man creators did both these characters dirty, like horse shit dirty.

Beckett running away from marriage when she knows castle is the main reason she was able to solve her mother's case, which means he might be only a writer but he is a resourceful man.

Then castle turning into a clingy husband which made me cringe even first time watching but it was miserable on the second watch.

Then Becket and lainey using his 2 months disappearance to justify her actions which we all know wasn't his fault at all.

Writing was all over the place, and man did it hurt watching our favourite show going batshit crazy.

People talk about Nathan Fillion being the problem or him beung jealous of Stana, but watching season 8, tells a different story, it clearly shows creators wanted fans to hate the show so much that they would have to cancel it to focus on the next big thing.

I did reference the Castle book Heat Rises. I think that should have been the book he was finishing up that summer. If you've read it, you'll get it, but if you haven't I think I still explained it enough to where you should be alright without reading the specific scene in question. If not, let me know, and I'll fill you in!

This chapter begins where the last one left off.

I still don’t own Castle…

xxxxx

Kate took her time that morning, taking a long and hot shower before getting dressed. Grabbing the Patterson book she’d brought up to her room but hadn’t read the night before, she headed downstairs with the plan of returning it to his library and selecting a book she really did want to read. “Did you really think hiring a butler was going to impress me, Castle?” she asked lightly when she saw him sitting on the couch in his office.

Chuckling, he took a drink of his coffee and shook his head. “No. Trust me, I have so many ideas of things to do to impress you, but hiring a butler is not on that list,” he informed her. “The butler is for my benefit.” Seeing her turn her attention to him, he continued. “I’m supposed to be taking it easy. With my mother and Alexis being back in the city during the week, I needed someone to help with the general day-to-day. A butler hurt my ego less than a home health nurse,” he admitted with a small smile. “Alfred is here during the week, and my mother and Alexis take care of the weekends.”

She nodded her understanding. “And once school is out, your mother and Alexis will be here full-time to take care of you, so it’s just temporary.”

He shrugged. “I’ll keep Alfred on through the end of the summer. That way they can go back to the city to be with their friends or what have you without feeling guilty about it,” he told her. “And I’ll have you here,” he added with a hopeful smile.

She bit back a slight smile at his words. “I didn’t promise you I was staying all summer,” she reminded him as she returned her attention to his bookshelves.

“But you didn’t say no either,” he pointed out. “So, done with Patterson, hmm?” he gestured to where she had returned the book from the previous night.

“You know, he didn’t quite hit the spot I’d hoped for,” she gave him a coy smile.

He grinned at that. “Well if you’re looking for a good read, may I suggest something from the Storm series…”

She laughed softly. “Actually, I was searching for a book with a little more substance,” she teased him. “‘The wind gathered up her hair’ isn’t really a phrase I’m looking to read today,” she continued with a playful smirk.

He pouted slightly before getting an idea. “Ok, so not Storm. Could I tempt you with some Heat?” he asked.

“I’m not so self-absorbed that I want to read about my alter ego,” she laughed, shaking her head.

“Even if it’s chapters that you haven’t read before?” he arched an eyebrow in her direction.

She studied him for a moment, trying to get what he was suggesting. “The only ones would be…Castle, are you offering to let me read your next Heat novel in advance?” Because if he was, that would definitely impress her.

“No…no, of course not, Gina would kill me,” he told her quickly. He did notice her face fall a little. “I’m offering to read you a few chapters from Heat Rises that I haven’t sent in yet.” He watched her eyes light up a little and knew he’d hooked her. “As long as you promise you won’t post the content on any of my fansites,” he added teasingly.

She studied him another moment. He was being serious with his offer, she realized, and she tugged her lower lip between her teeth. One of her favorite authors had just offered her a private, advance reading of a book he’d written about a character he’d based on her…a reading that, from the way he spoke, would be the first time anyone other than himself had read it. She was flattered…more than flattered…so much so that she didn’t even catch his teasing her about being a fan. “I…I would like that,” she admitted with a smile.

He returned her smile and nodded, gesturing for her to get comfortable on the couch while he got up and moved to his desk to get his laptop. Once he’d returned to the couch, he got comfortable as well, mimicking her position with his back leaned against the arm of the couch facing her, their feet touching in the middle couch cushion.

He watched her as he read, studying her carefully as she closed her eyes to simply listen to his voice. He watched her face react to certain words, dialogue, and certain scenes. He wasn’t sure how she would react to the beginning…the way Rook’s absence had mirrored his own a summer ago, aside from the fact that Rook and Heat were in a relationship at the time, and he and Beckett…well…weren’t. Though they could be soon, he found himself thinking.

For the most part, she kept her eyes closed, simply listening to his words, watching the scene play out in her mind. Her eyes did open and she shifted uncomfortably as the memories from the previous summer were brought back, though she had thought she’d put those behind her. Apparently, she hadn’t put those feelings as far behind her as she’d thought; they still struck a little bit of a nerve. Her eyes searched his, though, as he read Rook’s apology to Nikki and something in the way he looked at her told her that he was apologizing to her too. She only had a moment to contemplate it, though, because Nikki was forgiving Rook pretty easily…with her mouth on his.

It was a short love scene…two paragraphs…but it was enough to make her eyes darken as they locked with his and push her upright a little more, closer in his direction. Castle had to swallow hard at her reaction. He wasn’t sure what kind of reaction he’d expected from her, hearing a love scene between their alter egos from his lips as he read to her…but in reality, it was more intimate, more erotic than he had initially thought, and he suddenly wasn’t sure how great of an idea it had been to read this far into the book with her in front of him; teasing and flirting was one thing, but this felt like…well…almost like verbal sex with her…hot and dirty in the best ways without either of them taking off any clothing or even touching the other; the only contact was between their eyes, which never wavered. He watched as she bit her lip and her chest moved with shallow, soft pants, and suddenly he was finding the room very, very hot and his own breathing was a bit erratic.

She wasn’t sure how long they sat staring into each other’s eyes, both having to calm themselves down. Her eyes finally broke the contact they’d held with his and she relaxed back against the arms of the couch in the same position she’d started when he began reading to her. And when he continued, it took only one sentence before she was laughing.

“What’s so funny?” he had to ask. It was 1 sentence after the love scene…he definitely had not been going for a comedic tone.

“I’m sorry…” she laughed, trying to get it a little more under control. “I’m sorry, it’s just…‘her naked thigh draped over Jameson Rook’s magnificent ass…’” she laughed a little more before managing to bite it back into a very amused smile. “Egotistical much?”

“I’ll have you know that Rook having a magnificent ass has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that I also have a magnificent ass,” he defended himself, but he couldn’t help but smile a little.

She had to bite her lip harder to keep from laughing again. “Sure…whatever you need to tell yourself,” she gestured for him to continue. But a few sentences later, she was laughing again. “‘Does sex help your writing?’” she had to hold her ribs now because laughing really did hurt them.

“It’s a legitimate question to a writer from his girlfriend,” he defended himself. She finally managed to stop laughing again and sat up a little more to try to get more comfortable. “If you’re going to be mean about it, I don’t have to read you anymore.”

She offered him an apologetic smile. “No…no, I’m sorry. No more laughing. It was just a little over the top, is all. But an excuse I could totally expect you to try to use as a way to get sex. I’m honestly a little surprised you never tried it out with me in the beginning.”

“I would have if I’d thought it would have worked,” he admitted with a shrug.

She raised an eyebrow slightly. “You’d have a better shot of it working now than you did when we first met. I actually like you now.”

His lips curved into a grin at her words. “Is that so?”

She caught look in his eyes and her eyes widened a little. “A better shot, Castle! I never said it would work, just that you’d have a better shot now!” she insisted.

“What I heard was you telling me you like me and that I have a good shot at sex with you,” he stated smugly with a grin.

She rolled her eyes at that. “Shut up and keep reading. I won’t laugh again,” she promised with a small smile. She kept her word as he resumed reading to her, though there wasn’t much to laugh at. Her eyes darkened again as the fictional characters actually made it to her bedroom this time and there was talk of being too close to know whose sweat was on her body–hers or his. Her eyes found his again as Nikki and Rook talked about exclusivity in their relationship over a sushi take out dinner, and by the time he’d finished his current chapter, Kate was so caught up in the story, that she actually jumped a little when she heard a knock on the office door.

“Sir, Ma’am, lunch is ready at your convenience. Would you like me to serve it in here?” Alfred asked from his position at the door.

“Uh no, Alfred. You can set it up on the back porch if you don’t mind. I think we could probably use some fresh air at this point,” Castle told him.

“Very good, Sir.”

Once he’d left, Castle closed his laptop and stood. “So what do you think about the new book?”

She smiled, standing and stretching out a little. “I think I’m hoping Alfred can get us some sushi for dinner tonight,” she told him honestly, hoping her reference to the scene he’d just read to her about their alter egos’ sushi dinner would maybe hint to him that she wanted the same from him…exclusivity and a relationship.

He glanced up quickly at her words. “I think if Alfred can’t make sushi, that he can certainly figure out where to get us some,” he promised, hoping the subtext he was reading actually meant what he thought it did.

“Good. I think I’d like my own sushi dinner with you,” her smile a little shy this time.

“Yeah, me too,” he returned her smile. Just as he’d done the previous evening, he took her hand, smiling as she was the one to lace her fingers with his, and they made their way to the back porch for lunch.

xxxxx

The week went by relatively quickly…too quickly for Castle’s taste. It had been relaxing. They spent time as friends, reading quietly in the same room as each other, having pleasant and slightly romantic dinners together, and generally just enjoying each other’s company without the pretense of work or cases or anything else. And when Castle had his home health visits from a physical therapist or needed to write, Kate was happy to entertain herself by reading outside or walking on the beach.

Neither had brought up an actual discussion about their relationship, they’d simply let the week take its course. There had been plenty of hand-holding, instigated by both of them, and it was unspoken between them that he didn’t have to wait for her to lace their fingers now, he could do it himself and she wouldn’t pull away.

When they sat together, they sat close enough to touch in some way, and there had been a lot of flirting and innuendo in their conversations, though fate…or mostly Alfred…had the uncanny ability to appear just as they were having a moment or breaths away from a kiss–much to Kate’s amusement and Castle’s dismay, so much to the point that he was beginning to regret hiring a butler for the summer. If there had been a doubt about where they were headed when she showed up at the beginning of the week, there was no longer one by the end of the week for either of them; all that was left was to have a real conversation about it.

Kate had spent the first part of Friday afternoon after lunch packing up her bag while he worked with his physical therapist in his office. She was just coming down the stairs with her bag when she saw the therapist leave through the front door, and Castle’s disappointed face at seeing her bag ready to leave. “Feel like a walk on the beach with me before I head back to the city?” she asked him softly. She knew he was disappointed and that he’d hoped she would stay.

“With you? Always,” he agreed, taking her hand in his once she’d dropped her bag by the door.

The walk to the beach was quiet as were the first few minutes of their walk once they’d slipped their shoes off before stepping in the sand. Finally, it was she who broke the silence. “This week has been really nice, Rick,” she started softly.

“Obviously not nice enough for you to stay,” he murmured.

She stopped at the edge of the line where the ocean hit the sand as waves broke onto the shore. “I know you’re disappointed, but I have to go back to the city this weekend,” she told him softly. “I’m supposed to meet my dad for lunch on Sunday, and I’m out of clothes.” Seeing him open his mouth, she quickly placed two fingers over his lips so that she could finish. “But I’d like to come back after that,” she added with a smile, dropping her fingers from his lips to signify he could respond now that she was done.

“I’d like that too,” he met her smile then.

“Good…it would have been a little awkward if I’d driven back out here otherwise,” she gave him a gentle tug to start walking again. “How many weeks of school does Alexis have left?” she asked him curiously after a few moments.

“3. Why?” he asked, not sure what his daughter’s school schedule had to do with anything.

“Have you mentioned to her that you asked me to stay here all summer?” she asked curiously.

“No, because I didn’t know you had the summer off,” he pointed out with a small smile.

Right. She realized he hadn’t known that until this week, and by that point, Alexis had already gone back to the city. “I think you should make sure it’s okay with her. And with your mother.”

He stopped walking and studied her for a moment. “Why wouldn’t it be okay with them?”

She looked away at his question and was quiet for another moment. “Because what’s happening between us might not exactly thrill either one of them, especially Alexis.”

He gently lifted her chin to look at him. “What’s happening between us?”

She took a deep breath and released it slowly. She had started the conversation, she may as well go through with it. “I think we both know we’re way beyond partners or even friends at this point,” she said softly. “At least, I hope you know that. I want us to be more than that,” she met his eyes.

“I want us to be more than that too,” he smiled, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.

She rested her hand over his on her cheek and decided she was finally brave enough to continue. “I’m not good at this…relationship…stuff, or talking about my feelings. I’m not easy to be with. I hide, and I push people away when they get too close. I just…ever since my mom, there’s been a wall there to protect me from getting hurt again…” she trailed off. She was glad he didn’t say anything, knew he was giving her time to find the words to say whatever she wanted to say.

“You were right before…I have hidden in relationships with men I don’t love…it was just safer that way. With you it’s different…you’re not safe,” she finally continued. “You got through my wall somehow,” she explained softly, hoping he understood the unspoken, You could hurt me. “But that day at the hospital when I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it, I realized it didn’t matter how far or where I tried to hide, I can’t hide from the way I feel for you. So I’m done hiding. I’m all in,” she finished, biting her lower lip a little nervously.

His smile only grew as he listened to her. “Well for starters, you’re not as bad as you think at this talking about your feelings thing. I think you just did a pretty good job,” he complimented her. “You also didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know about you in a relationship. I know you push people away, I know you hide and aren’t a talker…I know you are the most remarkable, maddening, challenging, frustrating, extraordinary woman I have ever met. So if you’re all in, I am too.”

She smiled at his words, closing the distance between them with a tender kiss, not waiting for fate or Alfred or anyone else to interrupt them before it could happen this time. She pulled away when she felt him start to deepen the kiss. “I’ve got to go,” she murmured.

Castle breathed deeply, his hands moving to her waist. “Really? I have been trying to kiss you all week, and now that it finally happens, you’re running away?”

She laughed softly. “Not running,” she promised him. “I really do need to get back to the city, and I’d like to leave early enough so I don’t get stuck in traffic…and before Alexis shows up,” she explained. “Besides, neither one of us is in the best physical shape right now,” she reminded him of their injuries. “You can’t handle a flight of stairs, so I know there’s no way you could physically handle me,” she teased slightly.

"Doesn't mean I wouldn't like to try," he pouted a little, but he knew she was right. As much as he wanted to try to handle her, she would probably kill him by making his heart explode. “We’ve got really bad timing,” he murmured.

She laughed again. “I don’t know. I did manage to get the next 3 months off…and I’d say the thought of my 'naked thigh draped over your magnificent ass' is incentive enough to push yourself through your physical therapy,” she recounted the words from Heat Rises that she’d given him such a hard time about when he’d read it to her earlier that week.

“The thought of your naked anything is enough to give me incentive.”

“See?” she laughed. “Come on, walk me back. Don’t pout and I’ll give you a kiss before I go.”

He brightened up a little at that, his hand finding hers again as they walked back toward his house.

She kept her promise, stopping at the door before she picked up her bag and kissed him softly. “I’ll see you Sunday evening,” she promised. She picked up her bag and opened the door, but before stepping through it she pressed a last kiss to his lips, longer and a little deeper than the last two as this time she slid her tongue across his lips. “Sunday,” she murmured softly when she pulled away with a smile at his dazed look, before finally heading to her car.

They were both going to have to heal quickly because she wasn’t sure how long either of them would be able to keep from getting too physical now that they’d defined their relationship and were so close to being able to act on 3 years of pent-up tension.

xxxxx

I hope you guys enjoyed this!

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I used to watch Castle when I was younger and as a 15- year old, always thought that Kate looked better in later seasons with longer and lighter hair. Rewatching it now, and my opinion has completely changed. I feel like the lighter color really washes her out. Really love the early seasons hair cuts and colors. The actress is absolutely beautiful either way but she absolutely shined with darker hair and shorter styles.

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Esposito

I’m so glad you all enjoyed the last chapter! It was about time they had a real discussion about her mom’s case…and they left no secrets between them. Castle’s secret about Smith bothered me in season 4, and Beckett didn’t have to hide a confession here, so it really seemed like he COULDN’T keep a secret like that from her in this case.

Beckett really earned her character growth here; being willing to put the case down…at least temporarily until she has a real lead AND telling him she wants him with her when she gets justice for her mom is huge for her. It means she won’t run blindly alone into the battle next time…she’ll go with him. That’s really, really huge for her regarding her mom’s case. The way I see it, the emotional epiphany she had hanging off the roof at the end of “Always” is the same emotional epiphany she had here in this story with Castle being shot and almost dying…so that’s where she’s at in her head space right now.

I hope you all continue to enjoy the story! I think we’ve all earned some fun and fluff for a little bit. This chapter starts right where the last one left off.

I still don’t own Castle.

xxxxx

They remained on the back porch after their conversation, enjoying the ocean breeze and both lost in their own thoughts. Instead of pulling her hand from his, Beckett laced her fingers with his after a few moments, silently creating a more intimate gesture than one simply of comfort or friendship.

For the first time in a long time, the silence between them was comfortable; sure, they hadn’t talked about their relationship…or subtext…or whatever was happening between them, but that would come in time. Right now they both just felt the relief from the weight that was her mother’s case and everything it brought with it lifting; they both felt like they could breathe a little easier.

Castle was the one to break the silence first, his thumb gently drawing small circles on her hand. “How do you feel about Chinese?” he asked softly.

“Hmm?” she turned her gaze to him as his voice brought her out of her thoughts. The feel of his thumb stroking her skin had sent her mind down a path she hadn’t allowed it to travel much until recently…a path where she couldn’t help but think how his thumb might stroke other parts of her body, and she had no desire to stop it right now.

He smiled slightly. “For dinner? There’s a great Chinese place I can order from. It’s almost as good as the Chinese you get in the city.”

Dinner. Right. “Sounds good,” she returned his smile.

Nodding, he released her hand and took her empty coffee cup. “I’ll go order,” he started. Seeing her make a move to follow him, he gently stopped her. “Why don’t you wait out here, and when I’m done, I’ll come back out and we can watch the sunset while we wait for the food? It’s a pretty spectacular view over the ocean if you’ve never seen one.”

“Sure,” she agreed, watching him disappear inside. Once he was gone, she ran her hands over her face and through her hair. Watching the sunset together sounded incredibly…romantic. She wasn’t sure if that had been his intention when he’d suggested it, but if he wanted to try to romance her, she had decided to let him. She wanted this, and though she was still trying to find the courage to tell him that in so many words, she certainly wouldn’t stop any advances on his part in the meantime. She found herself wondering if she just dropped some hints maybe he would pick up on the subtext and they could find their footing that way, because doing this…a real relationship where she would be completely and totally all in…was not something Kate Beckett was comfortable with, nor knew how to do.

He interrupted her thoughts once more as he rejoined her, having exchanged their coffee mugs for glasses of wine. “My doctor said 1 glass a day is all I’m allowed right now. I would rather have it here with you at sunset than save it for dinner,” he explained softly, offering her one of the glasses.

“Thank you,” she responded, her voice just as soft as his as she took the glass, looking down after a moment with an almost shy smile.

Though she looked exactly like the Detective Beckett he was used to, he realized the woman standing with him now was all Kate…she was soft and shy and even more beautiful than he’d ever realized. He had known Beckett for 3 years, and he’d thought he loved her; but now, he couldn’t wait to get to know and fall in love with Kate.

She sipped her wine slowly, content to just share the moment silently with him. It was like neither one of them knew just what to say. They both knew they had to eventually talk about their relationship, what they were doing…but neither seemed brave enough to risk what they had either.

Once again, it was Castle who broke the silence. “My mother told me how you were there for Alexis the day I was shot,” he started softly.

Her eyes jerked to his at the mention of that day, the memories of how scared she’d been came flooding back. Instinctively she moved her body closer to where he was standing until she was close enough to slip her arm around his waist. She just needed to reassure herself that he was really still here. “I knew better than anyone how she was feeling at the time; I wasn’t going to let her go through it alone and have her spiral out of control the way I did for awhile,” she told him quietly, her eyes focused on the wine in her glass.

He turned his body more into her, drawing her closer in the process. “You have no idea how much it means to me that you did that for her despite what I know you must have been going through.”

She looked up to meet his eyes, offering him a small smile. “I did promise you that if something happened to you, I would watch out for her. I don’t break my promises.”

Reaching out, he gently pushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. “I know you don’t,” he agreed softly. “But still…thank you.”

She tugged her lower lip between her teeth slightly as his fingers brushed her cheek. “You’re welcome,” she murmured, her eyes locking on his. “I didn’t just do it for you, though. I care about them too,” she admitted, breaking the eye contact as she took another sip of wine.

He smiled at her words. “I do know that, yes,” he nodded.

“This view is beautiful,” she looked back at the sun setting over the ocean as she tried to steer the conversation away from talk of his shooting.

“Yeah, it is,” he commented, his eyes never leaving her. His tone let her know the view he was referencing was not the same one as her.

Turning back to him, her cheeks flushed slightly. “Yeah, well you’re still on pain medication, so I’m not sure how reliable your opinion is at the moment,” she tried to joke. But she knew he’d always been attracted to her; no amount of pain medication was going to influence that.

“I’m not on as many pain meds as you think I am. If I were, I wouldn’t have been able to have any wine,” he pointed out. “You are beautiful, Kate,” he continued softly.

She noted his word choice. Beautiful. Every other time he had complimented her appearance, he’d use words like gorgeous or hot or sexy. But beautiful carried other implications with it, she knew, and he was a writer…his word choice was intentional. Beautiful was a word for love, not lust. “Rick…” she breathed softly.

He smiled at the way she used his first name. He slowly leaned in, giving her ample opportunity to back away if she wasn’t ready for his advances. When she didn’t, he smiled a little more as he moved closer. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, the doorbell rang, signaling their dinner had arrived, and he sighed, dropping his head at the universe interrupting them…again.

“You should get that…” she murmured, but she’d made no move to back out of his personal space.

“Yeah,” he sighed again, taking a step back from her and heading inside to get their delivery order.

It took Kate another moment to compose herself, draining the rest of the wine in her glass in the process before following him inside to meet him in the kitchen.

xxxxx

Dinner had been easy and comfortable between them; they’d shared meals before, both at the precinct and on occasion elsewhere. They were above all else friends first, and could easily have intelligent and pleasant conversations that went nowhere near the romantic boundaries that had started to blur outside earlier.

He gave her a tour of the main level after they’d put away the leftovers, his hand moving to find hers easily. He’d decided her earlier permissions weren’t going to be revoked, so he was going to take advantage of them. When they got to his office, he couldn’t help but grin as he watched her drawn to all the books he had lining his shelves, and he was reminded once again how much he truly loved her brilliant mind. “You’re welcome in here and can borrow any book you like whenever you want,” he perched on the edge of his desk, watching her.

She looked over her shoulder with a genuine smile before selecting a book, mostly to mess with him at this point. “Even if I want to read James Patterson?” she asked, holding up a copy of one of the Women’s Murder Club books with a teasing smile.

“Well I don’t know why you’d want to read Patterson when I have written over 20 best-selling mystery novels, but sure,” he chuckled.

Her smile grew a little more as she moved closer to where he was still perched against his desk. “I don’t know. There’s just something about Patterson…he just does it for me. Hit’s the spot, you know?” she had dropped her voice to a huskier tone as she moved in closer until she was standing in front of him.

His eyes darkened slightly as he caught the innuendo in her words, and he reached out, tugging her closer until she was between his knees. Taking the Patterson novel from her hands, he placed it on the desk behind him. “I promise you, anything he writes that you think hits the spot, I can write better,” he said lowly. “You’ve read Heat Wave. I think page 105 more than proved I know how to hit your spot,” he added, his word choice very intentional.

She swallowed hard, both from the way her body was reacting to the close proximity as well as his words. “I don’t know…that sex scene didn’t really do much for me…” she bantered back, arching an eyebrow. She leaned in closer, her breath teasing his ear as she reached behind him to grab the book he’d taken from her hands. “I think I’m just going to stick with Patterson for now,” she whispered in a tone by his ear much the way she had after their very first case. “Goodnight, Castle,” she smiled, stepping back from him then and walking out of his office to head to bed, again, much the same way she’d walked away from him after their very first case.

xxxxx

Kate started to stir from her sleep when she felt sunlight hitting her face, but she refused to open her eyes yet. Between the pain medicine for her ribs, the wine and the ridiculously comfortable mattress in Castle’s guest room, she’d had the best night of sleep she’d had since before the shooting. She snuggled a little deeper into the covers, but as she did so, got a whiff of coffee and bacon close by…closer than it should have been considering the kitchen was downstairs. Her eyes snapped open and she saw an older gentleman in a tux standing in her room, arranging a breakfast tray on the desk in her room. “Uh…hi?” she murmured, very confused at this point.

“Good morning, Miss Beckett,” the gentleman greeted her in a proper English accent. “Mr. Castle suggested I bring your breakfast up to you since you slept in this morning.”

She just looked at him, not sure which aspect of this entire scenario she was more shocked by. “I’m sorry, Mr. Castle didn’t mention you,” she shook her head.

The older gentleman gave her a small smile. “I apologize, Ma’am. I assumed he told you to expect me this morning. I’m Alfred. Mr. Castle hired me as his personal butler for the summer.”

She bit back the laugh that threatened to escape at the name…because of course Castle would hire an English butler named Alfred…and nodded. “I see. Well, Alfred, thank you for the breakfast. And please, call me Kate.”

“You’re welcome, Ma’am. Once you’re finished, let me know and I’ll come remove the tray for you. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask.” The older gentleman finished arranging her breakfast tray and then left without another word, closing the door quietly behind him.

She grabbed her phone from her nightstand and sent a text to Castle.

You seriously hired a butler named Alfred? Did he come as a package deal with a Batman suit?

She felt a little ridiculous sending him the text since he was just downstairs, but she wasn’t sure if he was taking it easy in bed like he was supposed to be doing or not. And he’d had his butler bring her up breakfast; she was going to enjoy it before leaving the room. Getting up from the bed caused her ribs to protest slightly, but not as badly as she’d expected. She headed to the bathroom before checking out the breakfast tray, and when she came back, she saw the text message back from Castle.

I know, isn’t it great? Sadly there is no Batman suit; alas, I will just have to be Bruce Wayne.

She laughed out loud and shook her head reading his message. He actually reminded her a lot of Bruce Wayne…millionaire by day who worked to help put away some of New York’s toughest criminals as a side gig.

Bruce Wayne gets the girls.

Tossing her phone back on her bed, she moved to examine the breakfast tray she’d been brought. There was an omelet, some bacon, fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee. Seeing a small vase with a single red rose in it on the corner of the tray made her smile. She wasn’t sure whether Castle had instructed his butler to include a rose on the tray, but she assumed he did have something to do with it, and that thought made her smile more; he was trying to impress her, to romance her, and that gave her butterflies. She moved the vase with the rose to her nightstand before returning to the tray to enjoy her breakfast with a spectacular view of the beach.

xxxxx

I really hope you guys liked this chapter. I felt like this was a natural stopping point for it, and I also wasn’t sure Castle and Beckett could handle anymore innuendo and tension that I put them through for the moment.

As always, I love to hear your thoughts and comments! I don't mind constructive criticism, but there is A LOT of Beckett hate on this board, and if you don't like her, or the way I write her, then just...DON'T READ. It's not hard to not waste your time, ok? No need to be mean about it.

Does anyone know more about what she is doing and if she will return to acting?

I keep checking the usual internet places and all I see is the Justice League voice work as recent.

Is she officially retired?

Is it just me or castle became annoying rather than charming.

In first 6 seasons castle was charming with all his quirks, but in last 2 seasons watching castle become a spoilt brat of a child was so painful to watch.

People say show runners tried ruing Kate beckett as a character but during my rewatch, I felt like castle's drastic character change was way worse than that of beckett.

I've been seeing quite a few comments about how the show always goes downhill once the two main characters get together (especially in a 'will they/won't they' trope). Personally, I enjoyed the show way more after Caskett became a couple.

Curious about your opinions on this.

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Can we talk about how gorgeous beckett look in this attire.

Absolutely gorgeous