I haven't had a chance to reply to many of you after chapter 3, but I wanted to get this chapter out earlier today. Thank you all for your words, your shares, and your likes! I'm so pleased with how this story turned out and I'm grateful you all came with me on the journey.

If you celebrate, Happy Christmas Eve! If you don't, Happy Hump Day!

When I Was Drowning - Chapter 4

The next time she sleeps over, it isn't planned. Mostly. She did bring an overnight bag and put up next to no fight when a movie was suggested after their home cooked dinner with Alexis, but she didn't leave her place with the intention of staying over. It's thrilling, though, slipping into his room with him long after his daughter is in bed. He's calmer this time, no worries about his publisher or the words in sight. In fact, he's been throwing her excited, keen looks all night, but won't come right out and tell her what's on his mind.

Maybe she'll get something out of him before they go to sleep.

His palms skim along her arms, fingertips slipping underneath the paper-thin sleeves of her shirt to brush the balls of her shoulders. He's been touching her more, too, since she'd stepped inside his home and dropped a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

"Good day?" she asks, stepping into him. Her hand slides over his shirt, covering his heart to feel the steady thud under her palm. Sometimes she still wonders how they can work so well, how they fit together so rightly when they're so different. But they just fit. Physically, emotionally, they fit.

"Great day," he rumbles, dipping his chin to catch her mouth.

Humming her agreement, she lifts into him. A part of her is so happy he's bulked up again. Not that she wouldn't have loved him if he were still a rail, but now he's so vibrant, so healthy, and she loves that him like this, too.

Shit, she loves him.

She pulls away with a pop, eyes darting up to see if he knows it, if he feels anything like it, too.

His forehead touches hers, eyes bright and sparkling. He does. She just knows.

"So, Mr. Castle," she hums, hands moving up his chest and over his neck to brush his jaw. His stubble tickles her fingertips. "What made today great?"

"You. Alexis. Seeing that sunset. Writing on my own time, making plans for our weekend in the Hamptons."

Right. Her first personal, non-crisis days off in forever. He'd asked her to come along with him and Alexis, he'd even invited her dad. They've earned the break. All of them have.

"Yeah?" Their lips slide together again as her fingers dance over the prickliness of his later-than-5 o'clock shadow.

"Yeah."

"Good. I like when you have great days."

"I like when you have great days, too, Beckett."

He smiles into her mouth, deepening the kiss long enough to make her breathless before pulling away.

It's for the best; the literature says he should be focusing on recovery, not a relationship, and they're already bending the rules with their unconventional thing. Still, she sags against him. It's difficult not to want him.

"I know, I'm sorry." He pushes her hair away from her forehead.

"No, no, this is good. Yes it's a little bit like torture sometimes," she trails off as he nods in agreement. "But it's good. Responsible. Look at you."

"I know, it's weird," he laughs, crinkling his nose adorably.

She laughs with him, winding her arms around his waist for a hug. He gives great hugs. "You're doing so well, Castle. We'll hang in there as long as we need to."

He looks uncertain. "You're sure?"

She squeezes him. "I'm not exactly Sally Normal here, Castle. Would you go anywhere if it were just me?"

"Not a chance." His vehemence warms her.

"So where do you think I'm going?"

"I dunno, the new guy I met the other day at the precinct was eyeing you."

She snorts. "He wasn't, but either way, I've smelled his locker. I'll stick with who I've got." It's a bold statement, far bolder than she normally makes this soon (if ever), but there's nothing but truth in it.

She slides her lips over his neck, nuzzling his Adam's apple gently. He's good for her. Her father tells her so, her therapist tells her so, and she knows it, too. And even if they're pushing the envelope a bit physically, she's pretty sure she's good for him, too.

His cheek lands on her shoulder, chin scraping her neck lightly. Reflexively, her arms tighten around him. No, she's not going anywhere unless she spontaneously combusts. Just a few more months until he hits a year and the generally considered "safe" zone. They can make it.

"Kay, let me get ready for bed. If you're not going to tell me your secret from earlier, pick a book. I want you to read to me." Her mouth bumps his firmly.

It's romance. Just romance done differently.

They're good at that.

The next few months are a whirlwind of casework, studying for the Detectives Exam, even watching him write on some of her nights off. Crawling into his bed becomes commonplace. They have an odd non-routine routine, and she finds it comforting.

Sometime in mid-July he finishes the book – the one he'd put on hold to get help – and his publisher somehow fast tracks the entire process for a late September, early October limited release, with widespread distribution to come later. That doesn't mean she has to wait to read it, though; on a rare night apart at the end of August, a messenger brings a galley copy to her door.

There's a note on the inside cover for her, lamenting the fact that he had to sneak to even write it for her before his publisher locked the book up to give to the messenger. He assures her the copy is hers, though, provided she doesn't try to sell it on the black market. Then his note goes on to ask her to be his date at the official release party in a few weeks if she can get the time off.

Giddy laughter bubbles from her lips, making her hands shake as she tries to text him to accept the invitation. In the end, she calls him, clutching the book to her chest.

"Did you mean this?"

"Who else would I ask?"

"I don't know? Alexis? Martha? Some random blonde who doesn't smother you?" Well at least she can joke now, over twenty-four hours after a fight about whether he's really doing okay and whether she's hovering too much (he is and she is, she knows).

"Sounding a little jealous there, Beckett, but I understand; I am irresistible."

"And humble."

"That, too," he preens, a smile in his voice. She smiles, too. A second later, he grows serious, "This book wouldn't exist if it weren't for you, Kate. I want you there."

"You're sure? Even though we –"

"Had a fight?"

"Yeah, that."

"We're gonna fight, Kate. Couples fight. Even weird ones like us."

"Yeah they do," she sighs. "I'm sorry, by the way."

"Me, too, Kate."

"I shouldn't have yelled at you. There were better ways to talk about it. You deserved better than that."

"I yelled, too, remember? Some not so nice things, considering you were just concerned about me."

She rubs her face, sinking onto the couch. "I came on a too strong. You're doing great and I acted like you were sneaking around behind my back."

"You came on like a cop. Which is hot when I'm not sleep deprived."

Laughing softly, she swipes at her eyes. Between work and worrying about their fight, she's the sleep deprived one now.

"Which was… kind of your initial point, wasn't it?" he murmurs, and she just knows he's rubbing his face as he gets it.

"Yeah, it was."

"I'm sorry. I just got so focused on finishing the – I'm sorry."

"Me, too, Rick. I just got scared."

"And I'm sorry I missed dinner with your dad. I'll make it up to him."

Her eyes shut tightly. He'd worked through her dad's one year-celebration dinner. That's what started the entire fight. Her dad hadn't been particularly bothered since Rick had called to say he couldn't make it, but something about it had raised her panic levels. Instead of simply asking if everything was okay, she'd started treating her boyfriend like a suspect she'd like to get in the box.

"And I'll make it up to you, Kate."

"No, no you don't have to. I'm the one who jumped on you."

"Kate, you're right to be concerned. Hold me accountable. I'll even let you put me in interrogation and spank me."

Any other time she would simply roll her eyes and move on, but she laughs for him this time. "I'll ask for the time off for the party tomorrow," she promises. "I can't wait. Why is it so far away?"

"Me either. It'll be here sooner than you think."

Of that, she has no doubt.

"Lunch tomorrow?" he murmurs.

"Of course. I'll try not to be late this time." It's a standing date of theirs.

"I'll bring it to you if I need to. I feel like I haven't seen you in days."

"Me, too." Even before their fight last night, she'd been working overtime constantly and he'd been working late to meet another deadline. More often than not lately, she's been asleep by the time he comes to bed and at work the next morning before he awakes.

"Then we will have lunch no matter what. Are you going to read tonight?"

She shouldn't considering she has to be at work at six in the morning, but she knows she will. She'll devour every word until her eyelids droop and she wakes to paper creases on her cheeks. She needs his words tonight since she doesn't have him.

"Yeah I am."

"Kay, go do that. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night, Castle."

"Sleep well, Kate."

Work is swamped the next day, but before she has the chance to beg for a break or call her boyfriend for a rain check, Castle shows up with Chinese takeout (from her favorite place, no less) and a smile. He's even brought enough to share with Sparky and the new guy, Esposito. The guys grab their respective cartons, nodding in thanks before ducking into the break room.

Montgomery's had her reading case files whenever she gets a break, which turns out to be a good thing, because she has a desk she and Castle can use. It's not a romantic place for lunch, but she still presses a quick kiss to his mouth before they start eating and need mints to combat the garlic sauces. He leans into her, hand cupping her neck to keep her close.

Her eyes slip shut. She's being so unprofessional right now, but she just needs another second or two.

"Thanks for doing this. And for bribing the others with food to leave us alone."

"I told you I'd see you," he says, an impish grin on his lips. "Missed you."

"Missed you, too. We're okay right?" They may have cleared the air last night, but she has to ask again. Just to be sure.

He nods, squeezing her neck before backing off. "We are great, Beckett. And we're going to stay that way." He reaches for their food.

His smile's infectious. "Good. I like staying that way."

Knocking his hands out of the way gently, she finishes opening the containers. "You're getting condensation everywhere, Castle."

"Uh huh." He smears the water droplets on his pants, opening her drink for her while she plates their food on the Styrofoam plates they keep in the break room. "Alexis said she's making cookies tonight. It goes without saying that you're invited."

Her tongue pokes between her teeth. "If I get out of here at a decent time, I'm in."

"I'll tell her." He hands her a set of chopsticks and takes a fork for himself. One day she'll get him to try chopsticks, too.

"Good. So um… maybe big news."

"Yeah?" Castle's head lifts. "Is it what I think it is?"

"Well, two things, really. One, I will have the night off for the party."

"I could kiss the captain. What's the second thing?"

She grins, shifting her chopsticks. "Captain says I can sit for the exam next time it's offered."

He beams on her behalf. "That. Is. Awesome. When?"

"Two days after your release party. So you can't get me in trouble until long after that."

"Deal." He scoots closer, sliding his mouth across hers and nipping at her lower lip. "I won't ask to go make out in your squad car then."

Laughing softly, she nods. "Good choice."

His gleeful smile fades into something tender. "I'm so proud of you, Kate. So proud."

There's just something about hearing that from him that causes tears to spring to her eyes. It's only the slow circle of his hand on her back that keeps them from spilling over. She's worked so hard for this, to have him tell her he's proud… it means so much.

"Thanks," she breathes, twisting her chair so their shoulders can bump as they eat. She doesn't complain about the soft kisses he drops against her hair all through lunch.

True to his word, the party arrives sooner than she anticipates and it's different from what she was expecting. Yes, there are cameras and reporters from the newspapers and entertainment magazines, but it's a remarkably low-key event. It's not the insanity she'd pictured when reading older articles about him. It helps. She's out of her element in this world, but the fact that it's not a circus helps.

Castle meets her at the door, looking so handsome in his suit with his tousled hair and open collar. Her fingers itch to smooth everything down, but she knows it's the look he's going for so she refrains.

"Hey," he breathes, pressing a kiss to her cheek before swiping his lips down to her ear. "How was work? You look… amazing."

She gives in to her instincts, sliding her fingers through his hair. "Thanks, Castle. Work was good. I'll tell you about it later, though. It's you-time now."

Her mouth covers his impulsively. She's not a jealous person or normally possessive at all, but she's here with him and she wants the blonde who's eyeing them from across the room to know that.

"Mhmm, hi," he murmurs, flexing his hands against her hips. "Would've kissed you first, but I wasn't sure how friendly you'd wanna be in front of people." They aren't hiding their relationship, but it's not something either of them are going to great lengths to broadcast. Truthfully, she's more surprised that they've made it this far, been together this long, without anyone plastering their pictures in the paper.

"Me either," she admits, smoothing his collar down. "Well now we know."

"Yes we do." He beams, bumping another kiss on her lips. His arm slips around her waist, palm settling warmly on her hip.

The dress she picked is fitted, but tasteful; she knows he likes it by the way his fingers keep sliding against the fabric. It's been a long time since she's dressed up like this, but his reaction makes the money and the effort worthwhile. Her own hand curls in his suit jacket as she looks around the room again.

"Nice shindig, Castle," she murmurs, brushing her lips along his jaw.

"Thanks." He relaxes against her at the praise.

"Richard, you didn't tell me you were bringing a friend tonight."

Castle twists, turning them until they're face to face with the blonde from a few minutes ago.

"Gina, I did tell you. Twice. This is Kate, my girlfriend and the reason the book got finished. Beckett, this is Gina, my publisher."

She presses her face into his shoulder quickly, hiding the flash of pleasure at the title. That's her; his girlfriend. It doesn't even matter that she's being sized up by Castle's publisher.

"Ah, yes. You did tell me that. I didn't realize you were dating."

"We're keeping things quiet. Kate Beckett. Nice to meet you." She extends her hand politely. She can play nicely with the people Castle works with, even if she does worry about the stress the other woman might be putting on him at times. Castle's palm slides over her hip in thanks.

"You, too, Officer."

"Not just an officer," Castle jumps in, his pride brimming over. "Future detective and all around badass. Seriously, you should see her clean her service piece. It is so hot."

The affectionate pat she gives his chest earns her an amused smile from Castle's publisher. Okay, the woman might be a hard ass, but at least she seems to appreciate his zeal.

"He says the same thing about me driving the squad car, too. If you two need to talk alone, I can give you a minute?" she offers, looking between them.

"No, you're fine. I just needed to remind your groupie that I'll need him to be ready to sign autographs in twenty minutes. And then after that we're going to jump into the auction like we talked about."

Castle nods. "I remember, Gina. I'm not going anywhere."

"Make sure you don't. I'm not explaining anything away like last time."

They watch Gina slink across the room to talk to some other suit.

"It was more than a year ago," he explains without waiting for her to ask. Maybe she was not asking very loudly. "I was single but kind of dating here and there, and there was a girl who… wanted a private signing. So we decided to sneak off, and I ended up late for the party festivities."

She rubs his cheek quickly. "Well you're not sneaking off this time. Since you are my groupie and all. I make the rules."

He chuckles, squeezing her hip. "Not that I wouldn't jump at the chance to sneak off with you, Beckett."

"Mhmm," she hums, tugging him closer. "Next party." Her eyebrows wiggle. "No quickies for us right now."

He groans, reminding her that their mostly self-imposed restrictions are driving him a little crazy, too. "Okay, we need to change the subject."

"Soon, Castle," her lips scrape over his stubble. "Soon."

"Not soon enough," he grumbles. "I feel good, you feel good. We're not using each other as a substitute for something else, or to keep our heads above water, are we?"

"No, of course not." Once upon a time, she might not have been able to say that about a relationship, but this one is good.

She leads him toward the buffet, hoping to continue this conversation once her growling stomach has been appeased.

"And I made it through the stress of finishing the book without backsliding. I just want us to be able to move on with our lives, Kate."

"I know, Castle. I do, too. I just don't want to do anything to jeopardize your progress." It's a worry she's been talking to her therapist about since their fight and subsequent make up. Squeezing him once, she turns toward the food.

He crowds against her, taking the cocktail plate from her so she can load it up as she pleases. Every few seconds he steals a bite, popping it into his mouth with a cheeky grin. Kate's eyes narrow; he's lucky he's cute.

"Then why don't we make a deal, Beckett. Since those seem to work out well for us. I'll talk with the doc and see what he says. If he says wait for a few more weeks, done. If he says I'm emotionally fit to rock your world, then –"

"Rock my world, Castle?"

She gets a ridiculous leer in response. Dork.

"Okay, fine. But just… be romantic about it if he says yes. Otherwise there'll be pressure and it'll get weird," she lowers her voice so the person at the edge of the table can't hear. "And I don't want to pencil sex into my calendar like a doctor's appointment."

"Deal." He pops another bite of her food into his mouth.

She pokes him lightly. "Get your own food, mooch."

He kisses her quickly. "All yours," he assures, reloading the plate with the things he's eaten.

Their hands brush as she takes it back and she leans into him. He could be mingling with all these people and he's hanging out at the buffet table with her; she can share a plate of finger foods with him.

Gina motions to him a moment later.

"Looks like you're up, superstar." She puts her plate on the table, waiting until he straightens and shakes out the rest of his jitters to brush her hands across his shoulders. "Knock 'em dead. I'll find your mom and Alexis and stay with them."

Their lips bump. "Proud of you," she murmurs, thumbing his neck.

Castle inhales sharply. "You are?"

"Even if you did eat the last quiche." She winks, squeezing him. "I'm proud of you, Castle, and you should be proud of yourself, too."

His publisher looks like she's about to start tapping her foot, and now another woman has joined her; this one actually is tapping her foot. That must be Castle's agent. The one whose couch he'd been sleeping on before she met him.

"But maybe you should be proud of yourself while you sign stuff for people. They're ready for you. Go." She steals another kiss anyway.

He smiles. "Okay, grab a book, too? I know you have one at home, but trust me."

"Sure, okay," she agrees, squeezing the hand he slides down her arm as he scoots away.

Alexis beams when she slides onto a plush couch with her. Martha's within sight at the bar so she offers her a little wave.

"Kate, I love your dress."

"Thank you. Yours is gorgeous, too."

Her boyfriend's daughter grins again. "Thanks, Gram and I went shopping yesterday."

"I love it," she assures, offering her plate to Alexis. Castle loaded it back up and she doesn't need to eat it all herself. "So what do you usually do at these things?"

"Read, do homework. I don't always come, but this one's important, super important."

Nodding, she thumbs the spine of the book. "Yeah it is."

"Definitely." Ah, Alexis is grinning now. What does she know? "Have you opened it?"

"The book? Not yet."

She glances over at Castle, seated like a king at a table in the middle of the room, only to find him watching her as he chats with a woman who's most definitely a model. He smiles almost-shyly before turning his attention back to the woman in front of him.

Alexis bumps her gently. "Come ooon, Kate."

"Okay, okay." She pokes the girl's cheek. "Miss Impatient." Just like her father.

His books have always been a private experience for her. Sometimes she has them delivered straight to her apartment, but when she doesn't, she waits until she gets home with her store purchased prize to even look at it. Her fingers always trace his name on the cover, waiting a beat before she cracks it open for the first time.

This time, she has an audience. Inquisitive blue eyes and a strangely hopeful smile follow her movements. The girl's thrumming with excitement; it's a feeling she knows pretty well when it comes to Castle's books.

"Ka-ate," Alexis chides. Oh, she really must be taking too long to uncover whatever this surprise is. "That's just the boring copyright stuff."

"Yes, Little Castle," she bumps her gently. "Hold your horses."

Alexis giggles.

"I like looking at everything, thank yo- " she trails off as she turns the page.

To the extraordinary KB, for inspiring me and changing my life in wonderful ways.

He's… this is for her. To her. He dedicated his book to her.

"Do you like it? I said he should've been more romantic, but Dad said you'd like this better."

It's gorgeous. Her arm winds around Alexis, pulling both the girl and the novel to her chest. "It's perfect. I love it."

"You do?"

She nods, squeezing her. "He can be super mushy and romantic another time. This is perfect."

Alexis exhales. "Kay, good."

Castle catches her eye again, the question and the hope obvious on his face. If it weren't for the line of people she'd have to bypass, she would jump up right now and show him exactly how much she loves it. Instead she smiles, mouthing, "It's perfect, thank you," to him.

He goes back to his autographs looking like a man who just won the lottery.

That's okay, she can do super mushy another time, too.

The call comes in exactly twenty-two and a half minutes before her birthday and the second half of the plan-ruining double shift she'd been unable to get out of pulling. It's hopefully one of her last as a beat cop, but it's still a double.

Not that she won't be pulling doubles as a detective, she knows, but hopefully from here on out they'll consist of sitting at the precinct doing actual case work instead of riding around with Sparky or Esposito, listening to them brag about their video game prowess. She's passed the test; hopefully she'll be confirmed by the committee before the end of the month, and then there's more training and her first assignment.

She has a feeling she'll be back in Vice or maybe Robbery, but if she's lucky – and Montgomery steps on a lot of toes – she'll get her Homicide posting.

Regardless of where she ends up, though, this call is actually a welcome distraction from the reminder of the hot, delicious man she's not able to be at home enjoying as her birthday starts.

It's only after Esposito's already said they'll take the call that it hits her where they're going.

The loft. Castle's place. Well, the building at least.

If she weren't driving, she'd grab her phone and call him to find out what the hell is going on and if everything is okay.

"Did they say what the complaint is?" She glances over at Javier, trying not to clench the wheel too hard. The call came in on his phone, not the radio.

"It's ah, noise. Noise complaint."

Her eyes narrow. "Noise complaint? Since when are we back on noise duty?"

"Yeah. Sounds like a party's getting a little rowdy. You know how it is, or you would if you had fun, Beckett."

"Cute, Espo."

"You know me."

"Yeah, a little too well. Unfortunately."

"You wound me."

Her eyes can't stop rolling. Of course, now she's not worrying about it being more than a simple noise complaint in her boyfriend's building.

"Hey, doesn't your boy live around here?"

"My boy?"

"Yeah, your writer boy. Thought I heard him say that the last time he dropped by."

Shifting uncomfortably, she nods. "Yeah he does."

"Is he gonna call you at midnight? Do that unmanly, gushy Happy Birthday talk thing?"

"I dunno, maybe. Why? You jealous? You want him to call you on your birthday, too?"

Esposito snorts. "Just making conversation."

She sighs. "We were supposed to do something tonight into tomorrow, a getaway kind of, then I drew the short straw and this shift, okay? But we're gonna get dinner tomorrow with my dad, hopefully."

Assuming she's not exhausted and that Paula doesn't sign Rick up to do something book-related at the last minute the way she did last week. It was a good opportunity for him, but her first night off in over a week went to waste.

"Well I hope you get to have dinner with him and your dad."

That's surprisingly sweet for Esposito.

"Thanks, Espo."

She double parks in front of Castle's building, scouting for anything out of place before kicking her door open. Other than the figure with their head bent over their phone beside the door, the street's empty. And it's silent from what she can tell.

"Did dispatch give you a unit for this noise complaint?" Glancing over her shoulder, she lifts an eyebrow at Esposito.

"Ah, no. Not exactly. And I'm gonna admit, that wasn't exactly dispatch, either."

"So what, exactly, are we doing here?"

Esposito grins, looking at his watch. "Sayin' Happy Birthday, Beckett. I'll be in the car not watching. Don't say I don't care."

She twists when he gestures for her to turn around, coming face to face with the man who'd been leaning against the wall just a few minutes ago. Her hand flies to her hip only to realize she knows this person well.

Castle.

"Castle! You scared me."

"Sorry." He does look apologetic. "I know I kind of tricked you to get you here, but um, Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary, Kate."

Before she has the chance to speak, to say thank you, or to yell at him for bringing them out there under false pretenses, his big hands cup her face and he's kissing her softly, reverently.

Her hands come up, too, curling around his wrists as she rocks into him. His mouth presses against hers, alternating between firm and soft, simultaneously grounding her and sending her flying.

Their noses bump, rubbing gently as they catch their breath. She can't believe him. He called Espo; he had Espo in on it. All to kiss her first thing on her birthday and to commemorate the moment she saw it was him.

Her breath catches in her chest. He did all of this for her.

"I love you," they say as one. Her fingers stroke the solid, gentle bones of his hands, his wrists.

"I do, Kate. I love you."

"Me, too. Me, too," she breathes, kissing him again to stave off the tears pricking her eyes.

One of his hands drops from her face, winding around her waist to pull her into him.

They've been having sex for weeks – since just a few days after his book release when he got the all-clear from his therapist and seduced her until she couldn't remember her own name – but her body thrums for him like it did the very first time. Her skin craves his hands, his mouth, the weight of his body. God, it's going to suck to have to go back to work after this; the taste of his kiss will be on her lips all night long.

"So just to be clear, there's no noise disturbance?" Her mouth presses into his palm, eyes lifting to his.

"Well we could make one," he suggests, pressing closer. "That might be super weird for Esposito, though."

"Pervert," she laughs, lifting into another kiss. "But I love you."

He grins against her mouth.

Her arms band around him, fingers combing through the short strands of hair at the back of his head. He's probably freezing in just the light jacket he's wearing, but he only shivers when her lips touch his neck.

Last year he was shivering for an entirely different reason.

Last year she was looking forward to working on her birthday.

Last year they were both treading water, fighting the tides and trying to avoid hitting the rocks, both drowning in different ways.

What a difference a year makes.

"Yo, Beckett, sorry to ruin the moment but we got a real call this time."

Her eyes slip shut. Damn.

"Okay, be right there."

Castle squeezes her tightly. "Let yourself in after your shift? I have a real birthday present for you."

"Oh yeah?" Her eyebrows wiggle. "Is that a euphemism for something?"

His laugh vibrates against her chest. "No, it's something more than a few minutes outside a building. Something tangible."

Oh, maybe that… the super secret thing he's been working on and hasn't been willing to tell her about?

"But I love how dirty your mind is, Beckett, and we can work with that if you'd like."

Laughing, she kisses him again. This is enough, these few minutes outside a building with him are enough for her, but she nods. "I will let myself in. It'll be late, or early I guess, but I will."

"Thank you." He thumbs her cheek. "Alexis and I are making you a big birthday brunchfast, too. So be warned."

"Thank you, that sounds delicious," she agrees quietly, holding his head. "Go inside and warm up. I love you."

She has a feeling he won't be able to get the smile off his face anytime soon. Not that she'll be any different, if she's honest with herself.

"Love you, too."

"And Happy Anniversary," she adds, squeezing him again. "Aren't you glad I didn't let Sparky handle you?"

They pull away, but his hand catches hers anyway, squeezing tightly.

"You have no idea."

A/N: Thank you again! Happy Holidays, everyone!