Fair Maidens and Gentlemen. In the alternate universe better known as my head, Kate and Rick have been having a closed door but very open relationship for quite some time. This is a giant post ep to "The Late Shaft" dealing with Kate's reaction over Rick's fling with a slutty starlet. Hopefully it will build on Kate's upcoming story arc with her new beau, culminating into the end of season 2. Plot? Schmot! Nothing redeeming here, just smut really so if that's not your thing, there is nothing to see here, please move along.

For mature audiences only but Chapter One is so tame, it's lame.

Dedicated to my Chatty Cathy Bitches that keep me sane and make me laugh. And to the Pantsless Wonder who is Beta-licious. You ladies rock, I don't care what anyone says!

So, please replace your tray tables and place your seats in an upright position, it's time to feed the birds.

Pragmatic Dalliance

Kate Beckett sat back down at her desk as the smirk that had taken over her lips turned into an audible chuckle. She displayed a touch of jealousy just then and found it slightly amusing. She didn't see the equally smarmy smirk on Rick's face as he left but she knew he found it humorous as well.

They made a pact, all those months ago, that their relationship had certain boundaries. And they also decided to cross those boundaries. Kate had seduced Rick, during a case no less, and she effectively wiped away any boundaries they had started with. But the physical gratification came with a price, sort of. Kate felt it in their best interest to not have anything outside of a professional relationship and a sexual relationship. No dating, no emotional commitment, no messiness. Nice and neat, just like the rest of her life.

Rick didn't really have any complaints on the arrangement and would only admit to himself how shocked he was initially that Kate made the first move. Well truth be told, he had made a move early on and she was receptive for the most part. It was the night he figured out Kate had been deeply in love and hurt. The same case Kate had revealed she was a "one and done" type when it came to marriage. Kate had no issues sharing herself sexually with Rick, but being emotionally available was a different story.

To commit fully to a relationship with him, or anyone, would imply she was ready to settle down, that she had found her one. Kate had a lot of baggage to work through, never mind the daily grind of the job could be brutal, she wasn't ready to share that part of herself with a significant other. Not just yet.

It all started after Rick was reminiscing about taking Alexis to the park and stared for a while at a picture he kept in a drawer in his desk. He propped the picture up and displayed it properly in his den, shut off the lights, grabbed his coat, keys and phone and went out the door.

After the case, he complimented Beckett on her tactic used to get Chloe to drop the knife. He was impressed; however, Kate was not flattered by his words. In fact, she was rather upset at the whole thing, even after the killer was caught. That was when the light flicked on and he knew just how deeply Kate had been hurt. He was slowly beginning to see her as a real person, flesh and blood. Not just as a character in a book.

It wasn't long that he found himself standing outside her building as he replayed the events in his head. He entered her building and headed straight for the elevator to her apartment. He swiftly exited the elevator and buzzed her door. Her heard her approach the door and saw her shadow cross under the door crack. She obviously looked through the peephole and he heard her unchain the door before she opened it.

She greeted him with a small smile; she felt a little bad about how they parted company after the business with Chloe.

"Castle." She said by way of greeting.

"Sorry to drop by unannounced, Detective. May I come in?" Kate opened the door fully and allowed him to enter. He could smell that she was freshly showered and he let his eyes wander briefly over her sleepwear. What one would consider lounge pants and a rather tight tank top. Kate caught his glance and looked briefly at her sofa where a sweatshirt was laying over the back of it, and quickly decided against it. Let him look she figured, no harm, no foul.

"It's not a problem, Castle, I was just getting a glass of wine and thought I'd watch a little TV to unwind. Try to decompress so I can maybe get a good night sleep." Kate offered him a glass and he took it, but they remained in her kitchen area. "Was there something on your mind, Castle?"

"Actually, yes. I'm sorry if I insulted you this evening." Kate looked puzzled for a second before she fully comprehended what his apology was for.

"You didn't offend me. Actually I'm the one who should apologize. You were being nice to me and I was a bitch, so for that I apologize." She smiled at him and he returned her smile.

"It's OK, I know I can be a pain but I really was impressed by you tonight. As usual of course, but I thought perhaps you were upset or annoyed with me."

"I'm always annoyed with you, Castle" her smile betrayed her words. "But tonight I was out of line."

"Its fine, I'm just glad we're OK. I, uh, I learned a lot about you on this case. I mean, you know for your character." He placed his now empty glass on the counter and inched his way closer to her.

"Really? Well, maybe the more you learn for the character the quicker I can get you out of my hair."

"Is that what you want Detective? You want me gone?" He was hoping he was reading her mood right. He inched even closer and now Kate placed her glass on the counter and took a step back, making him work a little harder.

"Maybe, maybe not." She had no more room; he had her backed against the door frame of her kitchen. She had been given him subtle signals for a week and glad he was finally picking up on it.

"Detective, I'm just going to give you a quick heads up that I am going to kiss you now."

"Castle?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up" Kate let her hand rest on the top of his jeans and pulled him even closer as Rick leaned down and captured her mouth. It was soft and sweet and relatively harmless as far as kisses go initially. Rick tilted her head a little farther and plied her lips open and for the next five minutes neither knew what existed other than them. Finally they separated and Rick looked at Kate with a goofy grin that suggested a lingering desire.

"So we're fine."

"Very."

"I should probably go then, you know, now that everything is good."

"Sounds like a good idea." She bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling fully and Rick groaned. He didn't want to leave but Kate wasn't going to cross any more lines with him this night. "I'll see you tomorrow, Castle." She lightly pushed on his chest and backwards he walked towards the door. He reached the door and leaned down for one more kiss, and Kate let him have one last taste before he left for the night.