50 Ways to A First Kiss

AN: This is going to be a collection of unrelated scenes that will explore different first kiss scenarios for Beckett and Castle. They will be of different lengths and moods. They will be written whenever inspiration strikes, so I can make no promises of updates on any regular schedule.

This will also be my personal writing Everest, if you will, where I am challenging myself to come up with 50 unique scenarios and actually writing them. Therefore, encourage me with your feedback as much as possible, please, so I know that there is interest and it's worth the mental acrobatics. :-)

Honor is due to a wonderful writer, TR-Fanfic, who has done a fantastic "50 Ways to Say I Love You" for another fandom and has graciously let me adapt the idea for the Castle world. Thank you my Love!

#1 Mother Knows Best

She rushes along the long corridor, the flaps of her open coat fluttering along her legs, scarf streaming behind her back, clothes haphazardly thrown on in her rush to leave her apartment. The numbers fly by her left and right; she skims them, searching.

She stops when she reaches room 213, takes a deep breath, steals herself for what may come. She raps on the door, twice in quick succession, then opens it to step inside.

"Castle?"

He lifts his head when he hears her call his name. He is sitting close by the bedside, his hand cradling his mother's. Martha is stretched out under the thin hospital covers, unconscious or sleeping, she doesn't know. She looks hollowed out, her red hair radiating against the white pillowcase, a stark contrast to her pale face.

Her insides clench, a wave of fear and heartache shocking her system.

"Kate." His voice is full of gratitude and that shocks her too. She turns her face back to look at him, and her legs start to move, almost involuntary, needing to be close to him.

"Hey," she whispers, coming to stand next to him. She rests her hand on his shoulder. "How is she?"

He turns to look at his mother again, caresses the back of her hand with his thumb. "She had a heart attack."

Flutters of anxiety take hold in her tummy. She squeezes his shoulder.

"It was a very mild one, luckily," he continues. He lifts his other arm, and covers Kate's hand that is lying on his shoulder with his. She scoots slightly closer, the side of her body resting against his. He exhales on a long drawn-out breath and leans more of his weight against her side.

This constitutes more physical contact than they usually allow themselves, but if Castle needs her, she will be there. He always is for her.

"She'll need to make some changes in her diet and living habits, but she's okay."

Warmth floods through her, a constant flow of relief, and she laces her fingers through his.

He turns his head, looks up at her and there are so many emotions layered on his face, fear and regret and anxiety, his eyes welling up, and it clenches her heart and so she turns toward him, slides her fingers through his hair, along his scalp, curls them through the shorter stubbles at the back of his neck.

"She's going to be okay," she repeats his words back at him, her voice soft, reassuring. "She'll be fine."

She brings her hand around, delicately traces her fingertips over his cheek. He takes a deep, shuddering breath, calming himself.

"Thank you for being here."

She smiles. "Always."

"Oh good grief, Richard, will you just kiss her already or do I actually have to die before you two figure things out?" Martha's voice cracks through the silence between them, raspier than usual but no less spunky. Kate jumps away, her cheeks blushing to a delicate rosy shade.

"Martha," she calls out in surprise, then smiles at the older woman and walks around the hospital bed to her other side. "How are you feeling?"

"Hey Kiddo," Martha relaxes against her pillow, turns her head toward Kate. "I've never been better," she jokes. Kate laughs, and Martha reaches for the younger woman's hand, squeezes it within hers.

Kate covers her surprise quickly, smiles, squeezes back. From the corner of her eye, she sees Castle get up, grab another chair and put it behind her, urging her to sit down.

"Richard darling, go get the girl some good coffee," Martha orders her son, and so he leans forward to kiss his mother on the forehead.

"Yes Mother," he obliges with a laugh in his voice.

Then he turns, leans down, and plants a big noisy kiss on Kate's lips.

Her eyes go wide; she stares at him, tries to formulate a response, can't think.

He shrugs, nods toward Martha. "She told me to."

And before Kate can catch herself enough to reply, he walks out of the room.

(…)

When he comes back into the room, Kate meets him at the door. They step back outside together.

"I have to head to the station now," she lets him know, facing him, and he nods. Silence snakes between them, not quite awkward, not quite heavy, and a little expectant.

Castle bounces on the balls of his feet. "What did you two talk about?"

Kate smirks. "None of your business, Castle," she teases him. But then her smile transforms, turns warm and soft toward him, and she steps just a little closer, within the realm of his arms, outstretched on either side of her as he holds a Starbucks cup in each hand.

She knows, this is crossing all their lines, but the mood from earlier still lingers, reminding her how being by his side became the only place she needed to be. Urgently.

Reaching up, she places her hands on his chest, looks up at him. She feels his breath hitch against her palms, his heart speeding up.

"Will you be alright?"

"Yeah," he answers, stuttering on the word. He clears his throat. "Yeah I'll be okay. She'll get released later this afternoon. I'll bring her home, take care of her. And, keep her away from the vodka…"

She smiles. "You're a good man Rick." A good son, good father, a good…

She trails her hands up his pecs, over his shoulders, his neck, until she cradles his face, a hand on each cheek. Her thumbs caress the tender skin under his eyes, and she leans closer.

"A good man," she whispers near his mouth, her breath fanning across his skin. He is tense, she can feel his restraint, and she takes a second, an infinite moment to savor the anticipation suspended within the space between them. And then she closes the distance and kisses him.

His lips are soft, flavorful. She caresses his mouth with hers, gently outlines the shape of his lips, nips and tastes and it's good, so good, and she holds onto him, pulling his face closer against her, wants more of him, more. His moan vibrates against her or maybe it was hers, so she slowly, reluctantly pulls away, remembering they are still in public.

His stunned look makes her smile blissfully. She nods her head toward his mother's hospital room.

"She told me to," she winks.

Then she plucks her coffee cup out of his hand and saunters away, adding an extra swing to her hip. Secure in knowing that he will stare after her.

"Kate? Wait!" He calls after her. "What else did she tell you?"

End of Scene