Chapter 1

Two weeks ago, two hours ago, even two minutes ago this seemed like a great idea. A way to show him that even if she wasn't ready to swan dive into it, she was prepared to walk to the edge and test the waters.

Now, it all seemed too much. Damn, why did her hand shake as she pushed the elevator button? Get it together Kate, this isn't the first time you have showed up at his loft unannounced. Well maybe the first time looking like this….and wanting that.

Of course the whole situation was his fault. Why did he have to ask her about the plus one? Plus ones are horrible little notations on wedding invites that single people receive when their friends are trying to be respectfully, but really don't want a stranger at their wedding.

The 'plus one' conversation began playing over in her mind.

Two weeks ago he had been perched on his chair and used her name as a question. "Beckett?"

She continued to shuffle the papers on her desk, "Mmm?" Why was it such a turn on the way he could say her name a 100 different ways?

"Who's your plus one?"

She unconsciously swallowed a few times he had to know he was her plus one, that she wouldn't bring anyone else. How could he not know?

"Earth to Beckett, question on the table – who's your plus one?"

Okay, so she couldn't say the 3 little words. Maybe she couldn't even tell him she heard him say THEM, but really is he that obtuse? Couldn't he see how she held his gaze? Didn't step away when he peered over her shoulder? How she jumped at the chance go to dinner or drinks? Couldn't he see that smile he saved for just him? How did he miss it all?

What a dumbass, she was the dumb ass, not him. She had lost her skills. It used to be so easy to let a guy know…but he's not just any guy, he is THE one and done. She needed to turn it up a bit. Short of dragging him into a supply closet she wasn't sure what to do.

His eyes began to twinkle as a smile played on his lips. Was she blushing? "That must be some date you're bringing."

"Hmm, what?" She had to shake her head to clear the thought of him and her in a supply closet and the things she would do to him. "No date."

"Oh, so that's it. You're embarrassed that you don't have a date. Beckett really it's okay, I know its awkward walking into a wedding all alone. If it helps we could meet out front and I could escort you in."

'Meet out front! Meet out front!' reverberated through her head like a gong.

Now who's the dumbass? Can't he just ask her? Why is everything hidden in sub-text.

Beckett's eyes narrowed into the death stare "Thanks, but no thanks."

Castle's smile turned to a frown. He began to mentally abuse himself. Damn why couldn't he just ask her to go with him? Or at least make an assumptive close and say 'pick ya up at 7pm?' Once again he chickened out. But she was so hard to read these days – what if that smile he thought was his smile and his alone wasn't just for him? He still wasn't convinced she didn't remember the "I love you" and wished she had never heard it.

.His frown deepened and he twitched in his seat as he avoided the death stare.

Wait a minute what was that? What was that? Was a smile playing on the edge of her mouth? What did she have to smile about? Did zapping him with the death stare bring her joy? How could it bring her joy when it pierced his heart?

The sound of the elevator doors opening up brought her back to the here and now.

She started talking to herself as she approached his door/her destiny. 'No backing out now, Kate, time to dive in – even if it really is just wading into the shallow end of the kiddie pool. How many times has he proved he will never let you sink into the abyss? '

And with what felt like the most important breath of her life, she knocked.

Bring on the reviews.