AN: Hello readers! Welcome to my new multi-chapter story! I wanted to wait a little while longer before I posted this but I figured that since it's the extraordinary Stana Katic's birthday I'd post it early. I've got five chapters ready, which I will put up today, and I will do my best to get a chapter up a week - however, I am a Uni student and sometimes, study does have to take priority over fanfictions - i know, it sucks - but I'll try!

IBYL
xo

Disclaimer: Don't own Castle. Wish I did... I'd love to throw Stana a big birthday bash :)

It was my birthday. I did my utmost to ignore my birthday every year. It would come, a couple of people would get me a present, I'd have drinks with the guys from the precinct and that would be that. Lanie would make a cute speech about how much I mean to her, just as I did for her birthday each year. It was tradition – I liked tradition. But this year, I had a horrible feeling that my traditions were about to change. Castle had found out when my birthday was. Esposito let it slip about a week ago, and realised what he'd done as soon as he caught the death glare I'd shot him. Castle looked me up and down, made some comment about learning all of my secrets, and left the precinct declaring that he had 'errands' to run. I was worried – Richard Castle was not known to be the master of subtlety, and now that he knew when my birthday was I figured he had every intention of going completely overboard.

I arrived at the precinct at about 8, after finishing up a phone call with my dad. He also knew that I wasn't too interested in the big birthday fiesta, so we settled for a long phone call on the day, and the promise that we'd catch up for dinner sometime soon. I arrived at the precinct to the typical "Happy Birthday" greeting from Ryan and Esposito, but that's all they said. After the greeting we all jumped straight into the huge backlog of paperwork that we had to finish. After about an hour, my mind drifted, so I opted to take a break and went to the morgue to see Lanie.

"Happy birthday, girl. What brings you into the morgue today?"

"Paperwork was boring me to death so I thought I'd come visit one of my favourite people."

"No Writer-Boy bugging you today?"

"He hasn't shown up yet. Since that man of yours let slip that it was my birthday, I've been on edge. He's probably planning some completely outrageous stunt and I don't want that."

"Thanks for not killing Javier for that, by the way." Lanie smiled. "But what makes you think he'll do anything?"

"Because two seconds after he found out he declared he had errands to run, and then bolted out of the precinct." I said gently.

"Oh. Well, maybe he'll surprise you. You never know, girl." She said with a shrug, and I laughed.

"Yeah, you never know." With a hug and a promise to meet up at The Old Haunt after work, I went back upstairs to my paperwork.

When I arrived upstairs, a familiar man was sitting in the chair next to my desk. I sucked in a breath and prayed to whoever would listen that he hadn't gone crazy about today, before walking towards my desk.

"Happy Birthday, Beckett!" He said with a grin, before placing my cup of coffee in front of me. I smiled despite myself. He was so cheery that he was lifting my spirits as well.

"Thanks, Castle. No bearclaw today?" I said with a hint of teasing in my tone.

"Nope. Birthdays deserve something special." And, with a flourish, he pulled out a little brown cupcake with a bright pink candle on top. I had to laugh at that. He smiled at me. "It's mocha, of course."

"I'm proud of you for restraining yourself, Castle. I thought you would have decorated my desk with crap by now."

"I didn't feel like getting shot today, you know." He said with a shrug, and I smiled before taking a bite of my cake.

"God, this is amazing! Where did you get it?" I said, taking another bite.

"Cute little bakery near my place. To be honest, I was going to get you a big cake but when I saw the little cupcake I figured that would suit you better."

"Well, you were right. I hate making a big fuss of my birthday."

"Can I ask why?" He sounded so sincere, and one look at his earnest face made me realise I couldn't lie to him.

"Honestly? It just hasn't seemed as fun since my mom died. She loved birthdays, and always made a really big fuss of mine. I can deal with the holidays and everything, but birthdays are just still a little too raw."

"But you do something for it, right?"

"Well you're coming to drinks tonight, right?" When he nodded, she continued. "Consider that my celebration of it – a couple of drinks with my close friends is seriously all I need."

"Well from now on I'll make sure you get a mocha cupcake with a candle as well."

"I think I can handle that." I smiled, and we both went about our work – Castle scribbling in a notepad, and me doing my paperwork.

At lunchtime, Castle announced that he was hungry and told me he'd be back in a little while. Half an hour later, I heard the elevator ding. Turning around, I saw Castle, a bag that looked like it came from Remy's and a flurry of beautiful red hair. I couldn't supress the smile that lit up my face.

"Alexis! What brings you to the precinct today?" I said, pulling the young girl into a hug.

"Dad mentioned that it was your birthday and that he was going to grab you some lunch around now, so I thought I'd come join you! Hope you don't mind."

"Of course not! I'm glad you're here. What did you get me, Castle? I'm fairly sure I smell burgers."

"Yeah, burgers, fries and shakes. What else was I going to get you?" He smiled and I smiled back.

"Thanks, Castle. You didn't have to do that. Come on, we'll go eat in the break room." The three of us wandered into the room, commandeering a table and covering it with fries and burgers. An hour later our little party broke apart – I had to get back to work and Alexis had to get back to school. I walked her over to the elevator, and gave her another hug. She stopped suddenly and pulled away.

"I nearly forgot! I got you a card. I would have gotten you a present but I wasn't really sure so… yeah – you'll see it when you open it. Have a great day, Kate."

"Thanks, Lex. You too." I smiled as she entered the elevator and twirled the envelope in my hands. Returning to my desk I ripped it open, laughing at the cute little puppy on the front of the card. Inside there was a beautiful 'Happy Birthday' message and a carefully woven friendship band in every colour of the rainbow. It was gorgeous, and it probably took her forever to make it. I smiled before looping it around my wrist.

"Hey, Castle – can you tie this on for me? Double-knot it, if you could. I don't want to lose it." He smiled and obliged, and I twirled the bracelet around my wrist lightly before picking up my phone to text Alexis.

It's a perfect present, sweetie. Already tied on my wrist. Thank you so much. Xx

I turned back to my work for a second before feeling my phone buzz next to me.

Anytime, Kate. Have a great day! Love Lex xoxo

I smiled. Alexis has got to be one of the cutest kids around, without a doubt.

"Remind me to thank whoever put that beautiful smile on your face." Castle said with a raised eyebrow and I cracked up laughing.

"Thank your daughter then." I said, showing him the text message.

"I got really lucky with her."

"Yeah, Castle. You did." I patted his arm and we went back to our work.

Before I knew it, it was 5pm and we were all headed to The Old Haunt. The Captain had wished me a happy birthday but declined my invitation to drinks – that meant it would just be me, Lanie, Esposito, Ryan, Jenny and Castle, which suited me just fine. We arrived and slid into our booth, with Castle ordering our first round of drinks. After the folks sung an embarrassing chorus of "Happy Birthday", the guys presented me with a beautiful big card and a gift voucher to Barnes and Noble. I laughed brightly at them, and they beamed as I gave each of them a hug.

"Thanks guys, you know me too well." I smiled, and the night continued on.

A few hours later the guys had left for the night, leaving me and Castle in the bar. When everyone had left he grabbed two drinks and headed downstairs to his office, beckoning me to follow. I wandered down the stairs and collapsed on the comfy couch, taking a sip of the soda he'd grabbed for me. When I finally looked up at Castle, he was holding a box.

"Don't kill me, but I got you a present. I know you don't really celebrate your birthday and I figured if I got you something extravagant you wouldn't accept it. So this present didn't really cost me any money, just some time." He breathed out lightly and I smiled, gesturing for the box. I opened the wrapping and saw a small hardcover book, with a brilliant red cover. In gentle cursive at the top of the book were a few small words.

The Story Of A Boy And A Girl

By Richard Alexander Rodgers

I looked up at him, stunned.

"You wrote me a book?"

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