Author's Note: This is super fluffy, okay? Usually, I'm more of an angst-with-a-happy-ending type of writer/reader, but this was begging me to write it. I got the idea for this story from the YouTube videos that people create with video clip collages of Caskett. I didn't take the idea from any one specific video, I was just inspired by them in general. I hope you like this!

Also, there is no Josh. He does not exist in this world. (I am sick of writing about them breaking up.)

Spoilers: "To Live and Die in L.A." and everything before it.

Summary: Katherine Beckett has a game plan. And the prize? Richard Castle.

Disclaimer: The characters of Castle to do not belong to me. I am only borrowing them for a short time.

Katherine Beckett was dreaming, her mind a whirling pattern of fractured memories.

Clutching his book to her chest, she stood next in line to step up to the writer's table. She was so nervous. Butterflies danced in her stomach. She was about to meet her absolute favorite author of all time. The man who had single-handedly pulled her out of nightmares and back to reality… without even knowing it. She tapped her foot and bit her lip as the person in front of her finished up with Richard Castle. And then, she stepped forward, and was blinded by his charming grin. "What's your name, beautiful?" She cleared her throat and tried not to squeak. "Kate."

Walking up to him at his party. She was even more nervous this time than the first time she had met him. But she didn't let it show. "Mr. Castle?" He turned around. "Where would you like it?" She showed him her badge. "Detective Kate Beckett. NYPD. We need to ask you a few questions about a murder that took place earlier tonight."

Sitting too close to him across the table in the interrogation room. He was absolutely frustrating. Yet her heart was still pounding. Her favorite author. Right in front of her. And then, "Do you know, you have gorgeous eyes?"

Standing across from him in the alleyway. "Why, Castle, so I can be another one of your conquests?" She tilted her head. "Or I could be one of yours." He grinned. "It's nice to meet you, Castle." They shook hands. "It's too bad. It would've been great." She bit her lip and leaned in. "You have no idea."

Talking to him in a hallway. "You probably saved my life," she admitted. "Probably? I definitely saved your life. And you know what that means, don't you? It means you owe me." He stepped forward. "Owe you what?" Her heart tripped in her chest as he moved even closer. "Whatever I want. And you know, exactly what I want, don't you? You know, what I really, really want you to do? Never, ever, call me Kitten."

Tugging on his ear with her fingers. "Ow, ow, ow! Apples!"

Bending close together. He looked at her. "You smell like cherries." Their faces were so close.

Staring at him across her desk, an array of food spread between them. "I've gotten used to you pulling my pigtails. I have a hard job, Castle, and having you around makes it a little more fun." They smiled softly at each other. "Your secret's safe with me."

Twirling her hair around her finger as she walked arm in arm with him to the elevators. "So, how did your date go?"

Resting across from each other on her couch, wine glasses in hand. "Are you jealous?" She responded quickly. "I'm not jealous." A few moments later, "I'm not leaving. I'm here to protect you." She smirked. "What, with your vast arsenal of rapier wit?" He frowned. "There is a mad man gunning for you, because of me. I am not going to leave you alone." She brushed a hand through her hair. "Okay, fine. I am too tired to argue. But if I see that doorknob turn, I will have you know, Mr. Castle, that I sleep with a gun."

Reading the love letters spread around them. "Listen to what she wrote to him. I can't bear to see you suffer. Make a new life with someone else. Just be happy. If anyone deserves it, it's you." He turned, picked up a piece of paper. "I think I have his response to that. I don't believe in much, but I believe in us – I like this guy – and no matter the obstacles, no matter how hard you try, you'll never get rid of me. I love you." She swallowed and watched the realization spread across his face at what he had just said. She looked away. It was too much.

Pinching his nose between her fingers. "Apples, apples!"

Waking up in the car, her head on his shoulder. A pain in her neck. That first moment of confusion, when she wondered where they were and why they were sleeping on each other. Then, the "hickeys."

Kissing him on the street, his arms wrapped around her. The look in his eyes before she kissed him again. Her soft moan took her by surprise. A swift kick broke them apart, and then, "That was amazing!"

Wrapping his injured hand in the back of an ambulance. "Thank you." He quirked his eyebrows, asking a silent question. "For having my back in there." His smile was a promise. "Always."

Dying in his arms, frozen to his side in the giant freezer. Her body was numb, her mind was delirious. But he was there. "Castle, I lo—"

Gripping each other's hands in front of a bomb. "Castle." He reached in and yanked out all the wires. Their joy poured out, all over each other as they embraced. And then, lots of relieved laughter.

Telling him yet another one of her secrets. "I was nine and I had to get my tonsils taken out and I was miserable. And so my mom took time off of work and stayed with me and cuddled up in front of the TV on the couch and we would watch episodes of Temptation Lane. So every time I see it now, it just, it makes me feel like home, and... safe. So there you go. Judge away." He only smiled. "My DVR would make yours look like Masterpiece Theatre. But I am glad to know this about you."

Leaning against the couch in a Los Angeles hotel suite. "You know what I thought when I first met you? That you were a mystery I was never going to solve. Even now, after spending all this time with you, I'm still amazed at the depths of your strength, your heart… and your hotness." She walked away. And then came back, only to find herself alone in the room. Too late.

Poking him in the chest. "What the hell were you doing?" She frowned at him as he replied. Then, "Don't poke me." She smiled. "Poke you? I wanna kiss you."

Flying thousands of miles in the air with him sleeping at her side. She read the letter from Royce. "Risking our hearts is why we're alive. The last thing you want is to look back on your life and wonder… if only." She gazed at Castle… and wondered.

The dream broke apart behind her eyelids as the sound of her alarm shattered the morning calm. She reached over and slapped at it, her fingers finally finding the snooze button. Kate wasn't usually a snooze kind of girl, but the memories of the dream were still washing over her. She didn't want to lose them just yet.

She blinked her eyes open slowly, taking in the shapes of light across her ceiling. It was still mostly dark outside, but the street lamps were pushing light into her room. And then those shapes turned into memories again as she let her eyes slip closed once more.

Castle. Everything was Castle.

The dream left her feeling warm, like she was wrapped up in his arms. She wanted to wallow in the feeling forever. There were so many things in her dream, so many memories that she hadn't even realized she remembered. Moments between the two of them nearly forgotten, but now… frozen again in her mind.

She lifted her hands up to her chin and nibbled on her thumbnails.

She was ready. Her heart blossomed at the thought. Oh God. She was ready for him.

Finally. It had taken her long enough.

A wave of calm washed over her as she smiled into the empty room. It was time to come up with a game plan.

End Note: Okay, so this chapter is basically… kind of pointless, in a way, because the majority of the story is snippets from episodes we already watched. But I promise it has a point. I never expected the dream sequence to be so long, but I found that I kept remembering things I wanted to add to it. So many moments I've loved between the two characters on the show… and I know I didn't manage to remember everything, and even if I had, this chapter would be so super long that nobody would care. So bear with me. I think there's going to be two more chapters.