A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews and adds! They've been very encouraging, helpful, etc. If I needed further proof that Castle fans are made of awesome (I didn't), this experience would do it.

DISCLAIMER: Mr. Marlowe and the nice people at ABC own Castle. But I wrote this.

An hour later they were still mingling with actors, directors, agents, and assorted members of the production crew, and they still hadn't done what they'd come here to do. The stupid Band-Aid was still on, but instead of featuring pictures of princesses or action heroes, it said "JUST FRIENDS— NO, SERIOUSLY" in big, black, lying letters.

Beckett just wanted this evening over with. It wasn't that she hated the event. If she didn't have yet another major life disruption looming right overhead, she might actually be enjoying herself. But it was looming, like Pooh's little black rain cloud. If only they could find the right moment. We've got motive, thought Beckett, but the means and opportunity are still eluding us. She was desperate enough to feel almost nostalgic for Castle's over-dramatic Plan A.

X-X-X-X-X

They had just been introduced to Hannah Silver, the actress playing Nikki Heat, when Castle was pulled away by Gina for some shop talk with a few execs from Black Pawn. He tried to at least appear attentive as they talked about sales numbers for the movie tie-in mass market of Heat Wave, but his attention was divided between business and the pleasure of trying to watch Kate out of the corner of his eye without being too obvious. He was also trying to come up with a Plan B that would not spook her and/or land him in the doghouse. He briefly contemplated tapping his glass with a fork and simply announcing that he was madly in love with Kate Beckett, and that for some reason she wanted him too. No, she would probably kill him. Dedication of his next book? Not soon enough. Sky writer? Too dark.

He was so preoccupied that he hadn't noticed that the execs had moved on, and Gina was trying to get his attention. "Rick? Rick!"

"Hmm? What?"

She rolled her eyes in a way that was a direct transplant from their marriage. "You could at least pretend to show an interest in promoting your own book. If this is how you're going to be in September when Frozen Heat drops, it's going to be a very long month. For both of us."

He finally gave her his full attention, but she didn't get the biting retort she expected. "Thank you, Gina."

She blinked. "For what?"

"For being a good publisher. For having my back, professionally. I know I'm not always your easiest client, but thank you."

She frowned at the rare show of earnestness from him. "Rick, what's wrong? Good God, are you dying?"

He looked alarmed. "No! Do I have to be on my death bed to want to mend a few fences?"

"Well, something big must have happened to—" Realization dawned on her face. "It's her, isn't it? Your detective. It finally happened."

His detective. His Kate. Castle's eyes automatically found her across the room, talking to Hannah Silver. When she met his gaze a moment later, she had a look on her face he couldn't interpret. What were they talking about? He asked with his eyebrows, but apparently it wasn't something she could convey telegraphically.

Gina caught the shared look and softened slightly into a resigned sigh. "It was always a matter of time. I've never seen you like this with anyone, Rick. Certainly not with me, even when we were happy." With that, her shields went back up. "Just don't forget to come out of your love haze long enough to meet your deadlines."

Castle smiled. From his ex-wife/ex-girlfriend/publisher, that was as close to approval as he could hope for. "Gina, you're a class act." He kissed her cheek.

"I know. Now go get the future Mrs. Castle and smile for the cameras. You're up."

X-X-X-X-X

Hannah Silver had been cast to play Nikki Heat after Natalie Rhodes's sudden rehab-related exit from the production. While she didn't use Natalie's uncanny (and somewhat disturbing) method of getting inside her roles, her portrayal of Nikki seemed convincing enough from the previews. For a movie cop, Beckett amended to herself.

Once she and Kate were alone, Hannah told the detective. "I have to confess, I've been a little nervous about meeting you."

Beckett looked surprised. "About meeting me? Why?"

"It's hard enough portraying a character by an author with a fan following as rabid as Rick has," she said. "Throw in a real-life, kick-ass inspiration and you've got an intimidating list of things to not measure up to."

Kate decided she liked the woman's candor. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, at least I don't have rabid fans that will tweet about your every move."

Hannah gave her a measured look and nodded across the room towards Castle, who was still talking with Gina. "I don't know about the tweets, but I'd say you have at least one rabid fan."

Kate didn't bother to confirm or deny; she just smiled and didn't say anything. Here we go— what was Plan B, again?

Hannah continued. "People make jokes about you two researching the sex scenes. You're definitely together, but I'm betting those aren't your scenes on the page. Want to know how I can tell?"

Kate was intrigued enough to take the bait. "How?"

"It's the way he looks at you when he thinks no one's watching. It's not just love; it's awe. A man who feels that way about you doesn't sell your most intimate moments. If you'll forgive the presumption, I'm guessing you two have some pretty amazing love scenes of your own, but I'll never read a play-by-play in one of his books. They're too precious to him to ever share."

Kate was speechless for a moment as her eyes went from Hannah to Castle, and she found he was already looking at her. He smiled a little, the hint of a question on his face. "You're very perceptive," Kate said, equal parts cautious and relieved that at least one person in this room finally knew. "You may have missed your calling as an actual detective."

The actress smiled. "I doubt it. I'm useless around blood. Even the fake stuff on set turns my stomach." She glanced across the room, where Castle was now being escorted to the press pit and beckoning Kate to join him. "It looks like they're ready for you."

Kate gave Hannah a parting look and said, "I doubt it." An idea was forming, and she needed to act now before she had too much time to think about it.

X-X-X-X-X

They were standing side by side in front of the cameras. An entertainment reporter on Castle's side of the shot (he suspected that she considered it her good side) was asking the questions, sticking to the standard news-ertainment script: How did they meet? How much were his books based on real murder cases and the real detective beside him? Did he really help her solve cases? What was it like for her to see Nikki Heat on screen? Were they looking forward to the release of the new film? Castle had fielded these questions so often he could do it on auto-pilot. Good thing, too, because he was more than a little distracted by how quiet Beckett was, answering only when she had to with short, monosyllabic responses. Was she nervous about being on camera without her badge and an active case to hide behind? Or was she just pissed at him for dragging her into this?

The next question shouldn't have surprised him, but it did. "Rick and Kate, there has been speculation about the two of you ever since the first Nikki Heat book came out. Will you comment on the rumors that your relationship is more than just professional?"

Shit. He should have been ready for this. But if the evening had gone according to Plan A, they would have answered this question already. With dancing. And sweeping. And fricking Rodgers and Hart. Instead, he forced a laugh that came out more alarming than casual and said, "Wow, that is an old rumor. It's, ah, certainly true that Detective Beckett and I have become good frie—"

"Castle." Kate cut him off abruptly. He turned and found her standing much closer than he was expecting. She locked eyes with him, green on blue, and simply said, "Plan B."

Then she grabbed his lapels, pulled him to her, and kissed him beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Once he recovered from the initial shock, he brought his hands up to frame her face, angling his mouth over hers. She loosened her hold on his lapels and slid her hands around his sides to his shoulder blades. The resolve of her initial attack softened into a sweet, deep, lingering kiss. After several moments they broke it off, sharing a small smile before rejoining the real world.

Well, he thought. That works.

Beckett looked around Castle's shoulder at the stunned reporter, who for once had no pithy comment to add.

"Does that answer your question?"

X-X-X-X-X

They didn't leave much time for follow-up questions. The bomb was dropped, the truth was out there, and now Kate just wanted to get on with her life. Their life. They exchanged a few farewells, Castle fielded a few call-me's, and they were out the door almost before the reporters had a chance to finish the calls to their editors informing them of the additional inches or seconds they would need for tomorrow's story.

With few celebrities coming or going at this point in the party, most of the crowd outside had dispersed. From the relative freedom of the sidewalk, they both took a deep breath of night air, in and out. Castle cocked an eyebrow. "See? Easy."

Beckett scoffed, having used up all her gracious nods and smiles inside. "For me, maybe. I thought you were going to have a stroke when she asked you to 'comment on the rumors.'"

"No, the near-stroke came after that, when I was suddenly attacked on nationally syndicated television."

Beckett sighed. "We are going to get so much crap for this tomorrow."

Castle grinned. "Yeah, we are."

The car had arrived. Before climbing through the open door, Castle put his arms around her waist and asked, "Now tell me the truth: good first date? Or best first date ever?" She slid out of his embrace and onto the leather seat. He continued making his case through the open door. "Allow me to recap a few of the highlights to help you decide:"

Beckett stuck her head back out. "Shut up and get in the car, Castle. Date's not over yet."

He sincerely hoped he knew what she meant by that. "Good point. Save the recap for morning." He slid into his seat, closed the door behind him, then kept sliding well into her seat. They did their best to add a few more highlights on the way home.

Okay, there it is. Thanks for reading! I'm working up the courage to post my story that falls before this one, even though I'm not sure exactly where it's going. Or how it's getting there. So stay tuned if you're interested. ~PE