This is
just a little something that I wrote as an early birthday present for
myself.(I turn 60-gasp-the 27^th. ) I hope you enjoy.

Selective
Memory

By fp1950

After,
neither one would remember what they were fighting about. However,
what happened after would stay with them for a long, long time.

It was late one summer
night. They had been working on a tough case all day and not getting
anywhere. They hadn't eaten since lunch and they were tired and
cranky. It was one of the many fights over the years Esposito and
Ryan called their “fine” fights that ended with both Beckett and
Castle saying “Fine!” and walking away. But, instead of walking
away, this one ended in a staring contest, a game of chicken to see
who would blink first. Walk away.

When the fight ended,
their faces were much closer than usual, so close that they were
almost nose to nose. The stare lasted for mere seconds, but it seemed
like much longer. They had never been this close.

It was Castle who
blinked first. He couldn't resist being this close to the woman he
had been wanting for so long and walking away. He leaned in and
kissed her. It didn't last long, just long enough for him to realize
what he'd done. He backed away so quickly, he surprised even himself.

What had he done? He'd
kissed his best friend and partner. How could he have been so stupid?
Oh, she was going to make him pay for this, he was sure. He knew he
should run, but something deep down wanted to know what she was going
to say. He also knew he needed to apologize as sincerely as possible,
but all that came out of his mouth was a mumbled “I'm sorry.” Not
just once, but over and over.

Kate couldn't believe
what Castle had done. It had happened so fast that it didn't even
have a chance to register what was happening much less respond. And
now, he looked terrified. She'd known that he'd been wanting to be
more than a friend and partner for a while now. How could she not,
with all the flirting and teasing that had occurred between them?
After all the games he'd played with her mind, it was time for some
pay back. Oh, how she would make him squirm before she finally let
him off the hook!

“ Castle! Stop!”
She used her best boss-lady voice and it worked, Castle stopped right
where he was.

She started walking
toward him, slowly, her hands on her hips, her right hand very close
to her gun. “You do know that I carry a gun?”

“I'm sorry. It won't
happen again, I promise.” He had finally found his voice. He looked
at her. He'd never seen her this angry and it was directed at him.
She was going to shoot him.

He looked terrified.
“Oh, you think I'll believe that it won't happen again? You forget
that I DO know you very well and I DO believe it will happen again.”

“No Ma'am, it won't
happen ever again. I promise.”

Did he just call her
Ma'am? Damn, she had really scared him. This was way too much fun!

“It will happen
again.” She was right in front of him now, only a few inches
separated them. She could see the sheer terror in his face even
better this close.“You want to know how I know?”

“Not really.” He
swallowed hard.

He'd suffered enough,
for now. “I know because you are going to kiss me again and this
time it is going to last much, much longer than that last one so that
we both have time to enjoy it.”

Several seconds passed
before what she said sunk in. His eyes opened wide. A big smile crept
onto her face as she closed the last few inches between them. She
reached up and put her arms around his neck. “Damn it, Rick,
you're such an easy mark, aren't you!”

“Yes, Ma'am!” With
that, he put his arms around her and kissed her, longer than the
first time.

And that is why
neither one remembers what the fight was about, but they do remember
what happened after.