Chapter 1

Cheers and applause came from the audience as Richard Castle stepped up to the microphone, ready to give his customary speech and book reading at the official launch party for his 6th Nikki Heat book. As he cleared his throat, the tumult died down and everyone watched him expectantly.

"As many of you know, this is an important day for me," he began, "but not for the reasons that most of you think. Today is the birthday of the incredible Kate Beckett –" here he paused to look behind him at the now very embarrassed detective as the audience cheered again – "and, as a special treat for her I thought that I would tell you a new, very different story, instead of my normal book reading."

Turning behind him once more, he got glares from both his ex-wife/publisher and his favourite detective; the former wondering what the hell he was doing ("This wasn't planned!") and the latter because he had just embarrassed her in front of about a hundred people.

He sent them both his trademark grin-and-wink and turned back to the audience.

"Once upon a time, there was a handsome, witty, bestselling author living in New York," he started – and he could practically feel Beckett rolling her eyes behind him. "He had everything a man could want: a charming and beautiful family, money, good looks, and charm. But one day, he realised that he couldn't write anymore. He had lost his muse.

"This was a big problem for him, because his publisher kept harassing him to write more. Soon, though, he found a new muse when a murderer started copying his books. This muse came in the form of a beautiful, intelligent, kick-ass detective named Kate Beckett." He motioned behind him for Beckett to stand up. As the audience applauded (again), she moved to stand next to him, a bemused look on her face. He didn't look at her, though; just continued his story.

"The writer was ecstatic that he had a new story to write, and got permission from the mayor, who was a good friend of his, to follow the beautiful detective around when she was working.

"He followed her everywhere for a long time. She hated him at first because he was so annoying, but eventually they became friends, and she didn't mind so much that he followed her around. Complications in their relationship arose, and were overcome, until the handsome writer woke up one day to discover that he had fallen completely in love with the beautiful detective.

"The writer wasn't quite sure what to think of this, because he had never fallen in love before. Eventually, however, after much consideration and prompting from their friends and family, he got up the courage to ask her out, and she agreed.

"They went on a lot more dates, to many different places, and he gradually fell more and more in love with her and she – hopefully – with him," he sent a quick, hopeful grin to his left, where Kate stood, "until he found that only one course of action was available, because he realised that he couldn't ever live without her and wanted her to be his forever.

"So, on her birthday, almost a year since their first date, the handsome writer asked the beautiful detective if she would marry him and spend the rest of her life with him, and promised her that he would never, ever leave her…"

Richard Castle knelt in front of Kate Beckett, pulling a little navy blue box out of his jacket pocket and opening it in one fluid motion, to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. Then, speaking so only she could hear him without the microphone, he continued his sentence;

"…like so many others did before." He looked at her with hopeful eyes and she stared back, still stunned and not sure how to react.

"Marry me, Kate?" he asked.

A grin spread across her face as for once, not caring about the hundred-or-so people watching, she kissed him passionately. Breaking away, she looked at him and that old evil glint appeared in her eyes.

"Will you stop following me at work?"

Grinning his special Castle grin, he winked.

"Never."

They kissed again, and the audience cheered as he slipped the ring onto her finger. None of them had heard what they said to each other, but it could only have been good.

Yes, this is pure fluff. Deal. ^^ there is more to come, but it may not come soon. I just need you guys to remind me to keep writing! :) So REVIEW!

:D MSC