A/N: Castle and its characters belong to ABC. Obviously not me.

Extra special thanks to Lou for the prompt ;)

For Your Benefit

S3 AU- This wasn't typically her sort of scene, but she swallowed down the hesitation and painted on a smile. After all, he did all of this for her, to honor her mom.

Chapter 1

You are cordially invited to the

1st Annual Dinner & Auction to benefit the

Johanna Beckett Scholarship Foundation

Kate stared down at the elegant, ivory invitation, tracing the script letters and carding it through her fingers before she placed it back onto her kitchen counter. She couldn't believe Castle had gone through all this trouble, just for her. Never in her life had she known someone who was so selfless and giving. Yet, she should have known better by now.

This was who he was, this was what he did. Each and every day, he was generous to a fault, caring about the people in his life that mattered to him. She mattered to him. Even if it was never stated out loud, she had known it with each passing glance and every warm latte on her desk in the morning. Words were Castle's expertise, but sometimes they weren't needed.

He had weaved his way into her life and had quickly become her best friend. Months ago she had thought maybe they could have something more together, but it blew up in her face when Gina showed up at the precinct to walk off into the sunset with Castle. She had been an emotional wreck last summer because of it, but she knew better now - being friends with him was worth more than risking it all over something that had little chance of working out.

Castle was rich and famous, and she was – not.

Plus, she had Josh now and he was a good guy. He was the perfect distraction after Castle had left for the summer. They had fun together - when they saw each other. He had a demanding job, always busy saving lives and she couldn't fault him that. Yet, she wished for more. Wished to have someone who could be her partner in crime and in life and she couldn't fool herself into thinking she'd ever have that with him.

Josh was a placeholder. He was someone to keep her company until she could really dive into it with her someone. Images of Castle danced across her thoughts and she closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath to cleanse her mind. She shouldn't feel that way about him. After misreading the situation in the summer and licking her wounds from the disaster that was Demming and Gina and the Hamptons, she allowed him back into her life while trying to protect her heart. She had been doing so well at avoiding her feelings for Castle.

He was her best friend, but then they kissed.

It hadn't been just any kiss. The kiss was the kind of thing that warmed her body, causing her heart to thrum erratically against her chest while sending electric sparks through each nerve ending that covered her skin. Her cheeks flushed from the memory of it. Neither one of them had mentioned it since that night - the veil of being undercover had helped them avoid the discussion of what it had meant to their relationship.

Relationship? She mentally scolded herself for using that word; they didn't have a relationship – a partnership, but not a relationship.

She had a relationship with Josh, not Castle. Castle was her best friend, nothing more, nothing less.

Groaning at the direction her mind had taken again; Kate looked up at the clock on her stove and panicked. She needed to start getting ready if she wanted to be halfway presentable for the benefit. This wasn't her typical scene, but she swallowed down the hesitation and painted on a smile. After all, he did all of this for her, to honor her mom.

Kate had nearly made it into her room when she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. The image of her boyfriend on the caller ID pulled her from her musings about Castle. At least something could bring her back to reality.

"Hey Josh. I'm just about to jump in the shower," she said, reaching for her robe from the hook on her door. She heard him sigh and then force a chuckle, almost like he was nervous. The sound made her heart drop as she suddenly aware of what this call was for.

"Sorry I can't be there for that. Look, Kate, I'm sor-"

"You're not coming?" she asked, but she knew. She should've known all along. Work would always come first with him. Her mind swirled with the conclusion before he even voiced it out loud. Her best friend and partner planned an entire event to honor her mother and her boyfriend can't even be bothered to attend.

"I'm going to try," Josh explained. "I promise I'll try, but I was called into a consultation for a triple bypass. I have to-"

"No, I get it," Kate added, her voice quiet, trying her best to hide her disappointment. There wasn't a point in arguing. She had hoped that just once, maybe she would be the priority to him, but she should've known better. "You're right. That's more important."

"Not more important, just different important." He was stammering. Yet, the excuses weren't changing the fact. Maybe she was just a placeholder to him as well.

"I'll be fine. Try to make it if you can." She tried to lighten her tone - no point in him to knowing that she was upset. It wouldn't change anything and if she made him feel guilty when lives were on the line, what would that say about her? Just once she wanted to matter.

Maybe she didn't matter to him, but she did to Castle.

"Have fun tonight if I don't see you. Hopefully you raise a ton of money and I'll be sure to write a nice check toward the cause."

"Josh, you don't need to." The last thing she needed was for him to donate out of guilt. He didn't understand enough about her mom anyway, she didn't share much with him. It wasn't how their relationship was, they just scraped the surface.

"No, but I want to. I'll call you later, Kate. I have to go."

"Yeah, later. Bye," she said with forced understanding, as she ended the call and shoved her phone back in her pocket. Combing her fingers through her hair, she sighed and closed her eyes at the realization.

She would have to show up alone.

Stepping out of her shower onto the cool tiles, a shiver raced down her spine from the contact and left her skin with prickles of goosebumps in its wake. The steam from the shower might have fogged up the mirrors, but it did little to keep the bathroom warm enough to fill the void that the scalding water left behind.

Her mom used to yell at her for using up all the hot water with her showers, but it was a habit that she never outgrew. There was something about the way the spray reddened her skin and warmed her insides, it made her come alive. As she wrapped herself in the fluffy, cotton towel, she could almost still hear her mom knocking on the door, scolding her.

Kate smiled to herself, lost in the memory. God, she missed her every day. She opened the door, the steam billowing out into her bedroom, and shook her head at the thought.

Today wasn't about missing her.

Today was about honoring her.

Gazing down at her dress that she had laid out across her bed, she smiled at its beauty. It was fancier than anything she would have typically picked out for herself, but Lanie had insisted it was the one. She had to admit, now that the night was here, it was perfect. While admiring the gown, she saw her phone light up with Castle's caller ID picture popping up on the screen.

"Hey, Castle," she answered, a smile stretching across her face before she mentally scolded herself for the reaction. He was just her annoying partner with crazy theories, a call from him shouldn't shoot warmth through her veins.

"Tell me you are ready for the time of your life tonight," he said. She could hear his smile through the line. His excitement was contagious, the statement causing her heart to race.

"That's a pretty big statement," she teased with a laugh. "But I am about to start getting dressed."

"Well, if you need any help, you know I'm always available for assistance." His tone lowered with each word he spoke which didn't calm the thrum in her veins. Pulling her towel closer to her skin, she bit down on her lip to hold back her smile as blood rushed to color her cheeks. Her poker face was nowhere to be seen, but she was lucky to be masked through the barrier of the phone.

"Funny, but I'll pass. Was there something you needed?" she asked, as she looked through her closet for the pair of strappy heels to match her dress and will show off her freshly manicured nails.

"I wanted to warn you. When you and Josh arrive, there's going to be a press line. I'm sure it won't be anything huge, but Paula suggested that if we invited a couple photographers, maybe the Foundation could get a couple anonymous donations via any magazine or newspaper attention the fundraiser may get."

"Makes sense – I guess," she said, her voice soft. He cared enough about her past uncertainty with the media attention to call and let her know. For as childish as he could act sometimes, Castle was considerate when it mattered. "And thanks for the warning, Castle, but I don't think Josh is coming. It'll just be me."

Silence hung on the line for a moment, she didn't want to say anything more, but a quiet grumble through the speaker made it obvious that Castle was trying to find the right thing to say. He tried to keep his feelings about Josh to himself for the most part; his acting skills could use some work, however. It was no secret that her partner wasn't exactly a fan of her boyfriend.

"You're going alone? Why -?" His tone shifted, harsher, saying far more with the change in mood than words ever could.

"He was called in for a consultation," she mumbled, sitting down on the edge of her mattress. "Saving the world one surgery at a time…"

"Beckett –"

A pity party wouldn't help anything right now and Castle had bigger finishing touches to worry about. The fact that her altruistic boyfriend cancelled plans with her again wasn't something he had time to concern himself with.

"It's fine. I'm a big girl, Castle," she assured, managing to make her voice sound far more upbeat than she felt."I don't need someone to hold my hand."

"Are you sure? I could come –" he offered, the words making her heart flutter as she tapped down her smile. She had known he would offer if he found out, but she couldn't let him ruin his plans because hers changed. Castle was already doing so much.

"No, Castle. I'm fine, I promise. You have Alexis and Martha to worry about." Kate paused, looking at the time again. She needed to finish getting ready or she'd be more than fashionably late. "I'll see you there."

"Beckett. This is for –"

"Not about me," she said, cutting him off before he objected further. "It's for my mom, Castle. Not about me. I'll see you soon." She ended the call before he could even respond. Throwing the phone onto her comforter, Kate closed her eyes and tried to push the last hour from her mind. She couldn't shake her nagging train of thought…

Castle cared more that she was attending alone than Josh did.

The fact should break her heart.

It should, but it didn't.

Forty five minutes later, Kate gave herself a small nod of approval into the mirror and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. She felt like she was going to prom again. Of course she lived her life in jeans and leather jackets, but there was something to be said about dressing up every once in awhile.

The shimmering gold color of her floor length satin gown was elegant enough for the event, while the one shoulder gathered neckline still left an element of fun. She hadn't wanted her dress to be too serious; she had already mourned her mother all those years ago at her funeral. Tonight was about her life, not about her death.

She reached for the simple black wrap that was thrown across her chair and she placed over her bare arms. It wasn't warm enough to wear the sleeveless dress without a coat, but if she was dressing up tonight, she wasn't going to let a coat cover any of it. Adjusting the fabric onto her inner elbows, Kate threw her phone and lipstick into her clutch and walked out of the room.

Castle had sent her a text as she was drying her hair and insisted that she use his car service as a compromise if she had to arrive by herself. She hesitated, not one to acknowledge when she needed help; she was going to take a cab after her plans with Josh fell through, but this was so much better. Kate bit down on her bottom lip, trying to hold back her smile that threatened to break free as she thought about her partner. He was always so eager to play "knight in shining armor" and she'd be lying to herself if she didn't admit that the role suited him.

This whole night was Castle playing that part and there simply weren't enough words to thank him for everything that he had done to organize this entire evening. A quick knock pulled her from her thoughts; the car service was right on time. With a deep breath, she slid into her heels and answered the door.

"Castle?" she asked, her mouth gaping open.

Her heart hammered in her chest as a grin stretched across her mouth. Ever the white knight, he handed her a single red rose with a matching smile.

"My driver couldn't make it," he stated with a wink.

"Mmhmm," she hummed, as a soft melodic laugh slipped from her lips. Her smile never faded as she felt warmth spread across her cheeks. She reached for the perfect flower, but her feet were frozen in place. He was full of surprises. Lifting the delicate red petals to her nose, the scent shook her from the daze as she met his eyes.

"Ready?" His voice was strong and sure, the sound wrapping her body in its warmth as he offered her his bent arm to escort her to the car. She couldn't trust her voice when she placed her hand against the fabric of his tuxedo. All she managed was a small nod before she moved to lock her front door. Turning back to her partner, she found his eyes had never left her, studying every one of her actions.

"Thank you, Castle," she said, whispering the only words that weren't tied on her tongue. It wasn't much, but as his lips stretched in an answering grin.

It was enough.

Tbc

Thanks so much for reading and going on this adventure!

The story is completely plotted out and should be about ten chapters long, with updates at least weekly. I couldn't pass up participating in the Castle Ficathon when I am one of those in charge of running it!

Can't wait to hear what you think! xoxo

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Thanks to beta squad for the red ink and thanks to Jo for the cover art!