On Nicknames

He calls her his "muse" and it's funny-

Because she muses about beating him with a hardcover book.

He calls her "Beckett" and she's placated-

Because it's rare respect from he who always has a comment that makes her want to bury her face in her hands.

He calls her "Kate" and it's disturbing-

Because at first, it's too familiar… and later, it fills her with inexplicable warmth.

He calls her his "muse" and it's infuriating-

Because Nikki Heat – ("Well, she is a little bit slutty!") – will never be her, and she sometimes doesn't know if that's a good thing.

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Disclaimer: I own no bit of Castle (unless you could the DVDs and book?) – the show and characters belong to ABC.