A/N: Hello everyone. I wrote this in a big hurry. It's final exam week at my school, but I really needed to get this out after last night's episode. I may re-visit it after I'm done with classes to fine-tune and polish. Hope you enjoy it. If you would be so kind as to review, I would very much appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle, or any of its characters.

An emotional Kate Beckett sat curled up on the couch in the middle of the luxurious hotel suite she was staying in. Sitting next to her was Richard Castle. For the umpteenth time in recent months, she found herself thanking God that he was at her side.

She should have known Royce would meet a reckless end. It was the only option for someone who lived such a reckless life. And yet, she had loved him.

Castle knew she was upset about Royce. Just like she would be upset if it had been him with that gunshot wound. He could see in her eyes the regret she had over the things she never said to Royce before he was killed. Maybe she thought she'd get the chance one day. He could relate.

So maybe that's why he let his emotions get the better of him for a few moments while he tried to comfort her. He dropped his voice and leaned a fraction of an inch closer to her retracted form.

"You know what I thought when I first met you?" he asked.

Her smile urged him to continue. "That you were a mystery I was never going to solve. Even now, after spending all this time with you, I'm still amazed at the depths of your strength," he said. It was so genuine.

Kate let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and everything suddenly fell into place. Sure, she was pissed that Royce had been killed. But she wasn't upset because she was still in love with him. She was upset because she was in love with Richard Castle, and she didn't want to admit that she was scared she'd never get to tell him the things she never told Royce.

"And your hotness," he added.

There was the Richard castle she knew and loved. Wait, what?

"I'm in love with this man," Kate said to herself. His eyes bore into her, so kind and gentle, so warm and safe. His words were floating around in her mind and she felt his voice still resonating throughout her very core. She found herself unable to break eye contact, and she found that she didn't want to. She could see in his eyes the things he still hadn't said aloud.

"You're not so bad yourself, Castle," she replied, smiling.

Castle watched as she internalized their conversation. He had done something right. Her eyes softened and she kept flicking them downwards to his lips. He knew he could kiss her, genuinely kiss her, without being hog-tied for trying. Finally, they were on the same page.

"It's late. I should go," she muttered. It was almost inaudible, and not very convincing.

"Kate," he pleaded.

"Goodnight, Castle." It was done. He had waited too long.

She grappled with torment on the other side of her bedroom door. Every part of her wanted to open the door and kiss him senseless. She had never been a coward before. Ever. So she swung the door open again, ready to waltz through it and into a new chapter in their relationship, only to find his door swinging closed.

It was done. She had waited too long.