A/N This is my first attempt at writing something like this so please keep that in mind. Also my day job requires me to write in a specific shorthand so that has killed a lot of my once amazing grammar. I've read through this many times trying to catch all of the problems but I'm human. Inspiration for these will be posted at the end.

I don't own Castle, the characters or the inspiration for these stories. I'm basically playing paper dolls with someone elses dolls, and sometimes their paper too.

Season 3 AU.

Two months. It had been two months since Richard Castle had seen her. A six-week book tour and two weeks of meeting for the Nikki Heat movie had kept him from New York and the 12th for two months. There had been the occasional text and Alexis had visited but their jobs had kept them both too busy for much contact. It had been a long two months. So now he sat at a bar not far from the precinct waiting for the detective and her partners.

She had missed him. Not something Kate Beckett would admit to, but she had. It had been a just few days over two months since she had seen or spoken to him, and she missed him. She hadn't realized just how much until he called earlier in the day asking if the three detectives were available to meet up for drinks after work. Unfortunately, Esposito and Ryan had other plans but she had happily accepted.

As she approached him, in the trendy bar between her place and the precinct, with a quick hug and a smile, she let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Relief at knowing he was home. Seeing him calmed her, centered her, made her happy.

As she hugged him, he caught a hint of her scent. Her shampoo and perfume and that underlying smell so uniquely Kate. He closed his eyes and breathed her in as quickly as he could. Once again committing it to memory.

"Hey welcome home." She said doing her best to tamp down her excitement.

"Thanks, it's good to be home finally. Two months of work and Gina is not what one would call a good time. No Espo and Ryan tonight?"

"Javi had plans and Ryan was going home to Jenny. So it's just the two of us." She replied as she ordered a beer from the bartender.

"All the better my dear Detective after all two is company." He said as they grabbed their drinks and headed for a booth. "So tell me how have things been at the precinct? Did I miss any good cases?"

"Same as they were two months ago, Castle. And no, you haven't missed anything good, no zombies, CIA conspiracies or alien invasions. Just your regular run of the mill murders and lots of paperwork."

"At least I didn't miss any Beckett flavored cases while I was stuck dealing with the wicked witch of the ex. How are things with you? Where is Josh this fine evening?"

"No, you didn't and I'm not quite sure. Probably off saving the world somewhere."

"We umm.. kind of broke up a couple weeks after you left. It's fine, it was..it was just time." She added looking down and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She would never tell him how their arguments over Castle never ended. How Josh pointed out how depressed she had been after Castle left and how he accused her of being only half in the relationship. She also couldn't deny that he was wrong.

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that, Beckett. Breakups are never easy. Even when the split is amicable. Even worse when it's not and the ex is also your publisher."

"No but it's been a bit and I've moved on. Honestly, I did like him but he just wasn't what I needed or wanted right now." She said, her eyes never leaving his.

"And what is it you need or want now?"

"Well at this moment I could use another drink." She said getting up to head towards the bar and order another beer. After that, the conversation flowed as easily as the drinks did. They made each other laugh over stories about their time apart.

After finishing his fourth maybe fifth drink, he'd lost count by that time, Rick stood up and held his hand out to Kate. "Beckett, dance with me." He said more than asked. Feeling loose and warm from her drinks Kate took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the floor. She leaned into him further and further as the song went on. She felt safe and happy to be there in his arms.

As the song ended she looked up at him and smiled. His eyes dropped down to her lips and back to her eyes. Before she knew it his lips were covering hers and she was kissing him back. It was everything she could have hoped it would be. Almost three years of partnership, hiding her feelings, her wants and finally, it was happening.

When they broke for air, she pulled him by the hand towards the bartender to settle their tab and then outside. She caught the first cab going by and gave them her address.

"Kate.." he started but she silenced whatever he was going to continue with her mouth. She didn't want to talk, she didn't want to risk ruining this night. She just wanted him.

He was afraid she was too drunk to make this decision. He didn't want to be a regret, he didn't want this to be a one night stand. He just wanted her.

"Rick if we regret this in the morning we can just blame the wine."

"Right the wine, and beer, and whiskey.." he said as he pulled her back to his mouth.

She pulled him into her building, into the elevator, and to her apartment. Once inside they were on each other. Hands and lips and teeth, clothes being tossed as they made their way to her bedroom.

Castle woke to an arm over his chest and brunette curls on his shoulder. Turning over he saw hazel eyes staring at him. "Morning" he spoke clearing his throat.

"Hi." She smiled back reaching up to kiss him.

God she was gorgeous. Even first thing in the morning, sex mussed and with last nights smeared makeup. He wanted to see this every morning.

"Rick, about last night."

"Beckett no I get it, you were drinking you said so yourself." He said sitting up in bed.

"No Rick wait. Please just listen. I wasn't that drunk. I actually didn't even drink that much. These last two months have sucked. I missed you. This isn't a one-off for me. Is it to you?"

He smiled bigger than she thinks she's ever seen before cupping her face and saying "Oh god Kate last night was amazing and I was so afraid you'd wake up and act like it never happened. Best. Morning. Ever." He finished his speech by kissing her hard. Breaking from the kiss he asked "So you're in this? Really?"

"Castle I'm not good at this, relationships. But if you can be patient with me, then yeah I'm in this."

"Always Kate, always" he replied before pulling her on top of him to celebrate their new relationship status.

A/N Inspiration for this is Josh Abbott Band's song I Wasn't That Drunk.