The sun lazily rose on a cold winter morning, slowly waking New York City with its gleaming rays. The soft sound of chirping could be heard originating from outside in the park. Sunlight streamed in the window, outlining the serene face of Katherine Beckett. And Richard Castle thought she'd never looked more beautiful.
He weaved his muscular arms around her stomach, pulling her by her slim waist. He could feel her even breath on his neck as she lay next to him, her face in the crook of his neck, sending tingles down his spine. This, he thought, is a perfect moment.
Slowly but surely, she began to stir. Holding his breath for fear of her inevitable excuses for the previous night and in turn for his heartfelt confessions, he felt her long eyelashes glide open. Her breathing began to once again, become normal. He watched her every move as she lifted her head up to meet his eye level. His heart lurched as he waited. As her face came into view he could see her brow furrowed in confusion at their apparently quizzical situation. Rick could feel butterflies of anxiousness in his stomach at her reaction. Meeting his blue eyes with her hazel, he saw as the confusion slowly drifted off, readily replaced by realisation. Here we go, he thought, this is it. My happiness is short-lived.
Suddenly, the Richard Castle saw the most beautiful thing he had ever witnessed. Katherine Beckett smiled. No, Katherine Beckett grinned. He had never seen anything like it. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks were rosy, and her lips were further apart than he had ever seen them. And her teeth seemed to be lighting up his entire bedroom.
"Hey there, Kitten," she spoke with a teasing, husky voice, heavy with sleep, "How are you feeling?"
Rick could sense the hidden meaning behind her words. She was asking him how he felt about the whole situation they had gotten themselves into. How could she ask such a thing? He didn't pause for very long before he answered.
"Absolutely perfect."
She seemed content with his answer as she responded by giving him a peck on the nose, and proceeding to snuggle into his side. They both lay in comfortable silence, her arm splayed out across him; his arm under her. He, as always, ended the silence.
"I never thought of Katherine Beckett as a snuggler." He watched as she pondered his words.
"I'm not usually a snuggler."
"Uhuh, sure you aren't."
"No really, I'm not joking." There was a pregnant pause. If he hadn't been listening to her so intently, he might have missed the next whisper. "But with you, it just feels right."
He gleamed at her words. With one simple kiss of her head, he lay his head back on the pillow, and breathing in her cherry perfume, once again fell asleep.