A/N: Don't worry, I'm not finished with "TC's" quite yet but there may only be a few chapters left. I had another idea that I thought I'd throw out here and its set after 4x07... so if you haven't seen it... this may just be laced with spoilery content. Possible spoilers for 4x07, 4x08, 4x09, and possibly 4x10. I'm also going to throw in some Alexis and a possible new beau in the near future. ALSO! point out my grammar and spelling mistakes! I'm trying to improve in that area and I do all of my own proofing.
Title:
Rating: T (Violence later on)
Summary: Their relationship had certainly shifted but neither of them cared. She knew her wall was almost gone and he'd been so patient, not pushing her. Slowly she started to spend more and more time away from the precinct with him, getting a burger at Remy's, movie night with him and his family... now looking at him she knew that there wasn't another man on the earth who would ever know her as well as him.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Castle, Beckett, Alexis, so on and so forth belong to their respected owners. I just like to daydream and they just happen to be the subjects (:
Their relationship had certainly shifted but neither of them cared. She knew her wall was almost gone and he'd been so patient, not pushing her. Slowly she started to spend more and more time away from the precinct with him, getting a burger at Remy's, movie nights with him and his family... now looking at him she knew that there wasn't another man on the earth who would ever know her as well as him.
"I do believe it was you who informed me that staring was creepy," He spoke while finishing the paper he was working on and looking up, "especially while doing paperwork."
The blush that spread onto her cheeks didn't go unnoticed, "Yeah, well, you know what they say about paybacks."
"That I do, my dear detective." He grinned his signature crocked grin.
His endearment two years ago would have earned him a glare or a death threat but now, sitting in the middle of the bullpen, all he got with a smirk and a roll of her eyes. Slowly his mischievous smile faded into a tender smile that she returned before diverting her eyes to the few papers she had left on her desk. Castle sighed and turned back to his own paperwork. True, he hated the whole concept of paperwork, but after being in that bank... thinking that he'd never see her again... he would take all the paperwork in the precinct if it meant that he was with her.
Suddenly he had an idea, "Would you like to join us for dinner tonight?"
Taken by surprise, Kate didn't answer right away. Yet the smile on her face was answer enough for him. "What's on the menu tonight?"
"Well, its Friday," he paused, "I normally bring take out home."
That little smirk appeared again, "Chinese?"
"Sounds good to me." He smiled as her reached for his phone. Kate put a final signature on her papers as well as finishing his while he ordered her favorite. Gates watched the twos antics from the threshold of her office. There was something new between them and that something had better not cause a disturbance in her precinct.
Walking toward the elevator her hand brushed the top of his ever so lightly, but it didn't go unnoticed. He wanted to reach down and take her hand in his so bad that it hurt, but he had to remember that they were going at her pace. So instead he turned his head to smile at her.
There wasn't much of a drive but as they waited outside her favorite chinese joint in silence Kate couldn't help but break the ice, "why won't you hold my hand?"
His head whipped in her direction, confusion mixed shock dominated his features, "what?"
"I've be trying to get you to hold my damn hand since we left the station," she clarified, "why won't you hold my hand?"
"I... um... I..." Castle paused, "I think it may be ready, I'm going to go get the food."
She watched his quick exit. Any normal damn day he would have made some wiseass crack, or at the very least held her hand regardless. What was his problem? He'd dropped the L-bomb... then it dawned on her. He was under the impression that she didn't remember any of that. Okay, so tonight was going to be harder than she'd thought.
In the moment it took him to get from the door back to the car, she'd made up her mind. Things were going to change tonight but to what extent... she wasn't sure. She smiled when he took his seat next to her, "anymore stops before we get to your place?"
"I don't think so. Not unless you need something." He stated, focusing his attention in front of them.
"I think I have everything I need." She smirked at the side of his face knowing he wouldn't understand. They were content to spending the rest of the drive in silence. Castle was still unsure if she was going to bring up the hand holding issue and how he would address such issue. However the rest of the ride seemed to be pleasently silent.
As if on cue, Castle phone rang. Kate tried not to listen in, but it was seemingly hard not to given their close proximity. He sighed after hanging up,
"Alexis and mother decided to go out tonight. Alexis is still in post break up depression."
"Do you want to cancel?" She asked hopeing he wouldn't. She loved spending time with him and his family but lately she'd been craving time alone with him.
"And let all this amazing food go to waste?" Castle seemed to have returned to himself, "besides, detective, you can't get rid of me that easily."
They shared each other company up to his loft and when finally inside the door Kate slipped her jacket off her shoulders and pulled her feet from her heels. Satisfied with herself Kate decided to use the restroom before heading to the kitchen. She did a quick check in the mirror, fixing a few strands that seemed to have ventured out of place.
Kate padded her way to the kitchen. As she approched him, her hand landed on the small of his back, fingers working their way under the hem of his shirt. She felt him tense. Swallowing hard he turned his head so he could look at her and before he was even aware of what she was doing... her un occupied hand was caressing his cheek and her lips were on his.
TBC- Maybe...