Author's Note: I wrote this in the middle of my Murder on Ice story, I needed something to get my writing juices flowing so I just started writing and came up with this. I got the idea from my personal life, in a bit nicer fashion though. Please read and review

Disclaimer- I don't own or have any rights to Castle or any of its characters, sadly.

Long Night Love Letter

by: Tanas Bartowski

He had just finished his fourth Nikki Heat book, he had yet to receive a contract for any more books, so it was time for him to stop hiding behind the motive of research. Castle couldn't sleep, he had things on his mind that he just had to express. Her name was Kate Beckett, and he was in love with her, although he couldn't tell her as he feared what she would say. It wasn't normal for him to be so shy about his feeling around women. This one was different, he had never been friends with a woman before he had gotten involved with them, that usually happened after. So Castle did the one thing that he knew best, how to write.

Dear Kate,

I am writing to you today, because I am scared. Because I am not truly a man that deserves you. Your friendship, kindness, your generosity, your empathy toward others, your love. I am a fool to feel what I feel for you, to say I am following you for research because we both know that it is a lie. I have gotten enough research to tell the world the story of your very soul and still I follow you. I love you, Kate Beckett, damn me for my idiocy, but I am in love with you. The simple way you move, the way you talk, the way you hunt for justice against those who have wronged it. The way you are loyal to those closest to you. The way you protect others who cannot protect themselves. I even love the way you bite your lip something has you stumped. I love your bravery in the face of danger. I love your shyness in the face of crowds. I love your modesty in the face of destruction. I love the way you look when you know the whole world is watching you and you still don't give a damn. I love you for you, and for me. Is that selfish, the way I want you to be mine? Is it wrong? Will you hate me when you read this? Oh I wish I had all the answers, but I am just a man, a man in love and too afraid to voice those feelings. I think I will send you this letter and see, just see if you feel the same way as I, if you do, please tell me, or write me back. If not destroy this letter, I will try to forget my feeling ever happened. I promise you they will never become a problem for you. However if you do feel the same way as me and right now I so hope that you do. I will be more than thrilled to hear it.

Your friend always,

Richard Edgar Castle

Castle printed the letter, and then signed his name, above where he typed it. He picked up the letter from the printer, after it had printed. He stared at it, reading it over and over and over again. He finally took a deep breath, folding the letter into thirds and sticking it into an envelope. He addressed the letter, taking great detail in each and every word that he wrote. A stamp was the last step before the letter was ready to be delivered. Castle went to his door, took his coat from the coat-rack and put it on. He opened the door and left the apartment.

The letter never left his hand. As he traveled down in the elevator as he passed his night doorman whom held the door open for him. Castle walked down the block, toward the only mailbox on his street. It wasn't long before he spotted it, the vessel of his love. At the box, Castle couldn't bring himself to drop the letter just yet. He stared at the sealed letter and pondered his decision to write it and send it to her. He was terrified, terrified of what would become of him and their relationship. He finally forced himself to be a man and dropped the letter in the slot. He walked away, hoping he made the right decision.

Several days had passed since Castle's long night love letter was written. Beckett and the rest of the team had just solved a rather difficult case together. She had not acted differently toward him since he wrote the letter, it assumed that he had his answer and he would have to deal with that himself. He watched Beckett as she crossed the squad room, seemingly about to leave. Before she left, she visited him, he noticed a letter in her hands, she dropped it before the desk he was seated at and told him goodnight.

Castle watched her as she got into the elevator, the doors closing behind her. He reached for the letter, opening it from the side with the nearest available pen. The first words he read were a relief for him to read, stating simply-

Dear Castle