Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Andrew W. Marlowe, though they have found their own way into my heart.

It was a little after three in the morning. She was sitting in an armchair, near the window in Castle's office. The thunder had ceased, leaving in its wake a soft drizzle spattering against the glass roof above her head. Wearing his button-down, her legs were pulled up onto the easychair's cushion, her arms tightly wrapped around her shins, her chin resting on her knees. She had woken up after a dreadful nightmare. Falling from that rooftop, his face the only thing she could see behind her eyelids as gravity pulled her fast towards her imminent death. Her eyes had flown open and she had seen him, sound asleep next to her. Breathing. Alive. Both of them alive. In that moment, all she had wanted to do was to reach out to him, caress his face, run her fingers through his soft hair, but she didn't want to wake him. He looked so peaceful. Instead, she had gotten out of bed, pulled his shirt over her shoulders and wandered into his office.

It was oddly quiet except for the rain tinkling against the windows. Watching the raindrops slowly slide down the glass, her thoughts drifted to the events occurred the day before. Hanging from that rooftop, only her fingers gripping the edge of the ledge, realizing that she wouldn't see Castle's face again, she wouldn't hear his voice…

The truth hit her hard. A tear escaped her eye and trickled down her cheek. God, she almost lost him. Another tear followed, and then some more. She leaned her temple against the back of the armchair and closed her lids. Breathing deeply in and out, she tried to control the moisture pooling in her eyes.

A few minutes had gone by when the light pressure of a hand on her shoulder startled her. She hadn't heard him approach.

"Sorry," Castle said softly. "I didn't mean to startle you." She just nodded. "Are you okay?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

"I can't sleep," she answered. Her voice sounded a little hoarse so she cleared her throat.

He knelt down next to her and placed a hand on top of hers.

"Kate," he called. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly through her mouth. He waited patiently until she turned her head to look at him, and when she did, even in the dark, he saw the tear streaks on her cheeks. He took her cold hand in both of his. "Do you… regret this?" he whispered, not sure he could keep the trembling out of his voice.

Her eyes opened wide. "No! No, of course not." She gave his hand a squeeze before bringing hers up to his cheek, cradling his face. He leaned in to the warmth of her touch, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief second.

"Then what?" he asked. Holding his gaze in the darkness, she brushed her thumb under his eye but remained silent. "Just…," he trailed off, then inhaled deeply and tried again. "Just…tell me?"

A single tear rolled down her cheek and she closed her eyes.

"Kate, please... Talk to me", Castle begged, placing his hand on hers —still pressed to his cheek—, and holding it firmly against his face. She looked at him, seeing the worry in his pleading eyes.

"Can I have something to drink?" she murmured.

Castle stood up and held out a hand. She took it, allowing him to pull her up to her feet. He lead her to the kitchen and made her take a seat at the breakfast counter. He flipped on a couple of lights under the upper cabinets and poured some milk in a pan to heat, adding cocoa powder and some spices in it. When he finished, he poured the steamy, thick liquid into a couple of mugs and sat down on the stool beside her. She took the hot chocolate in her hands, the porcelain warming her cold fingers. Taking one sip, she tasted hazelnut and a hint of cinnamon. It was really good. He waited patiently until she was ready to open up to him. After taking another sip, she set the mug on the counter top and kept her hands around the warmth radiating from it.

And then she started talking. She told him everything that had happened. Everything about the fight with Maddox, about how she had almost fallen from the rooftop, how she had heard his voice, and how the thought of him had been the only thing that had given her the strength to hang on. And then she told him about her resignation. Castle listened without interrupting, his drink left untouched, forgotten, while his face grew darker the more she spoke. When she was done, he took a minute to process all the information, to let it all sink in.

Putting a hand on top of hers, now resting on her naked thigh, he said, "Everything will work out... You know that, don't you?"

She nodded, her gaze locked with his. "I know," she murmured. "As long as we are together?" she added hesitant.

"Always," he replied, one of the corners of his mouth curving up. Her lips split into a dazzling smile and he answered in kind.

"Always," she repeated, and they both laughed.

"You want some more?" Castle asked, eyeing her almost empty mug.

"Thanks," she said, handing him the cup.

She followed him with her gaze as he circled the kitchen island and walked over to the stove to warm some more drink for the both of them. When he turned his back to her, she bit on her lower lip. He looked amazing in those sweat pants, hanging low over his hips. With a smile on her face and trying to keep her eyes off his bare back —and ass—, her gaze wandered around the big room and fell upon the front door. She spotted her leather jacket lying there on the floor and couldn't help but remember what had taken place just a few hours ago.

Guiding him by his hand, Kate had walked Castle across the foyer and into his bedroom. She had sat on the edge of the bed, Castle standing in front of her. Looking up at him, she tugged at both his hands and he knelt on the floor between her legs. She brought her face to his and kissed him softly on the lips. She gladly granted him full control on their first time and he didn't hesitate in starting to blindly unbutton her shirt with sure fingers —their lips never parting— and then slid the fabric gently off her shoulders and down her arms. The undressing became a slow dance of passing the turn to one another and she took hers, slowly peeling off his dress shirt. When the piece of clothing hit the floor, Castle broke the kiss, reached down and pulled off her boots and socks, never taking his eyes off hers. His moves were really slow and gentle, almost praising. When he was done, she drew his lips back to hers, cradling his face with her hands, while his came to rest on either side of her waist. Her back arched into him at the warm touch of his hands on her naked skin.

Kate had then started to scoot backwards, further up the bed, and he had followed her, unwilling to lose contact with her lips. She lay flat on her back and he slowly began to kiss his way down her neck, her collarbone, her chest, her stomach, trailing his lips over her skin until he reached the waist of her pants. He didn't waver and popped open the button and pulled the zip down. Then he sat back between her knees, lifted her left leg and gently pulled at the cuff of her pants. They wouldn't come down. He looked at her. She was smiling up at him, her teeth biting on her bottom lip, and a chuckle escaped from her mouth. She reached for both his hands, placed them back on the waist of her jeans and slightly raised her hips off the mattress. Castle pulled the moist, tight pants down her hips to her thighs. He then stood up and tugged at the cuffs of the dark denim fabric. This time the pants came off all the way. Tossing them aside, he kissed his way back up her long body, feathering his lips over her ankle, her leg, —her breathing hitched and her eyelids fluttered when his mouth moved over her hip— until he met her lips again. His hands softly brushed her sides, revelling in the silkiness of her skin…

"Where did you just go?" Castle's voice brought her back to reality. He was standing right next to her, two steaming mugs in his hands and a small grin on his lips.

She felt herself blush. "I…" she started, smiling and lightly shaking her head. He sat down on his bar stool and placed the mugs on the counter. "I was just thinking, remembering…" She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence, this was still very new to her. So instead she motioned with her head towards the bedroom while raising an eyebrow, hitting him with a meaningful look. He seemed a bit confused and then, understanding, his features turned into a sexy, hungry smirk.

"Oh... I see," was all he said before he rose and came to stand in front of her, between her legs, with a wicked smile on his lips.

He leaned in for a deep kiss and her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him closer. Her legs wrapped around his waist of their own accord. He lifted her off the stool and slowly carried her back to his bedroom, closing the door behind him with his heel.

So, I hope you enjoyed it. This is my first fanfic and, actually, the first time I have written a story, ever. Thank you!