A/NSo this little drabble wouldn't leave me alone so I had to write it down. Also I'm procrastinating, not wanting to do homework. Ha ha. This is 100% fluff and I don't care. I love it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle. That honor is bestowed on Andrew Marlow, the brilliant creator.

The Dance

Kate had been staring at her drink and playing with the white linen of the table cloth absentmindedly. She had spent to whole day at Ryan and Jenny's wedding and was starting to feel the fatigue of smiling and "being happy for them" all day. Castle had been right by her side the entire day. She had agreed to go with him as his date, though she claimed it was to save her the pressure of having to find someone else to go with. It's what she had told him and kept telling herself.

It was odd but Kate didn't even notice when Castle came up next to her after returning from the bathroom and extending his hand to her asked her to dance.

Kate could help but smile just a little.

"I'd love to."

"Shall we?" said Castle leading them out onto the crowded dance floor. They both noticed the Newly Weds who seemed to not notice anyone else around them. Lanie and Espisito were swaying slowly close by. Kate couldn't remember a time when she had seen Rick look so handsome. He always looked good but tonight there was just something about him that made it hard for her to stop looking at him. 'No, focus' she told herself. It was just a dance. Castle was just being a gentleman. So if he was just being a gentleman then why was he looking at her like that. Oh goodness her will power was waning. No way was she going to hold out. However she took a deep breath as he wrapped he arms around her and lead their way over the floor.

John Michael Montgomery's "I Can Love You Like That" was playing and she looked Castle in the eye for just a moment or two before allowing him to pull her in closer and put her head on his shoulder.

She couldn't help it anymore she couldn't keep lying to him. 'That's it,' she told herself, 'I have to tell him'.

"Castle?" she spoke into his ear.

"Yes?"

"Maybe it's just the merriment of the occasion but there is something I have to tell you."

"Beckett, you know you can tell me anything." The writer smirked.

She pulled slightly away from him while still wrapped in his arms. "Rick, look at me this important."

"Kate, are you Ok?"

"Yeah, I think so. Just give me a moment." She took yet another deep breath. "Rick, I remember."

Castle looked slightly confused but continued to look at her as they were still swaying slightly on the spot. "Remember?"

"I remember everything. The shooting, the bullet, you tackling me, you..." she looked down at the floor gaining the strength to say what had to be said. "…you telling me you love me."

They had stopped moving and Castle's arms dropped to him side. He looked suddenly sick; as if someone had hit him in the stomach with a baseball bat.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. There is no excuse for it."

Writer Boy for once had nothing to say.

"Castle, please say something…anything."

"Kate, I…" His usually continuously moving jaw just sat slack.

Kate lifted her hand to his chin to close his mouth.

"There is something else, too."

"Beckett I don't know if I can take anymore 'surprises' tonight."

Kate could easily tell that he was hurt by her admission and had to remedy the situation quickly if she was going to hold onto him. She had already lost him once. She was NOT about to let that happen again.

"Really?" She leaned in closer whispering in his ear again, "'cause I think you may like this one".

Castle's attention was drawn back to her form wherever it wandered off to for the last minute. He arched an eyebrow at her expectantly.

"Castle, I heard you say that you love me and I need to tell you, I'm ready to tell you that I love you too."

Rick in that moment had gone from stunned embarrassment and sadness to stunned amazement and pure, unbridled joy.

"Kate, I don't know what to say." He reached for her pulling her into his arms once again. There was this big goofy grin on his face and he didn't care who saw it, his bright blue eyes on fire with emotion.

But Kate was just smiling. She felt like this giant weight had been lifted. She had finally said it. She loved Castle. She was in love with Richard freakin' Castle!

"You have no idea how good it feels to finally say that out loud."

Castle just laughed.

"Ok maybe you do."

"Kate, I love you so much." At this point Castle could stop himself and Kate didn't stop him; he kissed her. Right there on that dance floor in front of all her co-workers and friends. Kate remembered that last kiss they'd had, the undercover one. That one was nothing compared to this. Her whole body was humming at the feel of his lips on hers. A girl could get used to this. After what could have been weeks, years, or entire millennia, she didn't care, they pulled apart. They had to, there was going to be an oxygen deprivation problem otherwise.

"Yeah, you go girl!" Kate her Lanie scream. She cast the ME a critical look mouthing 'we'll talk later'.

"Kate, you want to get out of here?"

She stared at Castle for a moment appraisingly. Castle quickly clarified his question.

"I...I just thought we should get some air. It's hot in here…you know?"

"Oh, Castle."

Kate took his hand, shaking her head and smiling at his antics. They left the ballroom to the other guests and stepped out. They turned a corner down an empty hallway to find a place a little quieter so that they could talk more about what just happened.

A/N: Well that's all folks. I enjoyed this one. If you liked it too please be sure to check out my other story Murder Mystery Wizard. R&R. Thank you.