Hold my Heart

A/N: The first part of this story is the lyrics to Christina Perris "Arms" that inspired the title too. The song reminds me a lot of Castle and Beckett and I really love it so I thought, why not =)

The story is a follow up of my one-shot "Happily Ever After?" and I try to update it after each new episode, meaning, I want to follow the normal storyline as much as possible only with the fact that here our favourite crime solving duo is a step further already =)

I hope you'll enjoy it and don't worry, I'll also keep writing on "Twist of Fate", I just need a more Casketty fanfic to write as well xD (Not that the other one isn't going that way ;D)

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters! They are ABCs and our beloved Marlow's and I know he'll do the right thing with them xD)

Arms

i never thought that

you would be the one to hold my heart

but you came around and you knocked me

off the ground from the start

you put your arms around me

and i believe that it's easier for you

to let me go

you put your arms around me

and i'm home

how many times will you

let me change my mind

and turn around

i can't decide if i'll let you

save my life or if i'll drown

i hope that you see right through my walls

i hope that you catch me

cause i'm already falling

i'll never let a love get so close

you put your arms around me and i'm home

the world is coming down on me

and i can't find a reason to be loved

i never want to leave you but

i can't make you bleed if i'm alone

you put your arms around me

and i believe that it's easier for you

to let me go

i hope that you see right through my walls

i hope that you catch me

cause i'm already falling

i'll never let a love get so close

you put your arms around me and i'm home

i tried my best to never let you

in to see the truth

and i've never opened up

i've never truly loved till

you put your arms around me

and i believe that it's easier for you

to let me go

i hope that you see right through my walls

i hope that you catch me

cause i'm already falling

i'll never let a love get so close

you put your arms around me and i'm home

you put your arms around me and i'm home

He still couldn't really believe what had happened the other night, that she had actually kissed him and that she didn't pretended it didn't happen.

They weren't much different from before. When he went to the precinct, he still brought her coffee, she still smiled at him the same way and no one knew that something more was developing between them. Not that they didn't know what was going on between him and Kate but they didn't suspect that the two were taking it to a new level, slowly though, but still, it was progress.

After she had left and he had closed the door behind him – still utterly over the moon – he wondered what would happen the next day. He had almost been scared to go to the precinct but there was no need because the moment Kate got home, she had sent him a text, saying good night again and a kiss. His amazement was huge, but he was sure as hell not going to complain. Had his mother told him that her suggestion of a date would end like this, he would never have believed her. And yet, this happened and he was the happiest man on the planet.

He'd shown up with his usual two cups of coffee the next day and Kate beamed at him. She didn't kiss him, of course, but she "accidentally" brushed his fingers when taking the cup.

He had smiled back at her and both of them knew that the step Kate had made the night before would not be reversed. She was going to stick to it, she was going to really give it a try and well, dive into it.

There was still so much to be done and so much to be said but it was a start. The first moment they were alone, Kate took him to the break room and told him that she was not going to deny what had happened but that she still needed time, that she wanted this but that she could only take small steps.

He had smiled at her and nodded. "It's enough for now," he had said and gently stroked her cheek. And it was enough for now, he was sure of that because it was already more than he had ever dared to hope for. After the summer he had been sure that she was going to push him away, he was sure that she would only ever see him as her partner, her best friend but now he knew that it was more and no matter how much time she needed, knowing that she wanted it was good enough for him.

Now, a few days after their "first" kiss, they were still pacing slowly. She sometimes allowed him to steal a quick kiss but it was never more than the one she'd given him before she'd left his loft. Gates had given her a lot of paperwork so she was busy a lot and they didn't get many chances of being alone, even the evenings were kind of packed with other things. But she still gave him the open hearted smiles, she still teased him and she still showed her affection in every way possible; a light squeeze of his hand when no one saw it or rushing past him a little too close so she would brush against him or listening even more closely than she already did.

He'd invited her for dinner with his family once during those few days but she'd already had plans and couldn't make it and then, the next day their new case came in. The Night of Dance contestant Odette Morton. They didn't really have time there either but working on a case they somehow had their own rhythm and Kate had agreed to have dinner with him that day.

That was where they were now, sitting at the dining room table with his family. He was truly happy now, he had his three favourite girls by his side.

He noticed that Alexis was very observing and had him and Kate under surveillance all the time. Castle knew that Alexis wasn't quite sure what to think. She liked Kate and she knew how much her father loved her but she just couldn't quite wrap her head around everything. But she didn't know yet that the night of her grandmother's play had actually changed something. She was sure that Kate liked her father but she didn't know how much and she just didn't want him to get hurt. Of course she knew by now that the detective would do anything to get her father out of trouble, the hostage situation in the bank a few months back had proven that but was it enough?

Watching her father and Kate now she realised that it was. Kate was so open with him around, she laughed a lot and Alexis also noticed that the detective touched Castle's hand more often than probably necessary. She hid a smile, continued eating and tried to follow her father's story.

He was talking about the new case, told her and his mother about what had happened and he especially liked to point out that Lanie loved the show.

Kate smirked at that.

"I think you liked her reason more than the fact that she watches it…" she said teasingly.

"Hey, you were the one interpreting things into what I said, not I!"

She raised an eyebrow but smiled broadly. "Yeah right…I still think it's true."

Alexis looked up from her plate and looked at Kate questioningly but the latter one lightly shook her head, inclining she didn't want to know.

"Hey, remember when I overheard about my dad's…well…relationships? I think I can handle everything else now…"

Kate made a face at the memory of her telling Castle to sleep with whomever he wanted and then realising Alexis had overheard that and Castle himself squirmed a little too at the mention.

"I guess you're right though…" Kate said and grinned. "You know, he was just saying that there should be some more top-heavy ballerinas out there."

"And I didn't mean it that way…" he explained himself again but Alexis was already laughing. Yes, it was so typically her father.

After dinner they cleared the table, Martha and Alexis volunteering to do the dishes although Kate protested heavily – with no success.

Castle took their wine glasses and led her to the couch where they both sat down. He placed the glasses on the coffee table, leaned back on the couch and placed his arm behind Beckett. She smiled and lightly leaned into him. She loved being so close to him, she could smell cologne and most importantly, him. She breathed in the scent and an almost silent sigh escaped her mouth. Castle lightly began to stroke up and down her arm and made her shiver.

"Thanks for coming over," he said and she turned her head to look at him.

"You know I love spending time with your family. Your mom and Alexis are great fun to be around and you are not so bad either."

He could hear the smile in her voice and poked her lightly. "Now you hurt my feelings, detective," he teased and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Dad? I'm off to bed." The voice of Castle's daughter made Kate stiffen beside him, knowing that the way they sat there could not be mistaken for "just partners". When both her and Castle turned their heads to look at Alexis, the girl smiled at them. Kate smiled back in a "This isn't what it looks like-oh wait, it is what it looks like" kind of way with a hint of an apology as well that Alexis almost felt bad for interrupting. She gave Kate a reassuring smile. Her dad was happy and that was all that mattered to her. Also, she was pretty sure that Kate wasn't the person to just get into something for the sake of it but because she really wanted it.

"Good night, you two," she now said and then walked away to give them their privacy.

Kate immediately buried her face in the crook of Rick's neck, embarrassed from the moment before. "What's wrong?" he asked but she shook her head, not wanting to respond. "Kate, if it's Alexis, don't worry. She's been observing us all evening, she knew already."

She lifted her head to look at him. "Like father, like daughter, huh," she stated but smiled. "It's just so… strange, you know. I mean, this is still so new and I kind of don't know what to do and how to deal with all of it," she admitted and Castle looked at her intensely, so that she almost lost herself in the ocean that were his eyes. He was surprised at her honesty because admitting to not being in control was a big deal for Kate Beckett and he appreciated it a lot, also because he didn't feel that much different.

For a few seconds they just looked at each other and then Kate reached up, cupping his cheek in one of her hands, lightly caressing it with her thumb. Then she kissed him. Lightly first, like the last few kisses but it grew into a passionate kiss that left her almost kneeling above him.

She was the one to break the kiss though, knowing that she wasn't ready for anything that might have followed. She sat down again, nestling herself into him again, resting her head on his chest while he went back to stroking her arm.

Sitting there as comfortable as they did, she knew one thing for sure. By taking the first step she had done the one thing that she had tried not to. She had given her heart away, had given it to Castle and she knew it left her more vulnerable than ever. He was the one who held her heart in his hands now, he was the one who would only need to squeeze it a bit to break it but she also knew something else and that was, that she was okay with it, that she felt save and that she felt home.

While they were still working on the case, they allowed themselves some more private moments. Kate had tried not to because they were after all working and shouldn't get distracted but to her astonishment he could handle it much better than her so that she was again the one to kiss him first. She almost felt pathetic sometimes, being so needy but he was ready to go with it, no matter what. From time to time Kate saw the boys exchange some looks and wasn't sure if they suspected something already. Maybe she actually was a bit too open with her smiles directed at Castle but she didn't care. Even if it was new and even if she'd wanted to well, not keep it secret but keep it under the radar for a while, she kind of couldn't be bothered. She was not going to run around screaming it on top of her lungs but she would not hide her affection anymore either.

She was glad when Ryan didn't let Castle go to the strip club with him and Espo, although she probably shouldn't care, because she knew that Castle would maybe flirt a bit but that it wouldn't be serious and that he was all hers. She knew that and still she was glad. He of course noticed, smiled and after looking around quickly to check if someone was looking, he kissed her swiftly and then pretended as if he'd done nothing.

She smiled at him again and then went back to work. She still didn't get what was going on with this case and she wanted it to be solved and over.

When the boys informed her later of what they had found out and she'd told Castle as well, he disappeared and she already felt his absence. She knew he was just doing some research of his own but she wished he'd stayed in his chair by her desk. Only, there was never enough room for the both of them to work there.

After he'd found out about Odette's little trick with the double she wanted to slap him and kiss him at the same time. A girls panties on his head? Ignore that, Kate, she told herself and settled for a plain "You are a genius" that was almost inaudible but made him beam at her.

As the case began to unfold she was getting more and more impatient. They were all far too busy with the case as that she'd have had time to spend another evening in Rick's company and she really enjoyed those evenings. But the case had priority, that was sure and of all people it was Alexis that reminded her of that when her proud father drew her into a tight hug and she needed to remind him of certain boundaries.

Yes, she needed some boundaries too. In her head at least…

So once the case was finally over, she was relieved. Of course, knowing the killer would be brought to justice was the most important thing but she was also relieved because now she hopefully had some time to rest. The paperwork was the only thing that was left to do.

When she and Castle cleaned the murder board his heart felt light and with every smile Kate threw his way, he got the feeling that he was about to take off. He was also very impressed by the dream she had before becoming a cop. Chief Justice. He'd always known that she belonged in the legal system and although she might not have become the first female Chief Justice she was the one to bring some peace and some justice to the families of the victims. That was quite something too.

After they managed to help Espo get Ryan's ring off, they all went home. Castle asked her if she wanted to come over but she said she needed to go home first but as soon as he had gotten home and his mother had given him the huge box with a manuscript that he couldn't really be bothered reading he called her.

"Miss me already?" she greeted him and he didn't deny it.

"Of course. My offer still stands, I cook you dinner and we can watch a movie. I need a little distraction from the task my mother just gave me."

He heard her laugh at the other end and knew she would come over and after they hung up it didn't take that long until she actually stood at his doorstep.

He had already prepared dinner and they sat down. Martha said she wasn't hungry and Alexis was still with Lanie so the two of them were alone.

"What kind of task is it that you have to do?"

"Read Oona Marconi's manuscript…Mother didn't even ask if I would read it, she just suggested it." Kate laughed again. "I can help you, if you would like," she offered and he beamed at her.

"Kate, you are a star!" he answered cheerfully.

They finished their meal and once again settled down on the couch to watch a movie. Kate was so exhausted from the past few days that after she lightly kissed Rick and settled against his body again, fell tightly asleep, feeling more comfortable and more at home than ever.

So...well...this was kinda weird to write...based on the episode I mean. It's why I have basically no dialouge in it, but I'm sure that'll change over time.

I think I might write one or the other chapter in between episodes to fill tha gap but as said at the beginning, I also need to update my other story and I also have a lot of college work too.

I hope you liked it and I hope you're off to hit the review button xDDD

xx

May