Hello my friendly neighbourhood readers,

If you are reading this, it means that I am forever eternally grateful for that.

It has been a while since I have written anything, firstly because I was away on holidays overseas for seven weeks and when I came back I was super poor and had to go straight into work and then pretty much start my university course at the same time.

Anyway, just want to say thank you again for sticking with me.

Enjoy this reflective piece-yes, another reflective piece, I can't help it.

Sam

Oh yeah and Castle doesn't belong to me in any way, shape or form. I'll keep it in the hands of Andrew Marlowe for a little while yet.

Are you ready to dive in?

She'd watched him walk away from her; arm-in-arm with his ex-wife. The pain from that was excruciating, but she found a temporary solace in the arms of another only to have him come back and worm his way back into her life once again. She said that she trusted him and had called him her partner because the plucky sidekick always got killed. She had even kissed him; all the while she was still with the other guy. He knew her, sometimes even better than she knew herself. She asked herself why she wasn't with this extraordinary man every day when she woke up in another's arms. She wanted stable, dependable, someone to dive in head first with her. She was confused; didn't he prove those qualities already? Didn't he come back for her? Josh had stayed for her, but that wasn't the same thing. Rick had said always and she had even said it back to him. The word 'always' had connotations of forever and eternally. It seemed pretty definite and permanent in her ears. Maybe that's what she is scared of. Opening her whole heart to someone creates the opportunity for them to break it wide open; her heart was fragile already. Not even a cardiothoracic surgeon could repair that damage. Could she risk it? Could she let the one man in that could cause irreparable devastation to her heart? What about Josh? Could she leave the safety of his arms to go to the uncertainty of another's? Sure, Josh was a sweet guy, but half the time they were like ships passing in the night. Castle on the other hand was constantly there.

So many questions; so many unknowns. There are too many 'what ifs' for her at the moment. Their time will come, she's sure of it. He didn't enter her life for no reason. His whole speech about fate and the universe must have some fulfillment sometime. Perhaps at the moment she is content with the non-dates to the movies, the sharing of meals together, the shoulder to lean on and the friendship that he gives her. She knows deep down that he didn't lie when he said he'd always be there for her.

Kate realised that all she needs to do is take that leap of faith and jump; Rick Castle will be there to catch her. He has already proven himself before when he has saved her life on numerous occasions and has helped her face the demons of her past. Despite his child-like behaviour most of the time, she has come to appreciate that Richard Castle is one of the most responsible and caring men that she has ever met. Kate Beckett knows that she is a very lucky woman to have him on her side.

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There you have it; I hope you liked it. There will be another story up soon that is set in my 'Morning Musings' universe called 'Manic Monday'. Keep on the lookout if you're interested.