Still working my way around FanFic. Sorry for errors :) I don't own Castle


They were finally something more. It had taken them a hell of a long time to get there, but she and Richard Castle had picked their way through the rubble of her shattered wall. It had been beautiful. Every touch, every kiss was tender and laced with passion. Breathy moans escaped hungry lips, yet nothing was rushed. They made love slowly. It was simple really, for Rick and Kate the important things took time. This first display of pent up emotion was pivotal for each of them. Both fought to show how much they cared for, loved, and needed the other. Words were not enough this time. And In the end, as they lay covered in temporary bliss (and each other), teetering on the edge of sleep, Kate whispered,

"So sorry Castle. Thank you."

"Me too Kate," was his groggy reply.

She burrowed into his chest and sighed, "Talk tomorrow, promise" as he tried to nod in agreement his eyelids slowly drifted shut.

When Kate woke up everything was hazy. She didn't seem to be in her own bed, and she had no idea what time it was. The best guess she could muster was that it was super early in the morning. The moon still hung high in a cloudy sky. More importantly, where was she? A toe nudged into her calf, and it clicked. She was in Castle's bed. She had come to him the night before, after the fight, after she quit her job, after everything. They had crossed that fragile line of theirs. Suddenly she was restless; she needed to breathe. Kate slithered out of his bed, but before she turned to find a shirt she stared at him. He looked so peaceful, his hair all ruffled, a smile ghosting at his lips. Almost like a puppy, she thought. Then a smile started to creep onto her face. Rick wasn't what had her awake and antsy, she realized. It was the uncertainty of her tomorrow, their tomorrow. A couple of beats later, she reluctantly tore her gaze from the man in the bed, slid into his discarded top, and tip toed into his adjoining office. She needed time to collect herself, to let the last twenty four hours really settle in.

When Castle woke up, his memory wasn't nearly as fuzzy as Kate's had been. He could recall everything that had happened earlier that night, the thought of it had him glowing. She had seemed to have grown since their fight earlier in the week. Something huge had come and knocked down her defenses. He knew they needed to talk about whatever it was, but last night when he was reluctant, closed off, she had told just enough that he knew she wouldn't run, at least not right away. Castle had felt hope blooming in his chest; they might actually be on the same side of the wall. That was enough for now. That was when he decided to open his eyes. He needed to see her, drink her in, reaffirm what he knew to be true. And she wasn't there. Rick's heart stuttered. Had she left? No she wouldn't do that. Not tonight. Unless she had. Why did that thought have to crawl into his mind, it made him sick? With a groan, he rolls over and slides a hand over where Kate should be, where she had been just hours before. To his surprise the rumpled sheets were still warm. He shot up. Maybe she was still here; in the bathroom maybe? No, the door was ajar, light off. Snagged by longing and curiosity, Castle surveyed his room eager to find something to show she had not left. There were clothes everywhere, all black. That didn't help much. They had both been dress in black last night, and he was not in the mood to get up and examine every article of clothing. But something was missing, his maroon dress shirt. It had been the only pop of color between them, and now it was gone. She was still in the loft (wearing his shirt, he might add)! Stumbling out of bed, he was on a mission: find Kate, find pants, and finally have their much needed talk. Not necessarily in that order.