3 weeks earlier.

Beckett just closed a really big case and invited the gang, Lanie and Jenny, back to her house for drinks. Since Kate he broken up with Josh she's been having people over to her apartment more because lord knows it's big enough for parties! Everyone had lots of fun, the boys decided to watch a football game that was on TV while the girls talked about shopping and Jenny's upcoming wedding and how excited they were and how Jenny just wanted it to be over already. After a few football games, lots of playful banter and a few too many drinks Jenny and Kevin decided to head home around 11 o'clock while Lanie and Kate stayed and talked about everything and nothing. Rick and Esposito decided that they'd be gentlemen and clean up so Kate wouldn't have to do it all herself. About an hour went by, Lanie and Esposito decided it was their turn to leave.

Kate and Rick sat on the couch. They were talking about the little things Kate's mom used to do when she was little. Kate didn't tell Castle the whole truth when he told her about that wall she built up after her mother's murder. She didn't tell him that he was the only person she's ever met who could walk right through that wall so easily. Kate tried to break down those walls for Josh, but even with Josh's help she still couldn't tear them down completely, but Castle was a different story. Castle didn't even try that hard! All he would do is look at her with this gaze that told her she had is full attention and then as if it was something she had done every day for her whole life, her mouth would just move! The words would come out without her even fully realizing what was happening!

Kate was telling Rick how her mom used to sing to her and how her mom inspired her to be a singer. Kate told him how she took singing lessons and how she would always sing in her school talent shows.

At one point Kate asked if Ricked wanted another beer and he said yes. As Kate was coming back with their beers, Castle lightly grazed his fingers over her backside.

"Trying to cop a feel there, Castle?" Kate said with a smirk as she sat down next to him,

"Nope, just trying to feel a cop," Castle smiled a sincere smile.

"How's that working out for you?" Kate leaned in closer to Castle to make him feel uncomfortable. For once it didn't work. Castle just stared over her shoulder as he answered her, talking a mile a minute like Alexis when she found out she was in love,

"Well, the cop is one of my best friends and I don't want to mess things up with her because I adore our friendship but I REALLY like her. I like her more than a best friend should like his best friend but I mean she's really great and I just... I think... I'm fallin'-" Kate cut him off by closing her lips over his. She grabbed his hands and placed them on her breasts. Kate slid her hand down in between his legs to see he was already hard. Kate pulled away to look at him,

"Wow. Already?" she asked surprised.

"Umm, yeah," he said "you have that affect on me."

"Really? I didn't think I did..." Kate said honestly,

"Seriously, Kate?" Castle asked, "You know you're super attractive and you've even caught me staring at your ass! Remember that time in L.A? I commented on your hotness! How could you even start to think that I wouldn't be attracted to you?" Kate looked away and thought for a minute,

"I just figured you looked at every girl like that." Castle grabbed her chin so he could look her in the eyes,

"I only look at YOU that way" Kate blushed and kissed him again, this time she straddled his lap and ground her hips into him electing a moan. He pulled away,

"Wow just getting right into things aren't we" he smiled at her,

"Shut up Castle! Do you want to do this or not?" asked Kate starting to get annoyed,

"I do!"

"Then shut up and do something!" she scolded. Castle crashed his lips against hers as Kate wrapped her arms around his neck. Castle laid her down on the couch so he could loom over her.

"Just one more thing before we do this" Said Castle. Kate dropped her arms from around his neck and sighed heavily,

"What?" She asked irritation clear in her voice.

"I just want you to know that I lo-" Kate cut him off by pressing her finger to his lips.

"Shhh, no. Not now Castle. Please, not now. I... I just need this right now. Okay? We can talk about this later" he nodded and she removed from her finger from his lips and replaced it with hers. They spent the rest of their night making love to each other.

"How many times has this happened?" Lanie asked, still shocked by what her friend just revealed to her.

"Just the once. But that night we made love several times. I swear Lanie, each time was better than the last..." Kate said in a dreamy voice.

"And he wanted to tell you he loved you before you two had sex but you wouldn't let him?"

"Yeah" said Kate,

"Why did you do that?" Kate and Lanie made their way back to Kate's couch.

"I don't know Lanie. I think that if I heard him say it again, this time neither one of us is fighting for our lives... I just... If I heard him say it I would've wanted more than just the sex. More kisses... more sex...and..." Kate sighed, "Maybe even a relationship..."

"But don't you want that Kate? I thought you wanted to be in a relationship with him"

"I do! But... I mean its Richard Castle, Lanie! A world famous author! Why on earth would he want a boring old New York police detective? Guys are all the same Lanie. They tell you they love you and then break your heart. I wouldn't be able to handle it if he broke my heart… not with how I feel…"

"Do you have a reason why you love him? And he won't break your heart Kate. "

"I didn't say that I love him."

"But you do?"

"Of course I do Lanie. You know I do. I'm in love with an author who is famous for his one night stands. Now I'm just another notch in his bed post."

"That's not what you are to him Kate!"

"You don't know that. You don't know that he won't break my heart." Kate said, disappointedly,

"But I do" said Castle as he walked into the room.

"Rick. How... How much did you hear?" asked Kate, she was worried that what she said might have hurt him,

"Enough." Said Rick in a monotone voice, "How could you think that you're just another notch in my bed post Kate?"

"I... I don't know... I just thought-"Castle cut her off,

"That's the thing Kate. You didn't think. I haven't looked at another girl the way I look at you in a really long time. Since before I dated Gina again. When I first met you, yes you probably would have been just another one of my "conquests" as you would say. I did start to follow you around for research though. After I learned you lost someone near to you I knew there was another side to you. I wanted to learn more about you. The day I started to have feelings about you was when you had to kill Coonan. You saved me from dying a slow and painful death, but you also told me you liked having me. Then Demming came along. I saw you really liked him so I decided to leave so my emotions and I wouldn't get in the way. The day I feel in love with you? The day we had our first kiss. That kiss may not have meant anything to you but it blew my mind and my heart away. Eventually my feelings for you grew and grew and every time I came close to telling you Josh showed up or texted you or called you. Then right after you got shot I told you I loved you. You told me you didn't remember but just now you told Lanie I said it to you before and that was the only other time I did. I still do and I don't think I will ever stop. You once told me you want someone you can just dive into with. I'm here Kate. I love you and you love me. What else is there to worry about?" Tears filled up in Kate's eyes.

"I... Castle... What if it doesn't work out between us? I mean what if we break up? I can't lose your friendship! It's too important to me."

"But what if we're throwing away something real Kate? You need take a chance! You need to listen to your heart for once. I know you've been hurt before and so have I. I know you don't know who you are without your mother's case but I will be here through thick and thin Kate. I promised you always and I meant it. Always."

Kate had tears streaming down her face now, no one has ever remembered so much about her before. No one could read her so easily.

"Okay." Said Kate through the tears, "Okay. I'll do it. I'll chance it. I'll do it" Castle smiled and Lanie hugged her tightly. Castle walked over to her. She stood up and looked deep into his eyes. She could see how much he cared just by staring into those beautiful baby blues. Castle kissed her softly.

"We'd better wake up old Javi over there. It's past his bed time" Kate laughed and nodded her head. Before she walked away Castle grabbed her head with his hands and wiped away her tears, giving her a quick peck before turning to the kitchen and grabbing a glass of ice. He came back, lifted Esposito's shirt off his chest a little bit and dumped the ice in.

Esposito woke with a loud cry. He jumped up off the couch and shook his shirt to get the ice out. "Not cool bro! NOT cool!" Beckett and Lanie were crying from laughing so hard,

"Actually," Beckett said through cries of laughter, "its ice cold" Esposito gave Castle a glare,

"I ain't cleaning that up bro." Castle let out a laugh he was holding in; A few seconds later Esposito started laughing.

Once everybody was able to breathe again Lanie and Esposito said their goodbyes and headed home.

Castle cleaned up the puddle of water and ice cubes off the floor and put away the glasses from the living room. After everything was cleaned up Kate and Rick sat together on the couch. "Thank you" said Kate, "for helping with tonight... and for sticking with me all these years..." Castle pulled Kate against his side and he kissed her head,

"Always" he whispered in her ear. His breath hit the side of her neck and sent shivers running up and down her spine. Castle looked at his watch, 1 o'clock in the morning. "I, uh... I better get going. It's pretty late." Castle gave her one last quick kiss then stood up, heading towards the front door.

"That's it?" Beckett asked shocked.

"What's it?"

"You're just going to leave? You're not going to try to talk your way into sleeping over? Or at least staying over and not sleeping at all?"Said Beckett with a flirtatious tone in her voice.

"Wha... but I thought... I thought we were going to take this slow and see where that leads... but if you want me to stay—"

"Oh no, I like your idea much better. We can start off slow and make our way to sleeping together all the time." Said Beckett with a smirk. She looked towards one of the chairs that held Castle's jacket,

"Oh... okay. I'll call you later then" said Castle with a sad smile.

"Okay" smiled Kate. Castle let himself out. Kate walked towards the door and waited. Sure enough a few minutes later there was a knock on the door.

"Hey, sorry I just forgot my –"Kate cut him off with a wild and passionate kiss.

Okay so what do you think? please review! the next chapter will be coming soon! I hope you guys like this :S