This was going to be a one-shot, but it kept me up last night, nagging fir more. So, here it is. All mistakes are mine, but sadly the Castle crew is not. Hope you enjoy and kept me know what you think. Have a good one :)

She's in that blissful moment in time where you're not fully awake, but not totally asleep. Her minds wanders through a musky darkness, hard cold stone beneath her knees. A cold icy chill barrels through her as searing pain takes her breath away. Bolting up she gasps desperately for air, her lungs scream in pain as shards of ice and water fills them. Stark white panic flows through her veins. NO, this can't be happening, not again.

Suddenly a tender warmth penetrates the coldness trying to engulf her. A soft breath sweeps over her collarbone, his soothing voice calls her name. Her mind searches, claws for what she wants...

It's that moment, when the fog of sleep lifts away from the terror of her nightmare and the calming voice and tender touches of her fiancé penetrate the all encompassing fear, that she knows she safe. The tension ebbs away leaving only the pounding of her heart and the strong grip of her fingers clenching his shirt.

"Kate, it's ok. I'm here. It's ok..." She hears the tenderness mixed with a consuming sadness in his voice. "I've got you." Her thoughts calm but her body continues to tremble as reality finally spreads it's tendrils through the last remnants of her dream, and brings her back to him.

Slowly she focuses on the shiny blue orbs filled with love and concern, she finds comfort in the way he looks at her, the way he loves her. It's at times like this when she can't understand why she had pushed him away for so long.

She reaches up drawing his face to hers, placing a soft kiss onto his lips. Her finger trail the crease of his brow and the worry lines she knows are her doing. They trace the lips that long ago were only part of her dreams and fantasies. Her thumb brushes the dark circles under his eyes, as she studies the worn lines of his face, before pulling him again for kiss. She feels how his love filling all the cracked and empty spaces, left by those who've left her, or abandoned her.

"I love you, Castle." She whispers as her fingers map his face. "You were right you know?" She watches his expression change, and an eyebrow quirk upon question. "I was, hiding in no where relationships with men I didn't love, because I was so afraid of the man I did. I knew then, that I cared for you much more than a partner or friend."

"I loved you when we were locked in the freezer. I tried to tell you, then in LA we came so close, Castle. I came out, but you were just closing the door to your room. I wanted you but I was to late. I have loved you for so long. I've waited so long, no one, not Vulcan Simmons, Bracken or 3XK and his creepy girlfriend is going to get in the way of this."

It's not often her fiancé is struck wordless, but he's dumbstruck by the revelations she has uncovered. It's his body that finally responds to her as he envelopes her with his arms and kisses her soundly. His hands begin to wander, exploring her soft warm curves. Her lips trail down the thick column of his neck, nipping, kissing and letting her tongue taste...

When they're interrupted by a loud knock at the door. It's 8:30 am and neither of them expect anyone. Kate slips her extra piece from the locked night stand on her side of the bed and into the garment pocket. Both walk to the door when the knock becomes more impatient, and the voices of their partners loud whispers drift through the door.

"We should've waited." Ryan complains to Espo. "She's gonna kill us, if we're interrupting..."

"Nah man, she would to have want this. Would you have wanted that to go into evidence, if it were you?"

"If Gates finds out she going to bust us down to traffic duty. Stealing evidence?" Ryan whispers back.

"You kidding me bro? It's been misplaced. No one will ever know. Besides Gate's about to have Fowler's head served on a platter. Now, stop griping and knock again will ya!" Espo looks at Ryan and is about to knock when the door suddenly swings open, revealing Beckett and Castle with their arms crossed and smiles on their faces.

"How do you two ever manage surprise a suspect?" Espo and Ryan look at each other and shrug, as Castle and Beckett wait patiently.

"Nice robes," Espo points out as he wiggles his eyebrows.

"I gather you two are here for something?" Castle asks as Ryan pulls out a brown envelope and thrusts it at them. Kate's eye remain fixed on Espo until he points at her attire, wiggles his eyebrows and mumbles, "That look, looks good on you Beckett."

"This belongs to you, Castle." Ryan thrust the envelope at Castle and turns to Beckett. "We didn't think this was anyone else's business but yours. CSU found it when they went through the room they kept you in." Turning towards the elevator they start walking away.

" Must have gotten misplaced when the box was getting put away, or something?" Espo tells them over his shoulder. As they reach the elevator, Ryan swing around and faces Castle and Beckett.

"Oh, and the Captain says she doesn't want to see either of you love birds until Friday." Kate shoots him a look and then rolls her eyes, as Espo gives her that "I know what you're going to be doing," smile.

As the elevator doors close on their partners, they turn and walk back towards the apartment.

Castle carefully studies the envelope he's been handed. "Kate?" He searches her face for clues as to what he is holding. Her eyes brim with tears as she reaches up and kisses him on the cheek.

"It's for you, Babe. I...I just wanted you to know. I just didn't want you to ever have to doubt...In case, well, you know." He's the writer, the one who can mold words into something extraordinary. So she gives him a quick hug intertwines their fingers together and leads him to their quietly into their bedroom.

Thanks for reading!