Changes

Chapter Two

After a week of getting up at noon, getting drunk, and then crashing at nine, Kate was visited by Lanie Parish, her best friend.
"Damn, girl." Lanie said, when Kate opened the door. "What the hell?"
Kate glanced down. She was wearing one of Rick's shirts. It finished midway her thighs. "What?"
"You haven't been at work in a week. How is Montgomery not on your case?"
Kate left Lanie in the doorway, and retreated to her nest in the couch. Lanie followed, closing the door behind her.
"We got the week off, remember?" Kate said. She sat back down, and picked up her glass of wine.
Lanie grimaced at the sight. "Kate..."
"What? Come to criticise my lifestyle?"
Lanie crouched down in front of Kate. "What happened? Where's Castle?"
"I have no idea." Kate replied. "He said he needed a break. Some space. He took Alexis on a holiday."
"Oh."
"And you know what? I don't blame him. It's all my fault anyway. I totally wrecked our marriage. I wouldn't be surprised if he serves me with divorce papers when he gets back."
"Kate, that's not gonna happen." Lanie said.
"How can you be sure?" Kate looked at her friend. "I'm not."
"He loves you. You are the most important thing in the world to him. He is not going to divorce you." Lanie took one of Kate's hands. "And he is definitely not going to like this." She gestured at the nest Kate had set up. It consisted of doonas and pillows, all by now shaped around Kate's body.
Kate shrugged. "Whatever."
Lanie sighed. "Fine. Drink yourself into oblivion for all I care." She got up. "But he loves you, and you're sitting here drinking your days away? Girl, he would be so proud of you right now."
Kate heard the sarcasm in Lanie's voice, but she didn't care. She didn't respond, and Lanie let herself out.

Kate would've been content to spend the next few weeks at home, drinking and sleeping, however, Lanie had different plans. Which, Kate figured, was why she woke up to Rick standing beside her, staring at her little nest in disbelief. Kate had also taken to sleeping on the couch, the bedroom bringing up too many painful memories.
"Katharine Beckett-Castle, what the hell have you done to yourself?" He didn't sound happy.
Kate blinked wearily up at Rick. "Huh?" She was still wondering if she was dreaming.
"Never would I have imagined you would do this. I said we needed a break, I didn't mean for you to become an alcoholic and spend your days wallowing in your own filth."
Kate could see it hurt him to say those words, but they hit home.
"I mean, look at you. When did you shower last?" Rick was crouching in front of her now.
Kate shrugged.
Rick's eyes softened. "God, Kate, I didn't realise this would hurt you so much." The concern was back, in full force.
"Well it did." Kate said. "I didn't know if you were ever coming back to me. I still don't. If I hurt you so bad, why don't you just leave me?"
Rick sighed. "Kate, you said to me once that with marriage, you were a one and done kind of girl."
"I did." Kate vaguely remembered that day.
"And you know what, once I married you, I knew I was done. You were it." Rick pursed his lips. "Please snap out of this, Katie."
"Don't call me Katie." Kate muttered, and Rick grinned.
"Now there you are."
Kate couldn't help but give a small smile back. His grins were infectious.
"How about we get you up, showered and dressed?" Rick held out a hand. "And then I am going to make you fall in love with me all over again."
Kate raised an eyebrow, and then asked, "Where's Alexis?" She figured her little breakdown wouldn't be good for the teen to see.
"She's at a friend's place. Will be until you're ready for her to be back here."
"You'd do that for me? Let your daughter stay at a friend's place for as long as it takes for me to get back to normal?" Kate asked as she shakily stood up.
"Yep."
"Wow."
Rick wrapped an arm around Kate's waist to help her stand. Casting an eye around, he asked, "Just how much did you drink this past week?"
"Yeah, you probably don't want to know." Kate replied, leaning on Rick. She couldn't stand by herself just yet.
"Probably not." Rick agreed, as he led Kate to the bathroom. "And just so you know, I'm not giving up on you. You are my wife. That's gotta count for something."
"Yeah, means I was crazy enough to marry you." Kate replied, and she turned her head so she kiss him. It was their first proper kiss for some time, and Kate realised how much she'd missed him. She kissed him again, just because she could. "Thank you." She whispered against Rick's lips.
"What for?"
"Sticking by me."
"Always, Kate. Always." Rick replied.

A/N: It's getting happier! Slowly. Please bear with me. I have ideas for the next chap... pretty ones, nice ones... :D

I don't like angst overloads, so I tend not to write it. Occasionally it works though, and can open up whole new possibilities!

Please don't feel shy, reviews make me happy.

Thank you 3