Kate wakes up shivering and glances at the clock. It's only one o'clock in the morning. The wind is shaking the windows and the snow is falling steadily, covering the earth in a clean blanket of white. The warmth of her boyfriend isn't enough though, so she slips out of Rick's tight embrace to find clothes.
The light shining through the curtains helps her locate her leggings and sweatshirt she had worn over here before they had crawled into bed together. After pulling her clothes on, she climbs back into his bed, pulling the covers over them and snuggling up against his bare chest, the sounds of the wind and his heartbeat sending her back to sleep.
Hours later when the sun is filtering through the curtains, Kate wakes again and rolls over to read the time on the clock. It's just a little before eight a.m.
Kate kisses Rick's jaw to wake him up, but he doesn't budge.
"Castle," she singsongs, kissing his cheek. He groans and mumbles something incoherent. Kate sits up, running her fingernail across his chest. "Babe, you have class in half an hour. Wake up."
"No class. Don't wanna," Rick says, laying his head in her lap, arms circling her waist. Kate smiles, running her fingers through his hair. He groans as he finally rises, pressing a chaste kiss against her lips.
"Morning, beautiful," he smiles, voice still a little rough with sleep.
"Morning," she replies, holding back a grin. He's adorable.
"I guess I better get ready," he says, sliding out of bed. "Although, I would rather stay and cuddle and do other things," he adds, giving her a coy smile.
"My class finishes in one hour," Rick says ten minutes later, walking out of the bathroom while Kate sits on the bed cross-legged brushing her hair. "Do you want to go out for breakfast afterwards?"
"Can we go to the that new vintage cafe?" Kate asks, eyes lighting up.
"Anywhere you want," Rick replies, kissing her forehead. "I'll pick you up after class. I love you," he says.
"Love you too," she tells him.
/
Kyra walks along campus, only one destination in mind: Rick Castle's apartment. She's nervous. He was really angry with her when they broke up and they didn't end on a good note, but she hopes that she's not too late. That he'll miss her and love her as much as she does him. She gets to his building quickly, only realizing when she arrives that she needs a key to get in.
"Do you need help?" someone asks from behind her. She turns and finds a tall boy staring at her, a little confused.
"I- uh. Yeah, I'm trying to find Rick Castle. I forgot I need a key to get in," Kyra replies, letting out a small laugh.
"Oh, no problem. I live in the unit next to him, I'll let you in."
"Thank you," she says, stepping aside to let him scan his keycard to unlock the door.
"Don't worry about it," he says, holding the door open for her. "Better to wait in here than outside if he's not home right now anyways."
"Yeah, you've got that right," Kyra smiles.
"Good luck," the boy tells her, unlocking his own door and going into his apartment with a smirk.
Good luck? What's that supposed to mean? Kyra wonders, brow furrowed. She takes a deep breath and knocks on the door, determined to make Rick hear her out and understand that she takes full responsibility for the huge mistake she made, but she wants to give them another shot, and can only hope that he'll want the same thing.