You guys! I never imagined so many people would follow my story, hopefully interested in what's to come. I decided to just write what comes out of me. I'll go as far as I can (also referring to smut, I don't know if I can write explicit stuff, but it doesn't mean I won't try). I really hope you enjoy the rest of it. Also, thanks so much for those taking the time to review! It means a lot!

Summary: It all started with flowers...
Rating: T
Disclaimer: This show ruins my frickin life and no, I don't own it.

Previously:

Kate releases a chuckle at that "I want you to break it down too." She whispers. She leans forward and connects her forehead with his, raising her hands, running her fingers through his hair and eventually coming around to his cheeks where she holds him "I really want this to work, Castle." She lets out on a sigh.

"Detective, it's me. Things will work." Castle says, a sense of determination in his voice, which makes Kate release a warm chuckle.

It will work.

Chapter 3

Finally pulling back from their foreheads touching, they look at each other and smile. The air still contains some tension and it doesn't go unnoticed by either of them. They both know there are things they still need to discuss.

"So, we're doing this, right?" Castle asks with a bit of worry to his tone.

"Yeah, we are. But Rick, I'm kind of in a bad place, and.. I want to be good eno-"

Castle interrupts her before she can finish "No, Kate, you are good enough. I know that you're not feeling at your best and you want to be a certain person for me, but I want this." He grabs both her hands, holds and squeezes them to make his point "You allowing me to have an amazing woman like you in my life, blessing me with a relationship that you are a part of, has made me the most happiest man, and look at our situation here." He looks down at his stained shirt and then whispers "I can still take it off you know."

Kate slaps his chest with a chuckle, and they both laugh, some of the tension easing. After a moment of silence, Castle sees Kate's smile disappear and decides there is more to all this "Is there.. More we need to talk about? I feel like we still need to clear the air."

Kate looks in his eyes. She knows he still doesn't know about her decision to go to the Hamptons with him, before the Summer, when Gina showed up and took him away. She feels she has to tell him so she nods her head, still scared of admitting this, the hurt still living within her. But what comes out of her mouth is an entire different thing "Should we have something to drink first? I'm thirsty."

Castle releases a chuckle "Let's" he says, walks to her kitchen and gets two glasses of water. Meanwhile, Kate secretly admires his ass, can't keep her eyes off him. He does really have a nice ass. When he turns back, she quickly glances the other way. He gives her a glass and with a thanks she gulps the whole glass down because damn, crying makes you thirsty. "Wow, you really were thirsty." Castle releases on a chuckle.

After putting his own glass down he looks at her, and he knows there's something on her mind. "Why don't you tell me." He says on a sigh. Kate looks at him in shock, surprised he could read her so well - though she shouldn't be surprised - but knowing she has to, she starts to speak.

"Well.. Remember before the Summer, you asked me to come to the Hamptons, but I was with Tom at the time.." Castle nods, a bit of confusion flashing on his face "I.." Sigh escaping her lips, she opens her mouth to finally release the hurtful memory "I broke up with Tom before we talked that day. You know, before Gina showed up. And I wanted to tell you-"

Castle breaks her off "You were gonna accept my offer, weren't you." he says, eyes wide. Because damn it if this is true then-

"Yeah."

Kate looks down then, the hurt still visible, the memory releasing another flash of pain, that bad feeling returning. Castle is shocked, eyes wide he just stares out in front of him, lost in thought because, she was gonna come. She was gonna come with him and then Gina showed up and.. "Damn it." he releases on a breath. Putting his hands on his face, shaking his head he releases a growl, because he can't believe this. "Gosh Kate, I knew you wanted to tell me something, and you came out with 'have a great Summer' and I.. god!" Immensely frustrated with himself he stands up, starts to walk around a bit, sighing all his frustration out of his mouth. At last, he sits down again, places his elbows on his legs, leaning forward with his face in his hands "I can't believe this." He says, his voice muffled by his hands.

Kate looks up then and looks at him, notices the way he's sitting and sighs. She reaches out and starts to run her hands through his hair, which makes Castle look sideways, at her. "I know, Castle. I, I was so hurt by it at the time, but it wasn't your fault. Hell, I was the one running around with Tom, how could you have known how I felt."

"But what if-" Castle starts, only to be interrupted by Kate "No 'what ifs' Castle, we can't dwell on this. And I just, now that I think about it, I know that it wasn't our time. It wasn't our time, okay."

With that, Castle scoots closer and envelops Kate in a hug, his strong arms coming around her, his hands resting on her back and hers entwined on his lower back. Inhaling her scent, he holds her. Kate turns her face into his neck, inhaling his cologne. She feels so content here, wrapped up in his strong, warm arms. "Hmm." she releases on a breath. Castle smiles at that "Feels good doesn't it." he sighs and she nods her head in his neck. For a moment, the two just stay enveloped in their hug, enjoying each other's warmth.

"I hope you know that I didn't mean to flash Gina in front of you like that, I really thought we would never happen." Castle says against her hair.

"It's okay Castle" Kate sighs, her warm breath on his neck "You didn't know how I feel. So lets just, forget about it. The past is the past."

At that, Castle's lips quirk up a bit "Deal."

They stay enveloped in their hug, both enjoying the other's warm body. "I didn't know giving flowers would turn into this." Castle releases on a chuckle and they both share a laugh.

After a while of silence, Kate has to think back to that Summer, and now that they're talking about it.. "Can I- ask you what happened with Gina?"

"Of course you can." Castle says, still holding her in his arms. He decides to continue holding her while he explains this, because this feels rather good, and gives him a sense of strength. "Honestly, she was only there for a couple of days. Kate, she really was just a distraction." He adds.

At that, Kate pushes away from him to look him in the eyes. There's a sense of curiosity in them, a question, meaning she needs to hear more.

Castle sighs "I. I was insanely jealous. I saw you and Demming kiss at the Precinct and, god Kate I wanted to be him. I wanted to be the one kissing you, making your cheeks flush, making you walk around lost in thoughts. When I asked you to go to the Hamptons and you declined, I knew that that was it. I couldn't be there anymore, I couldn't be at work and not feel a punch in my gut every time I'd see you together. So I.. called Gina. I knew she'd come with me. I needed the distraction."

Kate sighs and looks down. She keeps silent, so Castle continues "But it was all a big mistake. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I realized it wasn't fair to Gina, to use her to distract me from the thought of you. Nor did it work for a second. So after a couple of days I told her that this wasn't right and I told her to go home."

Kate looks up in surprise and their eyes connect "You, you spent the whole Summer alone?" She exclaims in disbelief.

"Yeah, I did." Castle replies. "But honestly, I needed it. It gave me time to think about things. I guess processing things helps more than trying to distract yourself to forget. I found a place where I could accept things, but my feelings for you have never ceased."

Kate honestly can't believe this. She releases a disbelieving scoff "So, we basically both spent our Summers apart, thinking about each other, alone." She whispers.

Castle releases a scoff himself and shrugs "Yeah, I guess so." He brings his right hand up to her right cheek. Face so soft, he can't resist brushing his thumb up and down, admiring her beautiful skin. It's a soothing feeling, and Kate can't help but smile.

She sighs "Thank you, Rick."

"For what?" He asks her.

"For coming here, for being here, continuing to come back, pushing me where I need to be pushed. Talking things through with me." She says.

Then Kate sees the most beautiful smile appearing on his face, it warms her heart and makes her lips turn into a smile just as equally beautiful.

"Always."

Thanks for reading! Reviews are greatly appreciated!

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