This chapter begins with an apology. I was using someone else's edit for my cover photo, it was intended for another fic, I had no idea, it was really stupid of me and I should not have used it, especially without crediting the artist. I have now changed the cover and I am very sorry. Whoever made the picture, props to you, it is amazing, and I am so sorry for using it. I was crazily caught up in my pirate idea and there it was, everywhere, so I put it on, but that was selfish and wrong of me and I am very, very sorry.

However, to the guest reviewer – The idea was Stana's idea. That's where I got it, she's always going on about being a pirate, then twitter was going crazy about pirate Stana, so I thought I would write a pirate Stana fic. I know of at least one other person who is planning to do the same. People are going to have similar ideas, it doesn't mean they're stealing from each other, and in the end everyone writes very differently.

Thank you very much for reading, all of you, and for all your positive responses. I don't want fights, I don't want people to dislike me, and those of you who know me will know how terrible I feel right now. Sorry again. I love you all so much. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

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The ship is called Hades, by the way. It's a long story, I thought I'd changed it but I hadn't, now I have, sorry if there was any confusion!

"So... Tortuga, then."

"Yes. Just a few days away." Kate was lying on her bed. She kicked her boots off onto the floor.

"Can I sleep in here?" Castle asked. "I don't like the galley were the crew sleep. It smells."

Kate sighed. "Go fetch us some rum, and fine. But if you try anything, I'll stab you."

"Noted." He left the room. Kate felt herself swaying gently with the ship. Johnson was in charge, taking care of everything. She really needed a night off. Castle reappeared with a bottle. Kate sat up and held out her hand; he uncorked it with his mouth and passed it over. Then he took off his shirt and kicked off his boots.

Kate took a long drink, then moved over to let Castle get into bed. She wriggled out of her pants, throwing various belts with knives on them across the room. She sighed with satisfaction when she finally lay in just a baggy white shirt.

"You stink," Castle commented.

"So do you," she pointed out. He gulped down some rum. Kate admired the way the muscles of his chest rippled under his skin. "My jaw still hurts, you know."

"Not enough – if it hurt enough, you wouldn't be talking."

She punched him.

"I deserved that."

"I'm going to sleep. If you so much as touch me, you'll be locked in the brig until we come across some sharks to throw you to. Savvy?"

"Goodnight, Beckett," he said softly. Kate settled under the covers, turning on her side to face away from him. He lay down and thought about when they were last in bed together. Although it hadn't actually been a bed...

"We should go..."

"Not yet. It's so beautiful here. So bright... I don't think I've ever felt so happy on land in all my life."

Kate smiled, the sun glistening on her beautiful face. "Me neither. But we should still go."

He ran a hand up her thigh. Her skin was still wet from their swim. Now she lay on the little mound of grass, gloriously naked, letting the sun dry her. His hand crept higher and she gasped, her back arching at his touch. He quickly left her most sensitive area and began tracing patterns on her abdomen.

"Now that's just not fair," she said softly.

"Sorry," he said. "But you said we had to go, so there wasn't time-"

"We don't have to go."

"I thought not." He nudged her knees apart with his, propping himself up on his forearms. She wound her legs around his waist. They fitted so comfortably together, he couldn't believe he'd spent so much of his life not knowing her. He dropped his head down to meet her open mouth with his, in a kiss he wished could last forever.

Kate hummed with pleasure, reaching down to stroke him, finding him already hard to her touch. She gripped him, angling herself to push him deep inside, brushing his tip across her centre as she did so. She moaned as he rolled his hips, he filled her so deeply. He pulled back and thrust into her again, so forcefully she felt her back scrape against the ground. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she opened her mouth, her fingernails digging into the flesh of his ass.

She clenched around him. He loved it when she did that, letting him know that she still had some control, even when it looked like she didn't. He let out a moan of his own and leaned down to kiss her neck, sucking at her salty skin. Still resisting his control, keeping him on his toes, she snaked a hand down to touch a finger to her own centre. He laughed, the movement enjoyable for them both, then stopped moving until she took her hand away. Almost mocking him, she offered him her finger to suck. He did so, and changed his position a little so he jolted her centre with each thrust, picking up his pace as well.

She shattered around him, screaming, but not his name. He wished he hadn't noticed; it made things just a little bittersweet. But in a way, that was why it was so good – she wouldn't be her if she was any different. She rocked her hips, for him, and he poured into her. He had to hold her name on the tip of his tongue, but it was still so good... This intoxicating ecstasy that she never failed to give him.

Kate made a disappointed sound when he pulled out after just a few seconds.

"Miss me?" he asked.

She gave herself a shake. "Not any more," she said groggily.

"Liar."

"I know. So are you."

"You don't have to lie to me."

Kate sighed. "I lie to everyone."

Castle got up and began to get dressed. Kate was surprised.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"We have to go. We need to get everything ready, for later."

Kate blinked. "So we do." She got up and climbed into her clothes.

"I'll see you later," she said a minute later, giving him a quick kiss. To her surprise, he grabbed her upper arms and held her in the kiss for much longer, the movement of his tongue making her go weak at the knees.

"I love you," he breathed as he ended the kiss. She didn't meet his eyes, just waited for him to let go of her arms, then ran off across the beach as the sun began to set on the horizon.

"Castle. Castle!"

Castle groaned.

"What?" he mumbled.

"Castle, move! You're pinning me to the bed."

He forced himself awake. "Oh," he said, embarrassed. He quickly climbed off Kate.

"Why didn't you stab me?" he asked.

"You were asleep," she told him. "I couldn't kill you in your sleep."

He chuckled. "Is it morning?"

"I think it's afternoon, actually. I have to go captain.. you can come, I guess."

He passed Kate her pants. "That would be nice."

"Right then." She pulled them on then climbed out of bed. She began to strap on her weapons, stepping into her boots. Castle picked up her jacket and held it out for her to put her arms into.

"I can dress myself, Castle," she said, but she said it with an amused smile.

"I know," he said, helping her into it and stroking her shoulders. "Have you ever worn a dress, Kate?"

Kate laughed. "Why do you want to know? Do you like picturing me in one?"

"I don't like picturing you in any clothes," he said, his eyes glittering. She rolled hers back at him.

"I had to wear dresses when I was a child. I didn't have a choice."

"I don't know anything about you," Castle realised. "I don't know anything about your childhood. I don't even know where you grew up."

"And you never will. It's better that way."

"Is your name really Kate?"

"Yes."

"And is your name really Beckett?"

"Yes! But it wouldn't matter if it wasn't. Come on, you can ask more stupid questions later. I'm hungry. Let's go get some food."

"I thought you had to captain."

"Eating is a vital part of captaining. You know that."

Castle pulled on his shirt and boots and followed her out of the cabin and up on deck. It was raining.

"I'd been expecting sun," he said sadly. Kate laughed. She had picked up her large hat as she left the cabin.

"I heard the rain from below," she said as droplets of water bounced off the brim of her hat. He snatched it from her and put it on his own head.

"Hey!" she shouted, trying to take it back, but he held it up out of her reach. She began to jump for it and he ran across the deck, to the great amusement of the crew. Kate chased him up and down the ship until, after a good five minutes of running, he slipped in a puddle and fell, and she barrelled into him and went flying too. They ended up in a damp heap, Kate triumphantly clutching her hat, both roaring with laughter. Johnson looked down at them with his hands on his hips, more like a mother to two silly children than a hardened sailor.

"I'm glad you're here, Mr Castle. I haven't seen the captain smile like that in years."

Kate blushed, but continued to smile.

"I guess you do bring out the best in me," she said to Castle, her eyes bright and happy. He grinned at her in surprise.

"Maybe I do," he said.


A/N: Thanks for reading, please review! xxx