Megan and Mel agree and sit on the stools around the counter – "You're staying too, detective Beckett?" – little Mel asks her.

- "I.. uh, well I…" – she babbles, trying to meet Castle's eyes to know what to say.

- "Please do" – he invites her tenderly.

- "Are you sure?" – Beckett wants to confirm.

- "Yes, there's plenty food here for everyone" – he tells her winking.

They end up having dinner together, just the four of them, as Alexis is in college and Martha is away for the weekend with one of her so famous dates. It's getting late, and by the time they finished Castle notices Mel yawning – "Tired?" – he asks her softly. The girl tries to deny it, but another yawn stops her. – "I think it's been a long day, you two should rest" – Castle suggests still not sure if or when Beckett is going to tell him she needs to take them back.

- "Where will we sleep?" – Megan inquires, launching a terrified look at Castle and wrapping her arm around her sister's shoulder – "I don't think they'll let us stay in the hotel without daddy…" – she fears.

Castle prepares to say something, but before he gets a chance Beckett takes initiative – "You'll stay here" – the detective informs them tenderly, leaving a shocked look on Castle's face, who can't do anything other than whisper her "Thank you".

The girls seem relieved with her decision, and after a couple minutes Castle takes them upstairs. Megan and Mel say goodnight to Beckett and before following them, Castle asks her – "Can you please wait?" – his voice trembling. They're close and once again all they want is to fall in eachothers arms, but they can't, it would be too risky. Their relationship is still in the dark, apart from Alexis and Martha who took it surprisingly well. To be honest, Beckett always had a feeling that Martha was rooting for them, but she feared things with Alexis would be weird which hadn't happen.

- "I wasn't planning on going anywhere" – she tells him with a smile.

It takes Castle more than half an hour to put the girls to sleep and by the time he comes down Beckett already cleaned up the kitchen and is waiting for him on the couch. She smiles when she sees him, a smile full of love and compassion – "Sorry, they were scared, they asked me to wait until they were a sleep" – the writer justifies.

- "It's okay" – she assures him, offering him a hand and pulling him down to sit next to her.

They remain silent for a while, she doesn't want to pressure him and he doesn't even know where to start. Even without words, they can find comfort in eachother, there's just so much complicity between them that just being close is enough to ease their pain. They tangled their fingers together, and Castle pulls her hand up to softly kiss them.

- "Are you okay?" – Beckett eventually asks.

Castle shakes his head – "I don't know" – he confesses in a murmur. He keeps it short, so she doesn't push it, afraid he's not ready yet, but after a small pause he continues – "We met in high school, I was about fifteen" – he tells her. Beckett gives his hand a squeeze of encouragement and he continues – "we both had been transferred from different schools and were having a hard time. Believe it or not I wasn't always this charming" – he jokes, making Becket chuckle.

- "That's hard to believe" – she admits.

He smiles at her honesty – "We became my best friend, he's the only person I still see regularly from those times, and now…"

- "I'm so sorry, Castle" – Beckett tells him, heartbroken, as she pulls him against her. Gently, she presses a kiss on his lips, on his cheeks, on his temples, as he lays his head on her chest and lets her wrap her arms around him. Like a small child, he stays on the nest of her lap, grateful for not having to go through this alone and wondering how she ever managed to cope with her own mother's death at such a young age.

- "I'm sorry" – he whispers, not moving.

- "Shsh" – Beckett tranquilizes him, running her hands through his hair.

She can feel his head shaking from side to side on her chest – "No, I had no right to mistreat you like I did, and…"

Beckett interrupts him – "Hey" – she calls, having him look at her in the eyes – "it's fine, we're fine!" – she says, meaning it, and before he can disagree she continues – "Look, I wasn't happy with your reaction, but I get it, I do. Plus, it's not like I never snapped at you before" – she says, though it hurts her to admit how much pain she must have cause him in the past.

Castle offers her a small smile, knowing that she's right. He brushes his lips against hers whispering – "I love you, Kate."

She smiles back, even though her mouth is still clashed against his – "I love you too, Castle".

They've been together for about a year and yet he still can't believe everytime she says those words. He always wondered how it would be to date Kate Beckett, for four years he had shadow her pretty much everywhere and everyday falling back in love with her a little more, but he feared that being in a relationship with her would change that, except it didn't. The only thing it had done so far was increasing the amount of love and respect he had for this woman, because now he was also able to see her other sides, the softer, more relaxed and loving sides.

The two fall asleep in eachother arms and it's about 5 a.m. when Kate wakes up. She opens her eyes slowly, looking around confused and smiling when she realizes she still has Castle's body wrapped around hers. He seems so peaceful sleeping that she hates to have to wake him up and bring him back to the real world, where his best friend was murdered and his two little girls left orphans. She considers sneaking out, however, she knows Castle too well to know he would not forgive her, so she gently rubs is arm while calling his name. After a few attempts he finally flickers his eyes. Beckett waits for a couple of minutes, giving him time to adjust to the light, but as soon as he's awake he pulls her closer, tightening his grip – "I have to go" – she whispers, not wanting to end that moment any more than he does.

- "Why?" – he wines.

She smiles, loving the soft, needy, childish side of him – "the girls will be up in a couple hours, we can't risk them finding me here" – she reminds him.

He pouts but gets up, knowing that she's right. It's possible that the girls will have to be involved in the investigation again and they can't be sure they won't tell the others – "Have coffee with me before you go?" – he asks.

- "It's 5 a.m., Castle" – she points out.

- "It's not like any of us will be getting any more sleep anyway, am I wrong?" – he tries to convince her, and sometimes she wishes he didn't know her so well.

- "Okay" – she agrees, standing next to him and leaning for a kiss. It starts slow, but it rapidly evolves to an intense and passionate kiss. By the way he's holding her so tight she can tell he's panicking, so resting her forehead against his she promises – "we'll figure this out."

Castle nods hesitantly grabbing her hand and directing her into the kitchen to get them some coffee.

- "So, why didn't I have to deal with a Social services' agent at my door last night?" – the writer asks when they are finally settled.

- "We didn't manage to locate any relatives yet" – the detective explains – "I was actually hopping you could help me with that, but we didn't exactly had time for that yesterday" – she finishes with a small smile.

- "That still doesn't explain why they didn't come to pick them up" – Castle insists.

Beckett sighs before answering, she was hoping they wouldn't have to speak about it – "Because, despite what you think, I do care about the girls, and I think… better, I know, they are in much better care here with you" – she clarifies.

Her voice is steady and calm, but Castle can tell she's hurt – "I'm sorry, Kate, I know you care."

- "Do you, Castle, really?" – she asks uncertain.

- "Yes!" – he replies without hesitation – "Kate, that was one of the first things I loved about you. How you commit to the victims and their families. How, after dealing with so many deaths, you still care about each of them" – he tells her sincerely – "I was an idiot, I was hurting and mad and… I'm so sorry, Kate!"

Beckett takes a moment to process his speech – "It's okay, I just… I just needed to make sure you knew."

- "I do!" – Castle insists.

- "Good" – she says, curling her lips into a smile.

- "Good" – he repeats, smiling back at her.

- "So, do you know anything about their family?" – Beckett asks.

- "Michael didn't have any brothers and his parents died a couple years ago" – he tells her.

- "What about the girls' mother?"

- "She died giving birth to Mel" – Castle says – "I think her parents were from Long Island" – he calls – "though for what I know they didn't get along too well."

- "Do you know their names?" – the detective asks hopefully.

Castle shakes his head – "No, sorry. But Michael's wife's maiden name was Morse. Trisha Morse. Maybe you can find anything with that" – he offers.

- "Thank you!" – the detective tells him appreciated – "Now, I really have to go" – she informs him, standing up.

- "Don't go!" – he stops her, grabbing her arm. Beckett looks at him surprised – "I miss you" – he whispers.

- "C'mon Castle, I didn't even left yet" – she says with a chuckle. Then, seeing that he's not joking her expressions softens. She rubs the palm of her hand through his cheek and with her free hand searches for his – "I'll be right here if you need me" – she promises, their lips only a couple inches apart.

- "I need you" – he pleads.

His words break her heart, she doesn't recall ever watching Castle this needy - "I know" – she offers him softly, placing a light kiss on the corner of his mouth – "I also know, you need me to solve this case" – she reminds him.

- "I do…" – he murmurs facing down.

She searches for his mouth and brushes her lips against him one last time before turning to the door.