To Forgive and Forget

Chapter 4

DISCLAIMER: EVERYTHING CASTLE AND CASTLE RELATED INCLUDING THE CHARACTERS BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS.

A/N: I've never had this kind of reaction to a story :) I just want to say how grateful I am for all the great reviews I'm getting (I am reading them, promise) and they just make my day, honestly.

I can't believe how many followers I've gotten with only three chapters. I'm seriously grinning from ear to ear.

And the people who added the story to their favourites. Guys! You're making me blush... ;)

Now on with chapter 4 :)

After holding each other for however long they did, Castle began to feel her weight heavy against his chest. He gently looks down to her face, seeing her internal struggle to keep her eyelids open.

Should he take her to bed and let her sleep? She is emotionally exhausted. But then again, he couldn't let it pass; the fact she had slapped him. Did she do it with hope it would drive him away? It is obvious she's just trying to run away from everything that happened today, from everyone. Even if that distance isn't physical, she's good at emotional distance too.

"Kate?"

"I'm sorry, Rick." She sounds sleeply.

"Let's get you to bed okay. We'll talk about it tomorrow." He replys as he attempts to guide her towards her side.

"I should go." She tries to protest.

"No. You should sleep - here."

"I'm so sorry Castle." Her voice hitches, he can see the regret in her features.

"Kate, don't. Let's go to sleep, we're not in the right mind set to have this conversation right now. We'll talk tomorrow." His voice is commanding and he doesn't hesitate when he pushes her down onto the mattress and tucks her in. He can see her wanting to give a response so he presses a finger to her lips indicating the end of the conversation - for now.

She snuggled into the pillow and pulled the quilt further up over her. He took her actions as her being compliant to his request for postponing the conversation they knew was unavoidable.

He walked to his side of the bed and climbed in. Not entirely sure of how much space he should give her, he simply placed a hand on her hip, but kept a distance between their bodies no matter how much he craved to hold her tight.

He was just about to drift off when he felt her shift her hand from under her cheek and latches onto his forearm resting on her side. Kate pulled lightly on his arm, moving to cuddle it and shuffled back until her back was pressed to his front. Castle snuggled into her neck and pressed a light kiss to her jaw as she did the same with his hand she had a firm grasp on.

"I really am sorry, I dont know why I did it." She said barely audible.

Rick felt her shift slightly to wipe a tear that was running down her cheek but he made no motion of recognition.

"It's who you are Kate, even after all this time. You push people away at the first sign of being hurt. Thinking you're better off on your own and the reason for all this just came back into your life and disturbed your progress like a bull in a china shop."

Castle turned her slightly towards him. They needed to be face to face. He needs her to understand that he truly ment the words he was about to say.

"But Kate, I just got that wall down." He smiled lightly to her. "And I'm not about to let you build it back up with me on the outside. I'm not giving up here. And I won't let you either, we have a wonderful future ahead of us and nothing is going to stand in our way- including you."

Kate had silent tears running down her face by the time Rick had finished. She wasn't able to form words to respond to this man she had physically hit. How could she have been so careless and all Rick had done was be there for her and she responded with a slap!

Rick saw she was struggling to respond so he simply pulled her in for the tight hold he had craved to give her when he first crawled into bed.

"It's okay- I'm okay..."

"No it's not. How can you forgive me Rick." She sobbed into the crook of his neck.

"Easy... Because I love you." He kissed her forehead. He then proceeded to lift her chin up to look at him. He wiped away the tears which were still leaking from her eyes.

"I love you too, so much."

Rick couldn't help himself. He leaned down and claimed her lips in a sweet yet passionate kiss. He tasted the salt of her tears and it only spurred him on more.

When they pulled away from each other a few minutes later, after air became a necessity, Rick pressed his forehead to hers. Giving her light eskimo kisses as they both caught their breaths.

Kate felt his smirk and felt his hand softly caressing her side.

"What?" she asked with curiosity.

He snickered lightly.

"Just thinking about the amazing make-up sex I'm going to get out of you." He whispered in her ear.

Kate could not help the smile that plastered her face as she blushed and hid in the pillow. She loved how he could turn any moment, sad or serious into one of somewhat joy and light teasing.

"But not tonight." he said softly as he turned her back onto her side so he could settly in behind her. "Tonight we are going to get some sleep."

Kate couldn't help but let her mind wonder even after she felt Ricks breathing even out. Her mind wandered to the awful things she herself had done but also to the situation that had spurred her to make those irrational decisions.

She could physically feel the sharp pain in her heart thinking about the fact.

Her mother was alive.

ALIVE.

All this time.

Kate had just managed to obtain justice from the man that had her mother killed. She had practically been on a suicide mission for most of her adult life to gain that justice. She almost died on multiple occasions for that justice.

Now it felt like it had all been for nothing.

She was still alive the whole time.

While she was getting shot.

Hunted.

Left hanging off the side of the roof.

Yes she eventually 'somewhat' left her quest for revenge and followed an adventure for love, but she still couldn't help the anger she felt towards this woman whom she had idolised and cherished. Only to have her taken away under false pretences?

Kate tried her best to push the thoughts out of her mind long enough for sleep to claim her. All she could do was wish that her dreams wern't haunted with the troubles that have now surfaced within her life.

I know I'm sorry it's really short and it took me ages to actually write it but at least in posting it now? I guess thats worth something? Tell me what you think ... please?

ALL MISTAKES ARE MINE BUT IF YOU DO SEE THEM PLEASE POINT THEM OUT :)