Chapter 6: Breakfast and Cherries

You took a chance and

Kate slowly opens her eyes, blinking to adjust to the light coming in through the window. She shifts her head to take in her surroundings. Castle is staring at her, and she jumps in surprise at seeing him so close to her.

"Good morning, Detective. I didn't mean to startle you," he smiles.

"It's fine. I just forgot where we were."

"You mean you forgot I was here."

"…Yes," she admits.

"Despite the fact that I was your pillow for part of the night and you used me as a heater?"

She stares at him for a moment, "Did you really stay up all night and watch me?"

"Not all night."

"That's kind of creepy."

"Possibly… if I was stalking you. But I just like to watch you."

"And it's still creepy. I'm sure watching me sleep has nothing to do with your research."

"I've done more than enough research for Nikki Heat. This is just purely for my own benefit."

She frowns at him, "I'm not really sure what benefit you get from watching me sleep other than the fact that it's the one time you can get away with it without me yelling at you for doing it."

"I think it's best we just drop this conversation," he suggests, tightening his grip on her slightly when she starts to move. "We should stay here all day."

"I have to work, Castle. I've already had two days off this week," she wiggles out of his grip. Upon standing, she stretches, her arms in the air above her head, which causes her shirt to rise. Castle stares at her with a smile on his face, and she freezes when she notices him. "What?"

"Nothing," Rick says quickly, looking back up to her face.

"That look was not nothing. Now what are you so happy about?"

He reaches out to touch her just inside and slightly above her hip bone, his fingers right above the tattoo now covered by the fabric, "Can I see what it is?"

"…No." His blue eyes meet her green ones, and he decides it best not to push her. She watches the disappointment flash in his eyes momentarily before he seems to give up. "Someday," she says softly, trying to assure him that she isn't angry with him or anything.

"Will you let me take you out to breakfast at least?"

Kate turns to check the time on the cable box. "I… Can breakfast wait until tomorrow?"

"You have to eat something."

"Coffee and a bear claw? I promise we can meet for breakfast tomorrow before I go in to work. You can bring Alexis too."

He sighs, "I guess it can be put off a day."

"Thank you."

"Do you… need some space today? I can stay home and get some writing done if you don't want me around."

She gives him a small smile, "As long as you can remain professional, you can come in later."

"What time is later?"

"How ever long it takes you to go home, shower, and get back to the precinct with my food."

"An hour?"

"I probably won't even be at the precinct in an hour, Castle."

"Don't have to be first at the precinct today?" he teases.

"No, we don't have a case yet. There's no need for me to rush getting ready."

"Then we can do breakfast."

"Breakfast is too slow. Besides, I already missed my workout this morning because I slept in with you."

He frowns at her, "What time do you get up in the morning, Beckett?"

"Five-thirty or six."

"Haven't you ever heard of sleeping in?" he looks at her in shock.

"I have murders to solve, criminals to catch."

"They can wait."

"No, they can't," she argues, not angry but just being stubborn. "Now get up and leave so I can get ready."

"You need food if you're going to be catching criminals."

"Which is why you're bringing me a bear claw."

"Which hardly constitutes food, Beckett. You really ought to take better care of yourself."

"That's what I have you for," Kate takes a seat beside him on the couch.

"You don't let me take care of you."

"Yes. You make sure I eat at least a couple meals a day. And you force me to go home and get some rest instead of staring at the murder board all night."

"What did you do before I came?" he says somewhat jokingly but seriously wondering how she took care of herself.

"I guess I didn't really. Not like you take care of me. While you were gone, Ryan and Esposito tried to take your place. They brought me food and tried to get me to go home. It wasn't the same though."

"I'm going to be here to take care of you from now on," Rick takes her hand.

"I know."

"So you promise breakfast will happen tomorrow? You're not going to try to get out of it again?"

"Unless we get a really important case and Montgomery won't let me come in a little late, I will be there."

"Okay," he smiles.

"Invite your mother and Alexis to join us, and we can discuss what we're going to do with you."

"Do with me?" he looks slightly worried.

"Yes. About you shadowing me and writing. And not being in danger."

"Oh… I guess I forgot about that."

"Yes. And if we're all there, maybe we can agree on something that will make both them happy and you happy."

"And what about you? What do you want?"

"I want you to be safe, and if you not following me anymore is going to do that, then I'm okay with it."

"We'll still see each other, right?"

Kate squeezes his hand, "I thought we went through this already."

"So you're really going to do this? You want to take this risk?"

"Yes," she smiles. "Josh comes home on Tuesday, and I'm picking him up from the airport. I will try to talk to him then, but I have to come up with some reason for breaking up with him."

"What about because you never see each other? I know how much you work, and every time I ask about him when you are leaving, you tell me he's working. Doesn't sound like you spend much time together."

"I guess. But I still feel bad about breaking up with him right after he gets back."

"Then take a few days to do it. I can wait a little longer."

They sit there in silence for a bit longer until she looks up at the clock. "Castle, you really have to go. I'm going to be late for work."

"Oh… sorry," he stands and reaches for his jeans. "You go ahead and shower. I'll lock the door behind me, and see you in a little bit with your breakfast."

"Thanks," she presses her lips to his cheek before heading to her bedroom.

He watches her go, his skin still tingling where she had kissed it. He quickly pulls on his jeans, then realizes he is still wearing the t-shirt she had given him. As he grabs it to pull it over his head, he notices that it smells faintly like cherries. Smiling, he decides she wouldn't mind if he kept it a little longer. He would just tell her he had taken it home to wash… which he most definitely was not going to do. At least not until she allows him to get close enough so that he could always smell cherries.

A/N: I'll try to update again Monday. Thanks for reading.