A/N- So a few people caught on that Victor Webster is actually the name of the actor who played Josh a.k.a. Dr. Motorcycle Boy and my slight dislike of him =) Umm...I have had a difficult time focusing on writing because of the Always promos posted this evening! I cannot wait until Monday! Fanfiction will have to help get us through until then... and then of course all summer!

Chapter 7 A Toast To Us

Alexis stood up and headed towards the door with her backpack, "I am staying at Paige's, but I will see you guys in the morning and don't worry I will jiggle the door knob real loud before I come in this time." Castle gave her a sarcastic laugh and kissed her on the forehead. Alexis was almost out the door when Castle yelled after her, "Ring the doorbell instead; we may not hear the doorknob!"

Alexis and Kate both rolled their eyes at Castle and he couldn't decide which he liked better, the fact that his daughter had just told Kate that she was okay with everything or the fact that they needed a signal because they had the loft to themselves.

Kate awoke with her head on Castle's chest. He was propped up a little with a pillow behind him. He had one arm around her and was rubbing small circles along her upper arm. Kate couldn't think of any other place she would rather be at that moment, or any other morning for that fact.

Castle was playing with something in his opposite hand. Kate glanced at his hand and then back up to his face. "What's that?" she asked.

"I would like to enter this into evidence as exhibit B," Castle said handing the item over to Kate.

She rolled it around in her hands and thinking back to the case and the day this represented. "I cannot believe you kept this."

"Honestly, you still doubt me? The first time I save your life and you don't expect me to keep a momento?" he laughed.

"But this was one of our earlier cases together, are you telling me that you knew then that you were in love with me?" wondered Kate.

"I knew you were something special the night you took me in for questioning in the Tisdale case. I may have not faced my feelings head on until Demming came around, but you had me more than intrigued before that. This cork is just another piece of my proof. It represents the first time I saved your life, when I popped the cork on that champagne bottle and distracted that crazy man, I scored points with the universe," declared Castle.

"I'll admit that is a good story Castle, but what really made you keep the cork?" questioned Kate.

"I am not sure what made me keep it, maybe it was the universe's way of telling me how important your life would be to me. It doesn't really matter why, what matters is that I did and this cork represents what I saved that day and reminds me what I could have lost. And that is not something that I ever want to have to think about. I love you Kate and I am going to spend the rest of my life proving that to you," he finished before he bent down and kissed her.

It didn't take long for the kiss to deepen and for the two of them to make themselves forty five minutes late to the precinct.

When they walked off the elevator, they immediately drew attention to themselves because they were both laughing and walking a little too close. The boys took one look at them and then at each other before starting their inquisition.

"So, where have the two you been this morning?" started Espo.

"And don't say you needed to stop by the crime scene again," Ryan said as he made air quotes.

"We were just reminiscing about some of our earlier cases, no need to make a federal case out of it boys," Kate said nonchalantly as she walked towards the murder board. "Did anything pop on known associates?"

"Well apparently Victor Webster's girlfriend is the niece of John Matthews. Unis are out looking for him now," informed Ryan.

"But don't get your hopes up," continued Espo, "This Webster guy is a real slime ball."

Castle took the file that Espo was holding and opened it up to see what he could learn about their main suspect. Castle saw his picture and smirked, he handed the picture to Kate and she had to agree he looked swarmy. He definitely didn't have her favorite writer's ruggedly handsome good looks.

It was hours before unis were able to track Webster down, but only twenty minutes before Beckett had him telling how he had tried to get the computer from Jason Nash and how he had put up an unexpected fight. It was an accident, but nonetheless he confessed everything including how John Matthews had put him up to it.

Kate wrapped up the paperwork just after seven. Castle was fidgeting in his chair, doing his best to not seem too antsy. But when his stomach growled, Kate looked at his abdomen and then up to him. He winced as if he thought the noise his body made was going to get him into trouble.

"Castle," Kate scolded, "Why didn't you tell me you were starving? You don't have to sit here and wait on me."

"I guess old habits die hard," confessed Castle. Kate gave him a look of confusion and he explained, "Sitting here, watching and waiting for you, used to be the only way I got to spend more time with you." He seemed embarrassed to give up this piece of information.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she put her head in her hands, "I have been awful and you stood by and put me on a pedestal. Castle, why do you even stick around?

Castle gave her a look of surprise, grabbed her hand and said, "Come on, let's go."

"What?" she asked.

"It looks like I need to present some more evidence to make my case," Castle said seriously as he headed for the elevator.

On the way back to the loft, they stopped at Kate's apartment to pick up some clothes. Kate had suggested they stay there for the night, but Castle insisted they head back to the loft so he could give her another piece of evidence. He called and ordered Chinese to be delivered and he made a call to Alexis to ask her for some assistance in his plans for the rest of the evening.

When they entered the loft Castle inhaled and instantly was reminded of her. Alexis had done well; he would need to remember to do something special for her. Kate followed him over to the bar and that's when she noticed. The entire loft smelled like her, like cherries.

"Castle, is that. . ." she started to ask but she hesitated.

"Yes, it's your smell. The summer you were . . . healing," he said carefully, "this was one of the few things that comforted me. I am not whole without you. Everything about you drives me wild, so I searched for the body spray and when I was really missing you, I would spray things around here."

Kate felt an insurmountable guilt overtake her. "Castle, I am so sorry. I wish I could have been here with you that summer, I was just afraid that I would mess this up, until I was able to give you what you deserve. And Richard Castle, I want to make this up to you. You have been nothing but wonderful and understanding about everything. The only thing I can offer you is the vow that I will never leave you again. I love you."

"Kate," he said cupping her cheeks," Don't you know the second you said those three words to me, you gave me all I could ever want or need?"

"Isn't there anything else that you might want or need? Something that I may be able to offer to you. . . you know to keep the universe balanced?" she said as she walked to his bedroom. She only looked back once to see him standing there with a huge grin and then he quickly followed her, but not before he picked up the body spray to take with him, tonight he was having cherry dessert before dinner.

Review please:)