A/N: I'm bumping up the rating now, just to be on the safe side! I hope no one minds! Enjoy the chapter, let me know what you think!


She arched underneath him, gasping his name. He swallowed her moans as her kissed her. One of his hands was tangled in her hair, gently pulling back her head to expose the line of her throat. The other hand pressed her lower back, forcing her hips up against his as one of his thighs slid slowly upwards, pressing against her centre.

Leaving his hand in her hair he moved his attention to her breasts. With closed lips he traced the underside of her breast, teasing, smile in satisfaction when she groaned and dug her nails into his shoulder.

"Castle…" There was a hint of warning in her voice, but he just chuckled.

"Patience, grasshopper." He moved to the other side, repeating his teasing, enjoying the way her moans increased and her hands gripped him harder. Only when she began to whimper slightly did he change tactics. He rose slightly, forcing her arms away from his back. With his free hand he grabbed hers and pinned them above her head. The other hand pulled harder on her hair, forcing her to arch her back, pressing her against his thigh more firmly. Only then did he lower his mouth back to her breast, hovering over her for a moment before drawing her in to his mouth. A harsh groan escaped her as he increased the pressure.

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

She moved over him now, her hips pressing his in to the bed. She looked glorious in the low light, glowing, making love to him with abandon. It was his turn to groan.

"Kate, oh God, Kate. I love you so much." She smiled at him, leaned down towards him until her chest was pressed up against him, her mouth against his ear.

"Castle… I'm sorry."

Huh? This wasn't right. This wasn't how the dream went. He looked up at her – she was still smiling, still flushed, her eyes wide and joyous. He reached for her and pulled her against him again, realising as he did that he could smell cherries.

He felt a touch on his face, and her voice again. "I'm so sorry." She sounded sad, so sad, but her face still hovered above his – luminous, joyful. He wrapped an arm around her waist and flipped them over, never losing the connection, looming large above her and he moved faster. He couldn't bear the sound of the sad voice, he needed her happy. He needed to take her with him up to the heavens.

He moved faster, spurred on by her gasps as she dug her heels into the mattress, rising to meet him. They tipped over the edge together; Castle buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent, groaning.

"I love you."

Castle jerked awake, heart racing. He panted slightly as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He knew it wasn't possible, but he would swear he could smell the faintest trace of cherries.


It was a sad little group who sat in one of the corner booths at the Old Haunt later that week. They'd been trying to meet for a while now, but death and destruction had got in the way, as usual. After breaking their case faster than they'd expected, Ryan and Esposito had summoned everyone to the bar for their own private memorial to the women they'd all called friend. They had spent the evening reminiscing; laughing, crying, comforting each other.

Rick raised his glass slightly, casting a hush over the others.

"To Kate Beckett. She was many things to many people, and I don't think that anyone knew all of her. She was a detective – one of the finest. A daughter-" he smiles at Jim, "a friend-" he glanced at Lanie, "a sister," nods to Ryan and Esposito, "a muse and an inspiration." He closed his eyes for a moment, swallowing the tears that clogged his throat. "She was fierce, and fragile, and strong. Indomitable, beautiful and loving. And loved. Not just by me, but by everyone here. By every family to whom she brought justice. Yes, we've lost something incredibly precious, not having her in our lives. But she has left a legacy with each and every one of us, and we all need to do our best to honour that legacy for the rest of our lives. To love her for the rest of our lives. I'll love her-" he cut off, unable to stop the tears, the rising panic at the thought of living forever without her – enduring forever without her.

Ryan took over, unable to watch Castle struggle to compose himself, wanting to draw attention away. "To Kate." He lifted his glass, listened to the soft clinks of glass against glass, heard the soft murmur as everyone repeated his words.

Castle looked at him gratefully and excused himself shortly after, needing the solitude, needing to readjust the hole in his heart that had somehow just got bigger, gaping like he had taken the bullet that had almost taken her.


"You have to let me tell him."

"No."


Castle was feeling optimistic, and unusually cheerful as he strolled down the road. He'd spent the past few days in the 12th precinct with Ryan and Esposito working a case that was crazy, even by his standards. He'd enjoyed bouncing ideas around with the boys, the thrill of the chase when they'd finally got on the right track, and the exultation of knowing that they'd got their guy.

See Beckett, I'm living, he thought. And, not only am I living, I'm alive.

He diverted in to a shop, steadfastly ignoring the shelves full of liquor. He moved quickly, grabbing some juice, coffee beans, paper. Standing in line for the checkout he idly perused the paper. As he flipped the paper over his vision suddenly tunnelled, his chest tightened and his other purchases crashed to the floor. Trying hard to control his breathing he fished a bill out of his pocket with trembling fingers, threw it at the cashier and ran out of the shop.

He didn't stop running until he was in the elevator back at the 12th, leaning against the railing, panting heavily. As soon as the chime sounded and the door he was leaping forward, throwing the paper down on Ryan's desk.

"Castle, miss us so soon?" Ryan and Esposito laughed lightly. He stabbed at the paper, breathing too heavily to be able to form words. Ryan slid the paper across the desk, frowning slightly as he read the headline that had got Castle so worked up.

CONGRESSIONAL AIDE FOUND DEAD IN OFFICE

"That man," Castle gasped, "it's Smith! Smith is dead!"