AN: I have important news to share so I'll let you read this latest chapter and tell you more about it in the author's notes at the end. Happy reading.


As Kate slowly woke, she felt very refreshed. She had not felt this well from a good night's sleep in a very long time. Because of her nightmare, it was odd that Kate felt that way. Thinking of the previous night, she was glad that Castle was there for her. Kate turned her head to realize that her head was not on her pillow but resting on Castle's chest. Also, she had an arm wrapped around him.

To her surprise, Kate did not mind her current position, and it brought a small smile to her face. Kate felt the steady rise and fall of his chest and if she was afraid that if she stayed in her current position much longer, she'd go back to sleep. Still, she continued to watch the person she considered her partner blissfully sleep.

"Now who's the one being creepy," Castle sleepily stated as he slowly started to wake.

Kate chuckled as she got off her 'pillow' and settled down beside him. "Takes one to know one."

"So very true. How did you sleep?"

"Good, very good, in fact. I haven't slept that well in a while."

"Is it because of nightmares?"

"Not always. Sometimes it's just the crazy hours I work. When I'm really involved in a case, that's when I don't get the sleep I should."

Castle nodded as he had first hand knowledge about how difficult her working hours could be. To a point, he could relate because inspiration struck at various times and he had spent time writing long into the night when he needed to get something down.

"I don't want to push," Castle began as he faced her on the bed and gently rubbed her arm. "Do you want to talk about it? Your nightmare from last night."

Kate shook her head saying, "No and thanks for not pushing. I just don't feel like talking about it."

"Okay, just so you know that whenever you want to talk you can come to me. For anything."

"I know," Kate replied with a smile before leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"What was that for?"

"For being there for me when I needed someone."

"Always," Castle told her as they both got out of bed and went to prepare for whatever the day would throw at them.


Before she left the loft for the Twelfth, Beckett had told Castle that he did not need to show up today and not because of the paper work. What truly surprised her, he agreed to not go in. To say she was shocked would be an understatement so much so that Kate placed a hand on Castle's forehead to see if he had a fever. Their morning had been uneventful one as Beckett, Ryan and Esposito had spent the first few hours of their work day doing paperwork related to the Mitchner case.

Castle did ask if he could take her and the boys out for lunch. Kate knew that her co-workers would never pass up a meal, especially when Castle was paying. She agreed to his terms and told him to come by the precinct around noon.

In between the paperwork, Monica Mitchner had stopped by to learn what had happened the day before concerning her husband's murder. Beckett led her to an empty conference room and explained to her that it was her brother-in-law that had killed her husband. Continuing her explanation, Beckett informed Mrs. Mitchner that her husband and brother-in-law were arguing about their investment plans. She then said that Brent wanted out and Tim had shot so he could take the money for himself.

"I knew they were arguing about it but Brent just brushed it off when I asked him about it. But I never would've guessed that Tim would…" Monica could not finish as she started sobbing.

Kate placed a comforting hand on the grieving woman's shoulder. "Sometimes it's difficult to understand what motivates a person to do something like your husband's brother did."

"Thank you for finding who killed, Brent, even though it turned out to be Tim."

"Just doing my job, Mrs. Mitchner."


Kate was glad when the day ended and she got to go home. Of course, it was just her temporary home, but the longer she stayed the more like home it became. That night, Martha joined them for dinner and a movie. Dinner conversation was certainly lively with Castle's mother around but was enjoyable. One of the rare times Kate could see the whole Castle clan in all their glory brought a smile to her face. She could see that the public persona her partner showed was totally different from the one seen by his family. This side of Castle was something she would like to see more often.

After watching the eighties classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, everyone decided to turn in for the evening. Once Kate was ready for bed, she was slightly hesitant about getting in. A knock at her door temporarily brought her out of her current musings.

She opened the door to see Castle standing there and he said, "Just want to wish you a good night."

Castle was about to leave when Kate said, "Castle, wait."

He stopped and was back at the guest bedroom door. "Something the matter, Beckett?"

"No… Yes… I just don't know."

Seeing the lovely detective out of sorts, Castle took her hand and led them to the bed and sat done at the foot of it.

"Kate, if there is something bothering, you can talk to me about it. Remember what I said this morning?" She nodded her head answering his question. "Good, whenever you're ready, I'm willing to listen."

Kate was feeling completely embarrassed about what she was about to ask. So, gathering her courage she asked, "Would you mind spending the night with me?"

Understanding dawned on Castle's face and then he answered, "Now that is something I can do for you, easily."

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me, it would be a pleasure."

"Oh, I bet it certainly is."

Their little banter exchange put Kate at ease and that did not go unnoticed by the man sitting next to her.

"It's about the nightmares, isn't it?" Castle asked seriously as they crawled into bed.

"Yeah, it is," replied Kate as she settled herself on her side.

"I see, but remember I'm here for you whenever you need me."

"I know and you being here now is…"

"No problem, Kate. You can use me any way you want," Castle told her waggling his eyebrows.

Kate laughed giving him a playful swat on his chest. "Let's get some sleep, Castle."

"Your wish is my command, milady."

Castle turned the lights off saying, "Night, Kate, sweet dreams."

"You too, Castle."

Just like the night before, Kate snuggled up closely to Castle and they were soon fast asleep.


The following morning when Kate awoke, she was alone. She felt a little disappointed at that, and she didn't really understand why. Brushing those thoughts aside, she went about getting ready for the day after a second night of peaceful sleep.

As Kate was just entering the kitchen, Alexis was leaving with backpack slung over her shoulder and a piece of toast in hand.

"Good morning, Kate. See you later. Bye, Dad, have a good day," Alexis said as she headed out the door.

"You too, pumpkin," Castle shouted out as he saw Kate fix herself a cup of coffee. "Good morning, detective."

Castle placed a plate full of scrambled eggs in front of her as well as a plate of bacon and some toast.

"Good morning and thanks," Kate said as she started to eat but then asked, "Where's Alexis off to so early?"

"She had a project to finish with some of her classmates and the only time for them to get together to finish it was this morning," Castle answered her as he took a stool next to her and grabbed some bacon and toast for himself. "Sleep well last night?"

"Yeah, thanks again for putting up with me."

"Think nothing of it. You'd do the same for me."

Kate did not have to think on how to answer Castle's statement. "Yeah, I would."

The next few minutes were spent in amicable silence as they finished their breakfast. When the finished, they rinsed their plates off and placed them in the dishwasher.

"I thought Martha would've come down for breakfast?" Kate asked after the dishwasher was loaded.

"Mother likes to sleep in, especially when she knows that she'll have a late night the following day," Castle answered. "By the way, I've been meaning to give you something since you've been staying here."

Castle dug around in his pants pocket and placed a key into Kate's hand.

Kate asked looking over the key, "What is this?"

"Isn't it obvious? And they call you a detective."

"I know it's a key, writer-boy, but what's it for?"

Castle winced at the term 'writer-boy', not liking to be called that but let it slide just this once. "It's a key to the loft."

"Wha… Why?" Kate stammered out, with the key still in hand.

"You said so yourself that you work odd hours at time and, because of that, we won't always come home at the same time. Also, if I have to do a book signing and I'm not around I don't want you to have to depend on Alexis or Mother to let you in," Castle explained to her.

Kate saw the reasoning in that because she would hate to have to bother anyone just to get inside.

"Thanks, and you can have it back when my apartment situation is taken care of."

"No, that key you can keep."

"Castle, I can't keep this," Kate told him, surprised and a little touched at the gesture.

"Yes you can, Kate. I want you to feel not only welcome here but that you can come and go as you please."

Kate just looked at the key in her hand, thinking. This truly showed how much Castle trusted her. Kate knew that the trust was mutual especially with her telling him about her mother's murder. Also everything that he had done to help her get answers concerning her mother's death cemented that trust even more. But this, getting a key to his loft, that was certainly another layer of trust.

"All right, I'll keep it. Thanks, Castle, for trusting me with it."

"I have no reason not to trust you, Beckett. But I think it's time to get going."

Going into Castle's office, they retrieved Kate's gun and badge and headed off to the Twelfth.


Over the next few weeks, the key that Kate had was put to use. A few times when she was by herself Kate used the key. But when either Castle or Alexis was with her and they could not get into the loft themselves, she used it then as well. So having the key to the loft had come in handy.

Spending time with Alexis was almost becoming a regular thing with Kate. They would go shopping, get a bite to eat, or go to a movie despite the fact that Castle would pout when they did not want him accompanying them. Sometimes, she would help the teen with her homework. Kate knew that Alexis was a special girl and all the time spent with her showed her why and that warmed her heart.

During that time, she tried to return to sleeping on her own. Unfortunately, the cases they had worked on were not helping her to get to sleep. So, her nights were spent with Castle sleeping next to her. There was a stretch of a few days that he had to be out of town. Kate found it very hard to sleep peacefully. Luckily, Castle gave her contact information to reach him and she used it. Talking with him helped a bit but it was not the same. When he finally returned home, no one could tell who was happier to see him, her or Alexis.

It was an early evening at the precinct one day with Kate wanting to finish some paperwork. To her surprise, Castle decided to stay with her. She had told him he could go home but he had refused. He seemed a little off throughout the day and it worried her a bit.

"Kate?" Castle asked hesitantly.

"Castle?" She fired back putting the last of her paperwork in her outbox and gathered her things so they could leave.

"I was wondering…"

"Wondering what? You know you can tell me anything, Castle."

Taking a deep breath, Rick asked a question that he had been meaning to ask for a while now, "I was wondering if you would like to go out on a date with me?"

A shocked Kate Beckett just stood there not knowing what to say.


AN: As some of you who have been following this story for a while, I said I was working on the wedding that took place between Rick and Kate early in the story. Well, I have some good news. I finished it the other day and got it betaed and edited so I'll be posting it later today. I hope you enjoy it as much as this. The title of it is very simple, Strange Bedfellows - The Wedding. Keep an eye out for it or check my profile from time to time.

As always, I like to hear what you think so please leave a review. Flames are not welcome.