Title: Stand With Me

Disclaimer: Right now, I have neither a published book, nor a job writing for TV.

Summary: Shot, hospitalized and confused, Katherine Beckett wakes up to a changing future. Richard Castle wants to protect her, love her, save her. But there are things she must face, and she can't make him the promises he needs. Post-Knockout continuation.

Author's Note: I'm EARLY this week! I wrote it and now I want to share. Woot! See my other Author's Note at the end for more in-depth commentary.


Chapter 7:

The next day passed in a blur of pain and testing. Kate was prodded, lifted up, stood up, laid down, shunted, shifted, put through machines, stuck with needles, probed with stethoscopes and generally pissed off by everyone around her. They'd determined that the damage done to her liver and surrounding tissues was healing well enough to release her on schedule, but that she'd need an extra week of bed rest before she could begin therapy. She was, however, to get up and walk around the loft twice a day to keep her muscles moving.

By the time she was settled in her bed that night, Kate was sore and tired and just angry. She'd been remarkably calm for most of her stay in the hospital, but she couldn't do it anymore. And now she had an extra week of recovery, which meant more therapy for her legs and longer before she was back on her feet, ready to go and able to do her job.

Castle came into the room bearing a smoothie and a cup of yogurt. He placed the food on her table, shut the door and then came to perch on the side of her bed while she glared at the wall.

"Kate?"

"You should leave."

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Really. Leave. You'll be glad you did."

"Kate," he placed a hand on her leg. "What's the matter?"

She took a breath and turned to meet his eyes. If he didn't leave soon, he'd get more than he bargained for. But his eyes were calm and confident and there for her to see. She'd probably regret this. "I hurt."

"Oh, hon, I know," he said softly.

Hon. They'd come back to that. "No, Castle. I hurt. And then they spent the day putting me in machines and prodding me and sticking things in me. Half the time they didn't even tell me what the hell they were doing! And it all happened so fast that I couldn't ask, but then they'd read out the tests and now I have to spend another damn week in bed, doing nothing. And everything hurts so God damned much. And I want a fucking hamburger, and fries and coffee. I can't go back to my apartment. I can't go out. Hell, I can't even leave the hospital like a normal person!"

They'd decided that Kate would leave from the loading dock into an unmarked black car that would go to Castle's building. Once there, they would enter through the staff entrance. There had apparently been attempts to break through hospital security a few times during her stay. They hadn't bothered to mention it until Castle had told her about the run around to leave between tests earlier in the day.

"And you know what the worst part is?" she continued, ignoring the concerned and timid look he was giving her. "I don't even know what I'm hiding from. You haven't told me. But you know. And I can't fight you about it, because I couldn't even stalk after you if I wanted to. You get to take me to your house, hold me there, keep me safe and I can't do a damn thing! I want to fight this, Castle. God, I just want things to go back to normal, but, hell, what is normal, anyway?" she laughed, hearing the hysterical quality in her own voice.

"My boss, my friend, my mentor is dead. He'll never come back. And Raymond already has it in for me, and everyone looks at me like I'm broken. And I am. I can't walk right, or change my own clothes without help, or eat. I want to eat, Castle. I just want…I want my life back. But it's gone."

She was surprised to find angry tears flowing down her cheeks and raised a hand to wipe them hastily away, but he got there first. When had he moved to sit by her hip so that they were face to face?

"Oh, Kate. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She laughed. "What do you have to be sorry for? You're trying to protect me. I don't like it. No, I hate it. I want to know what you're keeping from me. But can I be mad that you haven't told me yet? Yes, but not really. I just…don't be sorry." Well, that hadn't made sense to her either.

He gave her a small smile. "Okay. Can I be sorry that you're hurting then?"

She shrugged, twisting her hands in her lap. "I'm stronger than this."

He sighed and let his hands fall to take hers. "Kate, you've been amazing this past week. You've healed so much in such a short amount of time. And that extra week of pure recovery? You'll be so much better for it. But hurting? Hon, that's human. If you weren't, I'd be worried about you."

"Hon."

He blushed. "Beckett didn't seem like the right endearment."

She gave a shaking laugh. "Just know that I will be extremely creative in coming up with one for you."

He grinned. "Oh, that's a challenge I whole heartedly accept."

Kate felt herself smile for the first time all day. She yawned and felt her body sag more than normal, like expelling all of the upset had taken the last bit of resolve she'd been holding onto all day.

"You're sleepy," he murmured.

"Exhausted," she admitted.

He squeezed her hands and then stood. "Do you want to get ready for bed?"

Kate glanced at the clock. "It's seven."

"You had six tests today, and blood samples, and other samples, and a host of things I can't even imagine. You're bound to be completely wiped. And we want you as rested as you can be for tomorrow."

"Fine," she sighed. She took the hands he offered and they got her over to the bathroom. She slid inside and made short, though slow work of using the bathroom and brushing her teeth. Her stomach gurgled. Great, now her smoothie would taste like spearmint.

She came out and took his proffered arm, letting him help her walk back to the bed. She hurt and she was heavy. But she wanted to eat before she passed out. She'd discovered that without the IV, her stomach had been in knots with the lack of real food. If she forgot to eat, it wouldn't be pretty.

She settled in the bed and reached for her smoothie, smirking around the straw as he raised an eyebrow. Then she made a face. Spearmint and mango really weren't a great combination.

"You forgot to eat, brushed your teeth and are now regretting it."

"Thanks, I never would have figured that one out," she replied as he settled near her knees and grabbed a bag from the table, pulling out a muffin. "Is that your dinner?"

He shrugged and nodded around his mouthful. "I didn't feel like much."

Kate narrowed her eyes. "What's up?"

"Oh, you can eat skittles for dinner, but I can't eat a muffin?"

"You're the one who's crazy about balanced, or at least full meals. Spill."

"It's nothing," he brushed her off.

Not fair. "No, you have to tell me. I can't know about the archives, or the security or the conspiracy, so I'll have to settle with weaseling things out of you. See how you like it. Let's dissect the Rick Onion tonight."

He looked taken aback. "Whoa. Okay, um, Kate? It's nothing significant."

"Then tell me."

He sighed. "I'm nervous."

"Nervous."

"Yes."

"Why?"

He gave her an 'oh please,' look. "You're coming home tomorrow."

"Reason for me to be worried, yes. Reason for you to be nervous, I'm not so sure."

"Look. You know about how we're getting you out. So I'm sure you understand that this isn't really a low-stakes getaway. And once we're back, not only is there security, but we have to make sure that you're taken care of, and I don't want to mess that up. On top of that…"

Kate felt her irritation fall away. She'd just been mean to the man who was taking her in, at great personal risk. "On top of that?" she asked quietly.

His head jerked up at the change in her tone and he met her gaze. "We're…our relationship…things are different."

"Yeah," she breathed, looking down at the hands they'd wound together without her noticing.

"And, I'm happy about that," he said quickly. "But, there's a lot we haven't talked about, and I don't think we're ready to," he continued, meeting her wide eyes. "But that's, you know, another layer."

"And, you're just as exhausted as me."

He laughed. "That too."

She gave him a small smile as a yawn split her face. "You should head home."

"Oh, uh, I hadn't been planning to," he said.

"Oh."

"I mean, if you want me to…"

"No, it's okay. You can stay. But, uh, I'm gonna pass out soon."

"That's okay," he said, patting her leg as he crumpled up the bag with his muffin. "I have my laptop."

She narrowed her eyes. "And when you're done writing, where are you sleeping?"

"Chairs."

"This is a broken record."

"I'm not going to wake you up to climb into bed, Kate."

She stared at him. That statement sounded so odd, even though they both knew that there was nothing floating in the background this time. "So get up here and write until you're tired. Then go to sleep," she suggested, scooting over before lying down.

"You're serious."

"Rick, if you're tired enough to admit to being nervous, you need to sleep."

He considered her for a long moment and then grabbed his laptop bag and climbed onto the bed, shifting carefully until he was comfortable. "The nurses don't mind?"

Kate shrugged. "Does it matter?"

He laughed. "No, guess not."

He reached over and shut the light off before opening his laptop. Kate snuggled into the blankets and listened to the soft taping of keys. Who would have thought, three years ago, that she'd someday fall asleep to the sound of Richard Castle typing in her bed? She sighed. She certainly wouldn't have imagined that scenario like this.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she whispered tiredly.

He smiled and moved a hand to lay it gently on her stomach, far above her wound. "Go to sleep, Sweetie."

She cracked an eye open to look at him. "You get Hon or Sweetie. Not both. If it's both, I get Kitten."

He glared at her. "You can't call me Kitten. I saved your life." She met his gaze. They were quiet for a moment. "Anything but Kitten."

"I'll think on it."

"Sleep now, think later," he admonished, letting his thumb brush circles against her skin.

She felt herself being lulled to sleep. The last thing she thought as the world went completely dark was that Richard Castle was sweet, and that wasn't odd to think about anymore.

...

"Is it part of the plan to make me feel a bit like a mob boss being hidden by WITSEC?" Kate asked as they lifted her into the van and secured her in the reclining seat that had been provided.

"If it makes this less heinous? Totally," Rick laughed, buckling in next to her while Javi and Kevin secured the area and then hopped inside. Everyone, including her, was wearing a vest. The boys were carrying firearms and she spotted a few police cruisers as they pulled away.

They didn't speak much as they made their way from the hospital to Rick's apartment. Everyone was tense, and though Kate had been kept in the dark, she wasn't blind to the risks involved. Yes, they were unmarked. Yes, they were protected on all sides, but this wasn't a normal team they were dealing with.

"How you doin'?" Rick asked after about ten minutes. "Pain okay?"

Kate nodded. She hurt, and every bump was causing pain to shoot across her abdomen, but it was overshadowed by the magnitude of the situation. Being in the hospital had been like being in a protective bubble. Now, she was exposed, and she was exposing Rick and his wonderful family along with her.

"Cas…Rick, the risk is enormous. Alexis, your moth…"

He placed a gentle finger to her lips. "You're safest with us. We're safest with you. End of story."

"But…"

"Nope. Now, relax and try to breathe evenly, see if that helps stop the pain every time we run over a bump." He gave her a gentle smile and took her hand, squeezing lightly.

Javi and Kevin studiously avoided looking at them and instead exchanged significant glances. Ten minutes later, they were pulling into the back entrance of his building and everyone went on alert. Javi and Kevin jumped out first, guns at the ready, while Rick and the team at the front of the van helped lower her to the ground and into a wheelchair. They moved quickly, racing into the building, the doors slamming closed with an abrupt finality. Kate let out a breath but a bark from Javier made her turn.

"Hands up!" he shouted at a frightened looking bellboy. "Who are you?"

The kid, no more than twenty, looked utterly terrified and quickly complied. "J…James Grantham. I'm here to take you into the elevator?"

Javier looked back at Rick, who was scrolling through names on his phone with one hand and the other sitting securely on Kate's shoulder. "He's good," he proclaimed after a minute.

"Sorry kid," Javi said with a shrug. "Protocol."

"Okay," James stammered. "Um, the elevator's right here and everything's guarded on the upper levels, like you asked for, Mr. Castle."

"Thank you James," Rick said as he wheeled Kate into the waiting elevator, Javier and Kevin following them in to stand as a barricade in front of the doors. The doors closed, leaving James shaking on the other side.

"God, I hope he recovers," Kate said lightly. "Way to scare the shit out of him, Esposito."

Javi turned to look back at her briefly. "No one shoots my boss."

Kate stared at the back of her head. The time in the hospital had blinded her to everything. This was serious. This was extremely serious. Javier, Espo, never acted like that. They were her boys, but they didn't have to…Rick's hand squeezed her shoulder.

"We'll make a new normal, Kate," he said, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

She nodded mutely and brought her hand up to squeeze his once before letting it fall back into her lap. The doors opened a minute later and they all stepped out, Javi and Kevin flanking them as they made their way to Rick's door. He pulled out his key and turned the doorknob, swinging the door open and quickly pushing her inside. The boys followed and then shut the door, locking it securely.

Kate was about to turn to them when a mass of red hair blurred her vision and she was being attacked in a fierce, yet gentle, hug.

"Kate! You're here! You look better!"

"Alexis," Kate laughed, giving the girl a small squeeze before easing back from her, aided by her father, who rolled Kate backward. "Funny. I didn't think you'd be the one to attack me."

There was a round of nervous, relieved laughter at this and Alexis grinned at her. "I'm so glad you're here. How are you feeling?"

Kate smiled. "I'm okay. Tired, but okay."

"Speaking of which, let's get you onto the couch," Rick said, pushing her toward the living room. "Guys, can you stay?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Javi replied, putting the safety on before unholstering his impressive gun and leaving it by the door. "Now, little Castle, don't go anywhere near the guns."

"But if you don't lock them up, how will I know not to try and swallow the bullets?" she asked seriously.

Kevin laughed. "We need you around more, Alexis. You're great."

She blushed and they all trooped after Kate and Rick. Kate took his hands and together they lifted her out of the chair and shifted her over and onto the couch. She hit the pillows and let out a sigh, sinking slowly into the soft leather.

"Water?" Rick asked, putting a pillow under her feet.

"Thanks," she replied, watching as he wheeled her chair over to his office and pushed it inside before turning and going into the kitchen.

"Kate, Dear. Good to have you home," Martha said, materializing from the corner of the room.

"Martha," Kate said, attempting to sit up.

"No, no. Don't move on my account," she waved her off. "I'm glad to see you up and about though. No trouble getting here?"

"Everything went according to plan, Mrs. R," Kevin told her as he sat down in an armchair while Javi sat down on the floor, leaning against the armrest. Alexis plopped down in the opposite armchair, and Martha took a seat on the far end of the couch, where it extended into an 'L' shape.

"I'm glad to hear it," Martha smiled. "And you gentlemen have been keeping safe?"

"Safe as we can," Javi replied.

"The best we can ask for, I suppose," the actress replied. "Now, should I order in for us? Are we cleared for delivery?"

"Castle's got a list," Kevin nodded.

"Really?" Kate asked.

Alexis nodded. "Safe places that won't poison our food or send homicidal delivery kids to kill the doormen and then storm the loft."

Kate blinked. "That's…"

"Paranoid, but necessary," Rick replied, entering with a tray and six waters. "Drinks all around."

He passed them out and then put his own drink on the coffee table. He turned to her, gave her an appraising look, lifted her feet, removed the pillow, and replaced it with himself, letting her feet fall into his lap. There was silence for a moment.

"Chinese sounds good, Mrs. R," Kevin said, glancing around and pointedly ignoring Kate and Rick, who were having a staring contest.

Rick absently passed his phone to his mother, who turned to Alexis to pour over the 'approved list.' Kate looked at him. Here they were, in his apartment, her feet in his lap, a list of 'secured' take-away restaurants on his speed dial, and a line that had just been crossed. Did she care? Would it matter? He was going to keep touching her. If she denied it, he'd just use the two hours she owed him to give her massages and wrap her bandages and everything. It wouldn't be inappropriate, but it would be physical.

And he'd done it in front of their friends! She glanced at Javi and Kevin, who were eyeing Rick's entertainment system and paying them absolutely no mind. Martha and Alexis were wrapped up in a debate over two Chinese places, and Rick…Rick was rubbing her foot, and damn it, it felt good.

"Fold," she said quietly.

He grinned and met her eyes. "Thanks."

She nudged his hands with her foot. "Massage, Slave."

He laughed. "Knew there was a catch."

"Damn straight."

...

"Goodnight, Kate," Alexis said, coming around the couch to kiss her on the cheek. Kate startled slightly at the contact, but then smiled at patted the girl's cheek.

"Night, Lex. See you after school? I probably won't be up to see you off."

Alexis smiled. "No worries. Movie night again?"

"Definitely."

"Great. Night, Dad," she added, pecking her father on the cheek. She turned and went upstairs, leaving the two of them alone in the living room.

The boys had gotten called for a body mid-way through lunch and had made their apologies and grudgingly accepted both Kate and Rick's gratitude for their help with the guard. They left in high spirits, anticipating a Madden weekend, in which they hoped to force Kate to participate.

She, Rick, Alexis and Martha had then spent the afternoon watching movies until Martha had to leave to teach a night class. Now Alexis was upstairs and Kate felt uneasy for the first time all day.

"What'cha thinking?" Rick asked, patting her foot. They were still in the same position, her feet in his lap and his hands running circles over her toes and up her legs.

"Tired. Sore. Surreal," she replied, staring up at the ceiling, the TV forgotten. "It's all very real suddenly."

"I'd bet," he replied quietly.

"And I can't help feeling…Rick, are you sure you're ready for this? I know you've got everyone and his brother working this but…but that girl upstairs—I'd never forgive myself or you if something happened to her."

She opened her eyes and met his gaze, surprised to find him looking at her with that look—the look that spoke of affection and respect. "We decided as a family that you were worth it, Kate." Her breath caught and she felt her eyes widen. "But," he laughed. "Tonight is not the night for that conversation. Now, we're switching rooms…"

"What?"

"Well, you can't climb the stairs, so you'll take my room for now, and I'll take the guest room where you stayed last year."

"I can't take your bedroom," she protested.

He eyed her skeptically. "You're gonna climb the stairs?"

She sighed. "Fine. But know that I'm not happy about it."

He smiled. "You wouldn't be you if you were. Now, are you tired enough to sleep, you think?"

She nodded. It was only around eight, but she was exhausted, and she was practically falling asleep on the couch anyway. He slipped out from under her feet and stood, moving over to help her sit up and then steady her as she threw her feet over the side of the couch. She braced herself on his forearms and he helped her stand.

"You think you can make it?"

"I'm supposed to, right? Gotta walk around at least once more today."

He nodded and together they walked achingly slowly over to the office and through to his bedroom. The pain meds she'd taken with her milkshake (she'd have to get Rick to make those every day; they were nirvana) would hold until the next morning, but she was still sore as hell. Each step was a special brand of hell. Finally, they made it to the bed and Rick helped her sink down onto it.

"I need to change," she said wearily, leaning her head into his stomach. "But I'm so tired."

He rubbed her back and let her use him as a vertical pillow, a fact that she should have been more concerned about. But he was solid, and she was sagging and it hardly mattered.

"Do you want me to bring you clothes? I know we brought your pajamas and stuff. We can go through tomorrow and have Lanie bring whatever we forgot tomorrow night."

"Okay," she replied, letting him shift her so that she was lying down. Then he went and rummaged through her drawers. "Wait, Rick, are you going through my underwear?"

He turned, his hand still in her delicates drawer. "You need pajama pants. Are you going commando?"

She blushed. "That's none of your business."

"Kate," he sighed, shaking his head. "I'm getting your clothes. I'm probably going to help dress you for a while. I promise to get back to the innuendo soon, since you're obviously missing it so much. But right now? I just want to get you into bed so you can sleep."

She met his eyes and nodded. "No underwear, just new sweats and a button down if you can find one? Pulling stuff on and off hurts like hell."

"I don't know that we have any of yours, but I can go grab one of mine. Can you get your pants on and off alone?" he asked, returning to her side to hand her the pants.

"Yeah, long as I'm lying down."

"Okay, I'll be back in a few. If it hurts, just wait. I won't look."

"I know."

He smiled. "Okay. Color preference?"

"Surprise me."

He trotted out of the room and she sighed, rolling gingerly onto her back. She shimmed out of her current sweats, too embarrassed to admit that she was going commando under those too. She gingerly lifted one leg and then the other, pulling the sweats up as far as she could without lifting her pelvis. She hurt. The pain in her abdomen was harsh and she really didn't want to go any farther. But that meant…

"Hey. Are you decent?" he asked from the doorway, a hand over his eyes.

"I…" she shifted so that the old sweats covered her lower half. "I need help," she admitted quietly. The hitch in her voice didn't go unnoticed by either of them.

"Okay," he said softly, padding over to stand in front of her. "Put my hands where they need to be, and keep that over you, then I'll help you raise up, no worries."

She smiled, her face beet red, and did as she was told. They got her pants up without incident. "Thanks."

"Anything," he replied. "Let's sit you up and get this on you." He helped her sit and then slid up behind her while she unsteadily unzipped the hoodie she was wearing over her bra. "Side your bra off, and I'll help you into the sleeves," he said gently. "Can't see anything I haven't seen before."

She laughed and complied. "If the dresses you got me were higher in the back, you'd have seen less."

"You're just lucky I didn't look when you almost blew up."

"Right," she sighed. "Gotta stop having you save my ass. You see too much of it."

He laughed and helped her slip into the sleeves. "It's a nice ass."

"Castle."

"Oh, we're back to Castle. I'll lay off."

She just shook her head and tried to do up all the buttons of the green shirt, but found that her coordination faltered after the first few, the exhaustion and slight tremors making it impossible to button the damn thing up.

"Rick," she sighed.

"Yeah?" He was rubbing soft circles on her back.

"Can you button this the rest of the way?" she asked in a low voice.

He shifted around her and then slid off the bed to kneel in front of her. She'd managed to cover herself enough, but she just couldn't get the rest of the buttons.

"Asking for help isn't wrong, Kate," he said quietly as he did the buttons up, his fingers lingering over her wound before continuing up to one above her cleavage. "You're hurt. I just want to help, and right now, you don't need modesty."

"Rick."

"In a few months, you're more than welcome to surprise me in bed in a little black number that leaves even less to the imagination, but right now? I just want to help you get into the bathroom so you can go to sleep."

She met his gaze, feeling his fingers squeezing where they'd fallen to rest against her hips. "Okay."

He stood and helped her up, guiding them to the bathroom, his arms supporting most of her weight. Once inside, she was sluggish, leaning heavily against the counter, and spending more time sitting on the toilet, simply trying to gain the energy to stand back up, than she'd have liked. But she made it out, right into his waiting arms, and they got her back onto the big, ridiculously comfortable bed.

He helped her settle in under the blankets, placing pillows on either side of her body.

"I'm not going to fall out," she laughed.

"I know that," he replied evenly. She looked at his face. He was worried that she would.

"I'll be okay. Thank you, Rick," she said, taking one of the hands he was running over the bedspread. "You're…you're taking really good care of me."

He smiled down at her. "There's nothing I'd rather do, Kate."

She patted the bed and he sat down next to her hip, turned off the lights and helped her prop another pillow behind her back so that they were eye to eye in the dim light from the office.

"You're not going to stay awake writing, are you?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Might. It's early yet."

"What's on your agenda for tomorrow?"

"Hanging with you. Giving you space when needed. Writing. Making some calls. Movie night with you guys, if I'm invited."

"If you're invited?" she snorted. "Won't you just barge in?"

"Not if it's girl time."

"Really."

"Hey, I've had a teenage daughter for long enough to know that you don't mess with girl time. You should invite Lanie to stay."

Kate considered his offer. "That doesn't sound bad."

He leaned toward her conspiratorially. "Might even be fun." She swatted at his arm without malice and he grinned. "But now, you need to sleep."

She shrugged. "Yeah."

He looked at her. "Kate, are you okay?"

"Fine," she smiled. The fact that this was a different place and that would probably ensure that she had nightmares wasn't a facet of the Beckett Onion she wanted to peel with him.

"Nightmares?"

So much for privacy. "Sometimes."

"New place?" God, was he in her head?

She sighed. "Yeah. Hospitals and strange rooms…they're not the best for a recovering psyche. But, I'll be okay."

He shook his head. "Hang tight."

He hopped off the bed and went out into his office. She slid down, shifting until she was lying comfortably, staring up at the ceiling. What was the point of keeping things from him if he could just figure them out on his own? When it was all over, would she even have secrets left to keep him guessing anymore?

He came back in a few minutes later, dressed in sweats and an old tee shirt with his laptop tucked under one arm. He walked around to the far side of the bed and stole the pillows he'd placed on her right. He got under the covers, propped himself up, opened his laptop and then looked over at her.

She blinked. "Assuming much, Pookie?"

He snorted. "Pookie?"

"I told you I'd find you a pet name."

He shook his head. "Mine are sweet and full of l-care. Yours is insulting."

"Cupcake?"

"No."

"Sugarpie?"

"No."

"Hunky Boy?"

"No. You already have Writer Boy-Slash-Man."

"But that's not a pet name, pet name."

"Honey," he said with false sweetness. "Go to bed."

Kate laughed. "As you wish, your Majesty."

"Ooh, that one has merit."

"No," she laughed.

"Sleep," he replied, running his free hand through her hair. "I'll be right here if you need me."

She stared up at him. He noticed her looking and smiled before turning to his laptop, opening a document and reading. His hand continued to comb through her hair and she felt her eyes growing heavy.

"Night, Kate."

"Night, Babe."


Author's note II: So, this is going to be a turning point. I have many ideas about where I want to take this, and how their relationship is going to progress, but I have a feeling that I'm not going to stick as closely to the 'relationship' spoilers as I might have previously thought. They keep changing, and right now, Rick and Kate have ideas that I think Andrew Marlowe would both approve of, and never use, since it sounds like he wants us to be in agony until AT LEAST the middle of the season. SIGH (That's speculation, btw).

I hope you stick with me for the ride. I think you'll find their relationship, fights, fluff and development entertaining, and as close to character as I can make them.

Let me know what you think so far. The response to this story has been amazing, and I'm really honored by how many of you are on alerts, reviewing and favoriting. Thank you so much.

Emma