A / N: I am really, really sorry for the delay putting this chapter up. I want to be at least two chapters in advance in my stories but we're really busy at work (I feel what an ad person probably feels – staring into space wondering if it's the proper colour or if it's the right graphic used) that I didn't manage to complete Chapter 12.
Thanks again to the people who favourited, reviewed, followed, gave suggestions through private messaging in, etc this story.
And you think that love is only
For the lucky, the lucky and the strong
A dream. Perhaps. Most likely. I don't know where to start. Kate, Kate, Kate.
I keep glancing at your sleeping form as I write this. You're beautiful, ethereal. I keep telling myself that I must be dreaming, that you're not here, that any minute now you'll vanish and I'm alone. Delirious. Delusional.
I can't believe you're beside me. I know you still fell broken but I don't care. I'm here and I will take care of you and make you whole.
I can't believe that you will give up your job – it's like everything you are – to be with me. I know I will but you're…you're Beckett, the woman married to her job. I know you find me annoying and nosy… I thought that all the jokes, the jests, the innuendos are just that. That you're just teasing me and you really don't feel the same way I do.
Okay, that might have been an overstatement because I always observed something in those gorgeous peepers of yours when you look at me, especially the past year. I should have known that you've heard because all the things you said to me, they were all different from the other times over the three years we've known each other.
I forgive you for lying to me. Although I think we've jumped past that.
I'm rambling now because I can't believe how lucky I am.
You're mine now, Kate. You're mine to hold, to touch, to take care of, to love. And I'm yours.
I'll ask tomorrow if it's all a dream. If that makes any sense at all.
So it wasn't a dream. It really wasn't. I just cannot believe it!
I am also glad that you decided to go back and ask to be reinstated. Whilst I am very happy that you would want to give up everything to be with me – and I love the idea that it was for me and I like to keep thinking that way – it's just isn't you. I can already imagine you pacing, thinking what you're going to do next. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
Kate, I don't want you to worry too much about Bracken. I'm happy that you finally found her killer but Kate, think things through. He's a very powerful man and he has more resources than I so that his hands would remain clean. I promised before that I will help you with everything and I will not break that promise. We will get this through. We will get justice for your mother.
Meanwhile, I can think of some things we can do whilst you're passing time until you go back to work. Oh! I can think of clean, dirty, very dirty, ehem, activities we can do. What happened last night was just a prologue to our book. We will write the chapters as we go along and I promise that we will get past Round Three. I will make your body tremble so hard. Just thinking of these…activities makes me want to…shout to the whole wide world I LOVE YOU!
Our book will never have an epilogue, will it?
Thank you, again, for the faith you have in me. If it was any other, they would have probably left me with the knowledge that I killed somebody. They wouldn't even have verified each and every story because they wouldn't have looked for it. They would have just seen the evidence and not look past it.
Thank you for standing by me. You really are extraordinary, really remarkable. I am proud to call you my partner. I love you.
Kate, you know you can talk to me, without prejudice and condescension, right? You don't have to be scared and hide beneath those walls of yours. Tell me anything. I want you to be as open as possible.
There are still layers of walls. We will tear it apart, brick by brick.
That said thank you and I appreciate it that you told me about your different Christmas. I didn't know. I watch you now sleeping peacefully. Our first Christmas together. Possibly the first time you've celebrated this day after everything that happened. I can imagine you doing paperwork or waiting for a call in the precinct or pacing the break room and pretend that you're happy but you're actually missing celebrating this holiday with the people you love the most. But we will change that. You should know that you're part of my family now. Come to think of it, you've been part of my family long before we became…Caskett (I love this moniker!). Perhaps we already did change traditions.
Merry Christmas, my heart! Until tomorrow.
Rick.
PS These letters, these notes, they may cease or they may not now that we're together. Mainly because we talk at night before we fall asleep, whether on the phone or not. Sometimes even falling asleep on each other and we leave our phones on. I want to though because there are mysteries of you that need to written. That's how precious you are.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are welcome.
As with my other #CastleFanficMonday entry, no bashing on Season 8.
