Title: Falling Against My Will

Summary: Finally the one causing the problems is revealed, what will it mean for Castle and Beckett? They still have to talk and work out what happened with them.EDITED AND UPDATED… MISTAKES FIXED!... AGAIN!

Disclaimer: Chapter one, except for my own characters not on the show.

A/N: Conversation especially with Kate is going to be a bit out of character in this chapter… keep that in mind as you read this.

Chapter Nine: Coming To Terms

Esposito put the folder down on the table, Kate picked it up and opened it up. She handed it to Castle and then looked up at the guys. "Are you sure this is accurate?"

Ryan nodded. "Oh yes, we had the IT guy run the phone program 3 times and it was apparently a program that you can put in a number you want to appear the call or text is coming from but actually it's really coming from that phone. Using the time code stamp the IT guy hacked into the system records and found out what cell phone the text came from. He also found out the IP address that the email came from, we got a warrant to find out where the IP address came from and tracked it down to the computers at the office."

Kate nodded and then looked over at Castle. "I'm so sorry babe, I feel like part of this is my fault."

He shook his head. "No, this is only the fault of one person Gina and she has so much to answer for but not tonight at least not with me. Mother has prepared a feast in celebration that I'm okay, so let's eat if someone can just help me to the table."

Kate smiled. "Everyone go sit, helping Rick is my job." She helped him up and then hugged him close on one side making sure not to hurt his broken ribs. "I love you, you know that right?"

He nodded as he hugged her back. "Yes Kate, I love you too."

They walked over to the table and after helping him sit down she sat down and then smiled. "Martha and Lanie, this looks wonderful."

Martha smiled and in her own dramatic flair put her hands out. "We are celebrating tonight, whatever anyone feels like they want to celebrate privately." Just then the doorbell rang and she smiled. "Oh looks like we do have one more guest, I hope it's okay Richard but I invited Nicholas to join us."

He smiled. "Go let him in Mother so he can meet everyone."

She walked to the door and welcomed her friend in. "Please come in and join us at the table Nicholas, meet our extended family." She offered him the chair beside her and started closest to her. "I'll just start right here on the other side of me this is Lanie she is an ME, Javier is a detective he works with our beautiful Katherine who is right there beside Javier. You know my son Richard and next is his beautiful daughter Alexis, Jim is Katherine's father and then next is Kevin who is also a detective. Everyone this is my friend Nicholas, he's a playwright and a director."

Nick looked at Kate. "So you're the one that the Nikki Heat series is based on?"

She smiled. "Yes and thank you for saying based on and not calling me Nikki Heat, I really do hate it when people refer to me by that name. I actually tried to get Castle to change the name at one time before he published the first book."

Alexis laughed. "She was chasing him around a bookstore and he was defending himself with a cardboard cutout of himself."

Kate looked over at Alexis and smiled. "Do you remember the first time I ever came here?"

"Of course I do, I was 15 years old and we were playing laser tag when the doorbell rang. Dad went to the door and shot you with his laser gun and you were like hello?"

Kate laughed. "It was so funny because he just stared at me like I wasn't there until you said dad, manners."

Castle laughed. "Well Kate, you had never been here and barely tolerated my presence at the precinct so I could never imagine you coming here."

Kate smiled. "I was stuck and I hated to admit it at the time but I knew if anyone could help me it would be you and that night we worked it out."

Nick smiled. "Sounds like you two make a great team."

Kate puts her hand on top of Castle's hand. "All of us are a team but Castle's my partner."

Nick nodded. "I have read the series since the first book, but I confess I read them because I have been a Richard Castle fan for years and read the Storm books."

Kate nodded. "Oh yes I've read all of those books as well, he found me out early on as a closet fan but I tried to tell him he was wrong."

Esposito laughed and looked at Ryan. "Remember our first case with Castle she comes in with all of these books and turns completely red when we accused her of being a fan of Richard Castle?"

Ryan looked over at Alexis. "I bet you had no idea that Beckett is a closet fan."

Alexis smiled. "Well not at first but then she was sitting here one day and we were talking about a case she was working on and she starts quoting different things from dad's books on how he would go about solving different things, I mean books from early on. I was like really you are totally a fan of my dad."

Kate smiled. "Okay I'm glad everyone is having fun and yes I have always been a fan but it runs deeper than that, my mom was a Castle fan before me and when she died I started reading her books. He helped me through that rough time and we didn't even know each other." Kate looked at Martha. "So we know how we met, how did you meet Nick?"

She smiled. "His daughter is one of my students, she has so much promise as an actress but she's kind of nervous about auditions and I am trying to get her to understand that she needs to just go out there and be herself."

Alexis laughed. "Well if anyone can get her to be her best on stage it's you Gram."

Martha smiled. "Thank you darling." "So Kevin, how is your lovely Jenny she was more than welcome tonight."

He smiled. "She's doing great and yes thank you for the invite for her but she is so busy redecorating our place I don't even know if I'm going to find her under all the paint and wallpaper samples."

Alexis looked over at Kevin. "Have her call me, I'm so great at painting."

He smiled. "I'll have her do that, she'll love having the company and the help."

After dinner, Kate helped Martha serve dessert while Alexis and Lanie served coffee or tea to everyone. When Kate sat back down she noticed that Castle was looking a bit tired. "Hey babe, you need to go lay down?"

He smiled. "I'll go to bed soon just not yet."

They ate dessert then Kate and Lanie helped Martha clean up while everyone else stayed at the table talking. Jim stood up. "Well thanks for dinner and everything but I better head on home." He shook hands with Castle. "Rick if you need anything have one of the ladies call me and I'll be here."

He nodded. "Will do but I'm sure I'm in great hands here Jim, thanks for all you've done."

Alexis got up. "I'll walk you to the door granddad." So Jim hugged Kate and then Alexis walked him to the door then hugged him at the door.

Next Kevin and Esposito got up both shaking hands with Castle. "Beckett we'll touch base with you tomorrow on the case and get with the captain on working between here and the precinct."

She smiled. "Thanks guys, I might be able to get in for a few hours in a few days but I don't want to leave Rick."

He smiled. "Honey you can go to work I'm sure Mother wouldn't mind spending some time here with her favorite son."

Martha smiled. "You're my only son and you know it, I will be here Katherine you just let me know if you need to go to work and I can switch things around what matters most is Richard's health."

Kate smiled. "Dad said he would come over, he's free most afternoons now and mainly works mornings since he's semi-retired." She walked over to the door with the guys. "We'll work it out, I've talked to Gates and she didn't seem too worried about any of it. Thanks for coming and thanks for getting us that information how you proceed on that is up to Gates we have to stay out of that."

Esposito nodded and talked softly so only Kate, and Ryan could hear him. "That fake text caused our bro to be hurt, we are going in the morning to have a conversation so just be aware she might come over here."

She nodded. "We'll talk and I'll ask him how to deal with it." They left and Kate returned to the table where Castle was sitting.

Alexis grabbed Lanie by the hand. "Come on and I'll show you to the guest room Lanie, it's so cool you're staying tonight."

She smiled. "I'm only staying tonight because your dad got his skull bashed and his doctor released him if someone kept an eye on him." She pointed at Kate and Castle. "I have to check on him through the night so the door stays open and no funny business you two." Lanie went up the steps after Alexis.

Kate helped Castle out of his chair and into the bedroom, she helped him sit on the bed. He smiled at her. "Thanks for helping me even though I know if Lanie wasn't here you would be sleeping in the guest room."

Kate looked back at him from the drawer she was getting a t-shirt out of. "Who says I'm sleeping in here, I was planning on taking the couch. We haven't worked everything out Castle."

He struggled to stand but he made it and walked to the office then came back with something in his hand then sat down on the bed. "This isn't the best time and place but I'm tired of waiting and I'm tired of a distance between us. Look at this receipt."

"Everything is marked out except what was purchased, the store and the date."

"Right, I want you to see that I bought this about 6 months ago."

She smiled. "Ryan has a big mouth, I already know."

"I had the ring with me at the restaurant but when we were going in you said that you enjoyed this kind of thing just laid back dating type of thing, right then I knew if I asked you to marry me then I would run you off. It would ruin us. But now I'm asking, I want you with me forever Kate."

Tears ran out of her eyes and he thought that a no was coming but she smiled through her tears. "Yes Rick, I'll marry you."

He put the ring on her finger and then kissed her. "I would love to be able to make love to you right now."

"We'll make up for it when your ribs are better but right now let's get ready for bed." She closed the bedroom door and helped Castle undress down to his boxers then helped him with his t-shirt. He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. When he came back she was changing. "Hey Castle, there's something I should probably show you. Remember when you autographed my hip?"

He smiled. "Oh yes, I wanted to take you to bed that night but I didn't want to scare you off. Why?"

She pulled the side of her boxers and underwear down so he could see the tattoo. "I went the next day and had it made into a tattoo, you're not mad are you?"

He smiled. "No, I'm honored that's so sweet baby now open the door so Lanie can come in and check on me later then get in here with me."

It didn't take long for Kate and Castle to go to sleep. He was laying on his back but on her side of the bed because of his broken ribs and she was sleeping laying close to him with her hand on his chest like she needed to feel his breathing. Lanie and Alexis stepped into the bedroom and saw something sparkling on Kate's hand. Lanie looked back at Alexis. "Is that what I think it is?"

"It looks like an engagement ring to me, he actually asked her to marry him way to go dad."

Lanie shook Kate a bit. "Hey I'm here to check on Castle, congrats by the way."

Kate sat up and moved her hair back, then looked at her finger when Lanie pointed toward it. "Oh thanks, I almost thought I was dreaming that conversation but I guess not."

Alexis hugged Kate while Lanie went to the other side of the bed. "Castle, hey Castle."

He opened his eyes but just barely. "Lanie?"

"I'm just here to check on you, how do you feel?"

"My head is pounding like really bad, where's Kate?"

Kate leaned over. "I'm right here babe."

"My head is really pounding."

She got up and started for the kitchen. "I'll get the pain meds and some water." She came back and after they helped him sit up he took his medicine and drank some water out of the glass. Alexis took the glass back to the kitchen.

Lanie leaned down to Kate. "I'm going back upstairs but you come and get me if he doesn't feel better in a little while."

"Okay thank you Lanie." Kate laid back down under the covers and snuggled close to Castle. "Babe, if you don't feel better soon please wake me up don't wait for someone else to come in here. I'm going to be your wife, let me take care of you."

He put her close. "Okay Kate, go to sleep."

The next time Kate opened her eyes she heard voices in the kitchen, she quietly got out of bed and went to the kitchen. Martha looked over as she walked in. "Well good morning darling, coffee?"

Kate smiled. "Morning Martha, yes please." She sat down at the counter beside Nick. "Good morning Nick. So the girls aren't up yet?"

Martha put her coffee down. "They are gone, Alexis said not to disturb you because she said that her dad had a pounding headache and you were up with him. She wasn't sure how long it was before you went back to sleep, Lanie took her to school this morning and then was going to work." Suddenly Martha stopped and walked over. "Well that's new."

Kate smiled. "They didn't tell you? They saw it last night when they came in to check on Castle, he proposed when we went in to get ready for bed last night."

Martha smiled. "Well I'm relieved that poor boy has been getting the ring out and looking at it all the time since he bought it close to 6 months ago, I was sure you were going to find it."

Kate laughed. "Ryan let it slip at work that he bought the ring about 6 months ago so I knew."

Nick smiled. "Well congratulations, I know being with someone famous like him can't be easy."

She looked over at Nick. "It's not that bad really, only when a book is coming out then it gets bad or when a rumor starts flying but other than that it's just not really that different. When we go to the Old Haunt it can be because he started writing there plus he owns it, but they know me very well there."

Martha put a plate of pancakes in front of her and then leaned down. "So with all of this going on with Gina will it cause many problems between you and Richard?"

"It won't cause any problems between us, she has been trying to cause problems between us and that's been done. The email as you know caused problems between us and my captain helped with that one, plus you and Alexis. Then the text was sent and you know what happened there. I think she has caused all the problems she can cause."

Suddenly Kate heard her name and started to get up but Martha put her hand out. "I've eaten you eat and let me go wait on my son." She walked in the bedroom. "Katherine is eating darling, what can I do for you?"

"I just need someone to help me up and walk me to the bathroom door, I'm just stiff after laying down all night and it's hard to get up."

She smiled. "I can do that but I wanted Katherine to finish eating, I had to make her stay in there she loves you son."

He smiled. "I know mother, you don't have to tell me that, she's never been about the money like Meredith or Gina because she's always known about the money and really didn't care. It's like pulling teeth to get her to use it anyway."

Martha smiled. "I can always use her share if she doesn't want it."

He laughed at the bathroom door. "Oh yes mother, I'm sure you would."

Kate was at the sink rinsing her plate when Martha walked out of the office with Castle, she immediately rushed over and took over. "Here Martha, I'll help him sit down at the table." She helped him sit down and then kissed him on the lips. "Morning babe."

He smiled. "Morning beautiful." She went in the kitchen and got his coffee while Martha fixed his plate, she thanked the older woman when she handed her the plate.

"Here you go babe, your mom made breakfast." She got her cup and fixed more coffee then turned to the others. "Are you guys going to join us at the table?"

Martha smiled. "Sure we can join you for a while."

Suddenly Kate's phone rang and she saw it was Ryan. "I better take this in the other room." She walked in the bedroom. "Hey Ryan what's up?"

"Hey how's Castle doing today?"

"We had a rough night, he got up with a pounding headache but fortunately Lanie was here checking on him and I gave him some medicine but once we got back to bed it didn't take him long to go back to sleep. It took me a big longer, we're just getting up. Please tell me you have some news."

"Gates insisted upon handling Gina's interrogation, she said you don't do that to her team and get by with it. Oh she was pissed when we told her about Gina and she was going off on her ass this morning."

"Our captain who has told Castle more than once how much she hates him was going off on his ex for what she has done to him? That doesn't make sense, please tell me there is video."

"Oh yes Javi made sure there is video because you and Castle will want to see this especially because Gina claimed that Castle was in on it, that he has been sneaking around with her behind your back. I hate to ask you this Beckett but just how exclusive have you guys been?"

"We have been together and I do mean together as in sleeping together since the day I went to see him about the email. I went for dinner that night and we have only spent one night apart since then and it was the night before his accident."

"She is saying he spent that night with her that he was upset about you."

"He text me, told me he loved me and it was late that night so I don't believe it. I trust Castle and as soon as he's able he can come in and tell you guys exactly what happened when he left me at my apartment that night."

"Esposito and Lanie are on their way there now. Lanie said she needed to check on him and Gates wanted Esposito to take his statement and his mother's if she was there with him to get a time frame. I'm sorry Beckett but you can't be in the room when they talk to him."

"I know Ryan, trust me I've got it and it all has to be official. Damn that woman, let me tell Castle and Martha what's going on so she won't leave." She walked back in the dining room and sat down. "Martha I'm going to need you to stick around for a while, Esposito is on his way and he needs to talk to you about the night I didn't stay here."

She nodded. "No problem darling I'll be here to talk to him."

She smiled a slight smile. "Thank you Martha. Castle can I talk to you for a minute?"

He smiled. "Sure sweetheart, Mother when they get here just let them know that we're in the other room." He followed Kate in the office and closed the door. He sat down on his office chair and Kate sat down on the desk. "Okay what do we need to talk about?"

"I can't tell you everything that you're going to talk to Espo about but Gina told Gates that you went to her for comfort the night that I turned you away at my door."

He shook his head and pulled her down on his lap. "No baby that is so far from the truth I came straight home and talked to Mother, I put the ring back in the office and then I went in the bedroom to feel sorry for myself. I felt like it was over for us. I just felt like you were going to tell me we were over and you weren't moving in here that I had messed up completely."

He moved his hand down to her center and started to rub. "Castle, they'll be here soon and besides you're hurt."

She noticed he didn't look at her or speak very loud as they got up and headed to the bedroom, he nodded. "Okay Kate but maybe tonight you should sleep in the guest room because I just don't know how long I can wait to be with you again and it's killing me."

When they got to the bedroom she held his hand and pulled him very gently over to the chair on the opposite side of the bed then she took a blanket and laid it out over the chair. She loved that chair because he could sit on it and she could sit on his lap and it wouldn't hurt his ribs. "Pull your boxers down then sit down because you know something? I miss feeling you inside of me, I miss the closeness of being with you like that and being attached on every level." He sat down and she kissed him and then kissed her way down his body while she rubbed on his penis, she felt him getting harder in her hands. Then she leaned down and took him in her mouth taking the time to suck and lick him thoroughly. He then pulled on her, so she raised up and slid her boxers and panties down her legs then sat on him taking all of him inside of her. "Oh Rick, I love you."

He smiled as he held her close. "I love you to baby."

Martha opened the door to Esposito and Lanie started for the office but Martha stopped her. "Lanie, just give them a few minutes. It's been overwhelming for them and with that night apart I'm sure Kate is still feeling bad for some reason and just have a cup of coffee."

Lanie smiled. "Sure Martha I understand we'll just sit down here and talk to you and Nick if you don't mind."

She laughed. "Oh I don't mind, I love company. Plus if you think about it except for when they went to bed last night they haven't had any time alone since he dropped her off the other night and he thought they were over."

Lanie nodded. "How has Castle been this morning? Has he actually been up and walked any at all?"

Martha nodded. "Oh yes he woke up while Katherine while eating her breakfast so I went and helped him up. He said he just felt like he was stiff from laying down all night."

Esposito got out his notebook. "While we're waiting I can talk to you about that night before the accident, this is the only night they spent apart is that correct?"

"Yes and I told him he was making a mistake, he should have at least tried to talk to her about what was going on or what happened to make her pull back. She was as in love with him as he was with her, I saw it here I mean she had been staying here with us and things were going great then suddenly she was wanting a night to process? It didn't make sense, I know Katherine and this wasn't Katherine. He came in around 10:30 and talked to me for just a minute or two then I watched him from the kitchen he put the ring back in the drawer and then went to his room. When he was closing the door he was holding her picture, now does that sound like a man who is cheating or a man that is hurting?"

Esposito nodded. "He came in at 10:30, got it. We know he didn't cheat but we have to counter everything she says I hope you understand that. None of us suspect him of anything, he's loved her for years and we've seen that."

In the bedroom Kate moved on top of Castle, she leaned down and put her face close to his ear. "I love you beyond reason, you're my life."

"I want you with me forever Kate." Finally they both shook from release.

She kissed his neck and then his lips. "I bet they're here and your mom is holding them out there for us. Let's get cleaned up so you can talk to him and then we can lay down and take a nap together."

He smiled. "Do you plan on keeping me in bed today?"

"If I can, yes. You need to rest and I need to hold you close." She went to the bathroom, he heard the water running and when she came out she was dressed and she had a wash cloth and towel with her. She cleaned him up and then after taking the wash cloth back in the bathroom she helped him back in his boxers. "Let's get you laid down, we didn't hurt your ribs did we?"

He smiled. "No but I do feel better."

"You're impossible but I love you." He laid down then she covered him up, she kissed him then walked to the door. She opened the bedroom door and then the office door, she saw Esposito and Lanie at the table. "You can come in and talk to him if you want."

Esposito and Lanie got to the bedroom and Lanie smiled. "Do I need to check you for injuries Mr. Stud man?"

Kate looked at her friend while Castle just laughed. "Hush Lanie." Then she walked back to Castle. "I'll be right outside Rick." She kissed him, grabbed the blanket off the chair and then left.

Esposito pulled a chair in from the office and Lanie sat down on the bed and checked his head and then checked his ribs. "Any pain at all?"

"Just when I've been in bed for all night, like laying in one position for so many hours it's like I'm stiff there and I need help standing up."

She nodded. "It's going to be like that for a couple more weeks but you'll be fine, seems like Kate is taking good care of you."

"I don't know what I'd do without her." Lanie stood up and smiled. "He's all yours Javi, I'm going out to talk to Kate."

Esposito moved his chair closer. "I'm sorry bro but I have to ask you about that night you left Beckett at her door and came home. Gina told Gates you cheated on Kate with her and that night you turned to her and went to her when you left Beckett. Do you know what time you came home?"

"Oh I believe I signed in at the door at 10:30 but you can check the camera downstairs tell them to call me if they have any questions. I just wanted to come home and go to sleep, try to forget how I screwed up so bad."

"Okay and the meeting the next day, she's saying you went with her."

"No actually she called me the next morning and told me that they had some important information to share with Paula and I, it wasn't something I wanted to do I was still upset but Kate had agree to talk to me. I sent her a text during the meeting and told her I was coming when I was done. I set my phone down and ran out for coffee. Then when the meeting was over I text her and said I was coming, then I saw Gina and Paula leaving the office but Gina went back in. Then I got a text saying don't bother and it was from Kate, the cab had just pulled out so I told him to turn around and I was coming to loft. We were hit on the next street."

Esposito nodded. "Thanks bro, sorry I had to do this."

"Whatever you need you let me know please we'll do anything, talk to Paula she was there for everything that morning and I told her I was going to see Kate."

Lanie walked out and saw Kate sitting on the couch drinking coffee, she poured a cup and joined her. "So where did Martha and Nick go?"

"Oh they went to the studio since I'm home with Rick today, then they're going to swing by and make sure Alexis gets home okay. I mean she's old enough to get herself home but I think Martha wanted to shop."

"So before we got here, you and Castle making a bit of magic in there?"

Kate smiled and hugged the blanket close. "When I first met him I hated him, I thought he was such an ass but now I can't see my life without him. I came too close to something seriously happening and it was over jealously." She wiped the tears and took a drink from her cup.

"Kate sweetie you're a cop so you know people do things out of spite and jealously that don't make sense all the time, kind of if I can't have him no one will."

"I need them to make sure she won't hurt him, I love him so much Lanie."

"So tell me something, that dreamy look on your face that man is magic even with broken ribs."

"Oh Lanie you don't know the half of it, our second night together we stayed at my place to be alone and I wondered if I was going to be able to move the next day. I don't think it's him or me, I think it's us we are just meant to be together and we make it perfect."

"I noticed in his office he has a shelf of several pictures of the two of you together, one of them is when you worked undercover your first year together you know when he bought the dress."

"I know I saw it one day but I didn't say anything, I think a member of the paparazzi took it and gave it to him or he bought it or something. Why?"

"The rest of them are from early on until now but they are posed."

"Alexis likes to take pictures but I didn't know he was framing them and putting them up until I came in one night to wait for him so we could talk, I saw the shelf."

"Were you mad?"

"I was honored, he's my friend but I guess he's always kind of felt more for me than I thought just like I did for him."

Esposito came out and smiled. "Okay I have what I need and I'll call you later this afternoon with an update. FYI Gates put a guy at the door and one downstairs and it's non-negotiable."

Kate nodded as she walked them to the door."Please tell her thanks for me." She locked up and then went to the bedroom, she smiled when she saw Castle. "So would you like some company? You look lonely laying there all by yourself."

He smiled and patted the bed. "I'm always lonely without my other half." She slipped everything off except her shirt and panties then cuddled close to him.

Much later that evening after dinner and everyone was in bed the drama being played out downstairs in the parking garage would soon make its way up to the loft and disturb the sleeping couple.

TBC