AN: I've been on holiday so I have been writing a fair bit. This is Chapter 9, and I'll be posting Chapter 10 in a few minutes :) Please let me know how you think it's going, I'm thinking I might begin to wrap this story up and keep writing my longer one-shots.

IBYL
xo

It had been two weeks since Rick and I 'outed' our relationship to the precinct. We went back to work after our lunch together to a few good-natured jibes from Esposito and Ryan – but nothing anywhere near as bad as I was expecting. They were pleased that we had finally stopped denying our feelings for each other. Rick had been true to his word, and refrained from being too touchy-feely at work, although he would often just hold my hand while we were in the car.

After a particularly difficult case involving an abused teenager who had been brutalised by her stepfather, I broke down. I doubt that anyone else ever noticed how hurt I was, but Rick did. He always did. He knew me far too well. After collecting the evidence to convict the young girl's stepfather, we went back to Rick's place. He ordered Chinese and set me up in a little cocoon in his bedroom. It was just the two of us, with a bunch of blankets, some yummy food and some wine. We sat and talked. He made me smile, and he held me when I cried. It was everything I needed and more. As an independent woman, I hate to admit that I need something, but I needed Rick. Even after only a few weeks together, it felt right – although if you ask Lanie, we've been together for 3 years – we just didn't do intimate until a few weeks ago. I suppose in a way, she's right. All I knew was that Rick's arms felt like home, and that I never wanted to lose that.

Rick watched me thinking. He did that a lot, but this time he looked more concerned than usual.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Rick asked gently, and I smiled at him.

"You really want to know what I was thinking?" I asked genuinely.

"Always, Kate."

"I was thinking how good it feels to be here, and how I never want to lose this feeling."

"And what feeling is that?" Rick asked cheekily, eyebrows raised.

"Contentment, happiness, love. It's kind of blissful." I smiled at him, and he kissed me, hard. When we finally had the strength to pull away from each other, I was breathless.

"I love you, Kate." He smiled at me.

"I love you too, Rick." I pulled my arms around him and we continued to get lost in our own world.


We fell asleep together. It always happened so I wasn't at all surprised when I heard my alarm go off – except for the fact that the space next to me was empty. Rick wasn't known to be an early riser. I instantly missed his warmth, so I wrapped a blanket around myself and padded down the stairs. The house was quiet except for a gentle tapping noise coming from Rick's study. I opened the door lightly and watched him for a while. He looked very cute with his concentration face on, I decided – something he told me on the first day we met. He looked up a few minutes after I walked in, and smiled brightly.

"Inspiration?" I asked gently.

"With you around, always. I've had a really good idea that's been developing for a few days, but I hadn't figured out how to end it until last night."

"Does it involve Nikki breaking down in Rook's arms?"

"The opposite, actually. Rook falls apart." I smiled at that.

"Thank you, Rick."

"Hey, I always said, Nikki's just based on you. I never wanted to hurt or embarrass you, Kate." He looked horrified at the thought of hurting me even the slightest. I think he hoped I hadn't noticed, but he forgets that I am a detective. I walked over to his chair, and sat on his lap. He wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Listen to me very carefully Richard Castle. You have to stop being so scared of us. This relationship I've started with you is different to anything I've ever had before – and you know that. You can still pull my pigtails and have fun, because I'm not going anywhere. If you even come close to hurting me, I swear I will tell you. We're going to make this work if it's the last thing I do, because I'm not going to let this go. Got it?" I kissed his cheek.

"Got it. And Kate?"

"Yeah?"

"This is different to me too." He looked at me carefully, gauging my reaction.

"You've been married twice, Rick." I asked incredulously.

"Yeah, and I thought I loved Meredith and Gina. After a few weeks with you, I realise that I was wrong. That's what you do to me, Kate."

"Me too. Now finish writing! I'm going to go get us some breakfast before work, if you're coming."

"Would I miss a chance to hang with my favourite woman? Never!"


Rick ended up bringing his laptop into work – a good thing, since I was doing paperwork all day. Instead of sitting in his chair facing me, he swivelled it around so it was next to me. I wrote out my paperwork as he tapped on his Mac, smiling at me every now and again. At 4 o'clock, I was finished, and he was packed up and ready to go home. He looked at me as if to confirm that I would be joining him. When I nodded a little he smiled brightly, and I chuckled. He was childish, yes, but god he was adorable! We got to the car and I automatically went to the driver's seat. Rick joined me on the passenger side. Rick looked over at me.

"So, you've been staying at my place a lot, right?" Rick began nervously.

"Yes, I have been. Only because you and Alexis are such great company." I laughed.

"I spoke to Alexis earlier, and she was a little angry with me."

"Why? Because I'm invading?" I was stricken – Alexis and I get along great but I have always been in her space since Rick and I sorted things out. I felt horrible.

"What? No, she was mad because I haven't actually asked you to move in with us! She wants you there all the time, Kate. As do I." I was still panicking when I actually listened to what Rick had said.

"You want me to move in?" I stammered, genuinely surprised.

"I know that the apartment you've been in since your other place blew up isn't as nice, and my place is close to the precinct and there's tons of room and…" his arguments dissolved slightly, and he looked scared.

"You're forgetting one REALLY important argument that works in your favour, you know." A puzzled look spread across his face.

"What argument?"

"The fact that you are there, you fool!" I smiled. "I want to talk to Alexis myself, but if she's cool with it, I would love to move in." Rick clapped a little, before pulling me in to a kiss.

"I know it's still technically the precinct but I needed to do that." He murmured as we pulled away.

"I think we can get away with it in the car park, Rick. Come on, I want to go talk to your daughter." I started the car and pulled out of the car park, a big smile on my face to match Rick's even larger grin.


"Lex, we're home!" Rick cried loudly.

"In my room!" The call came back, and I smiled.

"I'm going to go talk to her. You stay put, mister. Go to your study or something, ok? I'll come find you when we're done." Rick pouted at this, and I laughed. "Go! Shoo!" Rick pecked me on the cheek before he headed to his study. I walked up the stairs and knocked lightly.

"Hey Kate, you can come in." Alexis's sing-song voice came through the closed door, and I laughed.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Dad doesn't tend to knock, and he sounds like an elephant when he walks up the stairs – I knew it had to be you." Alexis smiled and I laughed. Sounded like her dad all right.

"So, I just wanted to see if your father had pulled you into a scheme you didn't yet know about without your consent."

"Which scheme?"

"Your use of the word 'which' worries me," I said gently, and this earnt a chuckle from the young girl. "but this scheme is about me moving in. He said you were mad because he hadn't asked. I just wanted to check."

"I wasn't really mad, I just want you here." She smiled.

"Not that I'm not thrilled about that, but are you sure? I don't want you to resent me if I did move in, Lex. I never want you to hate me." I had no idea why I was nervous, but I was close to visibly shaking. Alexis got up and gave me a hug.

"Kate, you're the best thing that's happened to my dad in years. You're the best thing that's happened to this family in years. Obviously my dad has a lot to gain from you moving in, but so do I."

"What can I offer you?" I asked, puzzled.

"Kate, I'm about to start the craziest few months of my life. I have to pick a college, and a major, and all that kind of stuff. I really have to grow up, and as much as I love and adore my dad, I don't think he ever really lost the 5-year-old within him. You keep him grounded, and I'm pretty sure that if I ever needed help, you'd be here as soon as I asked, am I right?" I nodded, smiling, and she continued. "I like having you here, Kate. You're the sensible one in this family." I felt tears well in my eyes as she said that last sentence, and Alexis noticed. "I didn't upset you, did I? I'm sorry, Kate."

"Hey, these aren't sad tears, they're happy tears. You're seriously the most amazing kid I've ever met, Lex." I pulled her into a bear hug, and she laughed.

"I meant every word, Kate. Now go tell my dad that he has to help you pack your stuff." She smiled, and I left her to her study.


I wandered downstairs and spotted Rick waiting for me at the bottom.

"Didn't I tell you to wait for me in your study?"

"Hey, it took all of my self-restraint to wait down here instead of barging in to Lex's room. Why do you look like you've been crying?" He asked anxiously.

"Happy tears, Rick. I would explain but I don't think I can for a little while yet."

"Happy tears are good. So, you're moving in?" He bounced a little at the words.

"Yes, Rick. I'm moving in with you." I smiled, before squealing as he pulled me into a hug and spun me around. He put me back on the ground but didn't release his grip from me – probably a good thing since I was pretty dizzy. He leant in and kissed me.

"When can you move in? Now? Because now sounds really good."

"Cool your jets, kitten," I teased, "I'm sure you can wait until this weekend."

"I thought we agreed that you would never, ever, call me kitten."

"Couldn't resist." I smiled cheekily, and he grabbed me into a hug again.

"Well I can't resist… THIS!" He cried as he lifted me up, bridal style, and led me to the couch. I squealed as he dropped me, and we collapsed into a heap of laughter. Living together was going to be a blast, I could tell.