Sorry, it took me so long. I have rewritten this one a dozen times. I hope you'll like it. Temperatures are rising...

Thanks again for your reviews. I love them!

Oh and btw only two more weeks to go!

B-C-B-C

Kate woke early the next morning and for the first time since she had come out of the coma in that hospital room she actually felt alive again. She turned her head to check the clock on the nightstand. 06:30 am. She pealed herself out of bed and picked up the bathrobe that was lying on one of the armchairs. She peeked out of the door into the corridor and then carefully slipped down the stairs to the kitchen. It was Saturday morning and she expected that everyone else was still fast asleep, but when she stepped into the kitchen she was surprised to see Martha rummaging through the kitchen cabinets.

"Good morning," Kate announced herself and stopped in her tracks, feeling just a bit uncomfortable.

"Oh, good morning, Kiddo!" Martha glanced at her watch, "Up already?"

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep anymore and thought I get some water."

"That can be helped," Martha smiled and fetched a bottle out of the fridge, while Kate sat down on one of the bar stools at the counter.

"Why are you up at this hour?" Kate asked, taking the bottle that Martha handed her.

"Well, contrary to expectations, the art never sleeps," she stated dramatically and then added, "I have an acting class to teach at 8:00 am. The early bird - bla bla."

Kate laughed, but it faded quickly when she remembered something that she had wanted to ask Martha since she had arrived yesterday, "Martha can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what's up?" she took the bar stool next to her.

"Is it really okay, that I'm here? I mean with the security detail and everything. I don't want to put anyone of you in danger!" Kate spoke quietly and looked down at her hands, avoiding eye contact.

Martha sighed and placed her hand over Kate's that was placed beside the bottle of water on the counter. "Listen, Kate," she spoke softly and waited until Kate raised her head to look at her, "The way I see it, we have two options here: Either you stay at your apartment and my son would be there with you, whether you'd like it or not, or you're staying here with us, where I can have an eye on the both of you. And tell you what? Option two sounds so much better to me!" She patted her hand softly when she said it.

Kate managed a weak smile, "Still, I think … "

Martha didn't let her finish, "I know you're a strong woman and I know you want to take care of yourself and deal with thinks on your own, but there are moments in our lives where we have to allow others to help us. Let other carry a bit of the burden, at least for awhile. That does not make you weak, Kate." Martha paused to let her words sink in.

"This might sound strange to you, but we consider you a part of this family. And families look out for each other. And the best way for us to watch out for you is to have you here with us. If Richard hadn't been so firm about having you here, I would have been!"

Kate just sat, not knowing what to say. The idea of being part of a family had been taken from her. All this years ago, when her mother had been murdered in that alley. And though she still had her father and her boys at the 12th were some sort of family substitute for her, she had never confused this with the real family she used to have. And here she sat and Martha told her that she had a family and the most surprising thing for her was that she started to realize that it actually might be true. Martha sensed the ongoing storm of feelings in Kate and stepped closer, pulling her closer into a soft embrace. She held her, while Kate held still, trying to breath. After a while Martha slowly let go and took a step back, taking Beckett in she noticed the red eyes and was worried that she might have held on a bit too tight, considering her still healing wound, "Did I hurt you?"

Kate shook her head, managing a smile, "No." And then she had to laugh, "No, you didn't hurt me!"

Martha smiled back and then noticed her son coming down the stairs. She brought her finger to her lips and whispered to Kate, "You're secret's safe with me."

Kate laughed again," Thank you Martha!"

Martha leant forward, placed a kiss on Beckett's cheek and then headed for the door, "Take care kids!" She called out before the door closed behind her.

Castle eyed his partner suspiciously, "What was that all about?"

"Oh, just girls talk," she lied.

"You're okay?" he asked a bit worried.

"Better," she nodded.

Castle was about to say something, when Alexis came jumping down the stairs, "Hey are you two planning on having a breakfast party without me?" she exclaimed in mocked indignation.

"We would never do such a thing! Now would we, Detective?" Castle raised a questioning eyebrow at Beckett.

"No! I took and oath not to do that!" Kate played along.

"Good, but now that I'm here; What are you waiting for?" Alexis laughed and ducked into the fridge for the eggs.

While they sat and ate, Kate was surprised how natural this all felt to her. Kate Beckett whose breakfast normally consisted of not much more than a coffee and a bagel, not to speak of the fact that she barely ate seated, was sitting between her partner and his daughter enjoying scrambled eggs, fruits and coffee and light conversation and couldn't help to think of Martha's words. Family. And she felt it. It warmed her heart and it scared her to hell all at the same time.

After breakfast, Castle ushered her back to bed, insisting that she rested. She did, but not without protest. But back in bed she couldn't fight her eyes that slowly closed out on her and was only waken by a soft knock on her door around noon. To her surprise it was not Castle, but Lanie who poked her head around the door.

"Hey, girl, how's it going?"

"Quite all right," she said and tried to sit up. When Lanie noticed her wince, she hurried at her sight and helped her.

"But not that good, huh?" she asked, frowning.

"One wrong movement and it hurts like hell," Kate admitted.

Lanie nodded in understanding and then sat herself down next to her, taking her hand, "I'm glad that you're here!"

"Here with Castle?" Kate grinned.

"No, you know what I mean!"

"I do," Kate squeezed her hand to tell Lanie that she understood.

They sat in silence for awhile until Lanie cleared her throat, "So how is living with writer boy?"

Kate smirked and shot her friend a look that said: You beast!

"Fine," she simply replied.

"Just fine?" Lanie frowned, sensing that this was only half of it.

"Okay, he's really extraordinary," Kate admitted and then added quickly, "So are Martha and Alexis."

But that was lost on Lanie, she had only heard the first part, "Really? Something I should know?"

"Actually yes, but not what you think. Josh and I broke up."

"Oh," was all Lanie could say. If she was honest, she wasn't surprised.

"Actually he did break up with me," Lanie didn't say anything, knowing that silence sometimes produced more answers than asking, "He thinks that I was never really in this relationships and I guess he's right."

"I'm glad you finally noticed that," Lanie simply stated.

"You knew?"

"Honey, the only one who does not see where she belongs is you!"

Before Kate could respond there was another knock on the door and Castle stepped in, "Got you girls some drinks and snacks," he announced.

"Thanks Castle," Lanie got up and took the tray out of his hand.

He looked from one to another and sensed that he was interrupting something, "Well, I let you girls get back to your girl talk," he added quotation marks, "If you need anything I'm downstairs."

He left, but neither Lanie nor Kate approached that topic again. An hour later, Lanie stepped into the living room, finding Castle over his notebook.

"Hey," he looked up when he saw her, "You're done gossiping?"

"She fell asleep," Lanie ignored his remark.

Castle got up to walk Lanie to the door, "I never thought I would say this, but Richard Castle you're a great guy."

He started to grin, but her hand shot up, "No! Don't. Don't spoil the moment by saying something stupid."

He raised his hands in surrender. She stepped closer to him to place a kiss on his cheek. "Take good care of her."

"I will! He assured her.

"I know!"

B-C-B-C

It was later that day, when Kate made her way down the stairs again and found Castle on the couch, watching a TV show.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty." He smiled at her.

"Hey," she replied. "What are you watching?"

"Oh, nothing important," he switched off the TV.

She strolled towards his CD and record selection and flipped through the LP's.

"Pointer Sisters?" she frowned and pulled out a copy of the 1978 album Energy.

"Oh, I love the Pointer Sisters, there's nothing like the Pointer Sisters to get an evening …," he realized what he was about to say and stopped. Instead of answering her questioning eyes, he snatched the LP out of her hands and placed it on the record player.

"Oh, just you wait!" he rummaged through some old Vinyl records until he found the right one and placed it on the record player.

Castle strolled back to the couch and patted the spot next to him. She studied him and then decided that there was no harm in having some down time with him.

"I'm surprised you're not checking on me every 20 minutes," she said, settling back into the cushions as the music filled the room.

"I know you like your freedom," he simply stated. And she noticed once more how well he actually knew her.

"What does Josh think about all this?" Castle asked out of nowhere.

"What?" she tried to buy time.

"About you being here," he clarified. "Staying with me."

"I don't think he cares. And if he did he doesn't have a say in this anymore." She looked pass him at something on the wall.

"You broke off?" he questioned, wanting to be sure he got this one right.

"He broke off with me," surprised by her own honesty she looked at him.

"His loss," Castle held her gaze.

"I guess you can't loose what you never had." She whispered. "Another thing you were right about."

They gazed into each others eyes, lost in time until she turned away and started to get up. Rolling her head, she moved her hands to her neck and groaned.

"Stiff neck?" he asked.

"Mmh," she replied and then she froze when she felt him pushing her back down on the couch, his hands on her neck. Carefully he turned her back towards him and started working on her shoulder.

"Relax," he said, "I won't bite."

She shook her head, more to herself then intending to give an answer, and did as he said. Slowly he applied pressure, paying close attention to her respond. Did he hit the right spot he applied a bit more pressure, letting his fingers do their magic. It was when his thumbs reached her hair line at the back of her neck and drew small circles, when he felt her breath quicken. For a second he was unsure what to do, but then he heard the soft moan.

She had given in to his touch, enjoying what his hands did to her shoulders or maybe what they did to her, but then he had hit that sensitive spot, right there, at the back of her neck, that if touched the right way, drove her crazy.

She thought of pulling away, but it felt too good and so she gave in. Castle was quick learner and when he realized what he was doing to her he dove right in. He heard the Pointer Sisters singing of 'Kisses of Fire' and prayed a silent 'Thank you' to them.

She moaned in pleasure as he continued his expertise torture on her neck, biting on her fingers she tried not to let it get out of control and it was then that she felt his breath on her neck. Hers caught and she closed her eyes, awaiting his lips on her skin.

Just then the front door opened and Martha and Alexis walked in, "What are you doing there?"