So, if you follow me on Tumblr/Twitter you might now that I had the really wonderful opportunity to sort-of work on Castle this past season. It was a really wonderful, life-changing opportunity, but left me with little desire to actually write anything show-related outside of work, so I sincerely apologize for the delay. It's always been my intention to get back to my stories at some point. I got a little Castle'd out at one point, but I'm still passionate about what I'm working on, so I thank you for sticking with me.

She leaves her father in the kitchen while she swaps clothes, slipping into an old pair of sweatpants and a faded t-shirt. She snags a pack of nearly-stale thin mints from the counter on her way to the table and settles down into a chair, curling her left foot under her thigh. Jim walks in behind her and sets her mug down in front of her before pulling out his own chair.

She shoots him a grateful smile, curling her long fingers around the hot beverage as she slouches over in her seat. "Thanks," she murmurs.

"How was your night out with Rick?"

She rolls her eyes, gulping down a sip that scalds her tongue. "You always did cut to the chase."

"And you always did avoid the question," he says gently.

She sighs. "It was...great, Dad. Castle's an amazing man," she admits, breaking off a chocolate bite.

"Mm-hmm. And what about the detective down in robbery?"

Her hesitation is a beat too long. "Tom's a nice guy."

"But you're not in love with him," he observes.

She groans. "Can we not do this? Please."

"Did you know that it took me three years to tell your mother how I felt about her? Three years. So much time wasted and for what? Fear, cowardice, and pride." He shakes his head. "Every minute that you spend being afraid of getting hurt is a moment gone, Katie."

"Okay, but that blind faith that you have in love? I don't have that. And I don't know how to trust him or this thing between us. What if it blows up?" She looks away for a moment, expelling a shaky breath. "I'll kill you if you tell anyone this, especially Castle, but...he means a lot to me. And I can't lose him, Dad. I won't."

"You're fooling yourself if you think that putting distance between the two of you is gonna make him stick around. Something's gotta give eventually."

Her eyes snap to his. "You can't possibly know that."

"I saw it in his eyes - whatever feelings he has for you - they're real." He sighs. "Look, Kate, didn't you tell me he's been married twice? If that's the case, then I promise you that man is just as terrified as you are, if not more so."

"All the more reason not to bet on me."

Jim takes a sip of his coffee. "Yes, well. No one ever said love was logical."

She smile a little sadly. "That sounds like something Mom've said."

He just looks at her for a minute. "It was."

Kate tugs at her lip. "I'm sixteen years old again, Dad. Tell me what to do."

"Stop listening to your broken heart, Katie. Look at what's right in front of you."

She traces the lip of her mug with her thumb. "And if I'm right and we implode?"

He lays his hand on her wrist, his thumb brushing over the face of his watch that she wears. "This time your old man will be around to help pick up the pieces and put 'em back together again."

Kate's heart sinks a little when Castle's a no-show at the precinct the next day. Could he really walk away, just like that?

Would he?

She's out of it all day, distracted to the point that even the boys have noticed she's off her game. She brushes it off - she's just tired, is all - but they convince her to go home around 4 when a body still hasn't dropped.

She's off with a little wave of her hand as she strolls to the elevator. When the doors ping open, she steps forward automatically, colliding with the exiting tall, warm body.

She gasps, steadying herself with a tug on the sleeves of the man's suit jacket. She looks up, apology on her lips -

He laughs a little. "Hey. You okay?"

She swallows hard. "Yeah, Tom. Sorry." She steps back with the shake of her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. "A little distracted today."

He shoots her his mega-watt smile. "Well, hey, no harm done. Still in one piece."

She laughs a little too politely, scrunching up her nose at a joke that isn't even that funny. Or even meant to be a joke? Either way, there's about two feet of space between them that's entirely, one-hundred percent awkward. "I was just on my way out, so..." she trails off, gesturing toward the elevator behind him.

Has it always been awkward between them?

"I actually just came up to see if you wanted to grab dinner tonight. There's a great little Thai restaurant by my pla - "

"Actually, um," she smiles a little, "I'm having dinner with my dad tonight. Just kind of a weekly thing we do, you know?" She pauses suddenly at the lie that spills so easily from her lips. Of course there's no dinner with her Dad. "But rain check?" She lifts off her toes a little with the extra shot of unnecessary enthusiasm. Jesus Christ, she needs to get out of here. When did she become so goddamn spastic?

He cocks his head a little, and now they both know something's not quite right. Fantastic. "Yeah. Sure."

"Great," she says forcefully, her smile bright and tight against her lips. "I'll call you."

And then she steps around him and slides into the elevator. When she turns around and presses the button for the ground floor, he's there back at her side and she can't school her stiff features nearly fast enough.

"I actually just came up here to see you, so..."

Fantastic.