a/n: We're almost to the end of this journey – just this chapter and an epilogue to go! Thank you so much to those of you who have been there from the beginning and those who joined in somewhere along the line. Your support means the world to me! Special thanks to my #crosscountrybff burningxredxcaskett, you're awesome!

Chapter 10.

No one can talk me down, no one can talk me down

No one can talk me down, I'm on the ledge of love

Don't leave me out here

Out on this ledge of love

They walk into Kate's apartment and she places her bag and keys on the table in the entry.

"Make yourself at home," she tells him when she sees him looking around the space.

She knows he's been to her apartment before, but he seems to be seeing everything from a new perspective, much like she did in his space.

This is new for both of them, and yet, it's a long time coming.

She expects him to be nosey. She expects him to look through her things, pushing the boundaries, waiting for her to scold him. She has no intention of doing so. In fact, she wants him to look through her things. She wants him to know her, to ask his crazy questions, to push her for more.

But he doesn't.

Instead he moves to the couch and sits, waiting for her to collect her things so they can return to the loft.

This careful version of Richard Castle is unsettling. She's not used to a quiet partner and she's certainly not used to him not pushing the boundaries. It's what he does. It's one of the many, many reasons she loves him.

Kate surprises him by coming up behind him and placing a hand on his shoulder. He turns to look at her, waiting.

"Why don't you look around while I'm packing my bag? Feel free to explore. I'm sure you'll have questions," she teases.

He smiles hesitantly, nods and stands. "If you insist."

Kate starts towards her bedroom, but his voice stops her.

"Kate?"

She turns to face him. "Yeah?"

Rick wrinkles his nose slightly as though he's at war with himself over what he's about to say.

Kate waits patiently.

"Feel free to pack a little extra. You know, if you want," he adds hastily.

She grins at him. This wonderful, amazing, sweet, ruggedly handsome man. She'd stay as long as he would take her, and she had a feeling it would be awhile. "You know, I just might," Kate says and turns back towards her bedroom, happier than she's felt in months.

She moves about her bedroom, packing all of the necessities and strains to hear anything from the living room. He's being uncharacteristically quiet and it's unnerving.

He's supposed to be calling out questions to her. He's supposed to rattle her belongings around. He's supposed to be opening drawers and slamming them closed. But all Kate hears is silence.

She crosses to the door and peeks out. He's nowhere in sight.

A wave of panic washes over her. He didn't leave, did he?

He couldn't possibly have seen anything that would – oh. There he is.

She finds him in her makeshift office, standing next to her bookshelf, a well-worn and tattered copy of his own Hell Hath No Fury in his hands. He has the book opened to the dedication and she knows what he's reading. She knows it by heart.

To Kate,

The world needs more smiles like yours. Smile more and laugh often, you never know who may be affected. I know I was.

Richard Castle

She'd waited in line for hours to get his autograph. Two of the hours had been spent outside in the rain before they'd finally been ushered inside. But one look at the man at the head of the line had made her heart stop and caused her to forget the goosebumps that had formed from the cold. He was more handsome in person.

By the time she had made it to his table she was cold, damp, and knew she must look like a mess, but she didn't care. She was finally getting to meet her favorite author. She'd smiled at him when he looked up and gotten lost in his deep blue eyes. It wasn't until he'd repeated himself that she even noticed he was talking. He asked for her name and instead of the generic signing she had expected, written something much more personal.

Her heart had fluttered for months.

When she thought back to that time in her life, Kate can hardly believe this man is sitting here with her.

She loves the author who has saved her life more than he knows and he loves her.

It's amazing.

Kate feels his eyes on her and realizes she's been lost in thought again.

"I don't remember," he offers apologetically, undeniable sadness in his eyes. "I can't believe I don't remember."

She opens her mouth to speak, but he beats her to it.

"But I knew you were special, even then. I never wrote things like this. It was always the – thanks for reading, or the hope you enjoy – that's why I can't believe I don't remember."

Kate crosses to him, removes the book from his hands, closing it gently, then folds herself into his embrace.

"It's okay, Rick. Just to even know I stood out to you then is…words can't even describe…Especially since I know I looked like a complete disaster that day," she laughs.

"Clearly it didn't detract from your smile," he counters slyly and she giggles. "Nothing can."

She can't help it – she grins at him. He always knows just what to say.

"You're a wonderful man, Richard Castle. I can't thank you enough for hearing me out. I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through over the years, but I am so incredibly glad to be here with you, ready to move forward with our lives."

"It's all because of you, Kate," he admits. "I can't believe I was actually going to walk away."

She hears the sorrow laced in his voice and pulls him towards her couch so they can sit. She wants him to know that she understands the why, that she understands he thought he had no other choice.

"I don't blame you Rick." Kate hooks her leg through his in order to bring him closer. "You thought I didn't care so you protected yourself. Anyone would have done the same."

"But I should have fought," he argues. "If I would have tried to win you over, tried to make you see that I was better for you than the motorcycle man, then we would have been here sooner. I would have found out you broke up. But instead I hid in the Hamptons with my tail between my legs like a coward. I should have fought for us."

"And I shouldn't have listened to you when you said you needed space," she counters stubbornly. "Rick, look at me." Kate squeezes his hands and waits patiently until his sapphire eyes rise to meet her own hazel ones. "We can go back and forth attempting to shoulder all of the blame all night long. But it won't get us anywhere. We're here now and that's what matters. We're finally moving in the right direction."

Rick squeezes her hands back and breathes a sigh of relief.

Kate nestles herself in his arms, perfectly content to let him hold her.

"Hey Rick?"

"Yeah?" he asks as he moves his finger lazily up and down her arm.

"I love you."

She feels him smile before he presses a kiss to her head.

"I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of hearing you say that," Rick admits before hastily adding, "I love you too."

Kate can see more of these times in the future. Lazy days spent cuddled together on the couch, arms wrapped around each other, when they leave the bedroom that is.

She's more than ready for that with him. Kate allows herself a little internal happy dance at the thought of all the future will hold before she relaxes against the steady rise and fall of her writer's chest.

Her writer.

She likes the sound of that.

"You want more wine?" Rick asks after awhile.

"Don't you want to get back to the loft?"

She feels him shrug against her back.

"There's no rush, right?"

He's smiling now, she just knows he is. And he's right.

There's no rush.

She turns to face him, shakes her head and pulls her lip seductively between her teeth. "We've got all the time in the world."

In fact, they've got always.

Thanks so much for reading! Please share your thoughts! xo Kristen