The chapter took a little longer, but I wrote nearly 5,000 words. That justified being one day late, right? :)

Anyway, we have a bit of bad language coming up after the restaurant scene when we meet one of Kate's ex-boyfriends.

I also want to thank everybody who reviewed the last chapter! It got a great response and I hope we can keep that up. All these reviews make me smile. Thank you!

xx OneWriterGirlOfficial

Dreamworld

Chapter 10 "Visiting Kate"

A couple of months later...

He had spend and exhausting two and a half days in Seattle. He was on a book tour, promoting his new Derek Storm novel. He sighed and thought about Kate. He had just landed at the airport in San Francisco. It was Friday afternoon, maybe he could go to Stanford and visit Kate? He hadn't seen her in months and he missed her. Sure, they had called each other, exchanged letters, but it wasn't the same. He hadn't seen his girlfriend in months.

"Ricky! Come on, the cab is waiting," Gina said and tapped her foot on the ground.

"Um, yeah, sorry. I'm coming," he said and walked towards the cab. He sat down next to Gina. "I don't have anything to do today, right?"

"Why?"

"I'm just asking."

She rolled her eyes. "No, you have today off."

"Good. When is my first event tomorrow?"

"Eleven o'clock. The book signing."

"Great. Thank you," he replied and checked the time on his watch. It was quarter to four. They would be at the hotel soon. He could make it to Stanford until five thirty. He could surprise her and pick her up from class. He smiled excited.

Gina watched him closely. She wanted to know what he had planned. Was it something for her? He had been nice to her, not as annoyed as he usually was when she was around him. Maybe he liked her after all?

Stanford University at 5:28pm...

The professor ended class and dismissed them. With a sigh she packed her notes into her bag and stood up. She put on her coat, there was still a chilly breeze out there, and left the room along with all the other students. She began to think about what she could do this weekend? Study, that was all she could think of. She knew that there was a party later, a friend's friend had invited her, but she wasn't in the mood for partying. Not without Rick. She sighed. She missed her boyfriend and Alexis. She hadn't seen them in months. Calling each other and exchanging letters wasn't enough for her. She missed his kisses, his touches. She bit down on her lip and went to hurry down the hallway.

"Kate!"

She stopped dead when she heard the familiar voice. She shook her head, thinking she had just imagined it. He couldn't be here, could he?

"Kate!"

She turned around and looked straight into the eyes of her boyfriend. He was here! She hadn't imagined it. He was really here, standing in front of her. She threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately. "I've missed you so much Rick," she muttered against his lips and kissed him again.

"I've missed you, too. And Alexis as well," he said and pressed a kiss to her hair.

She took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. "Don't get me wrong, but what are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd visit you."

She raised her eyebrows. "And you flew to San Francisco on a Friday just to see me?"

"I was forced to go on a book tour. And I just landed at the airport two hours ago. I have the evening off and my first event is at eleven in the morning. I went straight here to see you."

Kate smiled. "I'm glad you came," she responded and kissed him hungrily.

"Me too. I hope you didn't have any plans for today?"

"Even if. I rather spend my time with you."

"Good. So, would you like to go to dinner with me Miss Beckett?"

"Mmhh, dinner? I think I would like to have dinner with you Mr Castle."

"I'll get us a table. How about we go to your dorm so you can change?"

"Don't like what you see?" she teased.

"No, I like what I see a lot. I just thought a dress might be more fitting for a restaurant?"

"Let's go somewhere else than? I know a great burger restaurant. It's not Remy's, but it's good."

"Burgers? You have cut yourself a deal." He grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers.

Kate leaned into him and together they made their way outside. They stopped a cab that drove them to the burger restaurant. They got out of the cab and walked into the restaurant, Rick was carrying her bag for her.

"Table for two?" the waitress asked without looking at them much.

"Yes."

"Follow me please," she said, grabbed two menus and showed them to their table. "Can I bring you something to drink?"

"Um, a coke for me, please," Rick said.

"Diet come for me, please," Kate added.

Their waitress nodded and left them alone.

Rick grabbed her hands and caressed her knuckles. "How's studying?"

Kate sighed. "Exhausting as always. There are a couple of test I gotta study for and such."

Rick smiled. "I bet you'll do great."

"Why so?"

"Because you're extraordinary and smart. And beautiful, one might add."

"You're a charmer, but you're right. I am smart," she said and stuck out her tongue at him.

"Sassy. I like that. So, what are you going to order? Anything you might recommend?"

"Castle, it's a burger restaurant. It opened back in 1947. Trust me, everything is good. And as for what I'll ordered, a cheeseburger with extra bacon, fries and a strawberry milkshake."

"The usual then? I think I'll take that, too, with a chocolate milkshake. Can we order our milkshakes to go?"

"Sure."

Their waitress walked up to their table as if on cue to take their orders. Once she had accomplished her mission she left them alone again.

"How's Alexis doing?" Kate asked.

"She's good. She misses you."

Kate bit down on her lower lip and lowered her head a little.

Rick stretched out his hand and tilted up her chin with his index finger. "It's not your fault."

"I know, but... It is my fault somehow. She can't possibly understand why I am studying across the country."

"No, she doesn't. Not really, but it's not your fault. You were studying here long before you met us."

She sighed. "I know. Maybe I could switch to a university in New York? I can study criminal law at any university."

"No."

"No?"

He shook his head. "I won't let you throw away your career Kate. Stanford is an amazing university, one of the best, and you deserve to be studying here. You deserve to be a Stanford lawyer. I don't want you to throw away your dream just because we want you back in NYC. We can visit you over here. Alexis only starts school in summer."

"Rick, she's in pre-school."

"So? She is smarter than all the other kids. It won't do her any harm if she misses a couple days of school while visiting you. We can also visit you on the weekends."

"That's way too expensive and too stressful for a kid."

"She loves flying. She wouldn't mind it at all."

Kate sighed. "We will figure something out. How about we call her later? I bet she would be thrilled to have both of us calling."

"Yeah, I'm sure she would. And we can ask her if she would like to come and visit you."

Kate nodded. "Fine."

Rick smiled and leaned across the table to press a soft kiss to her lips. "How are your parents by the way?"

"They're good. Mom has a rather big case running."

"Sounds interesting."

"It's about a freaking dumpster."

"A dumpster?" Rick asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, that's what I probably looked like when she told me. She doesn't usually do cases like that. No, scratch that, it's the first time she does. She is usually a lot into helping people that can't afford a good lawyer, pro-bono cases and the like, you know?"

Rick nodded.

"I don't know why she is handling the case. Nobody knows. She probably doesn't know herself. I would be a friend asked her to help. Dad told me they want to make the two of them the new partners. It would be Enderson, Broom and Beckett then."

"That's great news. Are you thinking about working for them as well?"

"I'm considering it, yeah. I've known Jackson Enderson and Michael Broom for a long time, my parents have always worked for them. They met at the office and fell in love, it took them a couple of years to realize that, though."

"To realize what?"

"That they were in love," Kate explained with a smile. "Once they were together my dad proposed after a year and they got married one and a half years later, on May twelfth, nineteen-seventy-three. Six years later they had me."

"They've been married for nearly thirty years. Wow."

"And they're still happy and so in love. I hope I'll have that, too, one day."

"Yeah, me too," he said and looked deeply into her eyes.

They looked into each other's eyes until they were disturbed by the waitress bringing their food.

Once the waitress had left they looked into each other's eyes again. Without looking down on their plates they each grabbed some french fries and ate them.

"You have so beautiful eyes," Rick mumbled.

Kate smiled sheepishly and bit down on her lip. She lowered her head a little, breaking their eye contact. She picked up her burger and waited for Rick to do the same before she took a bite.

"Oh my! They're delicious!" Rick said.

"Mmhh, they are," Kate replied after swallowing her piece of burger.

"What do you want to do now?" Rick asked when they left the restaurant at about 6:20pm.

"Good question? We could go over to my dorm and I could get rid of this bag. It's not too cold, maybe we could walk around a bit?"

"Sounds good to me. Let's go," Rick said and grabbed her hand. "And we can call Alexis later."

"Yes. I can't wait to do that. Oh! I just had an idea."

"Care to share your idea with the class?"

She smiled. "Lex likes my mom, doesn't she?"

Rick grinned. "She adores your mother, Kate."

"Good. Maybe I'll give her a call later, too, and ask her if she has time to take Alexis to the zoo? She could meet your mom, too, that way?"

"Sounds good to me."

"But?" she asked.

"I want you there when we introduce our parents to each other."

Kate yawned. "And here I am, thinking I could hide from that event."

He laughed and leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips. "Sorry."

"Yeah sure. Fine, we should introduce them to each other soon. Maybe I could come down for the weekend in a couple of weeks? I have a couple of days off between some exams in about three weeks."

"Perfect, but don't you need to study?"

"It will be fine. I'll study on the plane."

"You sure?"

"Yes," she said and kissed him.

"Awesome!" he said and wrapped her up in a hug, swirling her around.

"Put me down again," Kate whined.

He just grinned at her and tightened his grip on her.

"You want to carry me? Fine," she replied and wrapped her legs around his waist.

He swallowed hard at the feeling of having her legs wrapped around his waist. It felt good. Very good. "I'll carry you to wherever you want to go to."

She smiled down at him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.

"Kate?!"

Kate froze in shock. "Lemme down," she whispered into his ear and he put her down gently. She turned around. "Josh, hi," she said with a small smile.

"Who is this?" Josh asked in a rather demanding voice and pointed at Rick.

"That's Rick, my boyfriend."

"Really? I thought you only wanted a break from our relationship. I didn't know you were already fucking somebody else!"

Kate rolled with her eyes and felt Rick tense behind her. She grabbed his hand and caressed his knuckles gently, signaling him to stay calm. "Why do you even care? I told you we were over. And that was half a year ago."

"So? And that makes it okay to fuck somebody else? I love you, Kate!"

"But I don't love you, Josh. I never did."

"Yes, you do! You don't sleep with somebody unless you love him!"

"Maybe in your world, Josh, my world is a little different. That's why I broke up with you. We are just too different." She turned to Rick. "Let's go," she told him and was already making her way around the corner with him when Josh caught up with them.

"You're a bitch, do you know that? A fucking bitch!"

"How dare you?" Rick growled. "You're not calling her a bitch."

"Shut up! I wasn't talking to you!"

"But I am talking to you now. She broke up with you months ago, just suck it up."

"Rick, come on," Kate said and turned to continue walking down the street.

"You have no right to tell me to suck it up when you're fucking my girl, bastard!"

"She's not your girl. She isn't a thing that you can own. Leave us alone," Rick growled again and walked down the street with Kate, his arm wrapped around her waist protectively.

"Who was that? Ex-boyfriend, I assume?" Rick asked once they were around the next corner and Josh wasn't following them anymore.

Kate sighed. "Yeah. Josh Davidson. He's studying to become a cardiac surgeon. I've met him about two years ago. We've been a couple for one and a half years and I broke up with him half a year ago. Well, in November to be exactly. We hadn't been working out. He just wouldn't give me any space at all."

"You met me in December... "

Kate nodded. "And I'm glad I did. Josh still isn't over our break up. He's been calling me ever since, sending texts and emails."

"Have you told him to stop?"

"Yeah, a couple of times. It got less and less. He tries to talk to me at the campus whenever we see each other, tells every boy near me that I'm his although I'm not anymore. I'm yours now."

"I don't own you Kate."

"You know what I mean. Anyway, he invited me for dinner a couple of days ago to talk about us and I told him no. He wouldn't understand and got angry. I ended the call and hadn't heard from him since."

"I wouldn't let you go without a fight either."

"Good thing I'm not planning on breaking up with you then," she teased and leaned up to her toes to kiss him.

"Yeah," he mumbled into the kiss and deepened it.

Kate moaned softly and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Rick smiled and kept kissing her passionately.

They broke apart panting a couple of minutes later.

"Wow," Kate mumbled, touching her swollen lips with her index finger.

"We're pretty good at making out, aren't we?" he asked cockily.

"Mmhh, we are. How about we go to my dorm and I can put my bag away?"

"Yeah. Let's try to reach your dorm," he teased.

"We can get a cab, too, of you like?"

"No, walking is fine with me. It's only ten minutes. Plus the making out sessions."

"You're ridiculous, do you know that?"

"So I've been told."

She laughed and shook her head softly. "Okay, Mr Castle. Let's go."

Ten minutes and a couple of kisses later they'd reached the dorm. They walked up to her room and stepped inside.

"So this is where you live?"

"Yeah. It's not that big, I know, but it's fine."

"I like it."

"Do you?"

"Yes I do," he said and pulled her in for a kiss.

The door swung open and a young student walked into the room. "Oh god, I'm sorry, I didn't want to disturb."

"Nonsense. You aren't disturbing anything. We only just arrived a couple of seconds ago. Clarissa, please meet my boyfriend Rick. Rick, this is Clarissa, my roommate."

Rick shook hands with her. "It's nice to meet you Clarissa."

"Right back at ya. I haven't seen ya around here. What are you studying?"

"Oh, I'm not studying here. I'm just surprise visiting Kate."

"Oh, what do you do for a living then? Lawyer?"

"No, um... Actually I'm a writer. I write books."

Clarissa let out a low whistle. She looked at Kate and her eyes landed on a book that was lying on Kate's bed. Her eyes went wide. "Oh my god! You're Richard Castle!"

Kate looked at her roommate in shock. "Keep your voice down, I don't need half of the dorm knowing I'm dating Rick Castle."

"Sorry. I'm just, oh my god! Isn't he like your favorite author? And you're really dating him? Oh my god!"

"Yeah, yeah we're really dating. Though I'm the lucky one to have her," Rick said. "You don't mind not telling anybody, do you?"

"No, of course not."

"Thanks," Kate said and attempted to turn around.

"So? I'm your favorite author?" Rick asked.

"Well I... No?"

"But you read my books. Or at least one of them."

"I like the genre."

"The genre, yeah sure."

"I'm also reading Patterson's books, Carnell's and King's. Do you see me dating them?"

"No, they are way too old for you?"

"Are they? You're also eight years older than me, Castle."

"But they could be your father!"

Kate chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna date them. Now let me grab another coat and we can leave, okay?"

"Okay."

Clarissa smiled at the couple. "I'm gonna shower and go out after that. Have a nice evening you two," she said and made her way over to the bathroom.

"See ya," Kate replied before her roommate disappeared into the bathroom. She saw her boyfriend sitting on her bed deep in thought. "Rick?"

He showed no reaction.

"Hey, Rick?"

Still no reaction.

"Castle!"

He looked up at her. "Did you say something?"

"Yeah, your name. You alright?"

"Yeah, I... It's nothing."

Kate tilted her head and looked at him sternly.

He shrugged. "It's just, I'm only here for the weekend and I missed you a lot... I don't want to let you go again."

She smiled and sat down on the bed next to him. "So you where thinking?"

"Maybe you... Uh, you could come and stay with me for the weekend?"

"Oh... "

"I'm sorry, it's stupid," he said and looked at his feet.

"No! No, it's not. It's cute, actually. Let me pack a bag, okay?"

He looked at her with big eyes. "Yes?"

"Yes, Rick. Gimme a couple of minutes," she replied, pressed a sweet kiss to his lips and stood up.

Nearly an hour later they stood in his hotel room. Their cab ride had taken an awful long time due to heavy traffic and a car accident.

"So, uh, you want to sleep in the bed? I'll take the couch," Rick said and pointed to the closed bedroom door.

"Oh... I thought... Okay," Kate mumbled and looked from Rick to the closed door and back.

"You thought?"

"Well um... I thought we could um... Share, you know?"

"I thought maybe you wouldn't want that so I just assumed I would take the couch... "

"If you don't want to sleep in the same bed than me it's... "

"No! No, I want it. I just wasn't sure of you were okay with it. So, let's share the bed then?"

She nodded and leaned up to kiss him softly. "Are your things in there?"

"Yes. I only brought my suitcases upstairs and left to surprise you."

"How about we unpack then? If it's alright when I put my stuff into the closet as well. It's not much anyway."

"It's not a problem. Come on," he said and together they walked into the master bedroom.

"Wow! Rick! This bedroom... Wow!" Kate dropped down on the bed and sank into the soft mattress.

"Is the bed comfortable? Wouldn't want you to sleep uncomfortable."

"It's great. Come on," she said and stuck out her hand to him. Once he grabbed her hand she pulled him down next to her.

He wrapped his arm around her immediately and pulled her close. "Mmhh, this bed is comfortable. And cuddling with you makes it even more comfortable."

She smiled and pressed a kiss to his lips. She rested her head on his chest and breathed in his scent. "I'm glad you're here. How much work do you have to do tomorrow?"

"I'm not exactly sure. I'll have to ask Gina."

"Who's Gina?"

"My publisher. The one that made me go on this book promotion tour."

"Where you ever... "

"No. No, not really. We kissed once and had sex, but it was a mistake. I was in a rabbit hole after a visit of Alexis' mother and I was searching for some comfort. I used her and I'm not proud of it. I never did that again and I'm not planning on doing it again ever."

"So you never were a couple?"

"No. Not in my opinion. You've got nothing to worry about, Kate. I'm not interested in her, only you."

"I know. I trust you. We wouldn't be having this relationship if I didn't." She sighed and rolled herself on top of him. "I trust you," she repeated and kissed him.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her back. "You want to be on top then?" he asked with a grin.

"Eager to find out, huh?"

"Maybe?"

She shook her head smiling and suddenly found herself on her back with him on top of her.

"How do you like that?" he mumbled against her lips when he kissed her.

"I like it," she replied and kissed him. Their kiss grew more and more heated until they were making out on the bed, their hands exploring each other's body.

Rick rolled off of her panting. "We should really stop."

"Why?"

"I... If we keep going I won't be able to stop myself Kate."

"So?"

"It's too early."

She looked at him with a sad expression on her face. "Don't you... Don't you want to have sex with me?"

"No. I want to... I just... I don't want our first time to be in a hotel bed."

"Rick... "

"No, I don't want that. I lo... I like you a lot. I want our first time to be romantic, special. I want both of us to be comfortable with it, to want it. It's not something you can take back easily."

She nodded and sat up. "I'm fine with that. I guess it would be a bit early, too. I never had a boyfriend that cared about me that much." She took his hand in hers. "I want it to be special, too."

He nodded. "Good, but I have to say it's sad that none of your former boyfriends cared about you that much. It's a pity. I can't believe that."

Kate shrugged. "I don't care, I have you now and you care about me as much as I care about you."

"Yeah. I'm glad we have each other."

"So, um... How about we call Alexis? It is close to eleven o'clock. Are you sure she's still up?"

"Right, gimme a second," he said and got up to grab his mobile phone.

Kate settled against the heavy pillows she had stuffed against the headboard and waited for Rick to joint her again. Once he was seated next to her he called home and waited for Alexis or his mother to pick up.

"Home of the Castles, this is Alexis. Hello?"

"Hey pumpkin."

"Daddy!" the little girl shrieked.

"How are you pumpkin?"

"I'm good daddy. How are you?"

"I'm good, too. Excellent actually. Here's somebody who wants to speak to you," he told his daughter and gave his mobile phone to Kate.

"Hey little one. How are you?"

"Katie! Is that you? I'm fine."

"Yeah, it's me. Your daddy came to visit me. He told me you miss me. I miss you, too."

"You do?"

"Yes I do. I miss you a lot."

"I miss you, Katie. When you visit again?"

"In about three weeks. I promise, okay? And we will take you to whatever you want to do. How about the zoo?"

"We?"

"Yeah, your daddy, your grams, my mom and dad and me."

"Really?"

"Really. How does that sound?"

"Goodie!"

Kate smiled. "That's good. You just think about what you want to do and we will do it."

"And Jonna is coming, too?"

"Yes. I bet she can't wait to see you again. She likes you a lot."

"I like her. She's nice."

"Yes, she is."

"She bring cookies?"

Kate smiled at the question. "Yes, I'm sure she can make some cookies for you. And cupcakes? She makes fantastic cupcakes."

"Yes!"

Rick smiled at his girlfriend and gently squeezed her hand. He could listen to their conversation easily as Kate had leaned in close so that she could rest her head on his shoulder and was able to hold the mobile phone between them. "Do I get cookies and cupcakes as well?" he asked.

"Hey Lexi, your daddy is asking if he can have some cookies and cupcakes as well."

"No! They my!"

"Well, you heard her. Sorry Castle, you ain't getting any cupcakes."

He pouted.

"He's pouting now. What shall I do?"

"Oh! Tickle!"

"Good advice. I'll try that later. What are you and your grams doing?"

"Gram helps me get ready for bed. She reads me a story."

"Oh, I always loved bedtime stories. My parents would make up the greatest stories."

"Daddy too."

"Yeah, I guess. Does he do all the different voices?"

"Yes!"

"That's good."

"You read me one?"

"Yeah, I can try and read you a bedtime story when I come over. If your daddy is okay with it."

"Oh, daddy, please!" she says although she's not sure he can hear her.

"Yeah, fine with me," Rick sighed and Alexis cheered.

"Okay. It's getting late. Do you want to say good night to your daddy?"

"Yes. Goodnight, Katie."

"Goodnight, little one." Kate passed the mobile phone back to Rick who also told his daughter goodnight. Once he had ended the call and put the mobile phone down on the nightstand he wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. "So, and you want to read my little girl a bedtime story?"

"Yes."

"That requires a sleep over at mine."

"Mmhh, I guess."

"You'd have to sleep in my bed."

"I thought you had a guest room," she teased.

He looked at her with wide eyes.

"Calm down, I'm only teasing. Of course I'll sleep in your bed with you."

"How long will you be able to stay in New York?"

"A week. Maybe eight days."

"Perfect. I will take you out on at least one date then."

Kate smiled. "I think I would like that."

He smiled at her and kissed her deeply. He was sure, he was falling in love with her, head over heels. And he liked it.

A/N: All mistakes are mine.

How did you like the chapter despite some bad language that I used? Shall I bring up some jealous Gina in the next chapter?

Gimme some feedback :)

xx OneWriterGirlOfficial