Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's note: This finishes out this story. I hope you enjoyed it. There will probably be a sequel of some sort but nothing definitive yet.
Putting thoughts of Lanie's comments about the paperwork that was handed back to him aside, Castle sits down and starts to read. The letter is shorter then the other ones but almost seems more intimate. No more major revelations but more like the reliving of moments in time. The echoing of thoughts he had just put in to words himself was oddly comforting to read. They seem to finally be getting back into sync with each other. Thinking back to a line he wrote in his own letter to her, "we are in different places right now or are we?", a smile crept onto his face. If her head was in the game, she should catch the full meaning of it and know this was no coincidence as their are no coincidences in life. Everything always has a story and this would be the start of a new chapter for them.
Coming back to her desk after a hard workout to clear her head, Kate notices the cup of coffee and the letter underneath. Sitting down in the now empty bullpen, she starts to read. Noticing it is shorter than the previous letters yet not lacking the substance of a typical Castle letter, it seems almost more personal, intimate really. The similarities of the letters were not lost on her and she found it oddly comforting to read. Walls were coming down, the onion was being peeled back and they seem finally be getting back into sync with each other. Scanning the letter again a statement seemed to be sticking out to her, "we are in different places right now or are we? " which echoed a similar statement she made to him in her letter. Kate let her mind wander for a moment to the gravity of the statement and kept coming back to the thought of "Could he be back in the city?" This could not be a coincidence as a good friend once reminded her that there are no coincidences. Leaning back in her chair and glancing at the empty chair beside her desk, she smiles and pulls out her phone taking a chance on what her heart was telling her, texting "Remy's open all night. They've got those burgers and those shakes. You game?"
At the same time Kate is texting Castle. he pulls out his phone and decides to take a chance on what his own heart was telling him, texting "Remy's open all night. They've got those burgers and those shakes. You game?"
"Sure, why not. I'm in but what are we playing for?" Kate texts back to Castle with a smirk on her face.
"Pride or clothing.." Castle responds, laughing on his way out the door and remembering the one on one poker game what seems like a life time ago.
"I think I have a bag of gummie bears." Kate responds, laughing on her way out the door remembering the one on one poker game she had with Castle.
Seeing Remy's diner brought back memories to Kate. She had forgotten how much this place meant to her and the history it represented. The sight of their first unofficial date and the place where her and Castle would go after rapping up the many cases they worked on together. The casual atmosphere seemed to bring a level of familiarity and comfort to what was already a very complicated relationship. No demands, no expectations were ever given except the enjoyment of the burgers and shakes and the splitting of the occasional batch of fries between two close friends. It was their "place" if you will and a place where hopefully a new chapter of their relationship would begin.
Walking into the diner, Kate's eyes immediately scan over to the booth shared by her and Castle over time and she hears her breath catch slightly. She sees Castle already sitting there looking much the same as he did at the beginning of the summer but something seems slightly different. As she catches his eyes on her way over to the booth, she can't help but hold his gaze. She missed the smile that shows in his eyes and the hint of trouble that seems to follow him. More than anything, she missed him and whatever the future held for them she knew they could figure out together.
Castle made it to the diner first and was relieved to find "their" booth open. As he made his way to the booth, he took in the atmosphere and couldn't help but smile. This was their place. The site of their first unofficial date, the many nights decompressing after a long case and just being with each other as friends. No demands, no expectations, nothing but the enjoyment of each other without the prying eyes of the precinct. His breath catches ever so slightly as he looks up and sees Kate walk in the door. Her hair was longer but she seemed to have a spring in her step now. Catching her eyes, he holds her gaze and sees the hurt but also a hint of contentment and happiness. He missed her and knew in that moment that whatever the future held for them that they would figure it out together.
"Hi" they both say with some hesitancy.
"I ordered a strawberry shake for you and your usual burger. Hope you don't mind but I took a chance that your tastes haven't changed that much over the summer." Castle hoped he wasn't being too forward and relaxed some when he saw the smile on her face.
"Thanks. Taking quite a risk ordering for me though. What, you think you know me or something?"
"What can I say, I am a risk taker." As he pulls a deck of cards out of his pocket and puts them on the table, " I brought the cards if you are game. Figure no holds bar game. Man on women, wait that didn't come out exactly as I wanted. "
Chucking despite herself, "Well I don't take too many risks but may be able to make an exception, just this once." Setting the bag of gummie bears on the table. "Oh I'm game. Be prepared to get your ass kicked or will you like that too much?" raising her eyebrows at him.
Not backing down from a challenge and enjoying the banter, "Oh, you're gonna hurt or will you like that too much yourself?" Wiggling his eyebrows at her in amusement.
Both laughing at this point and thinking an outside observer would think they were crazy but this was them.
Looking deep into Kate's eyes, Castle ventures to say " I missed this. I missed you. Thanks for writing me back and taking that step with me. "
Looking back into Castle's eyes, Kate replied "Me too. I missed you as well. I wasn't going to back down from a challenge and that step was the first of many I'm sure."
"Why don't we start with some good food, some good company and see where it goes from there?"
"So stop stalling and deal Castle unless you are afraid to go all in?" daring him with a smirk on her face and a glint in her eyes.
"Oh, I'm never afraid of a little action. All in." daring her right back and their faces just inches from each other.
Their food now at their table, Castle starts to deal the cards and they settle in for what will probably be the start of many games.