On Hold by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of events as the end of Season 2 was played out. Kate takes the initiative to tell Castle what she wants, is she too late? NO Doctor MB, but some old characters, owned by both Marlowe and me will pay a visit in this story. This will have ANGST, but I think you will like the end result. I liked the TV Show, but several areas bothered me, treating Kate as the victim, she said NO, so the time limit doesn't matter, no guy is going to put his life on hold, waiting for and if the one he is interested in comes around. This will examine the summers of each and then well, read and find out.

I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 11

Previously

Kate giggles on the other end of the phone, "Actually Rick, I took the rest of the week off, and don't worry about being presumptuous, BUT we, well mostly I do need to talk first. I'll see you in a few hours?"

"I should be there by 11:00 AM, and Kate,"

"Yeah Rick?"

"I've missed you so very much."

Monday 9:10 AM Memorial Day

Hamptons Town Center Café

Rick secures the suitcase he had packed from his store of clothes at the Beach House the previous evening and climbs into his Escalade. Kate hasn't seen this car yet, but what the heck, it was time to let her know his secrets as well, especially since she had barred her soul to him. The traffic was extremely light for Monday, then he remembered, it is a holiday and most people are already where they want to be by now, and he would be soon.

On a whim, he stops at a coffee shop and buys her favorite coffee and bear claw, adding a single rose to it, from the display by the register, he's back in the car and at Kate's building I no time. Too excited to wait for the elevator he takes the stairs two at a time, till he reaches her floor, then treads quietly to her apartment. He's the one who is surprised when the door flies open and Kate Beckett jumps into his arms and kisses him with all of her might.

"Rick, I'm so glad to see you, I've been pacing in front of the window forever, then you pulled up in a car that I didn't know, but I saw your shoulders and I knew it was you, God I've missed you.

I want to make up for all of the stupid and cruel things I've done and I know that Gina is going to give me the fight of my life, but I just want to say this now, before I lose my courage, Rick, if she makes you happy just tell me, and I will be out of your life.

I finally realized just what love means, and I want you to know I love you Richard Castle, there I said it, I Love YOU!" Kate is almost completely out of breath by the time she finishes her speech, but still has her arms around his neck, legs wrapped around him and staring deeply into those blue eyes that melt her soul.

Rick gently steps to the counter, with Kate locked on to him, where he deposits the coffees that barely survived the onslaught along with the bear claws and the one single rose that Kate has yet to see. Now that his hands are free, he grabs her hips and drives the front door shut, and returns her kiss, even deeper, demanding control, she grants and the two conduct a make out session to rival a college couple.

"Wow, Kate can I leave and come back and get that same welcome? I didn't miss you saying the I love you, but I have to tell you," Kate's face begins to fall in heartbreak, "I don't love you, I'm totally, undeniably, completely IN LOVE with you Kate Beckett, I have been for almost a year."

Kate's tears fall from her eyes without shame, or guilt as she kisses Rick again and again.

"God please never do that to me again, please, I thought I had lost you and I know I told you how brave I'd be, but I lied. I don't know what I would do without you with me Rick."

She then spots the single red rose, in the vase, and the two coffee's and her bear claw, just a few days ago she remembered for the first time in two years Rick showed up timidly, with only his coffee, after he had said it would be his last case. The tears fall harder now as she speaks,

"You stopped for coffee and bear claw, oh and I love the rose, Thank You Rick, I really love what they all symbolize. It took me a while but when you showed up without my coffee, it was like not saying I love you, I took those for granted before but never again, if you give me the chance."

"Kate, we have a lot to talk about, but believe me, you haven't lost me to anyone, especially Gina."

"What? I mean she told me she loved you and I was in for the fight of my life after I screwed up coming up there and hurting you again, what happened?"

"Well in the first place she DOES love me, and I love her, BUT I am not in love with her, that my sweet lady is you, and only you.

She's in love with her first love from years ago, who came back into the picture, and they are talking now at the beach house. That's one reason I wanted to go to the mountains, and also because it would be a first, the first time you and I were away together without memories of someone else being there before us. You deserve to be first in my life Kate, in so many ways."

Kate finally unwraps her legs from Rick and stands but doesn't move her arms from around his neck. She begins a deep and passionate kiss, that could only send one message, and it is being received loud and clear by Rick.

"Kate, if you keep that up, I won't be able to control myself, and I know you want to wait, so i*"

Her mouth covers his and she slides her hand down gently taking his and guides them to her bedroom.

"Rick, this is someplace you may think others have been, but Babe, they weren't. I could only pretend so much that they were you, but this, our first time I want it here in my bed where I can remember it for the rest of my life."

"Are you sure, I mean I know we aren't back to us, or the new version of us whatever that's going to be, but I want you to be all the way committed. My heart can't take another break, I literally was hanging on by a thread.

"Babe, this is the new version of us, I am your woman, you are my man, free to make love, to kiss, to hold hands, to scream it front the rooftops I'm Richard Castle's Conquest forever," she half laughs half cries

He doesn't need anymore assurance and it is almost 4 hours late that they finally check into the cabin resort he had booked.

"We'd almost given up on you Mr. Rogers, glad you could make it," drawls the clerk behind the desk. "We have your suite just as you asked Sir, please let us know if you need anything further."

"Thank You" Rick reply's as he shakes the man's hand palming a large bill as usual for his gratuity.

The Cabin, well it looks like a cabin on the outside, but inside it is beautiful with a kitchen, living space with a fireplace, two bedrooms, each with their own bath suites, and a very comfortable sitting area just inside a screened back porch, that could also have the widows lowered and the Air Conditioner turned on if needed.

Kate had gravitated towards the back porch, and opened the slider going out, as Rick came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, as she leaned back against him.

"Thanks Rick, I know you put a lot of thought into the timing as well as the where we talk, do you mind if you just hold me for a few minutes. I'd like to say somethings, and I need to feel your touch, I'm so afraid I will lose it, and I have to hang on to it for every minute I can, please?"

"Babe, I'm right here, while you are thinking let me say this, I was blown away at how open and brutally honest you were in your spreadsheet, and your letter. I know I was speechless, and Gina became a big supporter of yours, I know that sounds weird, but all she truly wanted was for us to be happy."

"Well Rick, she loves you for sure, she told me that if I ever hurt you again, badge or no badge bad things would happen to me, and she was serious, I was afraid that she was going to take the love you offered to me, I foolishly tossed away, and cling to it like I am going to do if you offer it again after we talk."

"Rick, can I ask you to do me a favor please?"

"Sure, Kate what do you need?"

"Please look at me, when I am talking, look into my eyes, my heart, my soul like you always can do, and hear me when I say, I am more than sorry could ever express for the hurt I put not only you, but Alexis, Martha and all those who love you, including Gina.

If I break down, please just hold me till I recover, and Babe, remember that I did this to purge my soul of all lies and deceit that has stood between us, like you said, no more subtext, just straight talk."

For the next three hours Kate goes through her spreadsheet detailing every occurrence of mis truth, deceit, and outright lie to Rick. As she suspected the lies most recently about Tom caused him the most pain and brought her to tears as she saw this good man reduced to a shell, barely holding on to normalcy, and forever trying to hide by humor. Just as she finished the lie about having to work, Rick shed a tear.

She explained why, and the truth was it started off as a physical attraction, since she was afraid she would never be good enough for him, a millionaire playboy writer, he broke down completely. It was Kate who held him in her arms, comforting, and kissing his temples, whispering she would never leave him if he would have her. She finally finished the items on her list, and quietly asked,

"Babe, did I forget anything? How can I make this up to you?"

Rick looked up at her through pools of tears in his eyes, and asked,

"Have I ever made you feel like you were not good enough for me, Kate? If I have PLEASE forgive me, God forgive me, because you were my Angel sent down from heaven to rescue not only my writing career, but me, as a person. I have to know the truth Kate, Did I?"

"Rick, you have treated me like a princess, even when I was the wicked witch, you still tried to make those glass slippers fit on my feet. I have never felt more love, and safer anywhere than in your arms."

"When we made love at your apartment, was that to confirm to me or you that I loved you, I'm sorry if that sounds crass, but you said you wanted the first time to be in a place you can remember the rest of your life. You really expected me to go to Gina, didn't you Kate?

"What no, uh, you, Hell Yes I expected you to go to her Rick, she's beautiful she has the physical traits it would take a plastic surgeon to give me, and I know how much you love signing chests, well good luck with this one.

I wanted to make love to you just once, if that's the only chance I ever got, I could dream about the one time that a man truly took me to heaven, I didn't realize that you bought an all day pass for that trip," she smiles through watery eyes.

Rick walks to her chair where she has sat with her fit on the ottoman, looks down at her, and takes her hand.

"That time was for you, this time is for me, well us if you will have me Kate. I told a lie, I do love you as well as being in love with you, and the all-day pass is still good for a little while longer" he smiles.

Rick, are we good, I mean I know it will take a while but I promise you, I will do whatever it takes to earn your trust, I know I have your love, but I want you to be able to trust me as well. Is there ANYTHING we need to talk about?

"Well, now that you mention it, there is one thing,"

"OK" she says with fear in her voice, "just tell me Babe I will make it right I swear."

"Nothing to make right, I love when you call me Babe, and you were right, I had no idea, but I would like to keep finding out for years to come. Let's start at your pace, I know we're in love but don't do anything to hurt your career."

"Rick, you are my new career, Maddie was right, I want to stay home and make little Castle Babies, can we do that?"

Rick smiles and carries her to the suite, no words were needed, his life was finally purposeful, and he was on hold no longer. His Kiss tells Kate the answer she has been hoping for, and finally she is secure with her man, life is truly good.

A/N This is the end of the story, Thanks to all who read, favorited, reviewed and special thanks to Swordwriter who suggested the prompt. I hope to see you all on a future story.