See, I told you I would update much faster than last time. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, as always. I'm always very touched when I log into my e-mail account and find any number of reviews waiting. Just the idea that people are enjoying what I write is fabulous. It means so much that all of my wonderful reviewers take time out of their obviously busy days to tell me that they're enjoying this story, it makes me feel special. So now that I'm done babbling, go forth and read.


She awoke to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore just a little ways away, rays of sun penetrating the curtains and disturbing her slumber. Pulling the comforter farther above her head in an attempt to block out the strings of thought telling her to get up. After a few moments of fighting it she decided she was wasting too much energy on something that she knew was only in vain. Contrary to popular belief, she was not a morning person. Sure, she covered up her yawns and displeasure when she had a job to do but when she had the chance to sleep in she reveled in it. Vacations were one of those times, and spending a nice weekend in a gorgeous house in the Hamptons was definitely classified as vacation. Pulling the covers from her body she shed her pajamas and crawled into the shower, warm water cascading down her body. Minutes later, when she hopped out of the loving embrace of the water, she got dressed, paying a little more attention to her hair and make-up than usual, and ventured downstairs.

The scent of her favorite caffeinated beverage hit her nostrils as she reached the bottom of the stairs; she perked up immediately and headed for the kitchen. Alexis and Rick were sitting on the countertop talking animatedly about how to get a dead body inside of a vending machine. She stopped for a moment and leant against the doorframe, just enjoying the sight of this normal father-daughter conversation. Well, normal for them anyway. She had to say, it was adorable.

"I guess this means you've started your next book then." She interrupted after a minute, seeing both the girl and the grown man's faces break out into identical grins as they turned to look at her made her face mimic theirs.

"Of course I have," Rick was the one to reply, "you were standing right here yesterday when I told Alexis how the inspiration was just flowing in."

"You know what else I'd like to be flowing?" She asked with a quirk of her lips and a raise of the eyebrow.

"What?" He had raised his eyebrow to match hers.

"Coffee." He immediately jumped to complete the new task, getting a mug out of the cupboard and pouring the dark liquid in the cup in record time. As he did this she moved to stand beside Alexis, offering the girl a large smile as she remembered their outing for today. Alexis grinned back and after a few moments got up, grabbed her orange juice and began to exit the room.

"I'm going to go get changed, then we can leave. Okay, Kate?" The teenager looked both hopeful and excited and her heart reacted accordingly, immediately warming.

"Sounds great, Alexis." Both women smiled and then the younger one was gone, leaving only a flash of red and a giggle in her wake.

"She's really something, Rick." Seeing that they were alone now she let the sound of his first name slip between her lips. He turned around, coffee cup in hand, and kissed her softly. Taken aback it took her a moment to understand what was happening but as soon as her mind comprehended her body responded accordingly, wrapping her arms around his neck to hold him close. Eventually he broke away; handing her the mug of steaming coffee while his forehead came to rest against hers.

"Kate," she just loved the way her name sounded when he said it, "you have no idea how happy you just made me."

"It was only a kiss, and I don't know about you but I've certainly had better ones." She had an idea of what he was talking about but couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him just a little bit. He smirked at her, leaning in for one last peck before pulling away completely.

"I'm going to ignore that one," he narrowed his eyes at her before a warm smile was plastered onto his face, "but seriously, it means the world to me that you like Alexis. Now, where are you going with my daughter today, off to spend all my money already? I'm beginning to think you only agreed to this relationship for my credit card."

"That's not the only reason," she caressed his forearm with her hand, "you have a nice ass too." Taking her hand off his arm she smacked his butt and walked out of the room.

"Good morning to you too!" She heard him yell from the kitchen while a large grin spread across her face.

She was sitting alone in a large tub full of mud and she had to admit, it was a little uncomfortable. Not that she wasn't enjoying herself, she loved spending time with Rick's family, but she was definitely not used to this. She was a detective, a detective of the NYPD. Nothing about her screamed spa. She wasn't accustomed to being doted on, or being taken care of, or just relaxing in general. Sure, when she was at home she'd sometimes indulge in bubble baths and a good book to relax but it didn't happen often. She wasn't used to this lifestyle, she was a tough as nails kind of girl and had always thought going to the spa was what the trophy wives of rich men did because they had nothing better to do. Every time an attendant came in to check if she needed anything, which was becoming a bit annoying, she'd look up to see if it were Alexis or Martha. She felt better when they were around, it was much more comfortable for her. The door clicked open and her head shot upwards, and this time it was none other than the Broadway diva herself.

"Hello, darling. I'm sorry I kept you waiting but that massage was just so wonderful, and the masseur wasn't so bad either." With a wink the older woman approached the tub, shucked her robe and climbed in.

"No problem, Martha. Where's Alexis?" She'd really enjoyed spending the day just talking to Alexis; she really was a wonderful girl. The teenager was like her father in so many ways that it was kind of scary but she also had qualities that definitely did not come from the great mystery writer.

"Oh, Alexis never liked mud bathes, thought they smelled weird. I hope you don't mind that it's only us."

"Not at all." She offered the woman a smile and closed her eyes; content to relax now that someone she knew was here with her.

They sat like that for a while, both in their own little worlds. She'd steal the occasional glance at Martha every once in a while but the older woman didn't seem to notice. Before she knew it her thoughts had strayed to Rick, they always did at some point. The way he'd looked at her this morning when she'd told him about how great Alexis was, she loved that look. And how he'd kissed her, oh, it just felt so good to be able to do that now. She could kiss Richard Castle. She could kiss Richard Castle because he loved her, and she loved him. She toyed with the idea of Rick being submerged in the mud with her, completely naked. Martha coughed and she was immediately alerted to the other presence in the room, the object of her thought's mother. The actress sitting in the bath with her didn't even know the two were dating and yet she was sitting here imagining what it would be like to have him here in the tub with her, all alone and bare of any clothing. She could feel her cheeks flushing and hoped Martha didn't notice.

"Detective," she opened her eyes and peered back at Martha, "can I ask you a question?"

"Only if you call me Kate."

"Kate," Martha seemed to be looking for the right words so she waited, "do you know why Richard is still shadowing you after two years?" Once the question was asked she immediately regretted saying yes, she could see where this was going. Anybody could see where this was going and given the unknown development in her and Rick's relationship over the last few days this conversation was going to be very awkward.

"Because he needs research for Nikki Heat." She decided to play dumb, prolong the inevitable.

"Oh come on, Kate. You're a smart woman, a detective no less. Richard is basing an entire series off of you and following you around all day, everyday, like a puppy that cannot be without his owner. What do you detect?"

"He's Castle, that's just what he does. He likes solving crimes, real ones. And I like having him there to solve them with me. We make a good team, but that's all we are, partners." She was quickly running out of excuses, Martha definitely had a point and if she were still in denial about her feelings towards Rick then this definitely would have opened her eyes.

"Kiddo," she didn't know why it felt so good when Martha called her that but for some reason her heart immediately melted, "I know you're not blind, I know you see it. And now it's a matter of acknowledging it. When you first met him you probably only saw him as an immature playboy, at times you still might see him as that, but in truth that's not who he is. He keeps that image up so that the people don't look for more, so they don't delve deep into the enigma that is Richard Castle, and by doing that he protects himself. But by now you've surely seen the other sides of him, who he actually is. He only shows the real him to people he really cares about. Darling, he cares deeply about you. I know that you've figured that out by now in some part of your brain, and I know that in your head you're denying that vehemently right now, but he truly cares. I'm not going to make you admit anything, or even acknowledge that any of what I just said is true, but let me ask you one more question. If he stopped following you, stopped seeing you everyday, stopped being there when you needed him, how would you feel?" Martha certainly knew how to drive home a speech. How would she feel? Unwanted, terrible, alone, foolish, like her heart had been ripped out and heartbroken were all possible choices. In fact, she was pretty sure the answer was all of the above. They sat there in silence for a while as she tried to reign in the effect that even the mention of his leaving her had.

"Broken," she was done lying, "I'd feel broken."

"He loves you, darling." Martha was rubbing her shoulder now, trying to soothe the confusion she thought her statement was causing. Instead, it just brought a small smile to her lips.

"I know," Martha seemed a little taken aback at how easily she seemed to admit to it, "I love him too."

"You need to tell him," Martha was still trying to ease her into this but she was just beginning to find the turn this afternoon was taking funny, if this talk had only come a few days earlier, "Richard is very persistent but he will give up sooner or later. And from what I've seen of Naked Heat he's already beginning to do so."

"I did." She couldn't help but let out a little laugh as Martha's face contorted into an expression of utter confusion.

"What?"

"I did tell him," she put her hands on each of Martha's arms, "We're dating."


Well, now somebody else knows. And it's Martha, the big-mouth diva. Can she keep a secret? So, this is the second to last chapter of the story. I'm sad this fic is coming to an end, but it's definitely time.

Review? If you read what's up at the top of this page then you know how it makes me feel.