Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the amazing reviews, as well as the follows and favorites. I truly can't believe how much response I have gotten from this story. I have also received some great tips and constructive feedback, as well. I will be looking to overhaul a few things after I have finished the posts to the story, so I can work on it all at once.

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. I will look to get this posted in it's entirety within the next week to 10 days. Its 18 chapters and an epilogue, so things should start picking up with the upload speeds, LOL. :)

Chapter Thirteen - Magic

The early morning sun began to seep through the room slowly, landing on the new lovers, who were already awake, enjoying the feel, the sensations. Words were few, but the feelings were intense, real. Castle was still, save for the gentle stroking sweep his hands were making across Kate's arm. His Kate. He smiled at the warm feeling that possessive statement gave to him. Kate's body was draped down the length of the writer. When she observed he was awake, too, she slowly moved her mouth to his chest, grazing the skin there with her lips, kissing him softly, reverently. They had brought each other to and over the brink of ecstasy over and again through the night, and the coming morning only served to intensify their feelings. It truly was a magical night.

Kate's kisses rose from his chest, up to this neck, which was sporting several love bites from their night together. She couldn't get enough of Rick, and truth be told, also judging from the number of love bites on her, Rick couldn't get enough of Kate, either.

"Good morning." The detective said softly as she reached the junction of Rick's neck and jaw.

"Morning, and yes, it is good. Amazing, in fact." Rick said drowsily, as a sensual grin slid onto his face. Reaching up as he stroked his arms up the naked flesh of her back, his hands took purchase on her arms, pulling her closer, joining their lips together. The kiss was intense, mouths opened to greet the other, taking pleasure of one tongue stroking the other, the pull of their lips deepening the kiss. After several moments, the kiss ended on its own.

"Mmmm…yes it is…amazing." Kate agreed, as her eyes slid open once again, her hands running casually through her lover's hair. Her lover. She reveled in the word, but in truth, it didn't do what he really was to her justice. He was her happiness, her joy, her…everything. She felt the warmth of his hand as it slid into her hair. Kate took the moment to draw him again into a small, almost chase, kiss.

Their eyes locking, smiles sealing their joint assessment of each other's take on their coupling. It had been perfect.

Kate sighed, as she curled her arm under her chin, resting it on the bend of her elbow, as she spoke. "You know, I was worried, what with how quickly we got together, that things might be awkward between us." She paused as he ran his thumb over her lips, cupping her cheek affectionately. "I'm so glad it's not."

"Well, it really wasn't all that quick, Kate." Rick supplied as he continued the limited exploration of her skin that he could reach, given her position and the sheet over their bodies. "I mean, we've been doing this dance for over three, nearly fours years, now. It was overdue, if you ask me."

Kate gave a gentle laugh, "Well, that's true, but I think that timing wise," She slid forward, edging just ever so close to his lips, but not touching. "It was just" a small kiss punctuated the pause, "perfect". The kiss took a deeper, more passionate tone, and Rick slid his hands beneath the sheet, sliding his hands down her shoulders, across the smooth planes of her back, and resting upon the gently sloping curve of her hips, cupping her rear as he stopped the journey.

The kiss once again ended on its own accord. Rick looked at her like a love starved puppy, as he spoke. "I have to hand it to ya, I really had no idea."

Kate smiled in satisfaction, the words from the end of their first case together coming easily to mind. She stroked his cheek in happiness, taking time to relish the feel of his morning stubble across her fingers. Despite their conjoined happiness, Kate pulled back a bit, once again resting her chin on her arm, and began, "We need to talk."

Rick stilled his motion, looking into her eyes as he replied, "Well, that doesn't sound good. It certainly doesn't match all that 'amazing' talk we just had. Is there cause for worry?"

Kate caught on to what he was implying, "No, no, not that. I just thought that, since we have just another day or so here before I have to head back to work…I just thought that we should talk about it." Her voice belied her calm expression, and soon her face matched her tone, as she rolled her lower lip under her teeth, awaiting his response.

Castle paused, then began his reply, "Well…since we've managed to quit fighting…this…" He paused, looking down, taking their naked form, intimate in every way, then continued, "I don't see why I wouldn't be back, right by your side, in the precinct." He ran his finger down the slope of her nose, resting on her lips, as she kissed the offered digit.

"Nice," she smiled and paused for just a moment, "I'm glad. I don't want to be without you there." She paused, allowing the giddy moment to ebb and flow for a bit, then continued, "There's one other thing, when we are at work…I don't want us to let on that we are together. If Gates gets wind of this, she can end our partnership…".

Rick looked down in thought as she spoke, and as she ended in a pause, he looked back up to her eyes. The love there he saw spoke volumes. She was invested, and protective of this burgeoning relationship. The joy in his heart spilled out through his eyes. "I agree. We want to stay together in the precinct, and I refuse to give THIS up, so it makes perfect sense." He paused for a moment, then asked, "What about family, Lanie and the boys? Do we share with them, or not?"

Kate thought for a second and then stated, "I think we'd have a hard time keeping it from your mother and Alexis. As for the boys and Lanie, it might be best to hold off, for now, at least. We work with them, so it would only make it difficult to keep it out of work, right?"

Rick smiled at her and answered, "See, I knew I loved you for a reason, you just so darn smart!" He said as he kissed her, hand, then took the time to clasp her hand, allowing her fingers to thread with his.

Rick let his smile relax a bit, as well, and began, "Well, since we are having constructive conversations, I have one too."

"Oh you do, do ya?" Kate teased, the fingers on the hand resting beneath her grazing his chest, popping slowly over his nipple. She loved the freedom they had now with each other.

"Yeah," Castle replied, "I want to state my intentions, here." Kate's hand stilled, she was on tenterhooks, awaiting his next words. Wasn't this all happening to soon? Too quickly? Why don't I feel really all that worried.

Rick looked deeply in her eyes again as he continued, "I don't want to scare you off, here, but I just want you to know…that it's my intention to not waste any more time waiting and worrying if it's the right time anymore. The bombing case taught me one thing, if nothing else…not to waste any time. So, here it is…I intend to move things along as quickly as we are both comfortable. That doesn't mean that we have to get married tomorrow, but I love you and I want you with me - I'm tired of being without you, and I don't see that ending anytime soon. So if you get to a point where you think we're moving too fast, say something, ok? "

Kate's lips slid into an unguarded, unthinking smile. In fact, it let the room. She could not keep him in suspense any longer. "You've got a deal, Rick. I love you, too. So, where do we go from here?"

Rick's smile matched her own, as he responded, "We spend the rest of the day in bed. Then day after tomorrow, we head back to the city, and go back to work Monday, as if nothing happened. We talk to our parents and Alexis, and let them know we're together. And then in the next few weeks, we start moving you into the loft. I want us together, and if you're ok with all that, I say we start as soon as possible."

Kate smiled and pushed an errant lock of hair off his forehead, then replied, "Rick, I just want to say that we have to face hardships together, if this is going to work. I also think that even though I move in, we keep my place for a while..not for a place to hide from you, but to help with keeping Gates from knowing, and also we could have it as a quiet place to get away sometimes from family, or if we just need quiet time to think. We have to agree that we don't run, we stick with each other. If something comes up that we can't face together, we get help. It doesn't have to be Dr. Burke, but someone that can help us find the answers, together."

Rick lifted their locked fingers up from his chest, drawing it to his lips to place a kiss on the back of her hand. "So, what do you say, Kate?"

Kate took a deep breath that ended in a sigh as her lips turned upwards into a relaxed smile. "The only thing I can say, Rick, is I'm in."

Rick was happy at her agreement, but at the back of his mind, a seed of concern over keeping her place took hold. But for now, he'd go with it and watch. After all, they just agreed to speak up if there was any concern. Keeping the place doesn't mean she's having second thoughts, after all, right?

Their faces both aglow with happiness, Rick let go of her fingers to hold onto her, as he rolled her over onto her back, lowering his lips to hers for a loving kiss to seal the agreement. "'In' is a good place to be. I love you, Kate."

Kate smiled timidly, "I love you too, Rick."

"And speaking of 'In', I have a few ideas of just how to do that. Right now." Rick suggested, moving upon her more firmly, the evidence of his arousal becoming more apparent at Kate's thigh. He kissed her hard, aligning their bodies better together.

Breaking the kiss, Kate smiled, her face giving a naughty smirk at his tease, "Well, Mr. Castle, I suggest we start investigating those ideas, right now."

The teasing conversation ended abruptly, replaced with moans, laughs and breathless sighs.

To be continued with the next chapter. This concludes the latest installment of the fluff hour, LOL!

Thanks again and please remember, reviews, follows and favorites are love. :)