A/n: Thanks for all the support. It's been really helpful, and I'm extremely appreciative. Someday... you may see my name on a book cover. Seriously... that's my dream. And maybe you'll say: "Hey. I read her fan fictions..." just sayin'. FUTURE AUTHOR RIGHT HERE. Sorry, I felt the need to put that out there. For good reason...

K.H.

PS: Thanks to a ton of cold medicine that makes me loopy, I'm not sick anymore! Yeah!

Chapter 14: As the Curtain Falls...

-Castle's POV-

The darkness can't hold the fact my happiness is radiating throughout the hotel's ballroom. People are probably going to wake up with tumors in the morning because I'm giving off so much happy radiation. I'm sporting a smile that's a thousand watts, and earlier a Joker grin. No napkin, no 'shhs' from my favorite detective will shut me up. Maybe a heel to the foot might silence me for a moment but then I'll be back again; glowing happiness. The situation (hopefully) isn't a one way, gleaming sparkly spilling one. She seems happy, contented; lying in my arms. Knowing her, she won't say much about it. Beckett's a quiet one for romance, she doesn't gush, unlike some people (namely me) who ooze to the world that they're in love, often from balconies. Our hotel doesn't have a balcony, which for her case might just be a very, very good thing. Kate doesn't need me yelling: "I'M SOOO IN LOVE!" off the balcony like some kind of psychopath. Now if we were in New York, I think my entire building and the street below would know of my romantic conquests and victories. They usually do.

I kissed her.

And she didn't fight me. I kissed her and she didn't kick at me (with her evil heels). She didn't stop me, and she continued it; Beckett, kept the whole thing going. It's not an act any more; it isn't a ploy to divert a scorned lover. This is real, and now I hope it never ever ends. Fire and ice, once again melded with content finally showing this tension-filled passion we'd been storing up for so long. It's no wonder I'm radiating glee. I'd been waiting, and had she... for something like this to happen. Who knew it had only took, Trevor and his stupid 'Trevorness' to make her lash out and take revenge. If it had worked with Demming, I would have kidnapped him and thrust him in her face like bait for a lioness. I should have done that a long, long time ago. Maybe we'd be happily married with little baby Nikki's and Jamestons' all our own. But seriously, back to the situation.

She kissed me, back.

Right there, I think my world just kind of fell apart. It's not the eccentric world of Richard Castle, and his ego. It's her world now... a world she controls. Let's just say she's the queen of my heart and leave it at that. She made me float when I just wanted to sink into a corner. I hold her close and secretly hope she'll never, ever pull away.

"Thank you."

Kate breaks our silent reverie, though I'm still stuck inside the cloud of warmth she's put upon me.

"Hmm- why?"

"Just, thank you."

"Is this like the whole, 'no' conversation-like I'm supposed to know what you're talking about."

"Well, us women. We like it when guys can read our minds."

"I'm sorry to inform you but the man you've been dancing with all night, isn't Professor X."

Beckett just shakes her head. "Really? My dreams have been utterly crushed."

"I know you were so hoping I was a super hero. I am... just not that kind."

"Oh really?"

"I can't read minds but I do have mind powers of other kinds."

"Oh really?"

"Can't you tell...? I'm using them to seduce you. Is it working?"

"Hmm. I don't think so."

"Oh yeah? How bout' this?"

I pull her back to me in a sweet kiss, she smiles in the shadows and I can tell she's almost as shocked by tonight as I am.

"Maybe."

"You can't deny it. My striking gaze is infectious. You're under my spell... you are so being seduced."

"Oh really?"

"Yep."

"Come on, how are you supposed to do that?"

I take her hand, and lead her across the ballroom. The wandering eyes of the waltzing drunk company are a combination of intrigue and boredom. Friends of the bride and groom are dancing in clumps along the paneled floor. As I pull her into a hallway by the door, I glance at Stitch, who's in a drunken embrace with a bridesmaid. He eyes my face and my objective, gives me an overview and then looks away. I have the O.K, from at least one of the 'boys' so I guess I'm good to go. When were out of view of the throngs, I pull her back to me.

"Just like this."

I kiss her sweetly, and she pulls back a smile blooming on her face. I melt slowly, as she pulls me back to her.

"So does this mean, I'm your date?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, I'm your date. Before you said I was a friend."

"You're a friend, yes. But I guess you're my date."

The title makes me smile

"Were partners too. What am I though, to you I mean?"

The question vibrates between like an awkward movement between strangers; it pulls our attraction to polar opposites. Though we stay locked close, I can feel the moment slipping between us. The words float and rise to the ceiling like a forgotten balloon. I guess some questions aren't meant to be answered-

"My loveable shadow. What about me?"

"My beautiful, muse. My fan-"

"-If you call me a fan girl one more time... I will, mark my words, not let you seduce me tonight. In fact you might wake up with one of the 'boys' standing over you. Do you understand? You can call me practically anything you want, but that just... it-it pisses me off."

"But you're sexy when you're pissed off."

"Shut up."

-Beckett's POV-

As much as I love the guy, Castle was born an idiot.

Maybe he wasn't born one, but became one over time like people with deadly diseases; it gets worse as time passes. Or maybe he isn't an idiot, per say it just feels like that. He can kiss me and tell me I'm so important to him, I'm his muse. Then he can go out and tease me; pulling my pigtails. It's just plain annoying. But as annoying as it is, I haven't called it quits on our arrangement. Not even when he's called me 'his fan girl' or done something stupid like blown our cover, or flirted with me in front of suspects.

He's got allot to learn, and I guess I have to be the teacher.

All faults aside though, he makes my heart melt and brings me to my knees.

"So this is what you call seducing?"

"Well, not exactly."

"Oh really?"

"No this is seducing."

Castle breathes for a second; he hesitates than plays out his devious plan. He takes his arm round my waist and kisses me; the kind of kiss that leaves me breathless. Then he pulls his arms away, and leans down; he's going to pick me up again. Like this earlier morning, I'm pulled into a pair of strong arms. This time I don't fight it. I pull my arms around his neck and let him carry me bridal style to the lobby's elevator. Doors click open and I'm pulled (in a fit of laughter) into an elevator, then out of one to my door.

"912b- here we are. I guess this is your stop."

He drops me down by my door, and smiles.

"Oh no you don't."

I grab him by the arm and drag him into my room with me.

A/n: Yeah, I wrote a new chapter. Yeah, it was short. Yeah, you guys just have to deal with it. Seriously... just deal with it. Longer chapter up ahead.

Longingly and Happily,

K.H.

PS: After watching the finale a second time on Hulu, I realize how well played out it was. I really did enjoy it. But I don't think they had to kill off (I'm not telling who for SPOILER sake, I'm not a spoiler.)