I can't believe my first fanfiction is coming to an end! Alas, there is only one more chapter after this one, to bring closure to the original plot. However, my whole goal of writing this fanfiction ends in this chapter. I really had fun writing this one, especially towards the end, so I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, Castle got up shortly after Beckett. Castle was in the mood to do a little writing that morning, so he thought he would jump on the opportunity and do so; it wasn't just from the good sleep, though. He had been craving a time to write, and only now did it actually come out.

"I hope you don't mind, but I'm gonna go ahead and do a little writing," he told Beckett as he cleared his breakfast plates and put them in the dishwasher.

"No, not at all," Beckett replied. "You need to work," she spoke in an almost broken kind of manner, even if the thought was clear in her mind. With that, Castle went off to his office to continue writing the book Naked Heat.

Meanwhile, Alexis had come down, all dressed and ready to go out and hit the city.

"Hey Kate," Alexis greeted as she made sure everything in her purse was all ready and set to go.

"Hey Alexis," Beckett returned the greeting. Ever since their talk, Beckett felt even closer to Alexis, which was something she appreciated.

A few seconds later, Alexis' cell phone went off. Just as she thought, it was her friends, ready and waiting for her outside the building for a fun day of shopping. They were calling to let her know they were there. They had been planning this day all week, and her dad knew all about it.

Looking into her dad's study, Alexis found him typing away at his laptop. "I'm going out with my friends now. Love you," she said as she gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Love you," Castle replied as he saw his little girl going out.

As Alexis was putting her coat on, she said her bye to Beckett before heading out the door.

Beckett watched Castle typing from his laptop. He seemed to be zoned in on his typing, but at the same time, she felt there was something she needed to talk to him about. Something important that had been on her mind for a few days now, and it was nagging to be discussed.

About half an hour passed before Beckett finally walked her way over to Castle.

Castle was focused on his typing, but noticed when Beckett had made his way over. Wanting to show respect, he quickly finished typing up his last sentence and turned to face Beckett.

"Can I talk with you?" Beckett inquired of Castle.

Castle saw the serious look on her face and knew he couldn't ignore it now. "Sure," he replied as he closed his laptop and followed her out into the common area.

Castle and Beckett stood for a couple minutes in what felt like awkward silence. Beckett knew she was the one who asked to talk, so it was only fair she started.

"Castle, thank you so much for allowing me to stay here," Beckett started. "I've been having a great time."

"I'm glad to hear it," Castle answered. "You know you're welcome here anytime."

"I know," Beckett replied. She turned her head down a little, gathering her thoughts for a quick second before continuing on with the conversation. "I've learned quite a bit in staying here the past couple weeks." She paused, almost as if holding back on saying what she had learned. Not just about Castle's family, but herself as well.

"Like what? Care to share?" Castle asked. While he knew Beckett was more a quiet person when it came to her personal life, he thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"Well, I've definitely learned more about your family dynamic," Beckett started, "and how close you are with Alexis. Not that I didn't already know," she immediately added. "But it's been nice," she finished that section.

"Yeah," Castle threw in his two cents. "We're pretty close."

After a small pause, Beckett casually threw out there, "I've also been learning a bit about myself, actually."

"Oh really?" Castle questioned. Now he was getting a bit curious himself, about where this whole conversation was going and whey Beckett wanted to have it.

"Yeah," Beckett responded. Now she was getting into what she wanted to talk with Castle about. She was so close, and yet, it was almost scary for her at the same time, like she wasn't ready to tell him. Then again, if she really wasn't ready, she wouldn't have asked him to talk minutes ago when he was so focused on his writing. At this point, it was now or never. "In learning more about you , I've learned quite a bit about myself as well."

Castle didn't quite know where Beckett was taking this, but he was going with it, hoping it was in the direction he wanted to head as well. "How so?" he asked.

Beckett had to think a little about her response. It had to be worded in the right way; if said in another way or with another tone, it would have a completely different meaning than the one intended, and that's not what she was looking for in this moment, not when it was becoming so tender for her.

"Well, I learned that citrus is good for a strong immune system," Beckett joked a little, wanting to break the ice a little before she took a big risk. That earned a good chuckle from both her and Castle. Beckett took one last big breath before she continued. " I also learned that... I like you," Beckett said with a hushed tone at the end.

"What?" Castle asked, not hearing the last part clearly.

After getting it out of her system in some way in front of Casle, Beckett now felt more comfortable. Beckett also realized, standing there in front of Castle, like was not the correct word to use for her true feelings.

"I love you Rick."

For one of few times in his life, Castle was speechless. The look on his face was part surprise and part joy, with the surprise melting away as he looked into Beckett's eyes, which truly were mesmerizing. It was at that moment that Castle finally found the words stuck in his throat that he really wanted to say.

"I love you too Kate."

For a few seconds, Castle and Beckett just stood there, staring longingly into each other's eyes. Then, a split second later, they were in each other's embrace, kissing each other with a passion for each other that could not be said with words.