Hi hi. This is my last chapter in this story. Softer is going to kill the ending, and you're all in for an awesome sequel. We're really excited. She's the best to collaborate with :D Anyway, the name of the sequel will be "Burden of Proof". Enjoy!

After watching her work for two years, watching her sleep was just the natural progression of things. She was peaceful, and the sheets wrapped lightly around her body hid the scar that made his heart stop in the worst way.

Castle hated that she was wounded, but physicality was an accepted part of the job. There was always a threat of danger, and he'd come to terms with it a long time ago – not that it stopped him from worrying.

He knew Beckett could handle any punch thrown at her, and he knew she was the strong one; she would protect them both.

The metaphorical walls she built around herself only worked to a certain point, though. It was hard to gain her trust and easy to lose it. The fact that he was still allowed within ten feet of her was saying something about how far she'd come.

Now, her watch was gone. The object itself wasn't important, but what it represented was huge.

He could tell she wished it didn't bother her as much as it did. He could tell a lot about what she was feeling these days.

Guilt, anger, shame, and fear were all constantly flashing in her eyes. He treasured the moments when he made her laugh, for it seemed that was the only way to be rid of her constant worry, if only for a second.

Sleep also seemed to work. Kate snored softly, almost like a purr, with her hands clutching the pillow for dear life.

Castle reached out and slowly pulled her hand away from the pillow, looping their fingers together. She responded to the pressure and held his hand tighter, her eyes opening slightly.

The worry flew back to them the instant her lids opened.

Then he smiled and pulled her close, kissing her forehead and rubbing circles across her bare back. She smiled too, and it reached her eyes.

The smile grew to a soft laugh, which he questioned.

"Last night, the last thing I remember thinking is 'Castle's going to watch me sleep'. You're predictable," she responded, laughing a bit louder.

He kissed her forehead, his heart fluttering at the sound. "Really? Because my last thoughts were more along the line of-"

She shoved him before he could finish, immediately pulling him back to her. "Incorrigible," she muttered, not even attempting to sound disgusted.

Castle brushed his lips against hers, both of them grinning at the familiarity of the sensation.

He didn't pull away. His hands were entwined in her hair, and his legs trapped her to him. Kate let her fingers drop to his stomach on a path leading further south, but she stopped when he flinched. Looking down, she saw her hand resting on a light bruise.

Realizing how much pain last night must have caused him, she pulled her hand away and propped herself up on her elbow. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?" Her eyes roamed over his body in anxiety rather than lust.

There it was again: the worry. Only conscious five minutes and something had her on edge. He reached for her hand and placed it lightly back on the bruise, his face stoically keeping any emotion from showing.

"I'm fine." Simple and short, but those were the two words she needed to hear before she dropped her ear to his chest, content to listen to his heartbeat.

"Would it be overly cliché if I made you breakfast in bed?" He could feel rather than see her smile. "Because I make a mean omelet. You won't be able to resist me once you taste it."

Pulling herself up to meet his eyes, she raised a brow. "I don't know, Castle; you're pretty irresistible as it is. I don't think that'd be fair."

He looked around frantically for a moment before turning back to her, his face a display of shock. "Where are the cameras? You lost a bet, didn't you?"

She rolled her eyes and pulled the sheet tighter around herself. "I'll take that breakfast in the kitchen."

"Tada," he exclaimed, presenting her with a plateful of eggs and bacon. A piece of toast dangled dangerously close to the edge, and she snatched it before it could fall, taking a quick bite.

Her hair was back in a loose ponytail now, and she was wearing Castle's button-up shirt. He could only stare when she exited the bedroom wearing it, and it was no different while he cooked. It was a miracle the food came out unburned.

She flashed him a smile and patted the seat next to her at the table, not waiting for him to dig in. Taking a bite, she closed her eyes and moaned her appreciation.

When she opened them, a small box was sitting by her plate. Castle pretended he hadn't put it there and kept eating innocently.

Curiosity overpowering her nerves, she opened it with a gasp.

Inside sat a simple silver bracelet with one charm: a raven. She picked it up and held it closer, examining it with the intensity she reserved for suspects in interrogation.

"All right, I confess," Castle said in a squeaky voice, as if he were the charm bracelet. He slammed his fist down. "Damn, you're good."

She chuckled and placed it back in the case, but left the lid open. "What's that for?"

He only looked hurt for a second before leaning forward in his chair. "You lost a watch, Kate. I know it's important to you, and I can understand that. What that psycho didn't take from you was your father's sobriety.

In any case, I thought you might want something else to wear on your wrist. I don't want to replace your dad's watch; that's not what this is at all."

She sat in a stunned silence for a minute, her eyes going from Castle back to the unassuming raven. "Why a raven?" She would ask anything to put off accepting it. It felt wrong, even with the promise that it wasn't a replacement.

This is the question he'd been preparing to answer, though it made his palms sweat to think about it. He called upon the memory he'd much rather forget and focused on Kate's face as he began to share.

"A raven to represent me, because you've saved my life on numerous occasions. I've been obsessed with death since I was eight, but you make me see it differently."

She picked up the bracelet again and held it. "Eight?"

Just take the plunge. "Mother used to take me to her plays when I was too young to be home alone for too long. I would sit backstage for the more adult ones, which most of them were.

When I was eight, she had a small role in Hamlet. I was told to stay in the dressing room until it was over, but my attention span was even worse then, if you can believe it, and that's a long play."

He ate more of his breakfast, encouraging her to do the same, while he thought on how to proceed. It was hard to swallow over the lump in his throat.

"You didn't listen," Kate prompted him.

"Not surprising, right?" He laughed half-heartedly. "I ventured out to the prop room. I'd done it before. I didn't think anything bad could come of it as long as Martha never found out."

His eyes clenched shut, and his body tensed.

"I was playing with an empty goblet, pretending I was drinking wine. I heard someone approaching, so I hid in the costumes and waited for them to leave. At the time, all I could do was hope it wasn't Martha. I didn't think it could be worse."

Kate's throat started to go dry, a feeling of dread settling in her stomach. Her mind spun wild stories of what could have happened to him and it was absolutely sickening.

"One of the actors had slipped back there. He opened a white cloth and removed a knife, putting the prop one in its place."

Her eyes went wide, but she resisted the urge to hold him. Not yet. It would end the story before he could finish.

"When he left, I went back to the dressing room and waited for another hour for Mother to come. I didn't move an inch; I had no idea what to do. Part of me thought I was imagining it, I guess."

He didn't have to finish. "It wasn't your fault. You were young, and nobody would blame you." Kate moved to sit in his lap, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

And there they sat, baring their scars and holding back their tears, drawing strength from the trust that finally shared without doubts.

He pressed his forehead to hers and sighed. "I know, but rationalizing only helps to a certain extent."

Rick looked at her and took the bracelet from her hand. "You don't have to wear it, but I wanted you to know that you've changed me. Since that's what the watch represented, I thought it'd be appropriate."

She took it back from him with a smile. "Thank you."