Standard disclaimers apply. I just like to have fun : ) Oh and there's a little French in this chapter. Just a sentence. I know some people don't like foreign languages in their fics, so I'll just let you know it means "That's life, Dad."

Last time on Torrent: Castle and Beckett found out the Jessie's alibi checks out before they left for their dinner date with Alexis and Martha. Kate and Rick stopped of at Fresh Market to pick up Kate's favorite dinner for her childhood: Chicken Paris, which also happens to be Alexis' favorite dinner. She and Rick get the side items and then travel back to his loft where they begin preparations, Martha congratulating them on their changed relationship status. Alexis comes home and they all sit down to dinner together before reconvening to the living room where they sit down to watch the Lord of the Rings. Alexis makes Kate promise to have a marathon with them that weekend to watch the rest. They all settle down, to a happy night and Kate decides to stay over again.

Chapter 14.

She was in a field of flowers. Yellow daisies, red roses, purple wildflowers, dandelions, and others she couldn't name. Part of her mind told her these flowers don't grow together, but she soon dismissed the thought. It didn't matter anyway, they were too pretty to tell them they were wrong. His arms encircled her from behind and she leaned back into his embrace.

"They're beautiful," she whispered. He murmured his agreement and kissed her temple.

"They aren't the only thing." She elbowed him in the ribs. "What?" He asked. "Have you seen the clouds? They're making funny pictures." She elbowed him again but looked up. He was right. She could make out mysterious shapes. A heart? Was that a face?

"I don't think I would call those beautiful, Rick," she said.

"I wasn't. I said you were beautiful. The clouds are just funny. I don't think the man in the clouds is happy." She had to agree with him there. He was glaring at something. Kate turned her attention back to the flowers. They were nicer to look at.

Rick tightened his embrace around her. "It's time to get up," he whispered.

"I want to stay here with you," she responded, turning to face him.

"You'll still have me when you wake up."

"Promise?"

"Always." His embrace tightened on her again, constricting her breathing. She pushed against him, but he only tightened his grip on her more.

"Rick, I can't breathe. Rick!"

Kate's eyes popped open. Rick's hold on her was still getting tighter. She tilted her head up from its position on his chest. His very naked chest. But all thoughts of their adventures last night left her mind as she took in his distressed expression. Kate sat up, pulling herself out of his grasp, and started shaking his shoulder.

"Rick, wake up," she called. No response. She patted his chest, his face. "Rick, wake up! Castle!"

"No, come back," he murmured, reaching for her again. "Don't leave me. You can't leave me."

"Rick, I'm here. Wake up. I'm right here." She shook his shoulders again. "Castle! Wake up!"

His eyes popped open and he took the sight of her in. "Kate?"

"Hey."

"You're alright?" He sat up next to her, cupped her face in his hands. She covered his with her own.

"I'm fine. What happened?"

He considered her for a moment, then sighed. He rubbed his face then ran his fingers through his hair. "I couldn't save you. We were back in the basement and I didn't jump fast enough. And then we were at the scene from this morning and it was you on the ground, and then Alexis. And then you again. I couldn't save you."

Kate pulled him into her arms. "But you did save me, Rick. And you'd save Alexis." He held onto her, a part of him still in the nightmare. Then something clicked in her. "This has happened before, hasn't it?" She asked softly. "Those days you come in early, they're after nights when you've had nightmares."

He sat back and gave her a sheepish grin. "It's sad, isn't it? I write this for a living." He shrugged and reached out, tracing his fingers down her jawline. "But seeing you each morning makes everything better. Though I have to admit, I like this system we've got going on much better." He pulled her into him. "It makes going back to sleep much easier."

"It's not sad, Rick," she murmured. "After my mom died, it seemed like the only dreams I had were nightmares." She trailed off, thinking about the therapy and medication she had to go on to get them to go away. "It's not sad," she repeated, "But I am sorry I brought this on you."

He tipped her face up to look into her eyes. "I'm not. They're just dreams, Kate, of a fear we both have to live with. But I don't regret any part of the path that led me here. And if anything, they prepare me for acting quicker when your life actually is in danger."

"You shouldn't have to worry about that, though."

"Too bad. I'm your partner. In every way. Like it or not, I'm going to worry. And I'm going to take care of you." He placed a kiss on her forehead. She smiled, leaned up, and gave him a proper kiss.

"You have to stop doing that," she said.

"Doing what?"

"Taking the focus off you. This is the part where I get to take care of you, not the other way around."

"Then promise me one thing." She nodded. "Promise me you'll be here in the morning."

"I think that's a promise I can make," Kate smiled.

"Good, because I love waking up to you."

"Even with the bedhead and morning breath?"

"Especially with the bedhead and morning breath."

Kate smiled. "Well can you brush your teeth next time? Your morning breath isn't something to be desired." She scrunched up her face for effect.

"You wound me, Detective," he said, placing a hand to his heart.

"You want a good morning kiss? You brush your teeth." She smiled up at him, a glint in her eyes. Rick laughed.

"Ridiculous woman."

"Do you think you could go back to sleep?" Kate asked, glancing at the clock. "We can still squeeze out a few more hours before we have to get up."

Rick rolled them over so he was suddenly on top of her. "I can think of something better than sleep," he said, wagging his eyebrows.

Kate raised her eyebrow, trying desperately to ignore the sudden heat rushing through her body. "Don't you think we've ignored sleep enough for one night?"

"What? Are you not up to round two?" Kate raised her eyebrow again. "Round three?" He amended. "Afraid you can't keep up?"

Kate pressed her body up into his, causing Rick to inhale sharply. "It's not me I'm worried about, lover boy," she whispered. Then she quickly flipped them over again and straddled him, doing her best to ignore the hardness pressing against her. She bit back a groan and instead said, somewhat breathlessly and thus losing any validity to her argument, "But you woke me up from a really good dream I'd rather get back to."

Rick's eyes told her he didn't believe a word of it. But she refused to let it go. Playing with him was just too much fun. He rested his hands on her hips, kneading them gently. She closed her eyes, pulling her bottom lip through her teeth. "You said you wanted to take care of me right?" He asked, teasing. "Do you know what would help me sleep?" She heard the smile on his lips rather than seeing it for herself. She still refused to open her eyes. The things he does to me. You'd think after three years of sexual innuendo I'd be immune to it by now. But a sudden shock ran through her, causing her eyes to pop open, as his hands made their way from her hips, up her body, and to her face. The thrill of it sent shivers through her body. And all he did was trail his damn hands up my body. He gently pulled her down to him. She gave him a teasing smile before capturing his mouth with her own. His moan tumbled into her mouth and she couldn't hold back her answer this time. But he took it slow, his mouth working hers in a steady pace, his tongue slipping in and out, caressing. He built the fire of passion between them until it was roaring, his hands exploring her body, finding new places to give her pleasure. He flipped them over again and his mouth worked his way down her body. She buried her hands in his hair, whimpering when his tongue began tracing patterns over her skin. This was a new kind of lovemaking, the still coherent part of her realized. He was loving her body, reverently, taking pleasure in it. This was intimate. This wasn't fantasy played out, this wasn't sex. This was making love. She smiled and pulled his mouth back to hers. No longer in a rush, the two of them worked steadily into oblivion, basking in the new way they could show their love.

Later, still coming down from the high, Rick sighed contentedly as he wrapped himself around her. Kate hummed in contentment. This was right, she thought.

"I lied," she told him just before sleep took them under. "I like your morning breath."

"And my bedhead?" He asked, his hand stroking her stomach.

She laced his fingers with hers and pressed back further into his chest. "It's the second best part of my morning."

"And what's the first?"

"Waffles."

He chuckled and kissed the back of her head. "Until tomorrow, Kate."

"Until tomorrow, Rick."

Sunlight pulled him from his dream. A much better dream, where he and Kate lived happily ever after. Or at least that's what he imagined would happen. As was customary with dreams, it hadn't finished. He noted the time and quietly slipped out of bed so he didn't disturb his partner. Rick smiled as he dressed. All this was still so fresh, so incredible, it made Rick wonder if he was still in a dream. He ran a finger down her cheek before leaving the room, a smile on his face. No matter how many mornings like this lay ahead of them, he knew he would never get to used to the feeling of waking up beside her.

"Good morning, Father." Alexis said as he entered the kitchen.

"Good morning, Daughter. How'd you sleep?"

"Good. Thanks for carrying me last night. You didn't have to." She smiled apologetically.

Castle walked over and enveloped his daughter in a hug. "You were too cute to wake up," he joked, poking her sides and stomach, causing Alexis to erupt in a fit of laughter. "How could I disturb such perfection?"

"Dad!" Alexis squealed. But he scooted her across the floor to a barstool and planted her on it.

"Still want waffles for breakfast?" He asked innocently.

Alexis nodded. "Did Kate stay? Will she help make the waffles?"

Castle nodded, smiling. "Still sleeping. I thought I'd let her get a few more minutes sleep. It's been a rough few days for her."

"Didn't she want to help with breakfast?"

"She will. Her alarm will go off in a few minutes."

"And you woke up before her?"

"I know, right?" Castle pulled out their waffle-making ingredients from the pantry and fridge. "Do you want juice or milk this morning?"

"Orange juice," she answered after contemplating for a few minutes.

"Orange juice it is!" Castle exclaimed, pulling out the glass container. He poured it into a glass and handed it to her. "What's on the docket for school today?"

"French test." Alexis scrunched up her nose.

"On a Friday? Don't they know you don't test kids on a Friday?"

"Mondays are worse."

"I can't imagine Tuesdays being much better."

"Or Wednesdays."

"Or Thursdays!"

"I think we can effectively say that there are no good testing days," Alexis said wryly. "Although I still think Mondays are the worst days."

"I could sue the school for unjust testing if you wanted. Make them ban examinations altogether," Castle offered, a smile on his face. He began mixing the batter and milk together.

"Thanks, Dad, but that would defeat the purpose of school."

"Which would be?" He asked, handing the bowl of batter over to Alexis before turning on the coffee machine.

"Learning and retaining information."

"Knowledge is overrated. Wisdom is where it's at."

"Which you can't get without knowledge."

This time Castle scrunched up his nose. "You know what? I think it's much to early for this conversation. My brain hurts." He made to dip his fingers in the now finished batter, but Alexis swatted his hand away.

"And don't pout," she chided. "You could get sick from that stuff."

"Yes, Mom."

Alexis giggled. "C'est la vie, mon pére."

Castle shook his head and turned away from his daughter, muttering something about her not needing to worry about doing well on her French exam. Instead, he focused on preparing Kate's coffee just the way she liked it. He was just finishing it up when he heard her alarm go off. With a wink to Alexis, he set off to his bedroom, steaming mug in hand. She was just reaching over to turn the alarm off when he reached her.

"Good morning," he whispered, handing her the coffee mug. She smiled in appreciation and breathed it in.

"Mmmm, a good morning indeed."

"It's about to get better. Ready for waffles?"

Kate smiled up at him, excitement pushing away the sleep in her eyes. She quickly dressed, pushing his hands away when he tried to "help,"knowing that could only end in disaster, and followed him into the kitchen, where she was nearly bowled over by whirlwind of red hair and arms. "Good morning, Alexis," she laughed as she hugged the younger girl back.

The teenager smiled up at her sheepishly. "Hi, I'm just really glad you stayed."

"Well your dad mentioned waffles so I couldn't just leave." She looked over to the counter to see the mixed batter and various ingredients already pulled out. "Though it seems that sleeping until your alarm clock is disadvantageous in this household."

"Don't blame Dad. He was just pulling things out as the coffee machine started up. I mixed the batter. But! Don't worry because we never have just waffles," Alexis explained as she led Kate to the bar.

"Of course not!" Castle exclaimed. "We've got fruit and eggs to make as well. And we've got to heat up the maple syrup. So there's plenty for you to do."

"Now I understand why you're always on me about my diet. You guys don't have just meals here, do you."

"You only say that because your meals consist of Skittles and coffee."

"Excuse me, I'll have you know my fridge is fully stocked at home."

"Right. With left over containers, some of which I'm sure have things growing on them by now."

"Which is why I have you, Castle. You bring me food to eat."

"Um, I think you just proved my point," Castle said, somewhat dumbfounded at actually winning one of their arguments.

"This one doesn't count," Kate replied quickly. "I've hardly had my coffee yet."

But Castle grinned all the same. "I think I'm rubbing off on you."

"Shut up, Castle, and hand me some fruit to dice up."

"It's a surprise you two actually like each other sometimes," Alexis interjected as she churned the batter. "Have you guys given any thought as to how you're going to do the big reveal?"

Castle looked at Kate and raised his eyebrows. "I have several ideas, though I don't think you'd particularly like any of them."

"That's because they all involve me doing something with you while at the precinct," she replied. Damn, he thought, sometimes she does that far too well. "What about telling them when we go to the Old Haunt once the case is finished?"

"But that's so boring! We can't just come out and say it! They're all expecting us to do that!" Castle exclaimed, all too aware he was whining.

"What about doing something in the middle?" Alexis suggested, shifting the bowl into her fathers hands so he could pour the batter onto the waffle machine.

"Something big," Kate murmured.

"But intimate," Castle finished, catching her eyes. Kate quickly looked away and focused on her chopping. Day three, this is only day three, Castle reminded himself. Stop thinking about white dresses and bouquets and little kids running around. Damn it! This has got to stop. "Yeah, that's a great idea, sweetie. We'll figure it out."

"Fruit's ready," Kate stated after a few more minutes. A few moments later, Castle set out the first waffle.

"Looks like we're ready for the eggs," Castle said. "Pumpkin?"

"On it. Kate, can you get the eggs and butter for me?" She asked as she turned to the stove and collected the no-stick spray and pan she needed. Kate immediately went to work, shooting Alexis an appreciative smile, no doubt glad to be put to work and included in their daily routine. Castle focused on making the waffles and just listened as Kate and his daughter fell into an easy conversation. Alexis soon mentioned she had a French test later that day and Kate began quizzing her, engaging her in a simple conversation in French. Castle was only mildly surprised she seemed fluent in the language. There was really nothing this woman could do. Always a mystery, he thought.

The rest of the morning seemed to pass in a whirlwind, with Alexis soon rushing out the door to make it to school and Kate following afterwards in order to get a new change of clothes before heading to work.

"Seems like I missed quite a morning," Martha announced as she entered the kitchen. Castle set a plate before her and loaded it with the remaining waffle, scrambled eggs, and her favorite fruit.

"Kate stayed to help us make waffles," Castle explained, unable to keep the grin off his face.

"You know, for a woman so hesitant to enter into this life, she seems to be adjusting quite well."

"Well, Kate is the kind of woman who, once she decides to do something, does it with her whole heart. I knew the biggest obstacle wouldn't be just winning her heart, but convincing her to act on it. Although, I'm starting to wonder after last night and this morning, if part of her decision was because of you and Alexis. She really loves you guys, too." Castle smiled at his mother. "I want to thank you for welcoming her as you did last night."

"Oh darling, please. You know I've believed Kate as one of our family for quite some time now. You just make sure you do nothing to wreck that heart of hers."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Mother."

"Good, because you know Alexis would never forgive you for that."

"And you, Mother?"

"Well you know that Kate would have to win one of us in the settlement," she replied with a teasing smile. Martha reached over and patted his cheek and they both laughed quietly. But her warning wasn't lost on Castle. Kate truly was part of their family, if not legally just yet. The bonds were there. And that was enough. Castle smiled down at his mother, the woman who was perhaps his greatest advocate aside from his daughter. The woman who had always been pushing him in Kate's direction.

"You know I love her, right?" He asked.

"Yes, Richard, I know. She's the sort of person you can't help but love."

"Yeah, you play for keeps with this one," he said wistfully. Then he frowned. Huh. There was something about that. He could feel his mind beginning to make connections with their case when his cellphone rang, jarring him from his thoughts. He set the dishes beside the sink and reached for his phone. "Castle," he answered.

"Ryan and Esposito ran down Kaylan's best friend, Candice Johnson. They're bringing her to the station now," Kate relayed, the detective returned. Castle smiled. There wasn't one side of Katherine Beckett that he didn't love. He shook his head. Apparently he was in a sappy mood this morning. "Castle?" Kate's voice drew him out of his reverie.

"Yeah, sorry. I'll be right there." He hung up and rushed to change and get ready for the day. "Have a good day, Mother," he called as he grabbed his keys and headed towards the door.

"You too darling, but please try not to look too excited about your murder cases," she called after him. Castle grinned. Murder was never good in his book, especially in Kaylan's case, but murder that brought him to Kate Beckett would always make him excited. Yep, definitely a sap today, he thought as he left the elevator. He let the memory of Kaylan's case wash over him as he hailed a taxi. It dropped him off at the coffee shop a couple blocks away from the precinct and he went in and picked up his standard order, leaving off the bear claw. The thought trail he'd been on began nagging at him and he review the case in his mind. There was something he was missing. Hopefully this Candice Johnson would be able to shed light on it.

"Please, call me Candy," the young girl told him and his partner as they sat down in the interrogation room. "If we're going to be talking about…well you might as well call me Candy. Everyone does."

Castle allowed himself to survey the girl as Kate proceeded with the interview. She was distraught, that was for sure. Candy Johnson was a 20 year old girl, like Kahlan, but that was where their similarities ended. Candy had strawberry blonde hair and was a stout girl, as opposed to Kaylan's brown locks and slender build. But as she talked, Castle noticed Candy's eyes were of a similar blue to what Kaylan's would have been, though slightly darker. He also noticed that as she talked, her character showed through. He may not have been trained in detecting someone's personality, but he could tell that Candy was a good girl. Of course, this was also why he wasn't a cop. He remembered Kate telling him once that it was a job description for everyone to look like a killer to her. He had to remember to keep his mind open.

"I knew I shouldn't have let her go home without pushing her farther, but Kaylan could be so secretive sometimes, you know?" Candy was saying. "She and I would spend a lot of nights up in the hayloft of the main barn, just gazing at the sky through the skylights and talking about our futures. We shared most everything to each other, but there were things she wouldn't tell me. I think she wanted to protect me. She said I didn't need to know, but if that ever changed I would be the first she told." Candy shrugged. "She was my best friend. I guess whatever it was caught up with her."

"Do you think it had anything to do with Bent Tree?" Kate asked quietly.

Candy shook her head. "No, we would talk about that. Every place you work has its quirks, right? Things you would want to change? No, I think it had something to do with her boyfriend. There were mornings she'd come to work and have bags under her eyes like she hadn't slept all night. You could always tell when she and Ian were fighting because she'd be really short with everyone and spend all her free time with the horses, grooming them, working with them, watching them out in the fields. Just a couple days ago I found her with the foals. She only went to them when it was really bad."

"So Ian has a temper?" Castle piped in.

"Well they butted heads a lot. Much too alike for their own good. But he loved her. I don't know that he would do something like that." Candy's eyes got really big. "Oh my God, do you think Ian killed her?"

"We don't have any conclusions yet, Candy, but we do need to talk to him. What's his last name?" Kate asked.

"Thomas. Ian Thomas." Candy gave them the rest of his information.

"Thank you. And Candy, I have to ask, just so we can cross you off our list, but where were you around 2 AM on the night of the murder?"

Candy nodded. "I understand. I was helping one of our mares give birth. It's an amazing process, with its gross points, and I love doing it, but unfortunately mares never seem to deliver at convenient times during the day." Candy paused, thinking. "I don't remember the time exactly, but it was sometime around 2 I think. I know! We video the mares about to drop so we can watch over them from the house instead of staying in the barn at all hours of the night, so you can double check the time for your records that way. Does that help?"

"Very much so. Thank you, Candy. We'll let you know how the investigation goes, alright?"

Castle and Beckett parted ways with the girl and made their way back to Kate's desk. She went to take a sip from what remained of the coffee Castle brought her and made a face. "This stuff never seems to stay warm when you leave it." She looked over at him. "So where were you the first half of that interview?"

"I was keeping you on your toes. Glad to see you can detect two different things at once." She raised her eyebrow. "Okay fine. I was observing her, trying to see if she was our killer or not. Comparing and contrasting to our vic."

Kate nodded. "And what did you find?"

"That they are as different as they come to one another, but best friends nonetheless. As for her being our killer, I'm inclined to say no, but I am also trying to follow your advice and keep an open mind."

She gave him a smile of approval that warmed his heart. "I agree, but we'll keep her there until her alibi checks out. Ryan!" She called over to the boys. "Run down Candy's alibi and see if it checks out. Then bring in Ian Thomas. I want to know what they were arguing about the day before she died."

"On it," they replied as they left the bull pen.

"So," Kate said as she turned back to her partner, "Candy Johnson is a groom and handyman for Bent Tree. She and Kaylan started out there around the same time. It turns out Kaylan started as a groom, too, but she quickly moved on to exercise riding and then went for her full blown jockey's license, which we know she got not too long ago. Meanwhile, Candy's been working as Kaylan's groom when they go to races. Kaylan rides and Candy takes care of the horses."

"You also said she was a handyman?" Castle asked.

"Yeah, she helps out with little odd jobs around the farm, too. But what Candy really loves to do is work with the broodmares and foals. You know the dreams she and Kaylan always discussed up in the hayloft? While Kaylan said she wanted to be a trainer one day, Candy said she wants to own her own breeding stable. She and Kaylan decided that one day they'd get their own place together with Kaylan running the racing side and Candy running the breeding aspect."

"Sounds like the perfect life for those two."

"Yeah it's too bad it was cut short."

They both turned to look at the murder board and something hit Castle as he surveyed the timeline. "What was it Candy said about wishing she hadn't let Kaylan go home that night?"

"Apparently Kaylan had been acting really strange that day."

"It was the same day as her argument with Townsend."

"Exactly. And judging by what Kaylan said to Candy about her not needing to know yet, I don't think she was acting odd because of an argument with her boyfriend."

"So do you think it was just nerves from the argument or something different?"

"Like a threat from Jessie?"

"Or even Anders."

"Her trainer? He has an alibi, remember. He was at his regular bar until half past 3."

Castle slumped back in his chair. "We need to talk to Ian."

Kate sighed. "Yeah."

"Well that was a colossal waste of time," Kate said as she fell back into her seat. Ian Thomas was definitely not their killer.

"The boy folded like a leaf!" Castle exclaimed as he sat down beside her. "He didn't even try to hide a thing!"

"Castle. That's a good thing."

"Well yeah, but it's boring!"

"Just go play Angry Birds while I fill in the timeline." Castle grinned at her as she uncapped the marker. She shook her head and refused to make eye contact, and instead poured over what they'd just learned from their victim's boyfriend.

Ian Thomas may have constantly butted heads with his dead girlfriend, but Kate had soon learned that it was mostly because the two of them had been on different levels in their relationship. Ian wanted Kaylan to move in, but Kaylan had refused because Ian lived farther away from Bent Tree than she did. She didn't want to get up any earlier in the morning if she could help it. There was also the fact that Ian had wanted Kaylan to take the job at Breaking Meadows. She and Rick –Castle— had soon learned that this was the fight Kaylan had kept from Candy. Apparently Ian didn't trust Colin Anders, said the trainer had anger management issues. Ian believed that Kaylan had a brighter future at Breaking Meadows, but she'd refused to take the job. Kaylan was a good girl; she didn't want to leave Bent Tree in the manner offered to her. Ian said that he believed that Kaylan would have taken the job eventually, she was just waiting for the right time.

Kate capped the marker and looked down at the clock. "Come on, Castle. We've got a date with a trainer. Let's go talk to Michael Westland and see if we can't figure out why Townsend was so quick to go talk to him the other day."

So I know I technically forgot to ask Colin Anders for his alibi back in chapter 12 or whatever, but that was my rookie mistake. I couldn't let Kate take the fall for that one, so let's pretend like I didn't forget, okay?

Anyway, I know this chapter is a long time in coming. I've been slowly writing over that last few weeks during my crazy time-consuming assignment writing and test taking time her at uni. But! The good news is that's finally over and I am free to write as I please. That is, until the 25th when I begin an amazing 10 day tour of New Zealand with my mom before I head home. Then I won't be writing, but before and after I am all yours. I've already started on chapter 15!

Anyway, pretty please review and tell me what you think. I'm not entirely sure about the dream, but it kind of just happened so I went with it. Oh and the angry face in the clouds? I didn't make that up. I was driving with a friend back from our horse lesson and we noticed that the clouds formed an angry face. Swear to God. I have the pictures to prove it.

Anyway, I know I've most likely lost a lot of my readers since I've been gone for so long, but reviews are love and like drugs. I kind of crave them. What can I say? They take me to my happy place. Xoxo Aubrey