Disclaimer: I'm officially out of creative ways to say I don't own the characters.
A/N: This is a short one but I wanted it to stand alone. To address a guest review, Liz Bartly, I don't see an issue with an eighteen year old living at home. I'm just living there for one semester of college before I go off to university.
~Rose
Chapter Twenty-One
"Oh, you're in my veins, and I cannot get you out."
All was far from fixed. Nothing was ever perfect in a relationship and both Castle and Beckett knew that. They would fight, and there may be tears. They would scream, and then freeze each other out. They would storm out on each other, and sleep in separate apartments. They couldn't focus on that side of it though. There would also be smiles and laughter. There would be kissing and sex. There would be pancakes and more of Castle's interesting creations. There would be love.
They sat on Castle's couch, not daring to touch each other for the fear the dam would break. There was still so much unresolved tension in the room even now. Castle would always be overprotective and Beckett would always be stubborn. They were both still wary of each other, uneasy from the fight. At the same time they both had the urge to be all over each other. It was like they didn't know whether they should keep their distance or kiss each other senseless.
"I do, you know," Kate finally said, breaking the silence.
"Do what?" a confused Castle asked. He still wasn't quit looking her in the eyes, afraid he would lose himself in their depth.
"Love you," she said quietly. His head snapped up to look at her but she averted his gaze.
He reached out to grab her chin and turn her head to face him. "Say it again," he whispered, not daring to believe she had said the words when they weren't in danger or she was afraid she was going to lose him.
"I love you. I wasn't saying it last time because I was afraid I was going to lose you. I love you and I probably have for longer than I'd like to admit. I was in denial for so long. I didn't want to love you because I didn't think I was capable of that type of emotion anymore. I closed myself off after my mother died. When you lose someone that close to you, you become afraid that every person you let in will leave you. I didn't want to feel that pain again so I just didn't let people in—until you. You wormed your way into my life and slowly made me fall for you. You made me want to change Castle. You have saved me more than you know. I meant it when I said I love you."
Her eyes were so full of love, and passion, and longing. The dam broke then as Castle slid his hands up to her face and pulled her to him. When their lips met it was neither soft nor delicate, but oh, was it ever passionate.
Yes, all was far from fixed. Doubts may still linger deep underneath but they had each other and they had love, and that was enough.
A/N: Officially half way through this story!
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