She's not sure what stirred her awake, but she's happy she did otherwise she could've missed the sight of her and Rick huddled closely together on his bed. He lay on his back with one arm draped across her back while she's snuggled into his side with her hand laying on his chest. Kate blushed as she remembered last night.

When Rick let her read some of his work she hadn't been able to put it down. After dinner he went into his room to get some ideas down and she went with him to also have his commentary while she read. Eventually she laid down on his bed while he discussed his characters and his plot lines. She asked what made him want to be a writer and he said he'd always been the type of person who wrote what he felt (admittedly, murder when he accidentally killed his best friends fish.) They were up well past midnight talking about his stories and how one day he wanted to be published and his dreams of going to New York.

Safe to say she had a great time and during it they must've fallen asleep.

Slowly Kate removed herself from Rick to go the bathroom. When she came back he was awake and jotting something down on a sheet of paper.

"Morning," he said without turning around.

"Good morning," she responded trying to keep the smile out of her voice but failing miserably.

"Wanna eat out before we go?"

"Yeah sure. Just let me get dressed." Since they're living together now why not save time by going to work together?


Kate thinks this little library should just close down during the winter months. They barely ever get anybody in here besides the regulars who can read a hundred books in a day and come back for more the next day.

She's reading at the counter while drinking the coffee Castle bought her when she hears someone come in. When she looks up it's Castle.

"Hey. What're you doing here? You're not due for another couple hours."

"I know. I was thinking about you," he flicked his eyes up to catch her reaction to what he said. "Wanna go out after we close up? There's this place I want you to see."

"Yeah sounds like fun."

"Great. See you later."


While working across the street Rick still feels a thousand miles away from Kate. All he wants is to be with her. All the time. She's occupying his thoughts, his writing, his house. Not that he minds. He loves it. He loves...her. Does he? No it's not possible. But the more he thinks about it the more it makes sense. That jolt, that spark he felt when he first laid eyes on her and this feeling of falling, of gravity shifting he's felt with her since then. He's loved her since he laid eyes on her and from then it's only gotten stronger.

Oh shit.


"Richard!" A woman yells to bring him from his thoughts. Its then that he realizes who it is speaking to him.

"Hey Shelly! How you been? It's so good to see you."

"Good good. You?"

"Crazy and confusing."

"Would a woman have anything to do with this?" She teased.

"I don't kiss and tell."

"I knew it! You have that 'i think I'm in love again' spark in your eyes. Who is she?"

"Nobody you know I'm sure. How's Nate?"

"Same nusance as ever. But you know-"

"- I love him."

"- you love him. How long have you guys been married now? Seven years?"

"Eight this may."

Rick met Shelly and her husband Nate a few years ago at a bar when he was still with Meredith. They barely ever see each other because Nate and Shelly like to travel a lot and are never in the country.

"Wow that's amazing."

"We need to get together soon."

"How about tomorrow I'm free? And I can even ask my lady friend to join us."

"So you guys aren't official?"

"Stop fishing. Are we on?"

"Of course."


Later that night Rick took Kate out to one of his favorite burger joints, where the fries are thick and crunchy and the burgers thick and juicy. Sad part is that the place is always busy and crowded. But Rick knows the owner and he owes him a favor.

"You do know I've eaten here brfore right?" Kste asks him.

"Really?" He asked sounding surprised.

"Yeah you can't live in montanna and not have eaten here. Just because I've been gone doesn't mean I don't know where I come from."

Rick gets them a private table in a back room and he can tell Kate appreciates it but is also terrified about what this means for them. He'll do anything he can to calm her down and make her comfortable.

He pulls her chair out for her and makes light conversation. "So I ran into an old friend today and we're getting together tomorrow and i'd love for you to meet her and her husband."

"Oh." She says alittle caught off guard. What does this say about their relationship? Meeting his friends? "Yeah. I'd love to meet them."

"Great." He smiled brightly at her and she held his gaze. The way he's looking at her is causing flutters to fill her stomach and a tingling in her fingers and toes.

"What?" She asked blushing.

"Its just...we've come a long way."

"And are still moving foward," she mumbled to herself but loud enough so he could hear. They held each others gazes until a waitress came to take their orders. But even after there was a silence between them that expressed the pent up tension they feel.

While waiting for their food Rick stood up and held his hand out to Kate, silently asking her to dance. He knows its cheesy but he doesn't care and apparently neither does she because she accepts his hand and comes willingly into his embrace. He places one hand just on the small of her back and is holding the other.

Kate's trying to keep her breathing under control because the way he's looking at her, and the way he's holding her close is causing her heart to beat frantically. She's about to lose her control. And when she sees him lean in her blood starts boiling.

He kisses her on her cheeks, one by one, then looks straight into her eyes as he brings his lips down to touch hers. When they meet Kate instantly wants more but he kisses her tenderly and pulls away after only a second. When she looks at him questionly he gestures to their waitress who's prending not to watch them.

When they sit back down and she hands them their dinner before she leaves she says, "you guys make a great couple. I wish my parents looked at each other that way."

And for the rest of the night Rick blushes while Kate tries to hide her smile.