A/N: This one's for Serena. Again. Because she was getting withdrawal symptoms. She's probably asleep though. Oh well. Morning glory and all that XD. Love you babes. I love all the rest of you too. A lot. Just so you know. *kisses*

29

It was on the tip of her tongue. She felt it. She should say it.

She remembered the promise she had made to herself. She thought about Sally, about her determination to save that girl no matter what. She didn't want to leave it too late, or even leave it to the last minute, to when she was in danger.

She wanted to tell him now.

She pulled out of his embrace and looked up at him, this man who had given up so much for her, the man she had given herself to...

"I love you," she said, loud and clear, reaching out to grip his hand in hers.

Richard smiled down at her. "I know," he said. Kate grinned.

"We should go and talk to Alexis," Kate said.

"And you need to tell me what happened with Charlie and the other children. What's going to happen to Sally?"

Kate bit her lip. "Charlie's fine, he and the kids are going to keep an eye on Sally for now, but... we have to do something more. The fact that they've told me to back off means there's something important about her. And something about that baby... We have to protect them, hide them from the Dragon so he won't get to them... but I feel as though I've been watched by the Dragon for my entire life. There's no getting away from him. So although hiding seems like the only option-"

"You want to use Sally as bait, find out what she knows, lure the Dragon into a trap and stop him once and for all."

Richard stated it like a fact. He wasn't even a little bit disapproving. Kate was almost angry.

"Castle, what if she were Alexis? How can I use her like that?"

"I don't mean her life isn't valuable, but... it's for the-"

"Don't you dare say it's for the greater good. Children are on the streets for the greater good. Men die in bloody battles while the people who started them watch from the safety of their homes, for the greater good. I... Doesn't using Sally make me just as bad as the people I'm fighting?"

"No. Because you're fighting for what's right. And we will do everything in our power to keep Sally safe."

"Wouldn't that be staying away from her?"

"Do you really think this Dragon is going to leave her alone if you do?"

Kate sighed. "No, but-"

"But nothing. We'll ask her. I bet you she'll want to help, just like you would or Alexis or I would."

"You think she would choose to risk her life?"

"She's a parent. I'm betting the Dragon wants something to do with that baby. And I know from experience, a parent would do anything to keep their child safe."

Kate nodded. She followed him downstairs, trying to convince herself that using Sally to help them end this once and for all wasn't crossing over to the dark side. She wasn't very successful. Alexis greeted them in the living room, a mildly embarrassed smile on her face.

"Good evening," she said. "It will be dinner time soon. I, ah," she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, "I'm... I'm glad you two sorted everything out," she said finally.

Kate was already blushing beet red; Richard wasn't doing much better.

"So are we," Kate said, to break the silence.

"I heard," Alexis said, raising her eyebrows a little.

"Mother," Richard announced far too loudly when Martha entered the room a minute later. "How lovely to see you. Have you had a good day?"

Martha chuckled. "I suspect it was not quite as good as Kate's, dear. But I think so, yes."

Kate thought if any more blood rushed to her face it might explode. She'd never been quite so... vocal, before. She hadn't realised she'd been that loud. She had known she had... expressed herself, but she hadn't known she would make quite so much of an impression. Richard winked at her. She wanted to fall through the floor. Martha surprised her, coming over and patting her on the shoulder.

"You've nothing to be embarrassed about. He was just as bad. Honestly, I've never heard anything quite like it. I'm rather impressed."

This didn't help at all. Kate wanted to cover her face with her hands, she was utterly mortified.

"Calm down, dear," Martha tried again. "I think it's something to be proud of. We all understand. Perhaps Alexis shouldn't, but she does. And she and I are both very happy for the two of you. Now. Put on your brave face, get back to being the strong, proud woman we all know you to be, and stop worrying so much."

Richard chuckled; he couldn't help it. He loved his mother's speeches. Alexis went over to Kate as well.

"I don't mind," she said encouragingly.

"I do," Kate muttered, but she was cheering up.

"Even I caught that smile," Richard said after a moment. "Now. Let's go and have dinner and talk about something else."

"That sounds wonderful," Kate said. Martha caught Alexis' eye and they shared a smile. They all went through to eat.

It didn't help with Kate's embarrassment that every glance she got from Richard now made her want to... she didn't even want to put the thoughts into words. She had thought that finally being with him so completely would dissipate some of the tension between them, but if anything it had multiplied it. Now she knew what was possible, how much more was possible, she could barely keep her hands to herself.

She tried valiantly to keep up a sensible conversation with Alexis and Martha. They couldn't even talk about Sally. There wasn't anything they could do that evening. They couldn't really do anything until they had talked to Sally again, and they couldn't do that until she was better. Kate knew she would have to go about her normal life, looking very angry, for several days, so they didn't suspect anything. She had decided Richard had better go around with her, since he had been before. They must have noticed; they noticed everything. Which meant they weren't interested in him, which meant he should keep doing whatever he had been doing so as not to create any interest.

The rain was still falling when Kate decided it was time for her to go home.

"You should take the carriage," Richard said, "and I'm coming with you."

"If... that's alright, yes, that would be nice," Kate accepted. She wasn't going to change for him. But it was raining and she didn't want to get wet, and she did want his company. They set off. The carriage ride was horrific. They both wanted each other desperately; it was clear Richard felt exactly the same as Kate about the desire that bounced between them. But they couldn't. They were going out, they had work to do, an act to put on...

"Later," Kate muttered. "It's just a few hours." She was telling herself more than she was telling Richard. She couldn't believe that she could be so... Feeble. So enraptured, so overwhelmed, so hungry for this man who... she loved. She loved him. She really loved him. She had told him, he knew, he had said he loved her. She was in love. It was ludicrous. Yesterday she would have insisted it was impossible. And yet... here they were. Sitting opposite each other in a jolting carriage, their bodies yearning for the physical form of their love, their minds full of nothing but each other. Kate bit her lip and Richard shivered involuntarily. She quickly readjusted her mouth so as not to tease him further, but the damage was already done.

He shuffled in his seat, putting his hands on his knees and gripping them tightly. Kate clasped her hands in her lap and looked out of the window at the pouring rain, but quickly turned her eyes to the floor, since all the rain did was make her think of kissing him.

"This is hopeless," Richard said after cursing a few times under his breath. Kate was about to answer when the carriage stopped and they hurried into the side door of the shop and up the stairs to her apartment.

"I'll... go and get changed," she said, but regretted it instantly as Richard shuddered at the thought of her with no clothes on.

"Maybe we should..." he began taking a step towards her.

"Just quickly, to get it out of our systems," Kate whispered, arching her back as he leaned down over her.

"Just once each," he murmured. "And you're getting changed anyway so it barely even counts."

Kate managed to nod once before his mouth was on hers, moulding to her, shaping to fit her as they stumbled towards her bedroom. Richard kicked the door shut behind them and tore at her dress, trying to drag himself away from her for long enough to undo the fastenings but not managing.

"Just rip it," Kate managed to say when they broke apart for air. "I don't like it anyway."

Richard didn't need to be told twice. Kate worked just as efficiently on his clothes, and within moments they were divested of all barriers, pressed against each other as they almost fell onto the bed.

"I want you inside me," Kate groaned as Richard's finger found her centre. Richard frowned as he kissed her.

"I just don't know if I can... now. Later I will, I just-"

Kate put a finger to his lips. "I understand," she said, and smiled at him. He smiled back for a second, then went back to attacking her mouth with his. He moved down to her neck. His fingers rammed inside her; he knew the fulfilment she craved and he gave her as much as he could, frenzied and passionate right up until the moment she fell apart around him, screaming his name and gasping for hair.

She shook herself off and moved to him, finding him already shockingly close as she trailed kisses down his torso and onto him. She lowered her mouth over him, taking his full length inside her, sucking gently as he fisted the sheets of her bed. She moved up and down, keeping her eyes on him as she knelt between his legs, knowing he was watching her, knowing he loved watching her do this to him. It didn't take long for him to come, pouring into her mouth as she swallowed down everything he gave her. She released him with a pop and licked her lips, making him let out another little moan.

She planted a sloppy kiss on his mouth, still feeling rather undone herself. The temptation to crawl back into bed and lie with him for the rest of the night was incredibly high, but Kate forced herself to get up. She stood at the foot of the bed, watching Richard try to recover himself.

"So," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "Let's go catch some bad guys."


A/N: Review! Now! Even you, m'lady. xxx