AN: The previous chapter ended when Kate and Rick finished their lunch at the diner. The story continues on the same day after lunch.

After they had shared a large milkshake and gazed lovingly into each other's eyes the both of them decided that it would be a great time to discover some more of the local shops in town. While picking out some ingredients for dinner at the market both Castle and Beckett felt the need to return to the house. When they arrived it was a little after 4PM.

"Oofff I'm just a little exhausted from that walk." Castle put away the vegetables as Kate went to take off her coat.

"Yeah me too." She hung her jacket in the closet in the hallway and went back to the kitchen.

"You known what.. Want to take a swim, Kate?"

"I thought you were tired?"

"Yeah, but our pool is heated and we've got these amazing tanning beds to sit on.." He sounded like he was totally into it.

"Don't you just want to see me in a bathing suit?" She walked up to him, leaning on the kitchen counter next to him.

"It wouldn't be the worst thing." He smirked, but meant it well.

"Swimming sounds nice Castle. I'll get changed, meet you in a bit." Kate was quite eager to swim. Maybe it had something to do with the both of them in their bathing suits, she wasn't sure. She had brought two pairs to choose from. One was a red bikini, maybe a little too skimpy and the other one was a blue one that covered just a bit more. She decided to go with blue. 'He didn't have to see everything just yet.' As if their wet bodies wouldn't turn each other on. Kate grabbed her towel, wrapped it around her waist and walked up to the pool.

Castle was already laying in the sun in his swimming shorts. He definitely didn't look bad. She might even admit that he looked good.

Kate saw him looking at her as he approached him. He looked like he had never seen a woman in a bikini, but in a cute and endearing kind of way.

"Wow Kate you look amazing." He didn't laugh, didn't crack a joke, he meant what he said.

"Thanks. You don't look bad yourself Castle."

She put her towel down on one of the tanning beds as he went into the water.

"I hope that the temperature soothes your liking." He said as she got into the water.

As they swam some laps Kate duck under water. Her hair got all wet and she still had her hair tied, as she had worn a bun for the most part of the day.

"You okay?" Castle asked her as she seemed in a little bit of a struggle with her hair.

"My hair tie is stuck in my hair." She started giggling because of course this stupid thing happened right when she wanted to somehow make a great impression on him. She didn't want to feel clumsy.

"Wait, let me help." He swam to his partner and stood behind her to untangle the knot. "Sure, as long as you don't pull out a ton of hair." They both laughed at her comment. Somehow when feeling him being so close to her, Kate felt like all the pieces of the puzzle were coming together.

"Hah! I got it out!" Castle burst her little bubble in a matter of seconds. He reached with his arm over her shoulder to hand her the hair tie. Putting the elastic band in her hand made her slowly turn around, facing him.

"Thanks Castle." Kate put the hair tie around her wrist and smiled with the purest smile. The tension had been building up between them over the past years and this weekend it had only been building up more. Kate noticed him looking at her lips and she couldn't fight the urge to do so either. Castle came just a couple inches closer to her and she felt butterflies in her stomach, something she didn't easily feel with a guy. In this crucial 'now or never' moment she softly laid her hand on his face, bringing him closer to her. Their lips lightly touched as they kissed. They deepened their kiss as he moved his hand to the back of her neck. Finally they parted and the both of them couldn't believe that it had actually happened just now.

'Wow, and I'm not exaggerating." He whispered, still holding her close by wrapping his arms around her back.

"Yeah, wow." Their foreheads touched and in that exact moment Kate turned into a shy girl. It was the most precious thing he had ever seen.

"Can I just hold you for a little longer?" She asked, leaving him stunned. He didn't answer verbally, but he pulled her closer into a loving embrace.

The vibes between them had changed for the better. Finally they released from their hug and got out of the pool. They toweled off lightly and laid down on a tanning bed. Luckily for Castle, he had one that was as large as a queen size bed. Kate wrapped her towel around her and cuddled up in his embrace, her head on his torso, their hands intertwined and him playing with strands of her hair.

They had sneaked in a couple pecks on the lips before heading inside and showering. Kate had promised to prepare their dinner tonight. It was a simple salad, but they already had quite the lunch at All's.

While Kate was chopping the vegetables Rick came down the stairs. "Hey."

"Hi." Somehow they acted like adorable fools around each other.

"Want me to help?" He walked up to her and gently let his hand touch her back.

"Y'know what? I'd like some wine with this dinner if you still have some left."

"Sure, I'll go grab some! Be back in a sec." He headed off to the wine cellar. Yes, his mansion has an enormous wine cellar.

Kate had never really felt this comfortable around a guy before. Even the men who she had been with for far longer and had experienced more with than just a kiss. Who was she kidding? It didn't just feel like a kiss to her. It felt like the start of something really great. Of course Kate always remained conscious of what could happen if things went south, but she didn't feel like thinking about that now. In this particular moment she felt great and that was the most important thing.

Of course Castle grabbed her favorite red wine, later on he'd learn that this wine would get her all bubbly inside.

As Castle was setting the table, Kate prepped their salad. While eating they discussed their day.

"This is so good. What special ingredient did you add to get it to this taste?" Castle lifted his fork pointing at her.

"Ahhh that's a secret Castle. My mom taught me this and from then on, I always made my salads like this." She wasn't going to show and tell.

"Alright then. Can't you at least tell me about the other secret that you're keeping from me?"

"What other secret?" For a second there, Kate felt her stomach turn into a knot. She didn't know what he was talking about.

"I'm talking about the first book you read from me, In a Hail of Bullets?" He asked, really wanting to know.

Kate already felt a little better, but she still felt awkward telling him the story. It had involved her mother.

"Well, my mom actually introduced me to your books." When Castle heard her mention her mother, he knew why she didn't exactly feel great talking about it. He put his hand on hers and softly grabbed it, letting her know that he was there for her.

"Really? So she'd read a couple of them then?" He asked.

"Yeah, not too long before her death she introduced me to In a Hail of Bullets. She asked me to read it, because she thought that I'd really like it. At the time I kind of forgot about it, but after she had passed, I read that book to somehow feel closer to her." A single tear rolled down her cheek, but she smiled.

"Kate, thank you so much for sharing this. I can understand that it isn't that easy. Sorry for prying." This was actually one of the first times he had actually apologized to her.

"No, I'm okay Castle. I'm glad you know now."

"And during our first case you knew that the crime scene could have been a copycat from Flowers For Your Grave, so you read the rest too then?"

"Yes, I did. And it somehow felt like I was getting to know my mother better through the books she loved." She felt a little awkward about it, but was satisfied when she had told him. "And I like how through your writing she kind of got to know you too. She even got one of her copies signed by you."

"No way, really?"

"Yeah definitely. I remember her telling me that she was so happy getting to meet you." Kate laughed. It was the cutest thing.

"So I met her. I love that. I just hate it that I don't remember. I mean I've seen photos of your mom and I can't remember." He kind of felt sorry.

"Hey, you sign so many books, it's fine Castle. And somehow I am glad that she got to meet you." Kate leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his lips.

During the evening they watched a movie together, of course being more focused on each other than the movie. Castle sat on the couch with Kate laying down, resting her head on his chest. She never thought that she'd be this close to him already, it had only been a day and a half. One more day to go until their perfect weekend was over. She felt a little down about it.

"Castle?" She looked up at him.

"Yeah?"

"What's gonna happen when we get back to the precinct?"

He traced small patterns with his finger on her arm and said: "Well, we haven't actually made it official yet so, Kate Beckett do you want to be my girlfriend?" He grinned at her.

"I thought that that was already clear, but yes Richard Castle, I'll be your girlfriend." She smiled as he kissed her.

"About the precinct, I don't know. The only ones that know that you're with me are Lanie. Unless she told Esposito and Ryan." He stated.

"I don't really see her doing that, without permission. I'll text her just in case."

For the first time during the weekend she really looked at her phone. She already had one text from Lanie.

'Girl, please tell me you went to the Hamptons with writer-boy? Let me know, I want all the details!!'

And another one:

'Okay, since you're not answering I can assume that you went with him. How are you? I'm so happy for you! Text me when you get this..'

Kate replied: 'Yes, I'm with Castle now. Did you tell anyone else about me possibly going? I'm doing great. Maybe more than great :)'

Just a couple minutes later Kate received a response back.

'Omg girl I am so happy for the two of you!! Didn't tell anyone else. That's not my place. Talk soon!'

'Thanks Lane. Yeah we do, we'll meet when we get back to the city.'

For now, Kate put her phone away to spend the rest of her evening with her boyfriend. It even sounded a little weird to her. Her boyfriend, Richard Castle.

"Thank Lanie for me, okay?" Castle said, kissing her forehead. In this moment they didn't care for the movie anymore.

"I will. I'm kinda tired though."

"Me too." He grabbed her hand and led her up the stairs. When they stood in the hallway she looked at her bedroom door and he looked at his. Not knowing what to do, Castle kissed her one last time and headed for his room. He didn't want to push her in any way.

"Wait, Castle.." He turned back around, facing her. She grabbed his hand. "Can we just cuddle tonight?"

"Of course." He led her to his bedroom and they both got under the covers. His hand ran through her hair and they kissed goodnight as they cuddled up.

For tonight, this was more than he expected, and a perfect end to the amazing day they had spent together.

AN: Alright this chapter was a little shorter, but oh so fun to write! Their first kiss had to be special and I hope I wrote it in such a way that it was. Kate and Rick have one more day left, Sunday. Then they are heading back to the city. Hope you enjoyed!