AN: Didn't take much to convince me to write a continuation, and the story isn't over yet. I threw in a bit of depth but still left out his S4 secret because I didn't think her mom's murder had a place in this arc. It would've added more drama and angst, I believe, and that's not what I'm going for here.

Falling asleep was easier than she thought it would be. Maybe because she's slept here before. But staying asleep…that's proven to be an issue. It's just after 3 when Kate stirs awake, not knowing where she is at first. But the memories come rushing in, and she remembers she's in Castle's guest room. It had been too late to go home, and he said she could stay. She also remembers kissing him and the feel of their lips fused together, which makes her smile now. She left him speechless with that kiss – a fact that amuses her. Hmm, come to think of it, he really wasn't on his game the whole night. He wasn't suave like she thought he might be. She wonders if his feelings for her have changed, but no, that can't be. He returned her affections, plus he flirted back. She glances at her phone for the time and groans. She's too wide-awake for this time of night.

Rick is too. He had fallen asleep replaying that kiss over and over, including her comment about first dates ending with a kiss. She stunned him. The whole night, in fact. It was amazing how open she was with her affections. He hopes there's more where that came from. He feels dumb for not reciprocating as well as he should have. He's madly in love with her and has desired her from day one, and yet he felt he had to be careful. He didn't want to push her, but she showed him she's ready for more. They usually don't talk about their relationship, but maybe during breakfast they should. Assuming she can stay for breakfast and doesn't rush home or to the precinct. He prays they don't get a murder. He shuts his eyes and attempts to fall back to sleep, and he does for 10 minutes, and then he's waking up again. He groans and checks the time. It isn't the first time he's been unable to stay asleep.

He decides to get up and uses the bathroom. He neglects his robe, waltzing in boxers and a gray t-shirt to his office where he immediately thinks back to how she used him as a pillow on the couch. He smiles and pictures her asleep upstairs. Oh, she has to look cute when she's sleeping. He retrieves a small glass of water from the kitchen and sits at his desk to write. He has some inspiration thanks to his muse. He loses himself in the world of Heat & Rook and doesn't hear her sneaking down the steps.

She tip-toes to the kitchen, grateful for the little bit of light coming from there. It's just enough light for her to see her way around. She doesn't notice the light coming from the office. She thinks he's sleeping and doesn't want to disturb him. She opens the fridge and ponders grabbing a snack. She eyes the remaining beer, but thinks better of it. She figures out she's not hungry and reaches for the tall bottle of pear juice. She pours herself a glass, still lost in her own world. He breaks away from his writing to take a breather and spots her. He gets up to stand in the office doorway and watches her silently, wondering if she'll catch him. She is wearing the same attire as during their date, but one difference is she ditched her bra for sleeping comfortably. Her hair is a mess from sleeping; she only ran her fingers through it a couple times. He takes a quick glance at his attire and feels no shame in being in boxers. He pats down his unkempt hair and makes his presence known.

"Want some company," he calls out to her in question.

She nearly drops her glass, and her chest thumps with surprise. She turns to find him and replies, "Oh my god, you scared me."

"Sorry. You didn't see the light from my office?" He towards her, flicks on a brighter light, and stands opposite her with the island between them.

"No. Didn't see it. Didn't even look that way. Were you writing?"

"Yeah. I woke up, couldn't get back to sleep, and had some inspiration." He winks at her. "What are you doing up?"

She's momentarily distracted by his wink, knowing she provides his inspiration the majority of the time. "Uhm… I don't know. Woke up, felt wide awake, and decided to come down here."

"So here we are." He smiles warmly. "It's too early for breakfast."

"Yeah." She smiles back.

"Will you stay for breakfast, or do you have to work," he asks, trying to keep his cool.

"I can stay," she says shyly.

His whole face lights up. "Really?"

"I actually have the day off, so…" She grins and bites her bottom lip.

"Ohh! Then you could stay all day." He's still smiling, and he realizes that sounded presumptuous. "If you want to. No pressure."

"Won't Alexis be coming home tomorrow…err today?" She sips her juice.

"Yeah. She might begin packing. She and Mother have a whirlwind European trip coming up. Going to be so quiet without them for two months." He leans forward on the island.

"Wow, that is long. How ever will you manage?" She's half serious and half teasing.

"There will still be murders to solve and writing to do. And I'm hoping after last night that…uhh…I'll have you around."

That's the kind of confidence she was hoping to hear. "Maybe you will," she replies, moving closer to him and leaning on the island.

"So…uhm…" His eyes lock onto hers, and she's feeling the anticipation of what he'll say next. "Your wall that was coming down…"

She knows she shouldn't feel nervous, but there's a part of her that is. "Yeah?"

"Did our kiss smash the final pieces of it," he asks, feeling a little anxious. They usually suck at communicating their feelings and their personal issues.

"Hmm, I think so. My next therapy appointment is in a couple days. That'll help me sort this night out more clearly."

"If I didn't say it before… I'm glad you're going to therapy. It is good for a lot of people, and if it's helped you break down your wall and finally see me as more than a friend & partner, then…"

"Castle," she cuts him off and takes a deep breath. "I've seen you as more for a while now. I just didn't think I could handle a real relationship. Especially after my shooting. I had to work on myself. I never let anyone get as close as you have, not any boyfriend, and yet I still haven't let you all the way in." She has no clue how she's finding these words.

"Right after you were shot…I told you…"

"You love me." Her admission shocks him, and his brain spirals through the shock to realize she's known for a year and never said anything to him. She didn't expect to come forward with this, especially not this time of night, but for them to be together, she has to. "I heard you then and lied about it because I wanted to process it and deal with it on my own. I couldn't face it with you, and I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I lied to you. But it wasn't because I don't have feelings for you."

It takes him a few moments to respond with words, the shock still written on his face mixed with anger; confusion; and understanding. "You knew. You lied to me." She waits him out as he processes everything she's said. "I think I understand, though. You weren't ready for us. That's why you hid. That's why you never called all summer. You were healing in more than one way. I would've complicated things."

"I hated hurting you like that, and I made you wait so long…" She looks away from him, ashamed and on the verge of tears.

"Hey, Kate, it's okay now." His anxiety and caution have disappeared as he stands and pulls her over to him to embrace her. She hugs him back as he assures her, "Look where we are now. Everything led to this night. This moment." He pets her hair, and she holds on tight to him, feeling safer and more loved than she ever has. He gives the best hugs, and she loves being shorter than him. To him, nothing feels greater than having her in his arms.

"Feeling better," he asks after a minute.

"Much better," she answers, savoring his embrace.

After a few more moments, she pulls back, lifting her head to gaze at him. "So, what now?"

"I think this is the part where we kiss," he states.

"Oh, is that so?" She can't mask her smile as he leans down and meets her in a soft, warm kiss. "Wow, that's good," he whispers before kissing her again, letting this one linger and savoring the feel of her lips gliding against his.

They are interrupted by her yawning. "Hmm, I forgot it's the middle of the night," he says.

"Me too," she replies, "And we were up late." Her arms are still wrapped around his back.

"We were." His hands rest on her waist.

She gives him a look of pure love and hope, and he thinks she's adorable. "Can I sleep in your bed with you," she asks softly in the sweetest tone he thinks he's ever heard from her.

"How can I say no," he answers with a big smile that she matches. She sneaks another kiss from him as he lets her go and flicks off a light. She grabs his hand and leads him to his own bedroom through his office, where they pause for him to turn off another light. Upon entering the bedroom, she lets go of his hand and takes a deep breath as she peers around. This is the first time she's been in here, and she admires his style. She stares at the bed and notices the right side has the covers pulled back from when he got up.

He suddenly feels nervous again. It's almost like when he was a teenager bringing a girl to his bedroom, hoping she approves of it. Kate Beckett's opinion has always mattered to him. "If you have a side you prefer, you can take it," he says. He watches her move to the opposite side he had been sleeping on and climb under the covers.

He can't help but stare in amazement. The woman he loves is in his bed. How did they get here? He's smiling while moving to his side of the bed.

She eyes his boxers, trying not to feel heated. "You uhm sleep in your boxers, huh?"

His eyes widen a bit, and he glances at his attire. "Uh yeah. Sometimes." Feeling overexposed and wanting her to feel at ease, he says, "I can change if you want me to. Not in front of you, of course." Oh, she can tell he's nervous, and she thinks it's adorable. "Not that I would mind changing in front of you. It's just uhh…" She sits there nodding and arching her eyebrows at different points of his rambling. "I want you to be comfortable. So I could slip on pajama bottoms. If you want me to," he concludes, and she tells him, "Take a breath there, Nervous Nellie. Your boxers are fine." She peruses them again and mutters, "More than fine." She's startled by his "what" and flicks back to his face. "Get into bed and turn off the lamp," she commands as she lies down, settling against the pillows. As soon as the light is off and he's relaxed, she snuggles over to him, using him as her pillow.

He immediately wraps an arm around her. "Hmmm, Kate Beckett likes to cuddle."

"Only with the right guy," she clarifies.

He grins, knowing "that guy" is him and she has feelings for him just as he does for her.

"Mmmmm, this feels so good," she moans, closing her eyes and nudging a knee between his legs.

"Yeah. No better place to be," he agrees, holding her snugly.

"See you in the morning, Rick," she sighs, feeling the fatigue consuming her.

"It already is morning," he retorts.

"You know what I mean," she says with a cute sleepy groan.

Shutting his eyes, he murmurs, "Mmhmm. Till the morning, Kate."