Remember this

A/N: Time to get back on track. I know there are errors (yay tenses) in my previous chapters, but I have definitely improved my skills over the last few months - and I will look back at those and clean up my mess as good as I can. Thanks for pointing out some mistakes you guys, I appreciate it. Still learning. Some people also mentioned that the characters are way out of character and I will work (harder) on getting that sorted out as well - and I might have worked out the cause in this chapter but that's up to you. Thank you for your support, you are the best.

He pulled his money out of his pocket and showed it to her. ''I bet you five dollars you can't do it any more.''

She smiled and narrowed her eyes at him. ''Five? Make it ten. I'm not that cheap, Castle.''

He gasped, grabbed ten dollars from his hand and threw it on the hood of his car. ''Well, this better be good.'' She pointed at him, turned around and swayed her hips a little more than usual. Castle wasn't sure what had happened in the next 45 seconds, all he know is that he forgot how to breathe.

Kate completed her high school cheerleader routine and gave him a teasing smile to signal the ending. ''I never lie, Castle. Be careful with your choice of words next time.'' She said smugly as she sat down next to him on the hood of his car.

''You know what Beckett, I never figured you for a high school cheerleader.'' Words. Words coming out of my mouth. Good.

''Me neither, but it was great exercise. One of my friends was the head of the cheerleaders, we used to be the biggest scoff-law at Stuyvesant.'' Debbie, she recalled with a small smile on her face. ''I haven't seen her since the last game in our senior year.''

Curious as always, Rick asked ''What happened?''

''This guy she had been crushing on for over a year ran up to me after the big win and asked me out. I turned him down, obviously, even though his precious ego could barely handle it. She saw the whole thing and thought I had said yes. She left and never gave me a chance to apologise.''

''Why would you apologize for such a thing? That wasn't your fault, obviously. Listen Kate, if she's too stubborn to see that she might not even be friends-worthy.''

Kate looked up at the stars. ''Gosh, I wish it was that simple. She was my best friend, we'd been through a lot. I would have never thought that a guy could come between us, you know? There were times when we only had each other. It is quite devastating when I think about it.''

''There is actually a saying for that between guys, you might have heard it - bro's before...'' She lay her hand upon his mouth, effectively shutting him up, not very effective to cover up the goofy smile he had on his face though. Kate was still overlooking the gorgeous scenery in front of her, while Rick awkwardly turned his head to watch her. He couldn't help it but think about how fast her reflexes were, especially when she was trying to shut her up. She would be a great cop. He chuckled at the thought, she suddenly removed her hand from his mouth.

''What is so funny Castle?''

''Nothing.'' He said, still chuckling.

''That was not a nothing! Come on, tell me.''

''Nope.'' She softly punched him in the arm, Castle faked his hurt and she did it again.

She was laughing now. ''Tell me! I can handle the truth.''

''You can't!'' She hit him again. Instead of protecting his arm like before, he threw his arm around her shoulder, effectively trapping her.

''I was thinking how you would be a great cop.'' He said softly in her ear. ''Your reflexes are amazing, you have a way with words and I'm pretty sure you could get me to confess me to something that I did not do. No one could ever beat you. You'd be untouchable.'' She still wasn't looking at him, but gently lay her head on his shoulder, listening to his heartbeat.

''I thought you were the one who was supposed to have a way with words. Some might even say that you make a living out of it.''

He gasped. ''Some?'' He pulled her even closer, a big smile displayed on his face. ''Say that to the people who made me debut on the 26th place on the New York Times Best Sellers list.''

She pulled back, causing his arm to fall from her shoulder and he had to keep himself from sliding of the hood of the car by putting his hand on it. Kate looked at him with a hurt expression. Shyly she put her hand over his.

''I'm sorry for yelling about the book tour, I didn't have the right to do that - any right for that matter. Especially since it's your job and well, you should not have to disappoint your fans. Not only is that bad for your reputation but the media will also pick that up... I just want to say that I completely overreacted and I still regret it to this day.''

''You are used to people leaving you, aren't you?'' She nodded. ''I promise you I won't leave you, Beckett. I'm having too much fun with you.''

''You cannot promise me that Castle, you never know what might happen.''

''Do you believe in pinky promises? Because I will always be your friend Kate, that, you can be sure of.''

She was amazed by his words and let them sink in for a moment. ''I do not believe in pinky promises, or promises at all really - I do, however, believe in sealing certain arrangements.'' He raised in brows.

''Yes? How about that.''

''Close your eyes.'' He did as asked, a smug smile on his face.

''Ooh, I like the sound of this.'' She bit on her lip and slipped from the hood off the car, he reacted to the sound but didn't peek - like she had expected him to. ''Where did you go?'' He moved his head around as if to find her again.

''I'm right in front of you.'' He sat up straight. She was actually about the same height when she stood in front of him and it was enlightening to find him this close to her.

''Can I open them already, I have this feeling that you are going to start a ritual and it's scaring me -'' She moved her hands to his lay to rest on his legs and she heard him suck in a breath. He shuddered and slowly opened his eyes. ''Kate?''

Slowly she moved closer to him and he watched her carefully. She placed the most tender kiss on his lips and then pulled back to watch his reaction. Rick placed his arms on her waist and pulled her closer to his body, they watched each other for a moment before he placed a kiss on her cheek, on the corner of her mouth and then finally on her mouth.

She moved her hand till they were around his neck as they took their time to explore each others mouths. It wasn't until she tugged on his bottom lip, which resulted in him groaning, that he pulled back. Breathless wasn't the word for it. When he looked her in her eyes again she saw the awe and desire displayed oh so freely for her to see.

He moved his right hand to cup her face and gave her a small peck on her forehead.

''That was amazing.'' She laughed, she actually laughed for the first time in a while. ''What? You didn't think so?'' He gave her a confused look, she couldn't help it but see the resemblance between him and a Labrador puppy

''No silly, only you would actually say that.''

''Really? You haven't had a guy go 'that was amazing' after kissing you?'' She shook her head. ''Well, then they were not worthy of you.'' He reasoned.

''I know.'' She momentarily looked away from him.

''I want to hear all about those guys some time, but not right now. I am enjoying you right now, they can ruin another night - this one is ours.'' He leaned in for a chaste kiss. ''Oh gosh, I have been dying for this moment to happen.''

She blushed. ''You are making this so easy, how do you do that?''

''I am just saying what comes through my mind at the moment, honesty is the best basis for any relationship.''

''Really, that is going through your mind at the moment?''

''Okay, plus some other stuff.'' He waggled his eyebrows.

''And the moment is ruined.'' She laughed and tried to step back, but he whimpered and pulled her into his arms again, only this time he had stood up to give her a real hug. Their height was not too far from being levelled out by her stiletto's. He still wondered how she could walk on those things. ''Relax, I just want to sit next to you.'' She said from being pressed against his chest.

He let her go and she immediately sat down next to him again. Castle put his arm around her and she again lay her head on his shoulder. It was something he could get used to, that he was sure of. He hadn't felt this way and it made him think about the past, but he couldn't let that get in the way of enjoying her next to him.

They sat there for almost half an hour before he spoke again, neither of them willing to break the enjoyable silence.

''You have to go back to university in a few hours, don't you?'' She looked at him questionably. He could see her processing his words and he grimaced. ''It's after two...''

A panicked look crossed her face. ''As in two o'clock Tuesday 20 July? As in I literally have to be at school in 6 hours?'' She groaned.

He shot her an apologetic look. ''I am sort of hoping that you don't have any tests today?''

''I guess it's today now, huh?'' He chuckled and nodded. ''Well, no actually I don't have any tests. That does, however, not mean that I should pull an all-nighter. Even though I am thoroughly enjoying my time out here with you.''

''I should bring you home, your parents must be worried.'' Shit, he did not want to ruin the relationship with her parents by making her late. Well, it's already too late for that Castle. Well done.

''I sent them a text a few hours ago, they already went to bed and left the restaurant off the alarm so I can come in silently.''

''You think of everything.''

She nodded and winked at him. ''Law student, you have to be two hundred percent ready for any sort of shit that is being thrown at you.''

''True, can't argue with that.''

He stood up from his spot and held out his hand for her to hold onto, she also slid of the hood of the car and followed him to her side of the car. He held the door open for her and even closed it when she had settled. Quickly, he made his way over to the drivers seat and started the car. Rick could see that she was already started dozing off and grabbed a blanket from the back-seat, in order to let her wrap herself into it.

Back at the restaurant again, Kate was fast asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he grabbed the keys from her purse and carried her up to her house. He couldn't even remember how he had closed the car afterwards - he just knew he had to bring her there without making a single sound.

Though when he entered the living room, there was still light coming from the small room next to Kate's bedroom. Slowly, Kate still in his arms, he made his way over there and pushed the door open. He found Jim Beckett with his reading glasses on looking through papers.

''Evening sir, I just wanted to bring her home safely.''

''Out cold, huh?'' Castle nodded. ''Last room to the left.'' He thanked him softly and made his way over to the assigned destination. Rick quietly argued with himself if he should try to put on her pyjama's for her, but decided not to risk her waking up in the middle of it. He did believe that he should take of her shoes for the sake of keeping her bed clean.

Satisfied when she wrapped herself in the blankets, he gave her a peck on her forehead and turned off the light again. Castle made his way back to Jim's office. Jim had seemed to anticipate this move as he was already looking at the door frame by the time he had entered.

''Thank you for bringing her home safely.''

''No problem sir, just wished I could have said goodbye properly, she fell asleep on the way back.'' The sleep was trying to take him under and he yawned. Jim noticed this and narrowed his eyes.

''You can stay on the couch if you want to, you look too tired to drive back home.''

''It's okay sir, I can take a cab.''

''Nonsense, I know you drove back here. Crash on the couch, it's no trouble. It's the least that I can do for your generosity with the advertising.'' Castle thought of Kate, was she going to appreciate it if she found him here in the morning? He decided he was a tiny bit too tired to care.

''I appreciate it sir and I would like to take up on that offer.''

Jim opened the cabinet next to his bookcase and grabbed a blanket and pillow. ''No problem, just please stop calling me sir. It makes me feel old.''

Rick nodded and accepted the gear. Quietly he made his way over to the couch.

The next morning came soon. Kate had been surprised to see him, but didn't show it as much as he had thought she would. She gave him a chaste kiss as a wake up before she said that she would have to make haste to get to school early. Rick had just grabbed his stuff, folded the blanket, put the pillow on top of it and left a note thanking Jim before walking after Kate to bring her to school.

The ride to college was silent, both content with their progression. They had broken down a wall that had been in their way for some time. It should feel awkward, right? She thought to herself. Now that they kissed both knew that there was only a slight chance of them ever going back to just being friends. Everyone knows that it's pretty much impossible to go from lovers to friends and those friends turn into strangers.

Her head was spinning. How would this work? Were they going to be okay? What if they attraction was limited to one side of the couple? Were they actually dating now? What if he found a girl somewhere on a book tour that would steal his heart and dump her without a second glance?

''Would you please stop thinking about us? I can see your wheels turning.'' He had pulled the car over to the kiss & ride area near the entrance of her university. Castle twisted in his seat facing her, a worried look on his face. ''Are you scared?''

She just looked at him. ''No.''

''Liar, I know you are.'' She blushed and he pretended not to notice. ''Don't worry, I am scared to. I am scared to screw this up. I am afraid that I might hurt you, though I will never do it intentionally. I am afraid that you won't like me any more after a while, people tend to have that feeling when they are around me.''

She interrupted him. ''Are you kidding me? Everybody loves you.''

''They love the idea of me.''

She understood his words. In that moment she realised how lonely he must have felt over the years. A young author that has everything that he had bargained for - and yet, doesn't seem to be able to fulfill that longing of true friendship. Or even more importantly, love. How can people love you if they do not know who you truly are?

''Are you okay? You just zoned out there for a minute.'' His hand was on her face, she hadn't even felt it. Softly she pushed her head against his hand and closed her eyes. He smiled, serenity displayed on his face. ''We're going to be okay.''

She took a deep breath and opened them again. Kate found him closer than before, he cupped her face and brought himself even closer to her. The look on his face scared her not as much as it excited her.

''You want to kiss me, don't you?''

''Oh Kate, I always want to kiss you.'' What are we waiting for?