The doorbell was ringing again. Kate gave a glance to her alarm clock.
Of course it was 4am.
Sighing, she threw back the covers, slipped on her fuzzy robe and padded down the hallway in her socks with donuts on them. Running a hand through her hair, she called, "Colin, it's four in the morning, go to bed!"
She opened the door, and then was suddenly jolted awake. Standing at her door was not her annoying neighbor Colin but someone else with a far better 'C' name. Castle.
"What are you doing here?" Kate yawned, "Is everything ok?" She continued, trying to process the somewhat strange look he had. It was a combination of nervous and bashful and something else she couldn't place. He looked like he was wrestling with something.
Almost without hesitation, he blurted, "I love you." And then walked down the hallway, towards the elevators.
Kate stood in her doorway, completely and utterly shocked. But only for a moment, "Wait, get back here! You don't get to leave, you don't get to say 'I love you' and then walk away! Castle," Kate scoffed, then sighs as she runs a hand over her face. He looks back to her in his brown leather jacket and sweats and he just stares at her. It's a sweet, loving, look that warms her from head to toe. "I love you too."
In that moment, she's sure they both looked like messes. His hair was tousled (and she liked it that way), she was in an old, oversized t-shirt with her hair in what was probably the messiest bun possible. And it was still 4am.
Kate's declaration hung in the air for a moment before he stepped forward, taking her hand in his and kissing her. It was sweet and beautiful and soft but passionate and every little word he'd ever said or wanted to say was somehow conveyed. It wasn't rushed or hurried, though, or even long. It was just a kiss that said 'yes' as purely as possible.