A Renaissance of Passion

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Continuation of the Fic, A Long Way Home, picks up immediately after the ending. Another What If based on the episode, COUNTDOWN, what happened if Rick didn't return to the precinct after leaving after seeing Kate in Josh's arms? It starts with Canon dialog, courtesy of Dust Jackets Dot Com, then goes quickly and completely AU. The journey continues with a new Kate and Rick, hope you enjoy!

I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.

Also, we may take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.

Previously

"Rick, I'm sorry, I mean I know how that sounds now, but"

"But what Kate, I was supposed to keep waiting for you to allow me the table scraps left from your relationships, did you know that Espo called me your fetch dog, only good to fetch your coffee and serve as a stand-in until your love showed up. Do you have any idea of how hurtful that was, mostly because in most instances it was true, or certainly appeared to be?"

"Rick, I*"

"It's late Kate, I think we both need to step away from this, I'll take the guest room, you have the Master, Good Night," he grabbed his suitcase and was up the stairs before she knew what had happened, God, she had done it again,

***************************************************************************/

Chapter 8

The Hamptons

3:00 AM Next Morning

Kate had tossed and turned the entire time she had been in bed, she knew it wasn't the time to approach Rick now, he had walked away to keep from saying something hurtful, that was what he always did. No matter how upset she made him, he seldom if ever lost his temper, and striking back with unkind words was just not him. She finally gave up on sleep and slipped on her robe, and opened the huge slider doors to the balcony overlooking the ocean.

It was a beautiful night, the waves lapping onto the shoreline the only noise she could hear, the sea breeze filling her nostrils, transporting her from a world of hurt and anger to one of peaceful tranquility. If only that could be the case in her life, it seemed for every step forward they made, something she did or said put them back, to square one.

The sky was clear with a million stars illuminating the water, sparkling like diamonds for as far as she could see. She squinted her eyes, there was someone on the beach since it was private, it could only be one person, Rick.

She threw on her shorts and top, then grabbed a windbreaker since the air had a bit of chill to it, she wasn't sure exactly what to do, but she wasn't going to waste one minute with the man she loved if she could help it. He was right, of course, he was, she was being selfish again, as she thought back to the conversation a few hours previously. It was petty of her to mention her fear of Gina as she hung on to a stand-in for Rick, and the comment from Esposito, well if she could travel back in time, she would kick his ass, twice.

As she made her way quietly down the path to the beach, she kept her eyes peeled on Rick, it looked as if he were running sprints up and down the beach, then practicing some pretty fancy karate moves, she would have never guessed, the man constantly surprised her. He was in much better shape now than he had been consuming double cheeseburgers and chocolate shakes daily from Remy's when he was at the precinct with her and the boys.

If he saw her approaching, he made no sign, he continued his running and then a series of kicks and maneuvers, she stopped short of encroaching on his space, and simply waited for him to complete his routine.

"What are you doing down here, you should be sleeping Kate," He said, not hatefully but obviously still upset with her from a few hours previously.

"I could ask you the same question, but to answer yours, I never slept, you know I didn't want to leave things the way they were. I know you, Rick, I know you walk away rather than saying things that hurt my feelings, but sometimes, Hell Rick get pissed at me, sometimes make me apologize.

"You've given me a free pass for as long as we have known each other. Doctor Burke told me, he had no idea where you got your patience from, even he yelled at me and some of my stupid actions. I was wrong, you were right, and I can't undo the Josh time frame, God only knows how much I wish I could, how badly I wish I could do a lot of things, but Rick, walking away to keep from saying something isn't going to fix us.

"We've had years apart from each other, I love you, I know you love me, but Babe, you have to know it's OK to be upset with me, to even yell at me sometimes. God, my parents used to go at it tooth and nail, then I was sent out to play, I guess makeup sex isn't anything new.

"I want to fight, I want to clear the air, then I want to take you back inside and fuck your brains out. I don't want you to be afraid of my feelings, so much you hold things inside. I spent the entire time we were together at the 12th forcing you to do that, so please Rick, fight with me, then make love to me. I know I screwed up, and I'm sorry." She got it out before the tears fell,

Whatever he was expecting wasn't what he had just heard, Kate had told him exactly what she wanted to say, without breaking down, or one use of subtext. He grabbed his towel as she stood her ground, even when he started walking the 5 steps toward her, she didn't flinch. When he reached her, he looked into her eyes, and then kissed her like she hadn't been kissed in a long time.

Even though it was a private beach there were laws about conduct, as they kissed their way back to the home, then the shower, ripping the clothes from each other, he didn't spare her size, simply picking her up from the shower and placing her sill wrapped in a towel on his bed. When he laid down beside her, she took the initiative,

"I told you I wanted to fuck your brains out, this time babe, it's all you, just lean back and enjoy". She more than made up for any hurt feelings, if this was makeup sex, hell he would fight with her every day. God, she knew his body, in just a few times they had been intimate before she pushed him to the limit several times before pulling back, "Paybacks a bitch Rick, like you do to me, Babe, but this time" and then he was sent over the edge and the parade started.

They lay in each other's arms for a while listening to the waves, not saying a word, until he heard a quiet voice,

"Do you forgive me Babe?"

"Was that your version of makeup sex? If it was get ready for a fight every day, God Kate, you're right I had no idea, and yes I forgive you IF"

"IF Rick, if what?"

"This time we make love, not have sex, and it's your turn, OK Babe, those are my terms of forgiveness"

She rolled over on top of him, looked deep into his eyes, and said, "I love you, Richard Castle, I accept those terms with one condition, that you get your turn as well,"

Hours later the sun was shining through the curtains, Kate pulled the covers over their heads and began to make love to him all over again. He awoke to have her in the middle of his favorite technique, stopping her just in time, till he could satisfy her, then they exploded together.

"Kate, what were we fighting about?" Rick asked,

"I don't remember, but was it worth it Babe?" She kissed him gently then deeply and then laid her head on his chest and fell asleep, as his big arm pulled her into him tightly.

Xx

She awoke a few hours later, she reached over gently and his arm that had held her so tightly was missing, his side of the bed was cold, sending shivers down her spine. She jumped up and threw on a robe, then she heard his voice coming from the kitchen, he was singing. She had only heard his voice once, when he sang along with the heartbreak anthem, now her victory song, Girl from Yesterday.

She took a few steps closer to hear him better, damn he was rocking it, she listened to the words, then realized it was another Eagles song, he must be a fan as well, this wasn't one of the most requested songs they did, but she knew the lyrics by heart. No More Cloudy Days. She inched closer and out the door as she heard his lyrics, he was really good, and the song was so appropriate

Sitting by a foggy window
Staring at the pouring rain
Falling down like lonely teardrops
Memories of love in vain
These cloudy days, make you wanna cry
It breaks your heart when someone leaves and you don't know why

I can see that you've been hurting, baby I've been lonely too
I've been out here lost and searching, looking for a girl like you
Now I believe the sun is gonna shine
Don't you be afraid to love again, put your hand in mine...

She had reached him from behind just as he started on the chorus, and she joined in adding the harmony, as she wrapped her arms around him, he turned and smiled, the next verse she knew was his message to her, he never said it but he didn't have to.

I know a place where we can go where true love always stays
There's no more stormy nights, no more cloudy days

I believe in second chances
I believe in angels, too
I believe in new romances
Baby, I believe in you
These cloudy days are coming to an end
And you don't have to be afraid to fall in love again

Baby, I would never make you cry
I would never make you blue
I would never turn away
I would never be untrue
I know a place where we can go where true love always stays
There's no more stormy nights, no more cloudy days

She turned his face as he finished the verse and kissed him sweetly,

"Rick, I was so afraid things had crashed last night, then I woke up and you were gone. I started to run out here, then I heard you singing this song, why this one Babe? Or is that too personal?"

"It's not too personal, I'm a writer, and I appreciate those who can put their thoughts down on paper, and these two guys, Frey and Henley were masters of capturing emotions almost everyone in the world has, are, or will be going through. The first time I heard it was at a concert and it struck me, they did in one verse what took me chapters to convey, 'I believe in second chances, I believe in angels too' I never put those concepts together, until, well eh, after Roy's funeral."

Kate's tears fell gently, "You're talking about my shooting, Angel's part, and wanting so badly to give me a second, well another second chance, and I blew it then, I'm so sorry Babe."

"You know I waited so long to hear you say those words, but after the last few days, I realized, it's not important who was right, who was wrong, just that we worked through it, with love and respect. Please, no more I'm sorry, we both have plenty if we kept score."

"Well, I am sorry I hurt you again last night, you were right and I fell back into old ways, I'm glad you called me on it right away."

"Well, if that was any sample of how our fights are going to end, then be prepared to fight every day, God, you were so HOT last night, I had no idea,"

She smiled shyly, "Well, let's just say that we won't have to fight to have makeup sex, OK? I mean we could skip the fight and just move to the sex part; I love you, and when we make love it makes me forget the fool I was for so long."

"The fool we both were, and Agreed Counselor" he laughed, using her new title as he used to use Detective,

She smiled, "I know we didn't get as far with our talk as we need to, but I would like to spend some time, even if it's just an hour walking on the beach, holding your hand, swimming together, all the things I imagined after I screwed up that summer," she said with a sad look in her eyes.

"Babe, breakfast will be done in a few minutes, I agree, let's take today, all of it, and just do things we each love to do. We need to go to the stores to refurbish some of the items the staff never stock, fresh produce, for your salads, and we're low you your sugar-free vanilla for your coffee" he smiled,

She hugged him, the man never stopped thinking about her, what she wanted what would please her all the way down to her damn coffee, she loved him more and more every day.

They had breakfast and then showered alone so that they would make it out of the bedroom, Kate was amazed at how good he looked, God, he was ripped now, and hadn't aged a bit. They walked along the beach, collecting shells, just holding hands, humming songs from time to time, and stopping to kiss, they had to keep it G level since Rick's neighbor's grandkids were out, and on the beach next door. His touch, holding her hand, gently swaying as they walked was a constant reminder to her of just how beautiful the day, hell the world was.

When they went to the city proper, she was amazed at how laid back the people with money really were when they were away from the spotlight. They all seemed genuine, well to her first impression, and the only hiccup came when they ran into the mistress of a drug runner from New York, who had given them problems during a case they had worked. Natalia Roosevelt was a spiteful woman, often dropping leaks to the RAG magazines when she spotted Rick trying to steal away for a few days of rest.

She was, at that time a prominent member of the community, served on City Council, and was the owner of the place to go, now, her bar was gone, she was defeated by a High School senior for her City Council post, and she was pretty much shunned from parties and events. She seemed to live for revenge, and her first words to Kate where,

"So, you're back with the Cop Bitch, enjoy it Castle, she'll leave you like all the rest as soon as she learns about all your secrets"

"Are you talking about his former fiancé Beth, Natalie, well I knew him before, and not that it's any of your business, but we never lost touch, even had Beth's approval. By the way, I've had a job change since we last met, I'm now the owner of my own Law Firm which means suing you for slander is free, and actually quite enjoyable. I think your next trick is here, pointing to a businessman definitely out of his comfort zone, for you Natalie, better make the money before the sagging sets in, well any worse than it already has."

They turned and walked away from an open mouth female bully who had just had her ass handed to her, and was just realizing it.

Xx

The sun was just beginning to set when they started their drive back, Rick took the opportunity to follow the coastline until the sun was completely gone, then pulled over kissed her sweetly, "Thanks for today, I enjoyed myself, and have never seen Natalie handled the way you did, it was worth the price of admission."

"You're welcome and I enjoyed the day as well, she was, is and will always be that way so the best way to get her, is to hit her where she plays, intimidation. I think you won't have too many more surprise visits from the paparazzi anymore because of her leaks"

"How did you know about that Kate, I mean yes it happened, and I was here writing, they actually camped out, all convinced that I was hiding my mistress, I let them stay for two weeks once till they finally gave up."

"I read Rick, sometimes even the RAG papers if it had your name in an article, it was just my way of staying as close to you as I could." She kissed him and then, "Speaking of we better get going, I do have a law license to protect from arrests for public indecency, once we get going" she smiled,

"Kate, I know you want to know about my time in England, and I'll tell you everything, but could we let tonight continue, just the two of us. I don't want to end a beautiful day with a recap of things I know will hurt us both, just one more night Babe?"

"If you hadn't suggested it, I was going to, I want to remember this day and night, with just the two of us in those memories, let's go home, Rick."

TBC