I'll Still be Loving You

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version SEQUEL to Dinner Date, Please read that before starting this. This story picks up without any time lapse and continues with Kate and Rick as they forge ahead as a Couple and concludes the story arc started when Rick left suddenly.

I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 2

Previously

"Then I'm ready, I just need to stop at Barnes and Noble to pick up the latest 007 Book, I'm on the pre-production list and got a text my copy is ready for pick up. Don't be angry Rick, if you were writing you know it would be only your books I would be reading, right?" as she smiled and kissed him.

Rick kissed her, but something was up, he was uncomfortable, Kate could feel it when she held him.

"Babe, are you OK, I mean if it bothers you, I won't pick it up, I'm sorry Sweetie,"

"No, No, it's fine, it's silly, I guess, jealous of some ghost writer no one even knows who it is, stupid, I know"

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Castle's Loft

Later that Day

Rick knew that a special delivery would be coming soon, and he definitely didn't want Kate to find out about his work in England, not before he had an opportunity to sit and explain the entire story, including Cricket, Gina's and Lord Barrow's part in his role. They had enjoyed each other several times, and now after showers, well three showers, were finally dressed and in the living room.

"Kate, can you come sit here with me, Babe? We said there were things we needed to talk about, and I have something I need to tell you, don't look like that, it doesn't involve another woman, I'm yours, I've been yours since the letter."

Kate lets a breath she had been holding out, visibly relieved that whatever Rick needed to tell her didn't involve a woman, "Good to hear, I'd hate to have to use my gun this early into our relationship" as she sat next to him and stole a sweet short kiss.

"What's up Babe, I mean why do you look so serious?"

"Well you mentioned the book, and having to pick it up, and well I, eh"

"Rick are you trying to tell me you wrote No Time to Mourn, and Double Edge Justice? Is this what this is all about, is this what has you so worried?"

He pulled her into his lap, locked on her eyes, "Kate, I told you I never lied to you, and I won't start now, so yes I wrote those two, I have one more book on the contract then I'm done in England. I have to go back in 11 weeks, and Kate, PLEASE think about it, I want you to go with me. I'm so damn tired of Skype calls to see your face, I need to have you with me, so promise me you'll think about it, Please?"

"You're really serious Rick, I mean you want me to go to England with you?" She breathed

"I know, another Sorenson move, and I'm sorry but it's just till I finish the third book, it won't be forever, I'm sorry bu*

"OK, when do we leave?" She's smiling bright enough to light up lower Manhattan,

"What? Did you just say OK? I mean aren't you upset?"

"Well, first question answer, YES, I said YES, you don't think you are leaving my side anymore do you MR.? Second question not upset, I'm extremely proud of you Rick; I downloaded a pirated copy of it last week. I knew only you could write love and heartbreak scenes like those I read. It was almost like reading how I treated you in real life, I cried the entire night and was pissed at myself for even reading the damn thing." She lays her head on his chest,

"Rick, I'm so sorry, when I saw how Mara treated Bond, it hit me like a slap on the face. I know we said we weren't going back, but Babe, no one, is ever going to hurt you like I did before, no one I promise you."

"When did you put all the pieces together, Kate, I mean I went to great lengths to hide it, I mean*"

"Yes, I know Hugo," as she laughed, it was a good disguise by the way, but I memorized your face, it was all I had for such a long time. "I have to tell you Maddie was ready to have me committed for a Psych Hold, she thought I had completely lost it.

She stayed with me for quite a while convinced I was ready to do something bad, first I was seeing the man I loved with his ex, and to her you looked nothing like the Rick she had met. She had told me for almost a year not to be stupid, that men like you don't come around often.

Just one question Rick, and really, it's none of my business, don't answer it if you don't want to, but Why Gina? Why was she allowed to know, I mean I get it now, but then it hurt like hell to see her with you. I finally began to feel the hurt I made you feel, and I'm so sorry Babe, I wou*"

"Hey, no going back remember. She figured it out, just like you, she knew that the only other writing gig I would accept would be for that certain British Agent, and to tell you the truth, I think Paula told her trying to help. She was afraid I was going to hook up with my Assistant, who by the way is named Katherine, but we call her Cricket."

"Is that the young lady that fills the bikini like a Victoria Secret Model, I've seen her in pics an I can see why Paula would be threatened," Kate replied, with a tear in her eye.

Rick laughed, "Love, there is nothing, there never was anything, and never will be anything between Cricket and I, she's like a big sister to Alexis. I need to let you know she will be in New York in one month, she's a big reason why the books have been so successful in the UK. She's going to stay with us, unless that's a problem, I mean I don't wa*"

Kate's lips crash on his, and shuts his question down, mid-sentence. "Rick, you were with her all those weeks in London, you think I'm going to be jealous of her in our home with me in our bed. She's welcome love, I knew someone had to be taking good care of you, I'm glad she was there, especially now that I know that you still love me even though my body can't compare to hers." As once again tears come to her eyes

"Kate, that's the last time I ever want to hear you put the woman I love down, YOUR Body is the one I ache for when I am gone, not anyone else, so please love, don't do that. You knock yourself down, and it hurts me, please?" Kate could see by the look in his eyes he was serious, she was the one girl in his life, his dreams, she didn't understand why but she loved it.

Just as an old fashion make out session was getting to the good part, the doorbell rang, as Rick cursed, "Damn it"

"Be right back, don't go anywhere" he whispered as Kate smiled such a goof, but her goof and she loved him with all of her heart.

Rick signed for a package and then returned to the couch, with it in his hands,

"Kate, would you like to open the first copy of "Double Edge Justice" printed in the USA? I mean you don't have too if you" she kissed him to shut him up and gently took the package from his trembling hands.

"You talk too much sometimes" as she smiled the smile that Rick lived for.

They gently opened it together, and just as the first book, "No Time to Mourn" had arrived, the packaging was the same, so all Rick needed to do, was add it to the atmospheric proof case, to preserve it. Another paperback as well as 10 copies of the hardback version were also enclosed. Kate opened the book, picked copy number two and stored it away in her nightstand, to save for a personal signing session later.

Just as she had returned to her seat, comfortably tucked under Rick's arm, his cell rang a distinctive tone she hadn't heard before, as she thought she recalled the song, it was from a Bond movie "For Your Eyes Only", she smiled only Rick would associate songs with a person like that.

"Sorry Babe, that's Cricket, I have to take this call", as he answered and place it on speaker phone, pulling Kate back down as she had started to leave.

"Hi Cricket, how are things there without us, bet you miss Alexis and your shopping buddy."

"Good Morning Rick, things are fine, Good Morning Kate, I hope you don't mind me calling you Kate, I've heard so much about you," then she goes into a impersonation of Rick, "Kate does this, Kate does that, I wish Kate were here" then she started laughing, "Believe me he's totally Gob smacked" as Kate looked curious,

"It means Infatuated, or in love with you", Rick said blushing a bit.

"I only have a couple of items of business then I'll let you get back to your Holiday, as I will mine. First the book number one from US Publishing, with some extra copies I had placed in your courier should have reached you by now, if not let me know and I will follow up.

Next I just wanted to make sure it was still OK for me to stay at the Loft, I need to make Hotel arrangements if not since my friend has moved in with her boyfriend, the twit that he is, but oh that's her business," as she chuckles.

"Hi Cricket, Rick told me to call you that, and I'm glad we're getting this chance to talk. The books just got here about a half hour ago, thank you, that was thoughtful for the extra copies, and Of course you're staying with us, no questions about it. The only rule, you have to be dressed when you come down to breakfast, My Lord you can rock a bikini my young friend" as she laughed.

Rick laughed when he heard Cricket sputter on the other end of the phone, "Eh, Kate, I mean there*"

"It's OK Cricket, I explained there has never been anything between us, but you will have to come to breakfast with more than your bikini on," as he howled in laughter

"Just wait Rick, I'll team up with Alexis and get even, and of course Kate, I promise you no skin shown at meals" and she finally broke into a laugh.

"Great now that we have broken the ice, We're looking forward to having you here Cricket, hope you enjoy your time there, but if you want to come early, you're welcome."

"Thanks Kate, but I think you're going to be busy in the Hamptons if Rick purchased the home as he was planning, so Good Luck with that. I'll ring you when it's closer to when I'll be arriving, take care you two, talk soon" and the phone went dead.

"Rick, how long have you been working on the new Hamptons house, just out of curiosity?"

"Oh, yeah, I guess since your first letter, I knew that if things went well, we had to start fresh, no baggage, and what better than a new Hamptons home" as he flashed her a shy smile,

"You were that sure of us, that early Rick? I mean I had just begun to understand what the hell I had done to you," her tears begin to fall,

Pulling her gently into him, he gently wiped away her tears, shook his head, and said, "No More tears Kate, we both cried enough to fill a river. It's time to live, time to celebrate life, take a look at these, if you will please" as he pulled a folder from the end table beside him,

Kate opened the folder and immediately gasped, "Oh my God Rick, you said beach house, not mansion this must have cost you a fortune. Is Alexis house like this too?"

Rick smiled at the thought Kate had already named the first house, "Yeah, it's a little bigger than this one, but same basic layout. I'm sure you'll add your touches to make it ours"

"Do you have the keys yet, or is it still in process Babe?"

Rick smiled as he pulled out a set of keys, and handed Kate a little square box, "We leave tomorrow morning, if that's OK, the first day of the rest of our lives."

She gasped, and he laughed, "Babe, we'll get there but it's not the ring, I promise you"

She opened the box to see a beautiful key ring, Kate engraved with a brand-new key attached. "What's this Rick?"

"It's a key to the house, of course, what did you think? We'll have to set the gate code when we get there, so be thinking of a number we won't forget, no birthdays or social security digits, OK?" He says so matter of fact, like she does this every day.

"OK? What's the code for Alexis house?" she asked with her heart racing.

Rick smiled, "It's your badge number, so we can't use that"

"But Rick, you had that house reworked when you were, well we weren't, I mean" she gasped, thinking Gina must really have hated her with that code.

"Yeah, I know, but I needed something I would never forget, and I promise you, there's nothing I will ever forget about you. Speaking of badges, what's the situation with work, I mean I'm thrilled you're with me, and will be going to England, but how did you pull it off?"

"Officially I am on long term personal leave for 36 weeks, then my vacation accrued kicks in for another 19 weeks, so I'm not thinking of anything but us, if I never go back I really don't care. When Mom died, the annuities she invested in for me have got me set, not rich, but comfortable if I never work again."

"Was Roy OK with all this, I mean I love it but how did he react?" Rick asked showing concern,

"Before or after the paramedics finished working on him, she laughed, no seriously, he just told me "Castle loves you, don't muck this up Kate, I'll cover for you, but it would make me happy to never see you come back here again, IF you and Rick can get on the same page." I guess he knew before I did, Hell everyone in the precinct knew before me, I was so Stupid,"

Rick kissed her gently, again Babe, not stupid, human and please don't talk like that about the woman I love with all my heart, OK?"

"I'm sorry Babe, there's so much I want to say to you, and I seem to screw it up when I s*"

"Kate, we have forever, let's relax, tomorrow we can talk on the way there, and while we're up there, OK?"

Kate just reached up, cupped his cheeks with her hands, kissed him deeply, "of course, I love you Richard Castle, and I will Always"