Faded Memory

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of what could have happened following Rick's discussion with Alexis about the night he danced, fell in love, and lost contact with a girl in college, sometimes memories come back at the worse time. COMPLETELY AU except for the conversation that prompted this and use of some characters names. THIS IS A CASKETT ENDING, EVENTUALLY

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

Chapter 3

Previously

"Well, Maddie will, she knows me too well, and she'll know the minute we walk in together she'll know that I want more than just a work relationship, and she'll try to bust it up and steal you too."

"Kate, we need to get to the crime scene, but can we talk about this more tonight, maybe over a quiet dinner just the two of us? Maddie can't take what is already yours" he smiled his special smile, kissed her quickly then returned to his side of the car.

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

Castle Loft

5:45 PM Same Day

Rick's phone beeped indicating a text, but he wasn't about to open it, not when the woman of his dreams was locked in a lip lock with him, only the elevator's arrival at his floor and the sound of the elevator doors opening broke them apart, gasping for breath.

"Wow," Kate breathed, Why did I wait so long to tell you, we could have been doing this months ago."

"I know right," as Rick checked his text, it was from Alexis, saying she was spending the night with Loren since the study group was going to run long.

"Where's Martha and Alexis, I thought one or both would be here by now" Kate looked shyly at Ricks lips then the floor, then back

"Well Babe, that was Alexis, she's staying at Loren's, her study group is running long."

"Did you just call me Babe? Rick?"

Rick looks like the turkey caught for Thanksgiving Dinner before the hatchet, "Yes, Yes I did, is that OK, I mean if it's n*"

Kates lips crush his and the necking session goes from the hall to the living room couch and intensifies to where one had to stop or there would be no return,

"I love it Rick, Babe, that's our word, You haven't used that for anyone else have you? Gina, Meredith, Kyra?"

"NO, Of course Not, this is US Kate, I don't know how you feel but I keep pinching myself to make it real, I can't believe the woman I have had feelings for all this time, does care for me as well, Babe" as he tried out the new pet name, and receives a deep thank you kiss from Kate.

She smiles like he hasn't seen in a very long time, then as she falls into his embrace,

"Rick, can you just hold me Babe, I have to make myself believe it as well. I thought for sure the day was going to be a disaster, the minute you saw Maddie, there I was, on the sideline, just like in school."

Rick held her and gently whispered in her ear as he massaged her back, "Babe, please stop putting the woman of my dreams down, she is lovely, she's smart, she's fearless, and she's mine, and I'm not letting her go"

He holds her for quite a while, as he feels his shoulder getting wet from her tears, he reaches and hands her his handkerchief, whispering, "I'm right here Babe, whatever it is, I'm right here for you, Always" as he gently kissed her head.

Somehow this exchange has brought them closer as a couple, proving to each other that if needed they would be there for the other, and Always, took on a new meaning.

"Babe, are you OK, I know it's a lot to take so fast, is there anything I can do, I've got you and I won't let you go, ever, I promise"

She finally pulls back through red, loving eyes, she looks at him, "It's scary Rick, really scary, I've never felt this way about any one before, I mean I knew I cared for you, but, please don't run, Babe, I love You, I know it now more than ever,"

"Run? Why would I run Babe, I was afraid to say it, but I'm glad you weren't, I love you too Kate Beckett, more than anything in this world.

One of the reasons we need to talk, I know I have trouble keeping my hands off of you, but we really do need to talk. I want to know all about those things that hurt you, make you happy, things that lovers should know about each other,"

The smile across Kate's face could light up a dark room.

"Let's make dinner, eat, then we can talk, and I want to know ALL about you as well. I know we went through the Kyra years before during the case, but just let me be aware of anything I should know now that I'm your Lady. Gosh, that sounds good," as she leans in to kiss him sweetly.

"It sounds even better to these ears, I Love you Kate Beckett, I know we're going to have issues but let's promise now, that we never get angry with each other without talking and letting us know how the other feels. Babe, now that we're together I'm not sure I could go back, stupid I know"

"Rick, that's not stupid, in fact it's probably one of the smartest things I have ever heard you say. Just for the record, I don't think I could ever go back either."

"OK, IF we ever need it, the other can call out the word PROMISE, and we stop and talk, I mean really talk, OK Babe?"

"I love it, now let's make dinner, I'm getting hungry and I have a new way to burn calories I want to try tonight since we'll be alone."

Rick and Kate setout to finish a meal quickly and it was surprising how well they worked together, less than 25 minutes dinner was done, and they were waiting for the evening coffee to complete brewing. Kate had stolen away for a few minutes and returned in sweats and an NYPD Sweatshirt.

Rick nodded toward the couch, as he brought the serving tray, complete with her sugar free vanilla, and a pot of coffee. They drank their coffee, with their eyes mostly locked on one another, trading sweet kisses, between sips of coffee, and the little tongue helped spread the taste of each flavors.

"Babe we have to talk first, I mean it's important, and if we don't stop, I know I won't be able to" Rick breathes into her ear,

"You're right Rick, we have to get this right, we don't want any misunderstandings, I waited all my life for you." She smiles with a shyness Rick isn't used to seeing.

"How do you want to do this Kate, I mean you know some of my back story, at least from Kyra on but there are some gaps and one particular incident in college I want you to know, even if it was 20 years ago."

They're on the couch, and as Rick sat down, Kate laid down between his legs, using his chest as a backstop, and put her right hand up to hold his hand.

"Rick, I want to start with Sorenson, he meant nothing to me when he came back, even if he did want to reconnect, I had already started feeling something for you"

"But I saw you kiss him in the breakroom*"

"You saw him kiss me and I turned my head, so he got most of the side lip, when you said something maybe I wanted to make you jealous. You did scare the hell out of me, volunteering to make the drop, Rick, you could have been killed, and it would have been my fault. I'm sorry Rick, that was wrong, and a lie, please forgive me"

Rick kissed the top of her head, "That's forgiven, and forgive me for jumping to conclusions, I should have trusted you when you said it was over with him. I didn't feel I had any right to say anything, and it was tough to keep my mouth shut.

"When we finally talked about my Mom and you digging into her file, I knew you did the right thing, but I was so pissed when those models were running their hands all over you for that Cosmo photo shoot. I think that pissed me off more than the digging, but like you I had no right to say anything, so I hid that anger and took it out on you for digging into the case, I'm Sorry Babe, so Sorry.

"Kate for the record, that wasn't my idea and I didn't get a lot of say in it then, I do now, and I can promise you NO more Models touching me, I swear."

"Good, because I carry a gun, and you really don't have a choice now that, you are my man, my boyfriend, my love."

She turned her head slightly to catch Rick in a sweet kiss, just to reassure him, that she was his, and he was hers.

"I wanted you to know that bet we won, when the murders traded victims, even though the boys wouldn't pay up, was some of the best detective work I have seen. You're more than just an author playing Cop Rick, you make my job so much easier, but Babe if they find out we're together we could be split, or worse they could keep you from coming to the station at all."

"Kate, as much as I love being with you, by your side, I just want you to be safe and walk through those doors to me, to Alexis, and to Mother every night. I'll be there till they kick me out, but Babe, if it means keeping you safe, then I can give that up, only if I have to"

Kate kisses him and hold him just a little tighter, as a tear comes to her eye, "I don't know what life would be without you, if there would even be a life, so it's not only me to keep safe, you have to do the same for me."

"Can I bring up a point now Kate, this one has bothered me for a long time, and I want to get it out"

Kate rises a little and now has her arms around his neck, "Babe tell me, was it something I did, or did I hurt you, this is the time we need to be open and honest, right?"

"Right, but it wasn't anything you did, well directly, Remember the case we worked, and I was going to accept the offer in London? The only reason was I felt I had to get away from New York, that's when I knew for sure I was in love with you and I thought, I didn't have a prayer, it would be too hurtful to see you with anyone else."

"Confession Rick. I prayed something would go wrong and you'd stay here with me, when you told me you were going to stop writing Nikki Heat, and go to London to write that other guy, I was heartbroken. I missed you and you hadn't even left."

"Like I said we talked about Kyra and I really do owe you an apology, I did interfere, and stick my nose where it didn't belong, but Rick, I was so scared, so damned scared just like Maddy I thought for sure Kyra would reel you right back in and I would be heartbroken."

"I told you everything about my relationship with Kyra, the family, how we grew together, and how finally I was left under the clock at Times Square while she went to London, but there's a bit more."

"Oh God Rick, more with Kyra, you aren't still in love with her, are you?"

"BABE?"

"I'm sorry Rick, I know that's just my insecurities acting up, I know when you told me you love me, that it was over with anyone else. What do you need to tell me if not that?"

"Well you've heard Mother explain how I came about, the one night of love she had, and felt as if she loved a life time. When I first entered college, I was just 17 and a buddy would take me to parties, long story short I hooked up with Allison and spent one night with her.

She was gone in the morning and I spent a year looking for her, finally giving up. I just wanted to tell you, if something ever comes up, you can say, yeah, he told me about it. It was twenty years ago, and he loves me now, end of story, OK?"

Kate sits up turns and faces Rick, locking on his eyes, "Babe do you still have feelings for her? Or is there more to the story than what you're telling me?"

"I don't have or think I ever did have feelings for her, it was just a mystery I couldn't solve, I mean you spend a night, things are going great, you think you're headed for a relationship and it blows up in your face.

I was hurt for a while, I guess it took me almost two years to start trust enough to start dating and that's when I met Kyra. Now it's your turn to tell me about Brent Edwards, and all the other boyfriends I am insanely jealous of already."

Kate explained everything, from the time Brent wanted to take it all the way, and her refusal to the time she actually did lose her virginity in college, alcohol played a part and also rebellion against her parents.

Each would ask questions, the other would answer as truthfully as they could all the while wrapped in each other's arms.

"Anything else you want to know Babe? she purred, If not meet me in the Bed in 5 minutes, I have waited as long as I can for you. I promise you Rick, I won't be gone in the morning, I'm here for the long term.

The talk had been good, but it also reminded both that they both came with pasts, it was important to accept that past and begin to build their own memories.

Tonight was the night that started Caskett memories, over and over and neither had ever felt so loved, so satisfied, and so complete as when they finally lay together, eyes locked on one another, and both saying "I love you Babe" at the exact same time, oh what a night with a lot more to share.