a.n. Two chapters in two days. Don't get used to this.

People did not like that kiss in the last chapter. I hope…I hope that you'll see why I did it in this chapter. This one is short, but sweet.

Disclaimer: Nathan Fillion has signed on for season 8. There is hope people! No I do not own Castle or there wouldn't have ever been any doubt.

xxxx

Chapter Twelve

Previously…

He was in the gym beating the hell out of a punching bag. Shaking her head at the physicality of this new Richard Castle, she approached him cautiously.

"Rick?"

Grabbing ahold of the bag to steady it, he looked at her. "Detective? Got a lead?"

"No. Well maybe the one you gave Ryan and Esposito. But that'll take some time. What are you doing down here," she asked, not really knowing how to approach this situation.

"Needed to clear my mind, so I decided to do this. It's what I do." He started to unwrap his hands, while walking over to a bench and grabbing a bottle of water.

"You know it didn't mean anything, right?"

"What?" he asked, the confusion showing on his face.

"That kiss. He kissed me, I pushed him away."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Kate. You're an adult, and we're not together, so kiss whoever you want."

"I want to kiss you," she said, before she could stop herself.

xxxx

Immediately she knows she's shocked him into speechlessness. His eyebrows shoot towards the top of his head, and he opens and closes his mouth as if he's trying to say something but the words just won't come. He flops down on the bench, still looking at her with a shocked expression.

Finally he looks down at his hands then back up at her. "You do?"

Sighing, wondering how the hell they ended up here, she sat down next to him. God Kate! You knew Sorenson was going to kiss you and you let it happen anyway. Idiot! Deciding that the only thing she could tell him was the truth she said, "Yes."

"What does that mean," he asked, the confusion showing on his handsome face.

"Well usually it means doing things with lips and tongues," she said, smirking.

Frowning he said, "I know that. What I mean is that all you want to do? What do you want, Kate?"

He is so not ready for that answer, she thought, still thinking about what she could say that would move them forward without ruining any chance they could have at being something more.

Before she could say anything he was talking again. "I mean do you want a relationship? Or is it just about sex? Or do you just want to kiss me?"

Deciding it would be better to turn the tables she threw the question back at him. "What do you want?"

"I feel like I'm talking to my therapist," he muttered, looking away from her. Running a hand through his hair, he said "I don't know. I…I have…ah hell."

"Very elegantly said, especially for a famous author," she teased.

Scowling at her, he bumped her shoulder with his. "Stop, this is serious."

"Right, sorry. I –"

"I'm not there yet, Kate," he interrupted.

Looking up at him, "What do you mean?"

"After Alexis died, I closed myself off. I don't know how to explain it. I guess I built a wall around my heart so that I could never get hurt again." God that sounds familiar, Kate thought acidly. God! I hate walls! "But…you…" he sighed, squeezing his eyes shut, apparently trying to gather his thoughts. "Kate you are extraordinary. You deserve so much more than I could ever give you. I'm a broken shell of who I used to be, and I don't know if or when I'll ever be the whole person I want to be. I've been working on it. I've been seeing a therapist for, hell going on six years now. I don't know that I'm any closer to being who I want to be than I was when I started."

"Rick," she said, grabbing his hand. "You don't get to decide what I deserve. I know we haven't known each other for very long, but I really, really like you, and I want to see where we could go if we tried to be more. If you don't want to because you don't feel the same, or if you aren't ready, that's fine, but…I think it's best that you know where I stand." God, that was hard to say, Kate thought. She and Castle in her previous time had never talked like this. Maybe if we had, I wouldn't have had so many regrets.

Looking at her again, he said tentatively, "I do feel the same way. I…I think that…no, I know that I'm falling in love with you, and it scares the living daylights out of me. I don't know if I'm ready to do anything about it yet, though I want to…I want to be."

Kate couldn't help the huge grin that spread on her face, even if she wanted to. He's falling in LOVE with me! "I will wait for you, Rick. As long as you need."

"It's not fair," he said, looking away again.

"You are worth waiting for," she said, bringing her hand up to his face and pulling him back to face her. "You are worth it."

Before she could say anything else, he pressed his lips to hers. Shocked, she did nothing for a second before she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck and trying to pull him closer. His tongue slid along her lower lip, seeking permission. Kate moaned and opened her mouth, remembering their first kiss. All too soon he pulled away and gave her a smile that could light up Manhattan.

Leaning back in for another kiss, Kate was interrupted by Ryan who asked, "Are we interrupting something," Kate groaned. Every. Single. Time.

xxxx

a.n.2. I know it's short. But that's not really a cliff hanger, so that's good right? Leave a review.