A/N: Thank you so much for the lovely response to the last chapter! I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year! For those who were concerned about the M rated parts, this chapter does not contain any so you're safe to read it, however the next one will be quite a bit different. I'm sorry to say that there will only be one chapter and an epilogue after this, but all good things must come to an end. Thanks as always for your wonderful support! Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Castle related.

Finding Solid Ground Pt.2

"And I sometimes think that a moment of touching is the difference between complete utter despair and the ability to carry on."

-Eleanor Cameron

Two a.m. November 9th, 2015

Despite the light mood that has returned between them, they eat their dinner in silence. Based on everything they've seen inside the Amangalla so far, Castle suspected that the food would be just as spectacular and he isn't disappointed. Slow cooked roast with red potatoes and carrots compliment the colonial theme and make him feel as if he's eating a meal that Grandma would have cooked on a Sunday afternoon.

They finish around the same time and Castle pushes the cart with their plates into the hall. Kate's just stepped out of the bathroom with her toothbrush in hand when he closes the door and he flashes her a smile before grabbing his toothbrush and walking into the bathroom. When he returns she's already turned down the bed and climbed in, and she pats the spot beside her. He joins her in the bed, cupping a hand over his mouth just as a yawn slips out.

"Castle, you're tired. Why don't we sleep and you can tell me the last part of our story tomorrow?"

He scoots down beside her on the sinfully soft sheets and then rolls onto his side so that he can look at her while he speaks. The soft cotton of her t-shirt brushes against his hand and he drifts his fingers over the edge of it. She shivers when his knuckles brush against her hip and he runs his hand over her stomach before pulling her against him.

"This is my favorite part of it, I want to tell you now," he whispers against her temple and she shivers again as his words blaze a heated trail over her skin.

"Why is it your favorite?" she asks him as she trails her pointer finger down the front of his shirt. She knows the answer, but she'll never get tired of hearing it.

"You already know, but I think I've found a new way to tell you."

He feels her smile as she presses her lips against his neck. "Tell me," she whispers and it's both a plea and a command at the same time.

There are several factors that led to me being found and reunited with you, but one stands out amongst the others. You. You never gave up, Kate and that's one of the biggest reasons that we made it to where we are right now. Your determination and your fierce belief in me were the foundation of the solid ground we stand on now.

You were understandably broken when I first woke up in the hospital, it was written all over your face. You were weary and burdened with the amount of evidence that had stacked up against me and I only saw you waver under the pressure one time. One time you let yourself question whether I was telling you the truth or not and even then I saw your faith in me.

My first night home you finally broke down in my arms and even without remembering anything about those two months, my body rejoiced in the feeling of yours. I held you as you cried and then I cried with you. Two months without you, Kate, is more than I could ever stand and as much as I hate that I can't tell you where I was, I'm glad that I can't remember the agony of missing you.

After that we promised each other that we would work the case together. Nothing else mattered as long as we were together. I wanted more than anything to erase the haunted look from your eyes, to give you back the day that was stolen from us. I would have married you at any moment, but you wanted to wait until we found our solid ground. I was okay with waiting because I knew we'd find it and I think for the first time in your life, you knew it too.

On my third week home we'd made a great deal of progress and things were finally starting to get back to normal, but we still hadn't reconnected. We both wanted it, but were scared to push the other too far. When we finally admitted what we were feeling, it seemed that everything and everyone was determined to keep us apart. But late that night, in the darkness of our bedroom we reconnected in every way possible and I swore that I'd never get enough of the feeling of your skin pressed against mine.

We continued to heal and reconnect after that and before long we were almost back to where we had been before that terrible day. Every day I prayed that I would remember something about my kidnapping, anything that would give you the answers you so desperately wanted, but the need to know began to fade away as the need to just be together and overcome continued to grow.

And the best day of my life came when I hit my head and was thrust into an alternate reality dream that showed me just what my life would have been like had we never met. It was more like a nightmare, but it confirmed what I had known all along. We're better off together. Prior to hitting my head you told me that you weren't ready for anyone else's perfect day and I started thinking that maybe you would be better off without me. I know that is not true, because despite the flaws we both possess, together we make each other better. We make each other whole.

I woke from my dream with a slight headache and a decision that there would be no more waiting. I asked you to marry me again in the middle of the precinct and before I knew it we were on our way to the Hamptons while preparing a spur of the moment wedding. And you know what? It was absolutely everything that I ever wanted. You were remarkably beautiful as you walked towards me with your father and although they weren't out yet, in that moment I know the stars aligned. We recited our written vowels as the sun set on that chilly November evening almost a year ago and finally I received the greatest gift of all, you as my wife.

During our first dance, you leaned in close and pressed your lips to my ear and you whispered the words 'It was perfect' to me. I held you closer and smiled because all I ever wanted was the perfect day for you. Turns out we only needed each other to make it perfect.

That night I held you in my arms just as I had every night we'd spent together, but it was both the same and completely new. I held you as my wife, I made love to you as my wife, I fell asleep beside my wife and I woke up to you, as my wife. And other than the day Alexis was born, that's the happiest I've ever been in my entire life. Marrying you was and always will be my favorite part of our story, Kate.

We attempted a makeshift honeymoon when we went undercover in the wild, Wild West. It was nothing that I ever would have planned for us, but we made the best of it. Although we spent the majority of it working a case, the ending was quite fun. You're always teaching me new things about you, but that night I learned that you could indeed ride a cowboy and keep your hat perfectly in place.

Moving forward became something we were mastering quite quickly. Although most of your things were already at the loft, we finally ended the lease on your apartment and moved the rest of your things into our home. I remember you being upset with me because I was insensitive about you moving out. I had so many negative memories of that apartment, so many times that I had to walk out of that door and wonder if it was finally the last straw for us. You listened to my thoughts on it, but then you told me yours. You started over in that apartment, you solved your mother's case there and you realized that you'd fallen in love with me while you lived there. Your reasons for missing it were so much better than my ones for not. All of the good parts of our story will always outweigh the bad.

I go too involved in a case after that and my right to shadow you on cases was terminated. I didn't tell you at first because I didn't want to ruin the happiness we'd finally managed to hold on to. You hated it, hated that you were going to be without your partner. I hated it just as much. But just like every other time that something was thrown our way, we overcame it. I acquired my P.I. license online and found myself working the same case as you and the boys.

You did a lot of eye rolling during that one and you can argue all you want that it was real, but I think you were just playing the part. You're a very good actress you know, mostly in the bedroom, but I won't go into detail right now. I must have been pretty good as a P.I. because I helped solved the case and earned my way back into the precinct before you even had time to miss me. Don't roll your eyes, I missed you too.

We worked a lot of interesting cases this year and I received plenty of inspiration for Nikki Heat's newest adventures. But probably one of the most exciting parts for you and I was finally getting the privacy we've both began to crave more and more. I like to think that finding Alexis that lovely apartment not far from us almost at the same time that my mother decided to move into the apartment above her acting studio was life's way of apologizing to us for all the hell it has put us through. I think we've both accepted the apology quite well. They're still close enough to visit us often and in the mean time I get to thoroughly enjoy my wife whenever and wherever I want.

For Valentine's Day you finally got a chance to wear that lovely black leather corset I bought you. It was ridiculously hot even if it only stayed on for a few minutes.

Each year for my birthday I expect you to come up with something insane that will top the first birthday gift you ever gave me. You haven't pulled any more stunts like that one, but I have no complaints about my gifts, especially when I can use both of my legs while thanking you for it afterwards.

This summer we added your touch to the Hamptons house and I have to say that I love it more than I ever have. I think we laughed more that week than ever, but mostly because we spent the majority of it covered in paint. We still have to avoid eye contact when someone who's visiting us there comments on our newest piece of art.

All in all our first year of marriage has been everything I could have ever wanted. You've brought me more happiness then I ever imagined one person could have. You're still the joy in my heart and I'm so thankful that I get to continue solving the mystery of you every day for the rest of my life.

Castle hauls her closer to him as soon as he finishes the story because this year is still his favorite and he can't wait to start another new one with her. Kate must feel the same way because her lips are on his as soon as she's pressed against him. He slicks his tongue into her mouth, paints his love for her over every inch of her warm, wet lips.

He doesn't know how long they lay tangled together making out like teenagers, but there's definitely some daylight shining through the window of their room when they finally drift off to sleep in the solid ground of each other's arms.

Would love to hear your thoughts! xo