Thanks for the great comments everyone! I previously said you wouldn't have to wait long for the next chapter, so here it is! Enjoy and please review! :)

A special thanks to "Tsurwolf" (from Castletv .net) for one of the two ideas you gave me!

Castle was sitting in his office thinking. He had already sent the flowers with a card and expected Kate to be getting them any second. Castle pictured Kate taking one look at the card and flowers and throwing them out. There was no way she'd like that. He'd known her for a while and didn't think she was a flower person. He thought of ways to impress her – to make sure she knew he cared. Then he thought of getting her jewellery. After further consideration he realized that she would most likely think he was trying to buy her. He knew that Kate Beckett was not a woman who could be bought with expensive gifts. A light bulb went off and he knew what he was going to do. It was completely Castle - he opened up the yellow pages and found the number he was looking for.

"Hi, you've reached Catbird Creative, speciality in aerial advertising. This is Bill speaking."

"Hi Bill, this is Rick Castle and I would like to place a request for a skywriting message." Sure, he knew Kate might kill him, but this way she would know what she meant to him. Castle gave the receptionist his name, information, Visa number, and the location he wanted it to be seen – right above the twelfth precient.

"When do you want this delivered?"

"Tomorrow morning, around seven o'clock."

"Well since it's on such short notice there will be an extra fee. And if you for any reason decided to cancel it that's a second, additional fee."

"That's fine. Thank you."

As soon as he hung up Alexis came down the stairs. "Who was that on the phone?"

"Oh nobody, just a telemarketer." Castle tried to sound casual.

"I see. Well, I'm off to study group. Bye."

"Do you promise to stay out late and wreak havoc on the city?"

"Dad, it's a Monday – I'll be home by nine." Alexis headed towards the door.

Kate stood at Castle's door. Raising her hand to knock, but she dropped it to her side, for the sixth time in the past minute. She wanted to knock but she couldn't bring her body to do what her heart wanted. In a few seconds the choice was made for her.

The door opened to reveal a youthful red-headed teenager. "Alexis?"

"Kate?" She was shocked to see the detective standing before her. "I assume you want to talk to my dad?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Let's just say, my dad has been moping around here for the past few days. I just put two and two together."

Kate gave Alexis an inquisitive look.

"Well, I'm off to a study group… and you have your own place to be." Alexis hollered in the direction of Castle's office. "Dad, there's someone at the door for you."

"Alexis! Wait. I don't –" Kate interjected, but almost instantly Alexis stepped foreword and hugged Kate. "I hope you two work this out. I've never seen him so… so sad."

"Thanks." She said awkwardly. "I hope so too."

Kate was so stunned all she could do was hug the girl back. Alexis pulled away and headed for the elevator. Kate stood awaiting the unknown. She thought of turning back and bolting towards the door, but she was more afraid of what would happen if she left. She didn't have to wait long as Castle soon came out of his office.

"Hey. I didn't think I'd ever see you again. I'm glad you came." He walked towards her.

"I got the flowers and the card. They were lovely. Thanks." She gave a half-hearted smile.

"Alexis gave me the idea. I didn't really take you as a flower or sappy card person, but it got you here, so, I'll definitely have to thank her."

Kate was surprised. He could have easily made some cocky remark about how many times he'd sent flowers to women and it worked. But instead he told the truth, and she was thankful.

"So, do you want anything?" He motioned towards the couch.

"No thanks." She walked over and sat down.

"Sure you don't want a lime, some salt, and a certain liquid of choice?" He tried to break the ice. Don't make jokes; this isn't a joke to her. Lanie's voice rung loud and clear in his head, and he cursed under his breath.

She nervously laughed. "Again, I think I'll pass."

Since she was sitting on the loveseat, he figured it best to sit on the other couch. "Sorry, I'm just nervous. I don't know what to say. I want to fix this, but I don't know how. Tell me what to do."

Kate didn't say anything. His voice sounded unsure of himself. She wasn't used to this side of the mystery writer.

"Please. Tell me how to fix it."

There was no reaction from Kate.

There was a long silence until Castle finally spoke. "You're afraid. Aren't you?" He looked at her, but she sat there, lifeless.

Kate was silent. She didn't move, and didn't dare look at Castle.

"I'm not going to leave you." He moved from where he was sitting and sat down next to her waiting for her to respond, to say something, to just acknowledge he was there. "I won't leave like Will, or any of your past boyfriends. I won't cheat on you, or leave you high and dry. I'm here. Trust me Kate. Please. I'm all yours. I'm here now, and I always will be."

She wanted him to stop calling her Kate. She preferred Beckett or detective. They were more professional. Kate sounded friendly, and it was easier for her to keep her emotions in tact in a professional setting. She finally spoke. "I know." She still couldn't look at him and therefore just stared straight ahead.

There was silence. Lanie was right; she was closed off. He didn't know how to get through. He tried flattery, giving her space and time, but he couldn't knock down the wall she created. He tried to figure out what she meant. I know. He kept repeating those words over and over to himself. If she knew he'd never leave then why wouldn't she just take the chance on him? Why couldn't she trust him? Sure she'd had past boyfriends who left, but it was a break-up. Everyone goes through them; you cry over it and then overcome it. He'd been through two divorces and plenty of failed relationships; you deal with it and get past it. So why couldn't she get past whatever was holding her back? And finally his brain clicked and he understood. It had nothing to do with him, Will, or any of her past boyfriends. It had something to do with someone much more important.

"I'll never leave…" he paused. He didn't want to upset her but he knew it needed to be said, "not like your mother did." He did it, he figured it out.

She shifted uncomfortably. She wanted to leave and forget the whole thing happened. But something kept her grounded and stuck to the chair. It was Castle. No person had ever made her feel the way he had.

By her facial expression he knew he had struck a cord. "Kate, please say something."

There it was. The way he said her name made her knees weaken. She was sure that if she had been standing she would have collapsed. Pausing for a moment she got up enough courage to speak."You don't know that. You can't promise something like that." She finally looked at him, and made eye contact. "You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, or even in the next five minutes. We're here one second, and then gone the next." It took everything Kate had to not burst into tears. "My mother told me she would never leave and that she'd always be here for me. So, please Castle, don't make promises you can't keep."

Castle looked into her eyes and didn't break eye contact. He finally understood. It wasn't that she didn't trust him. She'd already proven that she had. She'd let him into her life, her past, and slowly into her heart. He finally realized that what scared her wasn't letting him into her life; it was if she was ever forced to let him go.

He reached for her hand and held it. She tried to pull away but his grip only got stronger. "Okay, I can't promise that nothing will ever happen to me. But what I can promise is that I will fight like hell to prevent it. I'll fight for Alexis, mother, and you."

She couldn't hold back any longer. She let a few tears roll down her cheek. Keeping one hand gripping Kate's, he lifted the other and slowly wiped her tears away. Finally she smiled; something Castle thought he would never see again. "I will do everything in my power to stay on this Earth with you." He lowered his hand down and now both hands were holding hers. "I promise to wear my vest everywhere I go, and if you tell me to stay in the car I will. I'll do anything you want me to. I'll do whatever I can to make sure I'm always here. I promise."

"Promise?" She looked hopeful, scared, worried, sad, and a million other emotions all at once.

"Promise." He smiled reassuring her.

"I trust you." She looked at him, "just don't screw it up!" She said jokingly and playfully punched his arm.

"I won't." He hesitantly leaned down and planted a kiss on her cheek. He pulled back, and just to be safe he said the only thing that came to mind: "Apples."

She laughed. "I'm not going to hurt you, Castle." She slipped into a serious tone. "But…"

He tensed.

"You missed." She smiled.

"What?" He was confused.

She pulled him closer, and found his lips. The only thing running through her mind now was that she couldn't believe she was foolish enough to push him away the first time.

At last she pulled away and leaned into him. He wrapped his arm around her and together they shifted comfortably on the couch.

"Thanks." She smiled.

"For…?"

"Everything. I expected some huge over the top gesture, but I'm glad you never went there. It was very un-Castle like of you. It was nice."

He had forgotten – the skywriting. Oh shit. "Yeah… you're welcome. But… I'll be right back. I have to make a phone call." He tried to stand and Kate knew something was up.

"Castle! What did you do!? So help me if you – "

"Nothing, I swear!" his voice was noticeably higher "I just have to make a quick phone call. That's all." He searched his brain for an excuse. "My book agent wanted to me call her, and I forgot until now. She wanted to discuss some signing event." He hoped she bought it, got up, and practically sprinted to his phone. He made sure he was out of Kate's ear range and called the skywriting company.

"Hi, you've reached Catbird Creative, speciality in aerial advertising. This is Todd speaking."

"Hi Todd, this is Rick Castle. I was speaking to Bill earlier. I had a booking for tomorrow morning." He was eager.

"Let me just have a look. Ah, yes, there you are."

"I need to cancel it!"

"Are you sure Mr. Castle?"

"Yes one hundred percent sure!"

"If you wish, but since it's less than twenty-four hours notice, there will be a small fee."

"That's fine, I'll pay double, I'll buy you a pony! Anything, as long as that plane does not leave the ground tomorrow!"

"Okay sir. I don't need a pony." He chuckled. "I'll be sure to cancel it, and the charge should show up on your bill in a couple days."

"That's fine. Thank you very much." Castle hung up and proceeded back to the couch. "Sorry about that. She doesn't know when to stop talking."

"Mhm." Kate's tone of voice told Castle that she didn't buy it.

He ignored it and since that ordeal was avoided, he returned to his position on the couch. They stayed there lost in the moment, just cuddled up for what seemed like hours. Everything was quiet and perfect – until Castle decided to be, well, Castle.

"You know, Ryan and Esposito had a bet that we slept together."

"Is that so?" She raised her eyebrow.

"Yeah. After you left the break room I found out. I told them nothing happened, so Ryan won."

"I see." All she was thinking about was how Ryan and Esposito would be doing paperwork for the next month.

"But personally, between you and me, I'd prefer it if Esposito won."

"Would you now?"

"Yes. We could fix it you know." He raised his eyebrow.

"Only on one condition."

He was bewildered. He expected to be hit, yelled at, but of all the things he expected, that response was most definitely not one of them.

"You tell me the new Nikki Heat title."

"Oh, detective Beckett, you're really going to make me work for it aren't you?"

"You have no idea." She looked up and gave him the same smile when she turned him down after their first case.

"I'll tell you the title on one condition."

"So now you want to see me work for it do you?"

"So much, Beckett. So very, very much."

And there it was – that signature Beckett eye roll. "Fine, Castle. What's your condition?"

"If you beat me in laser tag!"

"Oh, you're on! You don't stand a chance!"

"We'll see. And after that, how about some strip poker?" He teased.

"In your dreams, Castle."

"Always."

Writers Note: I never indented this to be a long story, just something to get me through the hiatus, so I think this might be the last chapter. I have a little over two hundred words started for a next chapter, but I don't know if I'll be able to strech it out to make a chapter (or more). So, if I think of something else (or people give me ideas) I just might have to add more.

If this turns out to be the end, I hope you all enjoyed the story and please continue to review. I love checking my email and seeing reviews, story alerts, and story favourites. It's so nice to know that people are actually enjoying the story. Thanks so much to each and every one of you!

If I happen to have another spur-of-the-moment idea and decide to write it, I'd love to know what you guys liked and didn't like, what I could have done better and what I did well. Thanks for all your wonderful comments (and constructive criticism) so far!