"I'm sorry Josh. I can't do this anymore." Kate said as she let go of him and put her hand on his shoulders. "I really thought I could, but now I know where my heart belongs and I don't want to hurt you anymore. Goodbye." She let her hands fall to her side and turned to run after Castle. The elevator door was about to shut when he saw her and pressed the button to reopen the doors. Once inside with him they fell quite, she didn't know how to start. Then he spoke.
"Beckett, what are you doing here?"
"I…umm…you…"she answered in a strange voice.
"Kate?" he his voice stranded worryingly.
The sound of his voice as he called her out by her name was all the invitation she needed. "I need to tell you something." He turned to watch her intently. Under his powerful gazed she knew she was going to need more time. So she pressed the button to stop the elevator.
"Beckett, what are you …?"
"Shh…just listen, okay?" He nodded. She inhaled deeply, "It has been a really long time since someone has been with me through all the stressful times of being me. It has been a really long time since some has held me through the darkest times in my life and has told me if was going to be okay, and I believed them. And I have come to realize that that someone was never who I expected them to be, in all senses," Castle was seemed to be catching on by now, "Castle…Rick, I want to thank you for every time you have stood by me. I now know that when you say always, you mean always. Thanks."
Now Castle was really confused, all he managed to mutter out was, "Umm, your welcome." Then Kate broke out into a smile and look at the floor when she whispered, "I love you."
"I love you, too." Castle responded before he realized what he had just heard and the full meaning of her words. "Kate?"
Using all the will power she had left in her she looked him in square in the eye and when their gazes locked she repeated her previous statement, "I love you Rick."
Rick's eyes grew wide, then his mouth gaped open, then closed again, then he squinted as if he heard wrong, but then gave up and decided to test his hearing. He grabbed her by the waist and brought her close to him as she let out a gasp. With his left hand he caressed her cheek before he wrapper her hair around his fingers as he brought his face to hers, more importantly, his lips to hers.
The instant their lips connected each was battling the other for control. Neither had been hesitant at the touch, they just wanted each other. As the lip crushing continued Rick led Kate to the nearest wall where he pushed her against it. When Kate felt the coolness of the metal wall react with the heat she felt she let out a moan that further excited Rick. After minutes of hand exploration and tongue fencing they both parted breathlessly and looked at the other's passion in their eyes.
Then Castle being Castle says, "I love you more Detective."
"Is that a challenge Castle?"
"Maybe, how about we settle it over dinner?"
"Deal."
"Seal the deal Detective." He teased, waggling his brow.
She brought his face to hers and carefully lightly grazed her lips across his before she kissed him. When she let go of him he was wide eyed again, "Damn." He whispered.
They held hands after Kate had released the button to continue their descent. When the door opened they found Esposito and Ryan clinking their beers together with an extra case held in between them. That in when the detectives turned and noticed the new couple. Beckett was a sight, her hair was ruffled, her lips reddened and swollen, and her hand was intertwined with Castle's. Castle's hair was also out of place, his shirt slight unbuttoned and shifted, and his lips colored with Beckett's lipstick. Both pairs were speechless and surprised to see each other, that's until Kate found her interrogation stare and confronted them, "What are you doing here?"
Esposito answered first, "We went to buy more beer, what were you doing in there?" He asked, point at the now closing elevator.
"What did you ask me?" Kate glared at him and squeezing Rick's hand, making him wince, Kate kept her eyes locked on her victim.
"No…nothing." He stammered.
"That's what I thought." She said as she pushed them aside while dragging Rick with her. As they were leaving she heard Ryan say to Esposito, "That's fifty bucks bro."
When they reached the outside world Kate burst out a cry of laughter never heard by Rick. Surprised he asked her what was so funny. She replied, "I just realized how much fun we are going to have." Eyeing her man, many ideas popped into her mind.
"Are we? Well, what are we going to do?" He asked, a simple gaze into her eyes answered his question. Those green pools made it easy to read all that she wanted. "Kate as much as I want you, and as much as I know now you want me, I want us to take it really slow, okay?" He emphasized the really part.
"I…but…okay." Kate stammered to find words to express her shock at her playboy man-child saying no to her. But he was right; they need to take it slow. "Let's for a walk."
While walking Kate notices that she can't stop smiling with all the happiness in her heart. When she looks over at Rick he is smiling just like her. Without missing a beat Castle stops and brings her in for a soft kiss. She starts to kiss him back but then remembers where they were, "Castle not here; let's go home." She pleaded.
As much as Castle wanted to give into that plead, he told her they should go have dinner first.