Author's Note: This chapter's for Rhea Chugh. It's her birthday, so this is her birthday gift. If it's not very good, it's because she hasn't read it yet. This one's kind of long, so don't complain that it's too short. *Spoiler Alert* And there's a cliffhanger. A fluffy chapter full of romantic stuff for the girl who always told me I wasn't romantic enough. Kidding, love you loads. Happy Birthday. :)x

ANDD. I posted a song recently. It's based on Castle, and it's an original, so PLEASE check it out. I only have 2 views right now, which is kinda sad. So the link is on my profile, please go there for the link. It's called 'Always'. PM me for any comments or questions. Thanks for your support guys. :)

CHAPTER 7: QUESTION 6

They lounged on the couch. Finally, they had reached the Hamptons. It was beautiful. The place was huge. Kate felt at home, with a wine glass in hand, view of the sea stretching beyond the horizon. But there was one thought that wouldn't stop nagging, pestering her at every moment. She sighed, audibly.

Rick came from behind the sofa and pecked her softly at the base of her neck.

"What's the matter?"

She looked at him, flashing him a watery smile.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. It's….silly."

He wasn't convinced (obviously). He sat down.

"Kate, what is it? Are you not happy? Do you want to go back? Or is it me? Is this…"

"Castle, shh." she said, softly, as if comforting him. "Has anyone told you that you talk too much?"

"Don't you think the better question would be, whether there's anyone that hasn't?"

"Touché."

"I'm not sure that's the correct usage of touché."

She smacked him lightly, and burrowed her face in his chest. "Shut up."

He laughed, wrapping an arm around her.

"So are you going to tell me?"

Kate could feel the vibrations in his chest. She lifted her head from his chest and sat cross legged next to him, her head now leaning on his left shoulder.

"Nothing. I was just wondering how many people you've brought here."

She looked down at her hands, and chipped off the nail polish from her nails.

"People, as in women?"

She didn't answer, only nodded her head, still looking down.

He smiled. She was so adorable.

"Four."

She looked at him, eyebrows raised, clearly disbelieving him.

"Funny. You've brought 4 girls here. That's what you're telling me?"

"Yep."

"Yeah, right. Castle, look. If you're not gonna tell me the truth, at least don't give me some bullshit answer."

She got up, storming away, throwing the pillow she had in her lap at him. He followed, wondering what the hell had just happened.

"Kate!"

She had already stormed off, walking barefoot on the sand. She looked really good here, in her element. The tank top and denim shorts suited her frame, perfectly hugging her curves, although this wasn't the time to admire that. She stopped, eventually, sitting down on the soft sand, looking out towards the sea.

"Don't, Castle. Just don't."

She wiped away a tear furiously. How could he just lie, like that? He sat down next to her, watching her, as she angrily glared at the horizon. For some odd reason, he was pretty sure it wasn't the horizon that she was ticked off with.

"Kate, I swear. I'm not lying to you."

"You're trying to tell me that in all these years, Rick Castle, playboy extraordinaire has brought 4 girls up here, to his luxurious Hamptons house?" She scoffed. "Please."

He caressed her face, wiping away a stray tear with the pad of his thumb.

"Atleast let me explain, before you get mad at me?"

She turned to look at him, and he took that as an invitation to continue.

"4 girls. Alexis. Mother. Gina. And you. 4 girls. This is a family home, Kate, you know that. It's never been a place for my flings. Alexis and I have the best memories here and I would never tarnish that, for some meaningless blond bimbo. Never. This is the place that I want to build memories with you, Kate. For us, for our children, for our children's children, for our children's children's children…. You get the point."

She laughed softly. He was such a kid.

"I'm sorry, Rick. That was… That was out of line. I overreacted. I'm sorry. I believe you. It's really sweet, that you only bring the people you care about. And I'm really honoured to be part of that, I am. It's just that…."

"Kate."

"Hmm?"

She looked at him, trying to convey the emotions and everything she wanted to say through her eyes. He took her hand in hers, softly rubbing his thumb against the back of her palm.

"Why don't you tell me what this is really about?"

He spoke softly, like a man would to his child. She shook her head, forgetting that this man knew her better than anyone.

"My mom loved the beach. It was her favourite place to go to. She would go to where the waves break, hair flying with the wind and she'd just stand. Me and my dad, we'd build sandcastles and run around, but my mom, she'd just stand there. And being here, it reminds me of her. It reminds me that no matter what, she's gone, and I'll never see her standing like that again."

More tears rolled down her cheeks. He wiped her tears with his shirt, and held her, whispering soft words of comfort in her ear. Soon, she stopped crying.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"I got your shirt all wet."

"That's okay. I know a great way to get wet."

He grinned.

Rick lifted her, bridal style and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You're disgusting, you know that?"

He smiled. She had the wrong idea. But, hey, he wasn't about to correct her.

"Hey, Castle? The house is that way."

"Oh, I know."

He smirked at her, and Kate suddenly became aware of her surroundings. They were knee deep, in the water. He grinned at her, evilly, waggling his eyebrows.

"Richard Edgar Alexander Rodgers Castle, you put me down right now."

She tried to give him her scariest glare, but he only grinned cheekily. He was immune to all of it now, especially since he had seen her naked. She clung to his t-shirt, clutching at it like it was a lifeline.

"As you wish, my lady."

And just like that, he tossed her into the water, laughing as she let out the most girly shriek he had ever heard from her. She came back up, spluttering and gasping for air.

"You did NOT just do that. Jackass. You are going to pay for that." She poked him hard, in the chest, but he still couldn't bring himself to stop laughing.

Dripping wet Beckett wasn't as scary as he thought. Pun unintended.

He ran away, laughing, as Kate chased him. After a couple of minutes, Kate caught up to him, and managed to trip him, sending him flying into the water. When he resurfaced, she was laughing really hard. He wanted to hear that sound again and again and again.

He kissed her softly, on the lips and all was forgotten. All they could think about was each other.

"What do you say we get you out of these wet clothes, huh? Dry up a little bit?"

She took his hand, wordlessly tugging him towards the house. She kissed him on the cheek.

"How long have you been waiting to say that?"

"Gosh, years. You have no idea. Great pick-up line, don't you think?"

"Had you said that to me, I would've slapped you."

"But, you haven't slapped me and if I'm not mistaken, we're heading back to our room to 'dry off'"

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm cold and my Connelly's upstairs."

"You're mean."

He pouted like a 5 year old.

"You're narcissistic."

"Yeah, but I'm a cute narcissist."

"See what I mean?"

"Oh shush you. Hey, did you realise, we played 20 Questions? That was our 6th question."

"Oh, I didn't even notice. But I'm glad we can just tell each other things without needing to be forced to. It feels good."

He grins, pecking her on the cheek.

"Come on WriterBoy. Let's see if there's enough room for you, me and your ego in that bed."

"Oooh. Challenge accepted."

"You really need to stop watching that show."

"Please. That's not happening. Barney's way too cool."

"Okay, nice to know that you're bromancing a fake TV character, but I'm freezing here, and you mentioned something about drying off?"

"Yes! Let's go, Kate!"

They sprinted off into the house, ever so eager to 'dry off'.

Soon after, they were plenty dried off. After a quick nap, they got up to make a snack. Rick turned the radio on and "Super Bass" started to play. He made some pasta wildly dancing to the music and making faces as he sang, grinning as Kate watched, laughing from her spot on the kitchen counter. Once he was done, he sauntered up to her.

"Dance with me?"

"To Super Bass? You're kidding, right?"

Her eyes twinkled, and he already knew that she was going to come with him.

"Yes. To Super Bass. Come on."

He tugged her off the counter, and started dancing, pulling at her arms alternatively.

By then, the next song had started playing. Battle Scars rang out, and they continued dancing, doing their silly little dance.

Rick let her go, so that she could do her own thing, swaying her hips to the music. Her head rolled back, and her body jerked to the beat. Eyes closed, she was lost in the music, and he? He was lost in her.

"Kate?"

He put his hands on her hips, as she continued to sway.

Opening her eyes, she replying with an answering "Hmm?".

They looked at each other, softly. They looked into each other, without judgement or fear, just pure love, and it felt amazing.

"Move in with me?"

Ooh. Cliffhanger. Sorry, folks. I'll probably update soon, have another birthday present to give. But let me know what you thought, since I didn't have my awesome editor to edit this. Much love.