AN:I know this last chapter is short but I still hope you enjoy it and enjoyed the story :) Thanks for the reviews :D

Castle was pacing in his loft. He had checked everywhere. They checked Kate's apartment, Kathie's apartment, every hospital in the area, and the crime scene.

Oh god the crime scene looked bad. There was blood. Some on one of the tables and some on the pavement. It didn't look like there was too much blood where one of them could bleed to death but that still meant they were hurt and were no where to be found.

They tried to call their father but there was no answer. Castle thought he probably saw the news and was heading this way to try and find them as well. He couldn't take not knowing where Kate was. Without Kate his life wouldn't be the same.

She was supposed to be here with him. Enjoying an evening together, just talking of course. But that was good enough from him. Hell, that would have been the best thing in the world right now since he had no idea where she was.

He heard the knock on his door and his heart stopped. "Kate?" He whispered hoping it was her. He opened the door and sure enough there she was. He looked at her. She had some blood on her shirt and some on her jeans. "Kate..." He wanted to make sure this was really her before he pulled her into his embrace.

"I am so sorry, Castle. I didn't think they were going to show it on the news as soon as it happened and I know you and the boys must have been worried sick and I am so sorry. I just wanted to make sure Kathie's knee was okay".

"Is she okay?"

"She's fine. Just some glass in her knee, a few scratches, and she'll be a little sore for a few days".

"And you?" He said eying the blood on her shirt. Flashes of the day at the funeral flooded through her mind and her dying in his arms.

She looked down at herself, realizing she had forgotten to change. "Not my blood...Kathie did all the dirty work. We switched roles for the day". She smiled some. "She kind of forced me to. Something about her promising you that I'd be safe. But I still got the final shot".

Castle pulled her into his embrace and Kate smiled as she hugged him back and rested her head against his shoulder. She released a relaxing sigh, which made Rick tighten his embrace.

They stayed like that for a few minutes until Kate remembered why she originally made plans to come to his apartment. She stepped out of his embrace and looked at him. "We need to talk".

He nodded and closed the door. Kate headed over to one of the bar stools in the kitchen and sat down. Rick poured her and himself a glass of wine. She gave him a soft smile before taking a sip of the red wine.

She took a deep breath and looked at him. "We both know that the other is hiding something from each other...and I think now is the time to come out with it. If I got to that alley a few seconds later and Anna had shot Kathie I would have been her next victim. I told myself that if we survived that I could tell you my secrets...so here I am".

"Do you want me to go first?"

She shook her head. "No. I don't want to have an excuse to run out of here before telling you what I need to tell you".

He nodded and waited for her to tell him what she had to ."When my mom died I saw comfort in your books. You saved my life, Rick...even before we met. I went to one of your book signings once but you don't remember me, it was a long time ago and I don't hold it against you for not remembering".

He was about to say something when Kate put a finger to his lips. "No, let me finish...the last secret I have to tell you is the one you're going to hate me for..." She looked down at the floor and then back at him. "I remember everything from the day of the shooting. I remember the bullet hitting me, I remember the pain, I remember everyone screaming, I remember you trying to push me away, I remember you saying stay with me...and I remember you saying I love you". She couldn't look at him once she said that last part.

Castle sighed and placed his hand on Kate's. She looked up at him, surprised he wasn't more upset. "I had a hunch that you did. The question I want answer is why. Why did you lie?"

"Because I didn't want to hold you to it. I was damaged and I was afraid. I didn't want you to be forced to love someone that you never thought you'd see again and who was so damaged".

He squeezed her hand "Oh Kate, there was no way I would of thought that. I love you and I always will. You're not damaged Kate and I'm never going to think that".

She looked into his eyes. He was telling the truth and he had just confessed his love to her. This time there was no bullet hole through her chest. It was just them. But he still had a secret that he needed to reveal. She had to know what it was before she could say those three little words in return. "Castle, I...I need to know what you've been hiding from me before I..."

"I know and this is the part where I say you're going to hate me".

Kate squeezed his hand for reassurance, which made him smile some. "After your shooting I got a call from a man that said he had some information. He said that I had to make you stop looking into your and your mother's case or else you would be still in danger. I couldn't risk watching you die again. I had to keep you from the case and try to figure it out by myself. I wanted to tell you but you living in this world and knowing that your safe means more to me. I'd take the chance of you hating me forever if I knew you were alive".

She looked at him. She had no idea if it was because they caught her mother's killer just hours ago or if it was because of how Castle had said it but she wasn't as mad as she thought she would be. There were no longer any secrets between them and that feeling was an amazing feeling. They could finally move on with their lives...together.

She must have been lost in her thoughts for a while because Castle was staring at her with a pleading look. "Please say something, Kate".

She looked at him. "I am a little mad that you put yourself in danger for my own benefit but we caught her now...it's over. We can move on now...we can move on together". She smiled when she saw his face light up. "Rick, I love you too". She smiled brighter. "But if you ever try to catch a killer without my help again I will have to hurt you" She said half joking.

He smiled and looked at her. He was so happy to see that smile again. He leaned closer to her to whisper in her ear. "Detective Beckett I'd like to see you try. I'm very good at persuading people". He smirked.

Kate shivered as she felt his breath on his skin. "Won't work on me, Mr. Castle". She smirked as moved to look at him. Their lips inches from each other.

"Oh I beg to differ. I've persuaded you to do many things you didn't want to do at first. And now that I can kiss you without worrying about you shooting me you won't stand a chance against my charm". He smirked.

"Well then why don't you stop talking and persuade me" Kate smirked as she closed her eyes and captured his lips with hers. It was a soft, loving, kiss. A kiss that showed how true love really was and to show how much they cared for one another. Castle, surprisingly, was the one to break their kiss. She gave him a look.

"We should call Ryan and Esposito. They're still searching the city for you two".

"Called them on my way here" She smiled.

"So I'm the last one to know you're alive!"

"Don't worry, I'll make it up to you". Kate smiled before she pressed her lips back against his. There was no longer a wall, no nightmares, and no longer some killer on the loose that wanted her or her family dead. It was finally just them.