A/N: Hey guys! This took me longer than I thought it would. I hope you enjoy the denouement to this story :)

Thank you so much for the response to this little piece. you guys are wonderful!

Letter From Despair Land. Part 2.

Kate grunted and stepped dangerously close to him, her hands landing on his shoulders. "I didn't want you to move on! How can you be so blind?" She asked, reaching for his jaw and tilting his head, so he was facing her. "What in the world makes you think that I don't love you, Castle?"

xxxxx

He went mute and sat back in his chair, making her fall to her knees as she followed him down. His eyes were locked on hers and all he could do was watch her, waiting for some sign that would tell him she was lying. He found nothing.

"Rick, I've been trying to tell you the truth for months." She whispered, her head falling forwards, almost brushing his. "I knew I had screwed up the moment I told you I didn't remember, but I also needed the time to heal, and believe it or not, your words were the only thing that helped me go on."

He slowly let out the air he had been holding.. His hands moved on their own volition, holding her arms, steadying her right where she was.

"Those three months we spent apart were hell, Castle; and not just because of the physical therapy. I had pushed you away, I missed you terribly and, at the same time, I had no idea how I was going to come back and make you forgive me."

The tears were falling down now. Two tiny drops running free along her skin and landing on Castle's pants.

He removed one hand from her arm and wiped the blackish, watery track that was staining her right cheek. "I would have listened, Kate. I did when you came back. Why did you keep lying?"

She snorted sadly and shook her head, making the soft strands of hair stick to her face. "I was scared. You took me back and I didn't want to push my luck."

Silence fell between them, both trying to figure out what to say next.

After two long minutes, it was Castle who spoke first. "Look, I'm going to make some coffee and then we'll keep talking. I need to be sober for this."

Kate gave him a faint smile as he helped her up from her kneeling position, his eyes bored into hers.

"Thank you." She mumbled. "And, Castle… I am sorry."

He just nodded and started walking away, but she stopped him by grabbing his hand before he got too far. "I mean it. I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know."

The white porcelain cup was warm between her hands. Castle was still busy with the coffee maker, doing God only knows what, probably trying to delay their talk a little longer. She really couldn't say she minded him stalling. She needed to put her thoughts in order too.

She was busy examining the soft patterns of the marble counter top, when he brushed her arm. "Ok… Um, maybe we'd be more comfortable on the couch?" He asked not sure how to behave.

She nodded and followed him in silence. They were walking on thin ice; she could feel the uncertainty coming out of him in waves. He was confused and she was scared, and that was never a good combination.

Kate took a long sip from her mug and sighed. "Where should I start?"

"The beginning is normally a good place." He suggested; his nose buried in his own mug, letting the rich aroma fill his senses.

"And where's that?"

She was lost about how to talk about this with him. She didn't know what had pushed her to act the way she had last May, except from fear, and that didn't seem like a good enough excuse right now.

"Castle, do you remember how I was when we first met? Stubborn, proud, closed up to anything that was not familiar or by of the book…"

The writer chuckled. "You're still all that…" He added; his eyes narrowed naughtily.

Kate rolled her eyes and smiled. "Maybe, but not as much as I was back then. I know that it must not seem as such a big change for you, but for me… It's a 180 degree turn." She paused to take a big gulp of coffee. "I have opened up to you in a way I haven't done with anybody. You know so much about me, about what's going on in my life… At first it bothered me to no end that you always managed to worm your way into my private life, no matter how much I tried to hide it from you. Now… I am actually happy that you know all you do." She smiled and reached for his hand, wrapping it in her own and placing both of them on her lap. "It's wonderful having someone to talk about it for a change."

"That's what friends are for, right?" Castle squeezed her hand softly and she replied in kind. She was really thankful for having him by her side on her mom's case, and on everything else, really, but it was a true relief not having to pretend or hide her feelings in front of everyone when it came to that part of her life.

"That said; as much as I love having someone to share all that, it terrifies me that you can see all the cracks and flaws. I am so broken right now, Castle. So far from the person I want to be…" She put her mug on the coffee table and hid her face behind her hands. "That is why I keep hiding from this. From you. It scares me that you are going to realize how weak I am, how I am not worth it, and then you'll walk away."

There was a long pause. Castle looked serious, as if he were deliberating.

"It doesn't make any sense, does it?" She asked somewhere between amused and mortified. "I keep pushing you away, so I don't lose you."

He raised his eyes from the floor, at last, and nodded. "It doesn't make any sense." He stated thoughtfully. "But I understand."

"You do?"

He searched her eyes with his own and smiled. "Sometimes we do the stupidest things when we're scared."

Kate assented, reaching for her coffee; God knew he was right. Her lips wrapped around the rim of her mug, looking at her partner through thick lashes. "That's true." She murmured. "I'm guessing that's why you wrote that letter?"

"Touché." Castle agreed, seeming a little surprised with her bold question. "I have to recognize that I was afraid to confront you about it in person." He took another sip of coffee and moved his arm to rest on top of the couch cushions, his hand almost brushing Kate's shoulder. "I still am."

She frowned, reaching for his knee and rubbing it softly. "I think we both need to stop being afraid and start being honest with each other."

"Yeah…"

Easier said than done. Both of them went silent once again, not knowing how to start with this new honesty policy they had just agreed to.

As they drank their coffee, lost in their own thoughts, and trying to assimilate the new things they had learnt about each other, their bodies drifted a little bit closer.

Castle's arm fell lower on the backrest, his fingers getting tangled in Kate's hair. He didn't notice what he was doing until he heard Kate sighing and felt her sinking deeper into the couch, her head tilting in his direction, obviously enjoying the subtle touch.

She was relaxed and comfortable, and that made his heart swell.

"You're tired." He observed, removing his hand from her hair.

Kate grunted at the loss of his hand and sat up straight, shaking her head and trying to stifle a yawn. "No. No, I'm good." She rushed to say. "We need to talk about this Castle. No more excuses."

"So, how do we do this?" He questioned wearily. "Do I just confess that I love you once again, and wait for you to tell me that you're not ready? We've been there before, Kate."

"You're kidding me, right?" She asked, getting up from her spot on the couch and starting to pace in front of him. "Have you been listening to anything I've said?"

Castle sighed and nodded, but his face looked way too somber. "All I've heard so far is that you're scared, Kate, and I totally understand that, but why come here and try to prove that what I wrote is wrong, when we both know it's not?"

Beckett let out a deep growl and clenched her fists, as if trying to keep herself from whacking him. "This is unbelievable…" She mumbled through clenched teeth. "And you say I'm stubborn?"

Castle raised his brows surprised. "You said that, not me." he added. "And what does that have to do with anything?"

"Why do you think I came here tonight, Rick?" She asked, her tone becoming more and more solemn. "That letter… it broke me. It made me realize how wrong I was when I decided to do things this way. I should have told you from the beginning how I felt about you an-…"

"And how is that?" Castle interrupted her, getting up too and standing in front of her, holding her in place with his strong hands. "'Cause you keep talking, Kate, but you don't say anything."

She licked her lips and stared at him; a little bit scared, a little bit confused. "You're right. I don't." She whispered; and licking her lips once again, she leaned closer to him and kissed him softly.

"Kate…" He sighed, his eyes still closed. "What… what are you doing?"

"I just thought it was time for action."

He was lost at what to do when her lips touched his. She was soft, and warm, and her mouth opened against his and it took all the restrain in the world to keep himself from pushing her against the closest wall and just letting go.

The question was out before he realized he was speaking, and he was surprised when her reply wasn't enough to keep going.

"I just thought it was time for action."

He ran his hand through his hair and looked down at her. "I'm a writer, Kate. I need words."

Surprising him, she smiled and nodded softly, moving closer to him and giving him a peck on the lips. "Okay. Fair enough. If you want words, I'll give you words."

Taking a deep breath, she stroked his jaw and started talking again. "I love you, Castle. I love your never-ending curiosity, your stupid theories, your more than annoying smugness and even your creepy staring." He laughed at that, but her face went serious again and he let her go on. "I love the way you love your family and how loyal a friend you are. I love you, and I love the fact that you love me. That's if you still do…"

"God, Kate…" He sighed, grabbing her by the waist and pressing her as close to him as he could. "Always! Don't you know that?"

And then, he was kissing her like the world was about to end.

She had no idea how in the world they had gotten there, but Castle was placing her on top of his bed, reverently; staring at her as if she were about to vanish at any second.

The look in his eyes was of awe, of pure, infinite love and desire, and a little bit of uncertainty, all mixed into one powerful thing that made her squirm.

Her shirt had been discarded somewhere between the living room and his office, and her pants had followed suit, ending up hanging off a floor lamp, when he threw them away impatiently, making her laugh at him.

She was now lying on his bed, in her underwear, watching as he got rid of his own clothing, mostly because she was so entranced looking at him, that she had forgotten how to move.

"I can't believe this is happening." He whispered against her skin, when he finally got rid of his pants and crawled his way on top of her, placing himself between her thighs.

Kate smiled broadly; there wasn't anything else she could do, 'cause if she was honest with herself, she couldn't believe it either. And, as he removed the last remains of clothing, she gave thanks, because, after so many nights dreaming about having him touching her, kissing her, after all the time they had spent dancing around one another, this was their moment. At last.

Castle captured her mouth in his hungrily, pressing her against the mattress, their bare skin making full contact for the first time. They both sighed at the feeling, so new and foreign, and yet so right.

He had always thought that the moment he put his hands on her, it would be like lightening. He would lose control and be all over her, combusting in the high flames of the fire he had been trying to keep under control for so long. Instead, he was surprised by the need to take his time with her. The need to relish in her, savor every single second and make her feel not only how much he wanted her, but also the intensity of his love.

Their kisses were long and luscious, recreating in every twist and turn of their tongues, and every nuanced flavor, but soon they were not enough.

His hands started wandering along the skin of her stomach, gracing the underside of her breasts and making her gasp, her back arching, seeking more contact.

"Mmm. Please." She murmured, reaching for his hand and placing it where it had been just mere seconds before. "Touch me."

He grinned at her and stole her mouth once again. As if he could deny her anything…

His touch was light at first; teasing, exploring, but he could not keep it that way for long. Just the sounds she made the first time he brushed her pebbled nipples had him twitching, his hips bucking against Kate's, drawing a deep loud moan from her.

He couldn't help but stare at her. Her face contorted with pleasure was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"God, Kate. You're stunning."

She chuckled at that. "No need to flatter me, Castle. You already have me."

He smiled brightly at her and kissed the tip of her nose, and then her eyes, her cheeks, and finally her mouth, swallowing her mirth.

"Not trying to impress here, Beckett. You just happen to be stunning."

"You're not so bad yourself." She replied, running her hand through his hair. "But you need to speed things up, or I'll die of anticipation."

She was still talking when he felt the room spinning around him and found himself trapped between the mattress and a very sexy, very aroused Kate.

He gaped at her for a few seconds, completely stunned. "That was so hot!"

The detective rolled her hips and lowered herself, pressing her chest against his and tracing the outline of his jaw with her breath. "Yeah?" She asked cockily. "You are very easily impressed, Castle."

He snaked his arms around her waist and pressed her even closer to him, thrusting upwards and making her whimper. "Funny…"

Kate grabbed on to the soft strands of his hair and leaned closer to bite his lower lip. "Enough talking, writer boy."

He only had time to nod briefly before she sank onto him and started moving, her hips setting a slow, maddening rhythm and her lips attacking his mouth mercilessly.

It was a well-practiced dance. They were attuned, so surprisingly in sync, that it felt like they had been doing this their whole lives.

Perfection.

She woke up to the smell of coffee, as if her body couldn't keep the craving at bay any longer; and after the night they'd had, she totally understood the overwhelming need for caffeine.

It had been a crazy night. Short naps followed by passionate love making, followed by deep, long talks about their feelings, that led to more love making, that led to naps. A wonderful vicious circle.

As expected, Castle was nowhere to be seen, which confirmed her suspicions of him being the reason she had awaken to such a delicious aroma. She smiled as she got up from his bed and started wandering around, looking for something she could wear.

His shirt was her first option, but thinking about the two redheads living there, she decided on his deep blue bathrobe.

It looked huge on her, as if she had been swallowed by a big blue cotton ball, but it smelled like him and that made her smile as she walked outside the bedroom.

She stopped at the office door. He was concentrating on making breakfast, a big bowl full of pancake batter in one hand and a ladle in the other, to pour the mix into the pan.

He looked adorable. He was just wearing his boxers and a Green Lantern t-shirt that seemed to be a couple of sizes too small for him. His hair was spiking in every direction and he was smiling; a big, bright grin that made her heart swell, and her core burn for his touch once again.

Watching him for a little longer, she leaned on the doorframe and bit her lip in wonder. She was happy. She felt amazingly good with how things had worked out between them the night before, and even though she knew they had a long road ahead, she was totally willing to make the effort and fight for this relationship.

Taking a last look at her new lover, she took a deep breath and started walking towards the life she had been craving for so long.

"Hey Castle."

- THE END -

That was all folks! I hope you liked it. Let me know what you think ;)

Thanks to Tshlw for editing this for me and for shaking her pom poms all the way. You're the best!