Much later that afternoon, they headed back into the cabin. Rick and Kate smiled at each other as they worked to get the kids changed out of their wet snowsuits. Kate helped the girls and she left Noah in Rick's capable hands. They worked in silence and the girls headed downstairs to get a snack.

Kate walked off in search of Rick and Noah. She found them in Noah's bedroom. Her little boy was snuggled up against Rick. She smiled when she realized that their son was fast asleep. Rick was simply laying there with him. Looking down at him and he looked as if he was afraid to move. Kate cleared her throat and asked, "Everything okay?"

He only nodded. Then he looked up at her and whispered, "I don't want to wake him up. I..."

Kate knew that something was bothering him. So, she asked gently, "What's wrong Rick?"

She watched as he swallowed hard and then he whispered, "We need to talk."

Nodding, Kate smiled and told him, "Lets go downstairs."

They managed to make it through dinner and getting the girls to bed. Her parents excused themselves and headed off to bed. Leaving Kate and Rick alone for the first time all day. Kate made them a pot of coffee and they each poured themselves a cup.

Walking out into the living room, Kate decided that she needed to start the conversation. So, she took his hand and whispered, "I've done so many things wrong Castle. I know that I don't deserve it, but all I can do is ask for your forgiveness."

Kate watched as Rick looked down at his lap. For a moment, she wondered if he was going to get up and leave her. She knew that it was no less than she deserved though. He finally took her hand and told her, "I should be so angry at you Kate. What you did was so monumentally unfair. Not only to me, but to Noah and to some extent to Samantha and Alexis. I missed out on so much of his life Kate. I've always wanted more children. To keep him away from me..."

Looking at him she saw his eyes fill with tears. To know that she had done that to him filled her with such a sense of self loathing that she wondered if she even deserved his forgiveness. She certainly didn't think so. She sighed and told him softly, "I can say that I'm sorry a million times, but it won't change what I did. I can't go back and undo everything."

Nodding, he whispered, "Despite that, I find myself wanting to love you again. We had something great once Kate. I always believed that we were destined for great things."

"I was so scared back then Rick. I loved you, but I wasn't sure that it was enough. The sex was.."

"Amazing."

Kate laughed when he finished her sentence. The physical relationship between them had always taken her breath away. After she had broken things off with him, she wondered if that was all that there was between them. Sitting here now though, she knew that there was so much more to their love. She had never found anyone else that made her feel the way that he had.

Taking his hand once again, Kate whispered, "I want to know if it's possible for us to start over again. I know that I can't recover the past four years of his life, but I can let you be there for the rest of it. I'd like a second chance at love with you Rick." Looking at the expression on his face, Kate wasn't sure what to think. Maybe she had lost her shot and the only thing they had a chance of was parenting Noah.

Finally after what seemed like hours, Rick smiled and told her softly, "I'd like that Kate."

Rick had no doubt that they could be great together. He would never forget the time that she had kept her away from Noah, but he could never live in the past. He had continued to love her even after she had left. Honestly, he knew that he would always love her. He looked at her and whispered, "We need to take it slow. We don't want a repeat of last time."

Kate nodded. Their previous relationship had been all about the sex. There hadn't been time to really get to know each other. Everything about their relationship had been kept secret. Kate smiled and whispered, "I want to take it easy, but I'm not going to hide my feelings for you this time. I love you Rick. I always have. I always will."

Kate stood up and walked over to the window and looked outside. She knew, without a doubt, that she didn't deserve another chance with this wonderful man, but she hoped that he would give her another chance. She'd been so unfair to him before. She wanted to prove that she was worthy of his love and being in his life.

She felt his arms wrap around her and she leaned back into his touch. Then she sighed and whispered, "Why didn't I trust our love Rick?"

He kissed the top of her head and shook his own. Then he told her softly, "I don't know Kate, but we are getting what most people don't."

"What's that?"

Rick smiled and turned her around, "A second chance."

Then he lowered his head and his lips found hers in what was possibly the best kiss that she'd ever received. She moaned loudly and she moved to deepen the kiss. They only pulled apart when the need for oxygen became paramount. Kate panted heavily and then whispered, "Wow..."

Rick rested his forehead on hers and they looked in each others eyes. There was a spark that passed between them. It was just like when the first met. It was magical. Kate knew that she didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve a second chance, but she was glad that he was willing to give it to her.

Kate leaned forward to kiss him again, but was stopped when they heard Noah start crying. Kate turned to go to him, but was stopped when Rick smiled and told her, "Let me get him."

Kate shook her head and told him, "Lets do it together."

"That sounds like the best idea you've had in a long time."

Rick knew that they were far away from getting back to where they were,but they were back on track and he knew that it was only a matter of time before they were great again. Of that, Rick had no doubt.

When the got upstairs they were met with an almost hysterical Noah. Kate noticed that he was covered in sweat and going to him, feeling his forehead, Kate became immediately alarmed. Then she told Rick, "He's burning up Rick! We need to get him to the hospital."

Rick nodded and headed out of their sons room. Kate made a quick stop and knocked on her parents bedroom door. She told her parents about Noah and she hurried downstairs and Rick hurried out to the SUV and buckled Noah into his car seat. Kate took off for the hospital and prayed the entire way there.

They pulled up to the ER and Kate threw it into park. He scooped up Noah and hurried behind Kate into the hospital. They walked up to the nurses desk and Kate told the first nurse she saw, "Our son is burning up.

Taking one look at the sweaty little boy in his fathers arms, the nurse sprang into action. She called for an orderly and hurried over to where Rick was standing. She took Noah from him and told his parents, "Wait here please!"

Then she disappeared behind the doors of the emergency room. Leaving Kate and Rick standing there holding onto each other. Both of them fearing for the life of the son and hoping to here any news about his condition.

Kate finally whispered, "He has to be okay Rick. We can't lose him. He doesn't even know that you're his father yet. He won't ever know..."

Rick held her while she cried and whispered, "We will tell him Kate. He will be just fine. You'll see."

Kate nodded and allowed Rick to lead him over to a chair in the waiting room. Waiting to hear any news about their son...