A/N: Again, sorry for the long wait. For what it's worth, I'd rather write fanfiction than go to school and be sick. So! A lot of you wanted a part 2 for the last chapter, so here it is! Part 2 for the Vampire Weekend story. Please review! Happy reading!

I have been doing my very best to avoid Castle since the kiss.

I can't believe that actually even happened. What was I thinking? I let myself get lost in his stupid blue eyes and then.. Yeah. God, I should know better than that.

It annoys me how cute he looks when he gets excited about this weird case, but I have to remind myself that I'm not supposed to think he's cute. He's not thinking about me like I'm thinking about him. The only reason he's interested in me, is because he can't have me. And I'm not about to just sleep with him to give him that sense of accomplishment. I'm not that kind of a girl.

When we finally closed the case, I agreed to go out for drinks with the boys. Of course, Castle decided to join us, which is going to make avoiding him very hard, since I don't have work to distract myself with anymore. Fortunately I got Lanie to join us too.

We have all been drinking and having a few laughs for sometime now, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least tipsy. I guess I figured having to sit next to Castle for the night would be easier with some liquid courage.

We finished another round of drinks and I offer to go get us a new one.

"Wait." Castle says, standing up from the booth we're all currently sitting at. "I'll help you."

I turn my back to him, close my eyes and sigh. I really don't want to be alone with him right now. I don't want to talk about what happened. I'm not sure how that would go. I know it was a mistake, but having to look into those eyes and remember what it was like to kiss him, while I've been drinking? Yeah, I'm not sure I can think rationally right now.

I walk up to the bar and order for us. I see Castle moving to stand next to me from the corner of my eye. I try to look anywhere but at him.

"You having fun?" He asks. He sounds different. Or am I imagining things?

"Uh." I mumble. I clear my throat. "Yeah, I guess." I finally answer him.

"Good. That's.. Good. Yeah." He rambles. I try to keep myself from laughing. He sounds nervous. Maybe he won't bring up the kiss either?

"So, uh, about earlier.." Oh, well, there goes that theory.

The bartender gives me our drinks and I thank him, handing Castle half of them.

"I don't think we should talk about it here." I say quietly.

"Where then?" He asks. I sigh.

"Look Castle, there's nothing to talk about, okay?" I snap, making my way back to our booth.

I can feel Castle fast on my heel. The others look up as we approach them.

"Took you long enough!" Ryan exclaims.

"Yeah, well-" I start but I'm quickly cut off by Castle.

"You guys start on those drinks, we'll be right back." He says, while grabbing my arm.

I freak out a little bit. I'm not discussing this in a bar.

"No, Castle-"

"Please, Kate? Just.. Give me a minute." He says, looking me straight in the eyes, with a pleading look.

"What's going on guys?" Lanie asks, raising her eyebrows at us.

"Uh.." I mumble, still looking at Castle. "Nothing, I.. I guess we'll be right back." I say unsurely.

Castle starts leading me through the bar and out in the alley. It's already dark and the temperature has definitely dropped. All in all, this situation is making me quite uncomfortable.

When he stops walking and lets go of my arm, I speak up.

"Look Castle, like I said, there's nothing we need to talk about."

"Really? Why is that?" He questions.

"Because.. I, we both know it was stupid. Spur of the moment. Not a big deal." I reply while staring at my shoes.

"Do you regret it?" He asks, trying to get me to look at him, but I won't.

"Well.. Yeah, I mean, it wasn't supposed to happen." I mumble.

Castle takes a step closer to me.

"From what I recall, you kissed me back, Kate." He says quietly, his voice lower than usual. Gosh, I hate when he calls me by my first name. It sends shivers down my spine.

"Well I know, but-"

"So you wanted it too. Right?" He asks, again taking a step closer. He's now close enough for me to feel the warmth from his body on mine.

"I.." I start while raising my eyes from the ground to look at him, but once my eyes land on his face, I forget what I was saying. He looks at me, with a warm expression on his face. He leans in closer.

"It's okay to admit it you know." He whispers before pressing his lips against mine, and my eyes slip shut right away.

Before I can actually register what's happening, I find myself kissing him back.

This is the second time I feel his lips in mine in such a short time. Yet, I had forgotten how amazing his lips really feel. In the cold alley, his lips feel warm and soft and oh so perfect. He places his hands on my hips, warming me up. I press my palm against his chest. I can feel his heartbeat. I don't think I could ever get used to kissing Castle. There's something.. Addicting to it. I can't think straight.

That is until I feel his tongue against my lips. I open my eyes. This was not supposed to happen. I pull away and use my hand resting against his chest to push him away from me. He looks surprised. I run my hands through my hair.

"What's wrong?" He asks. I can't help but let out a frustrated laugh.

"What's wrong?" I repeat his words. "Oh I don't know, let's see. Oh the fact that you think you can just go around kissing me whenever you feel like it?" I snap.

"Excuse me?" Castle says, looking genuinely confused.

"You can't do that Castle! I'm not playing your stupid game!" I exclaim.

"What game? You kissed me back?" He says, trying to understand my train of thought.

"I know but I was confused, okay? You just kissed me, I didn't know what to think!"

"Uh, okay, well-"

"Look Castle, I told you I'm not going to be just one of your conquests. That's not who I am." I explain, crossing my arms across my chest.

"What? Kate-"

"No, listen to me. I understand it's hard for you, okay? Not a lot of the models and whoever you hang out with ever tells you no, right? But I'm not like them. I'm not. I don't just sleep around. That's not who I am. I care too much to do that. I get that's how you roll, but I can't. And honestly I thought you'd understand that. I mean, I told you about my mom. I.. I thought you understood who I am. I just.. Why do you do this?" I ramble on, before I realize how much I've actually said.

"Kate.." He whispers.

"No, look, I just don't work the same way, I don't want-"

"Kate, can I please say something?" Castle interrupts me, raising his hands to touch my arm, but moves it away quickly.

"Fine." I whisper.

"Thank you. I uh.. Okay." He says, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"I know I came off as a.. Well, a jackass, when we first met. And yeah, when I asked you out at the end of our first case, it would've probably ended the way you think. But.. God Kate, I do know you. Maybe not yet as well as I want to, but I know that much. And that's why I'm here right now. Not because you're the only woman to tell me no in a long time, but because you're extraordinary. Because ever since that first case I've seen something different about you and it amazes me. I respect you. You could never be another conquest to me. Please know that."

I just stare at him, trying to take in everything he just said. What does he even mean?

"I like you. You must know that?" He questions.

"Well, I guess, I just thought-" I mumble, looking back at my feet.

Castle carefully reaches for my hand and takes it in both of his.

"Look, I'm not like what you think I am. Well, I've changed. Really Kate, I care too much to just throw away what we have by having a one night stand. I like you, okay? As in I like buying you coffee everyday because it makes you happy and I love your smile kind of way." He chuckles.

I laugh too. Is he serious right now?

"I.. Are you.. What are you saying?" I let out a breath.

"I'm saying, you should rethink the whole kissing thing. Did you think it was a mistake because you thought I didn't want more than sex from you, or because you didn't really want to kiss me?" He states.

I move to look him in the eyes. He looks sincere. I can't help but believe everything he just told me. And I do want to kiss him. But am I really ready for.. What is he offering anyway? A relationship? Oh God.. A relationship with Richard Castle?

"Well, I.. The first part." I stupidly answer him. He laughs.

"But I.. I don't know. I mean, what are you offering here exactly?" I ask, awkwardly running my free hand through my hair.

"I'm offering, that maybe you'd give me a chance. Us, maybe you'd give us a chance." He replies nervously.

"Are you sure? I mean.. We work together, kind of. And seriously, you could have anyone you want-" He cuts me off my letting out a laugh.

"That's you Kate. I really do want to be with you. All that matters right now, is whether you feel the same way." He says, looking straight at me, waiting for my answer.

We stand still, just staring at each other for a while. It's even colder out now.

"I'm just.." I whisper, not sure how I want to end that sentence.

"Just what?" He asks, rubbing circles on the back of my hand.

"Scared." I whisper. I can't voice all my insecurities. I don't let people in. Not since my mom died. Not since my dad started drinking, leaving me alone to deal with it. Of course I want to be with Castle, but can I? Am I ready for the kind of relationship he's offering me?

He seems to understand where I'm coming from.

"I know. But I think it's better to take a risk sometimes, don't you? And for what it's worth, I'm not going to hurt you." He says. I open my mouth to protest, but he seems to read my mind and lifts his hand up in front of my face, silencing me.

"I know, I know you think I can't promise that, and I know I can't promise that we won't fall apart or that it won't be hard at times, but Kate, you can trust me. If not now, you will be able to. I would never hurt you. I want to prove that to you." He explains. Once he's finished, he lets out a breath, and waits for my answer.

I'm kind of amazed by his words. It really is hard for me to trust anyone, but Castle's shown me many times how he has my back. And everything he's told me tonight? I really want to trust him. I really do. So many people, including Lanie and my dad, has told me to take risks, to let myself be happy over the years, but I've always been too scared.

Castle is already important to me. More important than I'd like to admit. Do I want to risk losing him altogether? What if we don't work out?

But what if we do?

I take a deep breath and once again look into his blue eyes. The look he gives me is sweet. There's something in his eyes that I can't quite put into words. But it's enough for me to know my answer.

"I do trust you." I whisper.

"Good. Does that mean..?" He trails off.

"Yeah, it does. I just.. Can we take this slow?" I stutter.

His face breaks in to a beautiful smile. "Of course. As slow as you'd like. I really do care about you Kate." He reassures me.

I can't help but smile. "I care about you too." I whisper. Expressing my feelings is also something I'm not great at.

"Good to know." He chuckles. I laugh with him. Is this really happening right now?

"Can I kiss you now?" He whispers carefully. I giggle. Giggle? Really Beckett?

"I suppose you can." I reply.

He chuckles again, leaning in to kiss me.

This is the first time I'm kissing him, knowing what it means. He wants to be with me. Because he likes me, cares about me. It still feels surreal, and I think it will for a while. It'll take me a while to get used to the change in our relationship. From a pain in the ass, to a partner to boyfriend? Oh my God, I'm Richard Castle's girlfriend. There's a sentence I never thought I would say.

Just as Castle slides his hand through my hair, somebody coughs in the distance.

We pull away from each other to see all of our friends standing at the door.

The boys are shaking their heads and Lanie's jaw is basically on the floor.

"So, is this a thing with you guys now? You just disappear and start making out?" Esposito teases.

"Yeah, do you always have to interrupt though?" Castle snaps back at him.

I cover my face with my hand.

Lanie finally manages to pick her jaw from the floor and speaks up.

"Girl, you have some serious explaining to do." She says, pointing her finger between Castle and I.

I groan.

"I'm sure she'll tell you everything but can I please kiss her, just once, without you morons barging in?" Castle states.

"Castle!" I blush and smack his chest.

Lanie raises her eyebrows. "SO much explaining to do, Katherine." She says, while pushing Esposito and Ryan back inside the club in front of her. When the door finally closes, I turn to Castle and cross my arms and raise my eyebrows.

"Really?" I snap.

"What?" He asks innocently. I can't help but laugh.

"Dork." I say while poking his arm.

"You wound me detective." He says dramatically, before grinning and leaning in to brush his lips against mine.

Maybe I could get used to this after all.

I'm like Tinker Bell but instead off applause, I live for reviews. Please review? -S