Hi.

I am so blessed to have such amazing readers like you guys. Thank you all so much! This chapter picks up right where we left off. Sorry if this chapter is a bit boring, but I wanted to make sure that these two are able to open up and be honest with each other.

Disclaimer: Castle and For Lovers Only aren't mine :/

[Imagination Reborn]

"I'm broken," she slowly admitted, wiping the tears from her cheeks, not able to look him in the eyes and, instead, keeping her gaze on his chest.

"So am I," he told her. "A different broken, but broken nonetheless. And you know what?"

Kate looked up, eyes glistening. "What?"

"You and I– we're only human. We're human, Kate. It's not in our nature to be perfect; we don't have to have it together all the time. That's what makes us– us. And that's okay."

His words were delicate and powerful at the same time, the depth of strength he had within him coming out in full swing. His heart had once been broken, and Kate knew it had been because of her.

She had done that to him.

She could see remnants of his pain peeking from behind those blue eyes, darkness and anguish swimming in them.

"I'm sorry I ran out on you all those years ago. I'm sorry I ran out on us," she suddenly blurted out as she leaned forward, hands cupping his cheeks while she rested her forehead against his, her warm breath ghosting across his face, and mixing with his own. "Biggest regret of my life."

Shuddering a breath in an attempt to control the overwhelming sensation of emotions flooding through him, Rick gave her a simple reply. "Me too."

"It's just–" Kate stopped short, in search of the right way to go about this.

"Just what?"

"It's just...I'm so thankful we were given a second chance. I'm thankful I stumbled across you on those steps two days ago," she smiled at that, the memory fresh in her brain. "And, most of all, I'm thankful you called, especially considering what I did to you."

He nodded his head solemnly, traveling back to that fateful day. "You broke my heart, Kate. And you acted like somehow it was my fault we couldn't seem to work, my misunderstanding of our relationship, and I was too in love with you to ever be mad at you, so I just punished myself! For years. I didn't know what it was I'd done, or how'd I'd messed things up, but I felt responsible for what happened."

"But it wasn't your fault!" She quickly said, head shaking. "If anything, it was my fault. I'm responsible for tearing us apart. I was the one who started that stupid argument in the first place, and I was the one who misunderstood everything, blaming you instead of taking responsibility for my actions."

He ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath, while Kate studied him, his movements. He was upset and hurt and full of guilt because of her, all because she had been too scared to tell him the truth.

God, she hated to have caused him so much pain. She hated she put him in a position where he thought everything that happened, happened because of him.

"It's partially my fault, though." Rick brought her closer, his hands dipping in the now luke warm water and sliding up and down the thighs that braced his hips. "I never chased after you, and as much as it killed me inside, I couldn't bring myself to do it...I don't think I've ever been so conflicted in my entire life." A sigh spilled from his mouth, "And to have you waltzing into my life again, being with me, has reopened all of those old wounds and as much I'd like to push aside those feelings and act like they aren't constantly nagging at me, I can't. Not when it comes to you, or to us.

"So, please, Kate. Please tell me what this is we're doing, because I haven't got the faintest idea." He was begging– hoping– for an answer, desperately wanting her to clear up the fog that was his brain.

"I haven't either."

If neither knew, then what was left for them?

"So, what do we do? What sort of future is out there for us? Is there a future for us?"

Huffing a breath, Kate muddled over everything. "Okay, let's say we make this– whatever this is– work. And then let's say in six months we hit a wall, like we can't seem to focus on anything or anyone else but each other. I slack at work; you fall behind with your writing. Then we start to feel the tension; we know this isn't working, so we begin to argue and fight because we don't know what else to do, and we end up falling back into the same patterns we so desperately tried to break. And after a while, we say goodbye. That'll be it, for real.

"Then what's left, Rick? Two miserable people feeling totally mashed up it hurts?"

He had been hoping for an alternative in there, a different route. "Or...?"

She let out a slow breath. "Or maybe we should just realize that what we've had has been perfect. And maybe it won't get any better than this. Maybe we're trying to figure this thing out because it makes us feel so good to feel this way again, that this is far more exciting than it might actually be."

He nodded, "It is exciting, but what's even more exciting is what could lie ahead for us– for you and me."

How was he not terrified right now? "But doesn't that scare you? Not knowing? The unexpected?"

Rick gripped her small hand in his large one, encompassing the slim fingers between his palm. He anchored her, kept her from floating too far off shore.

"Of course, I'm scared; it completely terrifies me. But, Kate. You won't be doing this all on your own. I'll be there, with you, every step of the way. Just like how I'll be there with you as you come to terms with your father's death. And, trust me when I say that I believe you and I can make this work."

"How? We don't have the best track record." Insecurities and uncertainties began to make their appearance known, rising up from low in her gut up to her throat.

A valid point. In the past, neither was open to each other, neither allowing their significant other in those sacred walls guarding their hearts. Looking back now, it was clear; their relationship wasn't as strong as they'd thought it to be to begin with. So what could they do to make sure the past doesn't repeat itself?

"We can by being accountable for one another, and keeping each other in line," Rick finally said. "I'm sure I'll mess up every now and then, as will you, like I said, we're only human. But we've got to stay accountable for each other. Relationships are a two-way street, both parties must participate or the relationship doesn't stand a chance."

"And what if we don't last? What if this is bound to implode from the start?"

Sighing in acceptance, he weighed their options. "Okay, maybe we implode. Or maybe we find something incredible, something we never knew existed. I believe that this– that you– are worth that risk, Kate."

"You do?"

"I do," Rick confirmed, his words resolute. "I do, because I'd rather have been with you for a small period than not have been with you at all. I'm willing to take the risk, so give us a chance, Kate. Take that risk with me."

Take that risk. His words bounced around in her head as she went through the options placed before her, and it took her a few minutes to come to a decision.

Kate's voice was small. "We're really doing this?"

"Only if you want to." He was offering her a way out; if she didn't want to do this, then she could back out. Up to her.

Her quietness unnerved him; he didn't know what was going on in that beautiful mind of hers, but if the smile steadily growing on her lips was any indication, then the one word she uttered was too. "Okay."

Wait- "Okay? I– you sure? I don't want you to feel pressured or feel like you're being forced into-"

She stopped him from rambling with a mere raise of her finger to his lips. For the first time, she felt sure. This was right and it was real. And there was no way she was going to screw this up again.

"Never been more positive in my life." Hands cupping his cheeks, the stubble tickling her palms, she closed the distance. "Now, shut up and kiss me already, will you?"

Smiling widely, he did as told. "With pleasure."

The words practically flew off the page.

It'd been so long- too long- since he'd been able to pound out this many words, his mind running a hundred miles an hour and unable to slow down in order for his hand to catch up.

She was so inspiring he couldn't help it.

A swift glance over to the woman in subject, unable to stop the huge grin from blossoming on his lips at just the sight of her in all of her naked beauty, surrounded in a sea of stark white sheets as she slept the remainder of the afternoon away. After their heart-to-heart in the bath, the couple journeyed back to the bedroom, where they proved their love for one another once again.

The second time was different from the first; they weren't closed off, instead open like a book for the other to read to their heart's content. It was passionate, loving, and beautiful.

As he kept his eyes trailing over her luscious womanly curves, Rick came to a halt in his writing. There were many words to describe her, but those words lacked in comparison to her beauty, her heart, and her compassion. Although, a few adjectives did come rather close.

Breathtaking. Stunning. Extraordinary.

Real.

She was real. Of course, he already knew that.

After spending months, years even, trying to get over her, he realized he never wanted to. Didn't quite understand why he attempted to do so in the first place; the woman was captivating, gaining your attention with a mere glance. Thinking back, he didn't think there was a single moment he wasn't mesmerized by her. And as much as he'd tried to move on, forget, he couldn't. She was in his heart forever- the past few days, hours, solidifying what he already knew to be true.

When he had come to France, he never thought in a million years he'd see her again. Was it fate their paths crossed so unexpectedly? Was it destiny? He hadn't a clue, couldn't be more grateful it happened, though.

Kate was like a fine chocolate, once you've had a taste, there was no turning back. He was addicted, needing to taste, savor and love more and more.

His pen glided over the crisp paper with ease, the swift up and down, side-to-side movements constructing words and, ultimately, sentences, which then took in the form of a story, of old characters, he hadn't visited in a while. Things were beginning to become clear for the first time in ages.

Rick was in awe. He was writing again. Actually writing.

Nikki Heat. Now that was a character he'd never thought he'd ever come across in his writing career again.

When the pair had gone their separate ways, he had abandoned Nikki altogether; she was a constant reminder of what he'd lost. How was he supposed to write and develop this character he'd created, give her everything she deserved and more, if he couldn't do the same for the real thing?

That was just it; he couldn't.

So Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook had been deserted, never to be brought back to life again. Until now...

With his gears running full tilt, Rick dived headfirst back into the world he created, feeling right at home. A soft snore pulled him back to reality, his gaze averting from his words toward the mess of a bed a few feet away from where he currently sat. He chuckled lightly when he saw Kate slowly reaching out, her hand searching, most likely for him, as she remained asleep.

The urge to join her was tempting, but then again so was writing, and he hadn't written this much in a–

Kate let out a small whimper. Then another, her face distorting into a look of pain and anguish. She was having a nightmare, and Rick was certain he knew what about. Coming to a decision, he quickly scribbled out the last few words before shutting the moleskin notebook, rising from his chair, and setting the notepad on the bedside.

Nikki would have to be put on hold for the time being, he had someone else to tend to.

He slipped out of his bathrobe and got into the bed; arms wrapped around her in an instant as his presence alone calmed her rigid and tense body down. Maybe a small nap would be good, he thought. Yet before he had the chance to think things over, his eyes were shutting closed, the haziness of sleep spreading over and through his body. The fight had already been lost as soon as he'd climbed in. He hadn't stood a chance.

Pressing a single kiss to Kate's forehead, Rick fell into the blissfulness of sleep.

There you go!

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