Sorry for taking so long to update, was away from my laptop. Hope people are still reading and enjoying J

Kate can literally feel the awkwardness in the room she and him sit in. They still haven't spoken a single word to each other and it's starting to eat away at her. She can tell he's dying to say something too. He's fidgeting with his hands, shaking his leg nervously. But she knows he's way too cautious to say anything. She wants to start them off with this conversation, considering the part that she is the one who said they were over. But just can't seem to think, as if her brain wont form the right words to come out of her mouth. Honestly she hasn't a clue what it is exactly that wants to be said at all. She's not sure if they're ready to let anything come out.

She has been hiding away from him all day, too scared to face what ever it is there is to face between them. Kate has never been one with words. If anything that is his job, literally. And it's hard for her to decipher her feelings; she's still with Josh, they have her moms case to worry about, she ended their Partnership only a couple of nights ago. How is she suppose to do this? Does she just apologize, does she tell him how she feels…

'How do I feel?'

Is what washes over her mind, one of the hardest but also one of the most simplest questions she has ever asked herself. How does she feel about Richard Castle? It's hardly even a question anymore, she knows. Might fight that she knows it, but she does.

'But does he know?'

Shaking her head disapproving her own thoughts. It shouldn't matter anyway, she is with Josh. Shouldn't have feelings for this other man. Her friend… Her partner. Oh hell who is she kidding, she knows there is something more going on, can read between the lines. It's all clear, she's just making it blurry.

Rick can feel the anxiety building up inside of his body. Toying with his finger nails as he can practically hear her thinking. Praying to the gods that she doesn't hear what would only be the faint sound of his actual boisterous heartbeat. Taking another swig of the Champagne her voice breaks the silence atlas.

"Castle"

Rick practically jumps from his seat on the floor at the sound of her voice. He turns whipping away at the clear liquid that made it's way down his chin.

"Hmmm" Is all he gets out. It's all he feels safe with at the moment. But when he finally sees her face, and witnesses the tears that stream down her face his heart clenches in his chest. He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to comfort her without her pushing away.

"Kate"

His voice catches in his throat.

"Kate I'm sorry- did I? -Are you- umm- Kate please say something." Is what finally fumbles out of his mouth, gracefully as always.

He watches as she wipes away the tears from her face and he hates it because he wants to be the one who gets to do that when she needs a shoulder to cry on. He wants her to break down in front of him and tell him her problems. He just wants to be there for her, he wants her to let him be there for her. He knows he's going out on a limb here but doesn't care. What has he to lose? She already broke up their partnership might as well live in the moment.

Kate knows she's breaking down in front of him and wants to slap herself out of it, but can't. The tears just keep coming. She almost smiles at him stuttering on every word he tries to let out of his mouth. She thought he would be one to know how to handle a woman crying, considering he has a teenage daughter and all.

It alarms her when she sees him getting up from his spot on the floor.

'What is he doing?'

Before she can do anything to assume anything his arms are around her in some comforting hug that she is about to fight off. She'll wait just a second though, because it's actually helping. She hates that it's helping. Despises the fact that he can do this to her. Make her feel so safe. So needy. It's killing her, because she can't face them just yet. Doesn't know if she ever will. She knows she'll hurt him once she rejects him but it's all she can think to do.

"Rick" Her voice is a warning she knows he can sense the warning because once his name leaves her mouth he tenses.

"Is this not alright?" His voice has a hint of annoyance to it. Of course that's what he's going to ask. Like he knows she has rules, ground rules on their rela- partnership.

"Castle that's not what I-" Before she can continue he's unwrapped his arms from her and has moved away, cutting her off mid sentence.

"Than what did you mean Kate because I don't know what this is anymore, and I'm really getting sick of these damn rules that you've made between us."

She's astonished by his outburst, sits there watching him pace from corner to corner of the tiny bathroom. She gets up though, feels the chagrin boiling inside her. Standing in the tub looking a mess, fights back.

"I'm sorry you're getting so sick of me and my damn rules Rick"

There's a sharp sound to his name on her lips that she's never used before.

"I don't ask for you to stick around"

"No but you expect it" He shoots back, Kate would have stepped back a step if she weren't currently standing in a tub.

"Castle I never said that-"

"It's implied Beckett" His voice is harsh but still deep down there's warmth in his words. "Kate we're suppose to be friends, we're suppose to be partners."

She's laughing at his words, mocking him really. It's makes him livid.

"Partners" she echoes to him. "We're pretty close for partners don't you think Rick?" She's mocking him, making him feel flustered and confused. Why is she doing this? Why is she so set on him saying something that will change things. For crying out loud she has a fucking boy friend. Who he has grown to dislike to a very high extents.

Rick makes his way forward to her, chucking all rules out the window. He sees something in her eyes as each step gets him even closer to her in this tiny confinement of a room. Is it fear? Hope? He's not sure. He has a feeling he's about to find out when he finally gets out what he has been holding in for the past three years.

Don't know how good this chapter was considering I had writers block and also it's pretty late in the night, or should I say morning? Lol Anyway hope people are still interested in this story.