Chapter 11

EPILOGUE

Castle and Kate had a heart to heart about everything that had gone down. An honest to God, grown up, mature conversation with real words and everything! He could hardly believe it.

He had an even harder time believing that she was apologizing. There was nowhere to go, of course, in the car on the way to the Hamptons. With her. In the passenger seat. She was allowing him to drive. It must be love!

Also, it might have had something to do with the fact that he was driving her crazy with all the possible car games he could think of for the short drive. Could he help that he was really excited? No, no he could not.

"I spy with my eye –"

"Oh my God, Castle stop!" she said, with the back of her hand covering the smile she was trying unsuccessfully to hide.

"Naw. Okay, come on. Last one. Then I'll be quiet."

"Hah. I'll believe that when I don't hear it."

"Fuh-nny, Detective Beckett. Okay. I spy with my eye, something green speckled with brown."

Her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Or something brown speckled with green. I'm still not sure."

"Well, that's hardly fair. How will I know what you're talking about, if you don't know what you're talking about?"

"You see them every day."

"Them," she said flatly, and swatted at his thigh. He grabbed her hand before she could draw it back. "You're talking about my eyes? God, you're such a girl."

He looked at her, and batted his lashes comically to make her laugh. "But, Kate, I'm your girl."

"Hah. Yeah, you are," she barked out, and then suddenly sobered. He brought her palm to his mouth and kissed it, lingering for a second before letting go. "I'm sorry, Rick."

"Hmm? Well, I do bruise like a peach, but no one's gonna see my thigh. Unless of course, it's you," he said, waggling his eyebrow, trying to get a laugh out of her, but it never came.

"You always do that."

"Um. Is this one of those times when I've cracked a joke that's somehow awful in its timing leading to an epic fight? Should I pull over?"

Then she did laugh. "No, don't pull over. But, yeah, that's sort of what I'm talking about. I blame you, Castle, and you take it. You take it all on yourself, and then some and you keep forgiving me even if I don't deserve it."

"Oh. Kate, I don't – I mean, okay, yeah. These last two fights really did leave me extremely confused, and slightly wary about cracking jokes. But mostly, I get it, Kate. You've known the idea of me being a playboy a lot longer than you've known me for what this truly is. Plus I didn't exactly help matters by being flippant about it in the beginning."

"You deserve more credit. You've proven to me over and over again that if anyone's loyal, and committed to something, it's you. I wish I could tell you how grateful I am that you came back, Castle. Every time."

"Consciously, or subconsciously, Kate – you took me back, every time."

"My turn. I spy with my eye, someone who's fiercely loyal, quite funny, mostly crazy and sometimes smart – "

"Hmm," he said with a smile, "Is it that dude?" he asked, pointing at the poster for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

She rolled her eyes, and laughed. "Yes Castle, I meant Colonel Sanders."

"Score!"

"Wow! You rich or something?" she asked in awe, her eyes taking in the huge house, the beautiful greenery surrounding it and the wide, open clear blue sky.

"Or something," he smiled, "Come on, I'll show you around," he said, reaching for her hand and tugging her excitedly.

He showed her the house, front to back, inside out, and she was – she was overwhelmed. Trying to squelch the memory of watching him walking away with Gina – no nothing had happened – but she didn't know that for a while. Just as she was getting over it, now that she was here, her doubts – though irrational were creeping back to the surface.

"Kate, you don't like it?" he asked softly. Of course he'd notice something. Always attuned to her, even when she tried to hide it, there was no hiding from him.

He had some sort of Kate Beckett-sense, tingling – or were those nerves? – when something was up with her. She tried to reassure him.

"No, no. It's beautiful, Castle. Really, really big," she said, trying to smile.

"But - ?" he asked, "Tell me, Kate," he said softly, rubbing soothing circles over the back of her hand.

"But I can't help but wonder how many people you've brought here before," she said, oddly sounding embarrassed about saying it. "I mean, I know we've covered this and, it's stupid. Never mind, come on, show me the beach?" she said, putting on a smile and trying to pull him with her.

When he felt her pulling him, he yanked her back, turned her around and put his arms around her waist over her lovely flat abs. He could help but blow a small puff of air over her neck, up and up behind her ear. She shivered, and gasped, latching on to his arms with her hands.

He spoke softly into her ear, his lips grazing it with every word spoken. "I won't deny that I've brought women here before. It was an easy get away, a place where I never had to worry about my privacy. But Kate, it's never meant this before because –"

"And?" she asked breathlessly, and he dropped a kiss to her shoulder before drawing his arms back, letting her turn in his embrace so she could face him for this.

"None of them were you," he completed with a sincere smile.

She nodded, biting her lip and looking down shyly.

God, she was beautiful.

"Beach?" he asked, pointing behind her with his chin.

She reached up on her toes, being shorted without her killer heels, and closed her lips over the underside of his jaw, and then surprised him by biting him there softly.

He yelped, "Katherine Beckett, did you just bite me? I never!"

"Hmm," she said, laughing at him, she put her arms behind her back and taking a slow step back. "Well, Ricky, what can I say? Seems I've developed an expensive taste."

"Is that so?" he asked, taking a step towards her, leading her to take another backward step back, still laughing at him – this beautiful playful creature.

"Mhmm."

"Can't leave you hungry, can we?"

"Gotta catch me first, Writer Boy. I'm not so sure you can keep up."

He growled, and lunged for her, but she was quicker on her feet. "I'll show you just how well I can 'keep up', Beckett."

"Dogs that bark, do not bite."

"I'd be happy to bite you," he said with a leer, still moving for her. "Return the favor, you know?" he said, rubbing his hand over his jaw.

She laughed. "I'm sure you would," she said and turned around, and starting to run, as he chased her through the waves.

"You are not helping me unpack."

"But Kateeee, it'll be faster, and then we can have lunch sooner," he said with a boyish grin just as his stomach growled. "I'm huuuungry!"

She giggled. Giggled and he thought he heard the angels sing. Okay, so that might be a little dramatic, but he was hungry. And not just for food either. Then she proceeded to pull his cheeks, then smoosh them together, and he was confused. So, so confused.

"You'h smoosheeng muh chix."

"You're being cute."

"I'm not cute, I'm sexy," he huffed, batting her hands away.

"Okay, Castle," she said, turning him around, "Get your sexy little behind out of my room, and go make lunch while I unpack"

"But –" he said with a pout.

"Exactly. Cute, sexy butt. Out," she said one last time with a quick pat to his butt.

"So, how is it?"

"Eh. Passable," she said, taking another bite of the pasta he'd cooked for them. Honestly the garlic bread, pasta he'd made was delicious. She didn't know he cooked this well.

"Passable? Passable? Just passable?"

"What? You asked for my opinion," she said with a shrug.

"Uh huh, uh huh. How 'bout the truth?

"How do you know it's not the truth?"

"Because your moan the second you put the damn chunk of bread in your mouth made me blush."

"So you already knew how I felt."

He looked at her sheepishly. "Well…I just wanted to make sure it's a good moan?"

She narrowed her eyes as she finished another bite of pasta. "It is. You should memorize it, Rick."

"Oh. Umm. I sh – I should?" he gulped.

"Yup. Never know when you'll hear it again."

He looked at her, all wide eyes and gaping mouth, before he recovered the ability to talk. "Done. Sealed. Locked. Memorized. Forever. It's stuck in there, nice and tight. Solid."

She just smiled in that mysterious way she always did, and he knew she was laughing at him and didn't even care. He'd spend his entire life making her laugh.

"Ow ow ow ow ow! Apples!"

"Serves you right!"

"But you agreed!"

"I didn't know what I was agreeing to," she shouted. "You coerced me!"

"I did not. You were a fully willing participant. In fact, you were giddy with excitement at trying this out."

"No, that would be you. I was the one praying that we come out of it alive."

"You face serial killers and crazy psychopaths for a living. This hardly qualifies as life threatening."

"I can still feel my heart racing, Castle!"

"Some would say that's a good thing. Where's your sense of adventure? Sheesh. And would you let go of my ear? It's starting to go numb."

"Ugh," she huffed, and started soothing his ear in silent apology. "I don't know why I let you convince me into thinking this was a good idea."

"Eh. It's the charm. I'm charming."

"Hah."

"And I talk a lot. Enough for you to agree to almost anything to shut me up. I call it the Rick Castle strategy."

She snorted.

"Don't laugh, it's very effecti-"

She kissed him silent, her lips moving over his to wipe his mind clean while her tongue drove his body wild. "As you can see, I can very well silence you whenever I want. I call it the Kate Beckett strategy."

"It's a good strategy. I like that strategy. You know? I love learning new things. You wanna show me again, and go slow," he said seriously, but added a wink.

"I don't know, Castle. You know what they say about kissing and telling…"

"Fine, I'll just keep talking till you're so frustrated that you're left with –"

And her lips were on his again, her hands in his hair, while his wound around her, pulling her closer as they lay in the swiveling chair, on the floor where they'd fallen after an enthusiastic dive by Kate.

"See?" he breathed heavily after she pulled back. "Effective strategy."

"So is mine."

"I was talking about yours."

"Yin and Yang."

"You and me."

"Yeah," she agreed with a smile, and kissed him languidly, still on the floor.

"Let me sleep, Castle, go away," she moaned into the pillow. She was lying on her stomach, and yet fully aware of his presence.

He pushed the door to open it fully, instead of peeking through the crack. His eyes hurt. "How'd you even know I was there?"

"I can feel you creepy-staring at me."

"Nuh uh," he said, coming inside. "I was totally being a ninja."

She lifted her head from the pillow, opened one eye and snorted before setting her head back. "You sighed. Four times."

He looked down to where his toe was scuffing the rug. "You're going to be gone day after tomorrow, and I'll miss you. So I was just – soaking it up, okay? Go ahead, say it. Call me a girl again," he ended with a sigh.

She smiled and shifted on the bed. "Get in here," she said, her voice all low with sleep, and oh, so sexy.

His head snapped up and almost gave him whiplash. "Wha…..? Are you su –"

"Offer ends in 3…"

He blinked.

"…2…"

He ran and jumped onto the bed, making her yelp and bounce, and settled himself in next to her with a smile. She did not realize he could be so agile when he wanted to. Huh. Not something to think about in a bed with him alone, at night, in a romantic Hamptons getaway. Later maybe.

Then again, maybe she should have thought about that before inviting him into her bed, but he looked so damn sincere, and aww he'd miss her. But what was he thinking about? How would he take…

"Shh! Let me sleep!" he mumbled jokingly into her neck. Where his face was nestled. As he spooned her. Gah, it felt good.

She whacked him over his stomach, and he chuckled at her. "I'm not the one who's yapping at who-knows-what-o' clock at night."

"You're thinking. Loudly."

She hummed and raised her hand beneath his, jostling his till his digits settled between hers. She held it closer, as if inspecting the phenomenon, studying the evidence.

"We fit," he said.

"Mmm," she replied, sounding surprisingly nasally.

"Are you crying? Kate?" he shifted suddenly, worried.

"I'm not crying," she said in an even voice, but he could see her eyes brimming with tears that refused to fall. She must have realized that he noticed, because she added, "I don't do crying."

He chuckled, as he cradled her face, so devastatingly gentle that she had to close her eyes. "No, leave that to me, would you? I'm the girl, remember?"

"Yeah," she said with a watery smile. "My girl."

"Mhmm. All yours," he said, leaning down for a kiss. "You're extraordinary," he breathed, as he lay his forehead on hers, nudging her nose.

"Right back at you, Castle."

"Sleep, now."

"Trying to boss me around?" she said with a yawn. He chuckled again.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"Good, good," she said, letting herself fall into blissful oblivion.

He settled behind her again, whispering before he let sleep claim him too. "But I dream of you."

She smiled.

The smell of pancakes, waffles, and bacon drew her to him where he was standing in the kitchen looking too delicious as he yielded the spatula like a weapon.

"Haiiiiya!" he said, slapping the pancake onto the plate. "Oh! Hey. Good morning!"

She walked towards him and he just – watched, only being able to focus on that task. No one had the right to look so darn good in a shirt twice their size, and overlarge tracks that were rolled up to stay up, and that hair. What the hell, hair? Sleep rumpled and – okay, he had a hand in that too. Literally.

When he woke up next to her, he almost cried – girl that he was, and all. The previous night she'd stolen his breath as he watched through the crack in the door, looking ethereal in the glow cast by the moon light. And now – now as she walked across the beams of sunlight that shone through the wide windows of his house, the dust swirling in slow liquid circles around her in a magical dance that spoke of dreams and fantasy – was he awake? Now, sun-kissed skin and golden hair…this stealing his breath thing could not be good for his health. But health be damned – he'd come alive just to die by her time and over.

"Hello? You with me there, chef?" she teased, reaching for the now burnt pancake with his spatula. When did take his spatula?

Mesmerized by the ease of her movements in his kitchen, he watched as she tossed the wasted blackened piece of breakfast in the trashed and poured some more batter.

"Is the staring going to get worse, Castle?"

He smiled. "You have no idea."

Much like that first time the words we spoken, she bit her lips, beauty and confidence and sauntered off towards the table, hips swaying. This time, she was in her jammies, carrying a plate full of breakfast, no bath, no make-up. Still sexy as hell.

This time, he followed.

They were having lunch at a small establishment close to water, watching the boats as they bobbed serenely in the lazy afternoon.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No."

"But –"

"You need one more? Fine. Read my lips. NO."

"I'd rather do other, more exciting things to your lips," he said, waggling his eyebrows.

"Castle – "

"It won't be like yesterday. You'll just be in charge of the stop-watch. Besides, you're leaving me here by my lonesome tomorrow. I'll miss you," he said with an exaggerated pout.

She threw a napkin at his face. "Don't act cute, Castle. It won't always work."

"Damn. Had to try."

They laughed. He didn't stop trying to convince her.

They were walking hand in slightly sweaty hand on the beach. The thing romantic novels are made of with just a minor difference.

They weren't whispering sweet nothings to each other, as she slipped the stray strands of hair back behind her ear. No, nothing sweet. Loads of gore and macabre, though, as they discussed great ways to off his next victim – for Naked Heat, just to be clear.

Then he mentioned the title of his book accidentally, pursed his lips and squinted at her when he realized. She yanked her hand out of his, the smile dropping off her face to be replaced by shock and a look that garnered terror from the strongest criminals.

"Ummmmm. Remember how you think I'm cute?"

She blew her hair out of her face, and somehow she looked simultaneously sexy and terrifying.

"And sometimes I'm sexy…?" Castle said with an unconvincing toothy grin.

"You are going down."

"Oh my God, that's so hot," he said, and then bolted for it.

She chased him and dropped him into the water, leaving him soaked, spluttering, and still turned on.

He started gasping for breath, and she leaned down, concerned. He pulled her further so she fell over him, straddling him to keep her balance.

"That wasn't funny, you jerk."

"It was, a little," he said, shaking his head like a dog, splashing little droplets of water all over her face. She tried to punch him half heartedly, but he caught her wrist, with one hand supporting her back. "I'm sorry, you're right. That was not in good taste. Forgive me?"

She placed her hand on his jaw, her thumb sliding along his cheek. "Don't do that to me again."

"Okay."

"Okay," she nudged his nose with hers and kissed him soundly – forgiveness, and relief.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven for 'Naked Heat' too?"

She smirked. "Oh no. You're going to have to work for that. And you can start by giving me the manuscript to read."

"We'll talk about it," he grinned and kissed her.

He looked ridiculous and adorable – ridiculously adorable as he stood at her door, digging into the carpet again. "So…"

"So?" she asked, deciding to torture him just a little.

"So, goodnight. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow," he said, smiling sadly.

Her heart broke. "No goodnight kiss?"

"Oh, yeah," he grinned, and came towards her. It was so easy to make him happy, her heart hurt. He leaned down to kiss her, and she allowed him to.

When he tried to pull back, she grabbed fistfuls of his t-shirt and yanked him down on top of her.

"MmKate?" he said through the kiss.

"Hmm?" she asked without breaking the kiss.

They paused for breath, and he gazed into her eyes, surprised and happy. "Nothing."

"You gonna let me sleep tonight, Castle."

He sighed, acting chagrined. "If I must."

She smiled, and he shifted to settle beside her under the covers. She put her leg over his thighs, an arm over his chest and her head over his shoulder. He slipped his arm around her, and held her gently, like he was handling something fragile – something of immense important – like he was handling a heart.

He was. It was his heart.

Her things were in his car. She was taking his car back to Manhattan, and her things were in his car.

"I'll see you in a month." He smiled.

"Don't. Don't do that."

"What? I'm not doing anything."

She sighed, and leaned in to kiss his cheek, lingering then, cheek to cheek. "Alexis and Martha are going to join you, right?" she asked, and waited for him to nod, his cheek rubbing hers. "So, instead of getting the car service to drop them here, you come home for the weekend, and leave with them on the following Monday."

"I love it when you solve things," he said, beaming.

She barked out her laughter. "Good thing I do that for a living, huh?"

"I am the luckiest guy. Ever."

"Yeah, you are. Now, I will see you when I see you," she said, turning to the car, only to be yanked back, causing her to gasp.

"At least leave me with a decent kiss to carry me through the week."

She did.

She didn't even think twice when she reached home after driving his car to his place, and leaving the keys with Martha and Alexis. He'd be renting a car to come and take them to the Hamptons over the weekend. It was just easier. With that solved, she got home, and without even unpacking, she was already pulling up his number.

"Hey!" he answered on the first ring.

"Hey!"

"Reach home okay?"

"Yeah."

"Good. That's good. Heading in to the precinct later?"

"Yup. Break's over. And there's a case."

"Nice."

"I miss you."

"Oh thank GOD! Hah."

She laughed at the relief in his voice as he yelled his response.

"I was dying to say that, but then you'll call me a girl again, so I was trying to hold back. Do you know how hard it is to not say something sappy to you? Do you?"

She laughed harder. "Castle, you can always say what's on your mind."

"Aha! I knew it. You love the sap. Admit it."

"I will admit no such thing."

"You love saaap," he sang, "and you love corn, and you love cheese, and you love m-."

Silence.

"Kate? I'm sorry – I was just – it rhymed...kind of?" He took a deep breath. You can always say what's on your mind."And it may be bad timing – which seems like some sort of curse now that I think about it – but you can just ignore that if you want."

Silence.

"Please say something," he pleaded softly.

"I do."

"Say what? I think there's a cross connection or something," he said tapping his phone.

"I love sap…" she began.

"And corn…"

"And cheese…"

If he held his breath any longer, he was going to pass out.

"And I love you."

He released his breath and then some, and actually gasped his next breath. "I love you, too, Kate. So much."

"Yeah," she smiled into the phone, feeling giddy and completely surprised at herself.

"Yeah," he repeated softly.

They stayed on the line, silent, listening to each other's breaths wash over them from the distance, till she had to get ready to head to the precinct.

"Talk to you later?" she asked.

"You can count on it. Call me when you're free. I don't care what time."

"Okay, later."

"Later," she said and hung up, trying unsuccessfully to tamp down her smile.

To think, it all started with a call.

~Fin~

A/N:

Thank you everyone who's been following this story from the start, everyone who joined in somewhere in between, and everyone who read this for the first time, all in one go.

Thank you to the kind anon/anons who have been leaving me reviews here and also for my other stories. I can feel the love, and I hope you can feel mine.

Thank you to all my friends who are the best at encouraging, flailing, and generally being awesome.

P.S. I hope ya'll are happy with the amount of smoochies I managed to sneak in.