Sorry this one is kind short guys. I was surprised that I found it harder to write a convo with Lanie and Kate then Castle and Beckett. I thought about making this chapter longer, but this conversation is crucial to the stroy ao I left it as it's own chapter.

Anyway I hope you guys enjoy. Reviews are always loved, and thank you all for the alerts and favourites, that really makes me happy!

"Kate, just listen to me" said medical examiner Lanie Parish to her best friend over coffee. Having deciding to keep her word she had forced Kate to sit down on the couch and talk about this. Kate had moved what was left of her stuff into Lanie's apartment, and Lanie was hoping that it would soon be moving out and into the writer's guest bedroom. She had promised Castle she would try and convince Kate to accept his offer, and she was going to certainly try her best.

Kate gave an exasperated sigh. "Lanie I already told you, I don't think it's a good idea." Lanie had just spent the last five minutes going over all the pros of accepting Castle's offer. "I've been over at his place before, but I've never slept over. Castle and I are not a couple, it would just be...awkward."

"Nonsense!" cried Lanie. "You love his family and his apartment. It's only gonna be awkward if you make it honey. His family loves you, and will totally understand if you accepted his offer."

"I know. It's just..."Kate looked down into her cup as she thought it over. Castle's apartment did have best security, and she did love his family. He had a beautiful apartment, and he had offered her the guest room. There was no reason to really not accept the offer accept one. Though Kate had tried to deny her feelings for Castle, it was becoming harder every day to hide them.

Sensing Kate was holding back something Lanie gently prodded her. "Come on Kate, I'm your girl you can tell me. What is really holding you back?" Kate quickly took a sip of coffee, allowing the heavily caffeinated beverage to give her the high she needed for what she was about to tell Lanie.

"I'm worried that if I stay with him in his place I might fall in love with him." She admitted, not daring to look at her best friend and instead choosing to pick a loose thread on her sweater. Kate was sure Lanie was going to tell her not to worry and to just sleep with writer boy, so she was surprised when silence followed her comment.

The two remained in silence for another minute until Kate finally spoke. "Lanie? Did you hear what I said?" The medical examiner nodded. Looking Kate right in the eye she asked,

"Do you want to fall in love with him?" Kate was slightly taken aback at the question.

"I...um I don't know." She stuttered. Sighing she admitted, "Maybe."

Lanie took another moment to consider her friend. She knew the two had feelings for each other, but never thought they ran this deep. The sexual tension between them was so thick; almost everyone in the precinct knew that the two would eventually hook up. Having known Kate for so long, Lanie knew there was something more between them then just wanting to have a romp in each other's beds, but hearing it coming directly from Kate was different. She now had confirmation, at least from one party, that this could become something more.

"Why are you worried about falling in love with him? As you pointed out before you guys are not even a couple."

"Just because we aren't a couple doesn't mean I haven't been developing feelings for him. Most of the time he's an annoying, wise-ass twelve year old on a sugar rush, but other times..." Kate looked off in the distance as if imagining Castle before her. "He's sweet, supportive and a great father. I don't know how this happened, but I'm pretty sure it has. I really like Castle, and if we live together I might succumb to his constant badgering and go out with him. "

"Wait. You're telling me you really like him, yet you don't even want to go out with him?" Lanie thought she had been on track, but now found herself veering.

"He's taken me out a few times before, but never an official date. What I'm worried about is going on a date with Castle and things going farther than intended. As much as I'd like to give in and sleep with him, I don't want a broken heart. I know his reputation, and as much as I'd like to deny it, it still worries me that I'll just be another one of his conquests. "

Lanie reached over and grabbed her friend's hand. "Kate look at me." Having her full attention Lanie continued, "You're not some bimbo he met at his book signings. He's included you in some much of his life, let you meet his family and trusted you multiple times with his life. Do you really think that he'd leave you after all that?"

"Well..."

"Don't even try to deny what I'm saying, girl. You are going to pick up that phone right know and call him and give him an answer. I'll leave you alone to do it if you want, but if I find out you're choosing to shack up with me instead of the man you're quickly falling in love with, you're going to have a price to pay." The two chuckled and Kate reached in to give Lanie a hug.

"Thank you Lanie. I didn't realize how much I needed to get those feelings out until now." Lanie gave Kate's hand a squeeze and then got up and left the room. Pulling out her cell phone Kate hit speed dial. She couldn't help but mentally laugh at the fact that he was number one on her speed dial. As the phone rang, Kate bit her lip as she went over what she wanted to say.

She jiggled her foot nervously waiting for the line to be picked up. "Beckett?" Castle answered.

"Hi Castle."

"Hi. What's up?" he asked, slight concern in his voice.

"You know you're earlier proposition, about staying with you?" she asked, still biting her lip nervously.

"Yah"

"I've made my decision."