A/N: First, thank you all again for your incredible feedback. I know I probably sound like a broken record, but it really does mean a lot that you guys seem to be enjoying this.

Second, some of you seem to be confused by the timeline so let me explain everything. This is January 2011. It has been 10 years since Kate's mom died. Alexis was obviously born later, but Rick is already in his mid-30s, while Kate is 31. Alexis has just turned 8 and Tyler will turn 9 around November/December. As this is an AU story, I took the liberty to play with their timeline a little bit. Is it still confusing?

Third, this is a little shorter than the two previous chapters, but this installment serves as a bridge to the second part of this story.

Fourth, thank you, Beetlebug, for your encouragement when I think everything I write sucks.

Anyway, hope you'll still enjoy it.

Disclaimer: If Castle was mine, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.

Someone Like You

Chapter 12

"Just get it out of your system, Lanie."

Kate waited five minutes after Rick and Tyler had left to go to the grocery store to buy ice cream. She busied herself by doing the dishes, but Lanie's intense gaze on her was unnerving. She knew the medical examiner was dying to grill her about Rick and hadn't done anything yet because of the aforementioned male presence in the apartment. After they left, however, Kate knew there was no escaping this, especially when she had relaxed and let her guard down when her boyfriend – was that what he was? She had no idea – was around.

"You and Mr. Castle seem awfully cozy around each other." She said with an overly casual tone while examining her nails. She had moved to the kitchen and sat at the table while Kate washed the glasses they had used this afternoon.

"It would appear so, yes." Kate narrowed her eyes at her friend and turned off the faucet, drying her hands quickly with a dish cloth. "Your point?" she lifted an eyebrow and Lanie's lips turned up in a knowing grin.

"Nothing. Just making an observation."

"Oh."

They were quiet for a beat. Kate mentally counted until ten before Lanie's resolve crumbled.

"You're dating Richard Castle, Kate! A goddamn celebrity!" she finally exclaimed and Kate had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at her friend's excitement.

"Who said anything about dating?" She leveled an innocent gaze at Lanie, who rolled her eyes immediately.

"Oh, honey, don't try that on me. You think I didn't see you guys kissing right here in this kitchen before he left with Tyler?" she lifted her eyebrow at Kate, who sighed, knowing she couldn't win this.

"I'm not entirely sure what we're doing, really. It's… complicated between us." She sat at the table, resting her elbows on it, face in her hands.

"It didn't look complicated to me at all. He likes you, you like him." Lanie shrugged. "What's so complicated about two attractive, single adults having a good time together?"

"A lot. He's a celebrity, like you said, for starters. The kids. My job. His ex-wife, both of them, actually." She counted them off with her fingers. "And this, whatever it is that we're doing, it's… God, Lanie, I've never felt like this before." She confessed, her voice was barely whisper. "I have no idea how it happened, but things just got really intense, really fast."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Lanie reached out and touched her hand with a supportive smile.

"I don't know." Kate admitted honestly. It felt good to finally be able to talk this out with someone other than Rick, who was probably just as confused as she was. "He knows about mom." She said and heard Lanie gasp in surprise. "I know, I'm shocked too."

"Honey…" Kate watched as her friend struggled to find words. "I don't even know what to say." She said eventually and Kate laughed quietly. "When did this happen?"

"Last night."

"And you've known him for how long now?"

"A little over three weeks. I think." Kate looked at her hands, trying to sort her thoughts out.

"Well, that's… that's something alright." Lanie ran a hand through her hair and Kate looked up at her, knowing she had something to say. "Have you slept with him yet?" She asked gently, for once without the teasing tone she always had whenever they had this conversation about a guy. Kate shook her head.

"We agreed to take things slow. Like I said, it's been intense." Kate let out a breath and closed her eyes.

"I'll bet." Lanie commented, leaning back against the chair. "Are you in love with him, Kate?" She asked curiously and Kate looked up at her again, finding Lanie watching her with sincere wonder.

"No." It was her immediate answer. Then she bit her lip, thinking for a moment. "I don't know, Lanie. I can't be, right? I've only known him for three weeks. And you know me, I don't work like that."

"There's a first time for everything, sweetie." She touched Kate's hand again, giving it a light squeeze. "For what it's worth, I'm really happy for you."

"It scares me, Lane. What he does to me, how he makes me feel." She sighed heavily. "It's never been like this. Not even with Josh. And we know how well that turned out." She said bitterly.

"Oh, honey, I know it's hard, but you can't hold onto that forever. You deserve to be happy and it looks like this is finally your chance. Don't throw it away because you're afraid." She gave her a small, encouraging smile.

"I don't think I could run away, even if I wanted to."

"Does Tyler know?" Lanie asked and Kate shook her head.

"We decided to give it some time, see if things really work out between us before telling the kids." She explained, getting up to get a glass of water.

Just as she was pouring some water for Lanie, the door opened and she jumpled, startled. Rick and Tyler walked in, cheeks pink because of the cold, laughing about something. Rick shook his head – much like a giant dog, she thought, amused – throwing bits of snow everywhere. Tyler laughed at the scene, pulling off his gloves and hat and throwing them on the couch. They made their way to the kitchen after taking off their coats and Kate smiled at them, accepting the ice cream carton from Rick.

"We got your favorite, mom." Tyler said, perching himself up on a chair. Kate looked down and, sure enough, she had a carton of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream in her hands.

"Thanks, boys." She smiled and Rick settled next to her against the counter, nudging her side affectionately.

"Can we have the brownie now?" Tyler asked impatiently and Kate chuckled, preparing his dessert quickly before giving it to him. "Thanks, mom." He smiled at her happily and dug in.

After everyone was appropriately full, Lanie announced she was leaving, saying she had to meet someone. Kate looked at her questioningly to which Lanie only mouthed "later". With a shrug, she hugged her friend goodbye and smiled as Lanie kissed Tyler loudly on the cheek, much to the boy's embarrassment – or so Tyler pretended; Kate knew he loved when Lanie did that – and turned to Rick. Kate enlisted Tyler's help to clean up the mess, but not before listening in on Lanie's hushed conversation with Rick.

"It was really nice to meet you, Rick." She said with a smile.

"Likewise, Dr. Parish. I am definitely going to count on your expertise for my next book, if you don't mind." He said with an easy grin and Lanie nodded.

"Kate knows where to find me. Speaking of Kate," she leaned closer to him, her voice quieter. "that girl is like a sister to me and it looks like you're making her pretty damn happy right now. But if you ever hurt her, I'll have you know that as a medical examiner, I can make anything look like an accident. Anything." She smiled sweetly at him and Kate had to stifle a laugh as he nodded, eyes wide. "Are we clear, Mr. Castle?"

"Crystal clear." He mumbled and Kate let out a giggle, shaking her head. When he returned to the kitchen after Lanie left, he leaned against the counter, running a hand through his hair.

"I think I've just gotten a death threat from your friend, Kate." He mused and she laughed, entirely too amused.

"I believe you have." She grinned at him, mirth dancing in her eyes. "You'd better be a good boy, then, don't you think?"

"I don't think that's possible, detective. Not with you around." He leered at her and she laughed out loud, slapping his chest.

"Shut up, Rick."

A couple of hours later, Rick got a phone call from Meredith saying she wanted to drop Alexis off, but no one was answering at the loft. He sighed heavily and Kate looked up at him. They were on the couch and she was lying comfortably with her head on his lap. Tyler was out playing with one of the kids that lived in the building and they had been just watching TV and enjoying each other's company.

"What's wrong?" she asked when he hung up and leaned his head back on the couch. At the sound of her voice, he looked down at her, running his hand gently through her hair.

"Meredith." He rolled his eyes. "Apparently she's done with Alexis for the day and wants to drop her off. I told her to drive her here and I'll meet her downstairs. Is that alright?" He asked, suddenly remembering he hadn't even checked with Kate before giving Meredith instructions to bring his daughter over.

"Of course it is." She sat up and turned to face him, resting her elbow on the back of the couch. "Did everything go okay with their day out?"

"I sure hope so. I can't handle her hurting my little girl again in so short a time." He let out a breath and reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. She offered him a smile and he grinned slightly back. She was so beautiful, he mused. He still couldn't believe she had actually given him a chance. "They'll be here soon." He said and Kate nodded, scooting closer to him.

"Maybe we could take the kids out later? Grab a pizza?" she suggested and he agreed, pulling her to him until she rested her head on his chest. They had to enjoy their alone time together before both their kids returned.

"I had an interesting conversation with Tyler earlier today." He told her after a couple of minutes.

"Yeah? About what?" she asked curiously, fiddling with the hem of his shirt.

"You, actually. He wanted to know my intentions toward you." He said quietly and she almost bashed his face in when she sat up abruptly.

"He what?" She looked at him, mouth open in shock. Rick chuckled at her reaction.

"Well, first he asked me if I was your boyfriend." He supplied and Kate hid her face in her hands.

"Oh my God." She moaned, her voice muffled. "What did you say?" she looked at him, dreading the answer.

"I told him the truth." At her raised eyebrows, he continued. "I said I didn't know if I was your boyfriend, but that I cared about you a lot. He caught us kissing, apparently. I couldn't lie to him."

She let out the breath she had been holding and looked at him unsure.

"I don't know what to say." She said eventually and he took her hand in his, playing with her fingers.

"It was the truth, Kate. I do care about you. Way too much for my own good." He added with a smile and sighed, relieved, when her lips turned up slightly. "And we never discussed anything about, you know, labels, so…"

"Do we need to?" she rested her chin on her hand, elbow on the back of the couch.

"Do you want to?" he countered and she but her lip in that sexy way that drove him crazy.

"I don't know. I mean, if Tyler knows, then you're probably telling Alexis soon, right?" she asked as he intertwined their fingers, his thumb caressing her skin.

"Yeah. If Tyler doesn't tell her first." He chuckled at the memory of the boy's serious speech. "You should've seen him, Kate. He looked so nervous, but so determined to defend your honor."

"That's my little gentleman." She smiled. "I can't believe he did that." She shook her head in wonder.

"He loves you, so he wants to protect you. I promised him the same thing I promised you." He said, kissing the top of her hand. "So, do you want to discuss labels?"

"Well, I don't think we need to put a label on this. But maybe to make things easier…" she trailed off when he started trailing kisses up her arm, his eyes never leaving hers.

"So is this when I ask you if you want to go steady with me?" he grinned when he saw her biting her lip again, her eyes now intent on the path his lips were trailing on her arm.

"Maybe. Just so we have something to tell them when they ask." She whispered, breathless already when he pulled her closer, lips now touching her collarbone.

"Alright." He mumbled against her skin, now placing open mouthed kisses to her neck, delighted when he felt a shiver run through her body.

His lips found hers and he kissed her fiercely, feeling even more aroused when she kissed him back just as enthusiastically. She soon threw her leg over his, straddling him and pressing her body tightly (deliciously) against his. When she moaned against his lips, he felt his pants tightening, as much as he tried to control himself. His hands quickly found her bare skin, as they slipped under her sweater. She was hot under his touch and he groaned when she pressed her hips against his. Pulling apart when oxygen became a necessity, he shivered when her lips found the pulse point on his neck and sucked gently, her tongue doing amazing things to his skin.

He quickly found her lips again, his tongue clashing with hers immediately. He wanted her so much, it almost physically hurt. Her hands started to slowly undo the buttons of his shirt, slipping in to touch his skin. Her hips were doing a maddening slow dance against his and it was all he could do not to lose it right there.

Just when she had unbuttoned the last barrier and was about to push his shirt off his shoulders, his phone went off, making them both jump. He rested his forehead on her shoulder for a minute, trying to catch his breath. Kate wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning further into him, her breath ragged, was not making his situation any easier. After a moment, he swallowed hard and grabbed his phone, pulling away from her slightly. Tracing her (extremely inviting) swollen lips with his thumb, he smiled when she placed a kiss on it and leaned against him again, her head on his shoulder. He took a deep breath in an attempt to steady his racing heart and finally pressed the answer button on his phone.

"Hello?" He said, relieved that he didn't sound as breathless and overwhelmed as he felt.

"We're down here, Rick. Not exactly the best place in Manhattan, is it? Is this where your little detective lives?" He heard Meredith's voice and ignored her last remark.

"I'll be right there." He said shortly, gently running his hand up and down Kate's back.

"Could you hurry up? I've got a date soon and I need to go get ready." His hand stilled on her back and Kate looked up at him questioningly. He shook his head, pressing his lips to her temple.

"Bye, Meredith." He hung up and let out a heavy sigh, looking down at Kate.

"You okay?" She asked quietly and he nodded.

"I have to go get Alexis." He explained and she got up so he could do the same. Buttoning his shirt up, he looked at her with a small grin. "This is nowhere near over, you know." He told her and his grin only grew when she bit her lip, trying to fight a smile.

"Nope." She grinned at him and he pulled her to him, kissing her briefly, but deeply. "Soon." She whispered breathless as he rested his forehead on hers.

"Very soon." He whispered and kissed her again. "I'll be right back." He said and forced himself to pull away from her. One inside the elevator, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to get himself under control.

Man, she was driving him crazy.

A/N: Tell me what you think?