Still Tuesday...
Castle had practically ran to her apartment. He couldn't still long enough to wait for a cab, and then wait in the back seat of the cab until he arrived. No his body needed to keep moving.
It was almost three by the time he got to her place.
He was puffed and sweaty by the time he arrived at her door. More exercise, me thinks. He told himself as he panted at her doorstep. He didn't bother ringing, this was something he needed to do in person. So he knocked.
And knocked again.
And knocked a third time.
Where the hell is she?
Deciding that she indeed wasn't home, he pulled out his phone. As he looked down and saw another package, similar to the bag she left for him on her desk. Another envelope on top of the bag. He smiled. She was letting that crazy romantic side out that he knew she had, and it warmed his heart that she was doing it with him.
She had basically been leaving little breadcrumbs around the city for him, egging him on and keep him chasing. But he'd chase her for all of eternity if he had to. No questions asked.
He bent down and scooped up the bag. It was a little heavier than last time. He opened the envelope and read her handwriting for the third time today.
Rick,
This also belongs to you. As you did all the work in tearing it down, I thought you might like the last piece.
Love,
Kate.
This confused him. Tearing down?
He delved into the bag and pulled out a stone, about the size of his hand. Smooth and polished with words engraved into its surface.
The last of my walls defences
'Oh, Kate.' He sighed.
He felt as though his heart would burst with the amount of joy she had put in him. tingles coursed though his body as he realised that she was diving in, head first; putting herself out there for him. he relished in the realisation. She wanted him.
Rick leant against the door for a moment, collecting himself before he called her. He needed to see her, and soon.
He opened his phone and pressed 2 again, he couldn't wait to hear her voice; the voice of the woman he loved, and – for some strange reason, in which he has been thanking God for; silently over the past few minutes - the woman who loved him back.
Kate was at the grocery store when her phone rang. Not the perfect timing, but there was no way that she wasn't going to answer.
'Yes Castle?' unable to hide the happiness in her voice.
'Don't you Castle, me. Not after all the Rick's you've been throwing around all day.'
Kate couldn't help but giggle. 'I think I'll call you whatever I like, Writer Monkey.'
'Totally unfair.' She heard him laugh along with her, but he took a breath and his tone changed. 'Where are you, Kate?'
This was going to be hard for her. 'I'm out.'
'Where?' he said, the need uncontrollably he was radiating was filling her phone.
'Just out, Rick.' She told him, a little too curtly.
'I need to see you. I don't want to do this over the phone.'
'I can't, not tonight.'
'I'll come find you now.' She could hear the desperation in him. Why did he have to make this so difficult?
'Rick, please. Just wait until tomorrow, that's all I'm asking. Not Friday, not today. I will see you tomorrow and we can talk about this. You can have me for the entire day.'
She heard him sigh in defeat. 'Ok. I'll see you tomorrow.'
'Thank you, Rick.' She said, putting her hand on her head with relief. He wasn't happy, but he wasn't pushing it either.
'Rick?'
'Hmm?'
'Thank you for the roses.' She said meekly, blush rising up her neck.
'Always.'
Kate sighed and kept telling herself that brushing him off was better in the long run. He was going to love tonight and what she had planned.
Alexis texted Kate telling her she was taking her father out for coffee at quarter to four, so she was free to go to the apartment.
Kate explained that Rick may be a little upset because she kept turning him down to see her. After Alexis' slight rant at her, Kate didn't want her to think she was jerking her father around anymore.
He's going to be so surprised! - Alexis
She breathed in relief.
The first thing Kate did when she got to his loft was put on dinner. Her mother had always told her that a way to a man's heart was through his stomach, so she wanted to cook for him. She started the roast lamb and vegetables before setting up the dinner table, finding a matching red and white set that would work perfectly.
When she had finished the table, she hurried to shower and change into a knee length red dress, sleeveless and a fairly deep V-cut. It hugged her torso, but flared slightly at the bottom. She hadn't bothered with shoes because she felt at home here; heels were for the workplace, or going out. She didn't want that here, she wanted comfortable.
As time wore on she went from the kitchen, to the dining table and to the mirror, basting, fixing and preening to make sure everything was perfect.
Kate's phone rang just after six as she lit the two candles in the centre of the table. A mighty fine job, if she did say so herself. She had bought red candles and a small bouquet of red roses for the centre of the table.
'Hello?' she answered. Not the usual "Beckett" she gave everyone, because she knew that tonight, even if the Zombie Apocalypse was invading New York, she was not getting called.
'He's on his way up, Kate.'
'Thanks, Alexis. I owe you.'
'You do, but make my dad happy and we'll call it even.' She said with a smile in her voice.
'I can try.' Kate replied before saying goodbye and hanging up.
She straightened her dress, ran her hands through her hair and felt utterly and completely nervous. But this was right. And he'd love it.
Keys were scratching at the lock as she darted around the room, checking everything quickly and turning off the small lights she had on around the room, until the candles were the main source of light. When the door opened she pressed herself against the wall in the dining room, out of sight from the door.
'What the-' she heard his voice at the door and her heart fluttered. Kate stepped out from behind the wall where she had hidden herself.
'Hi.' She said sheepishly, a shy smile coating her face.
He was in shock; not expecting this at all. His jaw was slack as he stood there motionless. Seconds ticked into minutes as she waited with baited breath for him to speak.
'Say something, Rick.' Kate said exasperatedly, waving her hands slightly. This was not the reaction she was hoping for. But her voice seemed to snap him out of his stupor.
His eyes focused and looked around the room. His face hadn't changed; still in shock. Her shoulders slumped and she dropped her head. This was not how this was supposed to go. Kate put herself out there and he just wasn't responding.
Kate let out her breath and looked back up at him. Rick had moved to her silently. So close she could feel his breath on her face. His eyes shone like they usually did. With love. Directed solely at her. In a quick motion he took her in his arms, one around her waist, the other around her neck and kissed her with such passion it had her weak at the knees. She put her hands around his neck to hold herself up as she kissed him back – after the initial surprise - with everything that she had.
They moaned and nipped at each other, tongues in sync and neither trying to assert dominance over the other; in complete harmony. Kate felt at home here. Safe. Like this is where she was supposed to be.
He pulled back when oxygen had become an issue. 'If this is how you stand me up, please do it more often.'
She giggled. Kate Beckett, hardened NYPD Detective, giggled.
'I didn't stand you up, Rick. I told you I couldn't go out with you tonight, not that I was planning on staying in with you.'
He groaned humorously into her. 'Semantics. You made me think I wasn't seeing you tonight.'
'Guilty. I'm sorry, I had this planned a week ago. And you had go all irresistible on me and make it damn hard to say no to you.'
'I'm glad you did. This is amazing, Kate.'
She moved from his arms, and picked up the rose she had for him.
'Be my Valentine?' she asked.
'Always and forever.' He said taking it and kissing her again. 'I may have to call the cops. You seemed to have been caught in a break and enter situation.'
'I didn't break in. Alexis gave me a spare key.'
'Little traitor.' He mumbled.
'If you're telling me you don't love this,' Kate said, gesturing to her preparations for dinner. 'I can just go home and have that date with a book and a bath. It makes no difference to me.'
'Liar.' He said, catching her middle as she turned to leave his side. 'I'm calling your bluff.' He kissed her soundly, bending down more than normal due to her bare feet. 'If you really think I wouldn't love this, you really don't know me. But you were saying that to bait me.'
She nodded. 'I'm not leaving tonight, Castle. You're stuck with me.'
'Do you hear me complaining?'
'Constantly.' Kate rolled her eyes at him playfully. 'About paperwork, about things being too boring, about-'
'Do I ever complain about you?'
'I do remember this one conversation-'
'Kate.'
She sighed. He never complained about the important things, he had only ever yelled at once, really, the night before Montgomery's death. 'No, you never complain about me making you wait until I was ready, about me pushing you away or any of the crap I put you through. And this is why I wonder when you will wake up and realise that I'm not good enough for you; because I really don't deserve you, Rick. You're way too good for me.'
'And you don't put up with the crap I put you through? Kate, I brought up your mother's case when you asked me not to, I never do what you ask when we're on a case and I'm a child. This is why I don't deserve you.'
'That, right there. That's why I love you. You put everything aside, your pride, your feelings; all for me.'
He had stopped moving his wandering hands over her skin, and his breath had hitched.
'What?' Kate asked him. He was like a deer in headlights. It was scaring her a little.
'You-you said-' a stuttering fool was not a Rick that she encountered often. It was usually after she let something sexual slip, but the recovery time was far less than now.
'I'd never thought I'd say this to Richard Castle; but use your words, Rick.' She urged playfully.
That made him snap out of his stupor. He laughed, and in turn had her laughing too. Arms still wrapped around each other like they were hanging on for dear life.
'You said you loved me, Kate, like it was the most natural thing in the world.'
Oh. She didn't even realise properly that she had said those three little words that had her hiding for three months. The words had just flowed out of her mouth because they were right. But Rick knew it was a big thing for her and it seemed he was reacting for her.
'It is.'
'Again.' He asked. A smile so large on his face, she could of sworn his it was about to split in two.
'I love you, Rick. The forever kind; the head over heels, think about you every waking moment kind.'
'The one and done kind?'
'Always.'
Rick bent down and kissed her slowly, sending all the love he felt for her through that kiss. It was languid and thorough and neither wanted it to end.
She needed oxygen and had to pull away. 'I have one last thing for you.' She told him, slipping from his grip and walking over to her bag. She pulled out the little jar and walked back to him.
Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she started speaking. 'Rick, this is going to be hard to hear, but the day of Roy's funeral – when I got shot...'
'Kate.'
'I remember. I never forgot, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I had to work out my own feelings first – or at least learn not to deny them. I never meant to hurt you and I'm sorry.' Kate was staring at her bare feet, not daring to look at the disappointment in his eyes. But she felt his hand come to her chin and pull her up to look her in the eyes.
'I know you heard me.'
'What?'
'I just knew, Kate. I don't blame you, I don't. I'm just glad you finally decided to give us a chance.'
She smiled as the tear ran down her cheek. His thumb caught it and he kissed her lips gently.
Taking his hand that was on her cheek, away from her skin, she placed the small jar in his hand.
'That's the only thing that could ever take me away from you, Rick. I want you to have it.'
He looked at his hand and saw the bullet that almost cost her, her life.
'I love you, Kate.' He said quietly, looking back in her eyes. She knew he meant it. She always knew.
'Always?' she asked with a small laugh.
'Always.' He told her, matching her smile. He kissed her again, and she moaned and melted into his body. She knew then he would be her forever, her always and this was just the beginning of them, all thanks to Saint Valentine.
A/N: I think i'm just under 12am so Still happy Valentines day for the next few minutes. this was really rushed so i hope it all makes sense. I may do a morning after chapter or if people are interested, and M chapter :)