So, thanks to everyone that has left reviews, I appreciate them greatly.

Also big thanks go to Ayeshajen for sifting through my rambling and taking out the mistakes, I dare say there was many.

I don't own Castle, otherwise Esposito would own no shirts.

Once Jim and Alexis are settled in their rooms for the night, Kate and Rick sit upon the kitchen stools. Silence reigns as they stare at one another and their entwined fingers. They need to talk but neither can bring themselves to begin. Eventually it is Rick that breaks the silence.

His words are quiet, hesitant but his love shines through clearly. "Kate, I need to know how you are feeling. Today's been hard for you."

"Rick, I.. My mum trusted that he was innocent and he tried to kill us, why would he break that trust?" Tears begin to fall and Rick stands up to move closer to her and she leans on him as she cries. Between sobs she opens up to him letting the last of her walls fall. "Someone hates us, someone wants us dead. Rick someone betrayed us and I was so scared that he'd kill you. So I bluffed and I lied and I was so close to pleading."

As Rick soothes her, lightly drawing circles on her back he asks the question that has been bothering him since Kennedy got off that one shot. "How much were you bluffing?"

"Too much." She dissolves into tears once more and wordlessly he picks her up and takes her to his room. She doesn't argue or resist which worries Rick further. He sets her down in the middle of the bed and climbs on beside her. As soon as he is within reach again Kate snuggles close. Her tears have diminished but are still fresh in her eyes as she tries to explain. In his arms she feels safe and so she shows him her vulnerable side something she never even shows herself.

"It's true she wasn't there to help me. She wasn't here to make me see sense, to point out how I feel about you. She won't be there when I need her, as much as we both wish she was. She never saw me fall in love."

Using his free hand he pulls her chin up so he can look straight into her beautiful eyes. Her eyes stare deep within his as the air fizzles around them. He speaks softly but firmly and his words embed themselves in her heart.

"Katherine Beckett she has watched you your entire life, she is probably watching even now. I bet she is proud of you, I certainly am. You may not be able to hear her but she's there and she always will be. When we get married she'll be there, crying with pride at how beautiful you look. When we have children, she'll watch over them and love them as she does you. During every pregnancy she'll be watching over you, remembering when she was having you. She will never miss an important moment of your life and will be standing behind you as your baby takes it's first steps, she'll even be crying with you when you do fall pregnant. She'll probably do awful things to me if I am ever stupid enough to forget just how much I love you."

A smile forces its way onto Kate's face at his words. She finds her own voice, slightly worn from the crying but it is full of unmistakable emotion. "Rick, I knew there was a reason I love you, you're right she'll always be there. I want those memories so much; I want all that, even the children in plural. I want that with you. One day what I said will come true and I cannot wait for that."

The writer has no words to reply and so he kisses her and passion burns between them but they go no further, they have already moved so fast. Soon exhaustion overcomes them and the morning finds them fast asleep together, still in the same clothes but smiling blissfully.

From her heavenly seat, Joanna smiles. She likes this boy; he almost deserves her little girl.

Reviews please?

I've made them happy again. We'll get back to happy fluffy dance related stuff soon, maybe even the next chapter.