Disclaimer: I do not own Castle.
"Kate!" Rick rushed through the door and Kate lifted her tear filled eyes to meet his. "Oh, Kate," he walked to where Kate sat and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, letting her head rest against his chest, soaking his shirt with her tears.
xxxxxx
Kate was up at five o'clock, grabbing Rick's key off of his keyring, and had already run around nine miles before she felt her phone vibrating on her hip.
"Beckett," she panted, walking back up the steps of Rick's apartment building.
"Yo, Beckett! Are we interrupting something?" Kate rolled her eyes hearing Esposito and Ryan's laugh.
"I was running, actually," Kate walked off of the elevator and down the hallway to Rick's door, pulling out her key and slipping it in, hoping Rick was still sleeping.
"Yeah, okay," Ryan mumbled.
"Where were you yesterday?" Esposito cut in as Kate locked the door.
"I was busy. I'll be in today if we get a case," she replied quietly, taking the steps two at a time to get to the guest bedroom. She lifted the bag that was near the door, (had she left that in her car?) and walked into the bathroom. "Hey, I gotta go."
"See you later, Beckett," Esposito and Ryan answered before she hung up. Kate nearly dropped the phone when she flipped the light on, setting her bag on the sink.
"Holy-" Kate walked to the shower-bath and crouched beside it. There were jets on the tub inside, two on each side, two on each end. Hmm. Kate glanced at her watch. 7:30. Smiling, Kate stood and stripped, pulling the faucet and starting the water, filling it to the rim of the tub. She attached her iPod to the dock on the sink and put it on a low volume, stepping into the tub.
Kate sat in the tub for a second, and then pulled her knees up and ducked under the water with her eyes closed. When she came back up, she leaned against the back of the tub and sighed. Oh, Rick.
Kate leaned against the wall next to Rick, who pulled her into his lap once the sobs started escaping from her mouth. Kate's hands were shaking and Rick didn't know what to do, so he just held her, kissing the crown of her head and rocking her back and forth. When a woman walked up the stairs and saw the pair, she reached into her purse and pulled out a few tissues, handing them to Rick before giving Kate a sad smiling and continuing to walk up the stairs.
"Will you take me home?" Kate asked softly, taking the tissues Rick was handing her. Rick nodded soundlessly and stood, wrapping an arm around Kate's waist and letting her head fall to his shoulder. Kate didn't even care when Rick opened his front door and led Kate in when she asked to be taken 'home.' She liked it here. With him. Kate slipped her shoes off and walked to the couch, laying down and falling asleep almost the minute her head hit the pillow.
Kate groaned as she felt herself being lifted up and cracked her eyes open to see Rick carrying her up the stairs.
"Mm, Rick."
"Kate, just sleep in the guest bedroom. Please?" Kate nodded and sighed when Rick laid her down. She crawled under the covers and into a ball, the blankets making a cocoon around her. After a few minutes, Rick leaned down and kissed her temple, whispering a barely audible, "I love you, Kate."
Kate knew Rick thought she was sleeping, but she wasn't then and she isn't now. Kate opened her eyes and quickly became aware of the water being cold. Stepping out of the tub and pulling the drain, she turned to the sink. Oh, shit. A towel. Cursing under her breath, Kate grabbed the blue bathrobe on the back of the door and slightly cracked the bathroom door. When she didn't see anyone, she made a quick run to the nearby closet – which she hoped was a closet for linens – and opened it, mentally pumping a fist. Grabbing a towel, she quickly shut the door and screamed. She could feel the heat traveling up her neck and onto her face as she ran around him and back to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her, leaving Rick with a dumbstruck look on his face.
When Kate was finished getting dressed, (and drying off) she walked downstairs and saw Rick behind the stove. He smiled when he saw her and laid the just finished pancakes onto a plate, pushing it in front of her. He got a few more for himself and they ate in peace, not mentioning what had happened this morning.
"Alexis was dropped off when you were sleeping, Paige's parents had to go out, so she's upstairs." Rick said, taking their plates and putting them in the sink.
"I didn't wake her, right?" Kate crossed her ankles and swung them in and out of the bottom of her chair.
"No, you didn't, I was just letting you know," he smiled at her and leaned back in his chair. "What?" He asked after a minute of her staring at him.
"We haven't even been dating for three months, Rick," Kate sighed, looking down. "And last night-"
"Last night you weren't asleep," he doesn't look angry, which is good, and he doesn't look upset, which is also good. "Kate, I-"
"If you're just going to apologize, please don't finish that sentence," Kate stood and took a mental step back, but Rick wasn't far behind her. He walked to her and rubbed her arms, kissing her forehead.
"I'm not going to apologize, just – let me finish, okay?" She nodded and he continued. "It wasn't an act of impulse, or sympathy, at all. I do love you, Kate." She tried to hide her surprise but he chuckled when her eyes grew wide and she looked down. "And I know it seems crazy because of how long we've known each other, but Kate time does not determine love." Rick cupped her cheeks and kissed her softly.
"You're corny," Kate breathes finally, his lips still hovering hers.
"I'm a writer, Kate." He kissed her again, and then moved away to kiss her neck, Kate tilting her head to the side to allow him.
"Rick –" She pushed him back and ran her fingers through her hair. "Hi, Alexis. There's breakfast if you want some." Alexis shook her head and walked to Rick, resting her forehead on his knees and wrapping her arms around his legs.
"'M tired," She mumbled and he bent down to pick her up, groaning.
"You sure that's all, pumpkin?" Rick asked. She lifted her head and reached her arms out to Kate.
"Kate," when Kate took her, Alexis wrapped her arms around Kate's neck. "Are you better now?" Kate smiled and kissed Alexis on the top of her head.
"I'm not great, sweetie, but I will be," Alexis' arms tightened around her neck and Rick leaned against the counter, smiling at Kate. She smiled back and let Alexis slip into a nearby chair.
"You want some pancakes?" Alexis nodded with a grin and Kate handed her a plate. Moving next to him, Kate took Rick's hand and kissed his palm.
"We'll talk later. Promise," she smiled when he kissed her lightly on the forehead and then looked back to Alexis.
"What did you say, Alexis?" He asked, not hearing Alexis' question. Alexis gulped down her forkful of pancakes and crossed her arms on her lap.
"Daddy, are you and Kate married?" Kate stiffened and slapped Rick's shoulder when he barked out a laugh.
"No, we're not married," Kate responded while Rick caught his breath.
"Are you going to get married?"
"I–"
"We've never discussed it, Alexis. Why do you want to know?" Kate turned to Alexis and Alexis tilted her head to the side.
"Do you guys want to get married?"
"Er.." Kate and Rick looked at each other and Rick had a small hint of a smile at his lips. Marrying Kate Beckett. Hmm. "Honey, why do you ask?"
"Because I want you to get married."
"Well–" Kate breathed a sigh of – relief? – when she heard her phone go off. "Christ," she mumbled before pulling her hand from Rick's and walking up to the guest room.
When she returned a few minutes later, dressed in her clothes from yesterday, Rick and Alexis were doing the dishes, Rick washing and Alexis putting them into the dishwasher. She smiled at them before Rick turned to smile at her.
"Hey, I just got called in to work," she smiled sadly and Alexis pouted, "I'll see you later Alexis!" She kissed the crown of her head and then glanced at Rick. "Walk me out?"
Nodding, he took her hand and walked to the door. Taking her jacket off the rack he slipped it through her arms, pulling her into a hug when both of her arms were in. She rested her forehead on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Are you sure you want to go in?" Rick asked, kissing her temple.
"It's my job, Rick," she replied, her words muffled by his shirt.
"Alright," he sighed and pulled away from her, cupping her cheeks. "We can talk later, but I do love you, Kate." She smiled at him and kissed him lightly.
"I'll call you later?" She opened the door and he kissed her again.
"Mm, yeah." He watched her walk to the elevator and waved at her as it was closing. Rick walked back into his loft, letting the lock click behind him. He really loves her. After a few weeks? His mind battled with him.
Yes.
A/N: Alright. This is so late. This is like a month late. I can explain. I'm really really sorry for the late update. (Super late update!) It's fourth quarter, and I need to make sure all of my work is handed in and make sure I study more than usual, because I have the MCAS. I took my English MCAS in march, but I just finished the math MCAS & the Biology MCAS is on June 5th and 6th. Then I have finals. Then we get report cards and school is over. So it's pretty hectic, but I promise *holds pinky out* I'm going to start updating a lot more and lot quicker! Thanks for sticking with me if you're still here! Don't forget to click the little review button!