Castle' Loft

After Alexis leaves for school, He spends most of his day looking over the edits Gina has sent him for Naked Heat. Around 3 pm his mother has finally made her way down from her room. She takes notice of his black eye but says nothing other than she is going out with some friends and will not be back until late. This knowledge coupled with Alexis already having plans to spend the evening at Paige's house brings him to the realization of a quiet evening alone at home.

He feels stir crazy, he needs to do something. He can no longer stand looking at his lap top, but at the same time does not feel like going out. He does not need the paparazzi capturing any pictures of him with his shiner. He would wake up to find himself on page 6 with some sort of headline about a lover's triangle. Gina and his agent Paula would love it, anything for publicity they say. But that is not what he needs right now even though the truth of the matter isn't that far off. He stands up from his desk stretching out his muscles; noticing the pain from his ribs has subsided he changes into a tank top and workout shorts and heads for the gym located in the basement of his building.

After a grueling two hour workout later he makes his way back up to his apartment. He is thoroughly drenched and exhausted from the three mile run coupled with lifting weights and finishing with time spent on both the heavy and speed bag will do that to a person. He exits the elevator and notices a familiar figure standing at his door preparing to knock.

Kate Beckett had left the precinct early with every intention of heading over to Castle's loft to talk to him. Unfortunately the universe kept conspiring against her. First her vehicle had a flat tire and then she not only had to deal with early evening traffic but also a vehicle accident. By the time she actually had gotten here her nerves were somewhat frazzled and she was almost tempted to push it off for another day. As much as she wanted to, she knew she couldn't… after hearing about his fight with Demming defending her honor she knew this was her best chance of getting him back in her life.

She parks her car in front of his building and slowly makes her way into the lobby. The doorman George gives her a warming smile as she waves back and enters the elevator. Once inside she takes a couple of deep relaxing breaths, telling herself over and over again that she can do this. No, she needs to do this… she needs him.

Arriving on his floor she makes her way to his door, once again giving herself some encouragement she knocks. After no response she waits a few minutes and is about to knock again when she hears someone call out "Detective Beckett."

She turns and the former partners' eyes meet for the first time in over two weeks. He looks her over, he notices she looks a little thinner and can tell by the circle under her eyes that she hasn't been sleeping well, but she is just a beautiful.

The first thing Kate notices is his left black eye. Her eyes then start travelling down his body and a shiver goes to her spine. She has known this man for almost two years, but this is the first time she has seen him out of his dress clothes. She discovers what he was hiding and it almost causes her to jump him right there. Her eyes are glued to his physique… from his defined and toned upper body to his six pack abs down to his muscular legs. Oh my God she thinks to herself…Adonis has nothing on him and before she can help herself she is licking her lips.

Snapping her out of her daze he asks "Is there something I can help you with Detective?"

She is hurt noticing him one again addressing her by her title and not her name but quickly hides it "Yes, Castle I was hoping we could talk."

He thinks about it… does he want to talk to her? Two weeks ago he told her he was done, but seeing her now… he can't himself. "Okay" he responds as he pulls the key from his pocket opening his door and motioning for her to enter.

Closing the door he continues "Beckett why don't you go ahead and make yourself comfortable. There is beer, soda and wine in the fridge. I'm going to run and grab a quick shower before we get started."

She smiles and then replies "Thanks."

As he heads off, she slips off her heels and makes her way over to the fridge. She decides on the wine, grabbing the bottle as well as to glasses and makes her way over to the couch. Pouring herself one she quickly downs it, trying to steady her growing nerves. How is it she can face down killers with no problem, but when it comes to him… she turns into a stumbling idiot.

Castle came out twenty minutes later freshly showered and dressed in a plain navy T-shirt and Kaki cargo shorts. He noticed Beckett sitting comfortably on the couch, glass of wine in her hand and a second sitting on the coffee table presumably for him. He picked up his glass but decides to sit in the chair facing her instead of the couch next to her.

"So" he begins "You said you wanted to talk."

"Um… once again I wanted to apologize for everything that happened over the last month. I have no excuse for my actions. I feel terrible about them and hope you can forgive me."

"Is that all you came he to talk about?"

"No, I... I heard about the fight between you and Demming."

He nods but doesn't say anything so she continues "Why did you do it? Why defend me after everything I did to you?"

"Kate, no matter what happened between us… he had no right to say what he did about you."

Shocked and not knowing what her ex said she asks "What did he say about me?"

Castle is stunned; he figured if she heard about the fight from the others she would also know what was said. He turns his attention away from her staring at some spot near his bookcase not wanting to answer her.

Seeing his hesitation she responds "Come on Castle I'm a big girl, I can handle whatever was said."

Sensing no other way out of this he replies "Demming kind of insinuated that once I found out the two of you broke up I would come chasing you down for sloppy seconds. He then went on to say that you were terrible between the sheets."

After he finishes he can hear her gasp. She can't believe that someone she had feeling for would actually say such things about her. Especially considering it was a blatant lie, their relationship never made it that far.

She looks up at Castle, she needed him to know the truth "Rick, I just wanted to let you know that he was lying… we were never that intimate before breaking up. Yes as you are aware there were dates and kissing but that was as far as it got."

Giving her a reassuring smile he responds "Kate you don't have to explain it to me, but thank you anyway. Also just let me say spending the last 2 years together I know you and the kind of person you are… I didn't believe him."

"Then why fight him? Why not just walk away?"

His smile widens "well what kind of fun would that've been? I couldn't wait to see his as well as the other officers reaction when he ended up having his ass handed to him?

This causes them both to break out into an uncontrollable laugh, the first one either have had in a while. Getting control back over herself she looks into his eyes all serious. She needs to know and asks "As much as I enjoyed that, can you tell me the real reason, please?"

As much as he wants to brush off her question… he can't. He decides it's time to be truthful "Kate, I know I can be an annoying, self-centered, immature jackass at times. But being around you… you make me want to change who I am. You make me want to be a better person."

She stares at him, not knowing where he is with this but the loving look he is giving her is sending butterflies down into her stomach.

He continues "somewhere in the past two years I have developed feelings for you." Hesitating for a moment eyes locked with hers "You are extraordinary and I could not stand him saying what he did about someone I'm falling for."

She doesn't react… just continually stares at him. He is starting to worry that he pushed too hard. Maybe he should have just changed the subject, accepted her apology and tried being her partner again.

It takes her a minute for her head to catch up with what he has told her. She realizes she hasn't said anything and that he is looking at her worriedly.

Finally she responds tentatively "You… you have feelings for me, you're falling for me?"

He tries to say it confidentially but isn't sure how it comes out "Yes, Kate I'm crazy about you."

Before he can comprehend what is happening she launches herself at him pressing her lips against his. The kiss starts off gentle; it takes him a few seconds to respond before he starts kissing back. It gets heated fast until they both pull away needing air.

He is about to ask about it when she begins "Rick, I'm falling for you too. I'm just sorry that it took two weeks of you being away to realize what was right under my nose." Knowing his need for the story she continues "You were right, in the beginning of our partnership I did think of you as an annoying, self-centered, immature jackass. But that changed the more time we spent together, seeing the real you with Alexis and your mother. Your unselfishness when it comes to me; Castle you looked into my mother's murder finding trying to give me closure. You gave up one hundred thousand dollars to find her killer. You risked your live for mine on numerous occasions and you gave me a home after mine was destroyed. I don't know why I fought it for so long… why I tried to find have a relationship with someone else when I already had one."

He can't believe what she is saying to him. He would have never thought Kate Beckett would be standing in front of him being as open as she is. He pulls her into another kiss and just before they are able to deepen it, her stomach begins to rumble. They break away from one another and she giggles apologizing.

"So from the sound of it I take it you haven't had dinner" he asks?

"No, I uh came straight from the precinct."

Taking her hand in his he leads her from the living room into the kitchen. "Well lets rectify that" he respond, seating her on a bar stool as he makes his way around the island opening the fridge and pulling out the pasta Alexis made last night.

She watches him move around smiling to herself. She never thought that coming over to apologize would lead to this. Still not sure what it is they are all she knows is she hasn't felt this happy in a long time.

Heating up the pasta as well as some garlic bread he quickly dishes up two plates handing one to her, taking her other hand and leading them back to the couch. Once seated he tops off their wines glasses and they silently enjoy their meal. It is a comfortable silence as each is caught in their own thoughts. Other than shared looks and smiles nobody speaks.

After clearing their dishes and joining her back on the couch Castle speaks up "So what's next for us? I mean we both admitted our feelings for each other."

Kate takes a breath before she starts "Rick, I want you with me. I want you to come back and work with me at the precinct. I want my friend and partner back. I also want us to give this (signaling between the 2 of them) a try. Could we just try and take it slow? "

When she started talking he was beginning to worry that she was pulling back, but when she finished he couldn't help but smile "That sounds great, I can do slow but do you mind if I let Alexis and my mother know?"

She returns his smile glad that he wants his family to know "of course you can tell them."

"So would you like to watch a movie with me?"

"I'd love to."

They end up snuggling together, in no time her head comes to rest on his chest and he's wrapping his arms around her. Half way through the movie he can tell she's tired, but really doesn't want her to go. Nudging her he replies "Hey it's getting late and I can tell you're tired."

She was almost asleep when he nudged her. Nothing has felt as right as her head lying against him listening to his heartbeat. Although exhausted she doesn't want to leave. She is glad when she hears him say "Kate how about you stay?"

She pulls back and looks into his eyes questioningly and he thinks he may have put his foot in his mouth. They are supposed to be taking it slow; he quickly adds "The spare bedroom you used last time is available."

She almost laughs over his nervousness. That was not her intention when she looked at him… she just wanted to make sure he really wanted her to stay. She adds "And if I want to stay with you?"

For a writer he makes a living with words but her response has rendered him speechless. Finally he is able to get out "Really? You want to stay with me? I thought we were taking it slow?"

She giggles again and he loves the sound of it before she states "get your mind out of the gutter. " Then turning serious "I…I missed you. Can I just spend the night in your arms?"

Once again her words have left him speechless. He doesn't say anything; pulling her against him he places a soft loving kiss on her lips. Not wanting it to get out of hand he pulls back giving her that smile she knows is only meant for her and takes her hand in his leading them back to his bedroom.

AN: Still not sure I liked this chapter. I know where I want the characters to go but sometimes have problems writing them there. Next chapter will be Alexis and Martha's reactions. I hope you have enjoyed it so far.