Author's Note-For anyone who skipped the last chapter, here's a quick recap. Kate got nervous a couple of times but Rick stuck to her pace, made her feel loved and taken care of. She was worried because her bust wasn't the biggest but he told her she was perfect and he didn't care about what size she was. Kate had never had an orgasm before meeting Rick, he thanked her for the privilege of giving her first (second and third) Afterwards, when they talked, Kate thanked him for making her feel safe and he reminded her that he'd never hurt her.

Kate woke around four, cold seeping into her bones despite the July heat. Rick kept the air conditioning on almost constantly and Kate could feel it now. She rolled from her right side to her left, only to be greeted by the sight of her boyfriend watching her. She startled slightly and he smiled, gently stroking the side of his finger across her cheek.

"Hi?" Kate whispered curiously.

Rick smiled softly and cupped her cheek before kissing her gently. "Hi, Gorgeous." Even in the dark he could see her blush. "How you feeling?"

Kate smiled. "Good. I mean, I'll ache for a while," Rick blanched but Kate traced her finger across the bridge of his nose gently, appeasing him. "Only because it's been so long Rick, not because of anything you did. You, you were amazing." She whispered, her blush deepening.

Rick smiled and slipped his hand down to her waist before drawing her into his body. "I had this horrible thought that you'd wake up and regret it."

Kate's heart tripped. "I could never regret that Rick. Honestly, never."

He smiled softly. "Good." He tenderly traced his fingertip across her features as he admired her for a moment. "Do you know how beautiful you are when you come for me?" Kate shook her head embarrassed both by the question and the awe in his tone. "Honestly, Baby, I have never seen anything like it."

I'm, uhh, glad you like it?" Kate hedged, making Rick laugh.

"I'm glad we waited." He murmured honesty, trailing his fingertips up and down her naked back. "I'm really glad we waited until you trusted me enough to show me that Kate. Thank you. Thank you for being brave enough to let me in."

Kate cupped his cheek, leaning her forehead against his. "Thank you for opening me up to how this should be. Thank you, for making me feel precious in your arms." She closed the gap and kissed him softly, letting him roll them so he hovered above her.

They made love again, holding each other close as they brought one another to release once more. They exchanged soft kisses before Rick tucked Kate back into his side and they both drifted off to sleep.

Later that evening, after spending the day just enjoying each other's company without interruptions, Rick poured himself a scotch and Kate a soda, before they settled on the couch.

After a few minutes, Kate set her glass down and turned to him. "So, come on Rick, tell me, what inspired you to write mystery novels?"

Rick smiled indulgently and gently stroked his finger down her cheek. "You." He answered softly.

Kate smiled and leaned in to kiss him softly. "Sweet, Mr Castle, but not what I meant. Why murder, what's with the macabre obsession?"

Rick sighed and leaned into the back of the couch. "You really wanna know?" He asked quietly.

Kate nodded. "Yes please."

Rick nodded before sighing. "I was seven. We were in the Hamptons for the summer. Mother had had a good year, and needed the time away, so she packed us up and off we went. It was August, the weather was gorgeous, and I would spend all day, practically from dawn to dusk, on the beach."

Kate smiled softly, following his soft voice with rapt attention.

"I've never told Alexis, or Meredith, or anyone who didn't already know really, but I had a little brother."

Kate leaned forward slightly, resting her hand, warm and heavy, on his knee. The catch in his voice almost had her regretting asking for the story.

He covered her hand with his, flashing her a weak smile before continuing. "His name was Matthew and he was three years younger than me. I was his world, Kate. He would follow me anywhere. And I, being his elder brother, would take advantage of that. I'd get him to sneak down in the middle of the night for snacks and make him be all the bad parts when we played."

Kate gave him a wry smile.

"But I was his hero. So, when I suggested we went up the cliff to play, he didn't even hesitate, though I could see he was wary. We were playing explorers, we'd found a new animal and were trying to catch it to bring it back to our lab." Rick's eyes slipped closed as he remembered. "I don't even know how it happened. If I'd have looked up just a second earlier, Kate, then maybe..." he trailed off, his voice failing as tears built in his eyes.

Kate squeezed his knee, trying to comfort him in any way she could.

"I heard his scream as I ran down the cliff towards the beach. It had stopped by the time I reached him." He cleared his throat, opening his eyes to meet hers.

"They said he'd fractured his skull, broken his neck. He'd of died instantly. Not that that was any comfort. Mother never blamed me, but I blamed myself." He sighed. "We didn't go back. Mother sold the house and vowed to never return to the Hamptons. She still hasn't. I wouldn't let Alexis go the entire year she was four, I uhh, I didn't want to tempt fate. Just in case. In case someone wanted to punish me for my baby brother's death by taking her." He shook his head, tracing random patterns on the back of her hand.

"Mother started drinking after the funeral. She's nowhere near the league of your father, but she's by no means sober. It was her coping method. I never begrudged her it. I started writing. I have them somewhere. The stories I wrote that summer. Every one dedicated to Matthew." Rick sighed and cleared his throat before turning to Kate. "There, now you know."

Kate crawled into his lap and curled into his chest, fighting her own tears at the pain radiating off him. "I'm sorry, Rick." She husked painfully. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry."

Rick kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her. "It's okay. I haven't talked about it for a long time. It's probably good to now and again." He assured her quietly. "I'd appreciate it, if you didn't speak of this with anyone though."

"Of course not." She shook her head as she turned to face him. "I wouldn't. It wouldn't be fair. To anyone." Rick leaned in slowly and kissed her as gently as he could. "Thank you for telling me though. I'm glad I know this about you."

Rick smiled. "Thank you for not blaming me."

Kate shook her head desperately. "Children play, Rick. It's not like you pushed him. You weren't to blame."

Rick shrugged. "Sometimes Alexis will say something, or do something, and it's so much like him, it's spooky. It's kind of nice though. It, it's like he's looking down on her, y'know?" Rick asked hesitantly.

Kate smiled and kissed him again before nuzzling into the crook of his neck. "I feel that way about you and my mom sometimes."