A/N: Don't get excited. This chapter is really bad. I wrote it four times and I feel like it never got any better. It is just a filler but the next few will be better.

Previously in Turning Tables:

Rick was looking at her. Really looking at her. He was memorizing her face. All of the peaks and valleys. Every color in her eyes. Her smile. Kate felt herself unconsciously lean forwards. His face was a few inches from hers. If he just angled his mouth down a little she could…

"You smell like cherries," he breathed.

Then, Kate did what she'd wanted to do the very first time he'd said that. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled his mouth to hers.

Rick didn't hesitate. He responded to the kiss immediately, opening his mouth for her. When she pulled back for air, Rick trailed kisses across her jaw and down her neck.

"Castle," she breathed when he found her pulse point. Kate found herself clutching the fabric of his tee-shirt.

Soon, his mouth found hers again.

It was in that moment Kate didn't care about snipers. She didn't care about whoever was trying to kill her. In that moment all she cared about was Castle and his family and Kate realized that keeping the truth from him was hurting more than helping. She just didn't know how to tell him because she had to tell him.

In time she told herself. But right then, she let herself be kissed.

And they stayed with their foreheads resting against the others long after their kiss had ended, a mutual decision but Kate had secretly hoped it would never end. They waited until their breaths evened out before heading into the living room. They plopped down on the couch and put a movie in. Kate found it difficult to look Rick directly in the eyes after her revelation, so she focused on watching as many movies as possible before Alexis and Martha returned.

The rest of the morning was filled with soft touches and gentle caresses but nothing more. Rick silently declared it his job to distract Kate as much as possible during the movies she'd never seen before so she'd have to ask him what was going on. He knew it was childish but Rick had fun. He couldn't help but dwell on the fact that neither of his ex-wives would ever think to do anything like this with him. They were both such busy people and Rick couldn't even imagine Gina taking an afternoon off to watch movies and eat Chinese food with him. He figured she'd sooner die than to get behind on her work. That left Rick staring at Kate every time her head was turned.

"Staring's creepy Castle," she said without even looking at him. He jumped out of his daze.

"Sorry," Rick muttered and turned his attention back to their third or fourth movie.

Alexis walked into the loft around three and joined Kate and Rick on the couch.

Martha came in carrying pizza around five. Both the redheads insisted Kate stay for dinner. How could she say no?

Kate left around eight, packing her gym bag and believing she completely overstayed her welcome, although Martha and Alexis assured her otherwise.

Kate texted Castle around eleven.

I can't sleep. I am blaming your couch.

Castle texted back at 11:01.

Me either. And don't blame the couch. U just miss me ;)

He was right. She did miss him. It was weird not having him in the next room, even though it had never been like that before.

I plead the fifth. :|

Goodnight Kate.

Night Castle.

Kate didn't see Castle for the rest of the week. Not because she was avoiding him but because she picked up a double homicide on her first day back and had been working round the clock. They did text though, often. Kate couldn't help the feeling pulling in her gut that it just wasn't the same without him there. She could even see it in Ryan and Esposito. They looked at little lost without someone to joke with. Kate noticed it especially at the end of the day when there was no one to help her with her jacket and to walk out with.

Kate missed him.

She missed his laugh. She missed their banter. She really missed her coffee. She missed how light he made her feel when they were surrounded by darkness.

Luckily, the team closed the case on Thursday, Friday was nothing but paperwork and Kate made it out in a decent hour to get ready for Martha's play.

Sorry, I know it was short...