Disclaimer : Castle is not mine.

They wake up closer then they have ever been. Only a feather being able to fit in between the distance separating the two of them. His arm is around her stomach pulling her into his strong chest, almost protectively. His head resting in her neck where her hair lays messily. She is hugging his arm as if she is begging him to never leave and neither of them know how true this is.

He wakes first and listens for a few minutes to her gentle puffs of air, listens as she releases a little snore every few breaths and he can't help but be captured in the beauty that is she. How she looks so peaceful and beautiful without even knowing it. He knows it going to be a hard day and he knows she is going to struggle but at least she is surround by family and at least he has her. He doesn't know about her but if he didn't have her everything would be a lot harder and the sky wouldn't nearly be as bright. He likes to think that she needs him just as much as he needs her and that thought keeps him going, thinking that maybe, just maybe, they are each others light in all of this.

He feels her stirring and his first thought is to pretend to be asleep, try to even out his breaths so they sound deep. She turns her head and her hair is all in his face and he can't help but take an extra long breath and the smell is intoxicating. She smells like cherries. He knows she is staring at him because she doesn't try to move her hair out of his face. She turns more fully to see him and he feels her resting a gentle hand on his chest drawing random patterns and he is so okay with that.

"I'm scared Castle." She whispers so quietly he can barely hear it but he does and he squeezes her hip where his arm had fallen to when she moved. He knows it's sometimes easier for her to open up when no one is watching. "I don't know what they think of me anymore and I most certainly don't know how they are going to treat me now and I'm just so scared." She releases a deep breath and buries her nose in his shirt and breathing in the scent that is simply Castle.

"I'm here for you Kate."

She looks up when he says it as he looks down at her, finally opening his eyes to see her large green ones staring back at him. It was inevitable as they both leaned in, getting closer and closer until their lips touched. It was magic, is what both of them would say for the rest of their lives. It was chaste at first but when Castle gently moved his lips over hers, all deals were off, she returned in kind as they continued to move their lips together, Castle pressing his lips against hers just a fraction harder as Beckett moaned and slowly fell back into the pillows bringing Castle with her. But when air became necessary they stopped, pulling apart gently as Castle rested his forehead again hers and kept his eyes closed whilst Kate stared at his face and all the things she can now notice that she couldn't before, this being the closest they have ever been.

"Castle, open your eyes." She whispered gently stroking his cheek.

"I can't." He said.

"Why ?"

"Because if I open my eyes and it was all a dream ?" He whispered his eyes remaining close.

Beckett leaned up and placed a feather like kiss to his mouth and then his cheek and then both eye lids. "I'm going to be here Castle, always."

His eyelids slowly fluttered open and he couldn't stop staring at her. Her eyes were bright and there was a slight blush to her cheeks, a smile on her face, her teeth showing and he could see just a hint of that pink tongue poking out between her teeth.

"You have a beautiful smile." He said and he watched as the slight blush on her cheeks began to redden some more.

She was about to say something when she heard her name being called saying breakfast was ready and she looked down for a split second before looking back up into his eyes and placing another kiss on his lips before quickly hurrying out of bed with Castle not far behind.

When they got downstairs everyone was at the dinner table and it was silent except for the clinking of plates and the occasional 'can you pass me the butter' and it was killing her inside that her family couldn't treat her the same after yesterday but she knew this would happen. She felt Castle place a hand on her knee and he squeezed reassuringly, telling her that he was there for her.

"So how did everyone sleep ?" Castle asked rolling up the sleeves to the hoodie he had put on whilst walking out of the bedroom. All Beckett could think how caring he was, trying to break the obviously awkward but delicate silence they had found themselves in. When no one replied and he only received some glares and some confused glances she decided she had enough. She placed her knife on her plate loud enough for the attention of the people at the table to be drawn to her.

"Why are you guys treating me this way ?! I protected my family. You guys are acting like I'm such an outside and I'm sick of it if you have anything to say, say it, don't shut me out like it was some big family discussion to leave me on the outside."

"Katie-" Her father began to say when her Grandma spoke up "Do you feel guilt at all Katie ?"

""Of course I do but I had no choice. I protected my family."

"What's going to happen now ?" Her aunt asked next.

"There will be an official meeting sometime during the next few days."

Candance was the next to speak, ever curious "Have you ever shot anyone before." Beckett nodded silently, "How many ?" But Beckett knew that wasn't her real question.

"How many have I shot or how many have I killed ?" She could hear the intake of breaths and see everyone's wide eyes. "I've shot 12, I've killed 5." She could see when everyone registered what she had said and couldn't take it as she got up and went to her room as everyone stared after her. Castle stood almost straight away and started placing food on his plate for her but before he left he had to say something.

"She's worked hard to become the amazing Detective she is and she cares about everything. She gives a voice to those who don't have one and if you ask me she's extraordinary. You don't see her carry around her burdens all day or bottling everything up. No disrespect to any of you but you all may have known her longer but I know her better and what you can't see is that you're hurting her. You're treating her differently and I bet not one of you have noticed how you haven't looked her in the eye since yesterday happened." He saw as they all thought, "She's tough but like anybody she can only take so much, she probably feels like an outsider now and you should be making her feel more welcomed than ever. She's exytraodinary and its time you realize this." And with that he left, taking Kate her breakfast, and leaving her family with a lot to think about.