There is a tiny time hop and Beckett and Castle are now beck in New York.

Disclaimer : Castle is not mine.

Since Kate Beckett was just a little girl she always believed to respect your elders and she has held that with her throughout her life so when she finally stood up to her family, in a respectful way, she couldn't quite believe that she said that to them. And she remained in that state of shock from going back to her room to pack, on the way to the airport, on the plain back to New York and from the New York airport all the way back to her apartment. And throughout the whole thing Castle was by her side, Castle drove her to the airport, Castle got her a ticket because she was silently freaking out on the inside and Castle drove her home and now as their stood in the middle of her apartment living room she can't imagine ever going through anything ever again without him and it's this thought that has a tear slowly rolling down her cheek. Not because she is sad, the farthest thing from it at this realization, but because he has always been there and he has always stood by her side and to think that she has been going out with all these men practically flaunting them in his face. And it is also this realization that has her realizing that she just wants Castle, because no one has ever come close to being anything like Castle, that no man could ever compare to him, and she just wants him.

It's the closing of the door that has her turning to face him, to see his startlingly blue eyes, staring back at her with so much love and admiration and that is what has her stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his neck, bringing his mouth down towards hers. She expected it to be a fierce kiss, full of so much passion and a battle between tongues, but it is nothing like that it's sweet and gentle and the barely there movements of their lips against each others lips. When he pulls away he kisses her lips one more time and then rests is forehead against hers and they just stand there. Holding each other and simply being. She opens her eyes and she looks at him until he opens his eyes and they just stare at each other because this moment is simply perfect.

"You know it's weird and I've never realized until now but you are everything I've ever needed and I can't imagine anyone else because it has always been you." They both take a deep breath. "Its always been you Castle."

He crushes his lips to hers again and its intense and full of passion and it has her releasing a moan and him being pushed against the door and it is everything she thought it would be but no matter how good it is it will never match the kiss they shared just minutes ago and she has to pull away just to breath. But he doesn't stop kissing her, he moves down to her neck and he does what he has always wanted to do to her neck, he suck and he bites making sure to leave a hickey but she doesn't realize what he's doing until it's too late and she pulls his head back and glares and he gives her that charming, knee weakening smile that has her whispering "You bastard" in a too breathy whisper and he slowly starts to walk her back as she whispers "do you know how long I'll have to wear a scarf" but he's pushed her up against the hallway wall and latches back onto her neck and says against her skin "good" and then she is gasping.

Its sudden when she realizes what they are doing and she suddenly shoves him off of her and he slams against the opposite wall obviously startled and she is slouched again the wall one hand on her heaving chest the other against her eyes not ready to look at his smirk. "We have to talk." She says in a too husky voice.

"I like you Kate, I like you a lot" She looks at him. "I've liked you for a while and if you ask me it's a slight miracle that you're kissing me and I love it don't get me wrong but I want whatever this is to last so I just have to ask what is this." He waved a finger between them.

Kate stepped forward and slowly wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest and she heard his wildly beating heart as she whispered "I hope it's the beginning of us."

"I like the sound of us." He whispered back.

"Me to."

It's not until Castle pulls away that she looks up at him "I should probably go it's nearly midnight."

"Stay."

"Kate" he whispers to her.

"Just to cuddle, nothing else, I promise." When she sees him nod his head she slowly moves her hand down to hold his and lightly pull him to her bedroom.

When they walked into her bedroom he paused at the doorway and she turned around to tug on his hand lightly and he sat on her bed with a blank look on his face. Kate went to her dresser to get her shorts and a baggy shirt out and quickly changed. When she was done she turned around to look at him and he still had that blank look on his face. She walked over slowly to him and sat down next to him, putting her hand on his knee and asking quietly "What's wrong ?"

"Do you remember that car crash I told you about ?" When he saw her nod he continued. "Well it was bad like I told you. And I have these scars and they're quite bad and I just don't want you to see them because they're so ugly and I just-"

"Nothing about you could ever be ugly." She interrupted him and she saw his eyes were full with unshed tears. She slowly stood up to stand in front of him. She ran her hands down from his shoulder, across his chest till she was at the hem of his t-shirt as she slowly began to lift it off of him. When his shirt lay on the floor she looked at him, really looked. He had a scar going down the middle of his chest, two on either side of his waist and and one going across his left shoulder. She looked at him and saw that he was avoiding her gaze. It's then that she realized how shy he actually was and so she stepped up to him and slowly ran her hands across each scar and placing a kiss on his lips before whispering "I think you're beautiful." He looked up at her and quickly looked away again "come on let's go to bed." And she slowly turned around and went to the top of her bed and turned down the sheets for both sides. She heard his belt and trousers hit the ground and then she saw him apear in front of her and they smiled as they got awkwardly in bed. Yes they had shared a bed before, yes they had kissed before, but it wasn't the same because now they were an us and everything was changed and now there was so much more and now they were slightly awkward which she just didn't understand.

She felt him shifting in the bed and she smiled as she felt him shift a little closer and then stopped. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand and wrapped his arm around her waist as she turned onto her side. She was expecting it to be a little awkward but she wasn't expecting him to be this awkward.

"Castle relax."

"I am."

"You're not, now relax and just hold me okay ?" She asked.

"Okay." She felt him hold her just a little tighter, then she felt his face in her hair and she felt him breath in. She moved into the beck of his chest a little and soon there was no free space between their bodies.

"Goodnight Kate." He whispered into her hair and she felt his breath hit her ear causing her to breath in.

"Goodnight Rick."

And it was. It was a great night.