A/N: Thank you again for reading, reviewing and continuing to support this story! Only three more chapters to go after this one! All mistake in this one are my own. I hope you enjoy it!

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Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I claim any ownership over Castle or the characters of the show.

Starting Over

"An unforgiving heart is an unforgiven heart."

-Tim Keller

All confidence and strength that Kate has managed until now suddenly dissipates. The answer she thought she could give him catches in her throat causing only a soft gasp to come out in its place. Richard Castle just asked her to move in with him. She loves him—more than anything, but after everything they've just been through, is this something she's really ready for?

She shut him out of her decision to change her career and spent three weeks away from him wondering if things between them could be worked out. They've only just reunited and spent the entire day working through things. How did it go from forgiveness and moving forward to moving in together?

She has to give Castle even more credit because she's been silent for entirely too long now and he hasn't pushed her to give him an answer. He's still sitting quietly beside her, watching intently as she struggles inwardly with her answer.

Finally, Kate finds her voice and manages to string together a coherent sentence. "Cas—Rick, I really appreciate your offer, but do you really think we're ready for this step? Moving in together is a big deal—I mean we just spent three weeks away from each other without any contact other than my letters."

He doesn't respond right away, taking a few moments to consider everything she's just said. "I know it's a big deal, but I wouldn't be offering if I didn't think it was something we could handle. You can't sit here and tell me that the past three weeks weren't miserable for you because your letters practically screamed it. I want you in my life, Kate, and I don't want to spend any more time letting you wonder if I want a future with you or not. This is me proving to you that I do."

She wages an inner battle with herself, because of course she wants a future with him and living together is a step towards that future, but what if it doesn't work out? What if he's only asking her now because he knows that she temporarily has no place else to live? What if he regrets his decision when he remembers how easy it was for her to shut him out of her life three weeks ago? Then again, moving in together might be the best thing for them, but until she's positive that they've discussed everything they need to, she can't give him an answer.

"I think that we need to be sure we've overcome all of this before we make a decision like this, Castle."

She holds up the hand that's not currently linked with his when he starts to say something. "I know that you said you forgive me, but I don't know if that's enough, yet. I feel like I still need to prove to you that I'm not going to make the same mistake again. Forgiving is actually the easy part, forgetting what I did is going to be harder for you."

This time he remains quiet and she knows that he's wishing things were different because she does too. His gaze has shifted to the floor so she scoots closer to him until her knee bumps his thigh. "Castle, look at me." She waits until he does to continue. "I'm not saying no, okay? When I got off the plane yesterday I called and had my stuff sent to my dad's. It's not going anywhere and neither am I. All I'm saying is let's take the rest of today, and maybe a few more and continue to heal and then maybe you can ask me again?"

"Alright." And although that's all he says, they settle back into a comfortable silence. Kate selects the next movie and curls back into his side, reaching for his hand and wrapping it around her. They drift off to sleep like that, neither waking until it's late into the evening and the credits are rolling on the television screen.

Kate is the first to drift awake, although her movement causes Castle's eyes to flutter open as well. She yawns as she stretches and tilts her head up to smile at him. "Guess we're both a little sleep deprived, huh?"

He smiles back at her and nods. "Truthfully, I'd forgotten what it felt like to sleep all night and wake up feeling rested. It just wasn't the same without you, Kate, and it wasn't just because my bed was empty, my entire life was empty."

She pats his leg as she pushes her body upright, flexing the arm that's been against his body because it's slightly stiff from being in the same position for so long. "The feeling is mutual."

He kisses her then, leaning into her so that her back presses into the soft cushions of the couch and she welcomes the feeling of him. He pulls away far too soon for her liking but she knows they aren't quite 'there' yet. Castle checks his watch as he stands from the couch and stretches his stiff body. "It's late, but if you're hungry I could whip us up something to eat?" He asks.

"Hmm, I'm not starving, that sandwich you made us earlier was huge, but I could eat something light." She stands too, circling her arms around his waist before he can step away from her. She kisses him lightly on the lips, just a short—too short, press of her lips and then she lets him go.

"I need to make a phone call. I'll just get it over with while you're making us something to eat."

She sees the questioning lift of his eyebrow as she turns towards the bedroom, but he doesn't ask and she's momentarily thankful. She locates her phone on the bedside table and quietly shuts the door to the bedroom so she can make the call. She can hear Castle shuffling around in the kitchen and although she plans to talk to him about this, she's glad that he's not pressing her about who she's calling.

She pulls up the number she needs and hits the call button, pressing the phone to her ear as she paces across the floor. She purposely waited until late to call because as much as she needs to do this, she's also dreading it. The call goes to voicemail after a few rings and she whispers a silent thank you as the voice of Captain Gates comes on the line and instructs her to leave a message.

She hesitates for only a second after the beep and then her confidence kicks in. "Sir, this is Kate Beckett. I know that I've already worked out my two week notice and am no longer employed with the NYPD, but something's come up and the job in D.C. is no longer going to work out. If you could, please call me back as I was hoping my position may still be available. I'm still in the city and can come in to the precinct at any time if needed. Thank you."

She swipes the end call button and places her phone back on the nightstand. Two days ago she had no idea she was going to be where she is right now, but she does know that she has to work. Her job has been so much a part of her that she doesn't think she could ever be a stay at home wife or mom. She knows that calling to ask for her job back only a week after she left is probably going to seem crazy, but she's not going to D.C., and if she's staying in the city she wants her old job back.

She takes a deep breath and opens the door to the bedroom so that she can re-join Castle in the kitchen before he comes looking for her. He smiles warmly when she comes in the room but she can see the curiosity written all over his face. She returns his smile with one of her own and peeks over the bar to see what he's prepared for them. He doesn't ask about the call and she makes a mental note to thank him later.

"I thought we could have a salad since you said you wanted something light."

She comes around the bar to kiss his cheek as she takes her bowl from him and reaches for one of the many bottles of dressing he has sitting on the counter. Italian is her favorite but he knows that sometimes she likes to mix it up. "This is perfect. Thank you, Castle." She selects the Italian and he smiles knowingly as he reaches for the ranch.

They eat side by side at the bar while making small talk about random things. When they're finished he loads the dishwasher while she puts way all of the salad fixings. He flips off the lights and this time when they make their way to the bedroom it's far more promising than the previous night. Castle takes a quick shower while Kate finds some pajamas in her drawer to put on. When he's finished she does the same and then they brush their teeth side by side.

She slips into bed beside him after pulling her wet hair into a bun that rests on top of her head. Castle loves all of her looks, but relaxed, ready for bed Kate is one of his favorites. They don't make love or even make-out, but Castle pulls Kate close and they fall asleep in the warmth of each other's embrace.

Castle drifts awake to soft rays of sunshine across his face, but when he reaches for the warm body that should be beside him he encounters only cool sheets. He rubs his eyes as he sits up, reaching for his watch to check the time. It's only nine a.m., but the coolness of the sheets tells him Kate's been up for a while. She's always been an early riser, even on her days off.

He pads into the kitchen as he tightens the tie of his robe and finds her standing at the window in his living room. She doesn't acknowledge him until he's almost right beside her, though he knows her detective senses alerted her to his movement as soon as he opened the bedroom door. She hums when he wraps his arms around her from behind but the fact that she says nothing else tells him something is wrong. That's when he hears the soft sniff of her nose, the one she always tries to hide from him after she's been crying.

He wants to turn her around so that he can see her face, but sometimes she's more open when he holds her like this. He holds her a little tighter, and his lips ghost across her cheek where the dampness of her tears still lingers. He waits her out, letting her gather her thoughts because he knows she'll talk to him when she's ready.

"I called Gates last night to see if my job was still available. She called me back earlier this morning." Her voice is steady but he can feel the slight tremble of her body as more tears threaten to fall.

"I take it you didn't get the answer you were hoping for?" His question is a soft whisper across her cheek.

"They've already filled my position and the budget cuts won't allow them to hire anyone else right now. I guess—I just thought there was no way they could have filled it that fast."

She turns in his arms then and lets him pull her against his chest. When she speaks again her voice is so soft he almost misses it. "I don't know what to do."

He kisses the top of her head as he holds her against him. "You don't have to figure it out right away. I know that your job is important to you and I know you aren't used to not having one, but you don't have to rush out and find another one, Kate."

She huffs against his neck and then leans back to look at his face. "Yes I do. I've had a job since I was in high school. I don't have enough savings to just sit around and not work."

"You don't have to use your savings; I have more than enough money to take care of both of us." The words are out of his mouth before he can think better of them and suddenly she's pushing out of his arms and pacing a few steps away from him.

"No. No, Castle. I didn't give up my D.C. job just so I could come back here and live off of you. That's never going to happen."

He takes a step towards her because this is quickly turning into something he never meant for it to. She doesn't retreat like she normally would and he has to give her credit because she's definitely making more of an effort when it comes to 'them'.

"Kate, I know that you didn't come back here for that. I know that you want to work. All I'm saying is you don't have to immediately secure a job, okay. Stay here; think about what else you might want to do if being a cop isn't an option right now. Take some time for yourself. It's okay to do that, you know?"

He can see her shoulders deflate as he asks his question so he takes a chance and reaches for her again. She comes willingly back into his arms and he holds her for several minutes.

She pulls out of his arms again but this time she doesn't go very far and he can see the revelation on her face before she even speaks. "Castle, won't me staying here while I figure out what I'm going to do be pretty much the same as me living here? I mean the only difference is it doesn't have a permanent label."

He pretends to ponder her question as if he hadn't even thought about that until she said something. "Hmm, I guess they are kind of the same thing."

She smirks as she wraps her arms back around him. "You're really serious about this aren't you?"

"Of course I'm serious. Kate, we've already been through this, I want you in my life and I want to wake up next to you every morning. Moving in with me doesn't mean you lose your independence, it just means that you have someone to fall asleep with and wake up next to every morning. It means that you have someone to listen when you need to talk and hold you when you need to be comforted."

By the time he finishes his little speech she's grinning ear to ear. "Well when you put it that way it does sound pretty amazing. I still think it might be too soon, but if we're trying to move forward maybe that's the step we need to take?"

He leans in to kiss her, letting the movement of his lips over hers be his answer. When he's sure she understands his feelings he pulls away from her, but rests his forehead against hers.

"When you kiss me like that I feel like moving forward isn't really the correct term to use," she breathes against his lips.

"So maybe we don't call it moving forward, maybe we call it starting over?" His statement holds so much hope and promise and she loves him more than she ever has.

She smiles as she rests her head on his chest, directly over his heart. "Yeah, that's perfect. We're starting over."

He manages to stay quiet for several minutes, holding her close to him after the beautiful revelation they just had. But she didn't really answer his question and he needs to hear her say it for sure so he eases her away from his chest until he can look directly at her.

"So, does this mean I can ask you again?"

She laughs and shakes her head at him. "Yes, Castle. Ask me again."

He reaches for her hand and holds it against his chest. "Kate, will you move in with me?"

She smiles and pretends to think about it before she answers. "Yes, I'll move in with you."

He can't help it then as he gathers her in his arms again and spins her around, because after three weeks of wondering if he'd ever see her again, he's enjoying every moment of having her back in his arms.

They spend the day wrapped up in each other. She helps him clear out more space for her clothes in his closet and he helps her unpack the suitcase that she brought back with her. They make arrangements to get the stuff she needs from her dad's house and for the rest to be put into storage for now. They talk, about anything that comes to mind and the openness is both refreshing and healing. But more than anything, they love. It's in the words that they speak, the looks they give each other and the soft touches throughout the day. They're starting over, starting fresh and they're putting in the work. The chances of making it go from slim to certain and they hold on to that—to each other.

She falls asleep in his arms again that night and although they still don't make love, it's one of her favorite nights in his bed since they got together. There's a peacefulness that washes over them, a promise of a future worth everything they've fought to overcome. And she knows that when she wakes up beside him, the fight to get him back is over and all that remains is the present. She gets to be with him—live with him and together they get to make a future. She's been searching for her North Star for longer than she can remember, for a place where she belongs. That place is no longer a mystery to her; she's found the place where she belongs, in the arms of the man who loves her.

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