A/N: Based on the song Austin by Blake Shelton
She said she needed to clear her mind, needed time to think. That was almost a year ago. She didn't know why today was different, she thought about it him every other day but never had the nerve to call him. When she first left she thought it'd only be for a day or two but then three passed, then four and pretty soon it had been weeks each day getting harder and harder to call him. But today was different; today she actually dialed his number and hit the green button.
She paced in circles as it rang, her heart beating faster each ring. What if he didn't answer? What if he did? Oh god this was mistake. What was she going to say? How could she explain herself? Did he hate her? What if this wasn't even his number anymore? She was in luck, after three rings it went to his voicemail. This is what she heard. "If this is Gina no I'm probably not writing right now. If this is Tuesday night I'm playing poker. Everyone else wait for the tone and I'll get back to you. P.S if this is always, I still love you."
She gasped and dropped her phone. She couldn't believe it. What kind of man would hang on that long? That was a stupid question Castle would. He did hang for longer than that but that was before she broke his heart. Oh god she royally messed up she had to find a way to fix this. It took her three of waiting for his call to realize that he wasn't going to. She had changed her number and didn't leave a message so he had no way of knowing it was her who called. Three rings later this what she heard, "If it's Friday night I'm at an event, and first thing Saturday I'm heading to the Hamptons with Alexis. I'll be gone all weekend long but I'll call when I'm back. P.S if this is always, I still love you."
This time left her number and nothing else and kept her phone on her all day on Sunday.
When he called the number back this is what he heard, "If you're calling about my heart it's still yours. I should've listened to it a long time ago then it wouldn't have taken me so long to know where I belong. I know you aren't a detective so if you can't tell this isn't a machine you're talking to. This is always and I still love you."
"Kate," He breathed.
"Hi Castle."
He had one simple request, "Come home."
"I am home. Open your home."
As soon as he opened the door he wrapped her in his arms and held on tight.
"Please don't leave again."
"I won't Castle, I promise. I'm staying right here. Always."