a/n: it's been a busy month for me but i'm glad to be back so should be able to update more regularly. i hope you're enjoying the story so far and, as always, i appreciate your comments!


Kate's Birthday, Castle's Loft

"Kate," Rick gasps as he pulls away from her just slightly, and she smiles widely as he breathes her name before he kisses her back.

"You look beautiful," he whispers, gently caressing her face, but passionately pushing her against the door as she unsuccessfully attempts to unbutton his shirt.

"You're not so bad yourself," she moans as his mouth moves to her neck.

"Should we...uh, talk about this?" Rick asks after the immediate spark rolls to a simmering flame. Kate's arms are wrapped softly around his neck and both of them have lost their tops.

"Uh, yeah, let's talk about it..." she pulls herself up and wraps her legs around his waist, forcing him to reach down and brace her thighs. She kisses him from her newly elevated angle. "...on the couch."

Rick carries her to the couch as if she were light as a pillow, all the while Kate's kisses tug softly on his lower lip. They make out for a while longer. Five minutes? Ten? An hour? Neither knew and neither cared. Yes, they'd kissed before, but this time was different. There were no drunk frat guys, no screaming babies, no alcoholic fathers or dramatic ex-wives. It was just them.

"I really am so sorry I couldn't make it earlier," Rick whispers into her neck. "But I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too, Castle," Kate tells him. "I've been fighting it for weeks but I..."

She trails off as Castle's hand slides up her back and releases the clasp of her bra. She gasps slightly as the straps slide down her shoulders, but she relaxes as Rick gently lowers her back onto the couch. She slides her hands down his waist to guide his pants down his legs and when he breaks his focus for a few moments to finish taking them off, she makes her move. Kate flips herself on top of Rick and straddles him around his hips, letting her bra fall to the floor.

"I really like you," she whispers as she leans down, planting kisses down his bare chest. "I want you, Rick."

"Kate, I don't know what to say," he admits. "This is like a dream."

"Not dreaming," Kate moans as her desire pushes her closer, more fervent against his hips. As she feels his length swell beneath her, she pulls him to a sitting position. "Take me to bed," she says, once again wrapping her arms around his neck.

He hesitates. Really hesitates. On one hand, he's in a bit of disbelief that the Kate Beckett, the woman of his dreams, had shown up willing and ready to make his dreams come true. On the other hand, why had Kate shown up there tonight? He wouldn't call it random. It wasn't random at all, but they never talked, truly talked, about what they were. Somewhere between friends and lovers, he thought, but what?

"Kate, what are we? Where are we going?" He asks.

"To bed, Castle," she bites into his shoulder.

"That's not..." he sighs. Was he really about to screw this up? Just let this happen. "Why are you here?"

"Rick, I'm naked on your couch and you're wondering why I'm here?" Kate scoffs.

"Okay, sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I am glad you're here. Ecstatic, actually," Rick says. Kate lets out the tension that was building in her shoulders.

"Good, okay, good," she whispers.

"I guess I just, before we do this, is this like a one-time, birthday booty call or did like something happen or are we like..."

"Like, what?"

"Like, what does this mean?"

"Okay, for a writer you really gotta work on your words," Kate laughs. "But, no, this isn't a birthday booty call. Well, technically it is."

"Huh?"

"Technically, it is a birthday booty call, yes. But I don't want it to just be that. I like you, Rick, like really like you. I want to be with you, as long as you want that too."

"So much," Rick responds immediately.

"Okay. Good," Kate smiles.

"Will you stay the night?" Rick asks.

"We have..."

"Class in the morning. I know," Rick acknowledges. "I'll call a car so we can stop at your place beforehand. But please, stay."

"Okay," Kate smiles. "Yes, I'll stay."

Rick kisses her again, their bodies so intertwined they're practically one entity.

Kate savors the pillowy comfort of his lips before gently whispering, "Now can you take me to bed?"

"Oh, immediately," Rick swoops Kate up so quickly she lets out a startled gasp, but they laugh between kisses on their way to the bedroom.


Kate woke with a start. Was that her phone ringing? She rolled over to search for it but something was holding her in place. No, someone. Rick. She was at Rick's, spending the night at Rick's, with Rick. She slithers free from his arm, trying not to wake him.

Where the hell was her phone? The ringing felt distant, like she shouldn't have been able to hear it if it weren't for all those nights waking up to calls from her dad. Her phone was in her pants, she remembered.

Where the hell were her pants? Oh, right. The living room. She shuffles out of the bedroom and the ringing gets louder. It was still pretty dark outside, not even the sunrise providing much light through the massive windows in the loft.

Who the hell was calling her? The only person who ever called her these days was...shit. Where the hell was her phone? "Pants, pants, pants," she frantically whispers to herself as her eyes try to find a pair of black pants in the darkness. Finally, she found them and grabbed out her phone.

"Dad? Is everything okay?" She whispers.

"Hi, Katie," Jim says. "I'm sorry I called so early. Is it okay if we talk for a bit now?"

"Well, it is...6AM..." Kate sighs when she peaks at the clock on her phone. "But, sure, just a second."

She slides her pants from last night on to go with the sleep shirt Rick had given her and she quickly exits the apartment and takes a seat on the bench by the elevator.

"What's–what's up, dad?"

"Well, first, I need to say I'm very sorry. My fishing group was on an excursion yesterday and I didn't realize I would be without my phone, so I missed being able to call you for your birthday. So, yeah, I'm sorry, and happy birthday, Katie," Jim says.

"Thanks, Dad," Kate says. "I hope you had a good fishing trip."

"Oh, you know, it's fishing," Jim sighs. "The relaxing part about it is the serenity of nature, but, uh, there's this one guy in the group that uses it as social hour, so it usually scares off the fish...and it's not very relaxing. But, that's beyond the point. The point is, I missed your birthday and I'm sorry. Did you do something nice?"

"Yes, it was nice. I got dinner with some friends," Kate says.

"That's good," Jim says in a way Kate can tell he's smiling. "I'm really glad. You deserve a nice birthday."

"Yeah, thanks. Is there anything else you want to talk about?" Kate asks, yawning.

"Well, I just also wanted to say that I love you and I'm really proud of you," Jim says.

"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate that," Kate replies with a yawn.

"I know I've made things a lot harder for you these past couple of years when I should've been making things better. I'm sorry for that, too," Jim continues.

"Dad, it's okay," Kate assures him. "I just want you to focus on your recovery."

"I am, I am," Jim assures her. "Acknowledging the pain that I've caused is all part of it, and I know that sadly I've caused you a lot of that."

"Yes, that's...true," Kate admits. "But the pain is all in the past now." She says that with optimism hoping that to someday be true.

"Uh, well, I just, I just hope that now you're able to just do what makes you happy," Jim sighs. "You've put others before yourself ever since you were a little girl, but, I just really hope that now you can do things for yourself, for your happiness."

"Wow, Dad, uh," Kate says. "You know, I really needed to hear that. Thanks."

"'Course, Katie. Anyway, I'll let you get back to sleep. I love you," Jim says and then he hangs up.

"Love you, too, Dad," Kate sighs as she sets down her phone. There was a little more light in the hallway now, but she makes her way to the door of Rick's apartment hoping she could still grab some more sleep. She gently pulls on the entrance and it creaks open.

"Ah!" Rick exclaims. Kate jumps too. Hearts pounding in their ears, they take a moment to recover. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry," Kate apologizes. "I got a call from my dad."

"Oh, is everything alright?" Rick asks.

"Yes, everything's fine. He was just wishing me a happy birthday because he couldn't call yesterday."

"That's...that's nice," Rick smiles. "I'm uh, glad you're still here. I thought you left."

Kate meets him wear he's standing in the living room and wraps her arms around him. "I'm still here. Sorry I woke you."

"It's okay," Rick sighs. "I've gotta get Alexis up now anyway. We can have whatever you'd like for breakfast."

"Well," Kate laughs. She moves her arms from his waist to his shoulders and meets his lips with hers. "I don't know about that."

"Or...we could..."

Before he finishes his thought, Alexis cries out to let him know she's awake.

"...go get Alexis."

By 7:30, the sun had come up and the morning rush was in full force. Alexis had just been dropped off with Meredith and Rick and Kate were on the way to Kate's apartment.

"Do you want to see my place?" Kate asks as the town car rolls to a stop at her address.

"Only if you give me the grand tour," Rick smiles. They head upstairs and while Kate does show him her place, they were mostly interested in touring Kate's bed. After a quick shower and a fresh outfit, they walk the few blocks to the campus coffee shop and grab a cup and a table before class.

"So," Kate says.

"So," Rick repeats.

"How were you planning on making it up to me after missing my birthday party?"

"I sort of thought I did...last night...and this morning," Rick says.

"Oh, it'll take a lot more than that," Kate tells him. "But it was a very good start."

"I also got you coffee," Rick points out.

"You always get me coffee."

Rick laughs. "Kate Beckett, are you asking me on a date?"

"No," Kate says. "I'm telling you that you need to take me on a date."

Rick smiles even bigger. "You really are extraordinary, you know that?"

Kate feels her cheeks get rosier than they already were.

"Okay, how 'bout this," Rick says. Kate leans forward, ready to hear the proposition. "Instead of our Saturday morning project meeting, can I take you to brunch at La Brioche? We can finish the rest of the project afterward, or, whatever you want to do."

"La Brioche is my favorite," Kate smiles.

"Perfect, I'll meet you there at 10?" Rick confirms.

"It's a date."