"Kate… wake up… you stole all the blankets… Kate!" Castle tugged at the corner of the blanket, the only part Kate had left him.

Kate grumbled in her sleep before lifting the blanket to give him more. Castle caught a glimpse of her in a tee shirt and boy shorts and realized yet again how lucky he was and how incredible she was. She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen and he knew he could never go back to simply being friends and partners. Caring for Kate when she was sick had cemented his feelings for her. He was in love.

He fell back asleep and didn't wake until he felt her stir, curling closer to him before slowly waking. "I was going to make you coffee but I didn't want to wake you," he started.

"This is much better." She draped an arm over his chest, nuzzling her head in the crook of his neck.

"How do you feel?" He asked.

"You don't have to keep asking. I feel fine. You?"

"I'm good. But I'm also starving." He grabbed her waist and pulled her into a kiss.

"Come to think of it, I'm a little hungry." Her stomach growled at the words, as if it knew what she was saying. "Maybe I'm more than a little hungry," she admitted with a small blush.

"Good. You haven't had an appetite in days. Whatever you want, as much as you want." Kate smiled softly; she'd never had someone care for her as much as Castle did.

"I've never had someone look out for me the way you do," she admitted.

"You're just going to have to get used to it. My concern isn't going anywhere and neither am I. I mean, we're partners after all…" Castle choked out the word partners. He wanted to say so much more. He wanted to push for more in their relationship but he knew he couldn't come at Kate like that. When it came to relationships of any kind she seemed skittish, afraid to get too close to anyone.

Kate couldn't deny that it stung to hear him call them partners. She'd thought over the past few days that she'd made it clear how she felt. "Castle, I…" she started but couldn't find the words. Instead she took a step forward, closing the gap between the two of them. With her words failing her, she wrapped both hands around Castle's face and pulled him into a heated kiss.

She pulled him until he was hovering over her. His eyes were so dark with desire that it gave goosebumps. There was no denying that in this moment, she was his only focus.

He held her hips as he pushed into her, cursing as he entered her. Neither could look away as they found their rhythm. They stayed like that, holding onto one another as they stared into each others eyes. Kate lifted a hand to the side of his face, lifting her head off the pillow to lock him into a passionate kiss. "Rick," she whispered softly. He'd always loved when she called him by his first name. Much more intimate than just saying Castle.

They stayed together like that long after they'd both finished. Neither spoke for a long while, each thinking of what would happen when they went back to the real world.

"Kate?" He finally asked. She said nothing but gave him her complete attention. "If you want… I mean we don't… I mean…"

"Just say it," she said softly.

"This doesn't have to mean anything. I mean, if you don't want it to—"

"Is that what you want? To go back to normal?" She tried to keep her composure but still her voice trembled.

"What? No! I didn't mean… I just thought you—"

"Thought I wanted to pretend nothing happened?" She sat up in bed, clutching the sheets to cover her chest. "Is that what you think I want?" She finally managed.

"I don't know, Kate. I hope not, I really do, but I respect your decision either way."

"Castle, you said I had a fever—"

"Delirious with fever," he interrupted.

"You said that I told you I loved you. It was true, alright? It wasn't the fever talking."

"I know," he said calmly.

"You know?"

"I could see that you were telling the truth. Plus, I think I always kind of knew…"

"Why—"

"I knew you'd tell me again when you were ready," he said with a wink.

"Oh, you just knew?" She teased, pulling him into a kiss.

"But we really do have a decision to make," Castle said, his tone growing serious. "Do we tell Ryan and Esposito or see how long it takes them to figure it out?"

"Well, we have to mess with them a little," she giggled. "Plus, I don't know. I like it being just you and me for now."

"Then it'll be our little secret," he promised. "Oh, and Beckett?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, too."

The end.