CHAPTER 2 – TIME TO COME CLEAN

(AN: I am so sorry, but since I haven't watched Boruto, none of the events in Boruto will feature in my story)

The Next Day

Kate Beckett was making her way back to Castle's loft, with her mind running a mile a minute. She had finally taken the plunge with Castle. It was a different feeling for her. Just one night, and she felt her relationship with Castle had taken a huge turn. Of course, she knew it would change, but she didn't expect to feel it this much. Her love for him, had gotten stronger after their night of passion, and she didn't expect it to go down any time soon.

As she was in the cab, she was thinking of her next course of action. She had quit her job, so she had all the time in the world. But, for now, all her focus was going to be on Castle. She was going to put in the time to get her feelings straightened, and put her life on the right track. She was so tired of putting her life on the hold, so that she could solve her mother's case. That was going nowhere, and all it was doing was putting her life, and her loved one's lives in danger. And yes, that included Castle too. He was already in the line of fire with her. She didn't want to put his family in danger too. She absolutely loved Alexis and Martha, and would do anything for them, even sacrifice her life. So, as much as it pained her, she had put her mom's case on hold, so that she could move on with her life. She still had the urge to go down the rabbit hole, but she now had a firm hold of her emotions, and put a lid on that urge tightly.

She was so deep in her own mind, that she lost track of her surroundings. When she came to, she found that she was already outside Castle's building, so she got out of the cab, paid him, and made her way to the loft. As she passed the doorman, he gave her a salute with a huge smile, one she returned, and went to the elevator. On her way up, she was thinking about her day, and what they could do together. As she opened the door, with the key Castle gave her, and went in, there was tense feeling to the atmosphere. She could feel the hair on her neck stand up, and warily went further inside, and called out to her boyfriend, "Castle?"

She heard him respond from his office, and she went there to find him at his desk, looking at her with a solemn expression. She was about to ask him what was wrong, when stood up and pulled her flush against his body, and kissed her deeply. She just melted against him, and kissed him back, just as deeply, and ran her hands through his hair. After a heated make out session that lasted about 2 minutes, he finally pulled back, and looked at her with a passionate and loving expression on his face, which made her smile widely, with so much love on her own face. He just smiled at her and gave her a throaty, "Hey."

She just looked at him, and even through all that love, she could see his apprehension, and she just knew something was wrong. She grabbed his hand, and guided him to the bedroom, sat him down on the bed, and she sat down next to him, held his hand, and asked, "What's wrong Castle?"

He just shook his head and laughed softly. She could always read him well. Even when he hid his worries, she always found something to be wrong. He supposed it worked both ways, because he also could look underneath all her bravado, and see her true feelings. Something he was always able to do, and not only with Kate.

He could see her waiting for an answer, so he decided to be open about everything. No point in hiding or sugarcoating anything now.

"I found Smith, and got the file he had. I know who is behind everything."

There was a pin drop silence.

"What?"

She couldn't really say anything else. Out of all the things she had expected him to say, this was nowhere near any of them. How did this happen? When did this happen? But, most importantly, how could he do this again without telling her about it?

Castle sighed. He could see her temper rising. He knew he was taking a big risk, but he really wanted her to be free of this burden. It was really weighing on her. He had seen how happy, how cheerful, and how carefree she could be without the case hanging over her head, and he wanted her to be that way permanently. So, he did the thing he knew he must not do again. He went behind her back.

He explained solemnly, "It's just, I saw how happy, how unburdened you were yesterday, without any weight on your shoulders, just joyful and carefree. I wanted you to be that way forever. I tracked down Smith, so that we could once and for all put this behind us, and move on with our lives together. Please don't be mad."

As Kate looked into his eyes, she could see his pleading expression. She could feel her heart melt. He might have done the wrong thing, but he did it for the right reasons. At least, according to him it was right. Even though, she was still mad, she decided to forgive him this time.

She sighed, "Its fine. Just please don't do this again. No matter what happens, no matter what we have to do, we do it together, at least, in my mom's case", she said firmly.

Castle just looked at her in obvious relief. But now, he had to tell her his most important secret. Something only two people other than him knew. He could not explain how he found Smith without revealing his secret. But now that they were finally together, it was time she knew his origins, what he really was, what he could really do. He pulled Kate closer, and said, "There is something you need to know about me, something no one else other than my mother and Alexis knows. It is my most important secret, so please don't tell anyone else. Not Ryan, not Espo, and not Lanie. Please Kate"

He expected Kate to be angry, but she just held his hand tighter, and looked him in the eye. That gesture was more than enough to reassure him. So, he sighed heavily, looked her right in the eye with the most serious expression he could muster and said, "Kate, it may sound ridiculous to you, but what I am about to tell you is 100% true. It is about my story, right from my birth, till the time I met you. So, please feel free to ask any questions, but after I finish my story, and if you need a break, stop me anytime, alright?"

She didn't know what else to say, so she just nodded. He nodded back, and looked down for a moment. He, then, looked into her eyes, and started his story.