He can't help the small grin that sits on his face as they travel across the city. He has been watching her since they entered the car, and every time she glances at him his smile grows wider. Every time they go over a pothole he is almost sure he will wake up from the jolt, because this is almost too good to be real.

Somewhere in his head he silences the voice that is still screaming at him for almost jumping in front of a shot and because he was abducted by a psycho, and he knows he shouldn't feel this free, this happy, like he is flying above the clouds, but she kissed him. She kissed him, and now she is taking him home and she wants to talk about this, about them.

He lifts his hand to his mouth, his fingers slowly trailing the path her lips took not so long ago. For a moment she tries to hide the smile that lights up her face, but it's all in vain as she sees the dreamy expression on his. His eyes are a little clouded and he looks adorable, which makes her want to kiss him again, although she would never admit to that. Well she wouldn't have until recently.

She parks the car next to his apartment and stops the engine. As he is getting out of the car he winces, his face contorted all of a sudden, and he leans on the car to keep himself up.

"Castle, are you okay?" She rushes over to him immediately. He feels his heart beat faster when he looks at her.

The undisguised worry and interest she shows makes him breathe through the pain that shoots through his body, her presence is enough to make it easier to deal with it. He finally manages to keep a straight face, not wanting to worry her any more.

"Castle, what happened?"

"I'm fine, really. It's okay now."

"Castle. You've been shot. You almost jumped in front of a bullet for me. You're obviously not fine. You must have hit your head when he took you."

He is confused for a second at her serious tone, because really, he thought they had talked this through, and she can't be serious with the head trauma but then he notices the smirk on her face.

"Ha ha, very funny Beckett."

The smile fades, and the glint of tease is replaced with hurt in her eyes.

"Back to that, are we?"

He looks at her with a concerned expression, the part of him showing that he rarely lets her see, only when he talks about Alexis she is able to get a glance at the loving, caring man he truly is.

"No Kate, it's just… I... This is so new to me. I don't know what to do. Sometimes I think that I must be dreaming, but then the pain in my side reminds me, and…"

Her mouth is on his again, and this time he doesn't hesitate as he pulls her into him, her body pressed tightly to his, and she gasps at the sudden rush of heat that pulses through her.

She can feel him smirk, but she doesn't care, she is too busy claiming his lips, showing him how serious she is about this, and she feels like she should be scared at the thought, but all she feels is relief and happiness.

He feels her tongue demand access, and he gladly gives in, not realizing the fact that they are still standing outside his building until a loud whistle breaks them apart, both of them blushing, but still clinging to each other.

He is utterly breathless, and she starts laughing, and it is the most wonderful, enticing sound he heard in his whole life. He looks at her astonished, and the laughter slowly calms into a smile.

"You're extraordinary." He doesn't mean to say it out loud, only realizes what he's done when she looks away sheepishly, but he slowly touches her chin and makes her look at him again.

"Kate. I don't know how you can't see yourself as others do, but I will try to make you understand it. And if I had the chance I would throw myself in front of you to save you again, because I meant everything I said."

He thinks he sees something flash in her eyes for a moment, but then she is pulling away, tugging on his hand to follow her.

"Let's continue this inside." His whole face lights up at her words, and he speeds up, almost pulling her after him.

She stands close to him while they ride the elevator to his floor, almost if she is scared that once she lets go of him everything will go back to normal. His hand is warm against hers, and it affects her more than she thought, as she feels herself relax after the hectic day they leave behind them.

The smile is glued on their face as they walk to his door, and he grins at the disappointed sound she makes when he pulls his hand away to search for his keys.

As soon as he opens the door he sees a blur of red and then the air is knocked out of his lungs as Alexis hugs him, and he hisses as the pain comes back again. She jumps back immediately, and the deep regret combined with the tears and red eyes make his heart shrink.

He phoned as soon as he could, told her that he has been injured, but he was fine. The new situation with Kate forced it out of his mind for a bit, and as he looks at his little girl he feels terrible for it.

"Come here pumpkin." He reaches out to her, pulling her back slowly.

She sobs against his chest, the tears now streaming down her face uncontrollably.

"Don't ever do that again, okay? I was so scared. I don't know what I would do without you."

"I'm right here. It's going to be okay now."

Through her tears she notices Kate standing in the doorway uncomfortably, rocking from one leg to the other, seemingly unsure of what to do. She meets her eyes, and Alexis mouths a silent 'Thank you' to her. Kate just nods and gives her a shy smile, but remains in the entrance.

When she untangles herself from him he steps back, and turns to Kate. He raises his eyebrows at her when he notices where she is, the question unasked.

She doesn't miss the uncertainty and disappointment in his eyes, and she steps closer. From the corner of her eyes she can see Alexis watching curiously, but she focuses on Castle now.

His smile returns, warming her heart, and he opens his arms, waiting for her to come closer. She closes the distance between them with a couple of steps, and then she is in his embrace again. Her body melts into his, only the adrenaline and tension kept her going the days before, and now as it disappears she feels so, so tired.

She looks up at him, and when their eyes connect the feeling that surges through her is indescribable. his eyes are shining with everything, and more, shining with love.

A shiver runs up her spine, because she is so lost, and she doesn't now how she could ever think that they wouldn't be together, the connection between them stronger than she ever had wwith anyone else.

Without thinking she connects their lips slowly, like it's their first time, and she pulls him even closer if that is possible. Her hands come up to hold his face, and she runs her fingers over his ear, through his hair. She closes her arms around his neck, playing with the small hairs there.

She feels the heat pooling inside her belly, and it makes her want more, but then she realizes where they are and quickly pulls away.

Alexis is looking at them with a shocked expression, her mouth open, and for a moment she is really scared of how she will react. But then the corner of her lips slowly rise, and the small smile that appears calms her down.

Even if she likes him, he wouldn't do anything about it if his daughter would disapprove, and she is fine with that as long as it doesn't push her away too.

"So, uh, you guys now...?" she doesn't need to finish, and she feels a little sad when he looks to her for reassurance, but she has been the one who always hides, who is uncertain.

But this time, with him, it's different. After almost dying, then losing him she doesn't want to wait anymore. She is tired of the 'what ifs', the distance she keeps with everybody. He showed her enough times how caring and good he is, and this event only made her realize that.

So she smiles at him then nods, and the way his face lights up warms her heart. The awe and adoration he looks at her with only makes her want to kiss him again. Oh, this adorable man-child. He turns to Alexis, who is still waiting for an answer, and nods.

"Yeah, I guess we are."

Alexis's expression softens, and she looks at Kate now, who holds her gaze.

"I'm happy for you guys" Kate feels relieved, but she doesn't miss the warning in Alexis's eyes. She will never forgive her if she hurts him. Good. Because has no intention of doing so.

Alexis goes to him, hugging him again, and he feels lucky to have these amazing women in his life. His mother included.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Alexis whispers, and then pulls away. "I'm really tired though, so I'm going to sleep. Good night!" With that she heads upstairs, but only after pulling Kate in for a hug, which takes her by surprise, but quickly recovers and hugs her back. As she runs up the stairs he looks at her surprised, and she feels the same.

"She likes you" he slowly says, and steps closer. "I can see why that is" Now he is grinning, and she is smiling too, but she cant help it, because she hasn't felt this happy in a long time.

"Come on. It's late. Let's go to bed." She raises her eyebrows, and he shakes his head. "Not like that. Not now. Just sleep."

She reaches out, caresses his face as her expression softens. "I know what you meant. You always know what I need" It's a fact, and he beams at her with that happy smile, because he feels proud of himself that he really does.

They hold hands as they walk towards his bedroom, neither wanting to let go. They quickly get ready for bed, and when they are under the covers she snuggles close to him, buries her head in his side.

She finally did it. She finally overcame her walls with his help, and now she is truly happy. And the only person responsible for that is him. She caresses his face as she feels the tiredness and the emotions pull her down, tempting her into a restful slumber.

"I love you." It's barely a whisper sighed into his skin before her eyes close, and her breathing evens.

She doesn't feel him turning to her, and she also doesn't hear his words.

"I love you too Kate."

So I guess this is it, not sure if I should continue, so let me know. It has been a really rough week for me so this chapter was pretty hard to write, and I don't know if it came out alright. Thanks for reading and please review.