Castle thought it was a beautiful night. A mixture of moonlight and Manhattan streetlights snuck its way through the space in his living room curtains, softly illuminating the dark wooden floorboards. The air carried a sort of sweet-salty tang from their collection of popcorn and candy. But it was a different scent that made Castle smile.

Cherries.

Kate had progressively gotten more comfortable through their evening. Her feet had finally ended up on the coffee table next to his, and her arm had somehow woven through the crook of his elbow. Though he teased her about it, he didn't actually think Kate to be the kind to snuggle. It was a pleasant surprise.

Somewhere along the way, she'd fallen asleep; his shoulder her pillow. He'd been careful not to move, to not even fidget until her breaths had evened out into a deep slumber. Not even after that. He was comfortable just the way he was.

But they'd been like that for a couple of hours; his neck sore and back stiff. Though she was in better shape than him, he didn't want her to wake up with cramping muscles. He reached out for the remote control to turn off the idle TV screen and sighed to himself in resignation.

With his free arm, he moved to cup her face, and called her name out gently to avoid spooking her. Kate stirred but didn't wake. She turned her head to nuzzle his shoulder after a cute little snuffle. He thought fleetingly whether he'd let it go, whether he could maneuver them so they'd be lying down on the couch more comfortably and just spend the night that way, but there was a nagging feeling he couldn't shake, that they weren't quite there yet.

"Kate," he called out a little more firmly.

She opened her eyes at that and pivoted her head just a fraction to glare at him weakly. "Five minutes, Castle."

"You can have much more than five minutes, but let's move you to the bed, huh?"

Her eyes shot open at that, eyebrow rising dangerously.

"Guest bedroom is all set up," he clarified.

Kate huffed, moving away from him. He felt the warmth seeping away. By the tiny shiver he noticed, because he had gotten so good at observing her, he thought she felt the same. "I should head back," she said softly, her fingers weaving through her silky hair, sliding them off her face.

"Stay," he urged, "please? You look exhausted, Kate. You have been exhausted, and it's not just today. You'll just get more awake on the way home."

To his eternal surprise, she seemed to actually be considering it.

"You know you want to." He nudged her shoulder gently, and the way her body seemed to sag gave away her decision. "Come on," he said, taking her soft warm hand in his.

He helped her up, and turned her towards the stairs, pressing lightly low on her back, his hand spanning across it. She didn't offer any resistance, didn't utter a word. It made him both happy, and just a little concerned, because it was unusual for her. It was unusual for her to let him take care of her, and he guessed that it was unusual for her to let anyone take care of her. He was honored that he got that chance, however small.

Before he knew it, they'd come to stand next to the bed. This was part of why he left the precinct early. Part of the stuff he needed to get ready. He'd changed the sheets, and cleaned the guest room. He'd set out a new toothbrush, sitting unopened in its package on the bathroom counter next to the sink. Kept fresh linen there too. It was all ready to welcome her. Help sway her decision, hopefully, if she didn't find it creepy. Only one thing he hadn't considered.

"Umm," he said ineloquently, "Stay here, I'll be right back."

"Mmf."

"Don't move."

"Okay."

"No running away when my back's turned."

"Castle!"

"Fine, yeah. Be right back," he said, only finally noticing that he still had her hand in his.

He practically flew down the stairs, into his bedroom, spending not more than a few seconds before he got what he needed, and raced back up the stairs.

He was happy that she'd only moved enough to sit down, staring blindly at the wall opposite her. "Here," he said a little breathlessly as he handed her one of his T-shirts and an old shrunken pair of sweatpants.

She took them from him with a smile. Even tired, she glowed. Or it was the effect of the low yellow light that cast her face half aglow, half in shadows.

Kate cleared her throat, indicating her discomfort. It was hard not to stare at her. He was tired too, and it made him a little sloppy. Less guarded. "Right, well. Good night. See you in the morning."

"Good night," she echoed, and just as he stepped out the door, she called his name so quietly he almost missed it. But he was attuned to her voice. To her breaths, her movements.

Still facing away from her, afraid to look back, unable to leave her be; he only allowed his head to turn slightly. Like a sunflower towards the sun. He was really tired. "Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Castle's lips twitched then. His eyes closed, head nodding just the once. He'd had doubts all day long since having "convinced" her at the precinct. All of those doubts flew out the window just then. "Always," came his reply, just as softly, and he knew she'd be wearing a smile just like his own.

It was later in the night that he'd awoken with the intense need to relieve himself. The three cans of soda were to blame. While returning from the en suite to his bedroom, he heard a noise.

His sleep addled brain and active imagination thought of ninja assassins, spies, covert CIA operatives, and the ever-famous cat burglars as possibilities. Whoever it was seemed to be foraging in his kitchen. Usually he would put it down to being Alexis or Martha trying and failing to be quiet, but neither of them were home. But, oh, Kate was.

Given how tired she'd looked earlier, he'd hoped she would've had an undisturbed sleep, but his great tucker her out plan seemed to have failed. Squaring his shoulders, Castle headed out of his room, determined to help her get back to sleep. Just as he was passing his bookshelves, he glanced at the living room, and squatted down while slapping his hand over his mouth to squash his yelp.

He'd been expecting an exhausted looking vulnerable Kate Beckett in his loft. Not the figure wearing a too-large black as night hoodie sneaking around as if looking for something. He knew it.

He knew it!

It was a somewhat sloppily dressed ninja assassin, and there wasn't anyone around to believe him. Well, there was Kate upstairs, but damn him if he let this fiend get to her. He grabbed a fencing sword from the stack next to the stairs leading to the first floor landing, and tip toed his way to the kitchen. Sloppy Ninja had been heading there from the living room when he first noticed through the bookshelves.

He ducked behind the counter when Sloppy Ninja turned to the cupboards, after a slight pause, thankfully facing away from him. To be fair, Sloppy Ninja was being very careful about opening and closing the cupboards, probably to avoid making noise. It was luck really, that Castle had heard anything at all earlier. Their recent slew of cases and his recent re-watch of Harry Potter's fifth installment had left him in a state of constant vigilance, as Mad Eye Moody called it. Clearly someone named Mad Eye Moody – fictional or not – had to be believed.

Castle had come up with the plan to corner Sloppy Ninja and then call out for Kate. He rounded the corner carefully, and rose to his full height, ready to brandish his fencing sword when Sloppy Ninja suddenly turned around, armed with a giant frying pan, raised and ready to strike.

They both yelped.

"Jesus, Castle, what the hell?"

"Kate?" he asked, recovering from the scare. He'd jumped a full foot back, one hand on his chest to calm his terrified heart, and the other still holding the sword. He lowered his sword hand to his side.

"Whom were you expecting?" she asked, glowering at him, putting the pan down on the counter and lowering the hood of the sweatshirt.

"Uh. Sloppy Ninja?"

"What?"

"Who were you expecting?"

"I don't know. A burglar? You were sneaking around like one."

"Me? You're the one dressed like a – like a - "

"Sloppy Ninja?" she completed with a smirk.

"Well. Yeah! What are you wearing anyway?"

"Uh. It was in one of the drawers upstairs, I thought it was yours," she said, ducking her head down, suddenly shy as she mumbled, "smells like you."

Castle carefully kept the sword leaning against the counter, and moved towards her, squinting as he got closer. "Oh yeah, that is mine. I was wondering where it went."

She huffed, scuffing her socked foot on the tiled kitchen floor.

"I got cold. Sorry."

"Don't be. Looks better on you anyway," he said with a smile.

Kate looked up at him, a tender look gracing her face. "Yeah, I totally rock the sloppy ninja look."

Even in the dark of the night, she noticed his blush. "Hey, cut me some slack. It's the middle of the night. Also, I could be attacked by ninjas, you never know."

She shook her head, and smiled wider. "Sure, Castle. Ninjas set to invade your kitchen in the middle of the night in search of the mystical mu shu chopsticks of doom – it could happen."

He felt an odd mixture of indignation and awe that she would say that. Or even think it. Who was this Kate Beckett?

He must have been gaping too long, because he felt her hand gently close her jaw, and then ruffle his hair as she let out a hearty chuckle.

Castle had to clear his throat. She had no business looking that beautiful in the middle of the night, dressed in clothes twice her size.

"Did you have a nightmare?" he asked softly as her chuckles died down.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I just woke up, and I couldn't get warm, till I found this thing. Then I couldn't get back to sleep, so I came down for a snack."

"Still feeling cold?"

"Just my hands," she said, holding said hands out in front of her.

"Still hungry?"

Kate shrugged again. "I could eat."

"How about a PB&J and a hot chocolate. Get you warmed up instantly," he suggested.

"Probably not healthy," she said, her biting her lip. She looked like she was waiting for him to talk her into it.

He obliged with a huff. "Really, Kate? Who has healthy food for midnight snacking? Live a little."

"Fine. Sugar overdose sounds great," she said, beaming as he immediately set about his new task with a proud grin.

She traced his every move as he gathered the pot, milk, and the rest of the things he needed. He didn't mind at all. He was reveling in the domesticity of it.

"Why were you awake? Not a nightmare?"

"No, no. Needed to pee," he said with a sheepish grin, earning him an eye roll.

"Told you to ease up on the soda."

"Yes, mooom!" he mocked, eyes rolling for good measure.

She gaped and socked him on the arm.

"Hey, ow! That hurt," he said, turning only to be leveled with a fierce glare. "Jeez, okay, sorry."

"Uhuh."

"Didn't have to hit me so hard."

"Oh, man up, Castle."

"Can I help that I bruise like a peach?"

"You'll live," she said, shaking her head at him even as she stepped closer.

"I'll be sore for days. Don't blame me if I can't carry your coffee cup tomorrow."

"He says as he continues to stir hot chocolate."

"It'll get sore, and achy, and bruise-y."

"Poor baby."

"You're not even apologizing."

"Don't hold your breath."

"Here I am, toiling away in the middle of the night for you, and what do I get in return? A sore arm is wh – wh – what are you doing?" he ended, with a loud gulp.

She'd inched close into his side, raising her hands onto his bicep. Her fingers slid under the hem of his sleeve, slowly sliding it upwards, exposing more of his arm. He tried to keep his eyes on the almost-done hot chocolate, but they kept darting to her.

He called her name, his voice strangled, breath stuttering when her nose bumped into the upper part of his arm, just below his shoulder where she'd socked him.

Castle noticed absently that she was at the perfect height, shorter than he was used to without her heels. Did she just breathe him in?

Her lips settled where her nose had been, just a second ago, and lingered to drop a tender kiss there. Castle moved his head, unable to stay still with having her so close to him in the quiet of the night. Just as he angled his head toward her, she pulled back. He shifted slightly so their faces were just inches apart. Her eyes strayed to the side, her hand lowering his sleeve back into place and smoothing it down as they gazed intensely at each other.

They heard a bubbling noise, and she took another step back, breaking eye contact, and extended her hand to turn off the stove. The moment was broken.

Though there was a kissing booboos quip somewhere in the back of his mind, he found himself unable to voice it. Found himself incapable of much more than returning to the mundane task of preparing their snack. She seemed to be having the same problem as she rounded the counter to sit herself down, as he slid a sandwich to her. She duck into it, while he got his, and divvied up the hot chocolate between them.

They ate in silence, Kate seated on a stool at the island, and Castle standing opposite her. He needed a moment to recover.

Both finished their sandwiches quickly, and Castle had nearly guzzled down his hot chocolate while Kate was cradling hers. Her thumb was absently stroking the mug, while she seemed deep in thought. He couldn't blame her.

He was about to ask her if she didn't like it when he realized that she was just taking her time. Delaying the inevitable moment that they'd have to part, and she'd have to try to go back to sleep. She was stalling.

Castle took the dishes and his mug to the sink, just rinsing them quickly, leaving them for washing later at a more decent hour. "Hey," he said softly, walking around to stand next to her.

"Hmm?" she said, not even turning.

"Kate."

She looked up at him reluctantly, her eyes looking suspiciously shiny.

"Something bothering you?"

She sighed, looking down to her mug again. Taking a large gulp to finish what was left, she set her mug down and turned in her stool to face him. He took a step closer so he was standing between her legs. It was intimate, and maybe too much. Maybe too little.

"I needed to check that you were alright."

"So you did have a nightmare?" he asked, feeling concerned.

She let out a deep breath and leant into him, much to his surprise. The stool was tall, so her forehead settled against the lower part of his chest. "I don't remember waking up from one," Kate said, as his arms came up and around her, drawing her closer into his warmth. "I just remember feeling cold, and I had this strong need to check on you."

"I understand," he said truthfully, running his hand over her back soothingly. "Why didn't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why didn't you check on me?"

"I did," she stated.

His hand paused in his surprise. "You were in my bedroom and I didn't notice?"

Kate sniggered. "Seems I'm stealthier than you are."

"I'll have to work on my stealth mode," he accepted.

"Hmm. You do that," she said, drawing back, his hands sliding across her back to settle on her shoulders.

"Yup. I'll sneak into your bedroom as many times as I need to."

She snorted.

"For practice, Beckett," he said, fooling no one.

"Right. You do know I sleep with a gun?"

"You might have mentioned it before."

"Be good to remember it," she mumbled, ending in a yawn.

"Oh, I remember it, alright. I just ignore it."

"Don't make me shoot you. Too much paperwork."

"Your concern is positively touching," he said, withdrawing his hands to his side.

"I'm nice like that."

"Yeah, you're a real saint."

"I must be, if I have the patience to deal with you."

"Ouch. You wound me."

"You'll live."

"I feel this strange sense of déjà vu. The good kind."

She rolled her eyes and pushed him away from her. Castle snagged her forearms and drew her off the stool.

He boldly dropped a kiss to her forehead – something he wouldn't dare do just a few weeks ago. But they'd crossed some invisible line, and it felt like there was no turning back. He didn't want to turn back. Judging by the fact that all his appendages were intact, she seemed to be allowing it at least. Maybe even enjoying it?

"Come wake me this time if you need to, alright? But for now, back to bed."

She looked to the stairs and then back at him, whining adorably, "Do I have to?"

He couldn't ever remember her whining like that. Although he could imagine her wanting to say that when she was told about him shadowing her. Castle chuckled with the thought. "Yes. It's not that far."

"Fine," she said, turning around and heading to the stairs like a woman on a mission. She paused on the landing. "Thanks, Castle. Night."

"Until tomorrow."

She smiled, turning away from him.

Her voice was almost angelic as it reached his ears, calling out his name. He felt like he was floating towards it, closer and closer.

He woke up suddenly, realizing it was more than a dream when he heard it again.

"Castle?"

"Kate?"

"What time is it?" he asked groggily.

"Ah, you've just been asleep for half an hour."

"Oh," he said, confused.

"Sorry, shouldn't have woken you."

"No! No, it's fine. You okay?"

"Hmm."

"What's wrong?"

"Couldn't sleep," she admitted, while picking at his blanket.

He blinked owlishly twice before scooting over and drawing the blanket up.

"Castle?" Her voice held both disbelief and longing, as did her face.

"Kate."

"What are we doing?" she asked, sighing. She sounded so defeated it hurt his heart.

Where he would have joked in another lifetime, he replied with the utmost sincerity instead. "We're helping each other get over a very traumatic event that could have ended our lives."

She looked up at him.

"Kate, we saved the city. But we nearly died ourselves. Twice. It's okay to be scared."

"I'm not scared," she defended, glaring at him.

"Then it's okay to not be okay."

She looked away from him, to his door.

They didn't do this. They were all about subtext and walls and cast iron defenses.

He lowered his head back on to his pillow, and moved his hand to rub at his eyes. He was so tired. She must be too. Why couldn't she just recognize it? But the fact was that she couldn't.

She couldn't recognize it. Couldn't recognize them.

And he would just have to deal with it like he always did. He applied just enough pressure to see stars. To keep the stinging in. To keep his eyes dry.

That's when he heard shuffling, and felt his blanket move.

He took his hand off his face, needing a second for his eyes to adjust.

Kate was sliding under the covers next to him. She smiled sadly at what must have been a look of complete astonishment, even as she adjusted his arm just where she wanted it. He let her. Couldn't really get it to function for himself. Her side was flush with his, the warmth spreading through all the way to his toes.

Castle couldn't take his eyes of hers. She leaned up just enough to place a kiss to the corner of his mouth, her thumb replacing her lips much too quickly.

"Talk tomorrow?" she asked softly, gazing at him tenderly.

He nodded, for lack of any other coherent response, and she smiled in return.

She nuzzled down into his chest, her arm banding across him, keeping him close.

He wrapped his arm around her as her leg coiled around his, drawing her even closer into his warmth.

There were a lot of questions unanswered. A lot of new questions that arose. What were they doing? Did either of them know? Maybe. What Castle and Kate did know, as they each closed their eyes, was that there wouldn't be any more nightmares that night. And if they were to return, the partners would face them together. This thing, budding and hopeful, had murky origins. One day there was nothing; the next it was something solid, sure and indisputable. They were something. Something inevitable, good and beautiful. It was powerful, this kind of knowledge.

A/N: Soooo. When I started this chapter, I hadn't expected to end the story, but, this is it. It felt very natural to end it here. (Suffice it to say, they lived happily ever after in that weird Castle-y fashion of theirs. Duh.)

Thank you for all the lovely reviews!