Epilogue

The sensation of teeth nibbling on the helix of her ear rouses her from her dreamy state.

His warm breath tickles her neck as he mutters a heated, seductive whisper. "Happy anniversary."

"Wrong date, Castle," Kate smirks playfully, the side of her head sinking into the pillow.

The welcome warmth of his body crowding her back sends electricity jolting through her, her skin tingling in response.

"Wrong anniversary, Beckett," he grins, gently skimming strands of soft, chestnut hair to the side, brushing his lips along the sensitized skin just behind her ear.

A low, lusty groan emits from her throat as one of his hands snakes underneath her sleep shirt, tracing a delicate path across the tight lines of her abdomen. She shivers, desire building in her stomach as she feels his tender lips painting hot, lingering, open-mouthed kisses against the nape of her neck. Her head sinks deeper into her pillow as his mouth plays a symphony against her supple flesh.

The sensation of his hand grazing along her stomach, sliding her thin cotton top up… up… up... Her body is set ablaze, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake. His warm fingertips tease circles around her navel before inching towards her chest, gently mapping the underside of her breasts. Her breathing is heavy, laboured. She gasps as his teeth pull the loose fabric of her over-sized cotton t-shirt across her shoulder, tongue tasting her skin, mouth traveling along her flesh inching back towards her jaw. She feels like she might spontaneously combust.

"Then what…" she moans heavily as he sucks her earlobe between his wet lips, "...are we…. mmmmmm... celebrating… Castle?"

Her leg slides back, skimming the side of his foot, pressing her heel into his leg as she grazes it seductively along the length of his calf. Up… down… up… down… up... His desire is evident, his arousal pressing into the small of her back.

"One year ago today…" he mutters, lips tracing tender kisses along the edge of her jaw as his palm teases the underside of her breasts, coming to rest over her heart. "...You came back to me."

The memories flood her mind, overwhelming her. A maelstrom of emotion. It had not been an easy journey. In retrospect, compared to the recovery and rehabilitation period, waking up from her comatose state seemed like a walk in the park. She had drifted in and out of consciousness a few times, which was frightening enough, but the idea of sleeping was terrifying. Not for her so much as it was for Castle. He had hovered constantly, checked on her all the time. Woke her up several times in the middle of the night - just to ensure she'd still wake up.

Eating had been even more unpleasant. She had been kept on the IV for a short while, but the nursing staff insisted she make an effort to eat solid food since she'd been unconscious and inactive for a little over a week.

For a few days, her efforts were naught. Food would not stay down. At all.

And it wasn't very fun when they finally removed the catheter either.

Also, her legs were admittedly quite unsteady when she attempted to walk again, having been immobile for such a significant amount of time. She had had some difficulty supporting her own weight the first time she attempted to stand. Castle was always right there by her side if she needed help, but Kate wasn't a quitter. Not at all. She was tenacious. She persevered. She improved. She got better. For him.

And after a few more days of constant monitoring by the ICU nursing staff, Doctor Turow cleared Castle to take her home.

Not that her subsequent recovery time was any better. The unprovoked mood swings were an annoyance for a while, but Castle was infinitely patient and took it all in stride. The situation wasn't improved at all by the fact that she was not allowed to drink alcohol for many weeks - even after she was cleared for duty.

However, the worst part was that she was prohibited from drinking coffee for several months due to the caffeine. She tried decaf for a while - Castle even hit up almost every specialty coffee shop in Manhattan to find a decaffeinated blend that she'd like - but it wasn't the same.

She decided just to go without… but she did compensate a little, developing a habit of kissing her fiancé after he'd drunk his morning brew just so that she could enjoy the flavour. He never complained. They began as innocent pecks - lightly brushing her lips against his - but the kisses intensified gradually to the point where Castle almost made her late for work a few times. She never complained.

Thank goodness she wasn't prohibited from being intimate, because for the few weeks when she was dealing with unwarranted mood swings, she also experienced an intensified sexual appetite - even more so than usual. Castle never complained about this either.

But eventually, with time, things normalized.

And now, one year later, they find themselves revelling in the memory of yet another challenge they overcame together. The Universe threw down the gauntlet and they laughed in its face.

"I still don't understand it, you know," Beckett exhales as she turns within his strong arms, her chest pressing up against his. His biceps tighten, squeezing her closer.

Her eyelids droop as he brushes his lips against the tip of her nose. "What's that?" he mutters, trailing soft kisses under her eyes, along her high cheekbones.

"Mmmmmm…" she groans as his nimble fingers tease the edges of her clavicle, the side of her neck, the curve of her shoulders, tantalizing her aroused flesh. "Why I only responded to you…"

"I think you do..." he teases slyly, rolling her body underneath his, muscular thighs pressing tightly against her hips as he straddles her legs.

She hums as he slowly slides her shirt up her torso, pads of his thumbs tormenting her electrified flesh in the most delectable way. Her back arches in response as his tongue tastes every inch of her neck, her jaw. Her arms follow the lead of his palms as they stretch, reaching above her head as the cotton top glides past her face, off her arms. He tosses it to the floor. She returns the favour in kind, her agile fingers tangling around the hem of his t-shirt, quickly pulling it over his head.

A slow, deep breath escapes her lips as she reaches up, enthralled, grazing her fingertips carefully along the underside of his pectoral muscles.

It's ethereal, as if she's in a trance. Captivated. She can feel the heat of his eyes staring at her face as she continues to trace the outline of his bare chest... his strong abs... his tight waist... his well-defined, muscular arms. She watches her fingers dance along his skin, goosebumps forming on his tanned flesh. Salacious. He's breathing extremely heavily. So is she.

"Really?..." she exhales deeply, her stomach clenching with need as his palms smooth their way along the sides of her naked torso.

He gently pulls her hands from their contact with his bare chest, pushing them down against the pillow on either side of her head. Her heart is racing, swelling, as he presses the open palms of his hands against hers, their fingers entwining.

"You can't tell me after all of this," Castle mutters, nuzzling the underside of her jaw, "you don't believe in soulmates…"

"No…" she smiles, eyes gleaming as he lifts his head quickly to survey her face.

He's shocked. Completely floored. And maybe a bit hurt. "No?..."

She locks her gaze, peering deep, deep into the dazzling blue spheres staring back at her, mesmerized. Her right palm tenderly smooths the side of his face, slowly mapping the frame of his jaw, the crinkles beside his eyes. Her sensitized fingertips reacquaint themselves with every contour, every scar, every line. He's holding his breath, as is she - afraid to shatter the intensity of the moment. The magic of it.

Her thumb ghosts along the center of his mouth, teasing the top lip, then the bottom, parting them slightly... a blazing inferno building within her core. His penetrating glare intensifies, eyes dark and aroused…

He feels it too.

But he doesn't move. His eyes remain locked on hers.

Her fingertips join her thumb as they slowly trace his glossy lips, traveling up his defined cheekbone, smoothing the edge of his eyebrow. He exhales ever so slowly, heavily, as her hand continues its exploration, gently teasing his soft, mussed hair. She studies the way it has flopped across his forehead, messy and gorgeous. Her fingers rake along his scalp… slow... seductive… tangling themselves around the short hairs at the nape of his neck, massaging the back of his head. Reveling in the feel of him. The luscious ecstasy of touch.

Her eyes refocus on his gaze, deep and dark. And serious.

"No, Castle…" she exhales softly, sensually, drawing her palm towards his cheek. "I don't believe in soulmates…"

She draws his lips to meet hers… warm and soft and delicious. Lips swollen and breath heated. Their tongues tangle, engaged in a beautifully choreographed tango of passion before she momentarily halts the kiss. Palming his face affectionately, she positions his face just far enough away from hers so that their eyes can focus.

She searches his eyes for a brief moment, as the warm, heart-melting smile she reserves only for him lights up her face. As he leans in again, hungry and aroused, his muscular body weighing heavily against hers, she whispers fervently into his mouth, "But I'm starting to…"

FIN

xxxxxxx

There is a universal truth we all have to face, whether we want to or not. Everything eventually ends. ;)

Thanks to everyone who stuck this one out with me.

As my first go at writing angst, it was a challenge - thanks to everyone who reviewed. Your support was priceless.

xxxxxxx

Next story I write is going to require a lot less research!

Wow... I now know a lot more about comas and head injuries than I did 2 weeks ago! :P

xxxxxxx

And as promised, you got romance. Hope it made up for the last few weeks of heartache.

As always, I love to know if you enjoyed my story.

Judge away. :D