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At home here

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The overwhelming need to close her eyes, just for a second or two, is winning against her desire to stay awake and bask in the fact that she is sheltered within his protective arms as they lie entwined. Every part of them has become fused together. Sweat slickened skin has melted after the fire had burned with such an intensity her heart is still skipping every other beat. She's lost the ability to tell where she ends and he begins and if she is honest with herself, she doesn't care if she never gets it back. Being together - in his bed - in the loft, has become her new favorite place to be and when tomorrow comes and she has to leave, return to her newly roach-free apartment it will be with a heavy heart.

It amazes her how much can change in such a small amount of time. More than that, it amazes her that they've been fighting this for so long, and for what reason? What could have been more important than this moment right here?

"Beckett?"

"Mmmmm."

"Shhhhh. I can hear you thinking from here."

Kate chuckles softly, her tongue extending in order for her to run it across the skin of his chest. She's too sated to move her head but the path she blazes is decent enough that a shudder rocks his frame, a growl adding to the vibration of his body.

"Beckett?"

"Mmmmm?"

"What are you thinking about?"

He whispers his question as if he is afraid of her response, afraid that at any moment the haze of desire that fogs the room will lift, revealing… Regret? Distress? A need to flee? And she knows she needs to fix this, to let him know that they are lying in the rubble of her once fortified wall. The very soft, luxurious, thousand count thread, Egyptian cotton rubble. They may still have a bumpy road in front of them, but she hopes that whatever they face they will now be facing it together.

"I was thinking that my place is ready tomorrow, and that I have to go home, as much as I don't want to."

Both of his arms contract around her, and somehow, regardless of the fact that they are pressed tightly together, he draws her closer to him.

"I don't want you to leave."

His encompassing grip unexpectedly releases her, his fingers rising to his head as he runs them through his hair. Stress and concern suddenly rolls off him in waves and she reluctantly edges back, arching her neck so that she can see his face, get a read on what is going through that wonderful mind of his, yet already he is backpedalling.

"I didn't mean that. I mean. I did. But not like that. Not like never leaving. Although-"

"Castle?"

"Yes?"

"Breathe."

She waits for him then, feels him beneath her hand - it having found its place over his heart - and his ribs and lungs expand as he takes a deep breath. She doesn't understand where this sudden anxiety has come from. Is it at the thought of being left here with Meredith? Or the thought that once she leaves she will be the one doing the backpedalling?

"I have to go home, Castle and I'm sure you will be safe from all the red-heads. But… if it gets too much, you can come and stay at my place."

"Really? So this-" He pauses, looking at her hesitantly. "Are you my girlfriend now?"

Her nose crinkles in distaste at such a juvenile sounding label, the nails of her fingers, which had been lightly cutting random patterns across his skin, unintentionally dig into his flesh, the flat edges pressing down sharply as his question hits her. This is… what?

"I…we…" she stutters but nothing is forthcoming. What exactly are they now?

He lifts a hand, trapping her body wounding claws, softly encasing her within his warmth, his loving touch, and she feels a little more braver.

"You want this, right?" she murmurs, afraid to say it louder. "Us?"

Kate's on her back before she's even realized that Castle has moved, and he reveals a strength and speed that while always underneath the surface, is very rarely seen. He towers over her, his elbows and knees supporting his weight as he holds himself just high enough to prevent her from becoming squished but with enough pressure that her hips buck at the closeness.

"I have wanted us, for a very long time." His declaration has her equal parts terrified and amazed.

"What's stopped you then?"

His eyebrows collide as confusion etches its way across his face, and she attempts to clarify, "Do you ever wonder why it has taken us this long?"

"Why now? Not last week? Or last year?"

"Yeah, seems rather stupid of us now that we're on the other side. Our worlds collided and the earth is still spinning." Well, she is still spinning; she's just assuming that everything else is too.

His laughter shakes his body, his hips trembling against hers, and she arches up in retaliation.

"Sorry, I… just bad images. But seriously, I don't know. I don't know what changed? Hey, maybe it was Meredith?"

Her hand darts forward, ensnares a nipple between her fingers and she gives a sharp tug. Really, discussing your ex-wife while lying naked on top of your new girlfriend is just wrong.

"Ouch, app-"

"Oh, hush," she scolds, yet the next question leaves her mouth before she takes a second to really think about what she is asking. "Why did the two of you break up?"

"You really want me to answer that now?" He drops a fleeting kiss onto the tip of her nose, as she shakes her head no in reply. They do need to talk about these things, but now really isn't the time.

"Do you remember what you said when you came back from dinner? That nothing would change the man that I am?"

She nods this time, adding a quiet, "Yes."

"No-one outside Mother and Alexis has ever really pushed to discover if there was anything more. It's like I'm a book, and everyone has been happy to look at the cover and read the blurb, but no one has really cracked the spine open to peer inside."

She wiggles both of her hands up until she can cup his face, ensures that he is focused completely on her as she asks, "Can I read all the pages?"

His mouth slides over hers, his tongue vehemently seeking an entrance that she happily encourages, and she forgets for a moment that she had asked him anything at all as he clears her mind of all but how breathtaking it is to be in this position with him.

Gradually pulling back, his forehead resting heavily against hers, his nose sliding and nudging with a tenderness that leaves her whole body humming in happiness and he declares as if she should already know the answer.

"You're already halfway through the book, Kate."

Ten months later

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Sliding along the kitchen floor, Kate's socked feet offer no resistance as she heads toward the counter, grasping the edge at the last moment, and she holds on as Castle attempts to pull the pages from fingers.

"You can't read yet. I've still got the ending to write!"

"Give it up, Castle, I will either read it now, or I will sneak onto your computer tonight and read it then!"

He gasps dramatically, puts on an appearance of being shocked and horrified as he replies, "You would never invade my belongings like that?!"

She adds to the over-the-top flair, loudly snorting as she wiggles her rear into his bracketing hips and replies, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the newly placed ring on my finger proclaim that what yours is now mine?"

His hands seem to forget about the manuscript as they sneak their way under her shirt, each one cupping a breast as he retaliates, "Mmmmm, I guess that means what yours is now mine too."

"Awwww, you two are so adorable." Martha's voice descends as she does. "Just wait until you are newlyweds, god help that counter."

Blushing Kate pushes his wandering hands out from under her shirt, stands as tall as she can given the circumstances, although the sight of Alexis peering from behind Martha, a slightly embarrassed grin on her features, leaves Kate fighting the urge to flee into the - their - bedroom.

Thankfully Castle's phone breaks the awkward moment, and she goes back to flipping through the pages as he answers the call, Martha and Alexis walking across the kitchen to join her; peering over her shoulder and she doesn't register Rick's words until Meredith's name is voiced.

Together all three of their heads snap up to look at him as he holds the phone to his ear, eyes widening as he listens to his ex-wife on the other end. Whatever she is saying, it is clearly not good news.

"You want to stay here?"

Alexis, Martha, and Kate, fiercely shake their heads as one, visibly announcing their opinion on the matter.

She is not staying with them!

"Ah… look…" He closes his eyes, and she has a sudden urge to pull the ring off her finger and throw it at him; maybe that will knock some sense into his thick skull.

"It's really nice that you're coming to town, Meredith, and I'm sure that Alexis will be looking forward to seeing you, but no. The loft is our home now, Kate's and mine, and I would prefer it if you stayed at a hotel."

Kate beams happily in his direction, Martha and Alexis with matching grins, as he finishes up his conversation without relenting into his ex-wife's demands and it makes her think of how they'd originally started on this path.

And she realizes just how far they have come, now that she is at home here.

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Complete

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So this is where I get all teary at ending a story, especially this one, which started off as a mixture of birthday fic/prompt and ficathon entry, and yet somehow it has blown apart all my expectations.

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Thank you to each and everyone that clicked the review button, you were the ones that smashed this out of the park, and it is you that had and continues to have me walking on cloud nine for days! Xoxo

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Thank you to those that have read, followed, and favourite-d, I hope you enjoyed.

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Thank you to Trish and Nic for helping out.

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Thank you to Jo, for everything, especially this past week when I realized I still had five chapters to write, which meant five chapters that needed editing. Xoxo

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Until next time! (which is like two days away for those reading Can't walk away ;-)

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Thank you!