Last First Time.

Summary: This is my post Always fic. What an amazing episode. How is it possible not to breathe for 43 minutes?

Acknowledgments: As usual thanks Luv2sk87, your help makes my stories better.

Disclaimer: Andrew Marlow and ABC own Castle, the story belongs to me.

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Another storm had blown over New York City but lightening still flashed in the window of the loft. Kate was covered in Rick's maroon button down and stood contently wrapped in his arms, her back leaning against his chest, his lips nuzzling her neck. "Mmmmmm…Castle," She sighed contentedly.

He lifted his head, pulling her tighter against him and whispered, "I've always loved storms, especially the clichéd dark and stormy night. I love the pitter-patter of the rain beating down on the street below chasing people inside and washing away the evil of the day. The power of the lightening as it illuminates the night sky reminding me of a superhero soaring across the night sky. The fading sound of thunder as the storm dwindles away, taking with it whatever is bothering me." He brushed his lips against the side of her forehead, moving down to nip at her ear lobe with his teeth. "Tell me, love…tell me about it, I know there's more to what happened then you've told me. It will make you feel better to get it out."

She nodded then leaned her head back on his shoulder and kissed his jaw. "The shooter… we tracked him down though the car rental company but when we went to check out his room, he got the drop on us, took Javi down with one blow. I chased him up onto the roof and we fought, he…he hit me and rolled me over the side of the building. The next thing I know I was hanging by my fingers…sixteen stories high, alone. I called your name," she said with a sob, "All I could think about was you, how I would never get to tell you that I loved you, that I would die with you thinking I didn't care. Then I heard you call for me, telling me to hold on…I just kept screaming your name, it's how they found me. Ryan heard, he and a guy from the SWAT team, they grabbed my arm just as my fingers slipped and hauled me up onto the roof. I was so sure that …but you weren't there and Gates was."

"Kate…" Castle groaned as he pulled her tighter to him.

"She was reading us the riot act in her office, told us we were a disgrace to the uniform and put us both on administrative leave, asked for our guns and badges. Javi…he turned his right over…he was so angry; I could almost feel it palpating off him. I was just standing there, thinking how it was all my fault. How because of my selfishness, I had lost the one thing that I couldn't live without…" She licked her lips and turned in his arms to face him, cupping his jaw with her hand, "you. The gun, the badge, the job…the case, they don't mean anything to me if it means I lose you." She stopped and stared into his eyes. She bit down on her lower lip and sighed quietly, "I resigned."

A look of concern flashed over Rick's face, "What?"

"Shhhh…you said that I don't see you but I do. I always have…I 'm just scared." She looked up into his eyes, tears gently rolling down her face. "Everyone I love leaves me and loosing you…I wouldn't survive that."

"I won't leave you, Kate. I love you. I know that my track record doesn't seem all that good but you've got to trust me. When I heard you in the interrogation room…I thought that you didn't love me…I thought you were stringing me along, playing with my feelings, using me like all the rest. I was so angry, so hurt, I couldn't think straight. My mother tried talking to me more than once but I…I went a little crazy."

"A little? Between the stewardess and Slaughter, you're lucky that I didn't shoot you. From now on…"

"I know…we'll talk. Don't worry I'm all yours…have been for years," He grinned down at her. "Tonight, I had my last first time," He wiggled his eye brows and smirked, "come to think of it last second time too."

Kate laughed and kissed him on the tip of the nose, "I'll remind you of that when I am being my maddening, frustrating, & challenging self." She smiled up at him, love shining out of her eyes. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I love you Rick."

"Love you too, Kate," Castle murmured, resting his forehead on hers. "Don't worry, we'll figure this out together. I promise."

When they pulled back to take a breath, Kate moved her hands down from his shoulders and patted his chest, "How about our last third time? Or maybe…" She reached up and whispered in his ear, pulling back with a saucy grin.

"Why Katherine Beckett, I never," a fake look of shock covered Castle's face.

"Never felt like this before…I know." Kate dropped her hands and turned, walking toward his bedroom; stopping when she realized he wasn't behind her but standing where she left him, mouth open. She smiled and called to him, "You coming?"

They were soon too busy to talk.