A/N: All right, second (and last) chapter! Thanks for reading!
Her coworkers see a change in her demeanor in the weeks after Remy came into Kate's life, but none of them know the reason. It's subtle at first. Ryan catches her smiling at her phone. Esposito notices that she isn't on edge as frequently as she had been. She's no longer watching every step like she's trying to avoid an IED. Castle knows there is a change because he can see it in her eyes. She's lighter, not burdened so heavily with her shooting. She's still the woman he fell in love with, the woman he hopes loves him. She seems happy and while he would give anything for her to be happy, it hurts to think that there may be someone else contributing to it.
One afternoon, the homicide team sits in the precinct break room enjoying a pizza Castle brought for them. Kate excuses herself to use the bathroom, leaving her three boys to devour the remaining slices.
"Do you guys know who Beckett's new guy is?" Esposito asks Ryan and Castle when Kate disappears from view.
Castle nearly chokes on an olive when he gasps while eating. "What? What makes you think she's seeing someone? What have you heard?"
"Relax, Castle. Esposito hasn't heard anything. We've both just noticed that Beckett seems happier lately. Espo automatically assumes it's because of a guy."
"What do you think it is?" Castle asks.
"I'm not sure. It could be a guy. It could just be that she's getting more sleep."
Castle sits back in his seat and his mind becomes hyper-focused on the idea that Kate could be seeing someone. He doesn't even realize when Kate returns from the bathroom until she nudges him in the shoulder and asks if he's okay.
He nods, but he remains distracted and distant the remainder of the day.
The next morning after Castle delivers Kate's usual vanilla latte, she pulls him aside and away from the gossiping ears of Ryan and Esposito.
"Castle, would you mind coming by my place tonight? There's someone I want you to meet." Kate grins up at him, barely able to contain her excitement.
Castle feels his heart sink and nestle itself in his gut. "Oh, uh, sure. I can stop by. I can't stay long though. I have a…thing later."
"Okay, that's fine. I was going to suggest dinner too, but if you've got other plans, maybe dinner another night?"
"Yeah, of course. What time did you want me to stop by tonight?"
"We can go to my place together after work, if that works for you."
"Yeah, sounds great. Can't wait." Castle forces a smile. He doesn't want to face the reality that Kate will never be his.
At shift end, Castle's mood has tanked and he tries to fake some enthusiasm at the prospect of meeting Kate's "new guy," but he can't find the energy to pretend that his dreams aren't being crushed.
While Kate unlocks her front door, Castle steels himself for his inevitable heartbreak. Kate's smile beams like a spotlight, but he feels lost in the shadows.
"Okay, just stay here. Let me go get him." Kate scurries off to her bedroom.
Castle looks around her apartment. There don't appear to be any added masculine touches to the place. It looks pretty much the same, except for a…litter box? Kate doesn't have a cat…
"You ready, Castle?" Kate calls. "I'd like you to meet Remy." She exits her bedroom, holding a tiny ball of black fur. The ball sleepily blinks its green eyes at Castle and yawns.
"Remy is a cat."
"Good detective skills, Writer Boy," Kate teases.
"You got a cat and you are introducing him to me."
Kate furrows her brow. "Did you hit your head while I was in there? Why are you explaining everything I'm doing?"
"I guess I was expecting… not a cat." Castle shrugs.
Kate smirks. "Did you think I was bringing you here to introduce you to a new boyfriend?"
"Maybe…" Rick draws out the syllables.
Kate reaches out and puts a hand on his shoulder, keeping her other hand wrapped around the kitten against her chest. "There is definitely nobody else, Rick."
Rick raises his eyebrows at Kate's use of nobody else.
"Did you want to hold him or pet him?"
"Sure, sure, of course!" Rick reaches out for Remy and cradles him to his chest like Kate had. Rick runs his fingers down Remy's head then starts scratching his chin. He can feel the steady rumble of Remy's purr against the pads of his fingers.
"He's a sweet boy. I found him outside of Remy's a few weeks ago. It's like he knew I needed him or something."
"So that's how you got his name."
"Yeah. I had an appointment after lunch that day and I ended up having to bring him along because I couldn't get him to let me put him down. Then after my appointment, I didn't want to bring him back. He's been mine ever since." Kate stands inches from Castle and smooths a hand over Remy's back.
"Or you've been his ever since."
Kate smiles. "You know, he kind of reminds me of you, in a way."
"Adorable? Irresistible?"
"More like he came into my life and wouldn't leave." Kate playfully glares at him. "But also, he's sweet and he's something I didn't realize I was missing in my life, something I needed. He helps me heal." Kate meets Castle's eyes and smiles. "He's also easy to love."
Castle releases a muted gasp and stops stroking Remy's fur leaving his hand on the cat's back. Kate rests her hand on top of Castle's and gives it a quick squeeze before removing both and leading him to her couch.
Castle sits awkwardly against the cushion. He has a hard time believing anything that is happening is actually real.
Kate sits beside him, no room between them, her cat now resting in Castle's lap. Kate turns to sit sideway on the couch, her shin resting against his thigh and her arm along the back of the couch.
"I want you to know that I'm not ready for a relationship quite yet, but I'm getting there and I still hope you'll be there when I am." Kate worries her lip between her teeth.
"Oh, uh, of course, Kate!"
"Good, good." Kate glances at Castle's lips then gives him a shy smile when their eyes meet again. She moves her arm from the back of the couch and lays it across his shoulders. Castle leans toward her, disturbing Remy's sleeping position. The cat jumps from his lap and meanders toward his litter box, unfazed by the two humans on the couch.
"Kate…" Castle murmurs before Kate obliterates the distance between them and kisses him.
The kiss is tentative at first, but then they both feel relief. They are each other's oases in their own deserts. Their relief comes from finally getting to sip from the other's lips.
Before Kate can move to sit in Castle's lap, he pulls away. She tries to bring him back into the action, but he stops her.
"Kate, there is nothing I want more than to keep kissing you, but if we don't stop now, I won't be able to stop. I don't want to push you if you aren't ready."
Kate sighs and falls back into the couch. She blows a strand of hair from her face and says, "you're right. I hate that you're right, but you are."
"I can order us some dinner if that is still an option for you," Castle suggests.
"I thought you had something going on later?"
"That was a lie. I was expecting to meet a hunky big-shot boyfriend and I really didn't want to have to eat dinner with the two of you," Castle admits, his embarrassment coloring his cheeks.
Kate smiles and asks, "you'd be okay eating dinner with me and my 'new guy' now that you know he's a two-pound kitten with a lot of attitude, right?"
"He's tough competition, but I think I can take him," Castle jokes.
"I don't know, Castle. Remy can get a little possessive in the middle of the night. I'm not sure he'd be willing to share me." Kate smirks and before standing from the couch to get a takeout menu, kisses Castle on the cheek and whispers, "good thing my bedroom has a door."
A/N2: If you are interested in seeing more pictures of my Remy (and my other cat, Maisie too), be sure to follow me on any of my social media accounts.
Twitter/Instagram: AlyssaWriting
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