My first go at this, hope you enjoy, there's more on the way so let me know what you think. (I have nothing to do with Castle except I love it and it made me want to write again)

Girls Night Out

Beckett headed down to the morgue to meet Lanie for a long overdue get together. Just as Beckett arrives Alexis is leaving.

"Where's Dad?"

"He should be home by now, he left a while ago."

"Thanks" they exchange smiles before Kate carries on through to find Lanie.

Lainie was just getting her coat when Kate walked in, "You about ready?"

"Just getting my things, you're eager, everything ok?"

"Fine" Kate's quick answer and her tone cause her friend concern and she gives her sideways glance as they head out of the building.

The bar is only a short walk away but the silence made it seem a lot longer. When they get there they order their drinks and find a table near the window.

"So, you gonna tell me what this is all about?" As always Lanie gets straight to the point.

"Last time I checked having a drink with a friend didn't need a reason."

"Don't give me that, I've been trying to get you out for an age but you're always too busy with the job. So what's got you so rattled that you instigate this little meet?"

She should have known Lanie would see right through her. "I'm lost, Lanie, I don't know what to do."

This openness takes her aback, "about what sweetie?"

"Castle…Rick," Lanie waits the pause out giving Kate the space and time she needed to come out with what was bothering her, "when I got shot…..he um…said it"

"Said what hunny?" Lanie had a pretty good idea what her friend was getting at but didn't want to jump to any conclusions.

"He said he loved me!" there it was out in the open, she had admitted it at last, "I told him I didn't remember but…"

"You've been keeping it from him all this time?"

"I know…..I should have said something but I was scared." Kate was taking her time, processing things as she went, using talking to her friend to set things straight in her own mind. "And now I'm more scared of how he's gonna react when he realising I've been holding out on him all this time."

"Well it's taken you long enough; we thought you two would never get yourselves together."

"We're not together!"

Lanie smirks, "but you wanna be, right?"

Kate takes a long sip from her glass, "I really don't know, I don't wanna loose him as a friend, he means a lot and I'm worried if we take it further it's gonna ruin what we already have."

The pair of them sit in silence for a few minutes enjoying their drinks and churning over the bomb that Kate has finally dropped. "So…what do I do?"

"Has he said anything since your shooting?"

"Not since he asked if I remembered anything. There have been moments but nothing else has been said."

"In my opinion you two are made for each other and you can't go on with this deceit. Yeah he may be upset for a start but if he really meant what he said then that will fade and you can move forward, wherever that takes you." Lanie watches her friend intently as Kate gazes out of the window, watching the couples passing by.

Keeping her gaze through the window, "I know, I need to talk to him, I finally feel ready to face this." Talking more to herself now she doesn't seem to register her friend still sat there, "I can't fight this anymore, I have to try, I want to try." As she goes through this a broad smile spreads across her face.

"I hate to interrupt,"

Kate shakes her head, "sorry."

Lanie smiles, "its fine but my glass is empty and so is my stomach, you wanna get some food?"

The pair turn the conversation to lighter things while they eat but Kate's mind keeps wondering back to Rick. Once they had finished Lanie asks, "so have you decided what you're gonna do?"

"I think so; I have to talk to him."

"And you're ready for any consequences that might throw up?" No matter how much she wanted her friends to get together, Kate was her bff and her main concern. She hated seeing her lonely but didn't want to see her hurt either.

"I know I can't carry on like this. Seeing him every day just makes it harder." Taking a short pause and a deep breath she finally finds the strength to admit, "And I love him too!"

Lanie exhaled long and slow, "I never thought I'd hear you say that." Her face beamed with pride in her friend. This caused Kate to blush and look back towards the window. "So when you gonna speak to him?"

Reaching for her phone, "I guess there's no time like the present..."