A/N: I finally got my act together and posted this. thanks to my lovely beta who rocks when I forget a word here and there.

Disclaimer: Yeah. If I owned 'em, besides the obvious things, this story would be a lot better.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have kept secrets."

"It's who you are." A knife to the heart. "You don't let people in. I've had to scratch and claw for every inch."

"Castle, I..."

"Please let me finish... I've been doing a lot of thinking about us, about our relationship. What we have. Where we're headed... I've decided I want more. We both deserve more.

"I agree."

"So, whatever happens... whatever you decide..."

Kate braced herself for the final blow, him to get up and walk out of her life.

"Katherine Houghton Beckett, will you marry me?"

Kate sat there slack- jawed and shocked beyond belief, she wanted to talk about where they were headed not have to provide an immediate, definitive answer, at least not yet... "Castle..." Saying his name was like gasping for air, she thought they would talk about it before he dropped down on one knee.

Those deep blue eyes, the many minutes that passed felt like hours, Kate could see could see the tears starting to well up, "Listen Kate..."

"Castle, if this is some sort of misguided attempt just to get me to stay, it's really not something to build a foundation for marriage on." She knew that had to hurt him, but it needed to be said.

"Yeah well neither is keeping secrets..." that just drove the knife further, she deserved that blow though. "Were you even listening Kate? I'll go with you wherever you decide. I know you Kate, you run when you get scared. You hide in your work, away from all the people you care about."

Kate rolls her eyes, "You sound like my father."

"Yeah, well. He's a wise man."

"Rick."

"Kate, I know we've both had our faults when it comes to this relationship. We make important, passion- driven decisions and we don't always think them through or what the fallout could be and we just end up hurting each other in some way- oh" Castle stopped himself when he saw the look on Kate's face and he dropped his gaze. It hit him like a ton of bricks, he had done just that exact thing he was complaining about. He took a few moments to compose himself, shuffling his shoes in his gravel. "When I said 'always', I meant it. I don't know where I messed up so bad and gave you a reason not to believe that."

"Castle I never stopped believing that. I- I should have told you about the job offer and I'm sorry but, Castle, if I was to take the offer... I couldn't have asked you to go to DC. I know you can write from anywhere but I didn't want to ask you to leave your family and..."

"Is this how it's going to go? you're really moving on without me?"

"Castle!" Kate stands to match his gaze "I haven't even told you my decision about the job yet or my answer to your question, can you please stop putting words in my mouth! Have you even been paying attention to what I just said? For a writer you really can miss the tense sometimes! Let me finish."

"Fine." Castle bit back.

"Castle, the job would have been really great opportunity and I thought you would be proud..."

"Oh, Kate, I am. I am so proud and I am very glad that the ranks are finally starting to see what I see, but I just wanted..."

"Castle, it's still my turn."

Castle nodded.

"It's a fabulous opening but I realized something today, which you would have known if you'd been around instead of storming out last night before we could talk about it... speaking of, why do you have to storm out every time we have a fight?"

"I do you recall you kicking me out at least one of those times."

Kate shrugs, "Anyway... I realized in interrogation today that the 12th is my home. If I were to leave for DC it would be chasing the dream I had long ago of eventually getting on the level with my mom's killer. But I already did that, well at least for the most part, and I have you to thank for it. This is where I belong, everyone at the 12th is my family. You are my family. Being a detective, bringing closure to all those families, that's what I do."

"So you're not taking the job?"

"No. I'm not." Kate smiles, "I belong here."

Castle glanced down towards his pocket where he stashed the ring in the mix of their arguing.

"Listen, Castle." Kate places a hand on his before he has a chance to pull the ring back out, "We need to work on this" Kate gestures between them, "before we even think about planning any details, but..."

Castle gets glint in his eye.

"Ask me again..."

Castle grabs the ring out and starts to bend down again.

Kate grabs him by the arm and pulls him back up. Kate cracks a bright smile, "Not now, hotshot."

Castle frowns.

"Castle, I love you and... I want you to know, I will say 'yes' when the time comes, but not today. Today we need to continue working on this communication thing."

"Kate, you're going to have to settle with second best because this-" Castle gestures to the swings, "-is the best I got. This is the most romantic thing that I could think of that means something to both of us. I thought about doing it at the precinct but Ryan already did that and I wanted to do something big and intimate but Gates would be there and..."

Kate leans up on her toes and cuts him off with a kiss.

"Castle, you're rambling."

"But, I..."

Kate puts a finger to his lips, "Answer me something?"

"Anything."

"When did you get the ring?"

Castle gets a mischievous look on his face, "Well, I was at my book launch party minding my own business when a beautiful detective tapped me on the shoulder and accused me of murder and after that I just..."

"Castle. I'm being serious."

"So am I."

"No you're not. Plus, I know you. I know how much of a big deal marriage is to you. Now, the truth."

"Okay, okay. It's been in the bottom drawer of my desk for months... I got it after I was out of the wheelchair. I knew that if you were willing to put up with me and on top of that pull off a surprise party, that showed how much you knew and loved me, I needed to make sure you were going to stick around."

"So... what took you so long?" Kate winks.

"I... uh..."

Kate pulled him into a hug and kissed the underside of his jaw. "I'm kidding, Castle. This is who we are, and despite the rocky patches, I wouldn't have it any other way. Now... Why don't we go home? I think people are starting to stare."

Castle chokes out a laugh and whispers into her hair "I think they started to stare a long time ago."

They pull apart, both laughing, and Castle reached down and twined his fingers through hers and they started to walk towards her cruiser.

"You know what Kate?"

"Hmm?"

"When the time comes... you'll ask me."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes really."

"Okay, Castle. You're on. But I do believe I'm already one up on you..."

"Okay, I'll admit my birthday does give you an advantage but, come on, don't I at least get points for the swings idea? This is our place... I mean if you take out all the fighting and arguing it would have been the perfect idea."

"Okay, fine. We're even now. But, if you want me to do the asking this time... I'd still be winning."

"That's fine detective, because seeing as you are agreeing to marry me, I'd have the ultimate score."

"Wouldn't that make us even?- you know what? I don't think either of us are going to win this argument."

"Agreed."

"I told you Castle, 'one and done' and I meant it."

Castle pushed her up against her cruiser door and kissed her passionately, only the honks of cars cruising by brought them laughing out of their lip lock.

"Home, right, got it." Castle ran around to his side of the car and jumped in.

Well, there is is. Let me know what you think... cheers!