not mine, etc
The world went silent and still as time froze. Her mouth opened slightly she stared from his face to the ring, her brain skipping from shock to excitement to confusion to self doubt in rapid succession. She felt her swing move lightly in the wind through a frozen world. And heard a throat clear.
So the world had not frozen after all, Beckett thought to herself, as she shook her head slightly to clear the haze. Castle shifted his weight slightly and raised his eyebrow, half his mouth lifting in a crooked and hopeful smile. It was that look that did it. The look she'd seen the first time he pushed his way into her life, in Montgomery's office. The look she got every time he wanted her to do something he knew she'd resist. The look that said "sometimes Beckett, I know you better than you know yourself." And that was all she needed.
Her knees hit the slightly damp grass with a dull thud. Her hand briefly traced the ring in his finger before she cradled his face in her hands and kissed him gently. She murmured "yes. Castle, yes." against his lips, the last word muffled as he deepened the kiss, dropping the ring to the ground in his haste to wrap his arms around her back and bring her close to him. She pulled back when she felt wetness on her face, almost embarrassed by her tears until she realized she couldn't tell if they were his or hers, their relief and joy mingling on each other's cheeks. She held up her hand for the ring and Castle blushed, releasing her abruptly and searching the ground for the diamond ring. He slid it on her finger and laced their hands together, squeezing tightly.
Kate gazed down at the ring for a long moment before lifting her chin and looking at Castle appraisingly. "You know I'm kind of disappointed Castle, I was expecting at the very least a ten piece brass band."
"Expecting? Why Katherine Beckett!" he teased, nudging her with his nose, heaving out another shaky sigh of relief.
"This doesn't solve everything you know?" reluctant to break the moment but needing him to know that the ring was not a panacea. That their love could solve many things but they still had work to do.
He stood slowly, tugging ont heir joined hands until they were both standing. He pulled her to him, hand on her lower back, their bodies clicking together piece to piece like a puzzle that begged to be completed. He kissed her, slow and tender, lazy almost, knowing they had all the time in the world. "I know, we have to talk" he whispered gently. "But I've known since for years now that you were my one and done." She huffed, opening her mouth with a retort but he silenced her with a kiss. "The only one that mattered. The only one there should have been or will ever be. My always. It was time you knew that too"
She pulled back slightly, rolling her eyes at his cheesy comments, but the pink flush to her cheeks and shimmering eyes betrayed how she felt about his words. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Let's go home." She leaned in for one last kiss, prolonging the moment, when she heard cheering from behind her and she whipped her head around. Three young girls , sitting on the Jungle gym like it was stadium seating, were applauding and cheering them on. She wriggled her fingers at them, her ring catching the sun. She turned her mouth to his ear tugging lightly with her teeth, voice husky. "Now."