"Castle, I love you; but there's somethin' that I have to tell ya."
She grabbed both his hands and took a deep breath, staring up into his eyes.
"I got the job."
He nodded slowly. "Ok."
"I want to take it."
"Then, take it. That's it? That's what you wanted to tell me?"
"Yeah, well..."
"Kate, when I said, 'Whatever Happens', I meant whatever happens. Of course you got the job. You're Kate Beckett. And if you want the job, of course you should take it; like you said it's a wonderful opportunity."
"But... everything you said last night..."
"I said those things because I was scared they were true. But we don't have to let them be true, Kate. If this is what you really want, we'll make it work. No matter how hard you try, Kate Beckett, you are never getting rid of me. You should have figured that out four years ago."
"Castle, if I take this job... we won't be partners any more."
"We will if you marry me. We'll be partners in life. That's all I need. I knew I wasn't gonna be running after killers in my eighties. But holding you in my arms, sitting here next to you in the park, sharing a bed with you, making fun of those damn young people together in my eighties - I can see myself doing that."
"What - do you still want to marry me?"
"Yes. The question is, do you want to marry an immature forty-four-year-old twice-divorced second-rate writer with a bum knee and a habit of always getting into trouble?"
Beckett smiled.
"That sounds perfect."
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes!"
They both laughed as he placed the ring on her finger.
"Oh, and Castle?"
"Yeah?'
"You call my favourite author second rate again and I'll take a pin to Mr. Fett's jugular."