A/N: My first foray in to the Castle fanfiction world and as I usually write long fics, this is completely new to me, so I hope it doesn't suck :)
Change
Change was an unsettling concept to Kate Beckett. Change tended to lead to upheaval of at least the modest variety. Of course some changes inevitably lead on to unforeseen further changes, snowballing out of her control. And control was what she craved, thrived on, depended on. Control of her life, her job, even her friends and colleagues.
Of course those around her didn't require any background in psychology to know how her history affected her in the present. No one who was in her life currently - barring her father of course - had known the Kate Beckett of before her mother's death, so no one could comment on any changes they saw from the outside looking in. No matter who told her different, she'd never agree that her job was detrimental to any unresolved feelings she may still harbour, and would continue to harbour while Joanna Beckett's case remained unsolved.
Perhaps meeting 'the' Richard Castle had been the most recent significant change in her life, or at least that would be her best friend Lanie's view. And while Kate could argue the few boyfriends that had come and gone in the mean time would also count as 'significant', she'd secretly agree. Richard Castle, whose presence in her life had begun well before she'd met the man in person, before becoming her 'partner' for all intents and purposes.
"Kate?"
Castle, who was currently sitting across from her, those beseeching blue eyes trained on her as he gave her right hand held in his left a little squeeze. Taking a breath, Kate's gaze moved from her dinner companion to their surroundings, from the white fairy lights in the windows to the freshly lit candles aligning the kitchen island - Alexis's doing, she'd put money on. There was a lovely smell of jasmine in the dimly lit loft.
"Kate, you okay?"
Focussing again on his handsome features, Kate gave herself a mental shake. Changes to her life meant relinquishing little parts of herself, giving up the control she had over everyday things she kept tightly clasped to her chest like fistfuls of melting snow. But if she thought back over the last eighteen months, of the little differences that were now apparent, how good things were now...
She smiled beautifully, almost grinning at the sudden rush of joy overtaking her; "Yes, Castle, I'll marry you."