Richard Castle walked into the 12th precinct homicide division and right into the office of Capt. Victoria Gates. Looking up more paperwork Capt. Gates asked Castle, "Why aren't you with Detective Beckett?"
Looking at Gates Castle said, "She thinks I'm in a meeting at black pawn!"
"I see." Was all Gates said as she looked up for paperwork again asking Castle, "is there something I can help you with?"
In his soft-spoken manner Castle said, "Two something's actually Capt. Gates!"
Raising her brow to a high arch Capt. Gates was now intrigued as she stated, "do tell Castle!"
"Before her current case began I asked Kate to marry me… In retrospect upon reflection I realized even though it felt right her family wasn't there." Castle explained.
That statement got Capt. Gates attention as she leaned back in her chair asking Castle, "You want to do something here at the precinct?"
"Yes Capt. Gates…" Reaching into his pocket Castle removed the velvet covered box containing the ring telling Capt. Gates, "Once the suspect is booked in front of her entire family here the 12th I am going to a knee and ask her to marry me… Again!"
Grinning Capt. Gates stated, "I'll give you this much Castle… You certainly do have certain flair in the way you do things."
Grinning Capt. Gates said, "Not giving her a chance to hide?"
"Something like that!" Castle explained the chuckle.
"Fortunately for you… I'm little bit of romantic myself!" Gates explained a with smile.
"Now about the other something you can help with!" Capt. Gates said.
"It's something that requires you to write a letter as a police captain."
"Now you really have my attention." Gates said as she leaned forward in the chair.
"I've decided to pursue becoming a profiler professionally!" Castle said looking at the Capt. asking her, "Would you be willing to write a letter explaining the work that I've been doing with the 12th developing profiles."
Putting the files back in the drawer And Gates said, "I think something could be arranged Mr. Castle."
Two days later Richard Castle and Katherine Beckett sat on the swings in Central Park looking at his lady love Castle said, "Kate is go for a walk!" In the back of his mind Castle's thinking, Dad be there… Please… Be there!
In his now trademark husky voice Castle told Kate, "let's go to The Old Haunt…"
Looking at her partner of five years Beckett replies Castle's comment, "the bar closed hours ago… It's 5 o'clock in the morning Castle."
In his deep baritone voice the one that always made her melt Castle stated, "it's a good thing know you the owner!"
"Kate" Castle said as he rounded on her, "There's someone I want to meet… He doesn't like public places."
"Okay Castle" Kate stated as she looked at Castle with a raised eyebrow telling him, "That still doesn't explain why you asked me to bring my mother's file."
Having made their way to The Old Haunt and down to Castle's basement office, Castle suddenly slides the bookcase to the left and behind him revealing a secret passage to reveal Jackson Hunt. Kate suddenly looked up at the man and went wide-eyed as she said, "You're him… You're the man from the sketch the one we could never find!"
Jackson Hunt looks at Katherine Beckett stating, "Nice to meet you too… Miss Beckett…" Taking the drink from his son's hand Jonathan Hunt stated, "You couldn't find me because I didn't want to be found Miss Beckett"
Looking at his son Jackson Hunt said, "Those files you left for me… An interesting read son!"
Did he say son! Kate thought as she watched the scene play out.
Without missing a beat Richard Castle gestures to Jonathan Hunt telling Catherine, "Kate… Meet my father the man responsible for rescuing Alexis in France!"
For her part Kate looked from Rick to Jonathan and back again stating, "F-father…C- Castle!"
In the gruff and gravelly voice Jonathan Hunt said, "Richard was right… You have the beauty of an angel."
Kate looked at Jonathan her face writing the gambit of crimson hues as the complement left his lips.
"Mr. Hunt… It's nice to finally meet you, and I also see where he gets his charm" Kate told them.
"Kate" she said, "just call me Kate… Miss Beckett sounds so formal!"
"Kate it is." Said Mr. Hunt, "You can call me, John…"
Taking Kate's mother's file out of her hands Castle handed it to his father telling him, "I think you will be up to do more with these than we could… Dad"
Looking at Kate Jonathan asked her, "Do you care what kind of justice is served?"
"No not really…" Kate said.
"Good to know!" Jonathan said taking a sip of whiskey asking, "So if some of these people started turning up dead?"
"Wouldn't bother me in the slightest John…" Kate said.
The time had come to Jonathan Hunt to leave stepped back into the old sewer network he told Catherine, "Good thing you turned down that job in DC… Had you taken wouldn't live long enough to collect a pension." He said taking the Dolly Layton down with all files Jonathan Hunt walked back into the shadows. Before Kate could put together a reply Jonathan Hunt triggered counterweight closing sliding door.
What Kate didn't see was she didn't see Jonathan Hunt slip and envelope into one of castles books, removing the envelope Castle asked Kate, "How do you feel about a Paris honeymoon?"
Looking at Castle Kate said, "Getting ahead of yourself Castle you have even asked me to marry you yet!"
Later that morning Kate, Esposito and Kevin were all in the 12th precinct finishing up paperwork Kate was so busy she didn't even notice Castle walking in, truth is she didn't notice him until he was standing at his desk. All of a sudden Capt. Gates said, "Morning Castle."
Looking at Kate Castle asked, "Kate stand up please!" Kate watched as Castle as he took a knee thinking to herself, shit if Gates sees him finds out… If she finds out!, Mouthing the words, "Gates will see you."
Looking up from Castle Kate sans Gates gave her a wink and a knowing nod.
That was a last thing dictate expected and that's when she knew she was trapped.
"Katherine Houghton Beckett" Castle said.
That got Kate's attention Rick never uses her full name.
What Kate didn't know was Castle had arranged her father James Beckett and her entire family to be at the station in fact Jim was currently hiding in Capt. Gates office but decided to make his presence known. As Kate stood up Richard Castle took one knee and reached into his pocket. That was on the distraction Jim needed to walk out into the room.
It took Kate a fraction of a second to realize what was going on as she thought to herself, he's going to ask me to marry him right here in front of Gates…
Looking at Castle Kate said, "Rick… You do realize you're going to have to repeat this all over again for my father."
From just behind her Kate heard her father's voice say, "Right here Kate… Wouldn't miss this for the world!"
Castle just repeated, "Katherine Houghton Beckett…" He said pulling out a small velvet box from his pocket and opened stating, "Would you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife."
Kate was doing her best to be angry Castle, he knew she didn't like surprises.
Esposito and Kevin just stood there slack-jawed not quite sure what to make of just happened. It was Capt. Gates who finally broke the silence saying, "Detective… Mr. Castle just asked you a question… Don't you think he deserves an answer?"
Katherine Beckett looked at Castle in the expression on her face said I thought we would do this in private.
Looking at Kate Castle said to her, "As I explained to Capt. Gates… As good as my first proposal was there was something missing and that something was family."
In a barely audible whisper Kate said, "Yes… I will marry you." Standing up Castle slipped the ring on Catherine's ring finger and pulled her into a kiss.
Getting back to his feet Richard Castle said, "Due to the fact that the owner of The Old Haunt is getting engaged it will be closed… Open only to members of his family and friends that includes the 12th precinct."
Pulling Katherine Beckett aside Capt. Victoria Gates told the detective, "Kate take the rest of the day off… And be with your fiancé!"