A/N: Here's another one- shot that's been floating around in this crazy brain of mine And then sitting in my drafts for months. REMEMBER: this is not related to the previous chapter. :)

Disclaimer: Yeah... never gonna happen.


The elevator doors slide open, and two feds storm out, revealing Beckett behind them.

"Feds are here." Ryan chimes to his partner while they continue to look over piles of evidence from a case that's been running them in circles.

"Beckett..." Esposito chides when she approaches their desks.

"Let me guess, your talking over our case?" Ryan asks, trying to mask his excitement and balance it with his disappointment from losing yet another case to the feds.

"I'm not... but they are." Beckett nods towards the captains office, where her colleagues are currently informing Gates of their hostile takeover, "Sorry, guys."

"Then what are you doing here?" Esposito grits out, harsher than he probably should have, still not meeting Beckett's gaze.

"I wanted to drop by and say hi to you two... and I needed to speak with Gates about something."


Kate takes a hesitant breath and then finally knocks on Gates' door.

"Sir."

"Good to see you, Det... Agent Beckett."

"I was actually meaning to talk to you about that, Sir." Kate closes the door, leaving the boys out of earshot.


The boys catch a glimpse of Gates and Kate's interaction through the break room window, "what do you think is going on in there?" Ryan asks and Esposito just grunts and outright ignores the question.

"Seriously, bro. You're going to have to get over it eventually."

"Get over what?"

"She's still like a sister to us Javi, you can't be mad at her forever."

"Like hell I can't."

"Why are you so mad about this? I get it. She left... for a bigger and better job. But aren't you proud of her? "

"Of course I am bro. But... I was around when Sorensen did the same thing to her and she just up and left Castle like that."

"So this is about how Castle and how Castle feels... since when did you become such a sap, bro?"

"You tell Beckett I will kill you and have no remorse... also, I might still be a little hurt that she left us."

"Javier Esposito: going soft."

Esposito stands to grab a cup of coffee and hits Ryan upside his head and Ryan just laughs.


"If you're sure this is what you want..."

"Yes sir, if you'll have me back. This is my home. I know that it was a good opportunity... but I belong here."

"Well then," Gates hands over Beckett's old service weapon and badge, "welcome back, detective."

"Thank you. sir."

Before Beckett can make it back out the door Gates calls "... Kate?"

"Sir?"

"It's good to have you back."

Kate nods and smiles.


"So. you're back?"

"Yep. I decided not to take the full time position they offered, just some short term cold case work." Kate catches a glimpse of the looks the boys are sharing with each other, "What? Did you think you got rid of me that easy?" Kate smirks.

"Well, we're glad to have you back. Aren't we Esposito?"

"Yeah, uhuh."

"Oh come on, Espo." Kate sees through his fake anger, "you know I couldn't stay away. I love this place. The job was a great opportunity but this is where I belong." Kate smiles. "Would you guys maybe wanna go grab a drink tonight, catch up? I don't officially return until monday."

"We have a case." Esposito sasses.

"The feds just took it remember? That's why I'm here...oh come on, I promise I'll buy the first few rounds."

"Fine, but don't think this gets you off the hook yet."

"I missed you too." Kate winks at him.

"I gotta go catch Lanie before she's done for the day... Old Haunt? say 9 o'clock?"

"Deal."


Kate paces in the morgue hallway, reminiscent of the months before when she met Lanie to talk about Castle and the job offer.

"Ohh! girl you got to stop keep scaring me like this." Lanie holds her hand to her heart.

"Hi, Lanie."

"Hi, honey. Welcome back." Lanie leans sets her files down and reaches for a hug.

"What are you doing back here? I thought you said that you still had a few more weeks left with the feds?"

"I lied. I wanted it to be a surprise. Plus, I wanted to come home. I missed this place..."

"I figured you'd realize that sooner or later."

"Esposito's still mad at me."

"Yeah, well you know Javi. He just likes to be dramatic, he'll get over it."

"Speaking of the boys, wanna come grab a drink with us later?"

"Sure!"

"Old Haunt 9 o'clock?"

"Perfect."

Kate catches a glimpse of her watch, "I'd ride with you but I need to go change first and I've got to make a stop on the way."

"Writer boy?"

Kate rolls her eyes and smiles as she makes her way out of the morgue.


Kate arrives at the door to the loft and knocks cautiously.

No response after several minutes, so she digs around in the bottom of her bag and grabs out her key.

"Castle?" Kate call but hears nothing but furious typing coming from the office.

She ditches her heels, shrugs off her blazer and leaves her bag in the living room.

"Hey, Castle." Kate catches sight of him, feet propped up on the desk typing away at his desk.

"Kate..." then silence and he still hasn't managed to look up.

"Rick?!"

"Hmmm?" Castle responds, still in the zone.

Kate just looks and him and smiles and until he finally realizes it... "your home!" Castle bolts out of his chair, catching his foot on the edge of his desk and latches onto her tightly.

"Took you long enough."

"You know I don't notice anything when I'm writing."

"…or playing video games."

"Okay. I'm sorry." He leans in for a kiss. "How was your flight?"

"Fine." Kate leans back in for another kiss.

"W-where's your ring?"

Kate pulls out the chain from around her neck revealing her mothers ring and the one he gave her months ago clinging to each other.

"I figured you should have the honor of putting it on."

Kate slides the ring off the chain and places it in Castle's palm.

Castle starts to get down on one knee.

"Oh come on Castle, we already did this once."

"Yes, but I finally get to put your ring on your finger where it belongs."

"Katherine Houghton Beckett, will you marry me?"

"Same answer as always..." Kate smiles brightly.

"Say it."

"Really Castle? I already told you the first time."

Castle stares at her.

"Okay fine... yes."

"Well not like that."

"Are we seriously going to do this now?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Yes. Richard Castle, I will marry you."

Castle stands and puts the ring on, "Now was that so hard?"

Kate kisses him hard, "Now I need to get changed and... when was the last time you showered?"

"uhhhm..."

"Go shower. We have drinks with Lanie and the boys at the Old Haunt in about a half an hour, so hurry up."


They step out of the cab "So how do you want to tell them?"

"I was just thinking we'd let them do their jobs and figure it out, we're detectives after all."

"True... Why don't you got order them a round and I'll meet you all down in the office?"

Kate gives him a questioning look.

"I have some champagne in the cellar I'll bring out. Plus, we don't want the whole bar knowing we're engaged do we? There would be a nice little spread on page six before we've even had the chance to tell everyone." Castle whispers.

"Good point."


"Hey Beckett."

"Where's writer boy?"

"Down in the office, last I heard it's where he's been spending most of his time finishig his book," trying to keep up rocky road pretenses for her pseudo family.

"Order yourselves a drink, it's on us."

"Us?" Lanie whispers to herself as they order, grab their drinks and make their way downstairs.

"Hey Castle! hey bro!" Esposito and Ryan say at the same time.

"Long time no see, how ya been? finish your book on time?" Esposito continues.

"Yep and I've even started on the first few chapters of the next one."

"Nice!"

Kate leans up against the wall while Castle and the boys catch up, smiling like the cat ate the canary.

Lanie slowly puts together the cues and catches her eyeline, "Okay. what's going on with you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what."

"Its just... I'm glad to be back, that's all..." Kate nonchalantly slips her left hand out of her pocket and lets her arm drop to her side, figuring someone is bound to notice soon enough.

"mmhmm. I know there's something else going on, now spill."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Castle smiles over at Beckett.

"I just missed Castle that's all."


"Earth to Castle."

"Yo, bro."

"Oh, sorry."

"It's okay. We know you missed her."

"Yeah..." Castle's eyes drift down to her left hand and then quickly shoot back up, hoping that his gaze wasn't caught by the boys.

A few moments later Ryan nudges Esposito's arm "look, bro" he whispers.

"Is it just me or does Beckett have a nice new piece of jewelry?" Esposito's voice raises with each word.

Castles head snaps back from his finance's eyes to Esposito.

Lanie grabs her left hand.

"Were you planning on telling us about this or...?"

"They're detectives"

"But it also took them months to figure out you two were together in the first place and it was only because someone they were interviewing gave it away." Lanie argues.

"Congrats bro!" Esposito gives Castle one of their special fist bumps.

"You guys never told me that?!" Kate smiles, a bit in shock.

Ryans gaze widens, "You weren't supposed to tell them that, Lanie."

"Yeah well we had our suspicions before that anyway.." Esposito chimes in

"Yeah right, I was the one who had to tell you when Castle got convicted of murder." Ryan argues.

"What is it? Confession night." Lanie laughs.

Lanie pulls Kate into a tight hug, "Congratulations, girl."

"Thanks Lanie."

"Champagne?" Castle pulls the bottle out from where its been hiding.

"So when did this happen?" Ryan asks.

"Well technically before she left for DC, I asked her a week before... She didn't officially say 'yes' but she held onto the ring until she got home this afternoon and let me put it on her finger."

Castle pulls Kate into his side and kisses her cheek.

Lanie, "Well. Congratulations! Cheers!"

"Cheers!" They echo.

"Wait!" Espo interrupts, "Who's gonna be your best man?"

"Yeah Castle?" Ryan continues, as they start to walk towards Castle, backing him into the wall.

"You're gonna make me ask aren't you?" Kate asks, turning to Lanie.

"Nope. Considering all the work I've done trying to get you two together.. you really don't have a choice."

Kate laughs.

"Whoa whoa whoa guys." Castle looks towards Kate for help, "I-I'm sorry, I already made a decision."

"Yeah? Well who is it? Esposito pokes his chest.

"It's Alexis."

"Can't argue with that." Ryan shrugs, looking at Esposito.

"We call planning the bachelor party!" Esposito concedes, taking another swig of his champagne.

"Deal."

Oh yeah, they were in for one hell of a ride.


A/N: this one is a little rougher around the edges but... thoughts?

(also made the final edits and posted it from my iPhone so sorry for any mistakes!)