As I packed up my boxes in my apartment I realized most of my personal stuff was at Rick's. Once I had my things ready to go I glanced at my dad's watch. "12:30."

Rick had just walked through the door. "Right on time."

I didn't respond.

Rick tentatively approached me and held me close. "Kate? What are you thinking?"

"I know I want this, but I don't want to leave. It's not just you, either. It's your family…"

"Our family." He corrected.

I nodded, "…and everyone at the precinct. Espo and Ryan are going to hate me. Lanie's okay but still."

"How about this? If you get too homesick you just say the word and I'll fly everyone out to see you on a private jet."

"Don't be ridiculous." I smiled and nudged him in the side.

He looked at me with a confused smile. "What's ridiculous about that?" He really seemed surprised.

"You're kidding right?"

He shook his head. "No. I'd do that for you Kate. Even if I had to bind and gag the boys to get them there."

I smiled at the image Rick had left in my mind. "The only way you could mange that is if you had Lanie help you."

"She would too."

"Anything to irritate Javi."

He pulled something out of his pocket. It was a box for a ring.

"Uh, Rick, you do know that you already proposed right?"

He smiled playfully, "What?"

I shook my head at him and went to go pick up one of my boxes.

"It's a simpler ring. You said that you couldn't wear the engagement ring at work so I got this." He opened the box. It was a silver band set with small diamonds all the way around, but at first glance it just looked like a wedding band.

"Thanks." I said smiling. "That's perfect."

He took the box from me that I'd picked up and I kissed him on the cheek.

"I don't want to hear though that you're not wearing your engagement ring."

I smiled, "I don't want to take it off."

He helped me pack my things into his car and we headed to the loft to get the last of my stuff ready to go. I was leaving tonight at 6:00 for the airport. With any luck I'd sleep on the flight. I knew that wasn't going to happen though. It would be an hour and a half of fear and regret, but I had to do this. I had to try. If I didn't it would be for our relationship and later I would be mad at myself and at Rick for not going. I knew I had to go.

We finished up with everything by 2:00 and he sent everything to the service that would drop off my stuff at my new place except for two carry on bags and two checked suitcases. This stuff was what I would need if the boxes didn't get there in time. With overnight though everything should be there in the morning and I'd have everything brought up and moved in by 10:00 am the next day.

It was now 3 1/2 hours until I had to leave. Rick was sitting on the couch and I was curled up against him. Alexis, Martha, and Dad would be here at 4:00 so that we could eat an early dinner before I left. We would be ordering from our favorite Chinese food restaurant. They all showed up on time. None of them even knocked until exactly 4:00. I knew they were giving Rick and I time alone.

At 3:50 he looked down at me. We had been quiet for so long just holding onto one another. "I don't want to let go."

I pressed against him closer and tightened my grip. "Neither do I."

"I wont try to change your mind, but remember that I'm always looking for distractions."

I smiled. "I love you Rick."

"I love you too Kate."

Dinner got there at 4:30. We ate and we chatted about little things.

After we cleaned up the food everyone took a mournful look towards my packed bags at the front door, including me.

Rick's cell phone rang. "She'll be right down."

They all followed me down and the doorman helped the driver put my bags in the trunk.

Martha was the first one to say goodbye. "You call us and we'll visit at every opportunity sweetheart."

I nodded and gave her a hug.

She kissed me on the cheek. "Good luck kiddo."

I didn't think that she called anyone but Rick and Alexis that.

Dad was next. "Love you Katie." He hugged me tight. "Come back."

Alexis smiled shyly and then gave me another hug, but this one, although as tight as the last one, seemed to say don't go. "Kate…"

"Yeah?"

She let go for a second. "Be careful." She wrapped her arms around me again. "Remember every time you go chasing after someone that we're here waiting for you, okay? Don't you forget it!"

I didn't know how to respond. I hoped she knew how much I cared about her.

She took a few steps back and Martha pulled her close. I wished I could be the one to comfort her and I was the one causing this. I hadn't expected more than Rick to be here wishing me goodbye.

Rick was still standing back. The rest of the group drifted towards the doors.

"We love you."

"I love all of you."

He kissed me. It was such a good kiss that it hurt knowing we'd have to break a part. It was almost as good as our first kiss, the rush of emotions overpowering us blocking out all of reality until he pulled away.

I slid into the car. Rick kissed my hand and he closed the door.

The driver started the car and I didn't look back. If I did I would have burst into tears. I knew I'd be crying later, but no one would ever know.

When I got to the airport I had an overwhelming feeling to run back home. The loft was home in my mind now. The lady took my ticket and my ID. "What's the reason for your trip?" She noticed it was one way.

"Moving to DC for work. New job."

She wasn't interested; she had to ask.

Once I'd boarded the flight I tucked my lap top bag under the seat. I wanted to text Rick something, but I didn't know what. Everything seemed lame since I didn't know what he would want to hear right about now.

"All electronics off." They announced.

I texted. "Love you," and turned off my phone.

I had the window seat and I had insisted that my seat be coach. Although Rick had the money to fly me all over the world first class, there was no point if the flight was so short and you couldn't take advantage of the perks of being there. For some reason I also made note of how much it cost and started to count in my head how much I owed Rick. He insisted that money didn't mean much to him; it was more that it meant something different to us. I knew we were engaged now and it shouldn't matter, but for me it did.

I pulled out the pillow from my bag and leaned up against the glass trying to sleep. I gave up after about a half hour and pulled out my computer. When I opened it there was a post it note attached to it. "Check out your screen saver."

I pulled it up and couldn't help but smile. It said, You should call your writer! I smiled.

The woman sitting next to me scrunched up her eyebrows wondering what it meant.

"My boyfriend's a writer." I should have said fiancé, and then I remembered we hadn't told Black Pawn yet and I didn't know what would happen when people found out. Rick's playboy image had been deliberately publicized to get profits. I couldn't hurt his career by telling people about us.

"Anything I'd know?" She asked.

My smile dropped. I shook my head. "Probably not." I lied.

I wanted to tell her. I wanted to brag about it. I'd ask Rick about it the next time we talked.