A/N: A second chapter for those that requested it. And because I hated myself for leaving the last chapter the way I did.

She was just going to go in quickly and get the rest of her stuff that she had left there. She already had a key and the lights were all off so she assumed he was at the Old Haunt.

She hated herself right now for what she had done to him. But she couldn't see a way that saw them living out the happy ending they both dreamed of. There was no way Rick was going to leave the city. It would mean leaving Alexis and Martha and that was something she could never ask him to do.

It was raining outside, unusual for a day in May. She had to run from the cab to his apartment and ended up soaked in water. Luckily she had left several pairs of clothing at his place that she could change into one of them.

She was greeted by the doorman as she entered the building but rode the elevator in absolute silence. She reached the loft and used the key that he had given it to her when he had broken his leg. It came as a surprise to her. But he had said it was only for when she would leave work late and he wouldn't be up when she got home. She was planning to leave it on the counter before she left.

She walked straight in, using only the lights from the street to guide her way. She walked past the couch and noticed something bouncing off the moon light. She went to see what it was, her detective instincts kicking in. As she reached down she was startled when she heard the sound of books crashing down in his office. She jumped out and pulled out her gun. She was relieved when Castle appeared a few moments later after placing the books back on his shelf.

She didn't know what emotions bubbled to the surface when he saw her in his loft. A part of him wanted to just kick her out and never see her again, but the other half, the part that consumed him, told him to give her the shirt that rested no 3 feet away. He caved and tossed her the dry piece of clothing that she so desperately needed.

He stood back and just stared at her. After all she was in his home at this ridiculous hour of the night.

"I just came to get my stuff." She finally spoke after he gave her a quizzical look. Rick stepped aside and let her grab the stuff she had left.

She gathered them all in hand as she left his bedroom. He was seated by the island in the kitchen drowning himself in scotch. She hated herself so much right now. She was the cause of his pain. A promise she made with herself to never repeat. She had to get out of her and fast.

She quickly scurried towards the door only pausing when she hears a clatter on the floorboard. Thinking she had dropped something she bent down to retrieve it. However it was something she had never seen before.

"Rick what is this?" She held up the 18 caret diamond ring, with the delicate gold band. As she inspected it, how could she not when it was this beautiful, she noticed that there were some letters engraved on the inside of the band. Always.

Castle couldn't form any words. Perhaps he was intoxicated or perhaps he just didn't know how to respond. This was nothing like he planned. But she was about to leave him and go for God knows how long. It wasn't the way he wanted this to happen but he was never one to be perfect.

"Katherine Houghton Beckett, will you marry me?"

End of Castle episode 24, 'Watershed.' Roll credits.

Thoughts?