Chapter 2

Damn she hated days like this. Kate, Esposito, and Ryan had just gotten a confession out of an old man who had hung his ex-wife from the ceiling and took some batting practice on her. The crime scene was probably the most gruesome she had ever seen and she was glad Rick hadn't been there to see it.

"That crime scene would have given Rick too many ideas. Last think I need is to find another crime scene like that with Gina hanging from the ceiling."

The thought of that made Kate smile a bit. She knew how much he despised that woman even though he had married her. Rick did a lot of stupid things, but unlike other men, he made up for every stupid thing he did.

The case wasn't long; it had only taken the course of a day to solve since the old man had been there when they arrived. He had called the police but insisted he had just found her and didn't know who she was. How could he think they were that stupid? He had been right about the first detectives who got the case. They thought it was a weird one that would take awhile and knowing the Beckett liked the weird ones, they sent it her way.

"What jackasses! If they would have just taken two seconds to actually look at the case, they would have caught the killer instantly. No! Instead, 'This looks weird, let's give it to Beckett'. What a waste of my GOD DAMN time."

She was livid. She was just ready to go home and see what Castle had been up to with her dad this morning. She had no idea what sort of surprise that Rick had waiting for her when she returned home.

As soon as he had gotten home, he began the set up. He had stopped at the florist on his way home to pick up two dozen roses and two bags full of rose petals. He picked out a pair of candles at the corner store as he continued to his building. They were cherry scented, he had picked them mainly for his own benefit. They reminded him of Kate. He loved how she smelled. It was just what he needed in the mornings to get him out of the, 'I just woke up', funk. When he would be in the midst of a trying case with her, all he needed to do was catch a whiff of the lovely cherry scent and his spirits would be spent soaring. He loved it so much; he loved her so much.

When he got home he started cooking immediately. He made two New York Strips, cooked to perfection, and added his signature mashed potatoes. He also had prepared a salad with the works, just as Kate liked it. He laid out all of their favorite dressings and toppings and also put his most expensive bottle of wine on ice in a bowl on the table. As soon as he finished cooking, he took the 24 roses and placed them in a vase on the table and sprinkled the rose petals on the table and then took the rest and made a trail from the table to the door of his loft. Next he set the lit candles down on the table and sat down.

"I hope she likes all this. I really love her, but why am I so nervous. I never get nervous." He thought, then his signature grin spread across his face. True, he never gets nervous, but then, a girl like Kate would ever come around once. She was special. Rick could see himself growing old with her, that's more than he could say about his ex-wives. The more he looked back on his time with them, he realized that they were just women he had married as convenience. Meredith, because she was Alexis' mother. And Gina…

"Oh, why the hell did I every marry Gina?"

He chuckled; he knew Gina would never work out. It just seemed right at the time. He was glad he hadn't decided to take Kate into a hot air balloon to propose. That was a horrible idea when he did it with Gina. That should have been a sign, but alas, the prolific Richard Castle had been naïve.

Rick's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his new ringtone. "The Boys are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy was the ringtone he used for Esposito and Ryan, it seemed fitting for the three of them. They were 'the boys'.

"Castle." He answered with a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"Hey man, she just left and she didn't look happy. Don't let us down man, make her the happiest woman on the face of the planet. She deserves it." Esposito had the most serious tone he had ever used with Castle.

"I plan on it. And Esposito, thanks for everything. You really are a great partner." He said in the most sincere manner.

"Thanks Castle, you aren't that bad of a partner either. Now go get her!"

Castle grinned from ear to ear as he hung up the phone. Not only had Beckett been the best thing that had ever happened to him, she had introduced him to the two men who he actually felt were like brothers. He was so happy to have Ryan and Esposito in his life, he had even made sure to take them out every few weeks just to show his gratitude to them for letting him in. He really was one of their partners now, and he loved it.

Kate had finally reached the door to their apartment and was so ready for one of Castle's wonderful, home cooked meals. When she opened the door, her breath was taken away.

Rick was standing just a short way into the apartment and the lights were dim. She could see the candlelit table with their food awaiting them on the table. She looked down and saw the rose petal trail leading to the table and then the beautiful roses he had placed on the table. She really was in awe. She started to cry when she noticed Rick had moved closer to her.

"Katherine Beckett, you truly are extraordinary. You have moved me in so many ways. I came into your life the million dollar playboy and you really have changed me. I knew I needed a new character, but my shadowing you had nothing to do with Nikki Heat. It was always about you. I knew you were different, you could toy with me just as I would with you. I could make you smile when it seemed like the world was crashing down. Yes, I made mistakes, I dug into things that I shouldn't have. However, everything I did was for you, none of it was ever for research. I won't lie and say that it didn't help my book, but none of it was ever intended. I knew as soon as I met you, that in order for me to actually have a shot at you I would need to clean up my act, and that is what I have done. I love everything about you Kate. I love the way you walk and talk. I love the smell of cherries that radiates from all around you. I love the way your brow furrows when you think, and I love the smile that comes across your face when you are truly happy. I love how the hair falls down onto you face and how when in times of great flattery and joy, you reach up and twirl your finger around said hair. I love all of you Kate, your failures and your victories, your perfections and your flaws, but most of all Kate. I love you. Knowing all of that Kate…"

He paused and sank onto a knee as tears streamed down Kate's face and that smile he had spoke of exploded onto her face.

"Will you marry me?"

Kate didn't say a word, she didn't have to. Rick saw it in her eyes and in the little nod that she gave. She slowly put her hand out to him and he slide the eloquently simple ring onto her hand. It fit her perfectly, in more ways than one. She beamed at him as he jumped up from his knee and she soon found herself in his full embrace. They shared a passionate kiss, a kiss of the kind that neither of them had ever experienced. It was a kiss with true love behind it, the most intimate kiss either had ever shared. She slowly pulled away from him, speechless and breathless.

"Now that you are mine, how about we have some dinner? I have a feeling you will like what I prepared for you."

"Rick, there is no way in hell you could make me happier than I am right now, and you won't have to. I don't think it is physically possible for me to be anymore happy. I love you Rick, with all my heart."

"I love you too Kate."

They smiled and made their way over to the table so that they could enjoy the rest of their wonderful night together.