She closed the book, and placed it on his bedside locker. It was good. But Conrad was no Richard Castle. She watched him as slept soundly, his chest slowly rising and falling. Her head hurt just thinking about what they were going to do to him tomorrow. Take something out his brain, a mass that was hurting him, slowly destroying his brain. But he was so calm, so reassuring, still joking. She was kicking herself for not noticing that he'd changed over the past few months. How forgetful he'd gotten, how he'd seemed dazed. She'd presumed he was preoccupied with something, a new book or something. He'd complained of headaches before during cases because he was staying up all night thinking. She should have noticed though, she spent almost as much time with him as his family, she really should have noticed.

"Did you get some sleep?" she turned to the door to find Alexis standing there.

"Am yes." She smiled.

"Don't lie to me. I am better at telling then dad." She came in and sat on the chair opposite Beckett.

"It's six in the morning, why are you here so early?"

"I couldn't sleep either." She sighed taking off her coat. "I have almost gotten used to him being faced with bullets and bombs but I never thought he'd be sick."

"I know. You must be so worried."

"I'm not the only one." She smiled at the older woman.

"I thought I was dreaming, but it looks like I really do have the two most beautiful women in the world leaning over my bedside." The two of them looked down at Castle then rolled their eyes.

"Don't flatter yourself we're just about to give out about you." Alexis said taking his hand.

"I don't care, I'm just glad you're here." he smiled. "now I have some bad news. This may upset and well devastate both of you." He stopped. Beckett frowned wondering what he could be leading too. He reached out and took her hand too. "I think they'll have to shave my head." The two of them dropped his hands and sat back.

"Castle." She groaned while Alexia sighed.

"I know horrific." He shook his head.

"You'll get over it and live." His daughter goaded. "will I get you some coffee Kate?"

"I'll get it." she said standing up.

"Oh I'd love one." Castle sat up.

"You're fasting remember." She said grinning at him and leaving the room.

she returned with two coffee's, only to find an empty room. Panic set in immediately and she turned back out to go to the nurses station only to run into Alexis.

"There you are. They took him down early."

"How was he?"

"Asleep." Alexis grinned. Kate handed her a coffee.

"for you. Decaf so your dad doesn't shoot me." Little Castle rolled her eyes.

"Thank you." They were led to a waiting room, and they sat together on the only two seater in the room. Alexis snuggled into the detective's side, giving her a shock in the process. She forgot sometimes how young Alexis was, it hit her then that she was just a small girl terrified for her father. "What if he doesn't make it Kate?" she whispered.

"What will I do?"

"He's going to be fine. He's in good hands, and god knows he's a fighter." She said in return wrapping an arm around the teenager, and stroking her hair. "You have your grandmother, your mother, and me. But you're not getting rid of him anytime soon." As if on queue Martha arrived into the waiting room.

"Oh darlings, am I late?" she said sitting in the armchair beside Beckett.

"He was taken up to theatre about ten minutes ago." Alexis said reaching across to take her grandmothers hand.

"I wanted to see him." She said sadly.

"he'll be out soon enough." Beckett said smiling at the older woman.

"He'll be thrilled you're here." Martha said using her other hand to grasp the detective's.

He opened his eyes slowly and as they cleared he found himself staring up at the white tiled ceiling. He groaned and tried to reach up and rub his throbbing head but the wires in his arm stopped him. Why exactly was he in hospital.

"Rick hey." A soft voice said from beside him. He turned his head to see Kate sitting beside him. He smiled.

"Hello Mrs Castle." She laughed.

"Only you could manage to get shot at our wedding." She took his hand.

"Ah yes that's what happened." He said remembering. "Did you get him" her smiled widened.

"Ya we did. Javi got one hell of a shot out the window. He's down." he sighed.

"Thank god." He thought back to the moment when his new wife's shooter arrived at their reception and opened fire.

"dad!" Alexia said rushing into the room.

"Lexi hi." He winced slightly when she hugged him.

"Careful Alexia he has a gunshot wound to the heart." Beckett said pulling the young woman back slightly.

"Ye just had to match didn't you." Alexis laughed. Beckett stood up

"I'll let you two have a minute." She said going towards the door. it was then he noticed that she was still in her wedding dress. He remembered how he'd felt the first time he'd seen her in that dress, she looked radiant, the snow white strapless dress against her pale skin made her dark hair and sharp features even more exquisite. She had taken his breath away, and now that same dress was covered in dark crimson spashes, his blood. "I might go change."

"Your poor dress." Alexis stroked the material. "It's ruined."

"Well it's not like I'm ever going to wear it again." she smiled at him. "I'll be back soon." And kissed him on the cheek.

He watched as she typed furiously at the keys of the computer. When taking a break between assaulting that and the mouse she was sighing. He frowned and walked over to her desk. Coffee's in hand.

"What's wrong Kate?" he asked.

"I'm late." She hissed. Not taking her eyes off the computer.

"what?" he asked now more confused.

"I'M LATE" the hiss grew louder the meaning hit him. His mouth opened in a small o but no sound escaped. "exactly." She said her typing getting more furious.

"Are you…"

"I don't know." She cut him off. "But I've never been late."

"Kate look at me." He said taking her hand. She turned slowly. "What is wrong. If this is what I think it is, then isn't that great." Her face softened.

"You men you want this…" she said softly. He moved back shocked.

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked completely confused as to what she could be thinking.

"Alexis is twenty, you've done all this I just presumed you were done…"

"Well you should have asked. I love nothing more than the idea of having a child with the love of my life." He took her other hand in his as well. "Do you want this…" a smile spread across her face and she nodded.

"Ok have we got everything?" Kate said checking the backpack once more.

"Yes mommy." The little girl said while bouncing on her heels. "Can we go now!" she sighed. He laughed at the two, the little girl was a mini me of her mother, from the dark curls right down to the impatience.

"I think she's ready to go to school Kate."

"I just want to make sure she has everything."

"Mommy I'm going to be late."

"Ok, ok." she knelt down in front in her daughter and smiled. "Be good! Have fun." She kissed her forehead.

He smiled and wrapped an arm around her.

"She said she's going to call in Monday evening." Kate smiled leaning back into his embrace.

"That's nice. She's around for the book party so."

"They all are." She nodded.

"Is Lexi going to bring the kids?" he asked.

"Maybe just Martha. Alex and Edgar are a bit too young." She said relating the conversation she'd had with her eldest daughter the day before.

"Very good." He nodded. She looked up at him.

"So this is it. your final book. The last."

"Final Battle." He smiled. "Henry Battle's last adventure." She smiled thinking of his fourth hero. After Niki Heat had come Lyla Pond. And finally Henry, the treasure hunter who put his family before all. She hadn't even been allowed to read this one. She was made wait with the rest of the world, for Richard Castle's last novel.

"Now we can travel the world. Maybe read a little." She smiled and wrappedher arms aroundhis chest.

"I love you Kate."

"I love you too Rick."

He stood his heart in his mouth.

"Katherine Beckett was the light of my life. Yes we spent years listening to jokes about how it was third time's a charm, but I know Meridith and Gina will understand when I say that she was my one and only. My true soulmate." He took deep breath. "She did outstanding work for her city, put so many criminals behind bars, and avenged so many deaths and this is a fitting send off for her." he looked out at the sea of hundreds of faces. "I speak for my daughters and grandchildren when I say we'll miss you Kate. And I speak for myself when I say that I adored and revered you, you were my muse and my life source, and most definitely my better half. I'll love you forever." The tears flowed freely