Kate Beckett looked at the calendar and sighed. It was February 13th which meant starting at midnight the whole city would be going crazy trying to prove their love for their special someone. It wasn't that she hated the holiday, Kate Beckett was simply a realist. Her boyfriend Rick Castle however was an idealist. They had talked almost everyday this month about not going crazy for Valentine's Day and had agreed to treat it as if it were just another day.

At ten-thirty pm, there was a knock on her door. Kate walked over and opened the door without checking the peephole. She knew it would be Rick. They had left the precinct only a hour earlier to change and order dinner. Content to spend the night together in her apartment.

"Hey, I was just getting the wine out," Kate smiled as she pulled the door open and headed towards the kitchen. Rick entered and followed her into the kitchen getting the plates from the cabinet working around her without ever getting in the way.

"I was thinking tomorrow I could cook for us," Rick volunteered. "We could make it a family dinner with everyone even your dad."

"My dad?" Kate repeated as she moved to pour some wine into his glass.

"Yeah what better way to celebrate the holiday of love then with everyone in our family?" Rick smiled as he brought their plates to the table.

Kate thought over his point before nodding. "I like that idea." Rick smiled inwardly glad that she agreed to the dinner. He had already invited her father. Their dinner went on with usual small talk but was spent mostly in silence. Each aware that words didn't need to be spoken for them to feel content. After dinner they moved as one unit cleaning the kitchen before retiring to the living room to watch a movie.

"You pick. I got us snacks this time," Rick smiled as he held up a plastic bag.

Kate laughed as she picked the movie. "What kind of snacks did you get?"

Rick pulled out a box of Sweetheart candies, as well as some boxes of chocolate. He saw Kate roll her eyes and quickly defended himself. "Hey it's tomorrow. This is the only candy the store had left."

"I'm not judging," Kate giggled as she relaxed against him. Rick had already sat down on the couch and began eating the Sweethearts. He held the box out to Kate and she silently took a few as the movie started. Every few minutes Kate would reach over and take a few more hearts. Rick enjoyed watching her pick up a heart, read it and then pop it in her mouth. The box was almost entirely empty when Kate let out a scoff.

"Is something wrong?" Rick asked looking down at her.

Kate sat up a little straighter and took the box of Sweethearts from him emptying the remaining ones into her hand before flipping them over and inspecting them. "It says 'marry me' on every single one of these."

"Will you?" Rick asked pausing the movie. Kate looked up from the candies in her hand to see him looking at her intently holding a little blue box delicately in his hand. Inside the box was a beautiful engagement ring.

"What?" Kate asked in a voice that she didn't even recognize.

"Katherine Beckett, I love you with all my heart. I'll always be there for you, through great times and bad, whatever life may throw at us. I want to grow old together and never live another day without you. Will you marry me?"

With tears in her eyes Kate nodded her head slowly as she choked out yes over and over again. Rick slipped the ring out and onto her finger before pulling her into their first kiss as an engaged couple. They had matching smiles when they eventually broke apart. "Is this why you wanted to have a family dinner tomorrow?"

Rick's smile instantly faltered. "How did you-"

"I'm a detective. It's what I do," Kate smiled. Rick chuckled to himself as he remembered the first time she said that to him. At least this time he knew his mother couldn't have told her. Only Jim Beckett knew what he was planning for tonight.

A/N: So this idea is something I had originally thought up about 9 or 10 years ago and just remembered tonight! It was sparked because I was looking at all the Valentine's Day candy and allowing my mind to wander. I hope you enjoyed this chapter