A/N: The last chapter of this story! Hope it lives up to your expectations, or at least, that you like it and find it an appropiate closure for the story. Please forgive any mistakes, I have a bad headache and don't have the strenght to revise the text.

Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Andrew W. Marlowe, though they have found their own way into my heart.


A few hours later, he'd woken in a hospital bed. Kate was there, and so were Alexis and his mother, who'd just arrived from the Hamptons after hearing the news about the accident. He'd been very lucky. He hadn't lost that much blood and the cut had been shallow, no main veins or the air way had been badly damaged. Just a few stitches, patched up, orders to take it easy and he was released within 24 hours. The doctors had assured him the scar would be barely visible.

Later, he'd been filled in on the developments and the details he'd missed. Under Captain Gates' orders, Ryan had continued the investigation on Maddox. He had been located the next day, after Kate's rooftop fight with him, and he'd been under surveillance since then. But just a couple of hours before the break in into her apartment, Ryan's team had lost track of him. They were combing the city when Castle had called for help. Luck had been on their side. If Ryan hadn't gotten there within minutes, things would have ended very differently, bad differently.

After the scare, Martha was thrilled when she found out about the new love birds' relationship. She was beyond content seeing her son finally happy.

A couple of days later, when things had calmed down and Castle was recovering at home, Beckett had been summoned by Gates. First of all, the captain had expressed her relief that nothing grave had happened to her or Castle. Secondly, she asked Kate to reconsider her resignation. She hadn't forgotten Kate's behaviour and disobedience, she'd be still suspended; but Gates felt she was too good a detective to throw her career away. Kate appreciated the offer, promised to think about it, but for now she just wanted some time for herself and put things in perspective.


Over a week had passed, Castle's stitches had been removed a few days ago, and that morning the doctors had told him he was fully recovered. Martha and Alexis would be off that afternoon to the Hamptons for a few weeks, Kate suspected Martha wanted to give Castle and Beckett some time alone, though his mother had made them both promise they would join them at the beach house for the weekend. It had been a long and busy week. Everyday someone would come visit Castle, see how he was doing. Lanie had stopped by, and so had Ryan and Esposito, at the same time. It had been awkward in the beginning, but after Kate and Lanie's intervention, and the fact that these two men couldn't stay mad at each other for long, they made peace. More or less. It might take some time to trust each other completely, but at least they were talking again.

Now, ten days after the attack, they stood on the side walk, in front of his building, waving Martha and Alexis goodbye. He snaked his arm behind her and held her to his side as they walked back inside and towards the elevator.

"Finally alone," he said as he held the door open for her and she stepped inside the loft.

Before she could walk any further, he took hold of her wrist and pushed her back against the closed front door. He pressed his body flush against hers and kissed her deeply. His hands moved down her sides and then he raised her arms above her head. He left her mouth to trail open mouthed kisses along her jaw and neck.

"I've always liked this door," he panted, hot breath brushing over her skin. "Now, I'm really starting to love it."

"Good place to make out?" she moaned breathlessly.

"It is, but… I know one even better," he released her arms and started lifting her shirt.

"Show it to me?" she purred in his ear.


It was a little past 9, already night dark outside; she lay on her side, propped on one elbow and her head resting in her hand. She watched as he slept. His chest slowly rising and falling with every breath he took. Her gaze followed the lines of his arms to his shoulders and came to rest on his neck. On the thin pink line that pulsated with every beat of his heart. They both had a scar now. Scars that would remind them how close they had come to loose each other. Scars that would remind them every day that life was short and they should make the most of it.

Ever so gently, she reached out and barely grazed a fingertip over the thin line on his neck.

"All the songs make sense," she whispered.

"What did you just say?" his voice startled her. She brought her eyes to his face; he was wide awake and looking at her.

"What?" she stuttered.

"What did you just say," he repeated.

"I…, I said," she was going to say nothing, but there was no way out of this situation, he had heard her, so she might as well say it to his face again. Her eyes met with his, "I love you."

He kept staring at her as he took her right hand and placed it over his heart. She felt its strong, accelerated beating.

"Say it again," he whispered. She moved over him, lying across his bare chest, and looked deep into his baby blue eyes.

"I'm in love with you," she breathed out.

"Again," he said.

"I adore you." She brushed her lips over his temple. His eyes closed involuntarily.

"Again," he murmured.

"I'm yours," she kissed his closed eyelids. He blinked them back open, and looked up at her, their faces barely an inch apart.

Before he could ask again, she closed the small distance between them and pressed her lips to his.

"You and me, always."

- THE END -


If you saw any orthographic mistake, please let me know?

P.S: I didn't dive into explaining what exactly happens with the Beckett case and the sniper. I just couldn't find a proper way to adress it, I'm gonna leave that to the show's writers.

It's been amazing to write this story, and I still can't believe the hundreds of story alerts and favorite's I've received, and the dozens and dozens of wonderful reviews. One story ends, others will begin, I promise! If you would be so kind as to leave me one last review with your thoughts, that'd be lovely! Thank you so much everybody!