Let's see. Sorry this took so long, yada yada yada. I had the stomach flu, so looking at a computer screen was pretty impossible.
A Dance with Death: ADORABLE.
47 Seconds promo: Oh god. I believe that we all are going to die.
The people in the courtroom dispersed into the hall, leaving Kate, Rick, and Alexis hugging in their seat.
Alexis still had tears streaming down her face and was clinging onto Kate for dear life, her voice straining as she cried.
"Alexis, shh" Kate cooed, rubbing her back. "It's going to be alright."
"I'm s-so s-sorry" Alexis cried, shifting to snuggle between Kate and Rick, curling her body up small.
"You don't need to apologize" Rick whispered, pressing a kiss to his daughter's head. "I'm so proud of you Lexi. You were so strong to stand up to her when you didn't have to."
"I d-did have to. Sh-she was t-talking bad about Ms. Ka-Katie and you and I didn't want her t-to" Alexis cried. She now had the hiccups, and it was getting harder for her to talk.
"Alexis' it's okay. You were so brave to stand up for me. Thank you so much" Kate said quietly, rubbing the crying child's back, pressing a kiss to her head. "I love you kiddo."
"I l-love you too Ms. Kat-Katie" she whispered, snuggling between the adults. "Daddy, I want to go home. I want her gone forever. I don't want Mommy to be my Mommy anymore."
"I know you don't Lex" Rick whispered, hugging her close.
"T-this isn't gonna mess up you and Ms. K-Katie, right? What I said?"
The two adults both chuckled and shook their heads. "Of course not" Rick promised.
"No matter what happens, I'll always be here. I promise" Kate whispered, reaching a hand around Alexis to squeeze Rick's arm, her other hand rubbing Alexis' back.
Alexis slipped back and rubbed her red, puffy eyes and yawned. "Can we go home Daddy?" she asked, her eyes beginning to fall shut as she grew tired.
"Yeah honey. Let's go home."
Alexis yawned and fell asleep against his chest, her little arms wrapped around him.
Rick scooped her up and turned to Kate, sighing. "I don't even to know to begin to apologize-"
"Don't" she cut him off, pressing a finger to his lips. "I know that woman, and I know she is a bit… female dog" she fixed, catching herself with Alexis around. "You and I both know that yes, though we're pretty much together, we're waiting. We are being adults" she said, gesturing between the two of them.
He smiled and hugged his daughter close to his chest. "You don't know how extraordinary you are."
"Castle… Go take your kid home. Hug her and tell her it'll be okay. I need to stay here and finish up." Kate adjusted her shirt and ran her hand through her hair.
"Come over tonight? We'll make dinner."
"I wouldn't miss it."
Kate joined the rest of her team for the recess while Rick and Alexis apologized to Judge Markaway for the drama that happened in the courtroom. Once they made sure everything was okay, Rick escaped with Alexis out of the courthouse and back to the loft.
She watched as they left before turning to Ryan and Esposito, who'd kept their mouths shut during Meredith's escapades.
"So…" Ryan said, rocking back and forth on his heels. "You've been spending time at the Castles?"
Kate shrugged and shook her head at them. "Look, don't act like you didn't have any idea. But nothing happened, at all. I swear. His daughter has pretty bad stress from the kidnapping, and she couldn't sleep, and she was having abandonment issues. So, she wanted a cop around, and I'm the one she knows. It isn't a huge deal."
"Uh huh" they both chimed, smiling at their boss.
"We're happy for you" Ryan smiled, patting her shoulder.
"But we'll kill him if he messes this up" Esposito added, glaring at the door which Rick had walked out of.
Kate smiled at her boys as Judge Markaway called court back to session.
Everyone filed into the room and back into their seats. Kate's eyes fell on the empty seats where Rick and Alexis would have been, if not for Meredith's outburst.
"Court is now in session. Detective Beckett, did you have anything else to say about our suspect?"
"No your honor" she commented, leaning back in her chair.
"Very well then Detective. Does anyone else have anything to say on the matter of the state of New York versus Tyler Dupree?"
The courtroom fell silent as everyone looked around.
"Good. Now, if that is all, I have come to a verdict. Tyler Dupree, you are charged with the first degree kidnapping of young Alexis Castle, and hereby sentenced to 20 years in prison." Judge Markaway banged the gavel and smiled at Kate. "Court dismissed. Detective Beckett, may I see you for a moment?"
Kate's eyes widened in fear and she ran up to the stand, looking up at Judge Markaway. "Yes your honor?"
"Now Detective, what is this I hear about you and Mr. Castle having a relationship?"
"Sir- I… Um. I go to help his daughter. That is all" she stuttered.
"Now Ms. Beckett, you and I both know that isn't everything. I saw the way you were looking at him this morning. When Meredith Castle was interrupting me. Now Detective, you know that with the case closed, there is legally nothing keeping you from him, except his marriage. But I can tell you for a fact that no matter what the circumstances, there is nothing he could do that would make Meredith Castle win anything in this divorce…" he trailed off, looking at her as a Father who just caught his daughter sneaking around would.
"Go tell your man."
Kate's face lit up and she blushed bright red. "T-thank you Judge Markaway" she said, smiling.
She ran quickly out of the courtroom and to her car, driving as fast as she could to Rick's apartment. When she pulled up out front she gave a quick wave to the doorman before escaping up the steps. She knocked on the door and tried to compose herself. Her hand tapped on the door a few times and she waited patiently.
When Rick answered, she couldn't help but leap into his arms, wrap her legs around his waist, and kiss him like there was no tomorrow.
Rick, though startled, caught her legs and kissed her back, shutting the door with his foot. He kissed her for a moment and pulled his head back, smiling. "Not that I'm complaining, but what's that all about?"
"W-where's Alexis?" she asked, out of breath from running and from the kiss.
"Asleep upstairs. Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothing" she said, shaking her head. "Nothing is wrong. We did it Rick. He got 20 years. It's over" she said with a smile, leaning in to kiss him sensually again.
Not the ending. Not even close.