Note to the readers: I have decided to end this one here. The case is wrapped. Kate and Rick have plans that I don't at this time feel like writing about. In a day or two when I feel inspired I will either change my storyline completely or start the next installment after Kate and Rick return from vacation.

Write a review and tell me your preference. I haven't decided yet. Who knows, maybe I will do both. For those of you kind enough to post reviews, alerts and favs. I thank you.

Copyright and ownership: Although Castle is an awesome TV show with wonderful characters; I can't make any claims to owning any of it unless you're referring to a small chunk of my DVD collection. Somehow I don't think that makes me entitled to earn anything from this…

A shot rang out again and hit the Gator's driver's side door. Beckett thought the assistant must be trying to keep them from using the cab radio.

Then there was another shot, this wasn't from a rifle. It was pistol.

On the far side of the hill where there were still to working lanterns Kate watched a man get pitched down the hill. Karpowski was right behind him with his rifle and her side arm.

"You try to grab my ass again and I clock you one more time with this rifle butt. I said hands up asshole."

"Bitch, you shot me!"

"Yes, but if I remember correctly I said freeze or I'll shoot. Was it hard to interpret what I wanted? That means be still. Besides, I shot you in the hand. You just won't go hunting again anytime soon."

Beckett tried not to laugh at the sight of Karpowski. She had blood dripping from her nose and a large knot forming on her forehead, but she looked like she was glowing with happiness.

The man still had his back to her, and was busy clutching his right hand, but his voice sounded familiar.

"Bradford Green?"

The man turned to look at the detective. ""Nice to see you again detective. This isn't how I planned it."

Chapter 25

12th Precinct 2 am Wednesday

Castle was cleaning the murder board and filing the contents in their designated boxes. Beckett was filling out paperwork humming to herself. Castle was confused by her contentment after all, Espo was shot , Castle had some new bruises, and Karpowski looked like she had lost a boxing match. He finished with the box, labeled it and carried it to her desk. He sat down in his chair and looked at her trying to read the emotions on her face.

"Are you happy because you were right and Gates was wrong?" he asked knowing this might cause her to be get very angry.

She shook her head and smirked. "No, but that isn't a negative. I am happy because we have managed to close two cases simultaneously, get a truly deranged family behind bars and protect everyone who came in contact with them. Who knew sadism ran in families."

"Espo got shot and you say no one was seriously injured."

"The bullet grazed his knee cap. He will be home from the hospital shortly unless they make him spend the night from a lack of having proper care at home."

"You don't think Lanie will come to the rescue?" Castle asked. He knew they had been fighting, but he thought injury would overcome stubbornness on both of their parts.

"Perlmutter has the stomach flu. She will be with Javi as soon as she finishes with the angel of death."

Kate thought it was sweet that Rick was trying to take up for Javi even though he had started their fighting by flirting with a gorgeous blonde at the Haunt. When Lanie walked in, the whole bar tensed in response. The argument was loud enough that Rick had been certain the whole eastern seaboard knew of Espo's failings as a man. Both of Kate's friends were commitment shy and she knew it. Not too long ago, she was to, but then she shared the worst of her past with Rick. He still loved her. He was a truly remarkable man; they were equals in so many ways she hadn't expected. She looked over to where he was sitting in his chair. His creepy staring had given way to adorable sleeping. She wondered why she hadn't noticed his soft snores until now. She shook her head and went for another cup of coffee.

She sat down to finish filing out the case paperwork for the team. She found it amazing the first string of deaths only occurred because a father and an uncle were trying to cover for a serial killer child. Instead of putting him in a mental facility, they had given him space to create. The workspace had caused him to dump pollutants to get them out of his way and it started the whole ball rolling on everything. Someone doing the simple act of parenting could have prevented all of these senseless deaths. She sat amazed at Castle and his parenting abilities and yet he never had a wife willing to mother his daughter. She thought about her own dark past and remembered her mother. "By the Grace of God" she had turned out okay even to have lost her mother. Most of who she is now is based off what her mom taught her. Her dad, she shivered for a second, had failed when his wife was gone. He has tried to make amends now and again, but Kate knew his love for her was deeply damaged and diminished from years of neglect.

As the sun was coming up, she finished the last of her paper work. She carried all of it to Gates office where she left in sitting in the in tray for her signature. On top of it, she also placed her pink vacation leave form. She had asked for the next 3 weeks. Some of it would just be to make up for the overtime she had earned over the last few weeks, but the rest was for an actual vacation.

"Sleepy head, wake up." She whispered in his ear.

Without opening his eyes he said, "What time to we have to go to the station?"

"We are still at the station, you have to wake up so we can go home."

"Ummm." He opened one and looked around and then sat up. "I think I am getting too old to be sleeping in your chair."

"Probably true, but for now, why don't we go home and sleep in a bed."

"Sounds good. But, what's after that? When do we have to be back?" He asked thinking they would need to be back in 4 or 5 hours.

"I asked for the next 3 weeks. I am not really planning on setting foot in here until the middle of next month. Come on Romeo, our chariot awaits. Our taxi should be here by the time we get down stairs."

Castle's Loft Early Evening Thursday

Beckett wandered out of the bedroom yawning. She was wearing one of Rick's oversized t-shirts and a small pair of shorts. He thought she had the most adorable bed head he had ever seen.

"Nice to see you Sleeping Beauty. Coffee?"

She nodded and sat down next to where he had been sitting on the couch. He walked back to the couch handing her a large mug coffee and sat down next to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into him.

"Hungry?"

"When I wake up I will be, but at the moment I am just trying to remember my own name. "

"I take it you slept well."

"I always do when I have my favorite body pillow. Speaking of which what has it been doing these last few hours while I slept."

He pulled his laptop on top to his lap and opened his current document. Kate blinked when she saw the chapter number. "Have you written 50 chapters this week?"

"No. 60. I have been working on it at the station in the down times, but then this morning you said the magical V word so I started to empty my plate of responsibilities. Gina has the complete novel to edit and I am all yours. So what do you want do first?"

She leaned in close to his ear and in a really breathy whisper, "I was thinking something really sexy and erotic. Hmm. It has a little bondage involved and we need to get some equipment. But, I think it's a position we could try."

His mouth dropped open and his eye had grown wide. "Sure, we can try anything you wish. What do I need to buy?"

"Buy Ricky boy? We don't need to buy anything. I was thinking of renting?"

"He looked completely flustered and confused. "You don't rent those kinds of toys."

"No, but you do rent moving trucks and dollies." She laughed as he finally understood what she had said. She ruffled his hair. "I want to move my books in here and a few other choice items. Everything else I want to put in storage. In a few months, Alexis made need some of it for use in her own apartment. You never know."

She relished these quiet moments in his arms. The world didn't matter. She didn't even know for sure where her phone was. She nuzzled a little closer to him.

"I was actually meaning what would you like to do tonight baby? I sincerely doubt we could move your apartment that fast."

"True, but I guess we could discuss our other plans for the time off."

"Okay, what would that be?"

She nervously chewed on her lower lip. Then she looked over at him again and took his laptop from him. Kate sat her coffee on the table in front of her, then slid her body into his lap and opened the computer where they could both see.

"I guess the question is where can 2 people get married off the radar of the photographers, have an intimate wedding in which a daughter, a mother, possibly a dad, and an M.E. and 2 detectives could go to without breaking the bank or causing an unreasonable uproar?"

"You're serious. You want to get married NOW!" He said gleefully leaning into her. "Wait you really don't want the big wedding?"

"No, if mom were alive I would love to have one. As it is I think I would spend the whole day thinking of how different it would be if she were there for the bridal party luncheon or the bridal showers, or to help me pick the dress? I don't want our big day to be about who missed it. I am about half tempted to make this just you, me, Alexis and Martha. In fact, I think that is exactly what I want. I will email dad a photograph. Same for Lanie."

He rubbed her nose with his. "As long as you know what you want, I am open to anything."

She laughed. "Okay. I will give you 2 choices. Niagara Falls or Hawaii?"

He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows.

"No Rick, I am not marrying you wearing nothing but a bikini." She had taken the idea right out of his head. "But, I wouldn't be adverse to getting married wearing a light form fitting sundress that didn't leave a whole lot to the imagination."

He smiled at her and leaned in and tapped out a command for Google images. "I am thinking a small compromise. How about we fly down to Costa Rica or even Belize? Less press, less people and we can go visit some wonderful places without much effort and we already have friends with houses down there so I could borrow a house to keep hotel staff from giving away our plans."

"I think you and I need to go on a shopping trip tomorrow."

"Definitely."

"Now soon to be Mrs. Richard Castle, what do you want for dinner?" She put the laptop on the coffee table.

"That depends. Who is going to be home for dinner?"

"Us."

She leaned into him again this time she slid her leg around him so that she was straddling him. She crushed his lips with hers. "I am thinking of breakfast in bed. How do you feel about maple syrup if it gets on the sheets?"

"Do you want me to cook before or after?"

She pulled her shirt over her head and then began to work on his buttons. When she paused to catch a breath, she smirked and "I am suddenly not very hungry. I am going to have to work up an appetite first."

Rick lost himself in the moment happily. It was hard to believe 4 months ago he believed she was never going to speak to him again yet in the span of a few days she would the last Mrs. Richard Edgar Castle.