Hello my lovelies! So this is actually going to be the last chapter of my story! I know I said I was aiming for 20+ but as a lot of people know writing is hard to do with school! i have a lot of exams coming up and I need to focus on that!
We're near the end anyway so i didn't want to keep you all waiting! So I decided to just end it now with a nice fluffy chapter! Thanks to all who read this story! I'm definitely not done writing so keep a lookout for my new stories ;)
~CB~
They were finally back home in New York, after almost 11 hours of flying they were finally in New York. Rick was carrying a sleepy Alexis in his arms, while Kate rolled their suitcases to the awaiting town car Castle called in.
"Mr Castle, good to see you again." His old driver Charles smiled at him.
Castle smiled back, "You too Charles." He whispered, Alexis began to stir so he gently placed her in the limo, careful not to wake her as he strapped her in.
He walked around the car and helped Kate place the bags in the car, "Thanks." She smiled.
Rick nodded, "Sure thing babe." Kate's face flushed with the use of that pet name, she was still in shock that he was letting her come back home after all of this. She squeezed his hand and dragged him into the limo.
She wouldn't let go of his hand the whole ride home and Rick was just fine with it. By the time they arrived home Alexis had stirred awake, Castle handed her the keys to the loft so she could get the door open for them while they carried the luggage up.
His driver closed the trunk and tipped his hat, "Have a goodnight Mr. Castle."
Rick smiled and handed him a fairly large tip, "You too Charles."
They made their way into the exquisite lobby, his doorman smiled at him and pressed the button on the elevator. When they reached the floor level to the loft Alexis skipped towards them and took some of the luggage to help them out. "Thanks pumpkin." Rick mumbled, ran his hand over his daughter's head and messed up her hair.
Alexis giggled, "Sure thing daddy."
Kate had already gone into their bedroom to change, she always felt dirty coming off a plane. By the time she came out Alexis was already in bed and Rick was gathering some food for himself.
"Hey." She whispered.
Castle twirled around and smiled, obviously with a bunch of food in his mouth. "Hey." He mumbled through the food.
Kate rolled her eyes and tapped his arm, "Really? Didn't your mother teach you not to talk with your mouth full?" She teased with a quirked eyebrow.
Rick scoffed, "Most things my mother taught me involved how to act dramatically."
Kate chuckled, "Like right now?"
Castle faked offense, "Wow your mean." He pouted, even stuck his lip out to make it more dramatic.
Kate rolled her eyes and shook her head, "I love you babe but seriously you weren't meant to be an actor."
Rick mocked her, "Well I see the love you have for me."
Kate giggled and gave him a smack on his rear, "Want some wine?"
She earned a nod. "Movie? Or bed after." He asked.
She hummed for a brief moment before answering, "Movie, not that tired actually."
Rick nodded and turned on the tv- pulling up netflix, "I'm thinking Kid's movie- not in the mood to watch and action movies for a while." He muttered, his eyes cast downwards for a second and her heart broke all over again. She placed the wine glasses in her hands on the coffee table and plopped down next to him.
"Hey no, I understand babe- you're gonna have a few nightmares and moments just like I did, but this time you'll have me with you." She ran her hand across his stubbly cheek, he needed to shave again.
Her husband let out a groan, "I don't want to have nightmares Kate! I want to be normal again." He buried his face in her neck and blew out a puff of air. Kate smiled and took her fingers, running them through his soft brown hair. "Neither did I ! And personally I think you're doing way better than I was." She admitted.
Rick wiggled out of her grasp and looked at her, "Kate you're one of the strongest people I know!"
Kate bit her lip, "I might be strong now but before you I wasn't."
She cupped the back of his neck and played with his nape hairs, "What do you mean?" he finally asked.
"Before we met in that bookstore, a whole year of my life had been in despair! I was in that stupid relationship with Josh and I was hurting so badly, but when you came along I actually wanted to feel better-get better, for you." She mumbled.
Rick smiled at her tenderly, "Well whether it was me or not, you found your strength."
"Definitely you." She argued. Castle hummed, "Well then-."
Rick." She breathed.
He raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Stop talking." She mumbled, brought his neck down and kissed him with a fire she had in her. Rick chuckled but kissed her back just as passionately, Oh yea he definitely missed her. When he woke up in the morning Kate was already gone, he felt the bed- cold, really cold. She must have been gone for at least an hour or two. He flipped the covers off and winced when he felt the coldness of the wood floors hit his feet.
He slipped on a long sleeve shirt, it was way to cold. Castle decided to wash up before going out, he shaved his face and took a shower. He dressed in some fresh jeans and a long button up red sleeve shirt. He brushed his hair to the side and rubbed some gel in. He looked in the mirror and smiled satisfactorily, better- much better.
When he walked out he spotted Alexis sitting on one of the barstools eating her breakfast. "Hey sweetie." He greeted with his hand on her back.
"Hi daddy." her cheery response warmed his heart.
"Where's Kate?" he asked.
Alexis shrugged, "I figured she was sleeping."
Rick furrowed his brow, "Hmm- well wherever she went I'm sure she'll be back soon." He assured, but was he assuring her or himself?
~CB~
Kate finished up the last of packing her stuff, She had already gotten the all clear from 1PP to leave whenever, after a heartfelt message to her team which had tears in it, she explained why she needed to leave.
The boys understood and supported her although they weren't afraid to show that they were sad.
Kate looked up from her desk when the knock on her door came, "come in." She muttered, last time she got to say it.
Vikram popped his head in and smiled, "hey Beckett."
Kate gave him a grim smile, "Hey."
"So..you're still going through with this?" He asked, obviously not convinced.
Kate rolled her eyes, "Yes Vikram, and if you want to risk your job by keeping the Locksat Investigation going, then go right ahead but I'm not risking my happiness or my family anymore." Her statement left no room for an argument.
Vikram sighed and sat himself in a chair, "Beckett- I understand but what about justice?! I thought that's what you achieve to get?"
Kate smiled and leaned back, "Vik- All those murders I've solved with my team, all those family's we were able to comfort after, that was my justice! Locksat isn't my problem in the first place! So- my days of justice are over, I need to focus on my family." She smiled.
Vikram looked like he had more to say but he kept it to himself and simply smiled, "Al right- I hope you don't regret it though." He whispered low enough as he walked out.
Kate still heard it though, "Don't worry- I don't."
She gave each member of her team a long hug, she made sure they knew how much she enjoyed being their captain and their friend. After that she proudly walked out of the precinct for the last time and took one last look in her car before driving off. Surprisingly she didn't have any guilt or regret, only excitement for the future.
It was noon when she got back to the loft, when she walked inside it was quite. Until-
"You'll never escape Voltar! I've got yous surrounded." her husband's voice imitated a star wars character.
Her step daughter's response came- "That's what you think! I'll never surrender." She hissed, "Kate! protect me." She squealed, moved behind Kate for a shield.
Kate chuckled, "Well I have perfect timing apparently." Rick came out of his hiding spot with his gun pointed towards the two.
"AHA! Surrender now Voltar! you have no escape."
Alexis made a move to run but within seconds her vest was lit with colors flashing. "Aw man." She whined.
Rick let out a triumph huff, "Yes! Score one for the awesome dad." He smirked.
Alexis stuck her tongue out and stomped into the kitchen. Rick chuckled at Kate's expression, "Where were you?" He asked as he pulled off his gear.
Kate shook her head with amusement, "I went to the precinct-."
Rick gulped, "Oh, for what?" His question was casual.
Kate shrugged, "I went to pack up the last of my stuff."
Rick's eyes widened, "Wait what!?" "I told you, I quit- my days as a cop are finished." Before she knew it she was being twirled in his arms, "Rick." She giggled.
"Sorry I just- now we.."
"Can have a proper family." She finished for him. Rick smiled, "We already have a family Kate." He gently placed her back down. "Yea but I made it kinda pitiful but now-" Castle shook his head, "Hey no, I don't regret you being a cop Kate! I was the one who helped you push for that remember?" He earned a nod. "You being a cop was great! Don't ever think it wasn't." He whispered.
Kate sighed and nodded, "Your right."
Castle puffed out his chest and smirked, "As Always."
Kate rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Ego much?" He stuck out his tongue, "You love it." Alexis bounced back into the living room with a popsicle in her hand, "Daddy can we go to the zoo?"
Castle smiled, "Sounds like a plan, that ok Kate?" he asked.
"Let's do it." She agreed with a smile.
That night they watched Alexis play on the playground in the park, their trip to the zoo ended with them each buying their own plushies, Alexis a penguin, Kate a elephant and Castle a monkey. Aleixs had asked to go the park afterwards. Rick watched his daughter play with some of her friends that we there.
"So how'd the boys take it?" He asked after a moment of silence.
Kate hummed, "They were sad- as expected, but I think they knew." She answered.
Castle nodded, "Well they're still our friends so they can visit whenever." he assured his wife, he didn't want her to regret him because of this. But as if she read his mind Kate took his hand, "I know! And stop worrying, i'm fine, I chose this." She kissed his cheek.
Rick chuckled, "Superwoman with the spidey senses."
He winked, "So hot."
Kate rolled her eyes, her cheesy husband- she loved that about him. That he could be as happy as a 9 year old and have fun. She really did love her family. Alexis gave them a wave as she slid down the slide.
Kate turned her head and lay it on her husband's shoulders, "Thank you Rick."
Castle took her hand, "For what?"
She shrugged, "Everything, giving me another chance! Trusting me." She whispered.
Rick smiled, "I love you Kate! We might have some bumps in the road here and there but I'll always love you." he vowed.
Kate smiled, "Your right and I think that the Castle family is ready for an extra addition soon." She hinted.
Rick gasped, "Kate?"
"No not pregnant yet but I think I want to be very very soon." She winked.
Rick chuckled, "Ready for the mood swings and weird hunger strikes?"
"You have no idea."
~CB~
Again! Thanks for reading guys :)
Officially complete 3
