Heyy, thanks for reading! I hope you like the last and final chapter! Thanks guys

Previously:

Beckett knew the subject was unavoidable. "You want the long or short version?"

"We have time... I want the long version."

"It's hard to understand."

"Try me," Castle said, settling down in the large sofa next to the door. "Come on, sit, and start."

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Beckett took a deep breath and sat beside Castle. She began.

"After you told me that it was going to be our last case. I was shocked. That night, Esposito came and said that he and Ryan were going to hold a surprise party for you. I responded that you were only going away for the summer and he had a really surprise look on his face. He said something along the lines of... 'That guy has done enough research to write 50 books. Why do you think he's still following you? Look, whatever the reason was, I'm sure it's not standing around, watching you with another man..."

Beckett looked around, trying to meet anything, except for Castle. "After the case was solved, Montgomery came up and was talking to me and I think he was indirectly referring to both of us. I started to think through what you said, inviting me to the Hamptons and everything. I made up my mind right there and then."

Beckett debated whether to tell him about her and Demming. She decided to hell with it. "I broke up with Tom that afternoon. You were driving Alexis to Princeton when I was talking to him. I heard you come back in and decided I was after all going to accept your invitation to the Hamptons."

Castle's eyes opened as wide as saucers. "Wa-wait. So, all that talk about you not being the easiest person to talk to was basically a pep talk to work up to the real one? You were going to accept the invitation? Damn it! I'm so stupid! I'm really sorry for not letting you talk."

Beckett cracked the first real smile she had since before the summer. "Yeah, I was going to accept. Besides, what do you have to feel sorry for? You invited me three times. You asked me three times, and each time, I wanted but refused to go, thinking about my 'relationship' with Tom and the beach house. Turns out, I didn't even go."

Beckett stared out at the falling leaves of New York City and said, "There's one more thing..."

"Yeah?"

Beckett suddenly found herself looking at the floor, scared at his reaction to her next question. She shyly and timidly asked, "Are you going to come back to shadow me?"

She was surprised at his response. Castle threw his head back and laughed aloud.

"Detective Kate Beckett, I'll do anything you want me to. If it means to stay here and do nothing, to still shadow you at work or even if it's just to stay in the car, I promise you, I will do whatever you say. Because I let you slip away once, maybe twice, but it'll never happen again." Castle's eyes and voice were full of sincerity and Kate couldn't help but notice that there was an alternative meaning to this. For once, in her personal life, she decided to go with her gut instinct.

"Is there an alternate meaning to your speech, Castle?"

"Well, do you want it to be?"

"Yeah, I do."

What she did next stunned everyone in the room, including those who were peeping in on their conversation. Kate Beckett leaned forwards to give Rick Castle a sweet and loving kiss on his mouth. Castle pulled back to give Beckett a questioning glance.

"Is that YOUR alternate meaning? Cause it certainly is mine."

Kate nodded shyly in response.

"By the way Rick?"

"Mmmhmm?"

"I would love for you to keep shadowing me at work and I-I-I... I really like you. I honestly do."

Castle's mouth split into a wide grin, "That's good, cause I really like you to. Come on, let's go. I'm just about to have a late night ice-cream snack. You coming?"

Beckett stood from the couch and walked towards the door. On the other side, Alexis, who had been listening in, had quickly scrambled away to the other side of the room, not wanting her Dad or his new girlfriend to realise that she had been listening and watching in as well.

Before Kate opened the door she said one last thing, "This time, you HAVE to stay in the car!"

"Your wish; is my command..."

Well, there we go! Done! This is my take on the preview of season 3... Thanks for reading everyone!

I really can't wait for the new episodes! Hopefully Demming doesn't come back... Does anyone know if he DOES?

Please R&R!

Genie