Hi everyone, I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in a while. My laptop broke, hope this chapter makes up for it.

When Kate walked into the precinct the next morning she didn't care if people were staring because she was holding hands with Rick, he was there for her, he would protect her. Ryan and Esposito didn't even comment on the hand holding, which Kate felt relieved about, that was the last thing she needed. They quickly greeted each other and got back to work on the case. Kate didn't even notice that Ryan was awkwardly hanging around her desk. "Uh, Beckett?"

"Yeah Ryan?"

"Well you need to go and talk to the victim's parents again about the new evidence we have just uncovered." Ryan finished looking down at his feet.

"Couldn't you and Espo do that?"

"Gates specifically said for you and Castle, sorry Beckett."

"Right well I'd better get going." Kate said standing up.

"Good luck and we will ring if we discover anything else." Ryan said walking back to his desk.

"It will be okay Kate; I will be there with you this time." Rick said grabbing his jacket.

"You're right, okay let's get it over with."

The victim's parent's house was about a five minute drive from the precinct, when Kate pulled into the drive of the house Rick reassuringly grabbed her hand and said "Remember I will be right next to you."

Kate smiled in return and then walked towards the house. She took a deep breath and then knocked on the door.

Half an hour later when Kate and Rick left, they finally had cracked the case right open. However, it was one of the hardest conversations that Kate had ever endured. Kate really felt bad for the victim's parent's they were a mess. "You did well in there, I'm proud of you." Rick said as they hopped back into the car.

"Thanks, I don't know if I could've done it if you hadn't been there."

"I will always be there Kate, just remember that."

…

Three hours later they had found the killer, closed the case; and finally gave closure to the little girl's parents. Kate sat on her desk, her head on Rick's shoulder, staring intently at the murder board. "How could somebody do this to a child Rick?" Kate asked.

"I honestly don't know Kate, I honestly don't know. There are some really sick people out there."

"You know, this sometimes makes me question, why am I doing this?"

"Oh Kate, I know it's hard. But you are the extraordinary Kate Beckett and you bring closure to all these families. You are the most amazing, driven, strong person I know."

Kate almost forgot she was at the precinct then. She lifted her head from Rick's shoulder and looked him in the eye, "Why do you think I'm so close to this case? I don't usually feel like this about the other murders."

"Your motherly instincts, and one day you are going to make a great mother."

Kate was shocked; she didn't know how to respond. But then somewhere deep down inside of her clicked: "Do you really think so?"

"Definitely, your kids are going to be lucky to have you."

And before Kate could stop herself she let slip, "I think you mean our kids, and they'll be lucky to have you too."

Rick looked like he could fall right off the desk. "We should head home now." Kate said quickly getting up, really hoping Rick didn't hear her properly, she didn't want to have this conversation with him right now.

"Yeah, shall we go back to mine?" Rick asked.

Kate nodded as she grabbed Rick's hand and lead him towards the elevator.

…..

Luckily for Kate Rick never brought up the whole having babies' thing again. Maybe he knew Kate didn't want to talk about it.

After a nice dinner Kate and Rick snuggled up on the couch and were about to watch a movie. Kate had recently been internalising whether she should tell Rick about the day she was shot, then the following events and why she stopped contacting him for a while. She decided she should tell him, right now. "Rick, I… I think I want to tell you about my shooting…" Kate began.

Rick sat up, "Okay, but you don't have to Kate."

"You deserve to know… you already know that I heard you. I can still remember that as clear as a bell, the gunshot, me falling, you trying to save me, then you saying you loved me. Sometimes I wish I never remembered the gunshot; you know I still have nightmares about it. I heard everyone scream as I fell. I blacked out after you said you loved me, and hell lying there on the ground, bleeding I wanted to say it back to you Rick, in case I didn't survive… I woke up at the hospital sore, tired, dazed and confused. Josh was there, so was dad, but I missed you. I lied so I wouldn't have to face it; I hoped I would forget that day entirely. Then there was Josh… I dealt with him. Then came the healing, seeing a therapist helped, I still go sometimes." Kate paused.

There were tears welling in Rick's eyes.

Kate carried on: "And the whole time I was thinking about you. I wanted you, but I didn't know what to say. I couldn't come to terms with what you said, and that is why I lied. I couldn't cope… I waited until I was healed so I could be with you, because I didn't want to lose you. And I never contacted you for all that time was because I couldn't face lying to you again, that day in the hospital, your face when I said I didn't remember. I couldn't do it. And I'm sorry."

"Kate, don't be sorry. I knew you needed time and look we got there and we are together now, we've beaten the odds. And I love you so much Kate, thank you for sharing that with me.

"Yeah, I think that story was the last of the wall that had built up inside of me. And I am so glad you waited for me, because I really do love you. Remember that advice I gave you about being in love?"

"Of course," Rick smiled.

"Yeah, everyone told me that was the case, but I hadn't felt that properly with anyone else before. But now, all the songs do make sense."

Rick just grinned, and then he reached into his pocket: "Oh there is something I have been meaning to ask you lately and I think now is a good time to ask."

Kate watched as Rick pulled a box out of his pocket, Kate's eyes suddenly grew wide, her head swimming we have already talked about this, what is he doing? Then she remembered what Martha said: you promise not to break his heart? He can't be proposing. It was all too much, Kate got up from the couch and ran to the bathroom, but Kate didn't hear what Rick said next: "Kate where are you going? I only wanted to know if you would move in with me!"

Hop you all enjoyed this and I will try to update soon!