Disclaimer – I do not own Castle

A/N – This is the last chapter, I hope you all enjoyed this little fic.

Castle's Loft - 17:45 – Open Lounge Area

Rick and Kate walked through the front door of the loft, the writer with his arm snaked around his partner's waist. The brunette's head was resting on the writer's chest, her arms looped around his waist. As they walked through the lounge area, they noticed how quiet the loft was.

"We're home," Rick called out.

Kate detached herself from her human pillow and began walking towards the lounge. A moment later they heard someone running down the stairs and then Alexis appeared at the bottom. She ran straight past her father, stopping just before the injured detective.

Kate stopped behind the couch and looked at the teen, uncertain.

Alexis enclosed the space between herself and her father's partner, wrapping her arms around the hesitative brunette and hugged her.

"Grams told me where you went," the young redhead explained. "I know she would be proud of you, like I am," she whispered.

Kate was touched by the gesture, relaxing and returned the hug. "Thank-you, baby bird," the brunette responded, placing a kiss on the top of the girl's head. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was part of a family. Sure she had her father but ever since her mother's death, her family had been tainted, until the Castles entered her life.

Before meeting Rick, Alexis and Martha, Kate had just been drifting through life; nothing felt real. She had managed to make herself completely numb when it came to relationships, only allowing herself to get attached to a handful of people, because the risk of losing anyone else from her life was too great.

Now that it was finally all over, she was still finding it hard to accept. She had been chasing this thing for eleven years and now that they had caught the person responsible for starting this entire tragedy, Kate wasn't sure how she should feel. Right now, at this moment, she felt blessed.

Rick was standing in awe, as he watched his daughter and partner tangled in a loving embrace. Pulling out his iPhone, the writer snapped a few shots of the two loves of his life before sliding his phone back in his pocket.

"Where are your grandparents?" Rick asked his daughter as he walked towards the two women.

Alexis pulled back from Kate, pulling her into a side hug, facing her father. "Out, celebrating their engagement," the teen dramatically explained, obviously mocking her grandmother.

The writer and detective both chuckled at Alexis' little performance. Kate than let a yawn slip, she was a little tired and since she hadn't had any coffee today, it didn't surprise her.

"I'll start dinner. You two relax," Rick spoke up, knowing that his partner was tired. It had been an emotional day. Hell, it had been an emotional two weeks.

Alexis faced the brunette. "I was wondering if you would watch a movie with me?" the redhead quietly asked.

Kate smiled at the girl, giving her side a gentle squeeze. "There is nothing else I would rather do," she told the girl. "What would you like to watch?" she asked.

Alexis blushed, her face matching her hair as she answered. "I know I am a little old but I love Lion King 2". Kate smiled at the girl. "Not like," she said, and Alexis beamed at the detective knowing what she meant. "Love," the brunette and teen quoted, in unison, as both young women laughed together.

Rick was mesmerized by the sight before him. Alexis had never clicked like that with any women that had ever passed in and out of his life, including her own mother. He knew Kate was perfect for this family; she was a great role model for Alexis, someone she could look up to and want to be like.

"Uh Rick, you gonna start, we're getting hungry." Kate informed him.

Rick had been deep in thought, but quickly pulled himself back to the surface. His gaze fell upon his beautiful brunette. Smiling at her, he saluted and then exited the room with a bow. Kate let a chuckle slip her lips, rolling her eyes.

Alexis detached herself from the older woman, walking over towards the entertainment system and starting up the media centres, for the screening of 'Lion King Two'. Kate made her way towards the couch, settling herself down in the left corner. She had taken a pain pill two hours ago, so she should be right for a few more hours.

After setting up the movie, the teen plopped down on the couch beside her favourite detective, her eyes glued to the plasma screen as the movie started.

Kitchen - 19:03

Rick re-entered the kitchen as the timer went off; he had slipped into his office for a few minutes after putting the chicken pasta dish in the over. He was singing alone to the song he was just listening to in his office.

"Cause when you're a celebrity, it's adios reality. You can act just like a fool, people think you're cool, just 'cause you're on TV. I can throw a major fit when my latte isn't just how I like it. When they say I've gone insane, I'll blame it on the fame and the pressures that go with ... Being a celebrity."

The garlic bread and salad were already made and waiting on the breakfast bar. The novelist slid his hands into his Star Wars oven mitts, opening the oven and pulling out the dish, letting the aroma fill the kitchen.

As he placed the dish on top of the bench on a tea towel, he removed his mitts. He looked out from the kitchen into the lounge area, in the direction of the couch, not being able to see Kate or Alexis' heads.

Lounge Area

Rick walked over towards the couch; the movie only had a few more minutes to go and as he stopped on the left side, he sang softly.

"Oh ladies ..." Rick's words caught in his throat when he saw the sight before him, his daughter and Kate. Alexis' head was on a cushion on Kate's lap, the brunette had one arm draped over the teen's stomach and the other resting on her head. Kate's head flopped to her left; she looked so at peace, like nothing in the world could hurt her.

Rick retrieved his phone from his pocket again; snapping a few more pictures of his two girls. A picture can capture a moment that creates a story of a lifetime. The writer thought to himself. Suddenly feeling inspired, he let the girls be and headed to his office.

20:03

Her eyes fluttered, adjusting to the room. The light was off but there was enough light coming from the plasma, which at the moment was lit up with blue. Kate glanced at the clock on the wall, it was just past eight pm, and the movie would have finished a while ago. She remembered dozing off about twenty minutes in, she was just so tired.

Kate felt a weight on her lap, so she turned her head and a smile tugged at her lips as she spotted a sleeping redhead snuggled against her. A maternal feeling washed over her as she watched Alexis sleep for a few minutes. She was lost in thought. Would she be a good mother to the girl? She loved Alexis like she was her own, that much she knew. Rick and the girl were a packaged deal; the brunette just didn't want to hurt the girl, ever.

She knew she would never intentionally hurt the girl. But what if she got shot and died? Then she would leave them alone and that scared her a little. She had never really considered the effect that dying in the line of duty would have on others. Sure they would be sad, and her father would be heartbroken but they would move on. Kate wasn't really sure how Alexis and Rick would take it. And what if she and Rick had kids? She would be leaving them without a mother.

Kate was pulled from her thoughts when she felt the girl on her lap move. She dropped her gaze down upon the girl, who didn't wake, just stirred a little.

Rick's Office - 20:11

Kate had waited until Alexis settled before carefully moving the girl's head and the cushion from her lap. She stood up and went in search of her partner, finding him in his study. The brunette was leaning against the door frame, smiling. She loved to watch the writer in his element. The look of pure concentration and innocence on his face, his fingers flying across the keyboard as his eyes followed.

This was the side of Rick she loved to see, along with the fatherly side, though she didn't prefer the famous side. But when he was totally himself, the caring, loving and compassionate writer; that's what made her heart flip.

Rick was in deep concentration, letting the thoughts from his head flow through his fingers and onto the screen. When a feeling washed over him, the same feeling he got when she was present. He knew she was watching him while he worked. It took everything in his willpower not to crack a smile.

A few more minutes passed before Rick stopped typing; it was hard to stay focused when he knew she was staring. He saved the word document and then closed it, lifting his gaze from the screen. He leaned back into his chair and his eyes fell on the brunette standing in the doorway.

A smile lingered on her lips; she couldn't help it. Rick managed to bring it out in her. Kate pushed herself from the doorframe and began walking towards his desk, her hips swaying as she moved, his eyes never leaving hers.

As Rick watched Kate saunter towards him, his stony blue gaze was locked on her hazel-green orbs. They were like a hypnotic pull, she was just so gorgeous and he was only human. His eyes followed her as she walked around the desk and pushed his chair back and quickly sat on his lap.

Kate slid her hands up Rick's chest, looping her arms around his neck. Neither saying a word, not needing to say a word, just talking with their eyes. It was like their own secret language.

Rick still couldn't believe how lucky he was; that he finally had Kate's heart, that she finally trusted him enough to let him past the barriers and walls. One day he just hoped that he could hear those three little words from her. He knew that Kate wasn't as open as himself or Alexis, that she wasn't touchy feely or highly affectionate. But she had her own little ways to show people she cared about how she felt about them, if it only be a lingering glance, a simple touch or soft smile.

Kate knew she was lucky to have someone as amazing as Richard Castle in her life and Alexis was just an added bonus. She hoped that when she and Rick finally did have children, they would be even half the blessing Alexis was to her.

After a few minutes of silence and just staring into one another's eyes, the brunette's lips began trailing across his strong jaw line, making their way to his neck and up until she grazed his earlobe ever-so-lightly with her teeth. Rick bit back a groan, his own lips finding the soft spot on her neck. His hands rested on her hips and she craned her neck back, allowing him open access as he sprinkled feather light kisses along her neck.

Kate loved the feel of his lips against her skin; the man knew how to make her tingle all over. As his lips trailed from her neck up along her jaw, he kissed the side of her mouth before pulling back, his eyes locking on hers, lust burning deep in her hazel-greens.

His lips descended down upon hers again, capturing her in a tantalizing kiss that started off slow before quickly deepening and heating up.

"Dad, I'm hungry" the teen sleepily mumbled, as she entered her father's office, stopping a few metres inside.

Kate and Rick pulled apart, both flushed. Both partners turned their gaze to the doorway, where the teen was standing. "Sorry, again," Alexis replied, her cheeks heating as she turned and walked back out of the office. "I am never gonna get used to that," she whispered, disappearing out of the door.

Kate and Rick both chuckled.

Kate placed a quick kiss on his lips. "Let's go eat" she responded, hoping off his lap, reaching for his hand and lacing their fingers. Rick hopped up and the two walked out of the office, together.

Wednesday

12th – Precinct - 09:01 – Bullpen

As Rick stepped off the elevator and walked across the bullpen, he felt strange; mainly because he wasn't there to see Kate, she wasn't even there. He greeted the detectives and officers that he passed with a simple nod of the head and a slight smile; they returned it with the same.

The precinct had a different feeling to it, he couldn't really describe the feeling and it seemed more serious, more somber. Rick's gaze stopped at his partner's desk. Seeing it empty was unusual; not seeing Kate sitting at it, doing paperwork or drinking coffee while going through evidence reports trying to find a lead.

"Yo, Castle," Javier's voice carried through the bullpen, causing the writer to turn his head towards to his friends, as they walked towards him from the direction of their desks.

"Hey man, what'cha doing here. How's Beckett?" Kevin piped up.

Rick gave a slight nod of his head. "Healing, taking it day by day," he simply offered. Both male detectives were holding back their grins, the writer knew what other details they wanted information on, but he would never betray Kate like that.

"Mr Castle," a female voice broke through the men's conversation; the Captain stood in her doorway. "This way," she directed.

Rick turned his attention from his friends and headed in the direction of her office, Rick walked in and she followed, closing her door.

Captain's Office

Nicole walked behind her desk, taking a seat. Her gaze fell on the writer as he took a seat in the chair across from her. She was surprised to see that he looked a little nervous. That was something she did not expect because of everything she had read and heard about him.

"You're looking a little anxious, Mr Castle," she observed.

"You have the power to separate Kate and me," he honestly answered.

The Captain looked at him curiously. "I was informed of how your unorthodox partnership was created and I didn't really think you would care what I chose, just figured you'd go over my head, Mr Castle," she began.

"Rick," he offered.

"Rick," she repeated.

The writer took a good look at the new Captain, noticing the bags under her eyes, which she tried covering with makeup. He could tell she was a little stressed but was doing her best to keep it under wraps.

"How are you?" he asked, sincere.

Nicole knew what he meant by the question. He was asking about how she was. It was actually kind of sweet of him, so it shouldn't shock her. Especially from what she had heard from all of the detectives and officers here at the 12th; they all liked him. He always asked them about their families.

"They're letting me keep my job, but I will be under watch for a while. The main reason I still have this job is because of your father and yourself. Apparently Mr Storm made a phone call, plus the Commissioner saw your little press conference. It seems you're pretty respected around here" she divulged honestly. "For a writer," she finished with a smirk.

Rick looked at her suspiciously. "What do you know?" he asked, cautious.

A smile splashed across her features. "Your father and I had an interesting talk; you being the topic," she hinted. "We both agree that you're more than qualified to follow Detective Beckett around as her partner," she began.

Rick's eyes widened with glee, which didn't go unmissed by the Captain.

"The thing that I am more concerned about and it is your relationship with the detective. I cannot have my detectives distracted while out in the field, having to worry about their un-armed partners. I am assuming Kate knows about your past?" Nicole asked.

Rick just nodded as a serious demeanor fell over him.

"So I have decided that if you want to continue shadowing Detective Beckett, then you have to partake in a four week training course that will teach you how to shoot. It will also take you through several different training exercises, so you'll be allowed to carry a gun on your person when the detective returns and you follow her out into the field. If the press asks, you can inform them that the 'hard ass' new captain required you to get the training so you wouldn't put her detectives in danger," she explained, watching the author's body language change instantly.

"When do I start?" he asked, excited.

The Captain looked at him with amusement but did her best mask it. "Monday, 6am," she informed him. "I know that the training will just be for show for anyone who doesn't know about your past. Now since you're unofficially a cop, you cannot carry a badge but I figured this would do the job just fine," she explained, reaching into her desk and pulling out an ID badge with a clip.

Rick reached across the desk and took hold of the ID, which was made from hard plastic; it was the type that liaison carried around with them. A grin took place on his face, stretching as far as it could as he looked down at the words 'NYPD 12th Precinct's Shadow, Rick Castle' along with his picture underneath it.

"Thank you Captain," he answered honestly.

"One last thing, Rick," she began.

The writer lifted his eyes from his ID and met the Captain's eyes.

"PDA is a no-no at the precinct. I do not want to see you and Detective Beckett kissing in corridors or holding hands at work," she ordered.

Rick looked at the older woman, in disbelief. "Are you being serious? You've meet Kate, right?" that being a rhetorical question. The expression on her face, informed him that in fact she was being deadly serious, so he mirrored her expression.

"Katherine Beckett is one of the most professional people you're ever going to meet on this force and in this precinct. If I even tried PDA at work, she would kick my ass without evening blinking an eye," he informed the Captain. "But if we come across a case where she needs a hug, I will not hesitate to deliver," Rick finished, genuine.

The Captain couldn't help but let a smile slip with that last comment. "I think that is acceptable, Rick," she allowed, the ghost of a smile twitching her lips.

Rick's Office – 20:11

Kate was curled up on the couch, reading Deadly Storm, the novel that Rick had just released when they officially met. Rick was behind his desk, working on his novel. She was curious about the new novel and would love a sneak peak but he was being really secretive about it.

Alexis was out having dinner with Ashley tonight and Martha and Donavan were still out. They had left earlier this morning and were still due to return.

The two had shared an intimate dinner together, along with a few steamy kisses before Rick announced that he had some writing to do. Since she didn't want to leave his side, Kate followed him into his office and grabbed one of his novels from his bookshelf and twenty minutes later, here she was.

Kate was two chapters into the novel before her eyelids started getting heavy, Rick's typing lulling her like a lullaby.

Friday

Rick's Loft – 10:11 – Lounge Area

Kate let a yawn slip through her lips and covered her mouth as she entered the lounge area. She couldn't believe that she had slept in past ten a.m. She was now showered and refreshed. Since she had no major plans for today, she was lounging in black yoga pants and a dark green tee that Rick had once told her brought out the green in her eyes.

When she had woken up and her human pillow wasn't there, she was a little sad but knew that he would be working in his office; lately he had been doing a lot of writing. Kate stopped when she saw Rick's laptop sitting open on the coffee table. She looked around the room and saw that the writer was nowhere in sight.

Curiosity getting the better of her, the brunette walked over towards the lounge and plopped down across from his laptop. Her eyes glanced at the open word document, entitled 'Always'.

Kate picked up the laptop and her eyes began scanning the words on the page, her eyes widening the more she read. "Standing with you, opposite of that bomb, if it was my last day on earth, there is no-body else I would have rather been with. The thoughts that were echoing through my mind when that timer began to tick down; I knew it was a high risk pulling those wires, but all of my training was screaming at me to do something, anything to protect you," as her eyes skimmed the words on the page, her confusion grew.

"What is this?" she whispered herself.

"A surprise," Rick's voice answered, behind her. Kate turned her head and watched him as he made his way around the couch towards her.

"What do you mean, surprise?" she asked, uncertain. He was now standing opposite from her, and he was looking at her with confidence, ordering. "Scroll to the first page" his arms crossed his chest.

Kate looked at him, perplexed. Placing her finger on the mouse pad, she scrolled all the way to the first page. "Kate, this is the first volume into our life, for your eyes only. Written by me, seen through my eyes, titled 'Always' because that is our word for 'I love you', because that's what I mean when I say 'Always.' Kate lifted her eyes from the screen and met his eyes.

"Keep reading," he told her.

Kate's gaze dropped back to the screen as she continued to read on. "Our life together has just begun; though technically it started three years ago. At a certain book launch when you strolled into my life, the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew there was something about you, something that was different to any other woman I have ever met. I knew you were unique," she whispered.

The brunette didn't know what to say, she was speechless. Rick took a seat on the couch beside his partner; he reached for her hand, lacing his fingers with Kate's. She lifted her eyes from the computer screen, turning them to lock with his stony blues.

"I started writing this while you were in the coma. My mind was in a bad place and you were all I could think about. Your face was all I saw when I closed my eyes; all of our memories hit me when I looked at you. So, I figured the only way to get them out, the only way to stop me from going insane with worry, was to write them down. The more I wrote down, the more this story began, so I decide to turn it into one for you. It's a novel of our life ... beautiful," Rick divulged, genuine.

Kate was overcome with emotion. This man once again surprised her; she did not see that coming. The brunette lifted her free hand and touched the writer's face; words caught in her throat, her vision going blurry. Her eyes immediately focused on his lips and she instinctively leaned in, capturing his lips with hers. The kiss started off slow, and only a moment passed before Rick responded, deepening the kiss.

Unlacing her fingers from his, she looped her arms around his neck, pulling him as close as possible. As a moan escaped her lips she opened her mouth, allowing him access to slide in his tongue. As his tongue slid into her mouth, they began to battle for dominance, electrifying the kiss.

Kate's mind went foggy, her body was tingling all over and she was only kissing him.

Old Haunt - 19:01 – VIP Booth

The Old Haunt was in full swing tonight, and it being a Friday night, that wasn't unusual. The gang was sitting in a few reserved sections. Rick had created a VIP section not long after buying The Old Haunt, a large C shaped couch was there, a booth table in front. Sitting in the VIP section was Lanie, Javier, Kevin, Jenny, Donavan, Martha, Alexis, Rick and Kate.

Alexis wasn't usually allowed at her father's bar but tonight they were all celebrating Martha and Donavan's engagement. Alexis knew that she wasn't allowed near the bar, plus her father was present.

All of the adults had a glass of champagne in front of them, except Kate because she was on pain pills, so both she and Alexis had a glass of apple juice.

Rick smiled across at his parents, raising his glass. "No one ever said life would be easy, they didn't promise a fairy-tail. But I CAN promise you both that your lives will be filled with happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, pain, bliss even heartache but as long as there is love, my dear mother and father, as long as there is love," he divulged, turning his eyes from his parents and locking them on his partner. "Then it's worth it," he finished.

"To Martha and Donavan," Kate held up her glass and announced to the table and then everyone cheered. "To Martha and Donavan," the table then clinked their glasses together. Kate and Rick's eyes not leaving one another.

19:23

Rick was half listening to the conversation, more curious to where his partner had disappeared to a few minutes ago. All of a sudden he heard her voice echoing around the Old Haunt, coming from the speakers from which only moments ago jazz music was playing.

"Hi everyone, my name is Kate," the brunette began.

His eyes searched the room for her, until they found her on the other side, up on the stage where live bands occasionally played. His gaze locked on hers.

"And I would like to dedicate this song to my partner, best friend and the one that holds my heart. This one is for you Rick," Kate softly spoke, the music then began to play; soft piano music.

"All of these lines across my face, tell you the story of who I am. So many stories of where I've been and how I got to where I am. But these stories don't mean anything, when you've got no one to tell them to, It's true. I was made for you," she softly sang, her gaze not leaving his.

All eyes were on the brunette on the stage. Whispers filled the room as Kate's voice rose slightly.

"I climbed across the mountaintops, swam across the ocean blue. I cross over lines and I broke all the rules but baby I broke them all for you. Oh because even when I was flat broke, you made me feel like a million bucks, you do. I was made for you," her voice was filled with pure emotion.

Everyone in the VIP booth gasped; her voice was amazing. Alexis had pulled her phone out the moment she heard Kate mention that she was going to sing, videoing the entire thing.

"She's amazing," Martha whispered to her son, but his eyes were locked on his partner, only hearing her.

"You see the smile that's on my mouth, it's hiding the words that don't come out and all of the friends who think that I'm blessed, they don't know my head is a mess. No they don't know who I really am and they don't know what I've been through, like you do and I was made for you," she sang, pointing down to Rick, a smile spread across his face.

The next thing he knew, he was standing up and walking towards the stage.

"All of these lines across my face, tell you the story of who I am. So many stories of where I've been and how I got to where I am, but these stories don't mean anything, when you've got no one to tell them to, it's true. I was made for you," Kate belted out, her eyes following her partner.

"Oh yeah, and it's true that I was made for you," she sang at a low tone as the song finished.

Her eyes were looking down at him. She bit on her bottom lip, suppressing a smile. Kate had never ever done anything like that her life. She wasn't one for public displays of affection but after this morning, she knew it was time to let him know how she felt. Kate walked off the stage.

Rick met her at the bottom of the stairs, looking at her with astonishment. His partner had completely blown his mind with that song. He enjoyed it when Sara Ramirez sang it but hearing Kate just then blew him out of the water.

"What was that for?" he asked her, grinning from ear to ear.

Kate closed the distance between the two of them, snaking her arms around his neck, her eyes locking on his. "Because I love you, you idiot," Kate whispered her confession, a smile lingering on her lips.

Rick was momentarily stunned; she finally told him the three little words that he had been waiting to hear for so long. A grin stretched across his face, mirroring her's. He didn't care that this place was full of people; the only thing that mattered at this moment was that Katherine Beckett had confessed her love for him.

Rick lowered his lips to capture hers in a slow and tantalizing kiss.

A/N – Closure is the sequel to this fic