Disclaimer: I still don't own any part of Castle.

Chapter 30: Epilogue

She's been waiting for the right moment for weeks now, biding her time, knowing that the opportunity will present itself at the perfect time. Eight months in a relationship with Richard Castle have been everything and nothing that she imagined. It was rocky at first, each of them fighting to work through the rubble of their lives as they became a couple, but now it's everything she's ever wanted. In any other case or time in her life, she would have thought herself crazy for being ready for a step like this so soon, but nothing has ever felt more right to her.

Six months ago she made a deal with Senator Bracken and so far he's been true to his word. She's been free to live in her happy bubble while slowly trying to piece together the things she needs to take him down. Castle has been right by her side for all of it, working on it in between cases and their everyday lives. In fact it was one night while they were working on it, held up in his office going over things that she knew exactly what she wanted.

They were reading over her mother's case file for the millionth time, trying to find some kind of link anywhere that would connect Bracken to the murder, anything that would be concrete enough that they could use it in court. It had been completely silent for close to thirty minutes when Castle uttered the words, "You're strength is the envy of many." She'd been confused at first, wondering if he was talking to her or just speaking out loud, until he'd looked up at her with those soul-seeing blue eyes. "Seriously Kate, your ability to sit here and go over this case time after time, looking at these pictures, making deals with the man behind it so that you have time to make your case, knowing when you're going too far and pulling back, it amazes me. I've never known anyone with that kind of strength and I'm just totally in awe of you."

She'd set aside what she was looking at and climbed onto his lap, "I know someone who's just as strong." She'd watched his brow furrow as he tried to figure out who she was talking about. "Who?" She smiled at him as she settled in closer and then she breathed the words "You" into his mouth seconds before she connected her lips to his. The meaning of his words to her and his reaction when she told him he was just as strong was all she needed to make her decision. In that moment she knew that she loved him more than she'd ever love anyone and that her love for him would only grow stronger each day.

It had taken her weeks to get up the nerve to plan the evening and since then, things had been crazy. Every time she tried to plan the perfect evening something came up. She'd finally planned a quiet evening for them last night, making reservations at one of their favorite restaurants only to have to cancel it at the last minute when they got a body drop.

Today they've been non-stop since they arrived at the precinct and she's only getting more agitated. She tries to school her features when he gets a call from Gina, asking him to come in for a meeting that evening. He had pretty much stopped writing when he got shot, but he was toying with the idea of using the shooting in the next Nikki Heat book. When he hangs up his phone to tell her she tries quickly to ask like she didn't just hear the entire conversation.

"Kate, that was Gina, she wants me to come in later to discuss the outline for the new Nikki Heat book."

She nods her head and turns away from him, fighting the urge to just drag him away so that they can have some uninterrupted privacy. He reads her immediately and he softly pushes on her shoulder until she turns to look at him. "Hey, what's going on, you've been quiet since last night, talk to me."

She ducks her head and looks at the floor trying her best to make her voice sound sure when she answers him. "It's nothing Castle, everything is fine. Why don't you go ahead and go meet with her, I'll finish things up here and be home later."

He reaches for her hand and carefully pulls her down the hallway so that they can have a minute of privacy. "You know that I can ready you like a book right? If something is going on you can talk to me about it, whatever it is?"

She really can't though, not right now, in the precinct. It's not the right time and it's not the place she wants to have this conversation. She looks up at him and smiles, lifting her hand to cup his cheek. "Everything is fine Castle, I just feel like we haven't had a moment to ourselves without the whole world interrupting in forever."

He places his hand over hers and nods. "I know, but I promise we'll get some soon. Are you sure that's all that's going on?"

"Yeah, just need some time with my man."

She doesn't think he's going to buy it at first, he stays where he is and watches her, but finally he leans in and kisses her on the cheek and heads for the elevator. She sighs after he leaves, thinking maybe there's a reason that things keep happening and maybe it's not meant to be right now.

Not long after he leaves, she gets a new lead on her case and it takes up the rest of her day. It's after eight by the time she walks in to the loft and the smell of food instantly improves her mood. There's a note on the counter stating that her food is in the warmer and that he's waiting for her in the bedroom when she get finished eating. She quickly scarfs down her food and makes her way to the bedroom in search of him.

When she opens the door her eyes widen in surprise as she takes in the scene before her. There are lit candles all over the room, at least fifty if not more, the room smells of rose petals and there's soft music playing. There's a table set up to the side of the bed with a sheet draped over it and he's standing beside it with massage oil in his hands.

"Castle, you did all of this?"

He smiles and comes for her, drawing her over to the table. "I know that things have been crazy lately and I've desperately wanted some alone time with you, so after my meeting I sent mother and Alexis to the Four Seasons for the night. It's just us tonight, no interruptions."

She can't decide if she wants to cry or jump up and down at the thoughtfulness of this sweet man. She wraps her arms around him, hugging him tightly and then pulling back to capture his lips. He lets his lips linger on hers for a few moments and then he gently pulls away and lifts her shirt over her head.

She lets him remove her clothes, sighing at the tenderness he uses as he removes each article from her body, and when he removes the last piece he picks her up and lays her down on the table. "Roll over on your stomach, I want to give you a full body massage and I intend to worship every single part of your glorious body."

She does as he says, and the instant his hands are on her she's floating in pure, heavenly bliss. He does exactly as he said he was going to, paying special attention to each part of her body, leaving her skin burning for more in each place that he touches. By the time he gets to the last part she's crying, the swirl of emotions spilling over. He gently rolls her over and cups her cheek, wiping away a tear with his thumb.

He watches her reverently for a few seconds and then at the same time that she lifts up, he pulls her into his chest, holding her body against him. He lifts her gently and turns so that he can lay her on the bed and he holds her gaze while he removes his own clothing. He never breaks their eye contact as he climbs over her on the bed and reaches for her hands, pinning them lightly above her head.

He worships her body a second time using only his mouth, touching every inch of her with his lips. When he's satisfied that he's worshiped her thoroughly he settles between her parted legs, making slow, passionate love to her. She feels it in her soul, every piece of him and his love for her, it burns her from the inside out, setting her on fire with need for him.

She sobs her release seconds before he does the same and while his breath is still coming in hot, sharp pants against her neck she finally finds that the perfect moment was there all along. It wasn't the fancy restaurant, or the carefully planned evening, it was them, together in the most intimate way possible, the perfect moment to whisper to him, "Will you marry me?"

A/N:The end. Look for a sequel some time in the near future. Love and hugs to all of you for sticking with me. I could have never got this far without you. Happy almost Castle Monday! :) -Meg