Chapter 9 – Epilogue

A/N: This is the last chapter to this story! A big thanks to ALL of you for sticking with me. I hope you like this chapter. Now is the chance to share your views on this chapter or the story as a whole.

- To all those who reviewed and encouraged me with every chapter, thank you so much! This chapter is dedicated to you all!

- Pardon my grammatical errors.

Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me though ABC and AWM are doing an awesome job with them ;)

Nine months later...

Castle's bedroom was bathed with morning rays of the sun, making everything look rich and golden. A crumpled white bed sheet covered Kate's smooth skin like a robe. With her big dark eye lashes still hiding her eyes, with her pink and moist lips curved into a small smile, with the slight glow on her beautiful angelic face, she looked like someone who had never experienced how distress or darkness even felt like. There was no trace of sadness. Moving in her sleep, she roamed her hand on Castle's side, wanting to touch her companion for life but her hand came out empty. She tried again but instead of feeling his masculine arms, his breathing wide chest, her hand found a note lying in place of him. Rubbing the sleep off her eyes with the other hand, she brought the piece of paper to her gaze, immediately recognizing his handwriting. She read:

Sorry Kate.

Last minute meeting but will be back for dinner. See you then.

Also, Alexis and mother not at home, the loft is all to you.

Love you! – RC

Dinner? That was like twelve hours away, what was she supposed to do on her day off without him. She decided to take a bath, a long beauty bath in a bath tub, with the hot bubbly scented water soothing and massaging her skin. Maybe she can imagine the water as his soft hands, touching her everywhere and making her all wet. She was hopelessly in love with him.

She climbed out of the bed, to the bathroom and was surprised to see that he had made all provisions for a beauty bath. She was all ready to lie back, and let the calming scents and smooth water envelop her senses. She dipped her toe into the foamy water to feel the temperature, it was perfect. After submerging completely, she saw another note lying near the soap holder.

Kate, I'm glad you liked it.

This kind of makes our little dip into the Hudson not so bad right? This soft textured bathtub contains a glass full of that water (Yes I got a bottle filled for this) Just want you to cleanse your body off fears.

Always – RC

Kate just smiled at how fast his mind worked. He was up to something. She remembered the Hudson River and that dirty water. He had saved her and was making her replace that disgusting drowning memory with this sweet memory. This was what Richard Castle knew how to do best. He was definitely up to something.

After taking a long bath, mostly thinking about how good it would have felt to have him in there with her, Kate slipped on a button down white shirt and jeans. She decided to cook something for herself as a long day lay ahead of her. What the hell was she going to do? She walked to the kitchen and was about to open the fridge when she saw a note sticking on it.

Hey beautiful, miss me already?

Anyways, I've got some ice cream stocked for you but only after a proper breakfast. Sweet tooth. Don't ice creams make freezers look inviting?

Forever - RC

This was interesting. Freezer, the place where she had almost died in his arms but they had made it out of that suffocating place. She had blacked out before she could tell him how she felt. Freezers always sounded chilling and scary to her after that but maybe it was now a part of something important. Castle was using all these dark memories as a skipping stone to get at something and Kate's spidy senses were tingling. She decided to play along. Unable to control herself, she took the tub out of the fridge and dug a spoon. She took three full bites, licking the spoon and kept the tub back. Delicious... maybe more afterwards.

She decided to make some bacon and omelette. She took out a black non-stick pan from the shelf below and lit the stove, keeping the pan on it when she saw another note. She smiled at the sight of it.

Katie, honey, sweetheart, darling...

Be careful with the stove, I don't want you to get burned.

I'm not there to brave the hellish flames and get you out now am I?

All yours – RC

Kate was having a flash back of the day her apartment blew up. Actually now it reminded her of bacon and omelette, thanks to Richard Castle here. He knew how to play with her mind. She smiled at the thought of him brooding and sitting bored in a meeting right now. Where was he? She wanted him now!

Quickly she made herself breakfast and after she was done, she just placed the dishes in the dish washer, though washing the pan herself, passing some time. She thought of watching some television and headed towards the cosy leather couch where the remote rested as well. That's when her eyes moved to the stick on note, stuck on the remote.

Katherine Beckett, I've set the timer for your favourite show temptation lane. Though I guess you should record it as something's going to happen that will change our lives. I'm not speaking about dirty bombs here, something pleasant.

Till Death do us part – RC

He had covered most of the life altering and near misses, also he had substituted them with a more sweet memory. She remembered that day when he had saved not only hers but the entire New York city's life, by yanking those wires out. He was a man, not a boy. She had all notes in her hand and she went through all of them once again. The beginning in all was different and so was the ending. She connected the endings together. Her detective mind was at work.

Love you!

Always

Forever

All yours

Till Death do us part

'Aww Rick' she whispered, bringing the notes to her nose. They smelt of him. She knew she was acting insane, love sick, nauseating but she couldn't help it. She just wanted him to be there. Right now.

She closed her eyes, resting her head on the back of the couch. She decided to call him when she heard the front door click shut. She turned and looked at the person standing there, taking off his coat. It was him. Her silent wish had come true. Three hours, he was there in three hours and it felt like three days to her. She at once got up and ran towards him, embracing him in a tight hug. Oh it felt so good.

His had moved around her waist, pressing her tightly against him. He was breathing her in and gathering courage for what he was going to do next.

After a minute, he broke the hug and looking into her eyes, he kneeled down, before her. He took out a red cushioned box containing a sterling silver princess cut wedding ring. With shining blue eyes he said:

'Katherine Beckett, I've been preparing this for a month now, so... umm... I- you- said you wanted intimate, this is the first time I'm going for intimate...' he chuckled, as Kate looked at him struggling with absolute love and happiness in her eyes. She already had an answer but wanted to hear him say it. He continued.

'I went to your father this morning... I just want you to know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, every minute of it, I want to kiss you every day, and I want to have babies with you... I want to spoil them rotten, I want to marry you... because you are extraordinary' he said, nervously but lovingly to her.

'We've had so many near misses Kate... I couldn't have survived them without you and I want to replace all those dark memories with bright ones! I want to see you smiling because when you smile, I smile too, not because of the jokes or funny cases or foolish things I do... but because I get this feeling of achievement that it's me who painted that smile on your beautiful face! It's me; I want it to always be me... So I'm going to ask right away... Kate, will you be my third time's charm?' he asked, a little scared but quite sure.

'Of course! YES!' Kate said with teary eyes, as he placed that gorgeous ring on her finger. She jumped on him and kissed him passionately. He fell to the ground, with her on top of him, making out with him on the floor that very moment. She slipped her tongue inside and he parted his lips willingly. His hands moved all over her body, touching her, feeling her while his lips moved on hers. Sliding his wet lips along her cheek bone, he placed small soft kisses all over her face, on her chin and then sucked cravingly at the soft spot on her neck. He wanted her and this want had grown after placing a ring on her finger. She moaned. So good. She wound her legs around his waist as he turned them over, with him on top. She moved her hand through his silky hair while he worked on her neck. She dug his face even more into her chest. She wanted more than this. She tore his shirt apart, buttons falling down to the wooden floor. She pulled his chest tight against hers, the warmth of their bodies mingling and creating an environment of lust and longing. She suddenly pushed him away when her need overcame her. He knew she was getting restless; he easily parted from her and let her lead him.

She stood up, helping him up as well. She unbuckled his belt and slid it out of the loops. She dropped it to the ground with a clatter and her other hand grabbed the now empty loop. Toying a little with it, she pulled him closer and planted the most amazing kiss on his lips. He intertwined their hands, placing a kiss on the ring.

'Hitched for life...' he whispered against her hand. She smiled at his words. Hitched.

She led him to his room, to a surface more soft and comfortable than the floor for what she needed badly. Her finger all the way playing with the classy, simple but gorgeous ring as she led the way. She did it roughly, throwing him on the bed while closing the door with her leg. He landed on his back, smirking at her restlessness.

'Make love to me... husband...' she said and in less than a second, he was on it.

So how was it? This chapter or the story as a whole. Just share your thoughts! :)

Status: Complete.