The drive back to the city was a quiet one. Rick snoozed while Kate drove. They got back to the loft just in time to meet Alexis sitting at the table again.

"Good Morning Mom!" Alexis brightly said hugging her step mother.

"Alexis it is 6 in the morning why are you up?" Rick asked.

"I wanted to greet my new mother." Alexis said.

"What time did you get up?" Rick asked.

"Um a little after 5AM" Alexis confessed. "I was just excited to see you guys!"

With that said she hugged them both.

"I'm glad to see you too" Pumpkin Rick said.

"I am glad to be your step mother Alexis." Kate said hugging her tight.

Just then the door to the loft opened and Martha came in.

"Oh I did not expect you all to be up!" Martha said. "Anyway welcome Home!" Martha now hugged Kate and Rick. Soon Jim came down at his usual time to see the whole family eating breakfast.

"Hey Dad" Kate hugged her father.

"Hey Katie bear you leave the cabin in order for winter?" Her dad asked as he drank his coffee.

"Yes I set everything up so it will survive Dad. You treat me like some sort of child!" Kate complained.

"Katherine Dear, It is a parent's prerogative." Martha said coming to the aid of Jim while patting her hand.

"Ok Folks Kate has to get cleaned up and dressed for her big day." Rick said.

"Oh I wanted to know how many are you going to attend the swearing in ceremony if I pass?" Kate asked.

"Dear it's when not if you pass." Rick corrected.

"Right Positive thinking. Or When I pass?" Kate asked.

"Really Kate, do you have to ask that question?" Rick said.

"No I guess not. Thanks for your support." Kate said.

"Well off to the tub with you!" Rick said leering.

"Yeah ok I will see you all later." Kate said.

Jim then turned his attention to Alexis.

"Hey Alexis did that suggestion I gave you help?" Jim asked.

"Yeah Gramps It worked well thanks!" Alexis said trying out the new moniker for Jim.

"Gramps? Eh? I guess I could get used to that." Jim said.

"You'll get used to it James." Martha said.

"Darn I forgot to tell K- Mom that a guy from the NTSB called. He left his number on the recorder." Alexis said.

"Don't worry about it Pumpkin I will remind her." Rick said leaving to get showered and dressed himself.

Kate got out of the shower refreshed and searched the closet for her uniform.

Rick who was shaving heard her fretting.

"Dear it is on my side. You did not have any room left on your side it just came back from the cleaners before we left." Rick yelled out.

"Thanks Rick I found it." Kate said.

Kate got dressed in her dress blues then Rick after getting dressed insisted on Pics.

"Kate this will be the last time you will be sans bars." Rick said when giving reason for the pics.

Kate rarely liked having her picture taken.

"She was just like that when she was smaller too." Jim quipped.

"Oh Dad Hush you!" Kate scolded like he spilled some long lost dark secret.

After the pictures were taken everyone was seeing off the happy couple.

"We'll see you at the swearing in ceremony." Jim said.

\\\\\

Kate was at 1PP HR dept getting her vital statistics changed due to her marriage. Once finished she was sitting outside the Conference Room where the Board was about to convene. Captain Gates was the one who ushered her in.

Rick gave Kate a kiss in front of Gates.

"It's for good luck." Rick explained. "How remember relax and go with the flow. You have this in the bag."

Gates introduced the detective to the board members and the first member started.

It was a grueling 20 mins then Kate was asked to be escorted out.

In the hallway Rick hugged her.

"So how did it go?" Rick asked.

Kate related how her PTSD was brought up.

"That is foul Kate they can not bring up something like that. You should sue them I have a mind to get Chris on them for besmirching the good name of Castle!" Rick said getting out his phone.

"Relax Rick it is fine. I have a clean bill of health from Dr. Burke. That did much to assuage their doubts. Besides I went through a plane crash and the PTSD never appeared. Also you remember Vaughn? I did get shot at and it did not happen there either. Rick I am not saying I am cured. What I am saying is I am not that affected by it anymore." Kate said.

"Yeah Ok maybe I over reacted but it they hold this against you in any way." Rick said threatening to bring the phone back out.

"Ok Rick you would be the first to know." Kate said patting his hand.

"Oh speaking about your paramour he left a gift at the loft for us." Rick said.

"Oh really…? How nice and thoughtful. Rick, don't go all jealous on me now. I married you not him! Besides did he attempt to rescue me? No I did not think so." Kate said.

Kate heard her name called. Then Gates appeared Kate entered the room once again.

"Mr. Castle you can follow the officer to the viewing area where the swearing in will take place." Captain Gates said.

"You mean?" Rick got excited.

"Yes Rick I means so now go please." The Captain said.

Rick followed the officer and met up with his family along with Lanie, Espo and Ryan Jenny and his little one called Katherine. Jenny said she named her after Kate when they did not know if she would ever be found.

"It is exciting Dad. Mom is getting a presidential commendation also." Alexis said.

"Where did you hear that?" Rick asked.

"From the gaggle of reporter covering the Senator he is about to arrive." Alexis said.

"Bracken is here? Oh No I have to warn Kate!" Rick typed out a text hoping Kate will read it and not get blindsided.

Inside the conference room Kate stood at attention.

The Commissioner stood along with the Mayor and the Chief of Police, Chief of Detectives, Several Councilmen and women and the Ass't Chief of Police.

"Detective Beckett it is the unanimous decision of the room to grant you the promotion to Lieutenant in The NYPD. If you would step this way the swearing in will happen soon so Congratulations Lt. B- Castle" said the Police Commissioner Reagan.

"Thanks you Sirs" Kate said as her pocket started buzzing alerting her to a text.

Kate stopped and frowned.

"Is there anything wrong Lt.?" Bob the Mayor asked.

"No nothing just Rick congrats me." Kate said to the Mayor.

"He always knows everything I swear" Bob said with a chuckle.

"That he does Mayor." Kate said.

"Commissioner you should never play poker against him or his bride." Bob was heard to say as they gathered at the podium.

The Mayor was up first as the press pushed in.

"Wow what a gathering" Martha observed.

"Yeah she is something special" Rick said. Kate dipped her head in Rick's direction giving him the sign she was able to get his text.

Rick relaxed as the mayor listed all of Detective Castle's commendations and awards.

Then the surprise visitor came to the front. Senator Bracken himself. The press went wild with click from all the cameras. Bracken mugged for them Kate just stood still.

"Smile Lt. Castle it will be all over in a few moments so you can relax." Bracken said.

Kate said nothing as she stood when Bracken read the Presidential Commendation on her heroism on the day of May 13th 2013.

"It was her quick thinking and medical attention which allowed 19 passengers who are here today to say thanks for the bravery of our Lt. Castle." The Senator concluded.

The 19 Men, Women and Children plus their families all showed up at the podium to say thanks for saving their lives.

Then Bracken placed the medal over Kate's head and affixed the Lt. Bars on. Kate said nothing during this part of the ceremony then a Crack from a rifle was heard. Kate instantly dove after Bracken. But it was too late. Bracken was murdered in front of her only part of his skull remained.

The crowds panicked and ran the film crews got the footage of Senator Bracken's last minutes. Kate had a murder to solve.