Hey everyone! enjoy this new chapter!

As soon as Lanie entered the loft, she looked strangely at Kate.

"What?" Kate asked.

"I don't know. Something's changed here." Lanie said, looking around the loft.

Well, maybe the game would be short after all.

"Girl! You moved in here! Oh I'm so happy for you!" Lanie explained, hugging Kate really tight.

Kate looked at the others above Lanie's shoulder. They looked like they had missed something. Jenny was smiling but Javier and Kevin looked completely dumbfounded … and maybe a little vexed too. They were the detectives after all … And the ME went two steps in and figured everything out! That was so not good for their reputation. They would be ok until Kate and Rick decide to make the announcement but after that … they would never hear the end of it.

Rick took all of their coats while they were all congratulating the couple and Alexis couldn't help but think how natural it all seemed. Getting out of her thoughts, she walked down the stairs, greeted everyone and moved to the kitchen to check on the food. Just as she had promised, she had been the one cooking the evening dinner. Kate had tried to help but she had been gently pushed out of the kitchen and been told to relax. The group of friends had moved to the living room for some drinks before dinner.

"How did you figure it out so quickly?" Javier asked Lanie.

"Well, that's not difficult. The rug here, it's Kate's. The vases of the piano, two of them are Kate's. The mirror by the office door is also hers. Do you want me to go on?" Lanie asked, smirking.

"No, I'm fine. I get the idea."

"Well Lanie, if we are ever robbed, I suggest you call the insurance company and just give them the list of what of our things are missing." Rick laughed

"Our Things. You have anything else to announce write-boy?" Lanie asked, excited.

"What?" Rick asked, completely confused.

"You said our things. As in 'what's mine in yours'?"

"Lanie, don't get ahead of yourself here. One thing at a time please." Kate said, smiling at her friend's excitement.

"Well, you're the one who told me you wanted to marry Castle." Lanie remarked, a knowing smile on her face.

Kate almost chocked on her drink at her friend's words. Why was she bringing that up now? In front of everyone? In front of Rick!

"Well, that's interesting." Rick said. "And when did she say that?"

"On New Year's Eve. While we were getting ready for your party." Lanie answered. "And she also said she wanted Castle babies." she continued, taking a sip of her drink.

"Oh yeah, I know about that." Rick said, smiling and kissing Kate quickly.

It was Lanie's turn to choke on her drink.

"Did you give her something to drink before you came over?" Kate asked to the others.

The three of them shook their head, sort of shaken by everything that had happened in the last thirty seconds.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

Dinner had passed nicely. Everyone shared stories and laughed. They were just finishing the main course when someone knocked at the door.

"I'll get it." Alexis said, letting the other go on with the talking.

All conversation stopped, however, when they saw who Alexis was bringing with her when she got back to the table.

"Captain? What are you doing here?" Kate asked, failing to hide her surprise.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your dinner Detective but I need to speak with you and Mister Castle." Gates said, looking concerned.

"Sure. Uh … we could go in my office." Rick offered, rising from his chair. He looked at Kate who nodded slightly.

The three of them headed to Rick's office, leaving all the others at the dining table, completely astounded.

Once in the office, Kate closed the door behind her and looked at her captain, looking really worried.

"Well, I guess there's no point in delaying it. Your … let's say public announcement during the New Year's Eve caught the attention of the Police Commissioner and … well he's not really pleased the situation." She stopped, judging their reaction. Rick was clenching his fists and Kate was very, very pale. "Kate, maybe you should sit down, you look like you'll faint."

At the Captain words, Rick look at his girlfriend and she did look on the verge of collapse. He guided her to his chair and sat her down. He rounded the chair and placed himself behind her, his hands on her shoulders to try and keep her calm.

"Well, I don't want to be mean, contrary to what most of you seem to think, I was not born to annoy you, but I have to tell you, you couldn't actually think you would get away with it without any consequences." Gates said.

"No, but at some point you just can't live in hiding. It just … eats at you all the time." Rick tried to explain.

"Don't get me wrong, I completely understand, but you should also understand that this will change the dynamics in your work relationship."

"But Sir it's been six months and nothing had changed." Kate said, before realizing what she had just said.

"Don't worry, I knew. I just decided to give it a go. And to be completely honest, I was waiting for the slightest problem to give you my point of view on the situation. But I have to admit it, you were good at keeping it to yourself. Now as you may know the Commissioner is really by-the-book. Worse than me, and yes that is possible." Gates added, a small smile on her face.

"What … what is going to happen now. Will Rick have to go?" Kate asked, her hands gripping Rick's, tears gathering in her eyes. She was not usually that emotional, and certainly not in front of her boss. But the mere idea of having to have to work without Rick was just unbearable. At the beginning, she couldn't imagine working with him, now she couldn't imagine having to work without him.

"Well, that's what the Commissioner suggested. However – and I swear, if what I'm going to say gets out of this room, I'll deny it – I managed to spare M. Castle involvement with the precinct. He accepted on one condition, seeing how M. Castle has been more than helpful since he joined the team. So, he asked that Mr. Castle get official certification. Because, let's be honest, he is more than a simple consultant now."

"What does that mean?" Rick asked, not really understanding what was expected of him.

"You'll have to go to the Academy." Kate said, looking from Gates to Rick.

"If you join the Civilian Training Program and if you graduate, he's agreed to keep you. You would be a proper consultant then. Well, I'll let you think about it. I would just need an answer by the end of next week to sort out the paperwork."

"I'll do it!" Rick exclaimed, surprising Kate and Gates, and eve himself.

Soooo ... did you see THAT coming? (well I hope not otherwise this question is really stupid lol)

Tell me what you thought of this chapter ;-)