Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

Here you are; the last chapter. *sheds a tear* I hope it was worth the wait!

When Rick came back into the living room, his hair was still damp and he was busy tucking in his blue button down, but the moment he looked over to the couch he stopped dead in his tracks.

Kate still held a sleeping Sophie, warm and tight against her chest, while Alexis sat close to her, their shoulders touching. The two were talking in hushed voices about who knew what, but smiling and cosy in a way that warmed his soul… and made him want to go back into the bathroom and maybe cry a little.

He'd been so worried that this might never to happen, not without a serious amount of pushing and probably begging on his part… or a miracle at least. That maybe she was too hurt by her past, too protective of his family's future to let herself take the risk. Yet here he was, staring at his miracle.

"Dad, it's about time!"

He focused quickly and not wanting to ruin the moment before him he put on his best smirk and made his voice as blithe as he could.

"Sorry I took so long, she got baby puke in my hair. This kid has some aim, let me tell you…" Rick grinned at Alexis's 'Ew, gross' look before glancing at Kate, the laughter in her eyes making his heart skip a beat and causing their gazes to fuse on a current of tangible electricity.

Alexis, obviously sensitive to the mood, interrupted the sudden silence. "Well, on that note, I think I'll go to bed, Dad. I have a test tomorrow."

He watched as his elder daughter (and how much did he lovesaying that!) got up from the couch and moved to kiss Sophie's downy head, sending Kate a wicked grin as some sort of unspoken female-coded message flashed between them.

This could have been, should have been, awkward; the three females he loved most in the world truly together for the first time, but somehow it wasn't. It was just… right.

Dropping a kiss to the top of Alexis's head as she passed by for a hug, he watched her climb the stairs, before she turned at the top and wished them all goodnight. Her eyes alight with mischief and happiness.

Rick stood a moment, breathing deeply, letting himself absorb the atmosphere of his home, enjoying the sea-change that had occurred tonight. Then he finally turned back to Kate, whom he discovered, had been watching him the entire time.

And he found he could stop neither his eyebrow lifting nor the tease. "Like what you see, Detective?"

The expected eye-roll made an appearance and that just made him grin as he walked over to her and deciding to play – and test the situation just a little - sat right next to her, in the exact space that Alexis had just vacated. Normally, he'd have expected a smack-down from her, at the very least that she'd shift herself out of his personal space, but not tonight. Tonight, she actually leaned in closer, letting the back of her shoulder rest against the front of his, and then she smiled that smile at him.

He gulped; just a little.

"And if I told you I did?"

He gulped again, only this time there was nothing 'little' about it. Really, he needed to get a hold of himself. If she was going to flirt like this, he needed to at least hold up his end of the conversation. It wouldn't do for her to think she could fluster him this easily for the rest of their lives, now would it? Even though he knew that she totally could.

"Then I'd tell you that I like what I see too. Especially right at this moment…" He couldn't help but lean just a little closer, letting his cheek almost brush hers as they stared down at the sleeping baby she held.

They stayed silent then, letting the sound of Sophie's breathing hold their attention for what could've been hours, but was probably closer to minutes as he just enjoyed the moment and anticipated the next.

"Rick, I…"

"Kate…"

They smiled at each other, amused at the cliché they just enacted. He told her with his eyes to go first.

"Rick. This thing… you, me, Sophie, Alexis…?" He felt her shift then as she turned her face so that she could look right into his eyes and he melted faster than chocolate on s'mores. "I just want you to know that I'm sorry it took me so long."

Rick thought his heart was going to beat right out of his chest, like some sort of Looney Tune character. She was finally here and really, truly saying it. Well, as close as Kate Beckett could come to saying it right now. And regardless of the words she chose, what counted was that he knew what she meant.

He should've known she wouldn't drag it out once she'd made up her mind. Hell, as soon as he opened the door earlier, he should've known that she'd decided. And that she'd obviously decided on him… on them? It blew him away.

In that moment, staring into her eyes, he was witness to everything he'd ever hoped to see from her. Watching her cradle his daughter, words failed him. And for a man who made his living by crafting eloquent phrases into entire novels, having absolutely no words to aid him now was telling in the extreme.

He smiled at the irony. The fact that two people who loved words as much as they did could find all the answers they needed in so few, humbled him.

And so he did the only thing that he could do in that moment.

He slid one arm around Kate Beckett's shoulders; his other underneath the sleeping baby to join Kate's and pulled both woman and child tight against his chest.

Then he gently lowered his head to hers and kissed the woman he loved for the first time.

The End.

(Epilogue to follow)

AN: So? Was it worth it? Let me know because I bounce around like a maniac at each and every review and if nothing else there is at least comedy value in that.

Epilogue tomorrow, folks. And just to let you know, the epilogue is my favourite chapter.