It was a beautiful May day, in more ways than one. Outside the sun was shining brilliantly in a clear blue sky where no cloud dared to wander in. The temperature had spiked overnight so they were waking up to a sticky eighty-one degrees. In the large auditorium of the NYPD's central location, Meredeth plucked at the knee-length hem of her dress as she checked the battery in her camera. Beside her, Honey-Milk was looking very pregnant and puffy in the sudden onslaught of pre-summer heat. She'd donned a loose fitting floral print dress and flat sandals with gel-sole inserts to give her growing girth the extra comfort.

'You want some water?'

'If I drink anymore water, that kid's either going to drown or give my bladder a kick and going to the bathroom these days has become a major event.'

'We can go get a Popsicle, if you want. This thing won't start for another twenty minutes, and I saw a guy running a Cornetto truck around the corner.'

'No way. The temptation to stay in the cold-truck is far too tempting.' Honey-Milk turned her shining face to Meredeth. 'Do yourself a favour, never get pregnant so you're in your last trimester going into summer.'

'I don't know if that'll really be up to me but I appreciate the sentiment.'

Honey-Milk nodded. 'Kevin's glad Esposito finally took his calls. What was up with that?'

'He just needed to pout a few days, then have his ass kicked. Lucky for him, when I do the kicking, there's make-up sex involved. Best kind there is, aside from holiday sex and what-if-we-get-caught sex. Any of those three get you in your condition, Honey-Milk?'

'No comment,' was her immediate response. 'Hey how come Lanie isn't here for this?'

'She traded the day shift with Perlmutter's trainee so she could see her new squeeze tonight,' Meredeth replied. 'She's bringing him to our little soiree.'

'And remind me why again, we're going to The Harbour?'

'Because when Castle said he was taking us and our boys out for a night on the town, yours said he wanted to go for something different and unique,' she said pointing at Honey-Milk, then at herself, 'and mine said he wants to take me out dancing.'

'Dancing? The guy had surgery two weeks ago to close a gun-shot and now he wants to go dancing?' Honey-Milk shook her head. 'You do love a weird one.'

Meredeth opened her mouth to agree with her, but heard the bellow of the drum major followed by the staccato rat-ta-tat of a snare drum. Both women stood along with the other spectators and turned, each holding a camera, as the NYPD's Pipe and Drum Band marched down the centre aisle to 'Scotland the Brave'. Behind the band came the Commanding Officer of Detectives, the Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan South, Captain Montgomery and behind him, Beckett, Esposito, and Ryan as well as the other uniformed patrol officers who'd been in on the bust to catch Ronald Sanders aka the Picasso Killer. All were in their spit-and-polish uniforms, complete with white gloves and previously-awarded medals pinned to theirs chests.

Tears sprang into Meredeth's eyes as she watched her cop, stoned faced and solemn, walk down the aisle. He'd forgone his sling as his dress uniform jacket gave him the necessary support. Unlike the others, who marched in with their arms straight down at their sides, he walked in with his left crooked at the elbow, hand resting over the buttons of his jacket. You wouldn't have guessed in the slightest, Meredeth pondered as she watched him walk to the raised platform, that only five days before, he'd admitted that his pain medication had taken the go-go from his mojo and he'd thanked her for a hand-job she'd given him to make him feel like himself again. Evidently, it had been exactly what the doctor ordered; he'd woken her up the next morning by returning the pleasure to her with his good hand before they got in the shower together and he'd begged her to make her chocolate-chip waffles. He hadn't done that once since he'd gotten home, when she'd offered to make them every morning for him and when he'd left the bathroom to dress while she brushed her teeth, she'd taken a moment to weep tears of relieved joy.

'They look great, don't they?' Honey-Milk whispered to Meredeth as their men walked past.

'Yes indeed they do.'

When the party reached the stage, Meredeth could see the Commissioner of Police, the Mayor and other assorted dignitaries - inexplicably including Castle - had gathered and were sitting on one side while the officers to be honoured went to the right and remained standing while the whole room sang the national anthem. Once they'd taken their seats, a tough faced mountain of a black man whose uniform was starched and pressed within an inch of its life approached the podium.

'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. I am Commanding Officer of Detectives Paul Bordelon,' he began in a voice that rumbled like a Mack truck. 'We have come here today to honour our officers of the Twelfth Precinct of Patrol Borough Manhattan South. It is because of these officers' dedication to the performance of duty, above and beyond the highly set standards of its Homicide division, that four families whose loved ones were taken so brutally and so tragically from them have found closure, if not comfort. I would like to call upon Assistant Chief James Milano, Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan South, to speak.'

Bordelon stepped back, took a seat beside the Mayor as a small Italian-looking man approached the microphone, adjusted it as he cleared his throat. 'Taylor Vincent, Prudence Ritz, Consuela Neves, Yook-Sin Kim. These four young women were taken from this world far too soon, by someone who believed he was above our laws. These seven officers you see seated before you went above and beyond the call of duty to apprehend him and prevent more tragedy from taking place. It is for this reason, therefore, that Patrol Officers Will Grimes, Zacariah Mendoza, Diana Mark and Jonah Grant are presented Medals for Excellent Police Duty, by the families of these four young women.'

Milano stepped back from the microphone as the four officers stood up and marched forward to have their ribbon pinned to their chest by brothers, sisters, husbands and parents, and shake the Assistant Chief's hand as he gave them their display medals. After the last one had returned to his seat behind the podium, Milano cleared his throat again. 'I would now like to call upon Captain Roy Montgomery of the Twelfth Precinct Homicide Division.'

Meredeth watched with eager anticipation as the coffee-skinned captain straightened his tie and spoke in his authoritative yet relaxed voice. 'For her exemplary leadership of a difficult and successful investigation, and for her bravery in the mission to apprehend the suspect, The New York Police Department awards Detective First-Grade Katherine Louise Beckett the Bronze Star Meritorious Commendation of Integrity.'

There was loud applause as Beckett stepped forward, and Meredeth could see her tell-tale swallow of someone fighting back tears as Montgomery shook her hand and spoke to her when he gave his detective the velvet box with her medal in it.

'For his bravery while incurring personal injury in the apprehension of the suspect, The New York Police Department awards Detective Second-Grade Javier Jimeno Esposito the Green Star of Exceptional Merit.'

This time, Meredeth didn't hold back the tears, instead letting them slide gracefully down her cheeks as she watched her man, still with his arm crooked approach Montgomery and receive his award. There'd been times in her life when she'd been prouder but at the moment, Meredeth couldn't recall them. She gripped Honey-Milk's hand tightly and felt her squeeze back in joyful support.

'For his exemplary bravery with complete disregard for personal injury in the apprehension of the suspect, the New York Police Department awards Detective Second-Grade Kevin Thomas Ryan the Medal of Valor.'

It was Honey-Milk now who squeezed Meredeth's arm tightly with one hand while the other supported her pregnant belly. Their heroes, she thought. Ryan had no sooner sat back down when Montgomery returned once more to the microphone.

'At this time, I would also like to present an award to the civilian consultant on this investigation. For his quick action to aid a fallen officer, it is my personal pleasure and honour to present to Richard Castle the Red Star of Civilian Service.'

Meredeth clapped loudly as she cheered for Castle as he walked to the podium to receive his honour, as loudly as she had for Esposito. She knew exactly why Castle was getting the award - had it not been for him calling the paramedics when they'd reached the building and knew there was a girl in with the killer, Esposito probably wouldn't be sitting on the stage watching his colleagues and friends be rewarded along with him.

There were other speeches and a short memorial video for each of the victims. By two in the afternoon, when Meredeth was certain she'd sweated out all her body's water supply, the pipe-and-drum corps marched the decorated officers out of the auditorium, followed by the dignitaries. Beside her, Honey-Milk held out her hand as the crowd began to disperse.

'A little help?' With a small groan Honey-Milk was pulled to her feet by Meredeth, and she sniffled slightly. 'God, I am such a whale now.'

'Come on there, Keiko, let's go find the boys.'

They made it through the crush of people in the reception room across the hallway from where the ceremony had been held. Since Honey-Milk's baby-bump arrived in places before the rest of her, they were given plenty of space as they made their way through the crowds. She scanned the various pockets of people, but Meredeth knew exactly where their hero cops would be found.

Sure enough, Esposito, Ryan and Beckett were all standing by the buffet along with Castle and the captain. Ryan had loaded up a plate with fruits and cheese and passed it to his bride the minute he saw her.

'You read my mind, sweetie,' Honey-Milk told him, greeting him with a warm kiss as she took the plate with him. 'And no. Get your own.'

'Congratulations, you guys, really.' Meredeth hooked her arm around Esposito's waist, pursed her lips when she saw the champagne flute in his left hand. 'You sure you can have that?'

'Doc told me this morning one glass wouldn't hurt. Besides I'm off the pain meds, just standard over the counter pharmacy stuff now. No different than having aspirin with a beer.'

'Ew.' But she kissed his cheek, then held out her hand. 'Let's see it.'

Esposito turned behind him to pick up the box he'd set on the buffet table and passed it to her. He'd been nervous as hell when he went into see the captain. He'd called her immediately when he'd been finished with the meeting, saying not only was he getting a star of meritorious service but that Ryan, because he'd tackled the suspect out the window like a full-back on Superbowl Sunday without a single hesitation, he would be getting the Medal of Valor and Castle would be getting a civilian honour as well. He'd gone home and celebrated with Meredeth; she'd drawn him a steaming hot bath with coconut milk-powder added to the water, then followed it up with a massage that had gotten him to a three. Combined with how she'd given him a little lovin' the night before, and he almost felt back to normal.

He'd never been so proud in his life as to see his Meredeth watching and waiting for him, camera in hand as he'd walked toward the stage. He'd wanted to scoop her up in a swirling hug then and there, but since he was only hours post-stitch removal and in uniform, he'd stayed where he was. Now, he could put his arm around her and sip champagne at the same time, which was essential at the moment.

'What do you think?' he asked her, as she ran her fingers over the medal. 'Pretty sexy, huh?'

'This part is. The not being able to stand your constant bitching, not so much.'

'Again, I'm sorry.'

'Well, you know how you're going to make it up to me.' Meredeth turned to him, lowering her voice as she tugged the front flap of his jacket. 'Think you could wear this before we...?'

His blood ran a little quicker in his veins, and he noted with a little beat of joy, into his loins; he patted his chest with pride at the boost to his male ego. 'You dig my blues?'

'Very.'

'Well, our night out on the town with the rest of them starts at seven-thirty tonight. Could be time for a little afternoon delight before we meet them.'

'How are you feeling right now, one-to-ten?'

'Maybe like I could hit three or four.'

She aid nothing, just pulled out her camera and flipped through one of the photos she'd taken the day before, when Ryan had taken him out for a bite to eat. 'How about if I wore that?'

Esposito tried to keep his eyes from bugging out of his head as he stared at the photo; the silk-and-lace she wore made the purple satin from their six-months look like a Victorian corset. 'Give me ten minutes, and we're out of here.'

R&R&Enjoy.