Chapter Twenty-Eight

A/N: This is my favorite chapter but I'm super nervous. I'm going to go hide now and hope the reviews are good and not bad.

~Rose

"And ignite your bones"

Beckett:

The doorman at Castle's building knew me well by now, so he let me up without any fuss. I dashed to the elevator and slammed on the up button. It opened and I got in. Pressing the button for Castle's floor I willed the elevator to go faster.

I pounded on his door but there was no answer. "Castle! Rick! Open up!"

The door finally opened but it wasn't Castle on the other side: it was Martha. "Hello Martha," I told the elder red head calmly, "Is your son here?"

"Kate? Yes he's in his study," she answered.

"Detective Beckett?" Alexis asked walking towards us, "Do you want me to get my dad?"

"That would be great Alexis," I told her.

The young Castle disappeared to find her father leaving me with Martha. "Make every moment count kiddo," Martha said with a wink. Alexis had come back with Castle so I couldn't respond.

"Beckett?"

"Castle," I started. "I'm tired of us dancing around each other." I didn't care that his family was standing there watching; I only cared about him. I wrapped my arm around him and pulled him closer to me. My hand moved up his back and knotted in his hair. I pulled his head towards mine and planted my lips on his. I kissed him with all the passion I had and he returned that passion with his own kisses. I remembered that his family was standing there so I broke off from the kiss and looked into his eyes. I was ready. "Richard Castle, I love you."

"I have been waiting a long time to hear those words Detective Beckett. I love you Kate." He pressed his lips to mine again, but only briefly this time. He pulled away and I saw Alexis gaping and Martha smiling widely.

"It's about time," Martha muttered before leaving to give us some privacy. Alexis looked like she wanted to see what was going to happen but Martha dragged her off.

"Kate," he whispered. I silenced him with another kiss. "Do you know when I realized I was in love with you?"

"When?" I asked him, still in his arms.

"When I was being held captive by the 3XK. I honestly thought he was going to kill me but all I could think about was how afraid I was that I would never see you again."

"I knew I loved you when you kissed me to distract that guard when Lockwood captured Ryan and Esposito. In that moment I couldn't think of anything else; all I could do was kiss you back."

He kissed me again and when we pulled away we were both breathless.

"I wonder how much money Ryan is making off us." Castle joked.

"I don't really care anymore."

"Neither to I." Our lips met again. I could get used to this.

Alexis:

Almost all was right in the world again. My dad was safe and home, Detective Beckett's mother's killer was caught, and the two of them were finally together. I was happy for both of them. Everyone could see what they felt for each other so it was nice to see them finally admit it. I couldn't help but wonder how things were going to change around here. Would he eventually ask the detective to move in with us? I hoped so; it would be good for him to have a responsible woman in the house for after I leave.

Almost all was right in the world, but not all. There was someone I needed to apologize to. I picked up my cell phone and dialed a number I knew by heart. "Hello?" the person on the other end said.

"Ashley, it's me Alexis. Can we talk?"

Esposito:

All was calm at the precinct. It was my day off but I ran in because Grayson had asked me to come in. Ryan was with Jenny and Beckett was with Castle so I was there alone. As I walked into Grayson's office she looked up from where she was sitting at her desk and actually smiled at me. "You called Captain?"

"Yes Esposito. I just wanted to say that I know Montgomery was like a father to you, Ryan, Beckett, and even Castle. I know I will never replace him, and I wouldn't want to; but I am glad that you guys have finally excepted me into your family. I am sorry I tried to push you guys away from Johanna Beckett's case but I couldn't risk losing three valuable detectives. You did a good job solving the murder of all those people."

"Thank you Captain Grayson."

"Do you remember Marvin Barker?" she asked me.

"The brother of the ME that was killed? Yeah."

"Well he was grateful that you guys were finally able to solve his brothers murder. So grateful in fact that he left you guys these." Grayson held up some envelopes and handed one to me that had my name on it. I opened it to see a check for an obscene amount of money.

"I can't accept this," I said, still not believing the amount of money.

"He insisted. I'll give everyone else theirs on Monday but I thought I would give you yours as soon as possible. After all you have to pay off the bank loan you got to pay for Doctor Parish's engagement ring."

"How did you know about that?" I asked.

"I hear things too you know. So how long do you think it's going to be before Castle proposes to Beckett?"

"Knowing them, who knows," I laughed, "It took them over three years to even admit they have feelings for each other."

"I never thought I would say this, but they seem like a good match."

"Yeah they are," I admitted, "we've been saying that from the beginning."

Ryan:

"Hey Jenny, I was thinking we should go out tonight," I said to my fiancée kissing her forehead.

"Sure," she replied, "where?"

"I was thinking maybe Le Cirque."

"Le Cirque? Isn't that crazy expensive?"

I held up my winnings from the bet and smiled. "I think I have it covered.

"Where did you get all the money Kevin?"

I smiled again. "The little bet we had at the precinct about when we thought Castle and Beckett would get together."

"Little bet? You have to have at least two hundred dollars there."

"The whole precinct got involved."

"Apparently." Jenny leaned over and kissed me. "Remind me to never place a bet against you."

"Deal," I said kissing her again. I was one hell of a lucky man.

Martha:

I still couldn't believe that Jeff Callahan was behind Kate mother's murder. Naturally I was upset about that but I still couldn't help but to beam. My son had finally got the woman he loved. I fully approved of Kate Beckett. She was different from Meredith, Gina, or any other woman Richard had been with. I knew she would make him happy, and he would be good for her too. Jim would be pleased to hear they were together too. I wanted to call him to tell him myself but I knew it was something Kate should probably tell him herself. Oh what would one little call hurt?

I dialed his number while smiling. Is was about time that our kids finally saw what the rest of the world saw: that they were perfect for each other.

"Hello Jim it's Martha," I said into the phone, "You'll never guess what just happened in our doorway…"

Lanie:

"See I told you Grayson wouldn't be so bad," I told Javier.

"She isn't Montgomery but I think we'll all get used to her."

Javier and I were at his place discussing wedding plans when he told me about what Grayson said and about the money. I looked down at my ring, still not believing that I was engaged to this wonderful man. Everyone was finally all matched up. I had Javi, my best friend had writer boy, and Javier's best friend had Jenny. Jenny and Ryan would be getting married in a couple months and mine and Javier's wedding would be in about a year.

All was perfect among the twelfth precinct.

Castle:

Sighing with happiness I traced a line of kisses up Kate's neck and onto her cheek. After our declaration of love back at my apartment we decided to go to her apartment. We ordered Chinese takeout for supper and then watched an old movie we both loved.

"What will everyone think if we walk into the precinct together tomorrow?" she asked me.

"Well they already know we're together," I stated, "there is no way that isn't all over the precinct already."

"True," she admitted, "let them think what they want."

She moved closer to me on the couch and I wrapped my arm around her."We should really get some sleep," I told her, "after all you do have work tomorrow."

"We have work tomorrow," she corrected with a smile.

I ran my hand along her jaw line and moved in for another kiss. I started with her forehead, making my way down to her cheekbone, and I kept moving down until I finally met her lips. "I love you Kate Beckett," I said staring into the eyes of the woman I loved and would do anything for, "always."

"Always," she agreed.

A/N: Am I the only one who can't believe there is only one chapter left?

~Rose