Hello all! Thank you for the continued interest, lovely reviews and alerts. As a reminder, since I haven't put one in a long time: just borrowing the characters and having fun with them. Mistakes are mine.

Recap: Kate and Alexis spent a whole day looking for the perfect puppy for Rick. They finally found him, and took him back to her place. But, everyone ended up back at her apartment because they wanted to see the new puppy. Unfortunately, with no one supervising Rick, he ended up there, too. Kate had to think fast to get everyone hidden and him out of her apartment before he spilled the beans about Esposito's plans to ask Lanie to marry him. You can see the puppy here: /entry/8082803

Chapter 47 – Better Late than Never

Tuesday, Kate walked into the precinct later than she had planned. Her Canis lupus familiaris alarm clock had gone off more times in the night than she'd thought possible. Every time she looked over the edge of her bed at the whimpering pup, she felt guilty for leaving him in his so-called "comforting" kennel.

She finally gave up and let the little creature into her bed—she couldn't take those sad puppy eyes looking at her through the carry-cage door any more. He nosed his way under her blanket and settled next to the curve of her side—just like he'd done the previous few nights. She spent the next part of the night worried about smothering the little guy. When she finally slept, she woke to not to her alarm clock, but to Little Creature—as she dubbed him in her mind until Rick could officially name him—crawling over her neck, seeking more warmth. She moved him once, but he returned.

She'd picked up the floppy puppy then, and held him above her head, with his nose hanging down to hers.

"Listen, Mister. You're in my bed. That right there's pretty damn rare. But you do not get to sleep on my neck. Capice?"

He licked her nose, and Kate quietly chuckled at his timing as she sat him back down on her chest.

"Ah, a comedian, eh?"

Little Creature leaned forward seeking her neck again, but this time slid off her should her onto her mattress.

"No?" Kate answered for him.

He licked her neck once, and then again.

"A charmer then, huh?"

Then Rick's puppy buried his nose under her neck.

Yeah, you'll fit right in, Kate thought, her "you do remind me a little of hooch" comment coming to mind. It was like that in reverse. Little Creature was Castle's canine counterpart.

But Rick had yet to make her late for work. His puppy on the other hand? He'd made her late two days in a row. Monday, the day before, she was just a little late because she spent too much time trying to get him to walk on a leash without realizing how much time had passed. Today, she was really late because the puppy had messed in the gym bag she was using to carry him in and out of her building without anyone noticing.

And what a mess! She'd debated throwing the gym bag out the garbage chute, but decided she had to wash the puppy anyway. She rinsed the bag in the tub and threw it in the washer. Then she washed the pup—three times—because she knew she'd end up putting him in her bed again. Then, finally she'd cleaned her bathtub, and that's what she'd been doing when Alexis let herself in.

"Kate!" Alexis said in surprise when she stepped into Kate's room. "What are you still doing here?"

"Don't ask," she said, pulling her t-shirt off, and switching back into her blouse. The bathroom door was open, but she was mostly obscured and she wasn't wearing a revealing bra, so she wasn't too concerned about embarrassing herself or Alexis.

The puppy followed the sound of this new voice and emerged from the bathroom. He was obviously fresh from the bath.

"Oh, Skippy. What did you do, huh?" Alexis asked, joining him on the floor.

Kate laughed. "Not Skippy. And trust me, it wasn't pretty."

"Least it wasn't your bed."

Kate didn't even bother denying that the puppy had slept in her bed.

"Sorry, Lex. I gotta run!"

"Don't forget to ask Lanie."

"'Kay. See ya tonight!" she called, thankful Alexis had her overnight bag this time.

Their original plan had been for Alexis to just stay there until Castle's birthday, but that hadn't worked out. She'd been there with Rick's puppy during the day, though, and Kate had been lucky she'd received no after-hours calls.

When Kate stepped off the elevator, her eyes were already on her desk, or more specifically, Castle's chair. He wasn't there. She glanced to the break room on her way to her desk and didn't see him there, either. She breathed a sigh of relief as she sat at her desk. She thought she was free and clear, but then her eyes traveled further, to the man leaning just inside the captain's door, listening to the office's occupants.

The man's back was to her, but there was no mistaking who those broad shoulders and that impeccably groomed mass of hair belonged to. Kate groaned. Castle was definitely there. And he wasn't just there. He was there and decked out in a nice pin-striped suit, fitted tight across his back, accenting his lanky torso. It was a modern fit, narrowing from his shoulders to his lean hips. It was different from other suits she'd seen him in. Not black or grey or even blue. Nope, this was a dark, rich mahogany. The suit had a sheen to it. It looked fancy. He looked…delectable. Kate sucked in her bottom lip. She liked the suit coat, but she wished he didn't have it on.

Kate forced her eyes away from him, thankful no one had caught her ogling her partner's backside, wishing for a better view. She took a look at her inbox, and wondered who she was going to piss off today. Yesterday, it had been two attorneys, each expecting her to be in different court houses at the same time. Today, it looked like it was going to be a union rep.

He wasn't pleased with her deposition regarding Officer Ojeda's discharge of his weapon two months ago. They'd responded to a domestic disturbance involving their suspect, and Officer Ojeda had fired unnecessarily. Now, his union rep was calling to make sure she was "of a clear mind" and not under any "stress" when she made her statement. Men like him pissed her off. Why doesn't he just come out and ask if it was me if it was my time of the month? This union rep wasn't doing his rookie any favors.

Kate sighed and saved the voicemail in a file for future reference, and opened up her notes related to this internal case to log the call.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Castle asked.

"Just your gender," she said before she looked up to the man now standing beside her desk.

When she did, she almost wished she hadn't. His suit jacket was open, revealing a silk brown tie against his crisp white shirt. French cuffs, mother-of-pearl links, a stiff collar, and a coral pocket square. It was really hard not to stare. And he seemed to know it.

Ryan and Esposito followed behind him, catching her attention. They were each in suits as well—a three-piece for Ryan, no tie, and a darker grey two piece with a slim black tie for Esposito. She glanced over each of them, eyes returning to Castle. They were all good looking men, but Castle was the only one who left her feeling flush.

"Did I miss a memo?" Kate asked, confused.

"Photoshoot," Castle answered.

"Oh, God! Don't—"

"Not here. This morning. I had one. Black Pawn wanted a new shot for the dust jacket."

Kate turned to the other two.

"I just always look this good." Ryan said, tugging on his lapels.

"Taking Lanie out," Esposito answered.

"You're doing that tonight?" Beckett asked.

"No! Not that. Told you. I need your opinion."

"Technically, you didn't. Castle did."

"Same diff."

Uh, no, Esposito. Not the same. Not the same. 'Cause talking to you doesn't…Concentrate, Beckett!

"So, what do you need me for?"

"There's too many. I need you to tell me which one."

"Have you even narrowed it down?"

"I told you, man. You gotta stop looking online," Ryan put in.

"You're looking online?" Castle asked.

"Not just online. But those sales guys. They circle like sharks. I can't think when they're there."

"And you're sure?" Beckett asked.

"What kinds of question is that? Of course, I'm sure. It's Lanie."

"Trust me," Castle said all cocky-like. "A man does not ask for the 'ole ball and chain unless he's sure."

"I'm just…it seems soon."

She knew they were living together, though Esposito still had his own apartment until the lease was up. And Lanie was serious about him—but Kate was still concerned. It was a big change from the Lanie who wanted to keep it casual—who always wanted to keep it casual. It had been a long time since she'd been in a committed relationship. Still, Kate couldn't deny that she'd been dropping hints, talking about marriage and babies and Ryenny and forever more than she ever had before. But it had only been…what? A month?...since they decided to stop seeing other people.

"You think Lanie'll say no?" Ryan worried for his partner.

"No. I'm just…"

"Projecting?"

"Shut-up, Castle."

"Well, I'm not asking now. Over the 4th, when we've got some time off. Besides, we don't have to get married right away. It's just…just so she'll know."

"So, what are you worried about?"

"I gotta find the right one! I mean, come on. She wears silver and gold. How'm I supposed to know what to pick?"

"I thought the whole point of picking was to pick what you think she'd like?"

"But, you said it yourself…Lanie loves diamonds. You gotta help me find the right one."

"Shouldn't she be the first woman to see it?"

"You think I should let her pick it?"

"I didn't say that…but, Lanie does love shopping."

"Hmm."

"Don't do it, man!" Castle advised.

"No…Beckett might be on to something."

"Yeah, you just better make sure she knows about that two months' salary rule," Ryan said in all seriousness, as the two headed back to their desks "or your bank account will never recover."

"Two-month salary rule?"

"Dude, do you read anything?"

"Well, I'm not sitting around with Vanity Fair."

"Two months' worth of money, man. That's what you're supposed to spend on a ring."

"Joder! That's like—"

"Yeah, man."

"Shit."

Castle laughed at Esposito's obvious shock, and shrugged out of his suit coat. Kate pulled a manila file folder in front of her face, willing him to turn around before sitting down or to walk to the break room or something, but he didn't.

"So?" he asked.

"So, what?"

"What's up?"

"Nothing."

"Why are you frazzled?"

"I'm not."

"You are. And you were late."

"I wasn't late," Kate said straight-faced, trying not to smirk at his confused scowl.

"Right. You weren't late. That's why Ryan drank your coffee."

It was Kate's turn to scowl at him. "What have I told you about giving away my coffee?"

"Eh, it was cold by the time he got it anyway."

"Better have been."

"I waited for you."

"I'm here."

"Me, too."

"You don't need to be. No case, Castle."

He shrugged, and she didn't bother arguing. She could tell he wasn't going anywhere, so she dug in her top left drawer and pulled out a pad of paper. She took a pen from the cup on her desk and slapped it on the pad as she pushed it toward Castle.

"Here. Take notes."

They spent the rest of the morning leaned over her desk, heads together as they looked for inconsistencies among the case files piled high on her desk. They broke for coffee twice, but otherwise lost track of time. By one, when Castle's stomach growled, he suggested lunch, but Beckett wanted to keep working. She had been late, after all.

Castle left, promising to return with tasty sustenance, but Kate wasn't worried—Castle always chose well. In fact, half the time when she ordered, she found herself wishing she'd ordered the same as him. Castle's always seemed to look better.

Kate took advantage of Castle's absence and went to visit Lanie. She found Lanie eating at her desk—thankfully not on the exam table like Perlmutter did.

"'Bout time you made it down here! I heard you were late. That puppy make it to your boots or he still alive?"

Kate laughed. "Still alive. Thankfully, so far the only things he chews on are his toys, but…he did make a hell of a mess this morning." Kate filled her in on her adventures with Little Creature over the last couple of days.

"So, we didn't get to do our girl's night...tomorrow night instead?" Kate asked. "Pizza or Chinese—your pick?"

"You sure? Night before your boyfriend's back?"

"Lanie! You know we are over."

"Sorry. My point, though. I know you. Normally, you'd want to be alone."

"But this isn't normal. Josh and I already broke up…or tried to. This is clarification. And he'll get my messages when he gets back—maybe even before if he checks his email, so he'll know."

"Have you heard from him yet?"

"No, but I expect to tomorrow. I mean, if he's due back on Thursday—"

"You know, I don't get you, Kate. You hunt down his mom for a phone number. She tells you to contact the program director."

"Which I did. He said it was for emergencies only. Breaking up with a boyfriend doesn't constitute an emergency!"

"So, you'd rather wait?"

"Obviously. That's what I did."

"Wait's almost over now."

"I know," Kate smiled more brightly than most when do when envisioning a breakup.

She'd mellowed toward Josh over the last few weeks. After the things he'd said and the way he'd treated Castle, she didn't have a soft spot for him, but she could see things from his perspective. Mostly, she just felt bad for him. She'd known they would never accumulate to anything more than what they were from the start. Sure, they were attracted to one another, but it would never be anything deeper.

She couldn't give away pieces of herself that weren't even hers anymore. She'd taken a while to realize it or admit it. And for that, Kate felt a bit guilty. Because Josh didn't know that their coming together was superficial—just like he didn't know so much when it came to her. And he didn't even know that he didn't know, but everyone else did—and that made it worse.

Above all, Castle knew. He knew her. Knows her. And she strongly suspected he knew what she was doing with Josh even when she didn't. And for that, she felt a lot guilty. But she was dealing with it—she'd spent much of the last few weeks quietly making her amends, not just to Castle, but to herself and her mom as well. She was finding her center, cleansing her conscience; being with Rick helped.

On top of her soul searching, she was trying to pin down all the things she'd done wrong with Josh and in past relationships so that she wouldn't repeat them with Castle. It wasn't a long list. Maybe that's what happens when you don't have real relationships or maybe Kate was cocky, but she truly didn't believe she was in the wrong. So what if she didn't open up? They weren't the right ones. And they obviously couldn't have been because Castle was. Is.

Nothing she came up with seemed to apply when she considered a relationship with Castle. He already knew her. Sex too soon, like she categorized sex with Josh—hot or not—would not be an issue. Trusting him was not an issue. Attraction and compatibility were not issues. His mother would not be an issue. The daughter thing was new, but definitely not an issue. Publicity? She could deal. She was learning to deal. Other women? She trusted Castle, and she carried a gun. And cuffs.

And, dammit, she'd use them on him. Especially, if he didn't stop wearing—

"Earth to Kate."

"Have you seen the boys today?" Kate asked suddenly. "They're all in suits."

"Guess I don't have to wonder where you went."

Kate's upper lip curled in the sneer she was so quick to fall back on.

"And to answer your question, yes, I saw Javi. He's a hottie. Ha. That's what I'm going to call him from now on."

"Javi the Hottie?"

"Looks good, donchya think?"

Kate nodded, but shrugged.

"But you had your eyes on Castle, huh?"

Kate smirked. "Looks better."

"Nuh-uh, Girl. Don't buy it. I helped dress that man. I know how good he looks."

"Mmm-hmm."

"Oh, my god! You're totally turned on right now!"

"Mmmm. May be." Kate blushed. She was. She could lift her hands off the steel exam table and see the outlines caused by the heat emanating from her body.

"See? This is why you should have let the program director call Josh. You could be taking care of this right now. Hell, I wouldn't have given him the courtesy."

Kate groaned. She did not need to be thinking these things! She straightened, knowing it was time to head back up.

"Poor Kevin," Lanie said, shaking her head. "No one's here to appreciate his efforts."

"I bet Jenny laid out his clothes," Kate said, heading for the morgue's swinging door.

"Did you see that anniversary tie?" Lanie asked, in obvious disagreement.

"Later, Lanie!"

"Pizza!" Lanie called, but Kate was already out of sight.

Back upstairs, Kate found Castle already digging into his sandwich. It looked messy, so she detoured into the break room for extra napkins and stopped at the vending machines—Coke for him, Sprite for her. When she sat down in her chair, she discovered a large container of fruit in her spot. She grinned widely. Perfect. That man.

"Thank you, Castle," she said, popping a piece of cantaloupe in her mouth.

Castle watched as she half-closed her eyes and hummed.

"This is delicious." She held out a chunk of pineapple for him to try. Mouth full, Rick just shook his head and nodded toward his sandwich. He hated to decline her proffered fruits, but there was something incredibly sexy about watching her eat something she loved. He was glad he'd picked that over the heavier sandwich he'd considered for her. Very glad.

"Your loss," she said digging for a blueberry. She sighed in contentment. So much better than a sandwich. She wondered how he had known when she hadn't?

She'd intended to work through lunch, but they ended up just talking. Rick told her he was losing Alexis for the next couple of nights—that she was staying with Paige. Without even thinking, Kate made the mistake of saying, "Oh, so they worked things out?" and mentally kicked herself. She recovered before Rick could question her, by explaining that, the last she knew, they were still trying to figure out where they were going to do their girl's night.

Through with lunch, Kate cleared their trash and wiped down her desk. She placed the leftover fruit, on the corner of her desk—knowing Rick would snack on it. When she returned from depositing their cans in the recycling bin, she found Castle digging in his messenger bag. He glanced around the bullpen to see how many people were around then he looked at Kate expectantly, waiting for her to sit down.

"So, I was going to give this to you this morning when no one was around, but..." he smirked, "you were late."

He pulled a stack of envelopes from his lap into her line of sight. He'd tied them with the same twine he'd used when he sent her the gardening tools for Mother's Day. He was sure it wouldn't be lost on her and he knew she'd know what the envelopes were right away.

"I picked these up from the printer's yesterday afternoon. Of course, the others all went out a while ago, but I thought you might want to hand deliver these."

Rick watched her carefully, as she played with the twine bow. Kate's eyes were shiny, when she brought her eyes up to meet his. A raspy "Rick" was all she got out. She wanted to thank him, but she couldn't speak around the lump in her throat. Instead, she grabbed his left hand in her own, and held on tight. He knew what this meant to her. She didn't have to say anything; it was written on her face.

"Go on, Kate. Open it."

Reluctantly, she released his hand and picked up the stack of envelopes. She pulled the string binding them together and read the first name: Det. Javier Esposito. It was either a fantastic calligrapher's font or they'd been hand-printed. She couldn't tell, but her eyes were admittedly a little blurred with emotion. She flipped through the rest of the stack. Det. Kevin Ryan and Ms. Jennifer Duffy-O'Malley. Capt. and Mrs. Roy Montgomery. Dr. Melanie Parish—she hoped Lanie wouldn't kill her for that; she loved the name Melanie, but Lanie? Not so much.

Mrs. Josef Petersik . She knew her grandmother would appreciate the formal form of address, especially for an event honoring their daughter. Mr. James Beckett. She'd sent Sheryl a separate invitation. She knew they'd come together and she was fine with that, but at the time, she couldn't bear the thought of putting another woman's name on the invitation. She didn't think she'd do it differently even now. Not for something like this.

She flipped to the last one. Det. Katherine Beckett. For some reason, this surprised her. She hadn't anticipated getting an invitation to the event she helped plan. She set the others down on her desk and ran her finger over her name, and then along the top edge of the envelope. She tapped it against her hand and flipped it over. She traced the sealed edge with a slightly trembling finger.

"Are you going to open it?" Castle asked.

She looked up at him again then, and back down to the envelope cradled in her hands. "I—I can't. Not right now." She felt too exposed.

Her words caused Castle to wince, just ever so slightly, and she knew he was afraid he'd done something wrong, so she reached out to him again, putting her hand on her arm.

"Really. Thank you, Rick." She smiled at him. "And you're right. These are exactly the ones I would have picked for hand delivery, but I'd have put yours in this pile, too."

Actually, she knew she might hand deliver them all, but the captain's, Esposito's and Ryan's would all be left on their desks—they'd know where they stood and what it meant to her, but they wouldn't have to have any sappy, awkward exchanges. Only Lanie, her dad and Babi would get theirs in person. Hopefully, Lanie would keep her from crying. Her dad—she wasn't sure. Babi? She'd definitely tear up.

"Not too, worry, Detective. I have mine at home."

"So, I don't have to make a house call?"

"Oh, you're still welcome to make a house call."

Kate laughed at him. He had to know his waggling eyebrows ruined his attempt at a serious expression.

"Switch?" she said, holding out a case file to him. "You read, I write?"

"What? No. No one can read what you write."

"Can too."

"Can—"

"Hey, Castle," Ryan called, from the hall by the elevators. "You've got a visitor."

Castle looked over and grinned at the tall, big-bellied woman with the short auburn hair.

"H-hey! You made it!"

Though they'd never met in person, Kate immediately recognized the woman walking toward them and stood with Castle. It was Stephanie, his cousin and financial advisor. Wife to his best friend, Karamagi. Kate had never met either of them in person, though she had seen pictures of them on Facebook and she had an on-going game of "Words with Friends" with Rick, Karamagi and Alexis.

Castle grabbed Kate's hands—both of them—and pulled her toward the other woman.

"How's my namesake?" Castle asked her.

"For the last time, we're not naming the baby after you. We don't even know what it is," she said as Castle planted Kate's hands on his cousin's belly along with his own, even as Kate was pulling back.

"Ricardo. Richelle. I'm good with either."

His cousin slapped at his hands. "Stop doing that. You're embarrassing her. Besides, when they're this big, you can't feel anything."

Steph grabbed the hand that Kate was still trying to pull away. "If you want to feel," she said, gliding Kate's hand lower on her abdomen, "try here."

Kate cheeks tinted while Steph pressed their hands against into the underside of her belly. "That's his bum. He's sitting sideways, helping make me look wide as a whale."

Kate laughed. "I'm surprised you can tell. And you look far, far from whale-ish. It's nice to meet you, Stephanie."

"You, too, Kate."

"Small fish at best," Rick teased. "Really, you're beautiful, as always." He pulled his cousin in for a hug.

"Missed you, Ricky."

"Me, too."

"But…good news! We're coming home!"

"Really? That's awesome! When?"

"Apartment hunting this week. I'm going back full time to the firm after the baby's born and Magi's decided not to renew his contract. He really likes being at the UN better, and I hate DC."

"Here, I know a guy," Castle said, pulling out his phone.

"Of course you do," Steph laughed. Turning she winked at Kate. "Now that I've got him occupied with his gadget, how are you, Kate?"

"I'm doing well."

"Probably strange for you. Rick talks about you so much I feel like I know you."

"It is a little odd, but trust me, I know a fair amount about you and Karamagi and, of course, the kids."

"Speaking of," Castle said. "That's the really important question. Where is your better half?"

"He's coming up with Matteo."

"And KaraLynn?"

"She's with your mom"

"What? Are you insane?"

"Oh, stop it! She did just fine with you. She's giving her a tour of the theatre."

"Even better," Castle said rolling his eyes.

"Uncle Wicky!" a child's voice boomed through the bullpen, while the man holding him struggled to keep the leaping boy in his arms.

Karamagi stepped up next to his wife and friend, in time for Rick to reach out for the far-leaning boy before he toppled out of his father's arms. For only having just turned three, he was a tall, hefty kid with adorably chubby cheeks and next to no hair on his head. Looks wise, he reminded Kate of his father who had the same round head, and the solid, stocky—but not fat—build.

Karamagi was smartly dressed, in a three-piece suit, tie, shiny shoes and thick-framed, trendy looking glasses. Kate had it on good authority that it wasn't just a dressy day for him. No, according to Castle, Karamagi was always very formal. He said, even in college, Karamagi's pajamas were silk and collared, buttoned all the way up to the top. It was a wonder they were even friends—Rick's words, not hers.

Karamagi and Rick shook hands and hugged the best they could with Matteo between them. "Magi, my man! It's so good to see you! And you're coming home!"

Karamagi smiled one of the biggest, brightest smiles she had ever seen. He had the darkest, blackest skin possible which contrasted with the straightest, most fantastically white teeth she'd ever seen. His smile and genuine affection for his friend and family was quickly categorized as one of the most brilliant sights she'd ever laid eyes on. Kate had liked him before—just knowing what he meant to Rick and Alexis—but she liked him even more in person.

"Ha ha. Yes. A few months still before it is official, but I'll have the same position even. We are very excited, are we not, Matteo? Especially Mama."

"So, I've heard."

"Now, Ricky, it is time, don't you think, for me to meet this lovely lady?"

"Of course. Karamagi Iacocca, master of thirteen languages, I'd love for you to meet, Detective Katherine Beckett, also known as Nikki Heat."

This was yet another thing Kate already knew about Karamagi. His language expertise was part of the reason he'd been sought out by the Obama administration. Russian was not one of the languages he'd mastered, but he could speak French with her grandmother if the two ever met—on top of Italian, German, Swahili, a few tribal languages, Mandarin, and a few others she couldn't recall.

"Not known as Nikki Heat," Kate corrected, holding out her hand, which Karamagi turned in his own and bent to kiss. "It's nice to finally meet you in person, Karamagi."

Karamagi followed up the hand kiss by gripping her arms and placing a kiss on each cheek as he answered her. "Not near as pleasant for you, Katherine, as it is for me."

"Please. Feel free to call me Kate."

"Oh, don't take it personally," Stephanie said, "He calls everyone by their given names. But if you really don't want him to, he won't. For some reason, 'Ricky' here is the only one with a nickname."

"Ha ha. I told you. We are sworn to secrecy. You shall never hear that story."

Karamagi had an accent, but, oddly, he sounded British, which surprised Kate knowing he'd grown up mostly in South Africa and then Italy with shorter forays in England and France. And he didn't just laugh, he actually said "Ha ha."

"That bad, huh?" Kate asked, laughing at the face Steph made at her husband.

"That good," Ricky assured.

"Surely, you have methods to make him talk?" Stephanie asked her, nodding toward Castle.

"I do."

"She'd never break me."

Kate raised her eyebrow at his challenge, lowered her head and crossed her arms, giving him "the look."

"Ah, uh, of course, that's because, uh, I may have been," he paused his stuttering as Kate's eyebrow went higher, and finished rapidly, "uh, too drunk to, uh, actually recall this particular incident."

"So now the truth comes out! And she didn't even have to say anything!" Steph grabbed Kate's arm. "Oh, I love you!"

At that same time, Matteo lurched forward, grabbing onto Kate's neck.

"Matty, honey. You can't do that."

"No, he's fine," Kate said, adjusting the boy in her arms. He was larger than her cousins' kids had been at this age, but she could tell he still loved to be held. He was playing with her hair.

"He's not liking that I can't carry him anymore," Steph explained. "And, he's not been happy that I just chopped off all my hair. Easier with a new baby, but he's not adjusting well."

"I'm sure it's hard. He's been the little brother. Now, he has to learn to be the big brother, too. But, I bet you're going to be the best big brother in the world, huh, Matty?"

He nodded, all wide-eyed.

"Would you like to see my badge? Maybe meet a police dog?" Kate asked.

Matty nodded even more enthusiastically, so she took him to her desk and sat down with him. She had Ryan call down to see if anyone from the K-9 unit was in while Rick introduced his friends to the rest of the team. She offered Steph Castle's chair, but claimed she didn't want to struggle back to her feet. So, Kate played with Matty and observed the others while they talked. She loved seeing Rick so happy and animated, and having another part of his family home did that for him.

Karamagi and Steph made an interesting pair. Stephanie was as tall in flats as Kate was in heels, but Magi only had an inch or two on a flat-footed Kate. They had a fascinating story, especially Karamagi. They met at Rick's 30th birthday party—each only having heard about the other in passing—and were married six months later. Even more surprising, at the time, Karamagi had only recently left the seminary, deciding that priesthood wasn't right for him. He'd given it serious consideration though and remained deeply religious—which wasn't surprising given his background.

Kate had been captivated when Rick told her Karamagi's story. His mother had been a victim of gang rape in the northern region of Southern Africa. Pregnant and alone, she was taken in by some missionaries and taught general secretarial skills—filing, typing, phones and the like. They helped her find a job at the Italian Consulate in South Africa, where an Italian Consular fell in love with her—and her son—and kept coming back term after term until he convinced Karamagi's mother, Regina, to marry him and come live with him and his family in Italy.

Rick and Karamagi met during Rick's first term in college. They were roommates by second term. Karamagi offered advice whey Kyra left and was, as Rick tells it, the force that brought him back to reality when the money went to his head. Rick taught Magi to let loose and have a little fun, but for Rick, Karamagi was stable and forgiving and non-judgmental. And when Rick found out Meredith was pregnant and wanted to have an abortion, Karamagi flew half-way around the world to support his friend.

Rick wasn't at all sure he could do it. Be a father. Be there for Meredith. He was torn between letting Meredith do as she wanted and giving this child—his innocent child—a shot at life. A good life. Karamagi was the one who convinced him he could do it, who helped him discover what he truly wanted out of life for himself and his unborn child.

Karamagi had earnestly asked for permission to pray for him, and Rick, not believing, but knowing it was important to Karamagi, agreed. Honestly, it wouldn't have mattered to Karamagi, he'd been praying for his troubled friend since they met. It wasn't without its ups and downs and wayward paths, but it was safe to say that without Karamagi, Alexis might not be. And Rick certainly wouldn't be who he was.

Matteo had quickly lost interest in both her badge and her handcuffs, but the "COPY" and "FILE COPY" stamps on her desk were great fun. He wasn't yet wanting to leave by the time Steph and Karamagi were bidding their farewells and Rick was seeking assurance that they were still planning to stay at the loft.

"Will we see you on Thursday, Katherine?" Karamagi asked, lifting Matteo off her desk.

"Oh, I was just going to force or beg her to come at the last minute." In actuality, he hadn't mentioned it, knowing that his birthday and dinner with the family fell on the same day as Dr. Motorcycle Boy's looming return. The thought depressed him.

"I'll be there, Magi," Kate said, surprising and delighting Castle. "Alexis and Martha already invited me—probably to avoid kidnapping charges." She snuck a glance at Castle and savored his pleasure at her announcement.

"That would be detective-napping."

"Or woman-napping," Stephanie added.

"See? That's why you're not the writer in the family. Gotta dig a little deeper."

"Watch it, Ricky, or I'll have you investing in the world's worst performing markets."

"Stephanie, we really must go or we will be late," Karamagi put his hand on the small of his wife's swayed back, and began ushering her out of the bullpen. "You two can continue this later."

Kate said goodbye to them and got back to work while Castle walked them out.

"Sparky?"

"Scooby?"

Kate smiled at Lanie's guess. That was the closest either of them had come, and they'd been throwing out guesses for the last half hour.

"Sorry. No."

"Chance."

"Chase."

"Ooh, that would be fitting," Alexis exclaimed.

Kate left them there while she went to answer the knock on her door. Still smiling from Alexis' comment, she scooped up Little Creature on her way so he wouldn't escape into the hall. They were expecting the pizza delivery guy, but she should have checked the peep hole. It could have been Castle. But it wasn't. It was Josh. Back, apparently, a day early.

"Josh!" Kate exclaimed in surprise.

"Hey! You painted—" he said smiling, looking around her entryway that her father had painted a darker cream color when he painted her office blue.

"Honestly, what is it with these unannounced visits? Didn't you get my messages?" They were each speaking at the same time.

"And you got a puppy!" he reached out to pet the puppy, but Kate pulled him back, out of Josh's reach.

She lowered her voice. "I asked you to call and we'd arrange for you to get your stuff!"

"Yes, I did—" he said, reaching toward Kate and the puppy again.

"It's Castle's."

"But I didn't want whatever damn speech you prepared." His eyes darkened when he registered Kate's final comment.

They finally stopped talking over each other. Josh looked up and noticed the red head and Lanie come into view behind Kate. At the same time, Kate noticed the rolled up magazine Josh was twisting in his hands.

"So, it's true then?" he turned accusing eyes on her.

"Not exactly," Kate answered honestly. She turned around toward the ladies in her apartment. Alexis stepped forward and grabbed the puppy from her arms.

"I think it's time to take this little guy for a walk." Again, Kate thanked God that this girl was blessed with the grace of angels. Alexis grabbed the bag from the entryway and slid past them both.

Lanie on the other hand didn't look like she wanted to budge—not out of some bizarre need for rancid parlor entertainment, but out of concern for Kate's well-being.

"Please, Lanie."

"Fine. But we'll be back in 15 minutes." She turned to Josh. "And you. You keep your hands off her."

Josh looked at her, puzzled by her statement. He'd never touched Kate like she was implying. Was Kate spreading lies about him? Could be. She obviously wasn't all that honest.

The door shut behind them, leaving Kate and Josh in an unyielding silence. Kate didn't have anything she wanted to say; Josh had so much to say he didn't know where to start.

Kate turned and walked to her kitchen, she lifted the box she'd packed his things into from one counter and set it on the island between them, pushing it toward him. She didn't have anything at his place that she couldn't live without or didn't have in duplicate.

"Come on, Kate. Don't do this." He reached for her hand, but she didn't allow him to touch her.

"It's done, Josh. Since before you left."

"Because I left? I thought you were okay with that? With this?"

"No, Josh."

"No, it's not because I left or no you're not okay with me leaving? Because, I'll stay if that's what you want."

"It's neither, Josh. It's—" God, she didn't want to hurt him any more than she already had. "I'm—it's—look—I want to care that you're gone or care that you stay, but…"

"You don't."

Kate shook her head.

"It's Castle. Isn't it?"

Kate pressed her lips together. She wasn't about to discuss Castle with him.

"You couldn't wait to jump into his bed could you?" he said, raising his voice and waving, the magazine in front of her face.

"This has nothing to do with that and that's not even true!" she said pointing at the magazine.

"Right, Kate. I can see what's going on. I have all this evidence you're so keen on. His kid's here. His dog's here. There's this." He slammed the magazine onto her counter. "And you were going to him when I left, weren't you? That's why you didn't make it to the airport. My God. You couldn't even wait that long, could you?"

"This! This is why we will never work, Joshua. You keep accusing me of sleeping with Castle—even using him for my own benefit, but you don't know him and you don't know me!" She knew it would be no use defending her honor. He didn't believe her before and now he had all this "evidence." It brought her anger at him back to the forefront.

"That's bullshit, Kate."

"Yeah? What's my favorite color, Joshua?" She tried to avoid spitting the words out, but wasn't all that successful.

"Blue."

"Purple."

"Bad example."

"Where'd I go to school? What's my dad's name? Do you even know any of that? That I hate red roses, even? How I like my coffee?"

"And I suppose Castle knows all that?"

"Yes. He does."

"And whose fault is that? You know what? Never mind. It's hardly the point. Those are little things. We can work on this. I can learn—you just have to be willing to share these things with me."

"It is the point. We shouldn't have to work at it. Even just spending time together. It shouldn't be a chore. We should know things about each other—"

"And you know things about Castle?"

"I do. Weird things. Like how each he thinks each sock has a foot and how he—"

"So, you know he's just going to use you? Cheat on you? You'll just be another in a long line on women."

"You can leave. Now."

"Think about this, Kate," he said following her to her door.

"I don't need to think about it. You don't know anything about the man, but I can tell you this," she said spinning on him. "He's the better man. You know—all this time—he's never done anything but support me, even when I was being an idiot and choosing you? He's never treated you the way you treat him—even after you were an ass and hit him."

"Kate—" He tried again as she opened the door.

"No. You've given me enough reason to call this done. Even if Rick weren't in the picture. But he is, and you need to go." She forcibly moved him and his box of things to the other side of her threshold.

"Kate—"

"Let me be very clear this time, Josh. We are done. Over."

First: Kill Shot. Ah! So, so wonderful! Better than Rise, I think. It may be better than all other episodes.

Second: A lot happened in this chapter. Josh is finally gone! Yay! I know you've all been waiting for that—especially Widget! Hope the breakup struck the right chord, not too soft, not too angry. Let me know what you think!

Funnily enough, as much as I was looking forward to this breakup (and trying not to rush it), as it turns out, Kate in bed with the puppy is actually my favorite part of this chapter.

And Karamagi is intentionally an anomaly, and another grounding source for Rick. We've seen some of Kate's extended family, so I thought it was time we meet some of Rick's. Plus, I need Karamagi and Steph's kids for some upcoming stuff.

Finally: It's Thanksgiving this Thursday here in the States—my favorite holiday. (Well, that or Easter.) Good food and lots of time with family and friends with the pressure of gifts and spending lots of moolah. I hope you all take a moment to count your blessings and that you have lots of someones to be thankful for. And know, I'm thankful for all of you! Happy Thanksgiving!