The next morning was hard. For everyone. Kate all but dragged herself to the precinct to finish the paperwork waiting for her. She really wanted to finish it as soon as possible so she really had the weekend off. Rick had asked if she wanted to go to the Hamptons for the weekend. She couldn't he had seen many pictures at the loft. She could definitely see herself lying on the beach, under the sun, Rick putting sun screen on her, his hands all over her body, untying her swimsuit …

"Kate! You're not coming in?" Rick asked from the elevator.

She went in, blushing when she realized she had been fantasizing about their weekend away from the moment they got out of the car and waited for the elevator to get to the parking garage.

"You were thinking about the Hamptons, weren't you?" Rick asked, smirking. "What could I possibly be doing for you to be so engrossed in it?"

"That's for me to know and for you to find out when it happens." she answers.

"When? Not if?"

"Oh no, believe me, it will happen. You just won't be able to resist." she laughed.

"Uh … now I'm intrigued. Does it involve whipped cream?"

"What? No! You are aware that there are security cameras and microphones in here right?" Kate asked. "You can't say things like that in here! There are officers who spend their entire day looking at surveillance cameras."

"Well, you should have said that before. How was I supposed to know? Wait … does that mean that they were watching us when we were stuck in the elevator? When I was reading to you?" Rick asked, blushing at what had been the beginning of them as a them.

"I don't think so. I mean, the power was out in the elevator so I think the cameras were off too. I hope so anyway." Kate said, thinking about it.

Before they had time to think some more about it, the elevator doors opened to the homicide floor. A quick look at Ryan and Esposito on the way to her desk told Kate they were not so awake either. Lea was almost asleep on top of the paperwork that was on her desk. Montgomery got out of his office with really big and heavy books in his arms. He put them on one corner of her desk which was bare of paperwork.

"What did you do to them detective?" he asked, looking at the three other detectives.

"Oh, we organized a dinner at home last night to tell them what was going on. Let's just say they were really happy for me." she laughed.

"Well, here are your books. If you need anything else, just ask."

"Thank you Sir."

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

She couldn't believe it. It was three pm on a Friday and it was the weekend. She had finished all the paperwork she needed to take care of and now she was free. She was not a detective anymore. Well, yes she was but she would not be working as one anymore. It was time to take the next step. Captain. It was good. But it was weird. Something else was weird. Rick was nowhere to be seen. He had been sleeping in his chair all morning. He went to get food for everyone, ate with them but then he left without any explanation. He had seemed to have a revelation during lunch. When they were finished, he gathered all the boxes of food, kissed her quickly and then rushed out. He was smiling, and this was scaring her. It was his I-have-a-great-plan smile.

"Hey Espo! Do you know where Rick is?" she asked as the other detective passed by her desk.

"No. Why would I know? I'm not the one who cannot live for five minutes without him." he mocked.

Kate sent a text to Rick saying that she was done and was coming home but he didn't answer. As she was packing her things, a messenger entered the bullpen with a giant bouquet.

"Is there a Detective Beckett here?"

"Yes, it's me." Kate answered.

"Sign here please." the messenger said, handing her the signing sheet before giving her the flowers. "Have a good day Ma'am!"

"Thanks, you too." she answered, looking for the card even if she already knew who sent it. Because really, who else than Richard Castle would send her flowers this big? She didn't even know how she was going to bring them home. Why didn't he wait for her to be back home to give her the flowers? Uh … he definitely had something in mind. She didn't like surprised. She trusted him, there was no questioning that. She just … liked to be prepared. Finally finding the card among the flowers, she sat in her chair.

"Kate, my love,

Congratulation on your promotion. I'm sure you're going to be the best Captain the NYPD ever had. I know the year to come will be intense for you, with studying and passing tests with the highest scores, that's why this weekend is about relaxing. I'm waiting for you downstairs. We're leaving now. Don't worry about packing, I did that for you. Just bring your extraordinary self and we're ready to go. Oh, and give the flowers to Esposito, he and Lanie will bring them home for you.

I love you

Always,

Rick"

Not wanting to waste a second of her awesome weekend to come, she brought the flowers to Esposito who did not seem surprised. He knew about this. Now Kate was even more curious. She said goodby to the team and left the precinct. She found Rick waiting for her in his Ferrari in front of the door. He was smiling form ear to ear and kissed her rather passionately when she got in the car. During the drive, he looked at her occasionally, love and adoration pouring out of his eyes. She was dying to know what he had planned – because given the look on his face, there was no doubt he had – but he looked so pleased with himself and so proud that she didn't want to ruin everything. If her not knowing was making him happy, she would not ruin it because of her natural ad almost destructive curiosity.

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

"Kate, honey, wake up." Rick said, rubbing her shoulder lightly.

"Are we here?" she asked groggily.

"Not yet, but I just realized that there is no food at the house so we have to eat out. And here is the best diner on the planet. We just have to eat here." he said, really excited.

"Ok." she answered, getting out of the car. Taking his hand on the way to the door of the restaurant, she added "I'm sorry I fell asleep on you."

"Don't worry about that. You'll need all the energy you can get, we have a whole house to christen ..." he whispered in her ear suggestively.

After their dinner, they got back on the road. This time Kate was awake and looking at the scenery. She had been on holidays in the Hamptons once before with her parents when she was ten, but she didn't recognize much. She was lost in her memories oh this family vacation when she felt the car slow down and heard the noise of gravel.

"Wow!" was all she was able to say when she saw the house.

She had seen many pictures of the inside but the exterior was breathtaking. It was really … Castle. Big, huge even, but it still looked homy and personal. There were plants on the front porch, flowers hanging under the windows of the second floor. There was also a balcony around the corner which disappeared behind the house, where she knew the sea was. The time she spent studying the house, Rick used to take the bags from the car.

"So, what do you think?" he asked, putting the suitcases on the floor and hugging her from behind.

"It's wonderful! It looks … perfect. Thank you so much for bringing me here." she said, turning her head to kiss him without moving from his arms.

After a few more minutes taking in the view and the romantic atmosphere surrounding the house, they moved inside. After offering a tour of the house – with an extra long stay in the master bedroom – Rick took Kate to the back porch to watch the sunset on the sea. They were sitting on the beach, his private part of the beach. They didn't move when they could not see the sun anymore. They just stayed in each other's arms, making the most of the silence. When Kate started to yawn, they moved inside and went to bed. She protested, she wanted to stay outside and admire the landscape, but Rick assured her she should get all the sleep she needed because the following day would be unforgettable.

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

After a long morning in bed and brunch on the back porch, Rick convinced Kate to take a walk on the beach. They walked on the edge of the water for a while, splashing each other like children. They talked about anything and everything and before they knew it they were back at the house. They changed into their swimsuits and headed to the beach again. Given how Rick was checking her out in her small purple bikini, Kate had no doubt her fantasy of the day before would become true. She was proven right when Rick said "Let me do that for you" when she took the bottle of sunscreen out of her bag. Later that day, she was grateful that there was nobody in the neighboring houses because things had gotten … out of hand on that beach.

Now, she was in their bedroom, showering. Rick had almost sent her away to change – in a dress that he had bought for her and displayed on the bed. Judging by his smile when he told her they were going out for dinner, this was the part of the weekend he had planned. When she was ready, she met Rick downstairs. He was dressed in black jeans and a white short-sleeve shirt. He stopped short when he saw her walking down the stairs. That one-shoulder knee-length purple dress looked so much better on her than it did in the store !

"So, now you can tell me where we are going?" Kate asked.

"Nope. It's a surprise! Come on, we're going to be late." Rick said, taking her hand and guiding her to the car.

The drive to wherever they were going was short.

"What are we doing at the marina Rick? We are not dressed to go sailing." Kate remarked.

"It depends on what kind of boat you are going my dear." he said, helping her out of the car.

"We are really going on a boat?"

"Yes we are. Now come on, we don't want to miss the sunset." Rick said, pulling her by the hand.

When the stopped in front of a yacht, Kate knew they had reached their destination.

"Is it yours?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

Who else would have called their boat The Alexis?

"Yes. I bought it when she was born. We usually go on it for a day or two during the summer. And tonight, it's all ours." he said, helping her to get aboard.

She watched him get busy. He certainly looked like he knew what he was doing. He went all over the place, doing things she didn't even know how to call.

"You want ti drive?" he asked when he came back to her.

"What? You don't have someone to drive it for you?"

"No. I usually do it myself. I hire someone when it's for a party or things like that. So, Detective-soon-to-be-Captain Beckett, you want to learn how to drive a boat?" he asked.

She nodded excitedly and he guided her to the cabin. After a few minutes Kate could do it on her own. It was not that complex. But she didn't say anything, enjoying the feeling of Rick's body pressed to her back. Plus, she didn't know where they were going … After about an hour, Rick stopped the engine and backed away from Kate.

"Why are we stopping here?" she asked.

"Because it's the perfect spot." he smiled. "Now, I'd like you to go in the bedroom and stay there for half an hour. Can you do that without asking any questions?" he asked, giving her his puppy dog look.

"Well, if you look at me like that, how can I say no?" she answered, kissing him lovingly.

He guided her to the master bedroom of the boat and left her there. Saying that she was really curious at this point would be useless. She was trying to imagine what he could have planned. Strangely enough, every scenario she could come up with ended with the two of them making love all night long on the deck. When he came back to get her, he kissed her slowly before taking her hand and leading her back to the deck. She stopped walking and breathing when she saw what he had done. He had completely transformed the deck! He had set a table for two in the middle, he had put small candles everywhere around and the sun was starting to go down at the rear of the boat.

"Rick! It's wonderful! Why did you do all of that?" she asked, turning to him.

"Do I need a reason? I love you and that's all the reason I need." he said, taking her hand and guiding her to her chair.

He left to get some drinks and their dinner and came back as quickly as possible. They ate watching the sunset. All was going as planned. He always knew that Kate was a romantic, even if she hid that part of her personality very well. Tonight was everything she could have hoped for. A wonderful dinner with an even more wonderful man on a luxurious boat, with candles everywhere … At some point, a couple of dolphins came jumping around the boat. Kate squealed like a little girl and ran to see them. It was his chance. When Kate noticed that Rick had not followed her she turned around.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed, a hand going to her chest.

Here he was, before her, on one knee, an open velvet box revealing a gorgeous and yet simple diamond ring in his hand.

"Kate, I realize that we have not been together for a long time but I love you. I've loved you since the first time I saw you and you pinched my nose. I also realize that this is about as much cliché as you can get for a proposal but … Kate Beckett, will you marry me?"

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