I DO NOT OWN "The Great Mouse Detective" but I DO OWN Kate, Jay Rose, Molly and Lidie Dunham. So now...enjoy!

Chapter Fourteen

Kate

It has almost been a year since I passed...my birthday. It's been pretty good for the last six months. Mom got her own place just down the street from us, Dawson and Mrs. Judson have been going out for the last four months after I confronted Mrs. Judson to just tell him.

Basil and I on the other hand have been great. When we're not busy with clients we're together as much as possible, but lately he's been a bit occupied with something, I just don't know what. I've asked him if its a case and he's been so vague about it. I didn't know what was going on, but I trusted him so I left him to it.

The day of my birthday, though I wasn't really planning on anything, my mother came over and decided that she was taking me out to lunch and shopping for my birthday. I went to tell basil that I'm going out and will be back later, but he seemed occupied with whatever he's working on and just went on out.

Basil

I waited till I heard the door close to let out a sigh of relief. I didn't have much time to get everything I would need, phone calls to make, and to my displeasure a rat to speak with. I had left promptly to get to the police station to speak with...Ratagin.

sitting behind bars with unkempt hair and a grey jumpsuit was the rat himself. He smiled in a dasterly way he normally did when he saw me.

"Basil ol boy, so good to see you. They told me you were coming to speak with me, but I couldn't believe it and here you are. What brings you here?"

"Ratagin...I've come to speak with you about Kate."

Amazing how he can go from the mad rat he is to the caring parent he used to be. He sat up straight and looked me in the eyes with a stern tone to his voice.

"Is she alright? My daughter isn't hurt, right?"

"She is fine. In fact it is her birthday today."

"Oh yes...I gave Lidie a card I had made for Kate a few days ago. Since I wasn't able to get her anything."

"Well, it is the thought that counts."

"Yes...so now if my daughter isn't hurt or in trouble then what about her are you wanting to discuss."

"As much as I would rather not, you are her father and thus I must ask you for permission..."

"Permission?"

Then I saw it as that grin of his came back as he figured out what I was about to ask him.

"Well now...why ask me? why not ask Lidie?"

"I have and she's in agreement with me, but...again I ask you because you are her father and I will do this right."

"Well, what if I said no?"

I just glared at him for this. I would still go on and do as planned, as Lidie told me he wasn't there for most of Kate's life so most likely his permission didn't matter, but for some reason I feel it would mean more to Kate knowing that I at least tried.

"Well...you are persistent aren't you?"

"For her, I am."

"And she's happy?"

"Yes, I believe she is."

"you believe or you know ol boy?"

"I know. I do everything I can to make her smile, be there when she needs me the most...even in her darkest hour."

"Good job ol boy...You have my permission."

I looked at him with an raised eyebrow, wondering if he was being serious or his old self.

"I'm being completely serious Basil...I wouldn't have given it to any old boy who would have answered otherwise."

I was surprised by this, but nodded my thanks to him as I left from the station to get what I still needed.

Luckily Kate was still out by the time I got home. Mrs. Judson was working on tonight's dinner when I walked into the kitchen...to show her what I had gotten for Kate.

"Oh my! That is beautiful Mr. Basil"

"I Just hope she likes it."

"I'm sure she'll love it."

"Thank you Mrs. Judson."

"Oh and the manager called. Said he'll have someone there to let you two in tonight as well as Dawson with the food and it's all set the way you asked."

"Excellent!"

Everything was turning out just the way I planned it. Kate out with her mother, getting permission for all of this, the dinner, everything was coming together. I had to start getting myself ready though because in an hour or so Kate would be coming home and when she does Mrs. Judson is going to take care of her as I slide past them and help Dawson get the food ready for him to take there. It was perfect and now it's just the matter of waiting as I went upstairs to get ready.

Kate

It had been great today. Shopping, lunch, then mom took me over to her home and gave me a salon day. I felt so good afterwards that I was floating on air. We made it back home only for me to find no Basil in his chair, but a Mrs. Judson near by.

"Hello Kate, Miss Lidie."

"Hi Mrs. Judson...what's going on?"

"Oh, we need to get you ready. Mr. Basil has a surprise for you."

"He does? he seemed so busy lately."

"Oh, but you know him. Never too busy for you."

"And such good timing, we did just get her this beautiful dress while we were out."

"Well good. Let's get it on you then and then we'll fix your hair."

I felt like I was set up as they escorted me up to my room. Thirty minutes later we were finished getting me ready in my green long sleeve off the shoulder dress, shoes and my hair, which took up about fifteen of those minutes deciding it whether to put it up or leave it down. I decided half and half and place a green ribbon holding the top half up.

"You look beautiful Kate."

"Thanks mom. It's not too...showy?"

"Nah, it fits you perfectly."

"Well...we better get you down there now."

"Am I leaving soon."

"Soon, yes...and he may already be waiting for you down there."

"I'm sure you're right."

We left my room to head down, standing at the bottom in the living room, wearing his black suit jacket with pants, grey vest, white button up shirt and black tie was Basil...and he looked awe- struck as he looked at me. I got to the bottom of the steps and twirled so he could see all of me. He closed his mouth and got his posture back as he walked up to me and bowed.

"My lady, you look stunning."

A blush crept up onto my cheeks, but I smiled as I curtsied to him.

"Thank you, you look very handsome good sir."

I giggled as he took my paw into his and kisses the top of it.

"We'll if you are ready, our ride awaits."

He puts his arm out for me as I take it and we leave for our ride.

Basil

I was dumb struck, she was gorgeous ...but then when wasn't she? When we got to the cab I blind folded her so she wouldn't know where we were going. I was amused by how curious she was, guessing at all the places we could be going while holding onto me.

When we made it, I helped her down, but I didn't remove the blindfold just yet. When we did I had untied her blindfold just to see her awe in amazement and surprise as she sees that we are the only ones in the theater and the stage had a candlelit dinner for two with candles lit everywhere and the backdrop from Raul and Christine's duet down as well. Watching her expressions of joy was my little gift to treasure.

I held out my hand and smiled as she looked at me with this big grin across her face. She took my paw and I guided her up the stairs onto the stage and had her seated first.

I must thank Mrs. Judson for the amazing three course meal she prepared for us, especially the cheesecake she made. Then I started to hear soft music playing and I got up to head over to Kate and held my paw out to her.

"Care to dance?"

"Yes, thank you."

Her paw fit so perfectly into my own as I pulled her up and together we glided across the stage. After the first few minutes I felt that it was time...I was so nervous, but I was ready. I had us stop for a moment as I tilted her head up to look at me.

"Kate...you mean so much to me. In this last year you've opened my eyes to the impossible and made me a better man for it. I could never imagine my life without you now. I'm glad I found you that night."

"Oh Basil..."

"Kate...I love you so much...and it's because of that...I can be brave enough to do this..."

I watched her expression grow wide as I go down onto one knee, holding Kate's paw in one while I held a small blue box in the other. Looking up at Kate as I did my best to breath.

"Kate...I love you...I love you so much and...I'm a better man because of you...would you do me the honor in letting me be your husband...you my wife...Kate Dunham will you marry me?"

I opened the box with one paw, revealing a gold band with a white jewel in the middle with a green on one side and a blue on the other. I saw her face light up with my proposal and the ring. What felt like hours was merrily seconds when I heard her say something.

"What?"

"...Yes Basil...I Do...I will marry you!"

My joy couldn't be said in words as I stood, sliding the ring on her finger, I spun her around in my arms. Stopped and took a moment to look into her beautiful brown eyes and drown in them as I stroke her cheek, but she got me with a question.

"What is your last name?"

"My last name? you mean it's not mentioned in the movie?"

"Unless it's of baker street then it's not."

"Oh...well that's easy to remedy...It's Rathbone."

I saw a smirk come across the face...as if there's a joke I'm missing here.

"Am I missing something here?"

"No...it's perfect."

I could only smile at her as I brought her closer to me. I tilted her head up some as I go closer. I whispered into her ear "Happy Birthday Kate, I love you." before I tilted my head and closed the gap between us, ending this night with the most passionate and joyous kiss I could give her.