When Castle woke up a few hours later, he was confused by the lack of sound he heard in the loft. Their home was rarely quiet, unless he was home alone, and even then it really wasn't all that quiet. A fear settled over him when he realized that it was too quiet. Perhaps Kate had realized he wasn't worth it after all. She could have made sure he was safe at home and bailed as soon as he was asleep.

He was surprised that he couldn't hear Alexis or his mother mulling around. They were usually chatting together, watching something on the television, or re-enacting some great tragedy in the life of Martha Rodgers. Whatever it was, they weren't quiet. He loved that about the home they had created together. It was one of the things he missed most about his life before the shooting. The loft was too quiet, but he hadn't had the energy to change it.

Castle listened in for another 30 seconds, and decided he was either alone or the rest of the house was asleep. For the first time since his shooting, he was completely alone. It was strange. The last few months had been spent flying solo the majority of the time, except, of course, when he was at the precinct. The majority of his life was spent with people. He needed the interaction, the energy, from those around him. He hated to be alone more than anything. Richard Castle was a people person. Lately, he had grown to appreciate living alone.

His daughter left him for Costa Rica. His mother had been MIA, now he knows why, but at the time he just thought she was avoiding him. Kate even left him for DC. So, he had to discover who he was when people weren't around. It gave him time to reflect and discover himself in a way he hadn't before. It was equal parts terrifying and eye opening. Castle had become a better person. He had become a better person for himself, and he hadn't ever done that before.

Now that he once again finds himself alone, Castle naturally begins to reflect on the last week of his life. No way could he ever have envisioned being shot by a subject, left for dead in a deserted park, Kate returning to nurse him back to health, and have his entire family around him when he returns home. He would have laughed in your face and told you it's a good thing you weren't a writer. That is was a totally unbelievable story. Yet, it happened. He hasn't fully processed the events all the way through, but he can at least acknowledge that it happened.

Kate Beckett. She had returned the hour of his darkest need. He doesn't blame her for the shooting. He shouldn't have gone alone to the park, and he shouldn't have tried to be the hero. He blames his own stupidity and pride for that one. It is comforting to know that she thought enough about him to rush out and check on him. It's hard for him to completely accept that she loves him, but he can't deny that she cares. He is still in disbelief that she has quit her job to be with him. Again.

This isn't the first time Kate has shown up on his literal and figurative doorstep, begging for another chance. He is leery to completely trust her again. She hasn't been able to prove to him that she will stick it out. In fact, she has proven she will run when scared. Yet, he knows this time is different. She has changed, just like he has.

It has taken him a long time to realize that he and Kate tackle problems in polar opposite ways. Kate works through problems alone. She needs to dissect the problem, figure out if it's possible, and then she will take action. He, on the other hand, has to include her on every detail. He doesn't like to think about any decision too deeply, (unless it is really serious), and then he acts. So, to hear that Kate had discovered during her 4 month absence that life without Rick Castle wasn't a life she was interested in. Her job is important to her, but she that she ultimately chose him, even before the shooting was phenomenal. Castle felt on top of the world.

Man, if she could only hear what I am thinking… she would probably twist my ear and tell me to knock it off. The thought made him chuckle. Despite the distrust and the absence, he is so happy to have her back in his life. That is why it had been so difficult for him since she left. He knew she was it for him. She made him want to be better for her, made him want things he never realized he wanted, and she let him be who he was. That was important to him. Kate never made him be something that he wasn't. She had accepted him, flaws and all.

His screaming bladder, and the need to find Kate, had Castle leaving his bed. He wasn't technically allowed to be walking unassisted, but he wasn't going to wait around on someone to help him. Plus, it wasn't that far anyways.

Once he was done in the bathroom, Castle decided to venture out into the front room. Even if he was alone out there he would at least have a TV to keep him entertained. He found a golf club in his closet to lean on. He didn't need someone with him to walk, but he also hadn't realized how much Kate had been helping him walk. She must have been supporting more of his weight, that crazy, strong woman.

It's funny, Castle thought, as he passed through his office, how little things actually change. It's sort of like when you return from a vacation. You expect it to look different when you return. He feels like his home, his office, his environment should have changed with the events over the past week. Yet, here they are… unchanged. It was both comforting and strange to know that even though his world had turned upside down, not everything has changed. Life goes on.

When he reached the front room all the lights were off. Strange, he thought, considering it was only close to 8 pm.

"Kate? Alexis? Mother?" Castle called out. "Sheesh! A man gets shot and his family deserts him."

Nothing. Not even a peep.

"Ok… this isn't funny anymore. I know you guys didn't leave me…" Castle calls out. He wasn't that rude to Kate earlier. Was he?

"Guys?" Castle finally spoke after making his way to the kitchen.

"SURPRISE!"

The lights came on and all around him was his friends and family. He could see Gates, Esposito, Ryan, and Lanie standing together with huge grins on their faces. He could see Gina, the Mayor, and Patterson behind the island. A few others, people he associates with on a daily basis at the 12th or Black Pawn, were sprinkled around the kitchen. Everyone who means something to him is here. They are here to celebrate his life, and their parts in it.

As his eyes round to the far right, he spots Jim, Alexis and his Mother. His mother and daughter have their arms around each other, smiling. He can see the barely restrained glee in Alexis' eyes as she is practically bouncing up and down. She always enjoyed planning surprises for him, almost more than the surprises she received from him. Jim had a look on his face that he couldn't quite identify. He only met his father once, but he had seen a similar look on his face as well.

Finally, his eyes fall on Kate Beckett. She was standing away from everyone, watching him with an intense scrutiny. She had tears in her eyes and a soft smile on her face. He was overwhelmed with the feelings the look on her face invoked in him. She was proud of him. She loved him. He could feel that in the look she was giving him from across the room.

"Hey Castle! I think this is the longest I've ever been in a room with you and you didn't have anything to say!" Esposito calls out. Castle had taken at least 45 seconds to scan the room when his gaze had been stuck on Kate.

"I'm not overly familiar with Surprise Party Etiquette, but I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to heckle the guest of honor, Espo." Castle deadpanned.

"Come on, Castle. Speech!" Ryan spoke up.

Castle glanced to Kate. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. He didn't really want to say anything. He was happy to have his friends and family around him. All he wanted at this point was to sit down and enjoy their company.

Kate must have read his mind because she was already approaching him. She smiled at him, in reassurance, to let him know she had his back. It wasn't like Kate to willing put herself in the spotlight, so he was so grateful she was on her way to save him.

As she reached his side, she reached her hand out and grabbed his hand in hers. She pulled him over to the table and had him sit in a chair. It surprised him how well she really knew him. Once she could tell he was ok, she turned to address the crowd.

"I want to thank you all for coming over tonight. Alexis and I decided to try to pull this off last minute so it means a lot to us that you were able to come celebrate with us tonight. As you all know, Castle had a close call earlier in the week. It is a miracle to have him home and ok after such a scary situation. I personally know how stubborn he can be, and for that I am glad that he is stubborn enough not to leave us."

Kate took a deep breath and moved closer to Castle. She aligned her body with his side, and rested her hand on his shoulder. Rick reached up and held her hand in his.

"With our family gathered here, I wanted to take the opportunity to apologize to you all. My actions 4 months ago nearly destroyed the relationships I hold most dear to me. I have decided to quit my job in DC and return to New York. To my home. I don't really know what the future looks like, and I can't expect forgiveness from you all tonight, but I wanted you to know that I plan on fixing things. I've returned a better friend, a better daughter, and a better partner." Kate squeezed Castle's hand as she said partner. "I hope to prove that to you all."

She turned to look into his eyes. "Castle, you are my future. You mean… everything. I hope to spend the rest of my life making you happy, and letting you annoy me. I love you."

Before she could even finish, Rick was up out of the chair and holding Kate in his arms. He pulled back slightly to kiss her. She had been surprised by his quick movement, but quickly gave everything she had to him in the kiss. They could barely hear the cat calls and clapping behind them.

Eventually, they broke the kiss but did not leave each other's arms. Kate's face was pink with embarrassment. She had never felt so emotionally vulnerable before, but she wasn't ashamed she did it. It had been important to her to gather their friends and family to publicly admit her faults as well as her love for Castle.

"Kate, did you just propose to me?" Castle joked loudly enough for their friends to hear.

As soon as those words left his mouth the room grew incredibly quiet. Kate felt like the entire room had shifted to lean in for her answer. She could tell by the expression on his face that he regretted saying it out loud.

"Please, Castle, you aren't getting out of proposing to me. I expect to be wined and dined, buddy." There… she went with a joke back. Hopefully that wouldn't hurt his feelings.

"Besides, Richard, she hasn't even asked my permission for your hand in marriage." Martha spoke up.

"I think asking for 2 cows is an appropriate dowry. Right, Grams?" Alexis jumped in.

"Just 2 cows? I am worth more than 2 cows!" Castle replied in fake dismay.

"Castle, you are lucky to get that. If it were up to me it would be two goats and a chicken." Kate joked back.

Castle turned to his friends that were captivated by the little show. "Did you guys hear this? I'm glad we have witnesses here to testify to the abuse I deal with on a daily basis."

"Rick, you brought this on yourself son. When you marry my daughter I am afraid this will be your life. Permanently." Jim finally spoke.

It took both Kate and Rick by surprise to hear him talk so casually about their impending marriage. It was like everyone thought it was a foregone conclusion at this point. It was, to be honest, but it was still weird to hear considering they hadn't even had the "determine the relationship" discussion.

"God help me." Rick replied. Then, he reached for Kate's hand. "Kate?"

"Rick?" Kate's heart had begun to beat wildly in her chest. She was standing, he was sitting on the chair. Surely he wouldn't propose now…

"Will you…" he paused for dramatic flair, "be my girlfriend?"

Kate let out a startled giggle. "Yes, Richard Castle, I will be your girlfriend."

He pulled her down and gave her another kiss. It was perfect.

For the next hour their friends mingled. They took their turns approaching Castle to offer him "get wells" and "congratulations". This wasn't what he had in mind on his first night home, but he couldn't imagine a better way to spend his first night of freedom. Off in the distance, he could see Kate reunited with the boys and Lanie. Good, he thought.

Eventually people began to leave. Castle had moved from the kitchen table to the couch where he could lay back more. He was fighting the pain and exhaustion because he didn't want to miss a single moment of his party. However, his guest began to catch on (or perhaps Kate began subtly suggesting that the party was over) and he found himself once again alone in his living room.

"Rick?" Kate called as she entered the room. Their last guest had finally left.

"Kate." He answered.

She came and sat down next to his head. She began stroking his hair. "How are you feeling?"

"Happy."

She smiled. "Good to hear, but that isn't what I meant, Rick."

"I'm feeling fine, tired." He paused. "Thank you, Kate. It meant a lot to me."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you are home."

He reached up and pulled her closer. He whispered, "I'm glad you're home too."

Kate leaned in and kissed him softly. "There isn't anywhere I'd rather be."

That's it, folks! Thank you so much for the support on this story. It was an amazing experience to write my first Castle story. I've had some faithful reviewers throughout this entire process that kept me motivated and excited to keep writing. I truly appreciate you.