Hey everyone...sorry I haven't updated in a while. The doctors gave me, my best friend, and my nephews the all clear to play again. So yes, we abused our power and we played for like...what was it? 9 hours straight. Something like that. So, forgive me for keeping you guys hanging. Yes, Miniwriter305 Martha will be making an appearance in this chapter. Let me know you guys like it! And who else can't wait for Always?

Disclaimers: If I owned Castle, I wouldn't be writing this story right now.

Chapter 17

Rick looked down at the ground, feeling stupid. Duh...of course that's what Lanie and Kate were doing. Talking. "Man I'm an idiot!" he thought.

By now Lanie was going through Kate's side of the closet, looking for an outfit. "Here we go." Lanie exclaimed.
Kate walked over to Lanie, "What did you find?" "A pair of pants and a purple shirt from your chubby years."
Rick overheard the last part of Lanie's sentence. He walked over to where the 2 women were standing.
"Kate went through chubby years?" he asked. Lanie took it upon herself to fill him in. "Oh yeah. Her first three years on the force, she couldn't eat enough. And now it seems like the opposite." Rick looked amused.

What Rick didn't realize is that an amused look on his face, would earn him two punches from two very strong women.
"Apples!" Rick screamed when Kate and Lanie's fists collided with his shoulders.

Kate and Lanie were about to sit on Rick when Kate's phone rang. "Beckett" she answered out of habit, "Yes it is." Rick and Lanie watched as Kate listened, "Okay. We'll be right there." Kate turned to face Rick and Lanie, "We gotta go. Now." was all Kate said before she walked to her walk-in closet to get dressed.

Rick followed suit, and Lanie sat on the bed, since she was already dressed. Ten minutes later, Kate and Rick emerged from the closet, dressed in jeans and t-shirts.
Kate grabbed the Ferrari's keys, her purse, and Lanie's hand and rushed out the door. Rick had just enough time to lock and shut the door before Lanie grabbed his hand.

When they made it to the cherry red Ferrari, Kate pushed Rick in the back seat and Lanie got the hint and settled herself in the passenger seat. Kate slid into the driver side and started the car. She put it in gear and peeled out of the parking garage.

They arrived at the hospital in less than half an hour.

Rick introduced himself to the nurse, and asked what he was called in for.
"Your mother. She's asking for you and a woman named Kate."
"Oh. Yeah, let's go then." Rick tried to make an exit but Kate and Lanie stopped him.
"Uh-uh writer-boy." Lanie said.
"Rick..." Kate said in a warning tone.

"Take us back." Kate said. Lanie started to hang back but Kate grabbed her arm and pulled her along. "If he tries to make another getaway I'm gonna need your help." Kate explained.

They got to Martha's room with little effort to keep Rick from running in the opposite direction.
"Richard - darling!" Martha exclaimed.
Rick was hesitant. "Mother."
"Rick knock it off right now." Kate said.
"Kate - lovely to see you dear!"
"Hi Martha." Kate said walking up to her.

Martha put her arms out, welcoming Kate to give her a hug. Kate did just that. Kate looked at Lanie with a pleading face, and Lanie got the message. While Kate stayed by Martha, Lanie shoved Rick toward his girlfriend and mother.

Rick looked at his mother and Kate interacting and he thought, "Screw the universe, I'm getting a ring."
"Hi Mother." Rick said.
Kate pulled Rick closer to Martha.
"How have you been Richard?" Martha asked.
"Good. You?"
"Fine. They tell me that I have to get a new liver. And I said that was interesting."
"So who are you getting the liver from?"
"Some organ donor named Mathew something."
"Ah. So when is the surgery scheduled for?"
"In one hour."

Rick dropped to the floor at this news. Kate and Lanie were at his side immediately. Lanie grabbed a stethoscope that was lying on a shelf. She put the ear buds in her ears and listened to Rick's heart. "He's fine. He just passed out." Lanie looked around the room, "Ah. Here we are." She grabbed a medium sized jar and used the sink in the room to fill it up. She walked back over to where Rick was on the floor. She motioned to Kate to stand back. Kate obeyed. Lanie stood over Rick and threw the water in his face.

Rick shot up with a gasp. He coughed a few times then managed to get up.
He went back over to his mother, "Is that why you wanted me here?" Martha just nodded.

"Okay. So, do you need us to stay here?"
Martha shook her head, "I'm quite tired darling. It was nice to see both of you though, you too Lanie." Martha said. Rick nodded, Kate said okay, and Lanie smiled.
"Alright, well, have the doctors call us when you wake up." Kate said. Martha nodded, and shooed them out of the room.

They all said goodbye to Martha, and walked out of the room. Once they were back in the Ferrari, Rick suggested that Kate and Lanie go for a girls' day. Lanie agreed almost instantly, and Kate did the same. When they got back to the loft, Kate switched the Ferrari's keys for her Porsche's keys, and Rick handed Kate his credit card.

"You two have fun." He called as the two women walked out the front door. Once he heard Kate's Porsche pull out of the garage, he went online to the Tiffany's website. He came across a thin band ring, that had Sapphires and Diamonds embedded in the band. He thought that Kate would love it.

Since he had money, he didn't bother looking at the price, he just hit the "purchase" button. He got a message saying that they had them in stock in the nearest store. Which just happened to be five minutes away.

He grabbed his keys and ran down to get the Ferrari. He got to Tiffany's and twelve minutes later, he was back at his desk looking at the ring. "Perfect..." he said.

At five pm Kate and Lanie returned to the loft, arms clad with shopping bags. Rick heard them return and he pulled the engagement ring from the bag. He walked out and saw that Kate and Lanie were sporting brand new Gucci sunglasses. "Hey." Rick said.

Both women turned around, "Hey." they said in unison. Rick walked over to Kate before he could loose his nerve.
Kate saw the nervous look on Rick's face and she wasn't the only one.

"Kate..." he began, "I love you more than anything. More than I every loved either of my two ex-wives. And when I look at you, I see a future. Our future. I see you, in a delivery room calling me every dirty name in the book, cursing my name. I see you walking into out brand new house, with our new baby in your arms. I see you doing a lot of things, and I want to ensure that I get that ending." He got down on one knee, and pulled out the engagement ring, "Katherine Beckett, will you marry me?"

Ooh..a cliffhanger! If you guys want to see the engagement ring, here is the link - .?sku=GRP00315&cid=288152&mcat=148204