A/N: This is the end! Thank you for sticking with me.

Epilogue: Back to the Start

November 10, 2021

The breeze is cold but comforting. She pulls her coat closer to her chest and sweeps back the escaped hair. A smile dances on her lips as she sees Castle standing at the spot they were married at seven years ago.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," she greets him with a smile.

"For you," he hands her a bouquet of flowers with a shy, charming smile.

"Sunflowers," she grins.

"Your favourite."

"So what brings us here?" She tucks a strand of hair behind her ears and looks at him. He hasn't changed much, his eyes still that clear shade of blue.

"We were married here," he tries to start. "Seven years ago."

She hums. "The first time we tried, you were kidnapped."

He laughs. "The second time ended up in…" he trails off.

"The vows, I mean them," he says earnestly. "Even till now. I really do."

She looks at him, tears swimming in her brown eyes. "I know," that is all she manages to say.

"The moment we met, my life became extraordinary. You taught me more about myself than I knew there was to learn. You are the joy in my heart. You're the last person I want to see when I close my eyes. I love you, Katherine Beckett, and the mystery of you is the one I want to spend the rest of my life exploring. I promises to love you and be your friend and your partner in crime and life till death do us part—and for the time of our lives," he takes her hands in his and says with all his heart, with all his emotions, with all his love.

She blinks back the tears. "The moment that I met you, my life became extraordinary. You taught me to be my best self, to look forward to tomorrow's adventure. When I was vulnerable, you were strong. I love you, Richard Castle, and I want to live my life in the warmth of your smile and the strength of your embrace. I promise you I will love you. I will be your friend and your partner in crime and in life. Always," she whispers. Their vows are etched in her mind, never leaving, never fading. She wishes she is able to keep to them but she failed. She failed, didn't she?

He sinks down on one knee, still holding her hands. "Katherine Houghton Beckett, would you give me another chance? Can we, get back to the start, allow me to discover you again, to discover us again."

She thinks she might burst from the onslaught of happiness and love. "Yes," she whispers. "Yes. I would like that."

"Yeah?" He looks at her with such excitement and hope that it makes her laugh.

"Yeah," she smiles at him and sniffs back the cruel tears.

"Maybe third time's the charm," he laughs.

"Maybe we just have to go back to the start," she presses her forehead against his and the smiles on their faces are beautiful, just like the bouquet of sunflowers, bright and big, lighting up the world.