Here's chapter 13...
Disclaimer: I Do NOT own Castle.
A few months later, Richard Castle stood nervously outside of the Beckett's house. He swallowed a big lump in his throat. He reached up and adjusted his collar and tie. God, he was nervous! The last time he was this nervous was during the first date. He hid the bouquet of flowers behind his back and knocked on the door.
To his relief, Kate Beckett was the one who opened the door. She smiled at the sight of him, same goes to him. In an instant, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on his lips. When they pulled away, they stood close.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," Kate said.
"You look beautiful."
"You don't look so bad yourself, Castle," she whispers as she gave him one more kiss.
"Oh! Before I forget!" Rick handed her the flowers.
"Are these for my parents or for me?" Kate joked as she recalled the first time he was here.
"For your parents," he paused as he took out a box from his pocket and continued, "This is for you."
"What's this?" Kate said as she took the box from him.
"Open it."
She did and she was breathless. It was a beautiful bracelet with the words 'I Love You' engraved in the front. Kate looked up into his eyes. So much love. So true.
Tears welled up her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug.
"I love you too," Kate said.
Kate could feel a smile forming on his face. She pulled away and he took the bracelet from her. She looked at him confusedly. He tilted it and inside the bracelet said the word 'Always'. Kate was now crying tears of joy and smiling like an idiot as he slid the bracelet on Kate's wrist.
Rick reached out, cupped her face with both hands and wiped her tears away with his thumb. He leaned in and gave her a passionate kiss which she gladly returned. Once they pulled away, Kate took his hand in hers and intertwine their fingers together as they walk into the house.
"There you guys are! I thought I had to call a search party for you," Johanna joked.
Kate giggled shyly and hid behind her boyfriend. Rick noticed.
"Oh my god! You're like the most adorable woman I have ever met," Rick said.
Blushing, Kate hit his arm playfully. After a while, she took his hand and walked towards Johanna.
"Mom, I'm sure you know Rick. He's um... He's my boyfriend," she said shyly.
"Seriously?" Mrs Beckett asked.
Kate just nodded shyly and hid her face behind Rick's arm. Suddenly, Kate was pulled into her mother's arm.
"Finally!" Johanna exclaimed. When she pulled away, she continued, "It's about time, Katie!"
"You're okay with him?"
"Of course I am, sweetie! I can't believe that you guys are finally together! It took you long enough!"
"And besides, he's way better than those other guys you dated in the past," Mama Beckett added.
"Take care of her, will you?" Johanna asked Rick.
He gave her a smile and said, "Always."
Just like that, Kate knew it. She felt it. He was the one. Her one and done. Her always.
After a quiet dinner with the Beckett's, Rick and Kate decided that it was best to head back. They said their goodbyes and Mama and Papa Beckett whispered something into Rick's ear. Rick smiled at them and nodded. Then the two headed out.
"What did my parents say to you?"
"Oh nothing important yet."
The next day, Kate woke up to an empty bed. She walked out of the bedroom dressed in one of his shirts and her shorts and found him making pancakes.
"Hey, morning," Rick greeted her.
"Morning. What's the occasion?"
"You," he said as he gave her a peck on the lips.
"Me?"
"Happy Birthday," Rick said as he set down a plate of pancakes in front of her with blueberries. It spelled 'Move In'.
"Best. Birthday. Ever," she said as she agreed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a soft loving kiss.
They pulled away in time to see Alexis come down the stairs.
"Good morning!" the redhead greeted them happily.
"Good morning, Lil' Red!"
"Hey pumpkin. Do you know what day is it today?"
"Of course! It's Kate's birthday!" the little girl went over to Kate and gave her a huge bear hug.
"Happy birthday, Kate!"
"Thanks, Lil' Red!" Kate said as she hugged back the redhead.
"So what do you guys have plan on my birthday?" Kate asked.
"Shhh! It's a surprise!" Alexis said excitedly.
"Oh sweetie, as sweet that is, I'm not really good at surprises."
"Why?"
"I just don't like surprises," Kate explained.
"You'll love this one! I promise!"
With a sigh, Kate gave in. "All right, Lil' Red. I'll bite."
"Yay!"
After breakfast, they headed out. They went to the zoo, the aquarium, the museum (just to see dinosaurs). They spent the whole day out. Running in circles. Kate knew that they were trying to stall her, from what? She didn't know. The Castles then took her to the park to play with the swings.
"Alright, what's going on?" Kate finally asked.
"Nothing," Rick replied.
"I can tell that you're lying, Castle."
Shit just got serious when she starts using his last name like that. He swallowed a big lump and looked into her glare and smiled lamely.
"I'm not technically lying."
"You're stalling and I want to know why."
"Kate, is it so wrong to spend some family time together? You, me and Alexis?"
"Well no but Rick, we've been out for the whole day. It's hard to not get suspicious."
"That's the fun of it! Well, not the getting suspicious part. It's the spending time together for the whole day part!"
"Am I going to regret anything?"
"Probably not," Castle said confidently.
"Alright, fine."
He gave her his special smile reserved for her only. Kate couldn't help but smile back. He took her hand and gave it a small kiss on her fingers.
"C'mon. Let's go back home."
"Finally! My legs are killing me!"
He chuckled. "C'mon Alexis!"
Alexis Castle jumped off of the swing and ran to join them. She held Kate's hand on her left and her father's hand on her right and headed back to the loft.
When they opened the door, the loft was pitch black. Kate reached out for the light switch and when she switched the light on, she saw so many people in the loft. Her friends and family. They all shouted, "SURPRISE!" as the lights went back on.
"Oh my god!" Kate said as her eyes started to get teary.
Rick pulled her in for a hug and he gave her head a small kiss.
"Happy Birthday, Kate," he said again.
"You did all this?" Kate asked.
"I had too. I knew I couldn't top the 'I Love You' and 'Always' bracelet I gave you yesterday. And I definitely couldn't top the 'move in' breakfast this morning. So, I opted for something small."
"Small?" Kate chuckled.
"Too much?"
"I love it. Thank you," she gave him a peck on the lips and hugged him. "I love you."
"I love you too, Kate."
When they pulled away, Kate was swarmed by the guests. Her parents, Johanna and Jim Beckett, were there. Her M.E. Friend, Lanie Parish. Martha and even her old high school friend, Madison Queller.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get all your friends," Rick said.
"No, this is the best birthday ever. Thank you."
"I have one more present but that's for later," he whispered in her ear.
She blushed. "I can't wait."
That's all for now. Review please!
Special thanks to petry and BR125 for your suggestions. I'll keep them in mind when I'm writing.