A/N: This is another also posted to my tumblr. Also, unbeta'd and written pretty quickly so sorry for any mistakes. Thank you to the guest reviewers for pointing out my mistakes on the dedication, it has been fixed.

Castle's nervous were through the roof the day the messenger drops off the box, knowing it contained his newest book, the last Nikki Heat. Writing the final book wasn't has hard as he thought it would be, it helped knowing while Nikki and Rook's story was technically ending, it wasn't over. They will live on through the writer and his muse. The dedication is what worried him. He did not run it past Kate, why would he, he's never done it before. In fact the whole book was always a surprise to her, sure she always had a guess as to the general storyline since it paralleled their own lives but he always changed enough details to keep her guessing.

He started thinking maybe he should've this time. No, she would love this, it was a good surprise he reminded himself. Finishing up her favorite breakfast, pancakes with strawberries and whip cream, he put everything on the tray including the book and headed to the bedroom to wake his sleeping wife.

"Hey," Her voice thick with sleep.

"Hey," He returned her smile.

She shifted the pillows, sitting up allowing Castle to put the tray on her lap. "My favorite breakfast, what's the occasion?" The book caught her eye answering her question. "Uh oh. Please tell me you are not trying to butter me up because of this," she held up the book.

He stuttered, attempting to come up with an answer that wasn't lying but also did not spoil the surprise.

"Rick," Uh oh, he knew he was in trouble with the use of his first name. "Please tell me you did not kill one or both of them?"

"No," She gave him the look, seeing she wasn't convinced he sat next to her and held her gaze. "No," he repeated, his voice dropping an octave.

"Okay, good. That means I don't have to kill you."

"Like you could actually pull it off."

"You don't think I could."

He shook his head; "You've been threatening that since the day we met. You love me too much to actually pull it off."

"I question why everyday."

He let that one go, know this was all just teasing. "Plus just think of all the paperwork."

She waited until after they ate and he was in the shower before opening the book. It was silly after how many years they've been together but this was her thing. Reading the dedication for the first time, she almost dropped the book from the surprise. Her vision blurred as tears ran down her cheek. She didn't expect this, didn't know how to respond. It was everything she didn't know she wanted.

To the woman I never had the pleasure of meeting, but feel as if I've known you all this time. Thank you for giving me the love of my life, my muse, without whom this series would not exist.

She peeled her clothes off and stepped into the shower, the steam surrounding her. Her arms wrapped around him, her lips touching the back of his shoulder.

"It's perfect."

He relaxed against her, all the nerves over the dedication falling way at her words. Turning around his mouth landed on hers, moving against each other, bodies pressed together. She deepened the kiss, her fingers intertwining though his hair, pulling him closer. When the kiss naturally ended, she rested her head on his chest, feeling her heart beat in sync with his.

"Thank you," she whispered, not sure if he heard her over the water bouncing against the floor.

"Always," he said softly, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.

"Always."