"Castle, what is going on?"

"Well, my mother might have… mentioned us to Lanie,"

"What?"

"Okay, well.. Lanie suspected something was going on. She knew that you taking off for five days wasn't normal so she asked the guys. The guys didn't know and,"

"And?"

Castle gulped, "And so they called my mother."

"And she told them."

"Yes. Kinda. Sorta."

"Sorta?"

"She told them we were in France,"

"Wait, so how long did they know about us?"

With a sheepish grin, he answered, "The moment we left.."

Kate's eyes widened, "So, you're saying.. We are going to the precinct to be bombarded by Lanie?"

"She uh…she… She called and insisted that we stop by right after we land."

"Right,"

The car ride to the precinct was silent. Truthfully, Kate was preparing herself for all kinds of questions.

She looked to her side and noticed Castle was looking nervous. Too nervous. His hands were in his pockets the whole ride.

She felt a little guilty knowing that he took the blame for his mother's big mouth.

"Hey, you okay?"

It took three seconds for him to snap to reality, "Huh? Yeah,"

"Okay."

This was it. They were in the elevator, waiting to be harassed by Lanie's questions and constant squealing.

As the elevator dinged, and the doors opened, she took a deep breath.

"Katherine Beckett!"

"Lanie! Hey,"

"Don't 'hey' me." She looked at Kate then to Rick, "How was your trip?" She turned back to Kate,

"Uh, it was fun." She noticed Lanie was smiling. Smiling a little too big.

Castle stepped a little closer to Kate's side and whispered to her ear, "Can I talk to you? In the break room."

"Uh sure,"

He wrapped an arm around her waist, he looked back and gave Lanie a glare.

As they got into the break room, Rick shut the door behind him.

"What's up?"

He smiled at her, "Nothing. It's just that..we've had a lot of conversations in this room."

She paused, surprised by the random statement, "You know what, come to think of it, we have."

"So, I thought, what better place to start another one. Do you remember..in the hospital, when you told me you had a feeling that I'd leave?"

Astonished by his question, Kate just nodded.

"And I told you that you're not just some other woman..Wanna know when I knew that?"

"When?"

"Well, there were two times," He licked his lips to prevent them from drying, "One, was when you rejected me. I've never been rejected by a woman before,"

"Now why doesn't that surprise me,"

"and the second time, when you let me in. You told me about your mother. It's like you practically said, 'Hey, I trust you enough to know this about me.' That, my love, made me fall for you. Under all of that," he gestured with his finger, "under all of your protection, there's a little part in you that's screaming 'Love me, take care of me.' As much as you hate admitting it, you deserve someone to love and take care of you, Kate."

Kate's stomach started to harden, in a good way. She knew where this was going. Not only was his little speech a giveaway but the fact that almost everyone was crowding around the break room doors, pressing their ears against them to listen. Lanie, was the only one with a video camera.

"So, here I am. I'd never, ever leave you."

Kate's eyes started to water, as she felt tears flowing down she quickly tried to wipe them away but Rick had beaten her to it. He left his hand there, against her cheek.

"You've made me so happy. Now, that you're in my life, I just can't imagine it without you," Keeping their eyes locked together, Rick gently got down on one knee,

"Will you please, think of yourself wearing that very comfortable dress, watching the sunset and do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Castle? After all, a dream is a wish your heart makes."

By this time, Kate couldn't control her tears. And so couldn't Lanie, Martha, Alexis and Kate was pretty sure she could hear Esposito's silent sobs.

Rick pulled out the most gorgeous ring that he'd been playing with in his pocket. The actual sight of the ring triggered more tears to flow down her face.

She first nodded, then finally found her voice, "Yes, yes. A thousand times yes."

He slipped the ring into her finger and lifted her off her feet. The two shared a long, passionate kiss. Their joy, their relief, their love blurred out the sounds of everyone in the precinct, clapping and whistling.

The only voice Rick and Kate could hear was Esposito's loud statement, "It's about damn time."

Disclaimer: Don't own anyone or anything.

Oh my...I have no words. Tell me what you thought. :)