This is the final chapter of For Lovers Only. Reviews are love. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Castle and For Lovers Only aren't mine :/

[Departures]

The morning arrived all too fast, its presence looming over Rick and Kate as they packed all of their belongings for the last time.

The final day was here, which was something neither of them could believe. As they shut the hotel door behind them, they silently walked to the elevator, merely holding the other's free hand while their luggage trailed after them. Rick stepped aside to let Kate get on first, he then joined her, pressing the button for the main level. When the elevator doors opened to reveal the lobby, they exited and headed toward the front desk to check out. Once they finished filling out some paperwork and got everything sorted out and paid for, they were all set to go.

Their flight left at eleven, so that gave them more than enough time before they had to get to the airport. Well over three hours, in fact.

Rick and Kate made it outside and, as expected, André was waiting for them. Kate had called him earlier, when she first woke up to make sure they had a ride to the airport. She smiled when she saw the older man, waving as she and Rick reached the bottom of the steps.

"Good morning," she greeted, watching as the taxi driver grabbed their suitcases and put them in the trunk of his yellow cab.

"Good morning to you, Miss Beckett." He shut the trunk, then walked over to shake Rick's hand. "Nice to meet you, monsieur. My name is André."

Rick grinned as he took the proffered hand. "I'm Rick. Rick Castle. And the pleasure's mine, André. Thank you for driving us to the airport."

"Not a problem, Mr. Castle."

The couple got in the back passenger seats, while the older taxi driver headed for the front seat. Soon, they were on the road. Silence filled the taxi, and as André drove, he continued to glance in the rearview mirror with a grin on his face. The woman before him was different somehow. He figured it had a lot to do with the man beside her, the one who couldn't seem to keep his hands to himself. Seemed like she found love after all, that much was obvious. Just a single glance at the two of them, told him more than any words could. He could clearly see the love each had for one another by the looks given when the other wasn't looking.

When they shared a soft kiss, André blushed slightly for peeping on what was meant to be a private moment between the couple. He cleared his throat, gaining Rick and Kate's attention.

Through the rearview mirror, his eyes glimmered with curiosity. "How did my advice treat you, Miss Beckett?" The older man asked.

Kate could only tilt her head down slightly, the redness tinting her cheeks giving her true feelings away. She laced her fingers through Rick's, squeezing his hand in her own. Rick just beamed at her. She turned to André, bottom lip between her teeth before she said, "Better than I could have ever imagined."

Eyes crinkling with happiness as he smiled at his passengers, André winked at her. "Yes. I can see that."

His response caused Rick to blush this time.

In a record amount of time, Rick and Kate breezed through immigration control, and were now waiting for the plane to arrive to take them home. They still had a little over an hour before they had to board, so, with time to spare, the couple decided to remain at the departure gate. Better to wait and board on time than to rush and have the possibility of missing the flight.

Head resting on his shoulder, Kate shut her eyes and let his presence next to her lull her into a relaxed, calm state. Rick gladly obliged, opening his arms for her as they cuddled at the gate. Neither seemed to mind the looks that got thrown their way, they were too absorbed in one another to notice.

Kisses were shared, murmurs of love whispered, and looks of pure adoration exchanged.

They were both at peace. It was okay that they were going home, all it meant was that more adventures waited for them on the other side. The possibilities were endless.

Nearly an hour later, the announcer over the PA informed them that the boarding process for their flight had begun. Slowly rising from their seats, Rick and Kate stood in line, hands clasped together, as they waited to move forward. A few minutes passed and they were still waiting. Pressing his lips to her temple and smiling down at the woman beside him, Rick mouthed the words, "I love you."

This caused her to grin, teeth on full display, before she leaned up to reach his mouth. Kate whispered the same words back to him, her mouth ghosting over his in a barely-there kiss. Rick remedied that and brought her closer. His hand let go of hers as he reached up to cup her cheeks, his fingers fanning out across the smooth skin. He loved kissing her. The simplicity of such an act as this made his heart burst with joy.

Their small slice of paradise was cut short when a throat cleared behind them, making them realize they were holding up the line. Sending apologetic glances to the passengers behind them, the embarrassed couple took what felt like a walk of shame to the front, where a crew member waited to take their boarding passes. The smug, satisfied grin the man shot their way as he scanned their tickets was priceless.

And, in no time at all, they stepped onto the large aircraft. It was as if they were crossing the line between fantasy and reality, only their fantasy actually happened, which, to Rick and Kate, still boggled their minds.

They were together— truly together.

Both had come to France for very different reasons; they'd each been broken, in various ways but broken nonetheless. Over the course of their time here, they had changed for the better. They saw something in the other that they couldn't see in themselves…

Hope.

Hope for something bigger than themselves. Hope for change. Hope for the future.

Hope for one another.

On the plane, Kate led Rick to their seats by holding hands, and with a sudden flick of his wrist, she now faced him. In mere seconds, his mouth descended upon hers in a slow kiss that reverberated through out her entire being, her entire soul. His blue eyes met her hazel eyes. The way he looked at her spoke louder and clearer than any eloquent words could have.

That didn't stop Rick from speaking what was on his heart, though.

"Kate," he said so low she almost didn't hear him over the loud sound of the plane and its occupants, "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever met. You are so strong, so dedicated, and so full of love. I— I just wanted you to know that. I love you so much."

Her smile lit up the entire plane cabin. Kissing him soundly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. "God, I love you, too," she groaned against his lips.

"Ladies and gentleman, if you could please take your seats, we will be exiting the gate in a few minutes," the flight attendant announced over the loud speaker.

Taking that as their cue to sit down, Rick and Kate broke apart for the few seconds needed to get in their seats and buckle up. Holding out his hand, Rick's gaze never left Kate's as she linked their fingers together. He lifted their joined hands to his lips and smiled when she blushed.

The plane gave a sudden jolt as it moved onto the tarmac. Apparently the movement startled Rick to no end, his grip tightening on Kate's hand so hard gasped in the surprise, not expecting it. Noticing the fear whitening his face, Kate leaned over the armrest to kiss his cheek. She couldn't help the small grin that curved a corner of her lips. Poor guy looked petrified.

Rick gradually shut his eyes closed as he grit his teeth. "I hate this part," he hissed, his right hand clutching the armrest in a vice grip so tight his knuckles turned white. He'd briefly forgotten how much he hated flying.

Kate did her best to console him and give him the support he needed. "Don't worry. I'm right here," she cooed, using her other hand to slide under his chin so she could turn his head toward hers. "Open your eyes, Rick."

It took him a couple of seconds, but he opened them.

With her thumb carefully running over his cheek, she spoke five simple words that calmed his nerves and settled his racing heart. "I'll always be right here."

He gave her a sideways smile, because he knew she meant every word. And not just for right now, for this moment, but for forever. Forever and always.

"I know," he breathed, the slight hitch in his voice giving away the pure emotions that raged through his body. Rick gently squeezed her hand and took a slow breath. "I know you will..."

FIN.

There you go!

Want to give a big thank you to everyone who ever read and/or reviewed this story! It has been one hell of a ride! Reviews are love.

And look out for my new AU FanFic coming this Fall. It's called "Time and Tide" and will be based off of the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, but it will have a Castle twist. Until next time!

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