Better late than never.

In the chaos of three different agencies leaving her car got taken back to the precinct without her and Castle in it. But she doesn't mind. He has her strolling through the park, arms linked together, as he babbles. He's babbling and it's about nothing and it's everything. She just lets him go, smiling and laughing. They'll get back to the precinct eventually, and the paperwork will be completed so she can take it down to DC, but William Bracken is just settling into the future he deserves and there's plenty of time for all the rest of it now.

They're ambling across the street towards a hotel that looks oddly familiar. "Where are we going?"

"Ah Agent Beckett, your memory must be failing you. There's a very specific reason that we've come here. See today a beautiful and extraordinary woman proposed marriage to me." He tells her steering her into the elevator and hitting the button for the roof top restaurant. "And while this delights me to no end, and I was more than thrilled to say yes, it did disrupt my carefully structured plans of proposing to her for a second time at her request."

The elevator dings as it reaches the top floor opening onto a rooftop that looks very familiar to her now. "You didn't?" She looks up at him smile blossoming across her face.

"See, I had this very careful plan that involved bringing you to the place we first met and much like the first time you presented me with your badge I was going to tap you on your shoulder and you'd spin around with that beautiful smile you have that when you're simultaneously amused, annoyed with me, and completely in love with me. I would get down on one knee and this time I would ask you to marry me surrounded by friends and family with a ring that fits and with a certainty that whatever decision you made for work we would be spending the rest of our lives together."

She can't help but laugh, because now she knows her car getting taken wasn't just a mistake but a carefully calculated move because Esposito is in the corner waving her keys with a self-satisfied grin. She takes in the bar, that doesn't seem to have changed all that much in the five years since she first met him it becomes evident that this was carefully plan. It's not just her boys, it's the entire homicide floor is there in fact. Probably most the precinct. Lanie is perched on a bar stool talking to Alexis that was supposedly due back tomorrow. Martha and her dad are having a spirited debate about something or other. "You remember when I told you I thought that it should be a private intimate thing?"

"You remember when you told me that I should do something big?"

"And I told you I would hate it." She shoots back, his face drops just a little.

"You did steal my thunder."

"I don't hate it Castle. In fact, it's perfect. I'm almost wishing that I hadn't jumped the gun this afternoon." She cradles his face in her hands capturing his lips in a kiss. "Almost wish."

"Doesn't stop this from being a gesture."

"Not one bit." She's smiling and she's certain she won't stop for days. "I love you Richard Castle."

"I love you too Katherine Beckett." He kisses her quickly. "Although I think I'm going to leave you to explain why my daughter and mother missed the moment that I've been planning rather carefully for the last two months." He finishes as they're swarmed by his family and her dad.

"Hi dad." She grins and he bear hugs her.

"I told you it would all work out didn't I?" He pulls back, absolute pride in his eyes. "I'm so happy for you and your mom would be too."

"Thank you Dad." She doesn't get a moment longer that because Alexis and Martha are turning to her wrapping their arms around her welcoming her to the family.

"That was quite the spectacle you put together." The US Attorney General drops the file he's holding on the desk when she enters the room, wheeling the suitcase with the case files behind her.

"Sir." She acknowledges, but she doesn't feel the least bit bad about it.

He gestures for her to take a seat across from him. She's not dressed to regulation, and her hair is down but she's happy and this is that last time she's going to be down here and a federal employee. "It really was quite the show. CNN called the press department wanting to know why they hadn't received a tip that this was going to happen so they wouldn't have to rely on b-roll from the local stations. C-Span however was delighted. I think it's the first time they've ever been on the front lines of breaking news." Tossing a paper in her direction her own face next to Bracken's with the headline, Most Corrupt Politician in History. "Politico and the Hill were excited though, web traffic has skyrocketed. So it's safe to say that no matter what, you've ruined his career."

"That was the goal sir," she nods maintaining a straight face.

He laughs at her. "You can relax Agent. You did good. Now it's up to my office to prosecute it."

She lets the happiness take over her face, relief washing through her. "Thank you sir."

"I take it that suitcase over there is the originals?"

"Yes, there's two more in my office but these are the pertinent documents. The other two are supporting documents."

"Wow... Sounds like fun." He sounds thrilled. "What about you? I know you said that you weren't coming back when you went up there at the beginning of the month but it's the end of September now and you've got one of the biggest cases in history under your belt, so are you sure you don't want to stay and put more people like him way?"

She shifts leaning forward. "This case was personal. That's what made it worth the tedium and extensive research. It allowed me to finally put an end to a man that changed my life irrevocably at 19 all because it was messing with his plan. But the work we do here is important and interesting but it's not where my interests lie. I want to bring closure to families one day at a time. My enjoyment in this field has always come from seeing a case from the initial call to the final notification. I like working with people and asking questions. Pouring over paperwork and occasional going out in the field isn't my wheelhouse. I want to work the streets and do it with my team."

"Well from all of us at the Justice Department we're sad to see you go. The NYPD doesn't know how lucky it is to keep you. If you ever change your mind or are looking for a recommendation for advancement let me know. We'll need to keep in contact for testimony and depositions. It's won't be pretty and it's definitely not over."

"But the world knows what he is." She stands. It's time to go home. "What he's capable of, what he's done. I caught him. You have to make sure he stays caught."

"Well that's the legal system in a nutshell." He chuckles standing to match her.

Unhooking the badge, cuffs, and Government Issue weapon from her belt she sets it all on his desk. "Sir, I formally tender my resignation as a Special Agent of the Department of Justice Task force."

He doesn't touch anything that she laid before him, but he does smile and extent his hand. "It was our pleasure. The streets of New York have never been safer. Good luck to you Detective, and say hello to your writer for me. My wife loved the signed copy of Deadly Heat."

She grins fully now, catching her tongue between her teeth. "He sure is something. Thank you for the opportunity, if you ever need help in New York."

"I know who to have them call..." he pauses, takes a final breath. "Go home Detective." She nods her head and turns for the door, relief washing through her body. She's going home.

With only a stop in her office to grab the lone blue coffee cup and her coat she's ready to go, the suitcases having been collected by an enterprising clerk already. Closing her door behind her she's surprised to find most of the floor, people she can barely name or recall interactions with clapping for her. So it's with a blush of pride on her cheeks she walks away from one the worst summers of her life.

She's stirring the marinara sauce on the stove as the water boils for the spaghetti when he gets home. "Kate?" He calls from the doorway knowing she should be there.

Her, "In here," has his head popping around the corner to smile at her.

"What do we have here?" He crosses to her wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.

She points to the badge clipped to the outside of her purse on the counter. "One Detective Kate Beckett. I stopped and the precinct and picked it up on my back from the airport. Gates seemed to be relieved, said we're to report in first thing Monday."

He chuckles letting go of her to help by throwing the pasta in the boiling water. "We're expected in?"

"Dare I say she likes you. She certainly likes the ring."

"Yes, well I have excellent taste." He grins at her.

Leaving the spoon in the bubbling sauce, she steps into him brushing a kiss over his lips. "You really do."

"Kate Beckett in the kitchen barefoot an..."

She grabs his ear. "Don't you even think it," she growls, when he yelps.

He gasps when she lets go, "Geez woman. I was just teasing."

"Don't go putting that out there just yet." She smacks his him gently.

"Just yet?" He asks enquiring but not pushing, joy suffusing his very being. He's practically glowing next to her.

"Just yet," she confirms with a hum, going back to her sauce.

Thanks for reading you wonderful people. And not spoiling me you lovely Canadians.

Until next time.

Thanks!