Holding on Tonight

Epilogue

She did it.

Kate Beckett glanced at the clock and smiled. She shut down her computer and leaned back in her chair, her smile turning giddy. She stood up and stretched, working the kinks out of her neck, pausing momentarily as a thought struck her. It stunned her. She was amazed at the difference one night could make. Last night, she had merely been satisfied with her job, but now, she had something to look forward to. Going home wasn't something to dread like it had been the previous night. Her smile widened.

Home.

She couldn't believe she hadn't seen it before.

Home didn't have to be a place.

Kate dug her phone out of her pocket, quickly sending a message to let him know she was getting off work. Not a second later she got a response, giving her the name and address of a restaurant within walking distance of the precinct. She'd made him promise not to pick anywhere fancy. He didn't need to wine and dine her. No. That wasn't necessary. She didn't need that. And he didn't need to impress her. All she required was him.

Shoving her cellphone back into her pocket, Kate raked her fingers through her hair and stalked towards the door to her office. She flicked off the lights and stepped out, closing the door behind her. Turning to the bullpen, she flashed Ryan and Esposito a farewell smile, before ducking her head and making a move to leave.

"Yo, where you going?" Esposito hollered from his desk, his eyes flicking briefly towards the digital chronometer at the bottom left of his computer screen, checking to make sure he hadn't stayed beyond his shift.

"Out," she answered, offering a wave as she continued on. "See you guys tomorrow." And with that, she marched towards the elevator, leaving the boys to debate what she was up to. She smirked, amused as she glanced back to see their confused and puzzled looks as they gossiped between themselves.

As she stepped inside the lift, her cellphone buzzed. Retrieving it, Kate answered with her customary curt greeting, "Beckett."

"Hey, girl," came Lanie's effervescent voice. "I know yesterday was your first day, but what say you and I go out to celebrate tonight?"

Kate grinned. Oh, if only her best friend knew what kind of celebrating she'd been up to the previous night. She waited a beat before answering. "Sorry, Lanie, but I've got plans," she revealed.

"What!?" hooted Lanie excitedly. "You? Plans!? Like… like a date?"

"Is that what people call it nowadays?" Kate joked, suppressing a laugh, highly amused at her friend's response.

"Now, Kate, don't tease," Lanie groused. Kate could just imagine her pouting. "I want some details. So, who's the guy?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, even though Lanie couldn't see her. "Oh, no one you know," she drawled out, idly looking at her fingernails and thinking about the scratches she'd left in Castle's back last night.

"Kate!?" whined Lanie.

"Look, it's new, okay," she defended. "I don't want to jinx it."

"But I will get details, right?"

"In spades," Kate assured.

The elevator chimed dinged and the doors rattled open, revealing a ruggedly handsome man waiting on the other side. Kate grinned, pleasantly surprised.

"Gotta go, Lanie. Bye," she announced, and then unceremoniously hung up on her best friend. She cocked her head as she stepped out of the lift. "What are you doing here? I thought we'd agree to meet at the restaurant."

Richard Castle rolled his shoulders in a dramatic shrug. "I couldn't wait," he asserted with an excited smile. "Besides, it's a nice night out, I thought it would be nice if we walked there together."

"Did you now?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

Castle pursed his lips and took a step closer, invading her personal space. He lowered his voice to a deep husk that did things to her insides. "We could always skip dinner," he suggested with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Tugging her lower lip under her teeth, Kate shook her head. Oh, he was good. "Easy there, tiger," she said. "You promised me a meal, and with all of our activities, I'm famished. So, feed me."

"Right you are," Castle agreed stepping back, making a dramatic display of offering her his arm. She bit back a smile and accepted, slipping her arm around his.

Yes, Kate thought, nuzzling close to him as they walked down the street in the brisk autumn evening. This right here, being with Rick Castle, this was her home. And she was going to hold on to it for life.

THE END

*Author's Note: Thank you all for joining me on this oneshot that became a small multi-chapter story. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.