Ain't No Mountain High Enough

By

Natalie Elizabeth

Rick And Kate spent their first day together as an official couple. Discovering the freedom they feel when they are together. THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER AHHHH

As the wind whipped around her Kate shivered as she tried to crawl further inside her jacket. It was not beach weather, yet here she was sitting out there freezing her butt off. There was only two crazy people on the beach today, herself and Rick. Well herself, Rick, and a bunch of sea birds. The Hamptons were practically deserted this time of year but coming here had become a tradition. Kate smiled as she shook her head. It had only been four months since they had officially started dating and yet they already had a tradition. The thought both delighted her and befuddled her. Four months! Four months and they were already creating memories that would last a lifetime.

It had started the day of his birthday. During lunch with Martha and Alexis she had revealed she had been given a few days off. He had let her out of his sight only so she could go home and pack a few items. His theory had been if they packed separately it would be quicker that way, and therefore would get to the Hamptons quicker. Especially considering she wouldn't need that many clothes anyway he had told her. He was right. When they hadn't been in bed it had been jeans and a sweatshirt. Taking turns cooking meant they didn't go out and mingle so anything formal wasn't required. Adding a jacket for when they walked on the beach hand in hand or sat to watch the sunset had been the extent of their wardrobe.

Their time in bed together wasn't only about making love; it was about getting to know each other on a deeper level. One day had involved eating all their meals in bed while they watched movies and answered crazy quiz questions about each other on Rick's laptop. Another day an innocent massage had turned into a very heated love making session, but that wasn't her fault. Rick had been very good about keeping his hands on her back and her back only. He didn't even let his little finger slip slightly to touch the side of her breast, and that was the problem. His hands were on her body, so soft and gentle and she had wanted more. The rest of her body had been jealous of the attention her back was getting.

The point was there time together had been incredibly relaxing and they had gone back to work with a new thirst. Whenever Rick got blocked or a case had been particularly heinous, they would head to the Hamptons. Sometimes for a few days, once for 24 hours when they couldn't get time off but needed the rest. Often while she was wrapping up the ends of a case including tedious paperwork Rick would leave to get things organised. He would return when she was ready and have provisions and clothes for the both of them. At times she wondered if the reason they went so often was because he got to drive.

It wasn't just the two of them that went to the Hamptons, Alexis and Martha often joined them too. After a case that had gone on for way to long it was clear they all needed a break. Montgomery had given them three days off over a weekend so Rick had invited Ryan, Jenny, Esposito and Lanie to join them. It had been exactly what they all needed.

The Hamptons had been about reviving the body and the brain for them. Rick often went for walks on the beach to clear his head and sort out storylines. While Rick walked on the beach and 'wrote', she sat and read, the abandoned Kindle sat in her lap. It had been a surprise when he had presented her with the electronic device a month ago. She had figured he would hate such a device, there was nothing like the smell and feel of a book. He had pointed out the Kindle was for the beach only. If she insisted on sitting out on the beach it would help not to have her pages whipping about. The truth was she hardly ever read, she preferred instead to watch Rick at work. Once she had admonished Rick for watching her do paperwork, sighting it was creepy. Now she was a proud member of the creepy club. There was just something about watching him while the little monkey inside his head clanged symbols together.

Kate laughed when she heard Castle yell out then started jumping up and down on the spot scaring the sea bids. Obviously the story line was going well. When he stared purposely striding towards her she quickly looked down at her Kindle and flicked it out of sleep mode. Rick would get upset at her for sitting out there in the cold just so she could be with him. He threw himself down on the sand next to her.

"Heat and Rook giving you some trouble."

Rick sat up giving her a kiss on her very cold nose, before nodding looking quite distressed.

"Do you want some help?"

About a month after they were dating Kate had walked into Rick's study and flopped down on the couch. It took him awhile to notice she was there but once he did, he immediately engaged her in conversation about his work. He had asked her what she would do in the situation as he wasn't quite sure how Nikki would react. Her first response was to say she wasn't Nikki, she wasn't the sort to grab a man's hand and run giggling into her apartment. Well maybe not then anyway, had Rick know back then that love would change her and that's why he wrote Nikki the way he did. Nikki was the Kate if she just opened her heart. Rick had agreed she wasn't completely Nikki and he wasn't completely Rook but Kate knew his characters. He demonstrated his point by throwing a pen and paper at her and asking her questions about the characters and what they would do in different situations. After each question he would write down his own answers. When they compared their answers they were almost identical. She may not be Nikki but she knew the characters inside out. She then started giving him her thoughts and ideas. When his book came out she was looking forward to pointing out different sections that she had helped write.

"I hate how some stories just jump to the characters doing something that there was no lead up to. I want to plant the seed now for something that I want to eventually happen in future. Like in a few books time mind you."

Kate nodded she knew exactly what he meant. "So what's the seed?"

Rick suddenly looked nervous. "Well I eventually want the characters to get married."

Kate drew in a startled breath.

"In a few books time," he added quickly.

Kate narrowed her eyes at him but nodded. "So what's the seed?"

"Well I want Rook to ask Heat to move in with him but I am not sure how Heat will react. Will she run screaming in the other direction? Will she say she's not ready and Rook needs to wait and ask her again in a few months time?"

Rick was nervous, really nervous. Kate couldn't help but bite her lip, this man was so adorable. She was supposed to believe that he was this nervous about ROOK asking HEAT to move in yeah right. Kate smiled a mischievous smile, she couldn't believe it , he really didn't know. She thought he was playing dumb as to not make a big deal of it.

It was time to be the talkative trickster.

"Well let's think about it for a moment Rick. Things have been going well for Rook and Heat right?"

He nodded at her. Kate smiled she loved when they built theory not only for work but for his books.

"And they have been spending alot of time together. Heat has been staying at Rooks place correct."

Rick nodded again. Kate tried to keep her face neutral it was time to drop the bomb.

"Is Rook sure Heat hasn't already moved in."

Ricks mouth dropped open. "No I would have known."

Kate raised he brows at him.

"I mean Rook would have known." He told her.

Kate looked at Rick and saw his confused face; well if he wanted to play this the Rook and Heat angle then she was happy to.

"Didn't Rook think it was unusual that Heat stayed at his place when he went away for work a month ago?"

She watched as he frowned.

"He thought she stayed to look after his ummm, his goldfish. Red and Hellfire."

Kate had to use her best integrations skills at trying to keep a straight face at Rick's excuse. Since when did Rook have fish? Oh she so couldn't wait to tell Alexis about this one, Martha to. She was sure Martha would love that Rick had called her Hellfire, but Red. Really Rick you're a writer don't you have a better imagination than that.

"Right she stayed to look after his Goldfish. So Rook didn't notice the picture he gave her was suddenly in his house."

Oh she so nailed that one. Rook had given Heat a picture just like Rick had given her multiple ones which were now placed around the loft.

Rick shrugged. "He thought she got home sick."

Kate raised her brows at him did she really have to point out that she could have simply gone home. Red and Hellfire would have been fine.

Rick sat up, dusted his hands off and ran them through his hair; he then looked up at her meekly.

"Seriously, you moved in?"

Kate looked at him blankly. "Me, I thought we were talking about Rook and Heat."

Rick laughed. "Ok so you saw right through my subtext. Why didn't you say anything?"

Kate sighed; she had debated about telling him but then decided not to. He didn't seem to notice or at least he hadn't said anything, so she just left it that way.

"I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I thought if I did then I might get scared, when really there is nothing to be scared about. I love you, I want to be with you, I was practically living with you anyway."

"But you wouldn't have known that until you tried right."

Kate nodded and smiled, this man was perfect for her.

Rick looked over the woman before him. She was living with him, he couldn't believe it. The whole purpose of this weekend had been to make sure she was calm and relaxed when he asked her to move in. He didn't want her to freak out and back away from him. The truth was in the end he was so scared that he had used the Rook/Heat angle to try get an idea on what her reaction might be. He thrived on spoilers.

"So we have been living together for a month. What made you decide to move in?"

"Well Alexis kind of insisted."

Rick grinned. Oh he was so buying his daughter a pony now.

"We were out shopping the weekend before you went away and I wanted to stop at my apartment to check on it. My neighbour has been keeping an eye out but I stop in now and then. While I was there she stopped in and asked if I was interest in subletting it seeing how I wasn't there much. Her sister Francis recently separated from her husband and is having a bad time, legally and financially and trying to deal with the kids. Alexis practically had me packed that day."

"But what about all your stuff."

It was surprising how much of her stuff was already at Rick's place. When her apartment blew she had lost alot of her things and had never really gotten around to replacing them. All her work clothes were already gone as were a few of her nicer outfits. She wasn't overly attached to any of her furniture so apart from what was left of her clothes the only things she really took were the pictures Rick gave her, her book collection and a box full of nick nacks.

"I left my furniture, didn't need it and Francis didn't have any. My clothes were mostly in your wardrobe already and there wasn't much else."

Rick shook his head. "I cant believe we have been living together for a month and I didn't know."

"Well it's not much different Rick, it's not like you let me leave when we weren't living together anyway."

Rick pouted at her. "You make it sound like I kept you hostage. I just didn't see the point of you driving all the way back home when you were only going to drive all the way back in a few hours."

Kate smiled; she had stated getting into the habit of picking him up. It meant they could share a good morning kiss without every man and his dog observing them.

"I wasn't a hostage Rick, I knew I could leave, I just didn't want to."

Rick nodded. "Good, because if I remember correctly you liked using the hand cuffs."

Kate rolled her eyes. Good old Rick, always finding a way to lighten the situation. The worry lines that had been marring his face when he first flopped down on the sand were gone now. He was now at ease knowing she was ok with them moving in together. There still was one thing that wasn't resolved and she was concerned when it came up he would be out here again scaring more sea birds.

"So Heat and Rook were subtext for the two of us correct."

Rick nodded at her while drawing hearts in the sand with his index finger.

"So when you said you wanted Rook and Heat to marry in a few books time, what was a few books subtext for?"

Rick froze, oh crap oh crap oh crap. Should he grab her hand so she didn't start running, or would that make her run even faster, his hand holding hers.

Kate saw him freeze and stop drawing hearts and felt bad for teasing him. Once she realised she was in love with Rick she had dived into the relationship. It was the best decision she had ever made. She felt like she belonged not only in his home but in his family. From the moment Rick had come home from his trip, she knew she wanted to be his forever. He had barely been gone a week but it felt like forever even with the content texts, emails, calls and even one very naughty Skype session. Striding through the door, he had announced 'honey I am home' and she was in his arms. A sudden sense of domesticity swept over her and she realised she wanted to be his honey, his sweetie, his wife. Rick looked like a deer in headlights so she decided to put him out of his misery.

"Because I was thinking I'd be ok if a few books, was subtext for a few months. Asking that is, asking in a few books time. Like you said, you need to plant the seed for the future."

She waited, and waited and waited until suddenly he jumped into the air and let out a loud yelp. The sea birds were disrupted again as Rick ran up and down the beach yelling and squawking just as much as the birds were.

Rick finally ran over to his soon to be bride and scoped her out of her chair and walked back and forth.

"Dum dum de dum."

Kate threw back her head and laughed. This man was crazy but that was ok, so was she.

"Dad , what are you doing, you're not going to throw Kate in the water again."

Rick turned around and faced his daughter.

"I'm practicing."

Alexis frowned at her father, what craziness was he getting up to now. "Practising for what, when you drop Kate and she sprains her ankle and then you have to carry her."

"Nope," he told his young daughter. "For when I marry Kate and carry her over the threshold."

Alexis eyes widened and she began to jump up and down squealing much like her father had.

"Wait , wait, wait." Kate slapped at Ricks arm until he finally let go of her and lowered her to her feet. "I said I'd be ok with your father asking in a few months. We are not engaged yet and wedding can take a long time to plan."

Alexis started waving her hands in the air. "We can start planning right away; I have a bridal magazine in the house."

"Why do have a bridal magazine." Rick asked his daughter rather concerned; she was a little young to be thinking of marriage, wasn't she?

Alexis shrugged. "Well I was kind of hoping the two of you would stop dancing around and just get it over with."

Rick frowned at his daughter. "Alexis you should know more than anyone that I don't want to scare Kate off. What if she had found the magazine and thought it was me using subtext and trying to pressure her."

Kate wasn't too happy that Rick was telling off his daughter for only wanting what was best for them.

"You know I could take a look at the magazine, it wouldn't hurt to get ideas." Kate had actually already looked at a few while waiting at the doctors. She was still going regularly to make sure her body and head were fine.

"No No." Alexis told her. "I wouldn't want you to get the impression I am trying to force you marry my dad. You know maybe I should just throw it out."

"No" Kate practically yelled. "I know you're not pressuring me." She said a little softer. "I was never one of those little girls who ran around with a tea towel on their head pretending to get married to the boy next door. I really have no idea where to start; it couldn't hurt to look through one now. See what I am up against."

Alexis smiled at the woman who would soon be her new step mom. It was obvious Kate really wanted to look at the magazine but Alexis had enough of her dad in her to want to tease Kate.

"I'll make you a deal Kate. The magazine is on the coffee table first one to reach it gets to decide what happens to the magazine."

"Alright you're on. " Kate pretended to roll up her sleeves before bending down slightly preparing to race.

Alexis nodded at her and moved into the same stance. "Ready. Set. What the! Dad"

Kate straightened and burst into laughter at the sight of Richard Castle sprinting back to the house.

"That magazine is mine" he yelled not decreasing his pace.

Kate covered her face with her hands and shook her head.

"Regretting your decision about letting Dad propose in a couple of months." Alexis asked not impressed with her father at all.

Kate lowered her hands and smiled at her future step daughter. "Not at all. Most men would run screaming in the other direction at the mention of the word marriage, this is a good thing." When she heard a yelp of joy she looked back towards the house. "I think?"

Picking up her chair and Kindle, Kate started making her way back to the house, Alexis following her.

"So were there any decent looking bridesmaid's dresses in that magazine."

Alexis nodded. "There was this thick strapped lavender one that would look gorgeous on Lanie."

Kate looked at Alexis and frowned. "I don't think you would look good in lavender, to washed out". When Alexis stopped, Kate turned to look at the young girl. "Is something wrong?"

"You want me to be a bridesmaid?"

Kate smiled at the shocked young girl. "Yes. I feel like we really have bonded over the last few months and I would love for you to be there on the day supporting me. If you want to that is."

Alexis started jumping on the spot again before awkwardly hugging Kate around the chair and Kindle.

"Yes yes yes. I would love to Kate." She pulled herself out of Kate's arms and beamed at her. "I was hoping you would let me help you plan the wedding but being in it would be so much better. I have never been in one before, I am so excited."

"Weren't you in your fathers other wedding?"

Alexis lowered her head. "No. To young for a bridesmaid to old for flower girl. Plus Gina and I got along but not like you and I do. Dad wanted me to play the violin as Gina walked in but she said she didn't like that kind of scratchy music so I just sat with Gram."

Kate tucked her kindle under her arm and rubbed her hand up and down Alexis shoulder.

"I am sorry."

Alexis patted Kate's hand on her arm. "It's fine really, its makes your wedding with Dad that more special."

Kate nodded at her. "Thanks and I really would love you to help. With the wedding and keeping your Dad in line."

Alexis laughed as they began walking back to the house. "Oh you're going to need more than just my help with the last one."

Kate marvelled how she was taking about getting married and how it didn't scare her. In fact she was very excited about the idea. Waiting two months now seemed a bit ridiculous especially when she loved him so much and was eager to become part of his family. As she entered the house she saw Rick sitting on the couch a pen in his hand circling things in the bridal magazine.

"See anything you like."

Rick nodded. "I am circling things I like and then you can go through and circle what you like. Then we can meet in the middle." He hadn't even looked up from the page he was reading. "This article says you should have something at the wedding that's significant to you. To many weddings now a days have no individuality about them."

Kate nodded; she definitely wanted her own stamp on her wedding that's for sure. She took a seat next to him and looked at the page he was reading. "What did you have in mind?"

Rick stuck his pen in his mouth and bit the end of it. "Well it says here either something about how you first met or something that's unique to us. Something from when we first met officially kind of has me thinking about hand cuffs and I don't think that would be appropriate at a wedding."

Kate laughed "You think."

"So then I was thinking maybe we could have ice sculptures on everyone's table. If it hadn't been for us being stuck in that freezer who knows how long it would have taken us to get together."

Kate winced. "Really Rick you want to remember almost dying three times on our wedding day."

Rick winced. "Well when you put it like that."

Kate bit her lip and looked down at the magazine and saw the picture of a three tiered wedding cake. "We could have a coffee flavoured wedding cake, thanks kind of our thing."

Rick smiled at her. How was he fortunate enough to be almost engaged to this beautiful woman? "That's a great idea."

Kate slid the magazine over to her lap even though technically Rick had won the right to look at it. Flowers, cakes, dresses. Cars, photographers, invitations.

"Wow there is a lot of things we need to pick. Is it wrong to start planning before you propose?" She laughed at her own joke but she had never really realised how much went into planning a wedding. Wow!

"I have a song I like for our first dance."

Kate looked up at Rick surprised. He had picked a song. "Wait it's not 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' is it. Great song but maybe for later in the night."

Rick shook his head before grabbing his phone out of his pocket. He tapped it a few times before suddenly music was filling the room. "It's called Anyone at all by Carol King."

Kate leaned in close to hear the lyrics.

Funny how I feel, more my self with you.

Than anybody else that I ever knew.

I hear it in your voice, see it in your face.

You've become the memory I can't erase."

Rick tapped his phone to cease the music. "I know it doesn't sound like the happiest of songs but it's the lyrics."

Kate smiled she recognised the song. "It's from the end of You've got mail, right."

Rick looked a little embarrassed now. "Umm yeah that's where most people know the song from. We can pick something else if you like. I mean I haven't even proposed yet, we have plenty of time to pick a song."

"No I like the song and the fact that it's from You've got mail is kind of significant to. We didn't meet over the internet or anything but at first the characters didn't get along that well like us. The move is set in New York and books were a big part of their lives like with us."

Rick smiled she really liked the song and she didn't care that it was from the end of a movie that he secretly loved.

"You really like the song?"

"I do"

"Remember those words. You will be saying them very soon." Rick leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.

"Eww hello. Teenager still in the room."

Kate leaned in and whispered in Rick's ear. "Do you want to go to our room?"

Rick pulled back slightly to look at her with mischievous glint in his eye.

"I do"

The end

AUTHORS NOTE: AND IT IS OVER. WOW.

IF YOU GO BACK AND READ THE FIRST CHAPTER I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS GOING TO CONTINUE THE STORY. I WAS WORRIED IT WAS TO MUCH LIKE MY FIRST STORY STRANGE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME AND THIS STORY, IT CANT HAVE BEEN EASY WITH ALL MY MISTAKES. I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT MY WRITING HAS GROWN OVER THE MONTHS SINCE I FIRST STARTED THIS STORY AND GETTING BETTER.

A HUGE THANK YOU GOES OUT TO LITTLE LIZZIE ZENTARA. IF IT WEREN'T FOR HER ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT THIS STORY WOULD NEVER EXISTED.

I FIRST FOUND FANFICTION ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH A VERY BAD TIME IN MY LIFE. I HAD PEOPLE AROUND ME YET I STILL FELT SO ALONE AND FELT LIKE A FREAK. FAN FICTION GAVE ME A REASON TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND LIVE MY LIFE. IT GAVE ME CONFIDENCE I NEVER KNEW I HAD TO GO AND MAKE CHANGES IN MY LIFE, REAL BIG POSITIVE CHANGES LIKE RIDDING MY LIFE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE GETTING ME DOWN. I BEGAN LIVING MY LIFE AND TRYING NEW THINGS AND STEPPED AWAY FROM THE FAN FICTION WORLD, FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I WOULD GO BACK FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN I WAS FEELING DOWN BUT NEVER REALLY HUNG AROUND. A FEW YEARS BACK I WAS FEELING LONELY IN LIFE AGAIN AND A BIT DIRECTIONLESS. I STOPPED IN SAID HELLO DROPPED OFF A Lois and Clark FANFICTION AND LEFT AS SOON AS I CAME.

I WAS FEELING A BIT DIRECTIONLESS AGAIN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, NOT AS MUCH AS BEFORE BUT I THOUGHT I'D READ SOME FANFIC AGAIN TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER. OH IT DID WONDERS FOR ME. THEN I HAD A NIGGLING TO WRITE A STORY SOMETHING I HAVEN'T HAD IN A LONG TIME AND IT WOULDN'T LET GO. SO I THOUGHT I'D STOP IN DROP A LITTLE 3 CHAPTER STORY AND HIGH TAILED IT OUTER HERE. I HAD BEEN GONE FOR SO LONG AND WASN'T SURE IF I FIT IN HERE ANYMORE. I WAS LIKE A NEW KID AT SCHOOL WHERE EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS EVERYONE. SO I STAYED ON THE OUTER EDGES AND QUICKLY SNUCK IN A CHAPTER HERE AND THERE HOPING NO ONE WOULD NOTICE ME MUCH.

BUT SOME ONE DID. Little Lizzie Zentara. SHE SAW ME STANDING THERE ON THE OUTSKIRTS ABOUT TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT AND SHE GRABBED MY HAND AND PULLED ME BACK INTO THE FRAY. AND FOR THAT I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL. MY LIFE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE YOU CAME INTO IT AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOUR FANTASTIC REVIEWS I WOULD NOT HAVE CONTINUED WRITING OR HAVE 12 CASTLE FANFICS UNDER MY BELT.

A WORD OF ADVICE TO PEOPLE OUT THERE STANDING OIN THE OUTSKIRTS TO SHY TO STEP IN A WRITE A STORY, JUST GIVE IT A GO. SURE YOU MIGHT NOT BE GREAT TO START OUT WITH BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE TO GIVE ADVICE. WE ALL HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. DON'T BE AFRAID TO SHOW THE WORLD YOUR IDEAS. YOU NEVER KNOW ONE DAY SOMETHING YOU WRITE MAY CHANGE SOMEONES LIFE FOREVER.

OK SO IF I SEEM TO DROP OF THE RADAR OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO DONT WORRY. I AM MEANT TO BE GOING ON HOLIDAYS. MEANT TO, AS IN WE HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER QUITE ILL AT THE MOMENT SO I AM UNSURE WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN. IF I GO ILL BE TRAVELLING FROM AUSTRALIA TO THE USA FOR A WHOLE MONTH. FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER NATTIELIZZIE AND ILL POST SOME PICS OF MY JOURNEY IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. OH WHEN YOU FOLLOW ME POST A HEY HOW ARE YA I'M FROM FFSO I KNOW WHO IS ACTUALLY INTERESTED AND WHERE YOU CAME FROM LOL.

AND ONE FINAL NOTE REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW

See you soon.

Natalie Elizabeth