A/N: For now, though, I'll continue to write present-day fluffiness with a few flashbacks thrown in. Now I know that this chapter may be a bit of a letdown after the intensity (and length) of chap 14, but I just wanted to write something short, sweet and light. And we're getting close to the baby's birth now, just a few more chapters.
I hope you enjoy it!
(Flashbacks - Italics)
Disclaimer - don't own it, although I would like to make Nathan Fillion mine... *Sigh*
(Btw - 'Knockdown' was excellent! They should just get together and make Castle babies already... like in my story. Alright enough incoherent blabbering.)
The front door of the loft softly clicked open and a certain very weary and very pregnant detective stepped into her – their – home. She let out a breath, closing the door and rubbing her sore neck with the other. It was only after she absent-mindedly dropped her purse and coat onto the nearest table that she became aware of the dimmed lights, soft, melodic background music and the romantic flicker of candles. A whisper of a (surprised) smile twirled her lips upward as she carefully walked further into the living room area. Her husband, however, was nowhere to be found.
"Rick?" No answer. He wasn't in the kitchen where something delectable was slowly simmering inside the stove. She walked towards his study and peered inside.
"Rick, honey?" No one. Her brow furrowed slightly. Just as she started to make her way towards the stairs, he descended them. He was clad in slightly worn, light blue jeans (the jeans that hugged his ass nicely, Kate always thought) and a crisp white button-down shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up; he was barefoot and his hair was faintly damp (from a quick shower) and cutely tousled.
'Sexy, very sexy,' Kate thought, quirking up an appreciative eyebrow as she slowly perused her husband's fit body.
"Aaahhh, you're home." His whiney tone and somewhat sulky expression snapped her out of her daydream. She shot him an unimpressed look as he came to stand in front of her.
"Geez, enthusiasm much?" He wrapped his arms around her large middle and grinned before giving her a quick peck on the lips.
"I was actually planning on running out and buying you some flowers." He shrugged. "But now you're early." Kate eyed him skeptically.
"Castle, what did you do?" She shot back after a beat. He let out a laugh.
"Wow, after three and a half years of marriage and you still don't trust me to buy you flowers because I felt like it… It hurts, Detective."
"Yeah well all the other times you bought me flowers were either because a) we had a fight or b) because you did something that would lead to a fight." He only returned a sanguine smile before replying softly.
"Not this time." He dipped his head and met her lips for a slow, lazy and sensual kiss; both savouring the unhurried union of their mouths. Breaking from the kiss, he placed his forehead against hers and smirked.
"You haven't told me how sexy I look tonight, KC."
Kate snorted and chuckled.
"Oh puhlease, Writer Boy. Don't flatter yourself." The truth, in fact, was that she was struggling against the impulse to rip his shirt off and making him her love-slave for all eternity.
He dropped his arms from her waist and returned a lopsided grin, making his way to the kitchen.
"Mmm-hmm, whatever you say Detective. I see the way you're looking at me – practically undressing me with your eyes." His expression converted into a mock scowl. "In fact, I actually feel kinda used and dirty."
"You've never had a problem with that before," Kate said, sniggering while taking a seat on one of the stools at the kitchen counter.
"Touché," he responded with a smile, placing a glass of grape juice in front of her.
"So what's the occasion?" Kate asked as she scanned the dimly lit surroundings.
"Nothing… Just thought we could have a quiet evening at home. You know, before the baby comes," he replied with a small shrug while busying himself at the stove. He was impossibly cute when he was being coy... And downright burning-the-house-down sexy when he was being all domestic in his ass-hugging jeans.
"Date night, huh?"
He looked up at her with a softened expression. "Yeah, something like that." They smiled at each other. Rick may be a child sometimes and drive her up the wall in irritation, but he knew how to make up for it. He knew how to make her happy. How to love her.
"Sounds nice... Thank you, Mr. Castle."
An impish grin slowly pulled his lips upward.
"I'm getting lucky tonight, aren't I?" Instead of her usual eye roll or snarky comeback, Kate surprised him.
"Looking like that?" She gestured with her hand towards him. "Definitely," she said with her own devilish grin.
Rick let out a laugh. "I knew it!" He pumped his fist in the air. "Score!" An amused eye-roll and reluctant smile were the only responses.
But, alas, it did not happen the way he envisioned it. Murder had gotten in the way and by the time they got home late on Friday night, the only thing his hopefully-soon-to-be-fiancé wanted to do was take a long, hot bubble bath - on her own (much to his disappointment) - and go to bed. Rick went on to sulk in his office, the small velvet box still carefully stored away in the drawer of his desk - it had been each day for the last three weeks. He aimlessly glanced around the room and caught sight of a picture of them. It was their first picture as a couple - one that had been taken in Rome. He had his arms tightly wrapped around her while pressing a hard kiss against her cheek and she was laughing brightly, her eyes crinkling in delight.
Picking up the frame, a small sentimental smile pulled at his mouth. She was his done and he was her one. He took the blue velvet box out of the drawer and looked at it for a while, rubbing his thumb over the soft material.
'Third time lucky, Ricky boy,' He glanced at the picture again. 'Third time lucky.'
"What are you thinking, KC?" Rick asked softly, rhythymically running his fingers through her hair. They were lying on the couch (after dinner) in their familiar and comfortable position - Rick on his back with his head against the arm of the large couch while Kate draped half of her (now seven-and-a-half-month pregnant) body over his, her head on his chest.
She let out a content sigh.
"Just about us." She paused for a moment before lifting her head to look at him. "Actually about when you proposed."
His eyebrows came together in surprise.
"When I proposed? Why?"
She shrugged and returned to her original position.
"I don't know... I just always figured that you would kinda do something like you did tonight. Wine and dine and seduce me." Kate felt his chest rumble as he laughed. "Don't get me wrong, I loved the way you did it," she quickly added.
"Well it's now too late to say no, Mrs. Castle."
"Don't remind me," she mumbled.
"What was that?" His voice was laced with humour. He started to playfully poke at her sensitive and extremely ticklish sides causing Kate to immediately squirm and giggle.
"Nothing! I swear!" She laughed as he continued to pepper her with tickles.
He only stopped when she gave him a quick, sharp prod to his stomach eliciting a surprised groan. They grew quiet again after a few minutes of back-and-forth play and laughter.
"I actually wanted to do it this way, you know," Rick suddenly said. Kate lifted her head again to look at him; her expression one of confusion. "I wanted to wine and dine... and seduce you. I actually had a whole romantic evening planned - complete with some mushy speech and Barry White music." They both took a moment to shudder and cringe at the thought. Kate's expression sobered as a tentative smile graced her lips.
"Really? So you had the whole thing planned?"
"Mmm-hmm."
Kate's curiosity was now roused. "So... why did you do it the way that you did?"
Rick was silent for a few moments; a grin slowly splitting his ruggedly handsome face.
"The moment was... us."
"Good morning Jamie Oliver."
Rick looked up to see his leggy lover swagger towards him. She was clad in only his light blue dress shirt (which now had become her sleep attire; not that he minded) while her long curls were arranged in a messy bun with a few rogue strands escaping.
"Good morning my lil' sex kitten." She only shot him an arched eyebrow. He ignored it of course, stepping towards her and pulling her to him. "If I'm Jamie Oliver, does that mean that you're Nigella Lawson?"
"Mmmm, I'm more of a Martha Stewart kinda girl," Kate responded with a shrug.
Rick scowled at this. "But she's old... and boring."
"She's America's greatest homemaker."
"She was in prison."
"Well then she's decidedly not boring."
"She looks terrible in orange."
"Who doesn't?"
"You." Kate rolled her eyes at the silly compliment and smiled.
"C'mon, Ricky, cut the woman some slack - she can do just about anything around the house. It's impressive."
"Yeah - in a creepy Stepford Wives' way." He paused for a contemplative moment. "I think Bree van der Kamp is based on her."
Kate laughed heartily at this, giving her head a shake. "Desperate Housewives, Rick? Really?"
"It- I... only glance at it from time to time."
"Mmm-hmm, sure."
He briefly let go of her and held up his hands in defense. "Hey, it's an award-winning, critically acclaimed show... And I don't really have a choice with all the estrogen in the house."
"So says the man who reads the spoilers religously... So, do you also enjoy slumber parties and pillow fights?" Kate continued to tease while he only narrowed his eyes.
He watched her for a moment before a sly smile tinged his lips upward. "Only with you - when you're all hot, bothered and very naked." His voice dropped a few octaves as he slowly dragged his eyes over her scarcely clad body. Leaning closer, he murmured."Tell me, Detective, are you wearing that sexy red thong I like so much?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Kate muttered back, slightly biting her lower lip and quirking up a seductive eyebrow.
"Oh you have no idea." He gave her a deep kiss and started to fiddle with some of the buttons at the bottom of her (his) shirt. Kate, however, broke from the kiss and swatted his hands away.
"Nice try, Writer Boy, but you're not getting any before I don't get any breakfast," she said taking a seat on one of the kitchen counter stools.
Rick sighed and muttered unhappily. "Cruel woman."
They were silent for a few minutes while Kate read the newspaper, her brow cutely crinkled, and Rick went about making their favourite breakfast - pancakes. His mind (again) drifted to the blue velvet box carefully stored away in the desk of his office, the woman sitting a few feet from him and the life-changing question he was burning to ask her. The only thing he needed was a moment - something big and intimate.
He was excited about asking Kate to become Mrs. Richard Castle... unlike the previous proposals.
His proposal to Meredith was messy and rushed - he was a fumbling kid who had gotten his girlfriend pregnant. Proposing to her seemed the right thing to do, so he did. Unfortunately their marriage had also been messy and rushed. With Gina, however, he was a grown man in a relationship with a grown woman who wanted him to commit. And so he did - albeit reluctantly. The proposal was big - slightly over the top - clichéd and not all that unexpected. It felt like a business agreement - contrived and forced. Unfortunately their marriage also disintegrated into a pile of contrived and forced moments; the only passion they experienced was when they fought.
Kate? Well, Kate was different. She was the stars to his moon, the ying to his yang and the kiss to his hug. He was certain. Certain that he had the right girl this time. Certain that he would never love anyone else. Certain that he would grow old with her.
"Uh before I forget-" Kate started, turning over a page of the newspaper. "-I talked to your mother and she's coming over for dinner on Tuesday."
Rick turned towards her and raised his eyebrows. "You talk to my mother? I don't know whether I should be afraid or glad."
"You should only be afraid when you've done something wrong - which is quite often." She gave him a teasing smile while he only playfully narrowed his eyes and scowled at her.
His expression, however, turned devilish. "I don't mind getting in trouble, Detective... I like handcuffs."
She only rolled her eyes and produced a lopsided grin. "Walked right into that one, didn't I?"
"Yeah, pretty much," he replied with a casual shrug before returning his attention back to the last pancake in the pan on the stove. "Anything else I need to know?"
"Yes. On Thursday we have Alexis' parent-teacher meeting at seven." She turned attention back to the newspaper. "Why don't you go get your diary so that I can write it down? We both know you have the memory of a fish."
Rick froze. He barely heard the last part. There was only one word that stuck in his mind - 'we'. One simple, tiny, but wonderfully significant word. They were a family - he knew it and she accepted it. And they all loved it. It was natural and organic. His eyes grew wide as the realization hit him - this was the moment. Their moment.
"Rick? Did you hear me?" He looked up at her.
"Hmmm?"
"Get. Your. Diary... Now," she commanded. "You want me to get it for you?" She started to climb off the stool.
"No!" He exclaimed a little too loudly, nervous excitement taking hold of him. Kate only cocked her head and frowned. "I mean, I- I'll get it." He gave her a sheepish smile and basically ran over to his office.
His hands were shaking as he opened the desk drawer and fumbled with the small box that he quickly pulled out. He hastily put it into the pocket of the 'Kiss the Cook'-apron. He was almost to the door of the office when he remembered his diary.
"Here," he said handing the diary to her and walking back to the stove.
He was nervous and excited... and scared shitless. He went on to finish the pancakes - grinning the whole time - as Kate chatted away, blissfully unaware of the extra topping she was about to get on her pancakes.
"I see you're seeing Gina next week." He put the plate in front of her while she still scrutinized his diary. "Is it about the book tour? Because you know that-" Her eyes drifted to the plate and the sentence was suddenly completely forgotten. The only thing her mind was registering was the plate of golden pancakes, the few strawberry slices around them and a small blue box in the middle on top of everything; open to reveal an elegant square cut diamond ring. Her breath hitched and her eyes grew wide in shock. Her eyes darted from the plate up to Rick, who was smiling nervously, and back to the glittering item.
"Rick?" Her voice was soft.
He walked around the counter and took hold of her hands, lightly pulling her off the stool so that she stood in front of him. Without her power heels, Kate was small against his large frame.
They were silent for a few moments as Rick looked down at their intertwined hands, absent-mindedly rubbing his thumbs over the back of her hands.
"I don't have... a long, world-shifting speech." He looked up at her; his voice quiet. "But... I love you, Kate, and I want this - us - for the rest of my life." He smiled at her and she returned one herself. "I- I want you to be dressed in one of my shirts each morning. I want to make babies with you, have movie nights with you, do chores with you, fight with you, have great make-up sex with you." Kate let out a laugh at this; her eyes starting to well up. "I want to go to parent-teacher meetings with you, take you on book tours with me, make a difference with you... I want all of this - all of you - for the rest of my life." He paused for a moment, his expression softening as he gently caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "I'm your one and you're my done, KB." He let out a dramatic breath. "So, I guess what I'm saying or rather asking-" He bent down on one knee in front of her, lacing their hands once more. "-is whether you, Katherine Beckett, would do me the honour of becoming my wife... and permanent muse?"
One. Two. Three droplets fell onto their intertwined hands. Blissful tears streamed down her cheeks as a wide, all engulfing smile slowly enveloped her features. She nodded her head vigorously in addition to exclaiming a torrent of "Yesses." Rick, grinning like the love-struck idiot that he was, jumped to his feet and pulled her body to his before crushing his lips to hers in a searing kiss. He broke from the kiss and retrieved the ring. Grinning like happy fools, Rick glided the ring onto her shaking and elegant finger.
"I love you," he said quietly, wrapping his arms around her again.
"I love you too."
"And the ring?"
"Yes, it's absolutely gorgeous," Kate said, beaming as she studied the foreign object on her ring finger. Rick kept his eyes on her.
"It has nothing on you," he responded softly and she looked back up at him and smiled; her eyes sparkling.
She pulled him down for a deep, toe-curling kiss that had both their heads spinning. Soon the celebration escalated and moved to the couch - breakfast completely forgotten as clothing started to litter the living room floor.
"You're wearing the red thong! I knew it!"
Kate let out a girlish laugh. "Shut up and kiss me already!"
Rick returned a wicked grin. "Whatever you want future-Mrs.-Castle... Whatever you want."
"You didn't suspect anything?"
Kate shook her head as they removed the surplus pillows from their bed.
"Really? Nothing?" Rick asked again as they climb under the covers.
"Nope, not a thing," Kate replied, settling against his side with a book while he draped an arm around her shoulder. "That's probably why I said yes." Rick's brow furrowed in confusion as he looked down at her. "You ambushed me - so before I knew it, I said yes and there's was a ring on my finger." She flashed him a teasing smile.
"Haha, very funny Detective. If I remember correctly, you ambushed me and demanded that I take you right there and then on the couch."
Kate dropped her head, smiled broadly and blushed slightly. "Oh. Right. Yeah... Totally forgot about that part."
"Mmm-hmm," he responded with a knowing grin.
Suddenly Kate sat up, placing a hand on her large stomach.
"Lizzy, sweetie, settle down... Mommy has to get some sleep tonight and I can't do that if you keep making such a fuss."
"Guess who she gets that from," Rick muttered, also placing a hand on the baby bump.
"You," Kate replied.
"Nah-uh... That's all you, KC."
Kate laughed and gave him a quick kiss. They were quiet for a few moments, feeling the busy movements of their daughter.
"What are you thinking, RC?" Kate asked after a while. He waited a few contemplative moments before answering.
"Us... Our family. How everything just... worked out better than I could've ever expected." His gave her a soft smile and cupped her cheek. "I'm a lucky guy."
She placed her small hand over his. "Yes you are, Mr. Castle." Rick chuckled and gave her a hard, lingering kiss.
"KC?"
"Mmmm?"
"I'm glad you said yes."
Kate returned a brilliant smile.
"Me too, RC. Me too."
A/N: There you go - nice and fluffy. It's fun to write something this light and sweet. I hope the proposal was satisfying; I just figured that it would be very natural and domestic.
I apologize for any spelling and grammar mistakes.
(Btw - for those who are not aware, Nathan Fillion was on 'Desperate Housewives' in season four where he played Katherine Mayfair's husband; hence my small nod to the show.)
I hope you enjoy it!
(Flashbacks - Italics)
Disclaimer - don't own it, although I would like to make Nathan Fillion mine... *Sigh*
(Btw - 'Knockdown' was excellent! They should just get together and make Castle babies already... like in my story. Alright enough incoherent blabbering.)
The front door of the loft softly clicked open and a certain very weary and very pregnant detective stepped into her – their – home. She let out a breath, closing the door and rubbing her sore neck with the other. It was only after she absent-mindedly dropped her purse and coat onto the nearest table that she became aware of the dimmed lights, soft, melodic background music and the romantic flicker of candles. A whisper of a (surprised) smile twirled her lips upward as she carefully walked further into the living room area. Her husband, however, was nowhere to be found.
"Rick?" No answer. He wasn't in the kitchen where something delectable was slowly simmering inside the stove. She walked towards his study and peered inside.
"Rick, honey?" No one. Her brow furrowed slightly. Just as she started to make her way towards the stairs, he descended them. He was clad in slightly worn, light blue jeans (the jeans that hugged his ass nicely, Kate always thought) and a crisp white button-down shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up; he was barefoot and his hair was faintly damp (from a quick shower) and cutely tousled.
'Sexy, very sexy,' Kate thought, quirking up an appreciative eyebrow as she slowly perused her husband's fit body.
"Aaahhh, you're home." His whiney tone and somewhat sulky expression snapped her out of her daydream. She shot him an unimpressed look as he came to stand in front of her.
"Geez, enthusiasm much?" He wrapped his arms around her large middle and grinned before giving her a quick peck on the lips.
"I was actually planning on running out and buying you some flowers." He shrugged. "But now you're early." Kate eyed him skeptically.
"Castle, what did you do?" She shot back after a beat. He let out a laugh.
"Wow, after three and a half years of marriage and you still don't trust me to buy you flowers because I felt like it… It hurts, Detective."
"Yeah well all the other times you bought me flowers were either because a) we had a fight or b) because you did something that would lead to a fight." He only returned a sanguine smile before replying softly.
"Not this time." He dipped his head and met her lips for a slow, lazy and sensual kiss; both savouring the unhurried union of their mouths. Breaking from the kiss, he placed his forehead against hers and smirked.
"You haven't told me how sexy I look tonight, KC."
Kate snorted and chuckled.
"Oh puhlease, Writer Boy. Don't flatter yourself." The truth, in fact, was that she was struggling against the impulse to rip his shirt off and making him her love-slave for all eternity.
He dropped his arms from her waist and returned a lopsided grin, making his way to the kitchen.
"Mmm-hmm, whatever you say Detective. I see the way you're looking at me – practically undressing me with your eyes." His expression converted into a mock scowl. "In fact, I actually feel kinda used and dirty."
"You've never had a problem with that before," Kate said, sniggering while taking a seat on one of the stools at the kitchen counter.
"Touché," he responded with a smile, placing a glass of grape juice in front of her.
"So what's the occasion?" Kate asked as she scanned the dimly lit surroundings.
"Nothing… Just thought we could have a quiet evening at home. You know, before the baby comes," he replied with a small shrug while busying himself at the stove. He was impossibly cute when he was being coy... And downright burning-the-house-down sexy when he was being all domestic in his ass-hugging jeans.
"Date night, huh?"
He looked up at her with a softened expression. "Yeah, something like that." They smiled at each other. Rick may be a child sometimes and drive her up the wall in irritation, but he knew how to make up for it. He knew how to make her happy. How to love her.
"Sounds nice... Thank you, Mr. Castle."
An impish grin slowly pulled his lips upward.
"I'm getting lucky tonight, aren't I?" Instead of her usual eye roll or snarky comeback, Kate surprised him.
"Looking like that?" She gestured with her hand towards him. "Definitely," she said with her own devilish grin.
Rick let out a laugh. "I knew it!" He pumped his fist in the air. "Score!" An amused eye-roll and reluctant smile were the only responses.
XXXX
He was going to do it. Tonight was the night ('Eye of the Tiger' had been his refrain for the whole week). He had the perfect evening planned - a home-cooked dinner, flickering candles, soft music, a heartfelt speech, good wine... lots of good wine. And, of course, a glittering square cut diamond ring to seal the deal. But, alas, it did not happen the way he envisioned it. Murder had gotten in the way and by the time they got home late on Friday night, the only thing his hopefully-soon-to-be-fiancé wanted to do was take a long, hot bubble bath - on her own (much to his disappointment) - and go to bed. Rick went on to sulk in his office, the small velvet box still carefully stored away in the drawer of his desk - it had been each day for the last three weeks. He aimlessly glanced around the room and caught sight of a picture of them. It was their first picture as a couple - one that had been taken in Rome. He had his arms tightly wrapped around her while pressing a hard kiss against her cheek and she was laughing brightly, her eyes crinkling in delight.
Picking up the frame, a small sentimental smile pulled at his mouth. She was his done and he was her one. He took the blue velvet box out of the drawer and looked at it for a while, rubbing his thumb over the soft material.
'Third time lucky, Ricky boy,' He glanced at the picture again. 'Third time lucky.'
"What are you thinking, KC?" Rick asked softly, rhythymically running his fingers through her hair. They were lying on the couch (after dinner) in their familiar and comfortable position - Rick on his back with his head against the arm of the large couch while Kate draped half of her (now seven-and-a-half-month pregnant) body over his, her head on his chest.
She let out a content sigh.
"Just about us." She paused for a moment before lifting her head to look at him. "Actually about when you proposed."
His eyebrows came together in surprise.
"When I proposed? Why?"
She shrugged and returned to her original position.
"I don't know... I just always figured that you would kinda do something like you did tonight. Wine and dine and seduce me." Kate felt his chest rumble as he laughed. "Don't get me wrong, I loved the way you did it," she quickly added.
"Well it's now too late to say no, Mrs. Castle."
"Don't remind me," she mumbled.
"What was that?" His voice was laced with humour. He started to playfully poke at her sensitive and extremely ticklish sides causing Kate to immediately squirm and giggle.
"Nothing! I swear!" She laughed as he continued to pepper her with tickles.
He only stopped when she gave him a quick, sharp prod to his stomach eliciting a surprised groan. They grew quiet again after a few minutes of back-and-forth play and laughter.
"I actually wanted to do it this way, you know," Rick suddenly said. Kate lifted her head again to look at him; her expression one of confusion. "I wanted to wine and dine... and seduce you. I actually had a whole romantic evening planned - complete with some mushy speech and Barry White music." They both took a moment to shudder and cringe at the thought. Kate's expression sobered as a tentative smile graced her lips.
"Really? So you had the whole thing planned?"
"Mmm-hmm."
Kate's curiosity was now roused. "So... why did you do it the way that you did?"
Rick was silent for a few moments; a grin slowly splitting his ruggedly handsome face.
"The moment was... us."
XXXX
8h00. On a Saturday morning. Rick Castle was up at 8am on a Saturday morning. It just didn't happen. The world had to be turned upside down. Kate observed her man-child lover from the top of the staircase to where he was singing along to a rock tune in the kitchen using a spatula as his mic. He was wearing his favourite Tasmanian Devil boxers, the 'Kiss the Cook'- apron... and a chef's hat. Kate only rolled her eyes and smiled as she continued to descend the stairs."Good morning Jamie Oliver."
Rick looked up to see his leggy lover swagger towards him. She was clad in only his light blue dress shirt (which now had become her sleep attire; not that he minded) while her long curls were arranged in a messy bun with a few rogue strands escaping.
"Good morning my lil' sex kitten." She only shot him an arched eyebrow. He ignored it of course, stepping towards her and pulling her to him. "If I'm Jamie Oliver, does that mean that you're Nigella Lawson?"
"Mmmm, I'm more of a Martha Stewart kinda girl," Kate responded with a shrug.
Rick scowled at this. "But she's old... and boring."
"She's America's greatest homemaker."
"She was in prison."
"Well then she's decidedly not boring."
"She looks terrible in orange."
"Who doesn't?"
"You." Kate rolled her eyes at the silly compliment and smiled.
"C'mon, Ricky, cut the woman some slack - she can do just about anything around the house. It's impressive."
"Yeah - in a creepy Stepford Wives' way." He paused for a contemplative moment. "I think Bree van der Kamp is based on her."
Kate laughed heartily at this, giving her head a shake. "Desperate Housewives, Rick? Really?"
"It- I... only glance at it from time to time."
"Mmm-hmm, sure."
He briefly let go of her and held up his hands in defense. "Hey, it's an award-winning, critically acclaimed show... And I don't really have a choice with all the estrogen in the house."
"So says the man who reads the spoilers religously... So, do you also enjoy slumber parties and pillow fights?" Kate continued to tease while he only narrowed his eyes.
He watched her for a moment before a sly smile tinged his lips upward. "Only with you - when you're all hot, bothered and very naked." His voice dropped a few octaves as he slowly dragged his eyes over her scarcely clad body. Leaning closer, he murmured."Tell me, Detective, are you wearing that sexy red thong I like so much?"
"Wouldn't you like to know," Kate muttered back, slightly biting her lower lip and quirking up a seductive eyebrow.
"Oh you have no idea." He gave her a deep kiss and started to fiddle with some of the buttons at the bottom of her (his) shirt. Kate, however, broke from the kiss and swatted his hands away.
"Nice try, Writer Boy, but you're not getting any before I don't get any breakfast," she said taking a seat on one of the kitchen counter stools.
Rick sighed and muttered unhappily. "Cruel woman."
They were silent for a few minutes while Kate read the newspaper, her brow cutely crinkled, and Rick went about making their favourite breakfast - pancakes. His mind (again) drifted to the blue velvet box carefully stored away in the desk of his office, the woman sitting a few feet from him and the life-changing question he was burning to ask her. The only thing he needed was a moment - something big and intimate.
He was excited about asking Kate to become Mrs. Richard Castle... unlike the previous proposals.
His proposal to Meredith was messy and rushed - he was a fumbling kid who had gotten his girlfriend pregnant. Proposing to her seemed the right thing to do, so he did. Unfortunately their marriage had also been messy and rushed. With Gina, however, he was a grown man in a relationship with a grown woman who wanted him to commit. And so he did - albeit reluctantly. The proposal was big - slightly over the top - clichéd and not all that unexpected. It felt like a business agreement - contrived and forced. Unfortunately their marriage also disintegrated into a pile of contrived and forced moments; the only passion they experienced was when they fought.
Kate? Well, Kate was different. She was the stars to his moon, the ying to his yang and the kiss to his hug. He was certain. Certain that he had the right girl this time. Certain that he would never love anyone else. Certain that he would grow old with her.
"Uh before I forget-" Kate started, turning over a page of the newspaper. "-I talked to your mother and she's coming over for dinner on Tuesday."
Rick turned towards her and raised his eyebrows. "You talk to my mother? I don't know whether I should be afraid or glad."
"You should only be afraid when you've done something wrong - which is quite often." She gave him a teasing smile while he only playfully narrowed his eyes and scowled at her.
His expression, however, turned devilish. "I don't mind getting in trouble, Detective... I like handcuffs."
She only rolled her eyes and produced a lopsided grin. "Walked right into that one, didn't I?"
"Yeah, pretty much," he replied with a casual shrug before returning his attention back to the last pancake in the pan on the stove. "Anything else I need to know?"
"Yes. On Thursday we have Alexis' parent-teacher meeting at seven." She turned attention back to the newspaper. "Why don't you go get your diary so that I can write it down? We both know you have the memory of a fish."
Rick froze. He barely heard the last part. There was only one word that stuck in his mind - 'we'. One simple, tiny, but wonderfully significant word. They were a family - he knew it and she accepted it. And they all loved it. It was natural and organic. His eyes grew wide as the realization hit him - this was the moment. Their moment.
"Rick? Did you hear me?" He looked up at her.
"Hmmm?"
"Get. Your. Diary... Now," she commanded. "You want me to get it for you?" She started to climb off the stool.
"No!" He exclaimed a little too loudly, nervous excitement taking hold of him. Kate only cocked her head and frowned. "I mean, I- I'll get it." He gave her a sheepish smile and basically ran over to his office.
His hands were shaking as he opened the desk drawer and fumbled with the small box that he quickly pulled out. He hastily put it into the pocket of the 'Kiss the Cook'-apron. He was almost to the door of the office when he remembered his diary.
"Here," he said handing the diary to her and walking back to the stove.
He was nervous and excited... and scared shitless. He went on to finish the pancakes - grinning the whole time - as Kate chatted away, blissfully unaware of the extra topping she was about to get on her pancakes.
"I see you're seeing Gina next week." He put the plate in front of her while she still scrutinized his diary. "Is it about the book tour? Because you know that-" Her eyes drifted to the plate and the sentence was suddenly completely forgotten. The only thing her mind was registering was the plate of golden pancakes, the few strawberry slices around them and a small blue box in the middle on top of everything; open to reveal an elegant square cut diamond ring. Her breath hitched and her eyes grew wide in shock. Her eyes darted from the plate up to Rick, who was smiling nervously, and back to the glittering item.
"Rick?" Her voice was soft.
He walked around the counter and took hold of her hands, lightly pulling her off the stool so that she stood in front of him. Without her power heels, Kate was small against his large frame.
They were silent for a few moments as Rick looked down at their intertwined hands, absent-mindedly rubbing his thumbs over the back of her hands.
"I don't have... a long, world-shifting speech." He looked up at her; his voice quiet. "But... I love you, Kate, and I want this - us - for the rest of my life." He smiled at her and she returned one herself. "I- I want you to be dressed in one of my shirts each morning. I want to make babies with you, have movie nights with you, do chores with you, fight with you, have great make-up sex with you." Kate let out a laugh at this; her eyes starting to well up. "I want to go to parent-teacher meetings with you, take you on book tours with me, make a difference with you... I want all of this - all of you - for the rest of my life." He paused for a moment, his expression softening as he gently caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "I'm your one and you're my done, KB." He let out a dramatic breath. "So, I guess what I'm saying or rather asking-" He bent down on one knee in front of her, lacing their hands once more. "-is whether you, Katherine Beckett, would do me the honour of becoming my wife... and permanent muse?"
One. Two. Three droplets fell onto their intertwined hands. Blissful tears streamed down her cheeks as a wide, all engulfing smile slowly enveloped her features. She nodded her head vigorously in addition to exclaiming a torrent of "Yesses." Rick, grinning like the love-struck idiot that he was, jumped to his feet and pulled her body to his before crushing his lips to hers in a searing kiss. He broke from the kiss and retrieved the ring. Grinning like happy fools, Rick glided the ring onto her shaking and elegant finger.
"I love you," he said quietly, wrapping his arms around her again.
"I love you too."
"And the ring?"
"Yes, it's absolutely gorgeous," Kate said, beaming as she studied the foreign object on her ring finger. Rick kept his eyes on her.
"It has nothing on you," he responded softly and she looked back up at him and smiled; her eyes sparkling.
She pulled him down for a deep, toe-curling kiss that had both their heads spinning. Soon the celebration escalated and moved to the couch - breakfast completely forgotten as clothing started to litter the living room floor.
"You're wearing the red thong! I knew it!"
Kate let out a girlish laugh. "Shut up and kiss me already!"
Rick returned a wicked grin. "Whatever you want future-Mrs.-Castle... Whatever you want."
"You didn't suspect anything?"
Kate shook her head as they removed the surplus pillows from their bed.
"Really? Nothing?" Rick asked again as they climb under the covers.
"Nope, not a thing," Kate replied, settling against his side with a book while he draped an arm around her shoulder. "That's probably why I said yes." Rick's brow furrowed in confusion as he looked down at her. "You ambushed me - so before I knew it, I said yes and there's was a ring on my finger." She flashed him a teasing smile.
"Haha, very funny Detective. If I remember correctly, you ambushed me and demanded that I take you right there and then on the couch."
Kate dropped her head, smiled broadly and blushed slightly. "Oh. Right. Yeah... Totally forgot about that part."
"Mmm-hmm," he responded with a knowing grin.
Suddenly Kate sat up, placing a hand on her large stomach.
"Lizzy, sweetie, settle down... Mommy has to get some sleep tonight and I can't do that if you keep making such a fuss."
"Guess who she gets that from," Rick muttered, also placing a hand on the baby bump.
"You," Kate replied.
"Nah-uh... That's all you, KC."
Kate laughed and gave him a quick kiss. They were quiet for a few moments, feeling the busy movements of their daughter.
"What are you thinking, RC?" Kate asked after a while. He waited a few contemplative moments before answering.
"Us... Our family. How everything just... worked out better than I could've ever expected." His gave her a soft smile and cupped her cheek. "I'm a lucky guy."
She placed her small hand over his. "Yes you are, Mr. Castle." Rick chuckled and gave her a hard, lingering kiss.
"KC?"
"Mmmm?"
"I'm glad you said yes."
Kate returned a brilliant smile.
"Me too, RC. Me too."
A/N: There you go - nice and fluffy. It's fun to write something this light and sweet. I hope the proposal was satisfying; I just figured that it would be very natural and domestic.
I apologize for any spelling and grammar mistakes.
(Btw - for those who are not aware, Nathan Fillion was on 'Desperate Housewives' in season four where he played Katherine Mayfair's husband; hence my small nod to the show.)
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