Thanks to everyone for reading, here's the final chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or the characters.

Castle stayed with her for the rest of the day, only leaving her side when he'd told her she needed to sleep and he made his way to the couch where he's going to sleep, the only available space left in the small cabin.

The next morning, Beckett shuffled into the kitchen around nine o'clock to find Castle at the stove making pancakes.

"Morning," Castle smiled as she took a seat at the table, "sleep well?"

"I did, thanks," she smiled in return. Last night had been one of the first nightmare free nights she'd had since she'd been shot and she knows that's all due to the fact that Castle is here, "you?"

"As well as I can on a couch," he joked as he placed a plate of pancakes in front of her before taking the seat opposite with his own plate.

"Sorry about that," she winced, knowing how uncomfortable that couch can be from times she'd fallen asleep on it herself.

"Where's my father?" she asked a little while later, noticing that she hadn't seen him this morning. He was usually the one to make her breakfast and sit across the table from her while they ate but it was nice that Castle was here to do that with her this morning.

"He went to the store to pick up some things, said he wouldn't be back until later," replied Castle, knowing exactly what her father was doing, trying to give them alone time together.

Beckett nodded in reply. It was weird, being here without her father. He'd basically been around constantly since she'd been injured and while she loved him and was grateful for all he'd done for her, it was good to be able to spend some proper alone time with Castle.

"Do you want to go for a walk after breakfast?" she asked. She'd had been thinking about it since last night, wanting to go out for a walk with him and since the weather was so nice today, it was the perfect opportunity, especially when she didn't know how long he'd be staying with her for.

He paused for a moment, watching her while he thought and Becket grew nervous, wondering now if he was just looking for a polite way to turn her down. She didn't think he would, he wouldn't have asked to stay here if he didn't care for her, but that didn't stop the small part of her brain that always wondered whether she was good enough for him from speaking up again.

"Are you okay to do that?" Beckett's eyebrows shot up at Castle's question but she relaxed, now realising that he was just worried about her.

"Yeah, I've been out a few times with my dad. There's a track through the woods and down to the lake, I can show you around a bit if you want."

"Sounds great," Castle beamed as they finished up their breakfast, "you go get dressed while I clean up here and then we can go?"

Beckett nodded as she carefully stood and went back to her room to change. It took her longer than she would've liked, having to move slowly when removing her shirt and putting on a new one but before long, she was walking back into the kitchen to find Castle sitting at the table, playing on his phone.

"You ready to go?" he asked as he stood, grabbing a bag that was sitting at his feet and moving to stand in front of her. His eyes moved down her body then up to meet her eyes, assessing whether she looked well enough to go out for a walk and admiring the sweat pants and loose fitting t-shirt she'd changed into.

Castle followed Beckett out of the house, only stopping when Beckett grabbed a set of keys that hung by the door so she could lock up as they left. They were pretty secluded out here but she knows her father prefers to leave the place locked up when neither of them are home.

Castle extended his hand to her as the walked out the front door, Beckett accepting it without hesitation so he could help her down the porch steps. Castle was going to let go again when they were on flat ground but Beckett made no move to realise his hand so neither did he, enjoying the feel of her small hand encased in his own.

The walk was slow, which was understandable, but Castle didn't mind the pace, he was just enjoying being out here with Beckett, walking along the path that wound through the woods and headed to a lake that he couldn't see yet.

"Are you okay?" Castle asks a little while later, having noticed their pace had slowed even more and Beckett hadn't spoken in the last five minutes.

"Do you mind if we stop for a minute," Beckett asked, having already stopped, Castle still at her side as their hands were still clasped. Castle dropped her hand and reached into the bag he'd been carrying and pulled out a water bottle, holding it out to her in question.

"Thanks," she replied, taking the bottle from his outstretched hand before opening the lid and taking a long sip.

"Do you want to turn around and go back?" he asked, not wanting her to push herself.

"No, the lake is just around that bend, I want to make it there today," Beckett replied, immediately realising what she'd just admitted when his eyes widened in surprise.

"You mean you haven't walked this far before?"

"No," she replied sheepishly, "my dad always makes me turn around when I show any signs are being tired."

"We should turn around then," Castle replied, worried that she was going to hurt herself if she kept pushing herself like this.

"No, we're nearly there and we can rest by the lake before we go back?" She really wanted to reach the lake today, had been wanting to ever since she'd been able to walk around but her dad had always stopped her, not wanting her to hurt herself. She had so many good memories being here with her family when she was younger and she wanted to go to the lakeside again, to push away some of the dark memories she has of being here the past month and replace them with the light of when her mother was still alive.

Castle saw how determined she was so he acquiesced, figuring it was also better for her to have a rest before they made the trip back. It wasn't like they'd gone far, but in her injured state, he knew the trip must be hard for her. "At least let me help you then?"

She nodded, handing him back the bottle so he could put it away and then she reached out and took his hand but instead of just holding it like before, Beckett wound it around her waist, settling it low on her hip so she could lean into his side, letting him take some of her weight.

Castle stilled at the sudden contact but relaxed when he felt Beckett relax into his side, seemingly content to be this close to him.

"This okay?" she asked, twisting her head up as much as she could without pulling her scars.

Beckett felt Castle nod in reply so they set off at a slow pace again, easier for her to walk now that she was propped against his side.

Beckett hadn't been lying, as they rounded the corner, the lake came into sight and Beckett smiled at the view. Green grass circled the outside of the lake which turned to sand near the edge. Woods surrounded the entire thing, making it difficult to get in or out apart from the various walkways and the one dirt road on the other side of the lake which people usually used to bring their boats in if they already anchored in the water.

"You come out here as a kid?" castle asked, taking in the surroundings himself, grateful again that Jim let him come out to the cabin to see his daughter and Beckett let him stay.

"Yeah, we used to come out here every summer. Dad would go out fishing and we'd watch him from the shore, relaxing and just spending time together."

"That sounds nice," Castle smiled, thinking back to summers he's spent with his own family.

"Do you want to sit?" Castle asked, releasing Beckett from his side and helping her to the ground after she'd nodded her head.

Castle settled down beside her, letting her rest against his side again as she had nothing else to lean on. "Are you hungry? I made some sandwiches and bought a few apples with us."

Beckett accepted the quarter of the jam sandwich he handed her, taking a small bite as she leaned further into his side, relaxing against his warmth.

They'd been sitting in silence, just enjoying the view and the company when Beckett quietly spoke "thanks for coming out here, Castle."

Castle looked down at her but he couldn't see her face as she was still facing forward, her head pillowed on his shoulder.

"Always," he replied, feeling brave as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"You promise?" She had no right to ask that of him after everything she'd put him through but "always" was their thing, a promise to always be there for each other that she'd broken but she wants to get it back, doesn't want to be without him ever again.

Castle pulled back, shifting them so he could look her in the eyes as he spoke, "I'm never leaving you again."

"Good," she replied, leaning forward slowly, mindful of her injuries, before she pressed her lips against his. His lips were soft as they moved against hers, just as she remembered from their undercover kiss, but this one was so much better because it was real.

"Does this mean I can stay here a few more days?" he asked, slightly breathless, as he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, a grin plastered on his face which she was sure matched hers.

"Of course," she smiled, pressing her lips to his again for a quick kiss, relieved she hadn't ruined everything between them.

"Does this also mean that when we get back to the city, I can take you on date?" He was already excited just thinking about it, about all the many possible dates he could take her on.

"Of course," she said again, grinning as Castle leant down to kiss her again, just because he could.

"I'm sorry for keeping you away so long, for not calling," Beckett said as she settled back against his side, head against his shoulder once again.

"I know," Castle replied, wrapping his arm around her and holding her close. He may have been mad at her, it may have hurt that she'd kept him away for so long but they were here together now, and that's all that matters.

"You ready to head back?" Castle asked, knowing she must be tired and be in need of a nap soon.

Beckett nodded, pulling away from his side so Castle could stand before helping her to her feet. Castle didn't hesitate, wrapping his arm back around her waist, pulling her into his side like before so he could help her back to the cabin.

Castle lead them back down the path, both smiling at the latest development in their relationship, something that had always seemed inevitable (ignoring the past month) but now they were both thrilled that it had actually happened.

They may still have a long way to go but at least they were on the same page now which was a good place to start. They'd talked, been honest with each other and now they knew where they were heading, a future where they'd be side by side, a future where they could face anything because they'd have the other with them.

Thoughts?