Four feet raced up the most expensive apartment building in Manhattan's stairwell. The two people just weren't in the mood to stand still. Laughing, the woman raced up the stairs, even in heels and a small pregnancy bump, she was still faster than her husband. Seven years. Seven years since she had hauled him into the basement of the 12th precinct. Five years since they said 'I do'. Two years since they welcomed a daughter into the world. Back at the loft awaited their two year old and her twenty-two year old half sister, along with their two dogs. As she reached the level three door, she slowed down, waiting for him to catch up. "You run fast Mrs. Castle," Rick said when he reached his wife. Five years later and Kate still loves to be called Mrs. Castle. People at the precinct still called her Beckett, but she refereed to herself as Detective Kate Castle. Shortly after finishing the Heat novels, Rick enrolled in the police academy to become a homicide detective. A year after Rick joined the force, they had their daughter, Samantha Johanna Castle. Two months earlier, they found out that they were pregnant again, this time with fraternal twins. They didn't care, they were happy. Originally they were only going to have two kids, five years apart, they were happy to welcome two new babies. Walking hand-in-hand down the hall, both of them couldn't help but think how perfect it seemed to be. Opening the door to the loft, Sam ran up to them.

"Momma!" She squealed as she reached her arms up to her mother. Kate took off her coat, draped it over the chair and picked up Samantha.

"Was she good Lex?" Rick asked his, now fully grown, daughter.

"Yea, but she wouldn't go to sleep," Alexis said as she walked towards the door. Kissing her father, step-mother, and half-sister's cheeks, she left.

Kate walked into her daughter's pink and brown ladybug room. She placed her daughter onto her feet. Sam ran to the other side of the room and climbed into her bed. Kate kissed the top of her daughter's head before she handed Sam her favorite pink bunny. She walked over to the door and sighed. "Good Night, Sam-i-am," Kate teased her daughter. She smiled when she heard Sam's soft giggle. "i love you," Kate whispered, mostly to her self before she turned off the light and shutting the door.

"Is she asleep?" Rick asked as he departed the hall way bathroom.

"She's in bed, it could take awhile before she goes to sleep." They walked to their bedroom at the end of the hall in compete silence. Once they reached the room, Kate departed to the bathroom and Rick took off his shirt and switched from his jeans to his sweatpants. Kate brushed her teeth and replaced her dress with her favorite oversized shirt and her favorite pair of sweatpants. She walked out of the bathroom and laid down next to her husband. She snuggled into his chest and Rick wrapped his arm tightly around her.

"I love you," Rick whispered into her ear.

"Forever and always," Kate whispered before drifting into the endless realm of dreams called sleep. Rick looked down at her and remembered the day he proposed like it was yesterday.

It was a normal day. Rick and Kate were making dinner when Rick threw a piece of raw ravioli at her. The piece got stuck in her hair. "CASTLE!" Rick smiled sleekly.

"Sorry, it slipped."

"Uh huh, sure," She replied with her eye roll before she left to dig the ravioli out of her hair. After Kate was out of Rick's line of sight, he placed a ring box on the counter and opened it. The way the light it it made the diamond inside glisten. As he waited for Kate to get back, he went over what he was going to say as he resumed making dinner. He was scared. With his other proposals, he knew they would say yes. He wished he knew what Kate would say, but she's unpredictable, which is one of the any reasons he loved her. "Next time you throw something a-. Rick? What's that?" She asked him when she got back to the kitchen, obviously taking notice of the glistening ring. Taking a deep breath, Rick got down on one knee. He took Kate's hand and smiled. "For the past year and half, you've been mine and i've loved every second of it. I love you, Katherine. Will you do the me the honor of becoming my wife?" Kate looked down at him, completely stunned. "Kate? Please say something," Rick told her after she didn't answer. Speechless, Kate nodded. Rick stood up, picked up the ring and slid it onto her hand.

This was the last peaceful thought before he fell asleep with his wife in his arms. Little did he know his entire world would be completely destroyed in seven short hours.