Please let me finish. I've been doing a lot of thinking about us, about our relationship, what we have, where we're headed. I've decided I want more. We both deserve more.

I agree.

So whatever happens whatever you decided. Katherine Houghton Beckett, will you marry me?

Kate was in shock, she hadn't expected this; she had been expecting him to give her an ultimatum. In her shock she didn't say a word and as the silence extended Rick's face dropped, little by little.

As the silence extended further Rick's hand began to move back towards his pocket, taking the ring with it. That spurred Kate into action, almost of its own accord her hand shot out and covered the ring and his hand, stopping it dead.

"Rick," she said in a low voice, "Not now."

Rick's face dropped further still before he whispered, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done this. Mother kept telling me that this would be the one way I could show I am completely committed but I guess I left it too late."

He began to stand, trying to move his hands out from beneath Kate's but she stopped him with a quick but powerful kiss on the lips. When she pulled back she moved of the swing and knelt in front of him. "I'm not saying no Rick," she whispered.

"But you're not saying yes either," Rick said in an almost dead voice.

Kate nodded before adding quickly, "I'm saying not yet ok. We haven't spoken about where we want us to go at all and for the last couple of days we've hardly spoken at all." She saw that he was about to speak and said, "I know that's mostly my fault Castle, I know I should have told you about DC but I was scared."

"Scared?" Rick asked.

Kate nodded but then she noticed that there were people watching them, mothers and fathers with their kids openly staring at the two of them as they knelt in front of the swings. Kate looked back at Rick and said, "Can we do this somewhere else please? Private? There are people watching."

Rick looked around and saw what Kate had seen and nodded. "Your place or mine?" he asked, standing and taking Kate's hand while he put the ring back into his pocket, making sure it was safe while they talked over everything.

Kate gave his hand a squeeze before she answered, "Mine, more private that way."

Rick nodded and the two of them headed towards where her car was parked, just outside the park.

The ride to her apartment was in silence, each occupant of the car sneaking glances at the other every so often but neither saying a word. It was the quietest car ride in a long time, ever since they had gotten together every car journey was full of banter, teasing or just plain old flirting.

They pulled up in front of Kate's apartment building and sat in silence for a moment before Rick opened the door and got out and waited on the pavement for Kate to join him. He had his own key to her apartment, they had swapped them not long after the Valentine's Day fiasco, but he felt that right here and now he should wait for her before he entered.

Kate took a little longer to get out; she spent a few seconds mentally preparing herself for whatever the talk would bring. Once she got out she walked round to stand beside Rick, locking the car as she went, before the two of them headed into the building together.

The ride up in the lift was equally as silent as the car ride but it felt more awkward as Rick nervously fiddled with the ring in his pocket, watching the floor number increase. When the lift came to a halt and the doors opened Rick let Kate out first before he followed her down the corridor to her apartment.

To Kate the physical gap between them felt like a chasm. Before DC and before all of this if they were walking towards her apartment Rick would be stepping on her heels as he waited impatiently to be let into the apartment. Now however he was at least four foot behind her, his hand still in his pockets.

Once Kate had opened the door she held it open for Rick to go past but he shook his head indicated that she should go in first. She did and then Rick followed her in. He shut the door behind him and then turned to look at Kate.

The two of them studied each other for a moment before Kate asked, in a tiny voice, "Would you like a coffee Castle?"

Rick shook his head, "We need to talk Kate, we can't put it off anymore."

Kate nodded and then sat down heavily on the couch. Rick followed suit but he stayed as far away as was possible on the small piece of furniture.

"What are you scared of Kate?" Rick asked eventually.

"Us," Kate answered, "Any serious relationship I run away because I'm scared."

"Kate…" Rick began but Kate stopped him with a shake of her head.

"I talk Castle, you listen ok. That way we won't end up in a shouting match."

Rick nodded and Kate continued. "I met up with my dad earlier and we had a really good talk about what it was that I wanted." She paused but Rick didn't say anything as he knew she wasn't finished. "He said that he was proud of me, and that my mom would be too. I knew that if I did take the job that there wouldn't be any time for anyone else but we both knew that if I didn't take the job I would end up resenting you." She paused again before taking a deep breath and continuing, "He said that I'm scared Rick and whenever I get scared I hide in my work. Every relationship I have ever been in has always ended around here. I thought all I wanted was the job," she saw Rick stiffen at her words, "But then I was at the precinct, in interrogation with the suspect and I realised that New York and the 12th is my home and I don't want to leave."

She stopped and this time Rick took over. "So you're staying?" he asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

Kate nodded, "I got the job Rick, but I'm going to turn it down. There is so much more for us to do. I don't want to be scared anymore and I don't want to run, I want to make this, us, work."

Rick beamed at her and moved along the sofa until he was right next to her, their knees pressed up against each other.

"What about the ring Kate? You said not now. Does that mean yes or does that mean no?" Rick pressed.

Kate turned her body so she was fully facing him and said, "It means not now Castle. We haven't talked about where we want us to go and proposing is one hell of a jump. Start with something smaller then ask me again."

Rick nodded and then said quickly, "Move in with me Kate. That's a smaller step."

Kate beamed at him, "Yes Castle, I'll move in with you. I practically live at the loft already anyway."