A/N Thank you Cyrmu64 for all of the many kind reviews and pm's you really have helped motivate me to finish Secrets Revealed and post this last chapter asap. Also, kids, be kind to one another...remind me that there is some humanity left.

Merged

She broke their kiss slowly only because she needed to catch her breath. A huge 'Kate' smile lit up her tear stained face as Castle kissed her forehead and smoothed her hair back. They both stared at one another for a moment silence finally quieting their racing minds if only for a moment and she reached for his hand which he gave her and squeezed reassuringly.

Kate wanted this no she needed him. Reconnecting with him is the whole reason she returned. She had him call Fairfax to find this out; he knew this is why she returned. Yet, she was still scared to go there, to return to the moment on the swings. Why? Why did she think he was still so upset with her after a kiss like that?

Her hand still in his she spoke, "Someone should check on my dad. He has been in the waiting room all night."

Castle inhaled and let out a defeated frustrated breath. Only moments ago he was on cloud nine and now she was pulling back again. God Kate, why? Why do you do this? Though, he had kissed her before and never spoke of it. He went along with it before, but this time. However, a small voice in the back of his head said maybe she needed space because of the miscarriage. So, he nodded in understanding, kissed her forehead and stood heading toward the automatic doors.

Kate watched with glossy eyes as Castle walked toward the exit of her room. Her mind raced with a million different possibilities, possibilities that were beginning to turn into missed chances and her breath hitched, "Rick?" her voice was loud and raspy. Castle stopped and turned to her. "I love you." Tears silently streamed down her face, "I never stopped." She exhaled a deep breath finally surrendering. Her heart felt wonderful. A weight lifted.

Castle smiled at her with glossy eyes. Kate's heart raced as she awaited his answer. She looked so scared and fragile thought Castle more so than he had ever seen her except maybe the night she showed up at his door on Alexis' graduation night.

"I know. I know you Kate, but we've changed. You've changed and in less than a week Kate." Castle said still standing in the same spot. Kate's eyes were frantic now petrified of what he was going to say.

"Castle-

"No, Kate just wait." Castle said as he walked over to where her medical chart was on the wall. She was trying hard to hold every tear in. Stop all her tears in general. She watched as he did something with the chart and slowly walked over to her. He drew in a deep breath and exhaled a shaky one as he sat down in 'his' chair beside her bed.

She swallowed and inhaled trying to stay strong. She wasn't expecting this, not now at least.

"You're more open to possibilities, to me. I don't know if it will last or if it is just because of recent events, but I don't care. Kate, we've been out of touch before and we always come back to each other stronger than before. Like you said we are better in our worst of times together than we are or ever will be apart." Castle held a string up to her, "So, I'm going to ask you again Kate Houghton Beckett, will you marry me, strings and all?" Castle was now down on one knee.

Kate looked up at him in with only dry tracks remaining where tears once fell. She was silent a moment even though she had to have known this would eventually come up again, but so soon? Yes.

"I'm scared." Kate admitted a barley there whisper never taking her eyes from his.

"Me too, but it's more scary when we're apart. Don't you agree?" Castle reminded her and she nodded a tiny nod as she took her bottom lip in her mouth nervously.

She was silent her mind racing. What would Alexis think? They weren't the closest and she had been the only woman in her father's life forever. How would they work together? Could they work togeth-"

"Say something Kate." Castle was still on one knee.

She looked down to the string for a second and glanced back into his eyes, "I don't know how it will work Castle with my work and I don't know what Alexis will think. Castle, I kept more secrets than anyone should keep and I hurt you. I shouldn't have done that." She fingered the string in his hand and smiled a small smile, "I...I just don't know how this will work." She exhaled a small laugh, "but we'll figure it out we always do. So, yes, yeah I will."

Castle was still kneeling on the hospital floor at her unexpected longest answer in the world.

"Castle get up." Beckett said bringing him back to reality and Castle did as he was told. Finally, he broke out of his trance and took the string that once connected the pen to her medical chart and tied it around her wrist.

"I don't have your ring on me." Castle admitted, "It would have been too much to take it to the Hamptons with me."

Kate smiled, "Well we always have done everything a bit unorthodox."

"I know." Castle made a miffed face, "usually the man finds the woman attractive first. Though, you couldn't stay away from me." Castle teased her.

Kate gave him a look and shook her head at him, "Shut up and kiss me Castle."

"Are you sure this isn't a dream?" Castle teased her again.

"Cas-." Beckett started to remind him of her previous demand only he silenced her with his lips.

Castle snaked his hand gently around to the back of her head and brought her closer as she tried and succeeded in wrapping her right arm around his neck pulling him down to her. Castle smiled surprised at her strength and braced his left hand on the bed. She moaned into his mouth and neither realized how carried away they were getting or that Jim and Patricia had walked into the room. Patricia smiled as did Jim. The two pulled apart a moment only to kiss each other lightly again on the lips each bearing a huge smile. He brought both of his hands up to her face and cupped it in his.

She shed no tears, it was Kate after all. Instead her eyes held a spark that no one but he knew. A spark only he could emit from her. Weather frustrated, angry, need, want, hidden truths or happiness. Castle knew every look she held, and he loved that he did. He loved that he was the man that could make her feel and tap into her guarded emotions like no other, better yet he knew she loved it just as much.

Jim cleared his throat and both quickly noticed the two. Though, Castle still ran his hands through her hair softly a moment before he stopped and took her hand instead. She had said yes. He still didn't grasp that she had, but honestly he really didn't care right now.

"So, I take it you are coming back to the 12th?" asked Jim.

Kate looked at Castle and then looked to her dad, "If they'll have me."

Castle glanced at her, "Family can be tough, but I think even Gates will want you back."

Kate smiled, "Why do you say that?"

Jim quickly answered after glancing at Castle, "I think you will be fine Katie. You've made a lot of ties at the 12th over the years. It's hard to let them go."

Kate smiled and nodded and Patricia and Jim left the room giving Castle and Kate their space.

Castle shrugged, "Strings that bind Kate, strings that bind." He smiled and touched the string he had tied around her wrist not long ago. Kate rolled her eyes at him and laughed lightly. Yes, this was how it was supposed to be even though they had suffered loss and been through hell. This is what happily ever after felt like, right?

She dismissed the thought and smiled to herself letting the many still racing thoughts quiet themselves as she concentrated on just one noise; silence. Silence loud enough to hear the heartbeat which drove her mad in the stillness of the night. A heartbeat, which she had learned the hard way was half of a whole when she left New York for D.C. She inhaled in realization. She had literally carried half his heart in her once, two hearts merged unknowingly creating one. She hadn't thought about the miscarriage in so much depth yet.

"Castle?"

He looked up at her.

"I know where you stand and you know where I stand, but neither one of us knows where…" she looked down.

"Are you wondering if I want more kids?" Castle asked and Kate looked up at him sharply and nodded slightly. "I'm pretty sure my stance is the same as yours on that." Castle smiled as did Kate. It was okay with him if she didn't and it was okay if she did. As long as they were going to talk about it - finally.

Yes, everyone was on the same page maybe this was what happily ever after was like. She didn't know, though she did know she needed him and he needed her and that was okay. Needing the other half of your heart didn't mean you were weak or vulnerable. It meant you were strong, strong enough to admit to love yourself enough to let the walls down for another. Strong enough to bind each other to one another and accept the other before or when no one else would. It meant you believed in one another. Whatever it meant, it meant one thing was for sure, no matter what happened they would always be bound together.

For no matter how far the distance there are some strings we make in life that we will never be rid of, we are bound to them for a lifetime. Those are the same strings that hold our hearts, the strings that will be tied to us, always.

...

I do believe this is it. I suppose you can think what you want as to what Kate and Rick both decided on kids or not. Let me know what you thought ;) I loved this and left it so I could do a sequel that will prob be short. However, I really want to concentrate on Secrets Revealed now. Thanks Meg.