Fix You

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Lights will guide you home”

Beckett:

It had been a two days since the scene Castle and I had made in the precinct. I hadn't called him and he hadn't called me. This is what our relationship would always be like; every time we start to make progress we would both pull away. Although we hadn't spoken since it happened, I was still in awe of the passion in his eyes when he told me he loved me.  Maybe someday Richard Castle and I would say 'I love you' to each other without one of us running away.

Esposito: 

I was finally done sneaking around. Tonight was the night that I would finally tell Lanie what was going on. I never would have been able to pull off this plan without Madison’s help. I was taking her out for dinner tonight at Q3 and I would tell her there. I nervously tightened my tie as I paced back and forth in front of the door of my apartment. I couldn't believe what I was about to do. I took a deep breath and left my apartment.

Lanie was always beautiful, but she was breath-taking tonight. She was wearing a deep red dress that hugged her body in ways that drove me crazy. Her dark hair was down but she had it in loose curls that framed her face. The waiter came and took our order but I had no clue what I actually ordered. The only thing I was paying attention to was the incredible woman in front of me.

We didn't talk much during dinner. I couldn't think of anything to say other than what I brought her here to tell her. Madison had taken a lot of time to help me with the plan and I couldn't let it fail now.  I took another deep breath, about to say something when Lanie set down her crème brulée and sighed. "It's been a long couple months hasn't it?"

"Yeah it has been," I agreed. It was time to do it. "So much has happened. Beckett and Castle almost died multiple times, the man behind Beckett's mother's murder was caught, and Castle told Beckett he loves her."

"We both lost a lot of money on that but I'm glad he did it," she said smiling, "Now if only they would get their act together and get together."

"They'll get there. You know what bothers me though?" I asked her.

"What?"

"That it took Beckett getting shot to make Castle tell her how he feels. It was almost too late for him."

"Kate was pretty torn up about those words," Lanie admitted, "but she almost told him the same thing when he was in the hospital after the fire."

"Exactly. It took near death experiences for them to finally admit it to themselves. It made me realize that when you're a cop you can't chance not saying what you feel. It's a dangerous job and there is always the chance that there won't be a tomorrow."

Lanie took a deep breath and I knew she knew what was coming. "I love you Lanie. If I were to get shot today I need you to know how much I really do love you." She had tears in her eyes now. I reached into the pocket of my suit jacket and pulled out a small velvet box. She let out a small gasp as I opened it, revealing a white gold and diamond ring. "Lanie Parish will you marry me?"

She held out her hand and I slid the ring on her finger. "Yes," she breathed, "yes."

Beckett:

"Open the door Kate!" Lanie yelled pounding on my door. She had called me six times in the past half an hour but I kept pressing ignore. I didn't need another lecture about how Castle and I should stop being stubborn and just get together. "Katherine Beckett if you don't open this door right now I will be forced to kick it down!"

Sighing I opened the door. Lanie was all dressed up which meant she had probably been out to dinner with Esposito. "Yes Lanie?" Lanie held up her left hand showing off the diamond that was on her ring finger. "Oh Lanie!" I hugged her excitedly, happy for my friend.

We sat down on my couch and she gushed about her evening, but I couldn't focus on her words. It hit me. Seeing my friend so in love made me see that I needed to go home. When you have had your apartment blown up and then your new apartment set on fire, you learn that home isn't the place you live; it's being with the people you love. "Lanie?"

"Yes?" she asked.

"Do you mind? I need to go to Castle."

"Damn girl it's about time you saw the light. Go."