A/N: I present, the sequel to Second Chance :) Thanks for your patience and encouragement. I have a test on Wednesday and a final paper on Thursday but here I am instead, writing fanfiction. Everyone needs a break, right? Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Still ain't mine…

Twenty months.

Kate Beckett couldn't stop the smile gracing her face if her life depended on it. She couldn't believe that it has been twenty months since she said yes to her partner. Twenty months since she became Rick Castle's girlfriend.

Looking at the man lying peacefully on her pillow, Kate couldn't help but bite her lower lip in an attempt to stop the Cheshire grin from erupting. Sure, Rick was asleep, but she couldn't afford letting him catch her smiling like a love struck teen. No sir, she wasn't chancing it – not since he's called her out on becoming sappy.

And the worst part was he was right. She could feel herself becoming sappy. Aren't things supposed to start cooling down a little between them? She still wakes up with a big goofy smile every morning for no reason. No, that wasn't right. There was a reason for waking up like she felt on the top of the world every morning, and that reason was Richard Castle.

Kate internally scoffed at herself. Seriously girl, how much more sappy can you get?

But those thoughts didn't stop her from brushing back his hair lightly before she placed a kiss on his forehead. Pushing up on her palms, Kate lifted her body and clambered over his body to get to his side of the bed.

Her man-child was big on cuddling – okay fine, they were both big on cuddling now that Rick has converted her, but it was ridiculous how he ends up on her pillow most of the time. Normally she doesn't mind it, but then there are days such as this very morning when his body heat was a little too much; bordering on stifling.

Flopping onto his cool pillow, Kate checked the time. Okay, she could afford to laze in bed for another twenty minutes before her alarm went off. Her mind was alert, so going back to sleep wasn't an option.

Arriana had Show and Tell in school today, so they would drop by and do that before heading to the precinct. Kate hoped the paparazzi would leave them alone today. They were mostly happy to leave the duo alone most of the time, but the paparazzi loved to hound them whenever their little family were all together.

Apparently all you need to do is factor in some children to get their attention. In this case, Arriana to the paparazzi was like a rasher of bacon to hungry dogs. Kate frowned at the metaphor, not liking the fact that her brain had just compared her own daughter to bacon.

This invasion of their privacy was a frequent topic of discussion between the couple. Kate knows Rick wasn't at fault here; and she knows and appreciates that he tries to keep them out of the press as much as possible, but that doesn't mean that she has come to like it. It was, at it's very best, mildly tolerable.

They weren't normally newsworthy unless Rick has to do promotion for his books or events. In that case, the paparazzi would follow them around for a week or so, before moving on to other people. Hence Kate grudgingly admits that she has to bear half the responsibility this time.

Because this time round, they had become "newsworthy" because the lovebirds have just gotten back from their honeymoon.

Did she forget to mention that?

Oh yeah, Kate Beckett had gone and gotten herself hitched.

Six months after Kate dropped by one of his book signings and planted a kiss on him, effectively confirming and outing their relationship status to the press, Rick Castle had dropped down on one knee and proposed to her.

There weren't any hot air balloon rides or proposals in fine dining restaurants; no skywriters nor jumbotrons – thank god! It seems that Rick had remembered her advice to Ryan years ago and stuck to a simple and private proposal. He proposed one evening in their loft, just the two of them. It was tasteful and special, but more importantly, she had said yes.

Kate learned later on that both Arriana and Alexis had helped him choose the ring, and it was perfect. The diamond wasn't too large, so Kate wouldn't have to worry about wearing it to work, but it caught the light at all the right times and reflected the rays perfectly, shining bright like a diamond should.

Half a year later, they were wed in a small ceremony in the Hamptons. Only their closest friends and family had been invited, with Judge Markaway performing the private ceremony. The press didn't even catch wind of the wedding until it was over. They were led to believe that it would be happening a month after the actual date.

Both Kevin and Javier were Rick's best men. Lanie had been her maid of honor; while Alexis proudly took on the role of bridesmaid, leaving Arriana to be the flower girl. The little girl took her duty seriously, happily prancing around throwing flower petals for days, perfecting her skill for the big day.

When they returned to the city, the newlyweds threw a huge reception dinner. Anyone who was someone in New York was invited. The fine officers that protected the city were in attendance as well, enjoying a well-earned night off from their duties. All of their friends and acquaintances turned up for the lavish reception dinner.

Rick had worked things out with his publicist, and they managed to sell the exclusive rights for photography at the reception to only one media outlet, effectively keeping the number of paparazzi down. The money from those pictures went to the Johanna Beckett scholarship.

A week later, Rick and Kate left for their honeymoon, stopping by a few European cities, staying a few days at a time, before flying off to a private island in the Caribbean for a week, only returning to New York a few days ago.

Her time off was amazing, but now she was home, and New York City was calling to her. Kate's alarm rang at that moment, breaking her introspection. She rolled over and shut off the alarm as Rick began stirring.

Kate waited patiently for him to open his eyes, smiling down at him before greeting her husband with a kiss good morning.

It was time to start their day.

A/N: So what did you guys think? I know it's mostly narration and no dialogue – I wanted to catch you guys up to their "current" situation. Don't worry, there's more interaction to come in the next chapter. Don't forget to leave a review! :) Ps. I've recently gotten twitter, so you can add me at amandaOtweets for updates etc. It's set to private, so PM me to approve your request if I haven't done so.