Beckett finishes and lets her arms fall to her sides again, looking at him with an expression that suggests she'd just as soon roll her eyes as actually laugh at that comment, but the corners of her mouth are twitching just the same.

"Castle, I - "

She stops, tries to start over, clears her throat and shifts her weight from one foot to the other, as if going over all possible outcomes in her head. When she speaks again, it comes out in barely a whisper.

"Thank you," she warmly manages, her hand clasping around the crook of his elbow, using that hold as a place from which to move forward and press her lips against his cheek. She lingers there, breathing him in, and squeezes her eyes shut before a tear can fall.