313. Chapter 313

After The Third Man

Episode 2.14

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I own neither Castle, Harry Lime, nor a zither. Rating: K Time: See above.

Author's note: It's Christmas time, I have family coming, and things to do. So, I'm taking a little break from the After…Series. "But, UCSBdad," you say, "does this mean we'll have no daily Castle fanifcs from you?" Not at all. I've written a short Castle story, The Girlfriend, which I will post over the holidays. So, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy What Ever Else You Celebrate, and if you don't celebrate anything, you should. Celebrate Caskett, for instance. Put up your Caskett tree and dance merrily around it.

Beckett and Castle sat in a booth at Remy's, enjoying their burgers, fries and shakes.

"The next time I want to take someone to dinner, I'll go here." Castle said.

"You can't go wrong." Beckett replied. "This is where I'll want to go as well."

"So many places with great reputations are so over rated. Drago's can't touch this." Castle said, nodding. "And people, too. Bachelorette Number Three was definitely over rated."

"And Bachelor Number Nine?" Beckett said with a smile.

"You're right. I made the list based on wealth and fame. They didn't mention my work at the NYPD. Now that is important."

"I'm glad you see it that way."

"Right! I should have been Bachelor Number One." Castle said happily.

Kate rolled her eyes. "You'll never change, will you?"

Castle looked thoughtful. "I think I've changed a little since I met you and started helping you."

"I shudder to think how you feel you've changed."

"To begin with, I'm more honest. I shouldn't have gotten so upset at being linked romantically to you." Seeing Kate's expression, Castle quickly explained. "Not that we are romantically linked, but tonight proves that I'd rather solve a murder with you than be with Bachelorette Number Three. I apologize. There's no one I'd rather solve a murder with." Castle lifted his milk shake to toast Beckett.

She returned the toast. "To Richard Castle, Beckett's Partner Number One."

They smiled at each other.

I did enjoy being with Castle, but I can't very well base a social life on solving murders. It's too bad. I am starting to like him.

Castle went back to eating. Oddly enough, I did enjoy being with Beckett more than being with Amanda. That was probably Amanda's fault. She was over rated. But Beckett…

One Year Later

Beckett and Castle sat in a booth at Remy's, enjoying their lunch.

"I'd never have taken you for a magic enthusiast, Beckett. I thought you didn't believe in magic."

"I don't. What you see as magic I see as sleight of hand, misdirection and trickery. I learned from my grandfather how the magic tricks really worked. There's no magic."

"You should believe in magic. Your loss, Beckett." Castle shook his head slowly.

You have a loss as well. Beckett thought. You broke up with Gina. I suppose it was too good to be true. You had someone and I had someone. No! That doesn't change anything from my perspective. I'm still with Josh, that hasn't changed. I like Castle, he's my partner and my friend. But he's not what I need and I'm not what he needs. I'm not sure I know who or what he needs. I wish he'd talk about his breakup with Gina. But we don't talk. What would happen if we ever did?

Beckett doesn't want to talk. Castle thought. Just as well. I'd hate to have to talk to her about much right now. Gina? How could I have tried to make something happen with Gina? I know her. Hell, I was married to her. How could I have been so stupid? Of all the people in the world that I knew I could never be happy with, Gina is…Just behind Meredith, who's at the top of the list. And who do I want to be with? Beckett, of course. I just wish I knew if I could really be what she wants and needs. If only we'd talk. No. I'm sure if we talked, I'd be out of her life. She has Josh now. But if we did talk…?

One Year After That

By the time the case was closed, it was late, Beckett and Castle were starved, and Remy's was the obvious choice.

"At least Jenny wasn't cheating on Ryan. I can't imagine how Ryan would have taken it if she was."

"I can. I'm a best-selling novelist. Think Basic Instinct from the man's point of view. From a man with a gun."

Kate shook her head. "No. Ryan would never do anything like that. But he'd be crushed."

Castle nodded slowly. "Yeah. As in love as he is, it would not be pretty."

It'd be as bad as lying to the man who loves you. How did I get into this mess? Okay, I know the answer to that. Mom's death, years of loneliness, betrayal by the man who taught me to be a homicide detective, a bullet in the chest, and Castle finally telling me he loves me. The question is, how do I get out of this mess? Dr. Burke is helping, but I feel I should be doing more. What if something happened? Would I want Castle to never know that I love him, too? Three words. All I have to do is say three words. Why can't I do that? Yes, I know why. Dammit, I do know why.

Castle carefully raised his eyes to watch Beckett. The first case we ever worked, I saw the pain in her eyes. Then I wanted to hold her and take all of her pain away and replace it with joy. I still want to do that, but I'm not sure how. We're together, sort of, we eat at Remy's, have an occasional drink, but I'm not helping her. What can I do? What was that line I heard in France? Be there and endure. I'll be there and endure for Beckett. And maybe…

Another Year After That

Castle slid into the booth at Remy's with Beckett. "I feel like I should be taking you to the best restaurant in New York after what I did to you."

"You should. That's on my list."

"Your list?" Castle didn't like the sound of that, but he knew he had to do anything Kate wanted. Letting Meredith stay had been a huge error on his part. He owed Kate, and he owed her big time. "And I will do anything you ask. No arguments."

Kate smiled. "Don't look so forlorn, Castle. It's not like I'm not going to sleep with you for a month or something. That would punish me as well as you. And, after talking to Meredith, she's a very persuasive person. I can almost see how you got hooked into putting her up while she was here. Almost. I'm just glad she left."

"Me too." Castle said, relieved.

And I've thought about what Meredith said to me just before she left. About her knowing nothing about you. After a very long time of not talking about what we feel, what we want, what means something in our lives, we do talk and talk well. We know each other, Castle, and that's why I love you so much. She looked over at Castle who was looking at the menu. "Why bother? You know you're going to have the chili cheeseburger, garlic fries and a chocolate shake."

He smiled as he put the menu down. "You know me so well."

"Yes, I do."

Another Year After That

The homicide team squeezed into a booth at Remy's, laughing and talking. Kevin Ryan spoke up. "Okay, I'm happy to have a drink with everyone, especially after what happened two nights ago, but it'll be one drink and then I have to get back to Jenny and Sarah Grace."

"One drink, Ryan? Are you sure you're not risking having your Irish Card revoked?" Castle said, laughing.

"I'm sure Beckett can save the honor of the Irish race." Ryan replied.

"No problem, Kevin." Beckett said, lifting her beer. "I can drink these heathens under the table and still pass a breathalyzer test." That brought a round of laughter and cheers.

One round later, Castle whispered into Kate's ear. "Something wrong? You look…upset."

She shook her head. "No, it's just…"

"Just what?"

"Every time something like this happens, every time there's a shootout, or anything dangerous, I worry about you. I worry about us."

Castle gave her a quick kiss. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere or letting anything happen to either one of us. Ever. I will be with you always."

"If you're trying to make me feel better, it's not working. I've been a cop for too long. I've seen too many people who had plans who ended up on Lanie's table."

"Okay, you're right. But we can't let that rule our lives. We have to live like there will be a tomorrow, or what's the point?"

"So, tomorrow, Castle?"

"Every tomorrow, Beckett."

And Another Year After That

"This is where you're taking me for our two month anniversary?" Kate asked, feigning anger and failing.

"This is where we had our first date. This is where you told me you'd rather be than the best restaurant in New York."

"Do you have to listen to me, Castle?"

"Yes, I do, Mrs. Castle." He kissed her and put a small box down on the table at Remy's. "Happy anniversary, Kate. I love you."

"I love you, too. But you don't have to keep buying me gifts."

"Okay, I'll take it back." He reached for the box.

Kate was faster. "But since you did buy something, I'll keep it." She opened the box and smiled. "A charm bracelet? I haven't had one of these since I was in high school." She examined the charms. "A pistol. Good for a cop, but what's this?"

"The Washington Monument, to remind you of DC."

"And a typewriter…"

"To remind you that you married a writer."

"I think I can remember that. And these are…?"

"Flowers. To commemorate our first case together."

Kate nodded. "And a poker hand?"

"You saved me from that Russian mobster."

"Tatiana loves Reek." Kate said in her Russian accent.

"And if you look carefully at the book, I had it engraved Heat Wave. I would have put "To the remarkable KB.", but it wouldn't fit."

"A dog?"

"Royal, of course. That's all that I could find that fit our story, Kate. But I'm sure we'll add more."

"I hope we have a long story."

"Me too."

Five Years After

"Lexis, can I have ice cream?"

Alexis looked at her little sister. "What did Mom and Dad say?"

Johanna Castle concentrated, but then smiled. "We can eat when Uncle Javi, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Marissa, Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lanie get here."

"Right. But you have to eat all of your vegetables first before you can have ice cream."

"Veg-tibbles?" Jo said, almost pronouncing it as two words.

"Don't worry, French fries are veggies."

Rick at Kate smiled at their two daughters. "I can't believe how well they get along." Kate whispered. "Alexis is like a second mom."

"Or another child. She's finally starting to act like me. I'm so happy!"

Kate touched her still flat stomach. "You're going to have to grow up some more in another few months when the next one arrives."

"For you, anything."

"Are you sure?"

"Always."