Chapter 1:
She had been waiting for this day for many years. She was nervous and excited to see him again. He had no idea that she was on her way to his loft. She was just one of many women in his past. He had, after all, been married and divorced twice and had a teenage daughter. That much she knew. The rest was a mystery. She could Google him a thousand times and never know the answer to her question.
Did she ever cross his mind?
She was startled by the cab driver when he let her know they were at her destination. She reached into her purse, paid him, and stepped out of the cab. After he pulled away, she stood there for a moment to take in the view. New York City was beautiful this time of year. Coming back to see him meant coming back to the city she had left all those years before. This time, she hoped to make some good memories.
She took a deep breath and adjusted her jacket. It was a brisk spring day and the air was cool. Her blonde hair blew in the breeze and she put on her sunglasses. It wasn't far to walk, but she was going to take her time getting there. She had no idea what was on the other side of that door.
Castle was up in his loft drinking coffee and making breakfast. He and Beckett had gone out the night before and had a great time. They were still working together, solving cases, and their friendship had grown. She was someone he could trust. They had solved another case and gone out to dinner after. He was taking his time with this relationship. He knew that he had a friend in Kate and didn't want to destroy it. He was deep in thought about her when Alexis came downstairs to eat before heading off to school.
"Good morning Dad." She said as she kissed his cheek.
"Good morning, sweetheart" he replied as he smiled.
Just as he said that, his mother came into the room. She was dressed to go somewhere, probably an audition. He smiled as his two favorite ladies sat down to eat.
"So mother, what are you up to today?" He asked as he poured her coffee. Just as she started to answer his question, his cell phone rang. He picked it up and answered it. "Castle" he said with a smile. It was Kate.
Meanwhile, on the street below, she had reached his building. She looked at the piece of paper in her hand and checked the address. Yep, this is it, she said to herself as she put the paper in her purse. She took off her sunglasses and checked her reflection in the window. Her hair was windblown, but not severely. She ran her fingers through it and quickly checked her makeup. She reapplied her lip gloss and opened the door. Pressing the button for the elevator, she told herself there was no turning back.
Castle talked on the phone as Alexis and Martha chatted in the background.
"Good morning Detective Beckett" he said as his eyes twinkled. "Do you have a dead body for me?"
"No, as a matter of fact, I don't. I just called to thank you for dinner last night. I had a good time."
"So did I, and there's no need to thank me Kate, it was my pleasure."
"Are you busy, Castle? 'cause I'd like to talk to you about something" Kate said into her phone.
"Just having breakfast with the family, but you are welcome to come here" Castle replied, concerned for what she wanted to talk about.
"Thanks Castle, I'll see you in a little while." She said as he hung up the phone.
Castle hung up as well, put down the phone and sipped his coffee. What was so important to Kate that she didn't want to discuss on the phone? He would soon find out.
Alexis put on her jacket, grabbed her bags, and drank the last of her juice. Martha was standing nearby looking at her son wondering what he was thinking about. She gave him a hug and headed for the door.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Castle walked toward it and said with a smile, "That's probably Kate." He opened the door and said "Come in Kate." before he looked outside.
"Excuse me?" She said.
Castle looked at the woman in the doorway and gasped. "Stephanie?"
Martha walked and stood behind her son asking him, "Did you say Stephanie?"
"Yes, mother, that's exactly what I said. You do remember Stephanie, don't you?"