A/N: This is taken from castlefanfic prompt on Tumbler. After Rick tells Martha that Kate lied to him about remembering in 47 Seconds she goes to see Kate and Castle overhears Kate tell Martha that she loves him. I actually set this more toward the end of The Limey after Rick starts his ridiculous behavior.
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Martha Rodgers was concerned about her son. The previous week he had been crushed when he overheard Kate telling a suspect in the bombing case that she remembered everything about her shooting. She'd been telling Castle for months she didn't remember anything. He'd told her he loved her as she lay dying on the ground. Their relationship was always up and down. Kate had gone off to her father's cabin after her shooting and didn't contact him for three months. Three months Martha and Alexis watched him doing little more than going through the motions. The truth was that she liked Kate Beckett very much and if the two of them could get over themselves all this foolishness they were good for each other. But the other truth was that the relationship was horribly out of balance. It always seemed to be on Kate's terms. How much she let Rick in. How much she revealed of herself. Yet he was unwavering in his loyalty. But now it was time for some honesty and if Rick wouldn't do it then she was going to go against her better judgment and butt in her son's life in a way she normally wouldn't. She exited her acting her after the last class, cell phone in hand, and made the call.
"Beckett." Came the clipped answer on the other end
"Hello Katherine dear, it's Martha." She replied
"Martha?" Beckett asked with alarm, "Is…everything okay?"
"Well yes and no." Martha explained, "We need to talk. When would be free?"
"I'm covered up today wrapping up a case before I start trial prep next week. But I'm off shift tomorrow."
"Oh that's perfect. Alexis will be at school and working with Lanie all day and Richard will be in meetings all day at Black Pawn. Could you come to the loft for lunch?"
"Sure." Beckett replied, becoming more concerned, "Martha, is Rick okay? He's been acting strange lately."
"Katherine, we'll talk tomorrow." She paused, "There are some things you should know."
/
Kate arrived at the loft shortly before noon and knocked on the door. After a few seconds Martha opened the door greeting her warmly.
"Hello Katherine, come in, darling." She stepped aside to allow her entry
"Hi Martha, I brought some wine." She said holding out the bottle
Martha took it and headed for the dining area, "Ah, very nice. Thank you. Let's sit and enjoy a lovely lunch."
"Martha, I'm worried about Rick. What's going on?"
"After we eat, dear." She insisted
After they finished Martha invited Kate into the study and closed the door even though no one else was home.
"Have a seat, Katherine." She said and Kate took a seat on the sofa
"What is it, Martha?" She asked again
Martha was sitting on the edge of the desk, "Katherine, I know you've noticed Richard's odd behavior lately and it has me concerned. I tried talking to him about this but he wouldn't listen. I told him to talk to you, to be honest with you. Even though…" She trailed off not sure if she should say what she was about to say
"Even though what, Martha?" Kate asked concern blooming in her chest
Martha sighed heavily, "Even though you haven't been honest with him."
A look of utter bewilderment came over Kate's face, "What are you talking about?"
"Katherine, I hope you know that I am not one of those mothers who meddles in her son's life. I'm really not. But this foolishness needs to end." She paused, "With both of you."
"Martha, just tell me what you meant by me not being honest with him." A feeling of dread creeped up in her that she already knew what it was
"Oh dear, I guess I'm going to have to spell it out." Martha replied with another heavy sigh, "You know Richard told you he loves you."
"Martha, I- "
Martha held her hand up, "I'm not here to judge you. But you need to know this and my son is being obstinate. You told a suspect in interrogation that you remembered everything about that day."
Beckett closed her eyes for a moment. He heard me. He was in the observation room. Oh god what have I done?
"I never wanted to hurt him, Martha, please believe me."
"I do believe you. I know you must have your reasons for it. But as a mother, seeing my son hurting brings out the lioness in me. I've watched you two do this ridiculous dance for years now and it's time you two actually talk. He loves you and he's running around acting like he's having the time of his life with one woman or another instead of being an adult and dealing with it."
"I wish he'd just said something. I should have said something." Kate said
"Well, that would have been best. You two are about as stubborn as they come but I've watched him all these years. How his face would light up every time you called. Not out of morbid curiosity but because of you. I also saw him that whole summer he didn't hear from you. Hiding his hurt and trying to act like everything was okay."
"Well to be fair, Martha, he left the summer before and didn't even call when he got back. He just happened to show up coincidentally at a crime scene."
"My dear, he would never tell you this but he wanted very much for you to go with him to the Hamptons but you declined and then he found out you were going away with that detective of yours. I also know about the bet you lost and you let him come back."
"Martha, I didn't lose the bet. I pretended to so I'd have an excuse to let him come back. I wanted him to come back but I didn't want to admit it."
"Well, you really are as bad as he is." She said
"I know." Kate said quietly
"But Katherine, not telling you don't feel the same way. That was terribly hurtful."
Beckett was stunned, "He…he thinks I don't feel the same way?"
"Katherine, I said I'm not judging you but why else would you not tell him you remembered?"
"That's not true, Martha, it's just not true." She insisted, "It' not because I don't feel the same way. I was scared. I was trying to heal and get better before I could deal with it all."
Martha looked at her bewildered and joined her on the sofa, "Are you saying you do love him?"
"Martha, I love him so much it scares me."
"Kate?" a male voice
Both women's heads snapped up to see Castle standing in the doorway
TBC