The branches of the trees hung low with the weight of the new snow. A crisp new blanket of sparking white covered the ground as the two of them walked through central park. Walking side by side not saying a word they continued along not wanting to disturb the peace. All that could be heard was the crunch of the snow beneath their feet and the distant laughter of children. She grabbed him as she slid on the sidewalk. "It's a good thing you're not wearing you're heals," he commented. She rolled her eyes at him and they continued down the path; the sound of children growing louder. He noticed that there was a sparkle in her eyes and a slight grin growing on her face as she watched the children playing in the snow. Her usual quick pace began to slow as they continued down the path. Her lips parted to reveal her teeth as a smile formed on her face. She was watching as a child flopped down into the snow and started moving her arms and legs together and apart looking like she was doing jumping jacks lying down. "Beckett are you ok?" She turned to him with a childish look on her face as she bit her lip and looked into his blue eyes. "Is it your mom?"

"How did you know?"

"You have that sparkle in your eyes; the one that you get when you are thinking about her."

"When I was little we use to come to the park during the first snow of the season. We would walk through the park and find that spot over there where that girl is and we would make snow angels like she is doing. My mom would always help me up so that my angels were perfect then she would draw a halo over mine. When I got older I drew devil horns under the halo she made." Tears started to fill her eyes. Realizing she was slipping into her dark place Rick grabbed her hand and started running pulling her along behind him. "Castle what are you doing?"

"You'll see," he said as he pushed her to the ground and lay down next to her and started to make a snow angel. She began to laugh as she watched him.

"You look ridiculous."

"Yes but your laughing aren't you?" She lay back into the snow smiling as she started to make her own snow angel. They both lay next to each other still and turned their heads to look at each other. "Now for the hard part," he said as he sat up slowly turning onto his hands and knees. He cautiously started to stand up when he was shoved back into the snow. "Beckett you ruined it," he wined.

"Then I guess you'll just have to make another one," she stated with a smile. He picked up a hand full of snow and threw it at her; a snowball fight quickly ensued.

Out of breath they sat next to each other she looked into his deep blue eyes and leaned into kiss him. "No! No!" he cried as he looked over her shoulder. He was up on his feet racing toward the lake. She turned around just in time to see the ice crack and the little boy slip below the icy surface. She was up on her feet racing toward the lake calling after him, "Rick don't!" He ripped off his jacket and scarf as he ran toward the lake. Once he reached the edge of the lake he kicked off his boots and crashed through the ice. The cold water hit him knocking the wind out of him. He gasped for air and dove under the water searching for the boy. He came up empty handed and took in a quick breath before going back under. He felt around the cold water frantically before he had to surface again for air. He drew in another quick breath and plunged below the frigid surface of the water. The next time he surface he held a limp little boy in his arms. He handed the little boy over to Kate who was standing knee deep in the water. She carried the boy up the bank of the lake and laid him down to start CPR. She had called an ambulance as Rick entered the water.

"Rick are you ok?" she called in between breaths. She did not get a response. "Rick?"she said as she continued chest compressions on the little boy. She blew a puff of warm air into the cold little boy's lungs and continued compressions. She turned to look back at the lake hoping Rick was lying by the water's edge. Her eyes grew big and a lump grew in her throat as she looked over her shoulder at the lake and saw the calm water with cracked ice. She blew another warm breath into the little boy as one of her tears dropped on to the boy's face. She started pulling the little boys clothes off as she continued chest compressions with one hand. The little boy's naked body lay in front of her as she blew another breath of warm air into his lungs. "Come on," she said as she removed her coat, "breathe." She picked the little boy up and wrapped him in her coat. Kate resumed chest compressions again and gave the boy another breath of air. She heard the wail of sirens in the distance, "hurry up, hurry up," she thought, "Please."

"Mama, my name's Jimmy I'll take it from here."

"No I've got him. There is still a person in the lake," she wept.

"How long has the person been in the water?"

"He has been in the water for about five minutes and has been submerged for about two."

"We've got another one in the water Mike," Jimmy shouted.

More and more emergency rescuers arrived. Kate held the little boy in her arms and rocked him back and forth as he started to cry. "It's ok I've got you," she whispered.

Jimmy came back over to Kate, "we are working to find him mama. What's your son's name?" Jimmy said pointing to the boy.

"He is not my son," Kate replied. "What's your name?" she asked the little boy.

"Ricky," he answered. Her body went numb at his answer.

"Mama we are going to take him to the hospital now." She handed the boy over to Jimmy and sat there as she watched the rescue team search the water for Rick.

"We got him!" Came a voice from near the lake. Her eyes began to water as she saw the rescue workers pull Rick's blue lifeless body from the lake.

"No Rick, No," she cried. "You can't leave me here, you can't."

"Get those clothes off of him and get him into the ambulance."

"Mama, Mama are you ok?" came a familiar voice. She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Beckett?"she looked up and was able to make out the outline of Ryan standing next to her through the tears that blurred her vision. "Beckett what's wrong?" She pointed to the ambulance and said, "Rick," the only thing she could get out before bursting into tears.

"Esposito! Get her to the squad car we're following the ambulance."

"What happened?" Esposito asked.

"It's Castle," Ryan replied. "Beckett do you want me to call Alexis?"

"No, I need to do it." Sucking in a long shaky breath she reached for her phone. Her hands shook as she pressed the phone to her ear. Kate could hear the laughter in the background as Alexis answered the phone.

"Detective Beckett is my dad driving you crazy already?"

"A..Alexis you need to get to the h..h..hospital," she said trying to keep it together.

"Gram!"she heard Alexis scream in terror. "Please Kate, is he alive?" Kate could not keep it together any longer she burst into tears and sobbed into the phone.

"It doesn't look good Alexis," Ryan replied.

"Tell him I love him if I don't make it in time," Alexis said through tears.

"I..I.. will ..Alexis," Kate replied.