Author's note. So, I've been working in this story for two months now. I needed to, at least, map it out so it made sense. It's almost written now, around 6 or 7 chapters. It's quite different. Especially this first chapter. Just to be clear, it will be Caskett eventually. I hope you give it a try. Tell me what you think.

Disclaimer : Castle is not mine. But the mistakes and typos are, sadly.

1970.

The actress fascinated the young man. He was watching the rehearsal from the theatre's wings. Her red hair were flying as she stormed the stage. She really owned it. She was spectacular and beautiful, he thought. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Fresh out of high school, Jon was enjoying his internship. He hadn't been thrilled at first. His father, the producer of the play, had insisted that he worked with him. The young man would have preferred to stay in the Hamptons with his friends before going to Harvard in the fall. But the ill-feeling had quickly faded when he had met the lead for the play. Martha Rodgers had stolen his heart with one look, a dazzling smile and a "Hello there!" The ten years she had on him didn't even fazed him. It had been three weeks since this first introduction. He had stood frozen now, he was determined to be bolder now. His dad had assigned him the task to drive her home after late rehearsals. The perfect opportunity. They talked, laughed, learnt more about each other. He thought that Martha liked him. And she had stopped calling him 'kid', which was good. He needed her to see him as a man. He had changed his clothes, his hairstyle and had started smoking. Anything to appear older, more mature. He brought his A game to seduce her.

He grinned at her as she walked to him, the rehearsals had finished while he was musing over the last few weeks. She smiled back and her face lighted up when she saw the rose he was extending to her.

"Thank you, Jon," she exhaled after smelling the red flower.

"You're welcome. Ready to go home Martha?" He helped her to her coat then lead her to the exit.

"Yes," she sighed. "I'm exhausted and starving!"

'Be bold', Jon thought before rushing words out : "What about I take you out to dinner then?"

Martha made the slightest pause. He wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't been holding her arm.

"Why not?" They smiled at each other and Jon repressed a relived sigh from escaping his lips.

Martha and Jon were standing just outside her apartment door. It was late, as usual. They had gone to dinner. Every night in the last week. They have grown closer and closer. Martha was finding hard to not like the young man. He was so much younger than her, but he charmed her like a man. His smile, his twinkling eyes when he spoke to her, his easy-going attitude. He was sweet and mature for his age, smart and he had a way with words. He was everything she had ever wanted in a man. Most times, she just forgot he was so young.

This was one of this times. He was going to kiss her, she knew it. She read the signs. The quick glances to her lips during the evening, the touch of his hand on the small of her back as he walked her to the door. So she wasn't surprised when his soft lips met hers. Her mind blanked, paralyzed by the sensation of his warm mouth. She didn't push him away, he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. As his tongue traced the bottom of her lips, Martha knew she was doomed, she loved the man. Ten years between them or not.

The summer was ending. In a week, Martha had the opening night of her play. Jon would be there. His last night before going to Harvard. Both were feeling heavy. They hadn't talked about it. Ostrich's tactics, heads buried in the sand, as if ignoring it would make september never come. But it was so close now.

It was sunday morning, very early morning. But Jon wasn't sleeping. He was observing Martha, drowsy, her head on his bare shoulder. He was drawing patterns on her bare back, holding her close.

"You're staring." The sleepy comment startled him.

"Can't help it. You make colors seem dull, you're so bright and beautiful."

"And you don't make sense."

He laughed. She always shot his attempt at lyricism down. He felt her smirk against his skin, then sigh.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm gonna miss you." He squeezed her frame against his body.

"Don't you think we can make it work? Long distance?" He knew the answer.

"Jon. Even if we could. I'm... You're 18. You should enjoy Harvard and your college years. I can't and I won't tie you down. You have such a bright future ahead of you." He felt like crying. Even more so when her tears moistened his skin. She gasped a little and continued. "But we have one week left."

"One week," he repeated, rolling them over and kissing her.

The opening night of the play was a triumph. Jon joined Martha in her dressing-room after the show. He put the big bouquet on a table and gathered her in his arms.

"You were perfect!"

Martha just blushed, looking at the door nervously. He glanced behind him. He let go of her for a quick moment. He closed the door and locked it. She chuckled as he backed her against the wall.

"I wanted to do this all night. You were so beautiful and great on that stage." He kissed her thoroughly. "Just extraordinary, Martha Rodgers." Her heart melted as she kissed him back.

"And you are wonderful, Jon Alessandro."

It was spring but Martha Rodgers wasn't really enjoying it. She was too busy pushing, exhausted and sweaty, to send her hurried son into the world. After hours of pain, she finally heard the cries of her new born. Minutes, which felt like hours, later, a nurse finally put the little bundle in her arms.

"He's perfectly healthy," she told her.

"Yes, he's perfect." Martha blinked back the tears, not wanting to miss one little thing about her baby. She smiled. "Hello Richard Alexander Rodgers, I'm your mother." Big blue eyes stared back at her.

Next : back to present time...

Please, tell me what you think.