Author Notes: Please be advised this is a repost of a short story prior to the end of series finale for Crossfire. Its been mostly been revised.
I can't seem to let go now.
A week later...
There's something kinda poetic about it. The way seasons come and go. But for Richard Castle.
Castle POV
I can't see myself visiting her grave. I understand it remains the same. it's only been a week. The head stone looks the same. As it did the day after she was buried. Time moves forward. However for Castle. He will never stop missing or loving her.
Alexis asked her father. "Will you be all right. I know it's not easy to face after being shot." She's been hearing stories on how exactly she died by the hand of Loksat. But this is the first time Richard Castle is able to face the truth of the matter.
When things had gone badly for the most part.
"Dad, I am going to the cemetery." She looks up at her father from inside the P.I. office. His only option left at the moment.
Even though he could go back to the precinct to work with Javi and Kevin to stay busy and his mind off the subject.
"I will think about it kiddo." Rick says softly to his daughter
"Wow." Alexis says in an almost reverent way that makes her father smile a little for the first time.
"You know Kate was smart in some ways and stupid at times." He rambles on working at his laptop inside the P.I. office.
"And strong right to the very end." She than says to her father filled with strong emotion. "Along with being a real tough cookie. When she needed to be." Alexis grins and than continues. "And she was happy to be back with you in the marriage."
"Most of the time." He replied with a deep lump in his throat.
He forces a smile for Alexis sake. He can only imagine how much of a blow it was for him on the day. He was their when she'd her "Final" battle with her own demons.
After a moment of silence.
Alexis places a hand on her father's shoulders. " Come on dad, we need to go to the cemetery to pray and place the flowers on her head stone. I know your now strong enough to see to it after a week."
"Yeah." Rick says softly. Remembering.
Some time later. Rick walks over to Alexis as he hand. Falls into her fathers.
She leans against his leg neither of them taking their eyes off the grave for the moment.
One week seems like an enternity to him. He still remembers with clarity the day he first met her. He will never forget.
"Daddy?" She says softly into his ear. "Lets go home." "Yeah honey?" He breathes back before leaving for his car at the top of the hill.
Thinking. At least she is buried next to her mother. A bidding tribute for both ladies looking for the real truth and justice.
THE END.