I just wanted to thank everyone for the great reviews (: I know a lot of you thought the whole memory loss plot was overdone, but I'm glad you kept reading and that most of you have had a change of heart. Enjoy !
Alexis had left a little after four, leaving her father to his thoughts for nearly an hour. Everything that he had learnt in the past two days was enough information for a decade.
More like seven years, he thought to himself.
He was married to Kate Beckett. They had two kids together. His daughter was almost a lawyer. She had married her toddler crush. She was going to have a baby girl. He was going to be a grandfather.
Wow. That was a lot to take in, and he was certain there was more to come.
He couldn't believe what a lucky man he was. His life had turned out pretty damned good for a kid with a single mom who had spent her life on the road. Even as he had grown up, knocked up Meredith and married out of a sense of obligation, got a divorce, married Gina for... He couldn't really remember, got a divorce... He didn't think life would give him a third chance at making things right. He hadn't believed in true love until Kate Beckett had completely stolen his heart. It was nothing like he had ever felt before.
He loved Alexis, of course, and even his mother but the feelings for Beckett were something else, something that he never thought were actually realistic. Butterflies included, he had been smitten from day one. The three years they had spent together made him realize that there was something different between loving someone and being in love with someone. Kate Beckett was the first person he had ever been in love with.
And now, in the blink of an eye, he was the man that she too loved and cherished and he didn't know how the hell they had really gotten there, even though she had tried to quickly debrief him. But he was determined to remember everything so that he could relish in all the moments of joy his life had brought him until now.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knocking and Dr Abbot poked his head through the door. "Ah Mr Castle, I was hoping you'd be alone."
Richard smiled as the doctor entered the room. "Doc! I wish I could say I was hoping it was you knocking at my door but I hope your not insulted when I say my wife was my first choice."
The doctor laughed. "Not at all. As long as I was in your top five."
Castle counted in his head. "Well, if I put you ahead of my mother..."
Both men laughed a little more. "I must say, I am surprised Det. Beckett isn't at your bedside. She rarely left during the period that you were unconscious."
"My daughter Alexis was in to visit for the afternoon so Kate went home to check on the kids. She told me she'd be back in time for supper, so she could be here any minute now."
Abbot nodded. "I'm glad she hasn't wasted any time in getting you up to speed on everything," he said, referring to the mention of their kids. "The faster you're up to speed, the easier it'll be to remember things on your own. How are you holding up with all of it?"
Richard thought about it. "I... It's kind of weird, but for the most part, it's been okay. I'm just frustrated that I picked these seven years to forget. Why not, I don't know, a boring chunk of my life rather than what's probably been the best years of my life? Other than the year my oldest was born of course."
The doctor nodded, understanding his dilemma. "The way I look at it, at least you remember Det. Beckett. We have a lot of memory loss patients who don't even know their spouses. Could you imagine learning everything your learning and not remembering the woman you're married to?"
Richard nodded. "The thought has crossed my mind, and I am forever thankful that Kate is not only part of my memory that I have kept, but that my feelings for her are defined in my memories. It's easy to accept everything because it's what I had dreamed of the months leading up to the shooting. But... It's still really hard..."
The doctor nodded, not knowing what to really say to comfort him.
"Got any kids doc?"
Abbot nodded. "Three sons."
"Imagine waking up tomorrow and not knowing who they were. I'm not trying to bring you down and make you pity me or something, just think about it."
The doctor nodded. "I have thought about it and all I can say is that I wouldn't be as strong as you are, given the circumstances."
He gave the doctor a sad smile. "I try. Anyway, enough about my miseries, I'm sure you didn't come to chat."
Dr Abbot got up from the seat he had taken. "It was actually part of the reason. Assessing your mental state. You seem to be doing extraordinarily well and now, onto the more fun part. What do you say we get you on your feet?"
Richard smiled brightly. "I think you've definitely just granted yourself that spot in my top five there Doc."
The doctor laughed as he pulled out the bar to allow his patient to pull himself from his bed.
"Slowly, there's no rush."
For once, Richard Castle did as he was told and before he knew it, he was taking shaky steps around the room with his doctors help.
"Ah look who's decided to get his lazy ass out of bed."
Both patient and doctor turned to face the newest arrival, smirk on her face.
"Kate!" Rick exclaimed excitedly. "Look!"
She laughed. "Your first steps, Richard. I'm so proud."
Everyone let out a small laugh as Dr Abbott helped Rick settle back down into his bed. "I think that's enough for today. I'll leave you two alone," he added with a smile.
"Thanks Doc! Come back anytime!"
Kate laughed as the doctor gave them one more wave before heading out the door, closing it behind him. "Looks like you made new friends while I was gone."
He laughed and was about to make a comment when he noticed she was carrying a bag that looked to be too big for a purse. "What did ya bring me?" he pointed to the duffel.
"Always as curious as can be," she said as she took a seat on the bed and set the bag beside her. She opened it and started pulling a few things out. "Well, for starters, some clean clothes. As much as you are adorable in that gown, I figured you might be more comfortable in your own sweats and t-shirts." She set the clothes aside as she pulled out more stuff. "Zach and Lacy decided to make some get well soon cards this afternoon. Well, Zach and Martha did most of the work, but Lacy helped with the scribbles."
Castle laughed as he looked at the cards. "They're definitely artists. I wonder where they get that from?"
"Mom claims she has an impact on that one. Something about the arts being such a large variety of expressions that our children have simply discovered their artistic talents in a different form than her own."
Castle shook his head with a smile painted on his lips. "The way you say 'our children'... Do you know what that does to me?"
Kate brought her hand to his check as she leaned in for a quick kiss. "Our children are the most blessed gift I have ever received."
Castle couldn't help but tear up a little bit. Before he got too emotional, he turned back towards the bad. "What else have you got?"
Knowing he needed the distraction, she turned back towards the bag and pulled out a few more things. Castle had no trouble distinguishing the picture frames.
"A few little things to decorate your room."
He took them from her and smiled.
The first one was of Zach and Lacy, looking very recent. They were sitting on the couch, fast asleep. The one right beside it was the same picture almost, but with Alexis falling asleep beside them.
The next was a family photo. The five of them, along with Martha and Jim, outside in the snow, all attention on the camera . The kids looked younger in this one, but not too young.
The next collage picture was of Zach, moments after his birth, his hand print, Lacy moments after her birth, her hand print and Alexis, moments after her birth and her hand print. The emotions that just moments before, Rick had tried to avoid, were now getting the best of him.
The next one caught him of guard. He was getting used to the pictures of the kids that when he saw the picture of him, Kevin and Javier, he was a little taken aback. Both men looked older, but were still the same men he fondly remembered.
"They want to come visit tomorrow, if you're up to it."
Castle nodded, not trusting his voice at the very moment.
He flipped to the last picture frame and the final straw in the emotional wave caught up with him. Wedding pictures. The first one of him and his three favorite woman. The next one of him, Kate, the boys and Lanie on the dance floor. One of him and his bride, their faces covered in cake. One of the two of them on the beach, Kate in his arms, her dress blowing in the wind. However, the last one, right in the middle of the four others, was what finally caused the tears to release. They were on the alter, holding hands and starring into each others eyes, the love clearly written on their faces and they were as alone in their little bubble as any two people in front of a crowd could be.
"It's my favorite too," she said as she rested her hand atop of hers on the middle picture.
"Thank you," he whispered. "For bringing these."
She smiled softly as she took the pictures from his hands and set them aside, planning on scattering them throughout the room when they were done.
"There's more," she said with a smile, turning back to the bag. "I thought that if you get bored and no one's around, you might enjoy a good read."
She placed a book, Frozen Heat, in his hands and before even reading his name on the cover page, he knew it was his by the title. "The fourth installment in the Nikki Heat series," she said, even though she figured he had already guessed that. "I've also got the 5th, the 6th and what you've written of the 7th on your laptop."
He seemed shocked. "But I thought..."
"Once Frozen Heat made it to number one, they knew they couldn't just let you stop. They signed you on for three more, let you take a few years to be super dad all while asking you to keep writing. All six books have been major hits. You would have more than just the 7th if it weren't for the fact that after they released Heat Wave the movie, they wanted to continue the series as movies and asked you to write the screenplays. You had help from professionals, but at least it was better context than what they could have possibly written without you. We have Heat Wave, Naked Heat and Heat Rises on DVD at home. Heat Rises is set to release in theaters next month, but clearly they gave you an advanced copy. You can watch them while you recover."
Richard flipped the books around in his hand. "I knew Nikki Heat would make it somewhere, but I never thought it would become this big."
Kate laughed. "Oh, it's big alright. They have Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook action figures Rick. Action figures."
"Action figures?!" he exclaimed, as excited as a kid on Christmas morning.
"Action figures," she confirmed. "Anyway, you have some reading to hold you down for a little while at least. And think about it. How many authors can read their own books without knowing what's going to happen next?"
She saw the excitement in his eyes as he thought about the concept. "Honestly, I'm probably going to be the first. Take that Patterson!"
Kate shook her head as she giggled. "So how was your afternoon with Alexis?" She set the now empty bag down on the floor next to the bed and settled herself, lying next to him and his arms immediately found their way around her, resting on her lower back.
"It was good." He smiled brightly. "Great actually. She's so grown up, I can't get over it. And pregnant! My baby girl is having a baby girl!"
Kate laughed lightly at the excitement in her husbands voice, but nodded all the same. "She's quite the woman Rick. How did that happen with a role model like you?"
He rolled his eyes at her but couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "Clearly you can't think I'm that bad of an influence on my offspring if you were willing to have more beautiful children with me," he commented, leaning in for a kiss.
He took this one slowly, wanting to relish in the moment. There was passion, tenderness and most of all a love that couldn't compare to anything he had ever felt in a simple kiss. It pushed them a little further, heating the simple kiss to a full blown make out.
When they finally pulled apart from the kiss to catch their breath, Castle couldn't help but gasp out a small "wow" to which Kate returned with a wink.
"Just like horny teenagers," Kate said with a giggle.
Castle's eyes shone with a light that had only ever been present in his eyes when Kate was implicated. "It's things like that that remind me why I fell so madly in love with you in the first place."
They just stared at each other, smiling and relished in the feeling of being together.
"I have a really serious question for you," he suddenly said, sitting up a little straighter.
Kate was slightly worried. What had brought this on? "Rick, what ever you need, I'm here for you..."
He nodded before he turned and looked at her. "I just... I just keep thinking about me becoming a grandfather and I can't help thinking to myself, am I really that old?"
Kate stared at him in shock, and Castle couldn't help but chuckle at her expression. "Come on Kate! That's about as serious as the questions get!"
She shook herself out of her state of shock and couldn't help but join in on the laughter. "Oh Richard..." she said his full name for emphasis. "You're not old, I promise. Simply maturing. As if that was possible."
They both laughed a little bit more before he went back to being a little more serious. "I mean, I am forty... seven?"
"Forty six," she corrected.
He nodded. "I'm forty six, and I fear that I'm not the young spirited man I remember myself to be."
Kate smiled. "You're still the same Castle that walked into my life ten years ago, if that's what you want to know. Childish, immature at times, but caring and completely full of imagination. You can keep up with the kids, so that's enough to prove you're not all that old Rick."
He nodded, accepting this. He then looked back at her, hesitantly before asking, "and... everything... everything still works... the way it should?"
Kate couldn't help but giggle at the uncomfortable look on his face. She brought her face as close to his as she could without actually having them touch. "You're forty six Castle. You don't even qualify for senior deals. Men in their eighty's still have perfectly functioning body parts. Trust me, everything still works."
He looked at her with fake skepticism, suddenly liking the direction their conversation was taking. "Trust you, huh? What's to say that you're not just telling me this to not steal me of my pride?"
Kate shook her head. "You know perfectly well that any opportunity I could get to knock you a little bit further off that high pedestal of yours, I would take. Besides, I can easily prove it."
Castle seemed curious. "Yeah?"
She nodded, a huge smile building on her face.
He went wide eyed when she slipped her hand between their bodies, but was shocked when she simply reached into her front pocket, rather than somewhere else.
She pulled out a small piece of paper, unfolded it and handed it to him.
"What's this?" he asked, without having given it a look yet.
"You're proof," she simply replied, the smile on her lips just getting bigger.
He looked down at the piece of paper and took a few minutes to piece things together. When he did, he looked back up to her, surprise in his eyes.
"Kate... This can't be... Is it..."
"Check the date on it Rick."
The ultrasound dated two weeks exactly from the current date.
"You had been in the hospital two days when Mom told me she had figured it out. I had known for a couple of days, but she forced me to go see a doctor. That's when I got that done." She shook her head. "This isn't exactly how I had initially planned on telling you but-"
He cut her off. "You mean, this is the first I'm hearing about this?"
She nodded. "I found out the day of the accident. I was planning on telling you that night, but..." She trailed off, knowing he would understand.
He smiled the greatest smile she had seen yet. "We're having a baby Kate!"
She giggled. "We are!"
"We're having a baby and I'll be able to remember it all, from beginning to end. Kate, as much as I love Zach and Lacy already, I'm so glad that we're having another baby because I want to be able to live all of this with you and remember it."
Kate gave him a sad look. "Rick, don't say that. You're going to get your memory back."
He gave her a sad smile. "Kate, you know I would do anything to remember these past seven years. God, I would do anything at all, but I have to start accepting that it might never happen."
She shook her head, not wanting to believe him. "I'll find a way Rick, I'm going to make sure you remember everything."
"Kate..."
She looked him in the eye, resting her hand on his cheek. "Do you trust me Rick?"
He nodded. "God Kate, I trust you with my life."
She blinked, the building condensation now evident in her eyes. She whispered, "then trust me when I say I'm going to find a way," before pulling herself in as close to him as possible and not letting go, until both of them found the sleep they much needed after all the emotions the past few days had brought.