From Billy's apartment, Teddy went back to her own, upset that Matt wasn't there and happy at the same time because she hated herself for what had just happened. She changed her clothes and located the shirt she had of Bill's making the conscious choice to put him out of her life completely in order to try and make things work with Matt. She dug up an empty box, folded up the shirt and placed it inside, writing a note for him
Dear Billy,
I want to start this by saying that I'm sorry. What happened was a mistake that I shouldn't have made. I've been in love with you since I was seventeen and we've been through so much together, but I've moved on with Matt and I do love him and I can't have a life with him if my mind is always on you. I hate the feeling when you have to say goodbye to someone you want to spend every minute of every day with. I mean, I don't think I could ever really say goodbye to you...even if you said it to me. So, I'm trying not to make this a goodbye, but a thank you. Thank you for coming into my life and giving me joy, even in the worst of times, for loving me and accepting my love, for protecting me, and for all of the amazing memories that I'll cherish forever.
Too many times, we say goodbye to the people we love without wanting to. It doesn't mean that we've stopped loving them, or that we've stopped caring because as much as I may not want to admit it, there will always be a part of me that will love you and care about you and that won't ever go away, no matter what. Sometimes, goodbye is a painful way to say that I love you because I won't hold you back from moving on with your life. I'm sorry that this is the way it has to be. Please be happy.
Always,
Teddy
Her teardrops decorated the page as she folded the letter and placed it in the box, writing Billy's address on it and running it down to the mailbox. From there, she headed to Nelson & Murdock looking for Matt. Her heart was breaking for the letter she sent Billy, but she needed to let him go if she was ever going to make her relationship with Matt work, which she did since she really did love him and want to spend the rest of her life with him. When she finally got to the office, she found it locked and closed. Which she found unusual since she figured that with everything going on, at least Karen would be there. She dug her phone out of her purse and dialed Matt's number, surprised when he answered after a few rings,
"Teddy, sweetheart, I'm so sorry about this morning. I got caught up with a client and-"
"Matt, it's fine. Where are you?"
"I'm going to be heading back to the office. Are you sure you're ok? You sounded upset when you called"
"I'll be ok, we can talk about it later. Right now I'm going to go down to the precinct and talk to Mahoney about seeing my dad"
"Good luck. Let me know if you need anything and let's do dinner tonight. Just you and me"
Teddy smiled and sighed "That sounds great. Just name the place and I'm there"
"How about Montello's at six?"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. What do you say?"
"I'm there. I'll see you later, ok? I love you"
"I love you too"
Going to the precinct was a mistake Teddy didn't see coming. Once she went inside and told the officer her name, she was shoved into an interrogation room and questioned if she knew what her father was doing, did she help him, and if she was really his family since they were supposedly all dead. After answering their questions she demanded either they let her have her lawyer or let her see her father. It was a while before they told her where he was and said it was up to the DA and officers in charge to let her in when she got there. Annoyed and frustrated, she hopped on the bus to Metro-Gen, seeing the media frenzy outside the building and using the staff entrance to get inside. She had to dodge some of her coworkers but was eventually able to make it up to the prison ward where her father was being held.
"Excuse me, ma'am, I need to see your ID," the cop near the door told her as soon as she stepped into the hallway
She fished it out of her wallet and handed it to the officer "I'm here to see Frank Castle"
"Wait here" the officer barked, taking her ID and going off to speak with a woman in a dark pantsuit.
The official-looking woman grabbed her ID and looked at it as the officer spoke, then turned and locked eyes with Teddy, her face turning sour as she strut over to the other Castle.
"Well, Miss Castle" she snarked "I'm afraid you won't be able to see Mr. Castle today"
"And you are?" Teddy sassily replied
"District Attorney Samantha Reyes," the woman told her with a poisonous smile
"Well, Ms. Reyes, I hope there's a good reason why I can't see my father today"
"Well, he's not awake at the moment so you'll have to wait"
"Oh, he's not awake yet. Well, I'll just sit with him until he does wake up"
Reyes stepped in front of Teddy, blocking her from walking toward the room "Just how did you get up here exactly?"
"Same as you counselor. I used the door"
"Cute"
"I'm adorable. Now, let me ask you something counselor. Does my father even know that I'm alive? Or are you withholding that information from him to use to your advantage later?"
Reyes's face fell, "Officers will you please escort this young lady out and make sure she doesn't come back. We're done here"
She handed Teddy her ID back and watched as two of the police officers put Teddy in the elevator. The cops escorted her to the main entrance, where they shoved her outside with a warning to not come back.
From the hospital, Teddy returned home to change into something nicer for dinner. Since she was already running late, she grabbed a cab and hurried into the restaurant, having the host bring her to where Matt was seated.
"Hi, I'm sorry I'm late," she said, kissing Matt and sitting down
"It's ok, I ran kind of late myself" he replied
"I guess both our days ran longer than we expected" she lifted the menu from the table and began to look it over, her eyes widening in shock "Woah,"
"What?"
"There are at least ten different kinds of wine here"
"I can't really help you there considering-"
"You don't drink anything that isn't served at Josie's"
"And your knowledge extends as far as your parent's liquor cabinet" they both chuckled "I missed this. Just us getting to spend some time together"
"Me too" Teddy replied, grabbing his hand.
"Mr. Murdock?" the host interrupted "You have a call"
"Oh, uh, thank you" Matt stuttered as he fumbled with the phone
"I'm going to use the ladies room," Teddy tells him, wanting to give him some privacy.
When she came back from the bathroom a few minutes later, Matt was on his feet and heading for the door
"Hey, hey what's wrong?" she asked him
"Nothing, it's just...I don't really like this place" he answered
"You don't like the place or you don't want to be here with-"
"No, no, no. This place isn't me. It isn't us"
"You're right. Come on, I know a place not far from here"
"This smells amazing" Matt exclaimed as the bowls of curry were placed in front of the couple "How'd you find this place"
"Well, when my friend Cree was pregnant with her twins, all she wanted was curry. So after a lot of internet searching, she found this place and brought me with her"
"It's nice"
"I love the lights they have up. They're shaped like chili peppers and they're hung literally everywhere"
"Wow" Matt breathed
"Yeah...this is much better, right?"
"Definitely. You know, I've always been more comfortable around the cheaper stuff"
"Yeah, I get it"
Matt stared at her with a smile, then cleared his throat "Ok, uh, Teddy, I have something I need to say"
"Matt?"
"I somehow have this ability to bring disaster to the best things in my life. And you have been perfect all this time we've been together. You've stuck by my side through so much...even when I've given you a thousand reasons to leave. I love you, so much and I want to spend every day for the rest of my life with you" he dug in his pocket and pulled out the velvet box, opening it to show her the ring "Theodosia Castle, will you marry me?"
"Oh my God" Teddy sobbed "Yes! Yes!"
Matt kissed her, then took the ring from the box and slipped it onto her third finger, the surrounding patrons applauding them.
"I love you" she exclaimed, kissing him again "This ring is so beautiful. Where did you get it?"
"I love you too. The ring was my grandmothers, my father's mother. She gave it to him to give to my mom and when she left she gave it back"
"I love it, Matt. And I know I've said it at least five times already, but I love you so much"
"I love you, Teddy. You can never say it too much"
They picked at their dinner, making small talk about the wedding
"Do you think Father Lantom will be able to do the ceremony?" Teddy inquired
"Really?" Matt asked in surprise "You want to have the wedding at the church?"
"Yeah, I know it means a lot to you and I think it'll be nice" she answered
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll ask him" Matt grinned
"You know we should probably try and figure out a date before we ask him to do anything"
"Well, if you put into consideration how long it would take to get a dress and a suit, and that it's going to be very small attendance wise….so how long would it take you to get a dress?"
"Oh Matty, I could end up with one by at least the day after tomorrow. In that time I could even get you a suit"
"So how about...two weeks?"
Teddy almost choked on her food "Two weeks? Are you serious? That soon?"
"It can be arranged, yeah. Teddy, I've been holding onto this ring for the past three months. All I want is to marry you and with everything going on with your father...I want it to be one less thing to worry about and make it so I can be by your side through everything"
"How did you get to be so perfect?"
Matt chuckled "I'm far from it"
"Not to me"
He leaned forward and kissed her lips and cheek, whispering in her ear "Let's go home"
When Teddy woke up the next morning, Matt was already gone, a fuzzy memory of him leaving in the middle of the night in her head. With the wedding coming up in such a short time, she realized how much she needed to do. She called Cree and arranged for them to go dress shopping later that morning. Next, she made her way to the local community center, knowing that the veterans meeting should be just finishing up.
Walking into the room, she saw Curtis picking up chairs and placing them back on the rack
"Knock knock," she said, making him turn around and break into a wide smile
"Hey, Teddy, what're you doing here?" he asked, bringing her into a tight hug
"I came to see you. Figured the best time was after your meeting and before you had to head into work"
"That's smart. Coffee?"
She nodded and he poured them both a cup
"So, what's going on?" he questioned "Besides the obvious"
Teddy scoffed "You know, a lot's going on, but I don't think much is going to top finding out my dad's been alive this whole time and killed a bunch of people"
"Have you seen him?"
"Not yet. The DA kicked me out of the hospital when I tried to see him yesterday. I'm hoping I'll have better luck today"
"You know I'm here if you need anything."
"Yeah, I know Curt"
"So what else is up?"
"Uh, my biological mom died the other day. And, uh, I'm getting married"
"What? Did you just say you're getting married?"
Teddy showed him the ring on her hand "Yeah, in two weeks"
"Teddy, I'm happy for you...but two weeks?"
"Well, we kind of just want to get it done and it's not like it would be a big wedding or anything. Cree and my brother with their kids, a few people from work, Matt's best friend and you if you come"
"Of course I'll come. You never have to doubt that for a minute."
"But…"
"But I just feel like you're rushing this. Is this really what you want?"
"It is what I want. More than almost anything"
"And I know what you want more" he mumbled, "So, did you talk to Russo? Or are you guys still not talking?"
"Uh, I saw him yesterday" she answered, absently picking at her nails. "We had another fight and we aren't exactly talking"
"Damn," Curtis exclaimed, "What ever happened between you two? It was like one day you guys are living together and getting along and the next thing I know, you left to go live with your friend and you and Russo aren't speaking at all. What happened?"
The scent of blood hit Teddy's nose as she listened to Curtis talk. She closed her eyes as the memory forced itself to the surface
Blood. There's so much blood...And the pain, oh God, the pain was like nothing she ever felt before. She was curled against the white tile, now stained red, screaming in despair, her phone still clutched in her hand. A set of shoes coming into her view and those two words she'd be hearing many more times that day
"Oh, God!"
"Teddy! Teddy!" Curtis called, shaking her shoulder, "Are you alright?"
She blinked several times and plastered a false smile on her face "Yeah, um, I also had a bit of a favor to ask"
"What's up?"
"Will you walk me down the aisle?"
"Teddy-"
"Come on, please Curtis. We all know my dad can't do it...he'll never-" she stopped herself, "You're the next best thing to him"
"Alright, alright. I'd be honored"
Teddy cheered and threw her arms around his neck "Thank you, thank you, thank you"
"Anything for you, kid" he replied with a slight laugh
"Can I ask you something else?"
"Shoot"
"Do you think my dad knew I was alive?"
"I've known Frank for a long time, and there's no doubt in my mind that if he knew you survived, he never would've left your side"
"I just find all of this so shady. Both of us are told that no one else survived and now they won't let me see him"
"I wish I knew how to help you"
"I wish I knew how to help myself"
A/N: Here we go, the question has been popped! And we see Teddy try to remove Billy from her life and be detached while saying goodbye while we also get a little glimpse into the reason she and Bill aren't together/ haven't spoken that was brought up in CH 9. As always I love hearing your opinions and any questions or theories, so please R&R