Tears trailed Kate's cheeks as she gathered her things and placed them with care into a bag. Castle had gone to Samatha's room to finishing packing, though Kate suspected he'd sensed her need to be alone. She needed time, though brief, to bid farewell to their life in the loft and all the memories within. She cast her gaze about their bedroom, surveying it for anything she might have missed.
She approached the dresser strewn with their photos, an illustration of their life together. She swept her fingertips across each frame in reverence recalling the sensation of every moment. Her tears now falling without difficulty. Her hand lingered on one picture in particular, her heart seared by its resonance. Her thoughts bled into the ardor of temperate arms safeguarding her from the turbulence of her mind.
"You almost ready?" Castle whispered into Kate's ear, his chin falling onto her shoulder.
Kate resigned herself to a nod, the ability to articulate eluding her.
"Somehow we'll make this be okay, Kate. I don't know how yet, but we will. I promise."
Kate's silence prevailed as a fresh tear rolled down her cheek. Her hand sought Castle's while the other lingered with the photo. She gripped both in desperation. As if they were the only things protecting her from becoming lost within the infinite depths of pained cognizance.
Castle's free hand grasped the unoccupied corner of the frame with a marked gentleness. He began to pull it toward them compelling Kate's rigid hand to follow suit. In time surrendering it to him, but not without initial hesitation. Relief filled her as she watched the great care with which he secured it into her bag atop their bed.
"Kate, darling, I'm so sorry, but we need to go. They're waiting for us." Castle urged as he approached his wife and regained her hand.
Kate offered a weak smile and followed his lead, but paused after a few steps. Castle turned to his wife, his patience unwavering. He studied her features in an attempt to decipher the cryptic message locked within.
"I love you, Richard Castle." Kate breathed. Her sincere and unbridled humility saturated her tone.
"I love you too, Katherine Castle." He smiled and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze then proceeded to lead her out of the loft.
The couple met Martha and Alexis in the hall, both looked worn and somber. Their safety also compromised due to their close association with Kate. Samantha looked peaceful as she slept in the comfort of her step-sister's arms. Martha ran her fingers through the toddler's dark strands grateful for the distraction. The stillness of the hallway proved both eerie and uncharacteristic.
For a moment Kate had forgotten about her recent discovery and the fact that neither Martha nor Alexis knew. Given the circumstances, Kate was almost grateful that it remained a secret for the time being. However, guilt crept into her mind at the thought of her mother being fully aware of her present condition.
Martha and Alexis were family, her family. They'd supported her and Castle through both good and bad. They hadn't walked away like Johanna had and Kate couldn't help but feel as though her omission was, on some level, a betrayal. She would tell them, but not yet. They didn't need any more worry.
A despondent Ryan and Esposito stood in the lobby of the building. Each dreading the departure of the Castle family from the elevator. Once Kate made eye contact with each of the boys her emotion became too difficult to bear. She rushed to them, collapsing into a shared hug, half of her face resting on each man's shoulder.
"This is too much… How am I supposed to say goodbye?" Kate choked through racking sobs.
"Family never says goodbye to each other, Chica." Esposito comforted, tightening his embrace. He too was struggling to keep his emotion at bay.
"He's right, Beckett. It's not goodbye…" Ryan's words fell short. He swallowed hard and cleared his throat. "I'll see you soon." He affirmed, pulling her closer to him.
Ryan's touching words added fuel to the emotional fire burning within Kate. She felt parts herself dying a bit more with each heart-wrenching farewell. She hated the brief nature of their exchange, but knew that if they weren't she'd never leave.
"I'm going to miss my pequeña Bonita so much." Esposito sighed with deep pain.
With great love Esposito ran his fingertips through Samantha's soft locks then bending to kiss her forehead. He exercised caution not wanting wake the sleeping girl. Javier had never been one for children until Samantha came along. From the first moment he saw her on he'd been smitten by her delicate charm.
"Be safe, girl."
"Yes, look out for those two. They need all the help they can get!" Ryan teased nodding toward Kate and Castle in a feeble attempt to lighten the mood.
"I will, guys. I promise." Alexis replied pulling both into an embrace.
Kate scoured the room anxious to find Lanie, but found no sign of her best friend. It wasn't difficult to understand why. Lanie had taken Kate's impromptu departure the hardest. In many ways the Castle family had become more ingrained into the fabric of her heart than her own.
"No Lanie?" Esposito and Ryan exchanged a sullen look before Esposito answered.
"I haven't seen or heard from her since we found out about you leaving."
Before Kate could reply her attention snapped to the sound of the lobby doors being flung open.
"I'm not too late am I?" A frenzied Lanie Parish yelled as the entered the building.
"Lanie…" Kate cried moving to meet her best friend.
"Kate!"
"I'm so glad you made it. I couldn't live with not being able to say goodbye to you, Lanie. You're my best friend after all."
With the two women distracted, Ryan and Esposito pulled Castle aside to bid their farewells. The three men had become more brothers than friends over the years. Along with Kate and Lanie, they'd become a close-knit and loyal family regardless of blood relation.
"Keep everyone safe, Castle. That includes you." Ryan declared offering Castle a brief hug.
"I will, Ryan. I promise." Castle smiled. "Farewell, my friend. Keep my legacy alive while I'm gone."
"They don't call me Castle Junior for nothing." Ryan laughed.
It took Castle by surprise when Esposito pulled him in for an emotional hug.
"Take care of my girls, Castle. Don't let anything happen to them, especially my Bonita."
"I would die before I allowed anything to happen to any of them, Espo. Remember, they're my girls too."
Esposito released his hold on the author and nodded in defeat.
"Be safe, man."
"You too."
The emotional exchanges between each party were soon curtailed by Johanna's regretful voice. Her wary words declaring the need for their immediate departure.
"Goodbye, Lanie. Take care of yourself. I hope to see you again someday soon."
"I do too." Lanie managed to smile through her tears. "Now go."
Kate dragged her body to the care fastening herself next to her husband. She laced her fingers through his and peered out the window, her spirits dejected and forlorn. She felt the panic set in as the vehicle began to pull away and the visage of her once happy life. The building still holding the memories and people she loved disappeared into the concrete jungle of the city.