Prompt: 4x23 - Beckett shows up at Alexis' graduation.

If nothing else, it got her out of the rain.

Kate had only been in the downpour for a matter of minutes, but she was already soaked to the core. Her clothes clung to her, and she shivered at both the cold and what was left of her injuries from earlier that day. Truth be told, she also shook out of fear.

If pressed, Kate couldn't tell why, exactly, she had come to the Marlowe Prep graduation ceremony. Was she bold now, in light of yet another near-death experience, this one more harrowing than the last for the simple fact of who wasn't there?

Was this in light of a personal readjustment, the sort of kick in the pants that made her toss her badge on Captain Gates' desk when she, for all intents and purposes, told her to shove it?

Was it hope? Was it fear?

Or was it just dry?

Kate wandered to the doors leading into the auditorium, her heart skipping a beat when she heard the voice speaking at the podium. She knew that voice anywhere, and her hand instinctively went up to her chest, cradled against her scar.

Exhaustion — and pain from Maddox's beating — led Kate to lean against the wall. Her eyes scanned the auditorium, but as expected, she couldn't pick him out of the crowd. Not with everyone's back to her. She knew he was here, though, because his daughter was giving the valedictorian speech and there was no way he'd ever miss it.

Especially after how nervous he'd said she was about it.

Not only that, but Alexis was clearly the most important person in Castle's life — especially after what had happened earlier that day. Kate flinched and clenched her jaw, the memory overwhelming her.

Yeah, you're right, Kate. It's your life. You can throw it away if you want, but I'm not gonna stick around and watch you. So this is, uh…over. I'm done.

Just like that.

I'm done.

Kate squeezed her eyes shut, determined not to break down again — at least not until she was either in the solitude of her own apartment or she knew, once and for all, where she stood with the man she loved. The man she was finally ready to admit she loved.

Kate lifted her gaze, taking in the redhead at the lectern. Thankfully, the distance — and the darkness cast over much of the auditorium — hid Kate. She didn't want Alexis seeing her. She didn't want to ruin the day any more than she already had.

"There is a universal truth that we all have to face," Alexis' voice was solemn, "whether we want to or not. Everything eventually ends. As much as I've looked forward to this day, I've always disliked endings…

"…the last day of summer…the final chapter of a great book…"

Kate couldn't help the sad smile that splayed across her face.

"Parting ways with a close friend. But endings are inevitable. Leaves fall. You close the book. You say goodbye."

Tearing her eyes from Alexis, Kate stared at the floor, her hands clutched to her chest as her eyes once again started burning with emotion. She thought she was all out of tears, yet here she stood, the daughter of her beloved tugging on her already-frayed emotions.

"Today is one of those days for us. Today, we say goodbye to everything that was familiar, everything that was comfortable. We're moving on, but just because we're leaving, and that hurts…"

God, does it ever. Kate never realized just how much it would hurt the day he finally gave up on her, but even as she had watched him walk out of her apartment, Kate was fighting back the tears. She'd waited until she'd heard the ding of her elevator before the dam finally broke.

In a lot of ways, she felt like she hadn't stopped crying since.

"…There are some people who are so much a part of us, they'll be with us no matter what. They are our solid ground."

My solid ground…

"Our North star."

My North star…

"The small, clear voices in our hearts that will be with us. Always."

The applause builds and fills the auditorium, and Kate staggered away from the door, pushing herself into the bathroom and throwing herself into one of the stalls, bawling her eyes out and cradling her arms over her stomach.

Words that were true for a class of graduating high school seniors, teenagers about to embark on adulthood, hit a chord. They struck a note with a broken homicide cop in her 30s, who had been so consumed by getting justice for her mother, so busy hiding behind those damn walls, that she couldn't see what was right in front of her.

Alexis had undoubtedly spoken of her own fears and insecurities at this junction of her life, but she had also further reminded Kate of how much she loved the redhead's father.

The most remarkable, amazing, exasperating, worthwhile person she'd ever met.

Wiping her eyes, Kate hurried out of the bathroom, wanting to leave Marlowe Prep before the crowd dispersed, before she could run the risk of running into him or either of the redheads. No, this wasn't going to happen here.

Kate needed to know. And she needed to be somewhere else to find out.

By the time Richard Castle stepped off the elevator and headed toward his loft, he saw the female form crumpled up against the wall. He stopped, a mixture of worry and dread crossing his features. He pocketed his phone — he was about to call Alexis one last time before her night of celebrating.

But something was clearly intervening.

Damp hair obstructed his view of the woman's face, and even though she appeared so broken, so worn down, there was a familiarity to her. Castle swallowed thickly, part of him screaming to turn back.

But he couldn't. He lived here.

"Miss…?"

When the woman's head jerked up, and he finally saw who was huddled up, drenched at his door, Castle's heart skipped a beat. His nostrils flared and his hands balled into fists. It was all the writer could do to keep from rolling his eyes.

"Beckett, what do you want?"

Kate stood, keeping herself pressed against the wall. Her entire body shivered, though whether it was because of the cold or the rain or her own nerves, she couldn't say. Probably all three.

The look in his eyes didn't help matters.

Still, if she was going to know, she had to press on. He had every right to be angry, and if he turned her aside and slammed the door in her face, Kate wouldn't blame him for that.

But still…

"You." She closed the distance between them, cradling Castle's face in both of her hands, tears rolling down her face as she gave him her first true kiss.

"I just want you."