Martha Rodgers knew she often came across as shallow and more than a bit foolish. She encouraged this impression for comedic effect. That did not mean she wasn't paying attention, especially where her son was concerned. It had taken years to get him to admit out loud that he was helplessly in love with Kate Beckett. Martha's heart had broken in sympathy for her child when he believed he needed to move on from Kate. Now she watched them together with a cautious and reluctant optimism.

Martha was sipping tea in a window seat, watching the sun slowly climb over the water on what promised to be a gorgeous day. Kate was sitting at the table out on the deck with a mug of cocoa and pretending to read a book. Richard and Alexis were trying to drown each other in the ocean. Martha couldn't hear their laughter from inside the house, but every time one of them came up spluttering in outraged joy, Kate's eyes flickered towards them over the top of her book and the corner of her mouth twitched in amusement.

Kate glanced up with a welcoming smile as Martha stepped out on the deck. She settled onto the bench beside Kate, watching her son and granddaughter playing in the water.

"Hard to believe she's 18 and headed off to college. It seems like only yesterday that I was saying goodbye to Richard for his freshman year."

"She's a remarkable young woman. You must be relieved she chose to stay close to home, though."

"Of course." Martha met Kate's eyes with a grin. "Do you have any idea how insufferable Richard is when he's pouting? He'd be moping around the house in his underwear, waxing poetic about how his child had abandoned him. It's hard enough whenever she leaves for short trips. I was appalled with myself the first time I realized I was hoping someone would've been murdered so that he'd go running to you. You're the only one I've seen who can cheer him up when he's like that."

Martha suppressed a smile at the quickly-hidden signs of surprise on Kate's face. She knew Kate knew that Richard loves her, but it was entertaining to watch her try to pretend she wasn't aware of it.

"It's not that difficult to deal with. Just toss an interesting mystery in his path and he's fine. Instant distraction." Kate's tone was almost perfectly nonchalant. Martha spent a moment wishing her acting students had as much talent. She let the silence drag on for a beat longer as she smirked quietly at Kate.

"You know very well that it's you he's distracted by, not the crime."

"Yeah." Kate was unable to meet Martha's eyes as she blushed faintly. Her next sentence was so quiet that Martha wondered if she knew she'd said it aloud. "I don't know why."

"You don't know why he loves you? Or you don't know why he's fascinated by you?" Martha's suspicions were confirmed when Kate's head snapped up, eyes wide and panicked.

"What?"

"Oh, come now, Kate. Surely you've figured out that much. Richard is madly in love with you, has been for years. You're a challenge, and he doesn't run into those very often. You're brilliant, funny, caring, dedicated, and you demand that he behave in accordance with his better nature. You make him want to be a better person. Who wouldn't fall in love with someone like that?"

Martha reached out to cover Kate's hand with her own as Kate's eyes started to look suspiciously wet. Kate dropped her eyes to her lap, squeezing Martha's hand and drawing in an audibly shaky breath. Martha let the silence settle around them as she watched Kate struggle to control her tears for a long minute. Kate turned to face her, drew in a remarkably steady breath to speak, and deflated as a sob escaped instead of words. Kate started to turn away to hide her distress, but Martha would have none of that. She pulled the young woman into her arms. Kate tucked her face against Martha's shoulder as she shook. Martha softly stroked her hair, murmuring nonsense sounds. She glanced down the beach to see that her son had seen them and started back towards the house. Martha shook her head and he halted in confusion. Alexis caught up with him while he paused, snagging his elbow and drawing him away again with a glance up at her grandmother. Smart kid.

Richard and Alexis were back in the water and apparently oblivious by the time Kate's breathing quieted. Martha shifted her hand to Kate's back as Kate sat up with a guilty expression. Martha cut off whatever she planned to say with a gentle shove on her uninjured shoulder.

"Nothing wrong with a good cry when you need it. Now go wash your face before Richard sees it or he'll want to talk about what's wrong. And get yourself some more cocoa on your way back, your mug is almost empty."

"Yes, Martha." Kate escaped with her mug into the house. She hadn't been gone for more than a minute before Richard dropped onto the seat next to Martha, soggy clothes dripping as Alexis panted up a moment later.

"Gram, was Kate crying?"

"Yes. Don't ask her about it. And run along and change, I need to talk to your father."

Alexis exchanged a silent look with her dad for a moment before going inside. Richard turned to his mother with poorly-hidden alarm on his face.

"Richard, go gently with that woman. I think this might be the first time she's ever really been in love and she doesn't know how to handle it."

"What? She said that?"

"She didn't have to. I'm a mother."

Martha patted his hand as she stood and made a dramatic exit.