They made love into the next morning. Rick awoke it was about 3 in the afternoon the room was cozy. He really did not have much time to explore when they arrived but now as he looked around he could see all sorts of interesting things. The seashell collection mounted in a case with the Starfish taking precedence as a star would. Then there was a collection of sports equipment in a barrel lodged haphazardly. A baseball mitt and a Hockey stick took center stage. Moving his eyes he lighted upon Several Team Jerseys each with the name Beckett proudly on display. Then on the surface were trophies for Shooting and Running then some unusual ones for Poetry writing and Drama.
Drama? Kate wanted to be an actress? There were several stage bills showing Kate in various productions. These were part of a life long buried. Kate just at that moment came in the room with a light dusting of snow on her shoulders and carrying a load of wood for the fires.
"Oh Castle you are awake? So I see you found my Dad's Love me wall." Kate said.
"Yeah come here Mrs. Castle." Rick said. Kate complied and gave him a kiss. "You never mentioned how accomplished an Artist you were."
"Rick it did not matter. That was in the past. For the longest time I thought I had no future other than solve my mother's case. Then you came into my life and I found I needed to have the past just as much as I need the future. This is why I suggested coming here." Kate said kissing him again.
"Kate you are cold come back to bed and I will warm you up." Rick suggested.
"Oh I do not think so. Once I am in that bed again I would only want to have my wicked ways with you." Kate said.
"What is wrong with that?" Rick inquired leering invitingly.
"Nothing but tomorrow I stand in front of the board. I'm nervous Rick." Kate admitted.
"Do you remember what I told you when you had your first case back after your shooting?" Rick stood up and wrapped his arms around his wife holding her to him.
"Yeah Rick you said, 'You can do this. You have the training just let it flow'." Kate said.
"That is exactly correct and it is the same advice I am giving you now. Don't over think. Just follow their questions then let it flow. You will do great!" Rick said nuzzling against her neck. "You deserve your Lt. bars! Mrs. Castle!"
"I do indeed." Kate agreed.
Rick started kissing her neck and Kate pushed him away.
"Well why don't you shower and I meet you in the kitchen I have been busy procuring our lunch." Kate teasingly said.
"Ok Kate I will catch a shower and meet you in the kitchen." Rick agreed since his stomach was protesting.
Kate disentangled from her husband then went off toward the kitchen.
Rick sighed then did as he was told.
Coming into the kitchen he was all dressed in plaid.
"Well look at you all lumberjack looking. You really do make that outfit!" Kate said as she was frying some freshly caught trout.
"So I really rock this look huh?" Rick said trying to see what Kate was cooking.
Kate slapped his hand.
"Go sit at the table Rick. I hope you like fish because I caught them today." Kate said.
"I'd eat anything you would prepare Kate." Rick said sitting down.
Rick noticed there where several plants he did not recognize garnishing the plate.
"I see you found some interesting plants here" Rick pointed out.
Yeah I was lucky. I found some wild onions and that is a radish. That over there is parsley. Kate pointed out.
"You just found them?" Rick asked.
"Yeah Nature grows all sorts of things in all types of seasons." Kate responded while digging in to her freshly cooked fish.
Rick mouth watered as he ate the fish.
"It is too late in the season for any berries but I did happen to find a few nuts though." Kate said.
"I see well it is certainly a well balanced diet. So was this your main course or Breakfast?" Rick asked more curious on what Kate ate. Since Bear was not on the menu.
"It was a late afternoon meal since I rarely ate more than one meal." Kate said.
I see so tell me about one of your typical day? Rick asked.
"Well there was not really any typical day. Rick everyday was different in some ways. I did have a routine which I followed." Kate replied between bites.
"Oh so what was this routine?" Rick asked.
"Well as I said earlier I did not awake until noon mostly. Then I found my pit and did my waste elimination then I went to the banks of the river and washed up. While there I would spear a fish or two if I was being social. I had a companion which I never saw or heard but I knew he was there. So I would throw a fish up on the bank then head to my cave to start a fire to cook the fish. I found a sharp piece of metal early on which I wedged into a wooden handle which acted as all my tools. It scraped the hides clean and then the water soaked them to become soft. It was used as a knife to gut the fish. I crafted crude bowls and tubs. I was making a canoe which I would use to follow the river when I got stronger. But you rescued me before I finished it." Kate said.
Rick was enthralled with Kate's recollection of her daily activities.
"I got into the habit of retreating to my cave just before sunset and making sure I had a blazing fire at the mouth for warmth and protection. At night I would stare into the fire until I fell asleep. I did tell you about some of my dreams?" Kate asked.
"Were there others?" Rick inquired.
"Yeah many included you. Rick." Kate said kissing him. "I am so glad you found me."
"Me too... I searched and became a nuisance to the NTSB investigators." Rick admitted.
"I can't imagine why?" Kate teased picking up their finished plates and scraping the remains into a bag then washing their utensils.
"Anyway I retreated to the loft to plan my next move after your tracks out of the plane crash site disappeared in the heavy rains." Rick said.
"Alexis said something about that earlier to me when I first arrived at the loft." Kate said.
"Well you do not know the half of it. There were getting supplies together and hiring the guides but most of that Al figured out. My main job was supply the money and where to look next." Rick said.
"Right Alexis mentioned you were doing research." Kate said.
"That is right Kate it is something you know something about my methods." Rick leaned over and kissed her.
"No wonder those poor NTSB agents were frazzled." Kate dryly said.
"I like to think of myself as a through investigator." Rick replied.
"I see" Kate said as they moved to the couch. Kate stoked the fire as Rick continued.
"By June the leads were all but gone. Then I fell into a depression. I am so sorry to admit I lost faith for awhile. Then Alexis mention our case with the psychic. Being buoyed once again I called her as she was calling me. Kate." Rick said.
"A psychic…? Penny Marsh?" Kate inquired.
"The same then the leads reappeared. With Penny's guidance I finally found you." Rick said.
"Well that was quite a tale. Mr. Castle. We need to be up early for the drive back to the city. Thank you for such a great honeymoon." Kate kissed him and they returned to the bedroom for more love making.
"Always my love always" was the last words Rick said before falling asleep.