Everything Changes

(Adopted from Muse of Apollo by permission of author.)

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Chapters 1-4 are loosely based on works of Courtesy of Muse of Apollo rewritten with permission. End of Season 2 AU, Everything Changes when Beckett leaves with Demming, Castle has had enough, Original concept based on abandoned story by Matt, Muse of Apollo. Rated M

I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only

A/N I guess I can't get much more hate than I did when they married, so fire away, remember the story isn't over yet. WARNING: This chapter requires Tissues, the Costco size Read at your own risk.

Chapter 21

Previously

Kate blushed a deep red, of course Alexis would know of her feelings for her father, she was his only friend for a long time.

"I'm well Alexis, really I am, I passed the Lieutenants Exam, and Roy said there is a spot opening at the 12th soon so life is good, thanks for asking."

"Well Detective, please don't do what Dad tried to do, work away his sadness, it just makes things worse. Mom, Dad and we all want nothing but the best for you, and I'll always be grateful to you, Dad grew up once he met you, so Thank You." Kate is shocked at the kindness, and openness of this young lady, she certainly did get those traits from her Dad.

"You're welcome Alexis, but I think you had a bigger role in that than I, I do appreciate your friendship and I treasure those times at the loft as well, precious memories," as she looks off into the distance.

"Well thanks for coming Kate, and again Good Luck," Bye.

Castle Home

Scarsdale NY, 5 Years Later.

The Castle household was buzzing more than usual, today there was a double reason for celebration, Both Alexis and Nicky were graduating with their MBA Degrees, Alexis in Early Childhood Development, Nicky in Pre-Law both from Columbia University. The last few years had presented not only joy but also tragedies as well. It was just 2 years ago, the lights were darkened on Broadway for 2 minutes to pay honor to Martha Rae Rogers, who had quietly passed in her sleep at the family home after a brief illness.

Six Months later, the city paid homage to Police Commissioner Frank Boyle who at age 69 was killed in the line of duty, even though officially retired, as he shot a man holding a family hostage, and attempting to rape the 18 year old daughter. Frank stepped in front of a bullet the dying intruder had intended for the young girl and died a hero.

Kate Beckett had attended the services and provided the eulogy for the fallen commissioner, she now was Captain Beckett, having risen from the Lieutenant's position that she was promoted to 3 months after Rick's wedding to Captain of the 12th when Roy Montgomery retired after attending Frank's funeral. Captain Beckett had found love and married a handsome young surgeon named Josh Davidson, but the marriage didn't last 8 months before Kate had it annulled just a few months ago.

Roz and Mike had gotten married one year after Erin and Rick, and moved to Mike's home state of Ohio, where Roz was employed as the first female Chief of Police for the city of Cleveland, a feat Mike never tired of bragging on her about. She was the subject of six Novels that Rick based on her, and the royalties she received insured that she would never need to work again, as well as providing ample trust funds for any Grandchildren and or Great Grandchildren that Rick and Erin would ever have.

The Nikki Heat Series was closed out with the release of the novel Rick had re-written right before he and Erin married, and provided Nikki her happy ending albeit be it bittersweet. Rook had been recalled to service in the US Marines and had been killed in action in the Middle East Conflict. Nikki in her depression moved from New York to Athens Georgia, where she met and fell in love with a handsome Professor, she retired from police work and started her family, one of her goals that she had almost given up on.

The royalties that had been paid Kate Beckett made her a very rich woman, and she worked now, honestly because she had nothing else to spend her time on, or friends that shared the single lifestyle. Lanie and Esposito were married, and Javi was a Sargent at the 54th where surprising enough Keven Ryan had been named Captain, six months after Kate assumed control of the 12th.

Castle Home

Scarsdale NY, 8 Years Later.

Rick had decided to cutback on work and travel the world, showing Erin the most unique parts of this earth. Everything had gone so smoothly, no fights between the two of them, and they seemed to have made up for lost time together. Anyone who saw them knew, that this was Love, simply defined.

Alexis and Nicky both had graduated with PhD degrees and had been married in a double ceremony to twin brothers, Erin and Eric Davenport, who had developed technology that was being sought by Microsoft, making the brothers extremely wealthy men, even at age 26, they would never need to work again.

Life had been good to the Castle's, with a very Happy Life for all. But life is never a one-way street on Happiness, two weeks after Erin's annual physical checkup, tragedy struck. Erin was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, and even though she felt fine, her diagnosis was terminal. Rick almost had a nervous breakdown and spent thousands of dollars on anything he thought would control or slow down the disease that now had become to consume his beautiful wife,

Alexis and Nicky moved back home to help take care of their Mom and watch out for Rick. Alexis knew how close her Dad had come before Erin came back into his life, and she couldn't bear the thought of something happening to one, much less both of her parents.

Each day that came found Erin a little weaker and worse than the day before, regardless of how many specialists Rick tried to bring in, till finally Erin had made her piece,

"Rick, come here sweetie, I want to talk to you,"

"Hi Beautiful, can I get you something, are you comfortable?"

"I'm fine Rick, but you're not Hun, you have to accept this, the battle we're fighting, well we're not going to win it, no matter how many doctors or treatments we try. Please Sweetie, just let it all go, I want to talk to my girls, I need to tell them some things, then I want to lay here with you holding me, till I'm no longer here"

"No, No, NO, we can beat this Erin, you can't quit,"

"Sweetie, I'm not quitting, not for one second, but I need to do some things while I can, please Rick, I know better than you what's coming, and I'm OK with it, I need you and the girls to be the same. Can you bring my girls to me, and give us some time alone please Hun?"

"Of course," Rick replied through tears in his eyes and voice.

Rick was in his office when the girls came back from a rare night out, and as they walked through the door, they both knew that something was wrong. They peered through the window as Rick took one piece of paper at a time, slowly inspected it, and began to pack it into special climate control containers.

"Dad, are you OK, How's Mom," both girls ask at the same time,

"She's waiting to see you two, she said she needed some time to talk to you both alone so I let her sleep for a while so she'd have enough energy when you got home."

Nicky is the first to reach Rick and Alexis right behind her as they see his tears begin to fall,

"Girls, we're losing Mom, and I can't stop it, all the damn money in the world and I can't even buy more time with the woman I love"

Nicky kisses his cheek sweetly, and says "Dad, you don't know the time Mom and I spent just the two of us, before you got together, but I can tell you, EVERY dream she ever had came true, you made sure of that.

If Mom has to go, then know she's leaving this world as deeply in love with you as she always has been, we have to love her enough to let her go Dad," as tears fill her eyes, and Alexis is hugging her.

"Sis is right, you wouldn't want Mom to suffer Dad, she's fought hard, so it's our turn, we have to fight to let her go if she asks, only she will know when it's time."

Rick turns and pulls his girls to him and kisses each of their foreheads.

"You better go see her before she thinks I didn't do what she asked," as he turns, and tears fall from his eyes onto the manuscript he was working.

Nicky and Alexis walk quietly down to the bedroom that had been setup as the Hospital suite for Erin, and slip in, one on each side of her.

"Hey there are my girls" Erin says as she wakes, "come on over here both of you. I have some things to tell you, I know you don't want to hear but Babies, they have to be said while I can say them."

Rick has no idea what Erin has talked to the girls about, but he knows she is asking to let her go, she is tired, so tired, so when the girls come back to the office about 45 minutes later, they were both Red eyed and had been crying, he knew what she was going to ask.

"Dad, Mom wanted us to get you, and come back," Nicky said softly,

When they walk back into the room, they see how tired and frail Erin is looking just from talking, Rick walked to the head of her bed, Nicky on the right side, and Alexis on the left, the girls taking Erin's hand in each of theirs. Rick caresses her hair gently.

"Rick, our girls know what to do, I won't put that on you Love, I know your big heart is breaking but sweetheart, don't think about this, think about all the good times, and God you have shown me the time of my life.

I am so very glad, we got the time we did to spend together, I'm so glad for our girls, and I need a promise from each of you. I need each of you to promise me that you'll still live life the way we have since we became a family. I am so proud of my girls, and though I won't see our grandchildren here, I'll see them girls,"

Rick looks at Alexis, Alexis at Nicky, then Alexis said

"Mom how did you know I was 3 months pregnant," Nicky is crying and jumping up and down, "What did you just say Lexi, 3 months? I'm three months pregnant too"

Erin smiles and reaches for both her girls, "You girls need to stay as close as you have always been, I love you both and take care of your Dad for me, please."

Rick turns his head to hide the tears falling, both his girls pregnant and Erin not here to see the start of the next generation, it isn't fair. If he weren't with her now, his anger would overcome him,

"Rick, don't be mad baby, you think I won't see the babies I'll see them before anyone else, I know everything is going to be OK, the girls and your Grandsons are going to need you more than ever, OK, Please promise me. Please?"

Rick turns his head, tears still streaming down his face as he sits on the edge of the bed, she lifts a tired, bruised hand still holding an IV inserted and gently rubs his cheek,

"Oh Rick, don't you feel sad, you gave me the world, I couldn't have asked for more, I love you, and more importantly, I have felt your love every single day we've been together. Now promise me, Please?"

"Erin, I promise, you know I could never refuse you anything, ever" as she smiled her tired smile he leaned in and kissed her tenderly.

"Rick, I want to say goodbye to the girls, then, would you sit with me, I don't know how long Darling, but I know it won't be long."

"I'll be right outside if you need me, and back when the girls are done."

About 15 minutes Alexis rushes to her Dad's arms, completely breaking down, and Nicky crying quietly trying to support Alexis.

Rick pulls them both in, and just holds them for a few minutes, as he composes himself, then kisses them each on the head, and said

"I think I better go see Mom, I don't want her to be alone," as he turns and walks int the room pulling a chair up to her bed, holding her hand ever so gently.

Her eyes open and she whispers "thank you, I love you Rick, always have, Always will"

"I love you too, more than you'll ever know" she heard these words, as she slipped peacefully from this world, her husband by her side, and engulfed with his love.

Alexis and Nicky heard the quiet sobs as Rick continued to hold her hand, brushing her hair gently from her face, tears streaming down his face, he was gently led away, and the girls followed the instructions their Mom had given them.

Alexis picked up the phone, not even knowing if the number was still in use, dialing and fighting back tears, she hears the phone ring once, twice, and on the third ring, "Captain Beckett, Alexis is everything OK?"

"Kate, how did you know it was me, and no Mom just passed away I just wanted you to know before we publish it in the paper,"

"I never deleted your contact information, any of yours, Alexis I'm so sorry, How is Nicky and your Dad taking this, never mind that was a stupid question I'm sure they are as sad as you, What can I do?"

"This is going to sound really weird, especially coming from her daughters but Mom made Nicky and I promise her we would ask you to take care of Dad.

She knew you never stopped loving him, and a piece of his heart never left yours. Mom and he had talked over the years, God this sounds terrible, anyway Kate, Mom had a letter she wrote a few weeks ago, please open it when you get it, OK?"

Kate fights back the tears in her throat, "Sure Alexis, I'm here if you or anyone need me OK, and Alexis, watch your Dad close, Erin was his first love and those you never get over, please, for me?"

"I will Kate, Thanks"

Nicky was just hanging up her phone from placing the obituary,

"Erin Boyle Castle, wife of Author and philanthropist Richard Castle lost her battle with cancer this evening. Mrs. Castle passed peacefully surrounded by her husband of 10 years, and daughters Nicky Boyle Castle Davenport (Eric), and Alexis Castle Davenport (Erin). Services will be private and are pending, donations are suggested to American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers."

TBC