CASTLE'S LOFT (11pm)

Richard, Darling, why do you look like a zombie?

Payback Mother.

Payback?

I had to get Alexis back for her treachery.

Was she scared?

She shrieked like the girl she is! Aah...victory!

I take it the case is over?

Yes, did you know there is a whole zombie subculture?

No.

How could I miss something like that?

You have been a little preoccupied for the last four years dear.

Seriously, Mother.

You want serious. I can do serious my boy. How did Beckett react when you told her this was your last case?

I didn't tell her.

Richard.

What?

You didn't tell her? What? Are you just not going to answer her calls anymore?

No.

I was serious when I told you that you should at least tell her why you are punishing her.

I changed my mind.

About what?

It wasn't my last case.

You can't turn off your feelings and you can't just ignore her and act like nothing happened.

You're right. I can't just turn them off. Here we go...she is going to say I told you so. I can't believe I am admitting that she was right.

Excuse me, what was that you said Kiddo?

You heard me Mother. Don't make me say it again!

What changed since this case started? Did something happen Richard?

Kate happened.

Back to Kate?

She'll always be Kate. Even when I'm being an idiot.

You weren't an idiot. She lied to you.

But I acted like a jackass! I assumed I knew why she did it.

Yes, you did behave poorly. Wait...are you saying your assumptions were wrong?

I'm pretty sure.

Did you finally ask her why she lied all those months?

I didn't have to.

Did Kate volunteer the information?

In a manor of speaking.

English please Kiddo. I'm to tired to talk in circles.

During the case, one of our suspects couldn't remember what happened. His mind was blank. After talking to him, Kate and I stepped out into the hall discuss the the possibility that he really didn't remember killing the victim.

And?

Kate asked me if I thought he was lying and I said to her, "when a life altering moment occurs, people remember".

Subtle you're not. How did she react to that statement?

She said, "Maybe it's too big to deal with, maybe he can't face it just yet." And then I asked her, "Do you think he ever will be?". Then she came back with, "Hopefully, if he feels safe."

Are we talking about your suspect or Detective Beckett?

Both Mother. You know we can never just say anything. Everything is done in subtext and looks.

You are horrible with words when it counts, especially when it comes to the one person you so desperately need to communicate with right now.

I know, but we never got to continue that conversation because the medical examiner came up and told us that our suspect was given some kind of drug that is referred to as the "zombie" drug and one of the side effects is loss of memory.

So he really couldn't remember?

Nope...his mind really was a blank.

Unlike Beckett's.

Yeah, but it almost seemed like things were better between us. Ryan even commented that it was good to see Kate and I hitting it off again. We had some of our banter back and there wasn't as much tension between us.

Was that before or after your talk about life altering moments?

Both. There was a little tension at first but as the case went on it got easier between us.

So have you forgiven her?

Maybe.

Either you have or you haven't. You seem more hopeful. You aren't moping around in your robe. Did something else happen between you two?

Yes.

Richard?

We talked a little more after the case was over and …

And what?

Let's just say...I have hope. Kate shared something very personal about herself that gave me hope again.

What kind of hope?

Hope for a future for us.

Oh, kiddo, I hope you know what you're doing.

I do. I love her. I have to stand by her and see where we go from here. For now that means going to work with her everyday and being her partner. I just have to keep showing up.

Richard, no one wants you to be happy more than I do. I just don't want to see you end up with a broken heart.

I know Mother, but I just can't walk away after everything we've been through together.

Good night dear.

Night.

LANIE'S APARTMENT (11pm)

Girl, if you don't tell me what you are doing here, imma smack you!

Lanie, I needed to talk to you.

What did he do now? He didn't show up at another crime scene with a new bimbo did he?

No. Why do you think it's about Castle?

It's always been about him, honey.

Fine...I need to talk to you about him.

This better be good Kate. You don't just show up at my place this late unless it's important. Did something happen?

He showed up at a crime scene.

And that is a big deal because?

He thanked me for calling him and then made some cryptic comment to Perlmutter about treasuring the moments they had shared.

Him and Perlmutter? What the hell does that mean?

I'm not sure but it almost seemed like he was trying to tell me something.

Like what. Like he was leaving again. He would've told me, right?

He never said anything, but he gave me this look right after he said it and saw my reaction.

Girl, we both know that you two can have entire conversations without speaking a word.

Not lately. We haven't done that since the bombing case. I miss it...that connection we had.

You got it bad honey! You are hopelessly in love with Richard Castle.

Shut up!

If I gotta shut up. You better start talking or you can take your skinny butt and leave so I can go back to my nice warm bed.

Fine.

What happened to make you come here? Is it a good or bad?

Good...I think.

Girl!

Okay, fine. It seemed almost like before.

Before what?

Before Castle started being a jackass!

What do you mean?

There was definitely tension at the beginning of the case but as it went on it seemed like we fell back into our norm. There was teasing, humor, theory building and no running off for lunch dates. Thank God!

Really? This is what you woke me for? There better be more than this. No eye sex, no longing looks?

Not from him. I know I caught myself a few times just thinking what if and staring at him.

Okay. Out with it. What did he do?

He didn't do anything other than show up, work the case and have a couple meaningful conversations with me.

You guys used actual words?

Very funny. Do you want me to share or not?

Is that what you are trying to do hear?

Yes, we used real words but also a lot of subtext as well. We talked about people remembering life altering moments and then later...

Did you tell him you remember?

Not exactly. We kind of talked around that topic. We started the conversation about our suspect not remembering and Castle said said that when someone has a life altering event they remember it.

What did you say?

I just told him that maybe it was too big to deal with.

Lame!

Lanie. I know we were talking in subtext here...but I'm trying.

Try harder. You two need to spend a hour locked in a room so you either talk it out or make-out!''

I think I might have actually made a confession of sorts to him when the case was over.

A confession? Is it juicy?

I admitted to Rick that I am seeing a therapist and that I am almost where I want to be. I told him that I am almost in a place where I can accept everything that happened that day in the cemetery.

Are you?

Yeah.

What did writer-boy say when you told him?

He seemed surprised that I was in therapy but he said he thinks he understands what I was saying.

What were you saying?

That I'm almost ready to accept that he told me he loved me.

Are you ready to admit to him that you are in love with him?

Yeah, I told him that I thought the wall around my heart was starting to come down and I wanted him to be there when it did. He said he would like to be there too.

Oh, sweetie. That was such a huge step for you.

I know. The therapy has helped. I just wish it was easier and I could say those three little words that I know he is waiting for me to say back to him.

You'll get there.

I don't want to waste anymore time. We've wasted so much time already.

So I guess you and writer-boy have patched things up?

It's not like before the bombing case but it's better than it has been over the last few weeks. I asked him if he would be in tomorrow and said he would.

I'm sure he will be there bright and early...coffee in hand.

I'm looking forward to it. Even if it's just coffee and paperwork.

Sweetie, you sound so hopeful.

I know. He gave me my hope back today.

I'm glad. I just want to see you happy Kate.

I want to be happy too.

And Castle can make you happy? You don't have to say it girl...it is written all over your face.

You have no idea. I don't think I do either, but I really want to find out.

Girl, I hate to do this to you, but I need to get to bed. I have to be at the morgue by six.

Are you kicking me out? This is my reward for sharing?

Kate Beckett! Don't make me smack you!

Fine. Thanks for letting me in and listening to me Lanie.

See you tomorrow.

Until tomorrow Lanie! Rick was right, until tomorrow really does sound more hopeful.