The group left in the in the interview room shaken but still coherent. Alexis' ears were ringing with equal parts condemnation of her risky move and congratulations that it paid off. Mostly, she was relieved that Shane hadn't killed Eli in their struggle; that would have been worse, somehow, than seeing Eli marched off in handcuffs.

When Yani had returned, he looked around like the character in a comedy who arrived two thirds into the scene to find mayhem in progress. He'd only had time to ask them what was going on and why he'd missed the briefing when Shir approached him and they locked themselves into Montgomery's office with Beckett, Ryan and Esposito. As they had no desire to relive any part of this day, Castle Shane and Alexis looked at each other as they stood by Beckett's desk.

'Well...' Castle said at length. 'I think it's safe to say this is one case that we wont mind seeing be put to rest without trial.'

'Agreed,' Shane and Alexis chorused, the former adding, 'Richard, I know you're planning a bash tonight at the loft, but I need Alexis for some quiet time first.'

'Oh, sure, no worries.'

'If they come out of there, you'll tell them we'll see them tonight?'

'Of course.'

Shane nodded, then took Alexis hand. 'Come on.'

They left the precinct, hailed a cab at the curb, and when Shane gave the driver instructions to take them to Central park, Alexis lifted an eyebrow.

'I know you like to feed the ducks, Shane, but it's November. They're in Miami drinking rum and orange juice, eating Cuban sandwiches and avoiding Dexter Morgan.'

'You'll understand in a minute.'

Shane looped her arm through his, and they walked towards the path that would lead them down to the benches near Loeb Boathouse. When he stopped at one and sat to stare at the water, Alexis joined him though she was uncertain of what to do.

'Whenever I've had a case that's gone really badly, this is where I come,' he murmured softly. 'This is the place that helps remind me why I do what I do.'

'I remember, Shane. You came here after the Mortimer Wilkes case ended in a guilt verdict.'

'I did.'

'So this is like your good-bye spot?' Alexis ventured, then explained, 'Everyone has a spot they go to so they can commune with the spirits chasing them, to tell them whatever happened is done.'

'Something like that. Sometimes it's to pray. I've always felt more comfortable doing that near the water instead of at temple. Guess that makes me a very bad Jew, huh?'

'No, just a human one,' Alexis reassured him. 'Besides, could be your vent for it all is something like gambling and loose women or a porn addiction, or- well, you know what I mean.'

Shane did understand her slight ramble, and gave her a little smile to go with it. 'I do know what you mean. It's so weird, I've been with other women, had other relationships, but none of them had your patience or understanding with me when I get on a tangent. It's how I knew you were different, that you're special.'

'Shane.' Alexis said his name, scooted closer to him on the bench as she watched him wrestle with those ghosts. 'You loved Rachel in the way an eighteen year old boy does when he's dazzled. Do you think I'd begrudge you that?'

'No I don't. But I feel like I never said goodbye to her either, never got the closure I needed.' He looked at his hands. 'I never sat shiva for her, never went to her grave once. I just couldn't bring myself to do it.'

'And now it's done. All of it.'

'I still feel out of sorts.'

Alexis pursed her lips, looked out over the water with him. There was something calming about being by the water, she thought, the tranquility and stillness of it made it hard to let in the voices of the world.

'Shane, I...you've been to Christian funerals before, right?'

'Of course.'

'Well, the one tradition of those that I always thought was the best part was the song. Whatever song they decided should sum up that person's existence, their death, whatever they chose to focus on. And there's one I can't help thinking of right now.'

'Can you sing it for me?'

'Sing it for you?' Alexis blinked. She was an okay singer but she wasn't some fantastic unpolished diamond. 'Um, okay, just let me think how the opening goes. It's been awhile since I've heard it.'

Shane put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close as her soft, sweetly angelic voice began to sing.

Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulders
Don't you know the hardest part is over
Let it in, let your clarity define you in the end
We will only just remember how it feels

All life's a maze, in these small hours
These little wonders
These twist and turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours, these small hours
Still remain

Shane closed his eyes at the melodious tone of his fiancee's voice. 'I know this song,' he whispered hoarsely as his throat began to clog; long buried grief bubbled to the surface and the tears began to form in his eyes. 'Keep going, keep singing.'

Let it slide, let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine, till you feel it all around you
And I don't mind if it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by
It's the heart that really matters in the end

She kept going, finished the song as she felt Shane shudder as the tears of mourning flowed from his eyes. When she finished, Alexis took her glove off her hand and turned his face to hers so she could look him in the eye.

'I love you, Scheine,' she told him.

'I love you too, Alexis.'

Shane dipped his head, gave her a kiss that was as much comfort as it was love, and when he broke it, he left his forehead pressed against hers. 'I need to ask something of you, Alexis.'

'Of course.'

'I need tomorrow for myself. There's something I need to do and you need to let me do it.'

'I don't like the sound of that. Far too ominous given what transpired at the precinct today.'

He laughed, his first real one all day and tugged a lock of her hair. 'I know you trust me not to go all kamikaze on Eli. I just need tomorrow, from let's say...two pm until about seven or so to do this.'

Though it made her feel a little ill, Alexis forced herself to nod. 'Okay.'

'Now, I don't know about you, but I am ready for some chicken and waffles with a side of manicotti.'

They walked into the loft to the smell of baked cheese and gravy and the sound of Martha giving her son and daughter-in-law an absolute piece of her mind.

'I cannot believe you just let her waltz in there like that, going nose to nose with a serial killer without so much as a Q-tip to defend herself!'

'Mom-'

'Richard, for once in your life, listen to me and shut you mouth.' Martha, ever one with a flair for the dramatic, thrust out a hand so her palm faced him. 'I don't care if it worked or not, you - both of you - put your child in unnecessary danger and I don't understand how you can be so calm and nonchalant like this happens every day!'

'Grams,' Alexis said in a voice not unlike the one she'd used in the interrogation room with Eli, and as her grandmother turned, Alexis got a taste of Hurricane Martha.

'Young lady, what do you have to say for yourself?'

'You look pretty?'

'Oh thank you darling but let's not just gloss over the fact you walked into he middle of a police standoff with a hostage involved!'

With what some would consider more courage than it took to ask Eli Hudek to lower his knife, Alexis stepped over and wrapped her arms around Martha's body. 'It's okay to be scared, Grams,' she murmured, patting her back just like she was the same age as RJ. 'I was just trying to help, and it worked.'

'Well.' Flustered as her emotions got the better of her, Martha awkwardly patted Alexis' head, then held her out at arm's length. 'You don't look like you took any hits or scrapes. Shane, how did she do?'

'My soul was shaking at the time so I'm the wrong person to ask,' he replied honestly and suddenly found himself in need of the only other person who could light him up like his fiancee could. 'Where's the little prince?'

'Waking up from nap time shortly, as people are going to be arriving very soon. He said he wants a bath in the big boy tub so he can look his best for a certain little lady.'

'I sincerely hope Mere and Javi have a boy when he gets her pregnant again,' Beckett laughed. 'If Espo has three daughters, I think he might lose his mind.'

'At least the girls only have straight boyfriends,' Castle teased as he helped his wife get the containers of catered food assembled for the masses. 'His little boy's already in a love triangle.'

'Oh, good God.' Martha rolled her eyes and headed for the fridge where sure enough she found an open bottle of chardonnay. 'You just all love turning everything into a soap opera.'

'No, the soap opera element would have been if Rachel Hudek had faked her death and turned out to be the same bitchy social worker who interviewed Shane at the hospital when Alexis was there last week.' Beckett handed Martha her favourite wine glass, braced her hands on the island's countertop. 'It's just children with puppy-crushes. And on that note, I'm going to give RJ his pre-party bath.'

'Kate, do you mind if I come with you?' Shane asked, sensing that Alexis wanted a moment or two with her father. It worked out well for him, as he wanted to talk to Beckett one-on-one.

'Oh, sure, I'm sure he'll love seeing you too.'

They entered the nursery where RJ was lying on his back, writhing and stretching as he woke up, Omeo tucked in beside him. 'There's my sleepy boy,' Beckett crooned with such affection it was easy to forget she'd held off Eli at gunpoint just hours before. 'How was your nap?'

'Omeo fussy, Mumum. He too 'cited fo' seein' Tah-rini.'

'Does Omeo want a bath to look good for Trini?' Shane asked, man-to-man and RJ sat up like he'd been shot from a canon.

'Shan' ! Washa doin' here, bo?'

God the kid was a charmer, Shane thought on a chuckle. 'I'm here because I need some help, the bro-to-bro kind.'

'I kin do that!'

'Not here, though.'

'Why no' ?'

Shane held a finger to his lips as Beckett helped RJ to his feet and led him across the hallway to the bathroom. When the water was running and the door was shut, she undressed the toddler while Shane spoke.

'I'm planning a surprise for Alexis tomorrow and I could use some help,' he told them both; RJ clapped his hands and grinned widely.

'Yea fo' suh-pises! Gotta haff puh-pah fuh-lowers.'

'I'll get her the lilacs, but do you think she would like a fancy dinner out at a restaurant or something more intimate, like room service in a nice hotel suite, Kate?'

'Room service,' she replied. 'What are you thinking of doing for her?'

Shane told her the idea and Beckett's eyes danced. 'She'll love that.'

'You think I'll be able to pull it off?'

Beckett nodded as she unfastened RJ's diaper, saw it was only wet and breathed a sigh of relief. 'Okay, big man,' she groaned, checking the tub's temperature and lifting him in. 'This isn't time for thinking our deep deep thoughts, though, it's a getting-ready bath.'

'Know that Mumum,' RJ said impatiently. 'Gotta look sha'p fo' Tah-rini. You gonna be sha'p fo' Lessis?'

'What do you think, Kate? Suit, or dress pants and a nice shirt and tie?'

'Shirt and tie,' Beckett decided. 'Less...stiff if you're going to be dining in-room.'

Shane had to laugh at her word choice, deliberate on her part he was certain. 'Does it weird you out at all that we're almost the same age and I'm technically going to be your son-in-law?'

'I learned one thing long ago about being part of the Castle family. Thinking too much on unimportant things like that just gives you an ice-cream headache. Now, tell me more about this plan.'