Prompt from Sam here on fanfiction: Can you do a second part to chapter 24 where Kate realizes she overreacted and goes back in and apologizes to Castle.

Also, I'm sorry to all those who think I mishandled the prompt in chapter 24. I really didn't mean to make Beckett come across as mean or a b****. I just feel like, considering how much her mother's murder hurt her and how much it changed her life, to be told that she doesn't understand would strike a nerve, you know? It's kinda like, to a much lesser extent, I've been bullied for years, and when I teacher told me I was a bully, I kinda snapped at her. That's really all I was trying to portray.

And, I also want to make it clear that Beckett does miss Martha, too. She's grieving, too—not nearly as much as Castle, but still—because Martha was always kind and welcoming to her.

She doesn't last ten minutes outside his door. It's too quiet, too motionless inside the apartment. And she feels like a stalker sitting with her back against is door.

And she feels absolutely horrible.

She can't believe she snapped at him like that. She can't believe she screamed and stormed out.

He didn't deserve that. He hadn't meant to upset her. She knows that.

He's grieving. He's grieving one of the most horrible losses one can suffer, she knows from experience. He's not thinking straight.

Worst of all, he was right. She really doesn't know what it's like to lose your only parent, your only role model. She doesn't know what it's like to lose the one person that has always been there for you. She doesn't know what it's like to lose Martha as a mother.

She knows what it's like to lose your mother, of course, but her father is still alive, a phone call or a drive away. She knows what it's like to lose one person that's always been there for you, but not the only one. And she knows, now, what it's like to lose Martha, but not as a mother.

So now, her hand rests on the doorknob of his door, unlocked. It brings her back to the moment in LA when she was just five seconds too late. Now, she doesn't think there is a too late. Castle hasn't really left the living room, except to use the bathroom, since she brought him and Alexis home yesterday. She knows he's sitting right there. She knows he's probably crying again, maybe because of her and her harsh words, maybe because Martha is gone, perhaps a mix of the two making the wetness gather in his eyes.

She knows she needs to apologize.

She knows she needs to tell him he's right.

She knows she needs to be here for him, and not let her own personal issues and loss get in the way.

He's always been here for her. Now, it's her turn to return the favor.

She twists the knob, pushes the door open, eyes instantly falling on his figure on the couch.

He's as still as a statue, hands on his knees, staring at a blank television screen.

Her heart breaks for him. She's been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.

It's a t-shirt she wishes she could return, but she can't, and he can't either.

And she's going to do everything in her power to make this easier for him, no matter what it takes—and that starts with an apology, she decides.

She closes the door behind her gently, carefully, a stark contrast to the way she slammed it shut after her outburst. She closes her eyes momentarily to keep those images out of her mind. She needs to be as clear-minded as possible, only for him.

She releases the doorknob as she takes a step into the apartment, the soft click of her heal seemingly breaking him from his grief-induced trance.

"Kate?" he says softly, as if she's the last person he expected to see.

"I'm so sorry, Rick," she says in lieu of a greeting, taking a few more steps towards the couch, towards him.

She can see the faint marks of dried tears on his cheeks, the glossy and distant look in his eyes. Her heart breaks, because she knows, sort of, what it's like to be in his place.

"I'm so sorry. I never should of snapped at you," she tells him, sitting back down on his coffee table, the cup of coffee still untouched and sitting next to her.

"I-"

"No, Rick. Don't you dare apologize." It's an order, and she knows he knows it. "You're the one grieving. I should of been more considerate."

He opens his mouth as if to speak, to argue, but one raised eyebrow from her and he think otherwise.

"I just... I want to be here for you, Castle. I want you to let me in," she tells him, can hear the emotion seeping into her own voice as she speaks. "You were right, I don't understand all of it. But I do know what it's like to lose one of the most important people in your life. And I want you to know that I'm here for you."

Without really thinking about it, she reached out to rest a hand on his knee.

"I want you to let me in, Rick. And I know it's a lot to ask, because I'm horrible at it, and I've pushed you away when I needed someone most. But you've always been here for me, Rick. And now I want to be here for you," she promises, almost begging him to let her help, tears springing to her eyes as she remembers all the times she's pushed with away.

Once again, he opens his mouth as if he's about to argue.

"Please, Rick. Please, just let me help." This is so unlike her, she realizes. But when you love someone, you'll do anything for them, you want to do everything you can to help them.

He doesn't protest, just stares into her eyes, tears springing to his blue ones, falling to roll down his cheeks.

Subconsciously, she reaches over and wipes them away with the pad of her thumb. It just feels right, she notes a few seconds later as she realizes what she did, as she leans over to press a kiss to his head.

She knows she's toeing at the blurred line between them, stepping on the blurry edges of it.

And she's surprised to realize that she really doesn't care.

She actually likes it, hopes that maybe this can be a step in the right direction for them, once he gets passed the initial brick wall of grief.

Instead of sitting back down on the table, she takes a seat next to him on the couch, her hand reaching for his as if on instinct, resting her head against his shoulder in support, so he knows she's right here for him.

He lets her, rests his head on hers and lets the tears fall.