No one said anything for a few seconds, as Esposito just stared at his phone.

'I need to go. I have to go home to her.' He sprang out of his chair, grabbed his jacket.

'I'll drive you.' Castle stood up as well. 'Kate, you'll talk to the captain?'

'Of course.'

Ryan and Beckett watched the men go, then turned to each other. Both had met Constance and loved her, it was impossible not to; she was like having another Martha Rodgers around, so full of life and vitality. Then, Ryan got another jolt when Beckett pulled him in for a quick hug, patting him on the back.

'We'll go over, as soon as we can,' she murmured. 'Right now, we need to focus.'

'Right.' Ryan gave his commanding officer a pat on the shoulder, then eased back. 'I'm going to call Jenny.'

'Yeah, good idea. I'm heading to the morgue anyways, I'll let Lanie know what's up.'

Both turned away to do their duties, all the while thinking of their friend.

'Mere?'

Esposito was through the front door and calling for his wife before Castle could shut it behind him. On impulse he went upstairs to the bedroom and stopped short when he saw Meredeth curled in a ball on her side, tissues strewn around her in a little line of defense. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, streaming with tears she made no attempt to staunch. She lifted her head off the pillows when she saw him.

'Javi,' she wept and he was at her side in an instant, cradling her in his arms.

'Shh, shh, Javi's here.'

'She died, Javi. She's gone.'

'I know, my love.'

Castle numbly watched the couple grieve together, Esposito swiping at his eyes as he rocked Meredeth as gently as he would Tessi. It was so sudden, was all he could think. Constance was like having another version of his mother around when there were big family events.

When he had a little of it out, Esposito asked, 'What happened Mere?'

'Terrance called me, about twelve, said he couldn't get my grandmother to wake from her nap so he'd called the paramedics and they were taking her to the hospital. He said he'd call me when he had news of any kind, so I was playing with Tessi, and just after I put her down, he called back and...and...' Meredeth began to weep again, turning her face into her husband's shoulder.

'It's alright, Mere, just take a breath.'

'Terrance called back and said that she was gone. She had an aneurysm in her sleep, so she felt no pain.' Meredeth broke down again, crying so hard she began to cough a little. 'She's gone, Javi. My Momo's gone.'

The sound of Tessi stirring through the baby monitor had Meredeth sitting upright. 'Oh God, Tessi, I have to-'

'I got it.' Without another word, Castle went into the nursery and they heard him soothe the fussing infant while Esposito stayed with Meredeth, his hand moving over her back in wide supportive circles.

'Do you have to go to Florida for making the...arrangements?'

'No. It was in her will that she wanted to be...buried in New York, next to my grandfather and my mother. She moved to Miami but her heart is here. Terrance said he's going to call my aunts and let them know I'm doing the funeral arrangements.'

Meredeth paused. 'Her body won't be here until Thursday because they want...they have to do an autopsy to confirm cause of death.' The idea of her grandmother being sliced and diced on a cold metal table had her tears starting up again. 'Jesus, Javi.'

'I know, Mere, I know.' Esposito kissed her temple. 'Whatever you need, I'm here for you.'

'I love you.'

'I love you.'

'Just stay with me, here, for a few moments, okay?'

'I'll spend all day here if you need it.'

Downstairs, Castle sat in the armchair in the living while Tessi nursed the bottle he'd warmed in the bowl of hot water. The TV was on as much for distraction as anything else.

'Drink up, Tessi, that's a good girl,' he murmured, then glanced over when he saw Esposito come down the stairs, his handsome face ravaged with grief. 'How's she doing?'

'About as well as you'd expect, in other words a total mess.' Esposito plunked down onto the sofa, scratched Arturo's chin when he wandered over. 'God, she was just on the phone with her this morning, I even said a quick hello when the phone rang.'

'I have no idea what to say, Javier.' Castle shifted, adjusted Tessi so she could continue her bottle. 'I really don't.'

There was a knock on the door, which had Arturo scrambling up to see who'd gotten past his guard; Castle passed Tessi to her daddy and answered it himself. He wasn't at all surprised to see a gaggle of people from the Twelfth there - Ryan, Beckett, Lanie, even Gil Mazzara, along with Dave and Robina.

'Hey guys,' he said dully as they filed in, all with flowers they came in and set on the coffee table. 'Esposito's feeding Tessi in the living room and Meredeth's upstairs. I don't think she's up for company just yet.'

'That's fine, we can wait,' Lanie said in her no-nonsense tone, sitting on the floor beside Dave and petting Arturo's thick neck.

'Javi, your espresso machine, how many does it make at a time?' Beckett asked.

'Three, and there's the regular coffee maker as well.'

'On it.'

'I'll give you a hand.'

'Espo, talk to us, what happened?' Ryan leaned forward, elbows on his knees. 'Did she have an accident?'

'No. According to Meredeth, she was complaining of a headache this morning when they were talking on the phone, around quarter to seven, give or take, and she was going to have a nap. Then Terrance called Meredeth and said he couldn't wake her up from her rest so he called the paramedics. By the time they got to he hospital, she was gone. They, ah, suspect an aneurysm. And she went in her sleep, so the small blessing is she had no pain.'

'Christ Almighty.' Dave shook his head. 'Is Meredeth going to Miami to look after things?'

'No. Constance's will had all the provisions necessary but the body can't be released until...until the examine it for cause of death,' he got out before he felt his own grief start again. Just like when he'd had his emotional snap after Tessi's birth, no one said a word until he had regained a little of his composure. 'I'm sorry, I-'

'No, there's no need to apologize for your grief, Javi.' Castle shook his head. 'You want me to take Tessi upstairs?'

'It's okay, I've got it.' He needed the routine of putting his daughter in her bed for her nap, and left with the cooing five-month-old in his arms.

When Tessi was out like a light, he tiptoed into the bedroom and saw Meredeth was still awake and staring at the wall. 'Mere, baby,' he murmured, sitting down beside her, 'our friends are here.'

'Who.'

'Ryan and Beckett, Lanie and Dave, Gil and Castle. Tessi's napping and they've made coffee downstairs, if you want to come down.'

'Okay.'

Linking his hand so their fingers threaded, Esposito walked her downstairs and Meredeth felt the next wave of emotion hit her when she saw the living room full of people; all of them were there for no other reason than concern for her and her family.

Robina was the first one to reach her, and held her tightly. 'Mere, I'm so sorry, baby girl.'

'Thanks, Robina,' she replied in a watery voice.

'Here.' She lead Meredeth over to the couch, where Ryan had scooted over to make room for the shell-shocked couple. 'Whatever you need, we are here for you, Mere. Whether you need some tissues or a drink or help with Tessi or the house, all you need to do is ask us.'

'Thank you, really. I can't...I can't wrap my head around it, I was on the phone with her six hours ago and now...They have to perform an autopsy, to make sure they have the right cause of death.'

'Oh sweetie.' Now it was Lanie who reached over, gripped her hand tightly. 'It's never easy to deal with but it's the only way to know for sure what happened.'

'I know, I know, but...she's my Momo.'

Meredeth's small, child-like voice had everyone sniffling now, even Beckett and Gil as they brought in trays of coffee; Beckett herself passed Meredeth a cup of tea.

'No milk, two sugar. I remember.'

'Thanks.' Meredeth sipped, let the hot liquid flow into her body, then set the mug down to pull her hands through her hair as she forced her brain to work a little bit through the shock. 'The...services won't be until Friday. Momo didn't want a big church service, just something simple.'

'We'll be there.' Off Esposito's nod, Ryan pulled Meredeth in for a supportive embrace. 'We'll all be there.'

R&R&Enjoy.