I think this may be one of my favourite chapters.. although I can't say I remember all of them. But it's a meaningful chapter, and I like that about it. I hope I did it justice.

Since I took some wording from the show I will remind you (although you all know already) that I am not an awesome creator/writer/anything-to-do-with-the-show person and own nothing but my own story.

Kate couldn't wait to get back to Castle that evening, so she didn't even wait around to do the paperwork after arresting the bar owner. She knew it would still be there in the morning. She could do it then.

She didn't even go home to change, she just went straight to the loft and messaged Rick as she left to precinct to tell him she was on her way.

"Are you ready to go?" she said as soon as Rick answered the door, not giving him a chance to say or do anything.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"I want you to meet someone."

Kate grabbed hold of Rick's hand and pulled him forwards a little too quickly before remembering about his injured ankle. She apologized and then continued to walk him slowly down the hall. He was doing well, his ankle didn't seem to be causing too much of a problem, but there was still a slight limp and he was definitely slower than usual.

The ride down on the elevator was quiet, Kate was lost in her thoughts. She couldn't believe that she was actually excited about what she was doing, it wasn't what she had expected at all. Over the years she had gone out with a few guys but, she had never been able to open up to them as much as she felt she could with Rick. She had never taken anyone to where she was taking Rick, never shared the stories she was going to share. It was all a very new experience. But it wasn't so much what she was doing that excited her, it was what it meant not only for her, but for Rick and for the two of them together.

As the elevator doors opened, she quickly placed a kiss on Rick's cheek before leading him out to her car.

The trip over was silent other than Rick asking every 2 minutes where they were going. Kate never told him, so then he started guessing, which was probably more annoying, but she found it endearing. She could sense that as every minute passed, he was becoming more excited as well.

When they arrived at the cemetery, Castle looked over at Kate looking slightly puzzled. It wasn't really what he was expecting. Who do you meet in a cemetery?

"This is where we're going?" he asked a little unsure.

"Yeah," she said a little softly and less excitement. The reality of what she was doing suddenly hit her. This was big, and now she wasn't sure she could handle it.

Rick suddenly realised what was happening, and now he could sense the uncertainty making it's way into Kate's mind. He grabbed her hand in his, and interlaced his fingers with hers. "Lead the way, I'm right here with you."

She led them past gravestone after gravestone silently until she reached one and stopped. She never let go of his hand, and never once looked up at him. She just stood there looking at the stone for a moment.

Castle observed the stone himself reading the inscribed words. It read, 'Joanna Beckett, Vincit Omnia Veritis, February 4th 1951 – January 9th 1999'. He knew it meant 'truth conquers all' and just by reading the inscription, he felt like he had gotten to know not only a little about Kate's mother but about Kate as well and her drive to find the truth in her work.

He gave Kate all the time she needed, not wanting to interrupt her thoughts, but still he didn't let go of her hand. He wanted Kate to know he wasn't going anywhere.

After a moment, she looked up.

"Mum, I'd like you to meet Richard Castle, Rick, this is my mother," she smiled awkwardly, not really sure what she was doing.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Beckett," Rick said and squeezed Kate's hand.

Kate stepped a little closer and rested her head on Rick's shoulder, and again they stood there in silence.

She allowed a few tears to fall down her cheeks before she spoke again. "Sit with me?"

There was no need for Rick to respond with words. She knew he was going to sit with her. And he knew that she didn't expect him to respond. It was like they both knew what the other was thinking without having to say a single word.

They sat down side by side in front of the stone, Castle wrapped his arm over her shoulders and she rested her body against him.

She started speaking, soft and slow. "We were supposed to go to dinner together, my mum, my dad and I and she was going to meet us at the restaurant, but she never showed. Two hours later we went home, and there was a detective waiting for us," she paused as she recalled the details. "a detective Raglan. They found her body, she had been stabbed. It wasn't a robbery, she still had her money and purse and jewellery. And it wasn't a sexual assault either." She took a deep breath, and Rick gently stroked her arm, keeping her calm. "They attributed it to gang violence. A random wayward event. They couldn't think outside the box, and they just tried to package it up nicely. The killer was never caught."

"Kate…" Rick whispered, but she lifted her hand and placed it on his lips before he could say anything further.

"My dad. My dad took her death hard. He's sober now, five years." She lifted the sleeve of her jacket and revealed a watch underneath. "So this is for the life that I saved, and this," she pulled out the necklace with the ring she wore around her neck, "is for the life that I lost."

Rick kissed her forehead and waited for her to continue.

"And that's why I became a detective. It's not right that there are people out there, getting away with murder, not even considering the families that are being left behind or the damage they do for years after that moment when they take a persons life." She paused again. "And one day Rick, I'm going to find the person who killed my mother."

"I'd like to help you do that," he responded softly.

"I think I'd like that," she said, and again they sat silently, reflecting on everything that was said.

Kate had worked on her mothers' case when she first became a detective and had gotten so wrapped up in it that it became her life. With Castle by her side though, she knew he would help her in ways that no one else could, he could help save her from getting lost in the case again.

After hearing Kate's story, Rick was speechless. She had been through so much at such a young age, and now look at her. He knew she was strong, but he didn't realise just how strong and remarkable she really was until that moment.

He wasn't sure whether he should be happy or sad. The story was sad, her mother was not only murdered, but they never had answers. They never knew why, or who did it. But here she was, strong and beautiful, sharing the story with him like she had complete trust in him. It was a moment he was never going to forget.

Another couple of minutes went by before Kate stood. She turned to face Castle and held both her hands out to him to help him stand up and as soon as he was, she wrapped her arms around his back and stepped closer, he responded and pulled her in for a deep hug allowing her to place her head against his chest. When she pulled back she was smiling again. It was that great big beautiful smile that Castle was sure she saved just for him.

She leant forward and kissed him gently.

"Thank you," she whispered into his lips.

"No. Thank you for sharing your mother with me Kate," he said between light kisses.

When she removed her hands from his back and placed them behind his neck to pull him closer for a deeper kiss, Rick reluctantly pulled back a little.

"Should we be doing this here? In front of your mother?" he said with a smile.

She could not believe this man? She wasn't sure how he got away with what he did. If anyone else had tried making that joke after she spilled her heart out, she probably would have yelled, but she couldn't help but smile. He was just too sweet.

"Come on then," she said. "Let's get you back to the loft before your family starts to wonder where you are."

"Yeah, you didn't really give me a chance to tell them I was leaving, you were in such a rush," Rick said as they started making their way back through the cemetery to the car.

When they arrived back at Castles loft, Kate turned to Castle once more, "Thanks again for coming with me Rick. I think my mum would have really liked you."

"Well, I think I would have liked her too."

Kate walked around to the other side of the car helping Rick out again telling him that he had already walked too much on his own with his injured ankle, and he had to let her help him this time.

He turned to face her, putting his feet down on the floor to the side of the car, and she stood in front to help him up.

"Can I stay tonight?" she asked softly taking both his hands in hers and looking down at them, almost embarrassed about asking.

Rick smiled, "You can stay anytime you want." He stood and kissed her temple.

Kate walked him round to the back of her car and pulled out an over night bag, then turned to see Castle with a stunned expression on his face.

"What?" she asked. "I put this in there after I stayed the other night, just incase I ever needed it."

Castle took the bag from her hand and wrapped his arm over her shoulder leaning on her slightly, to allow her to think he was letting her help him, and they slowly made their way back to the loft for the night.