An Angelic Ghost Story
Castle and Beckett don't survive their shooting by Caleb Brown, but even though they died they aren't really gone. Now that they have successfully completed their probation as Angels they are rewarded with a gift. On the one year anniversary of their deaths, they are allowed to visit their loved ones as ghosts.
AN: This is a story that popped into my mind that I thought would be appropriate for the Halloween season. It starts out sad, but there is lightness by the end.
All normal disclaimers apply
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Kate Beckett didn't feel the cool breeze that blew through the cemetery as she stood in front of the headstone that decorated her mother's grave. She didn't say anything, she had talked to her mother just a couple of days ago. No, she was standing here, looking down at her mother's resting place waiting for her husband. Big surprise, he was late.
The joke about being late for his own funeral came to mind, but she chased it away. No one is ever late for their own funeral. She let her gaze move to the right of her mother's headstone. She read what was written on the large stone.
Richard Edgar Castle 1971- 2016
Katherine Houghton Beckett-Castle 1978 - 2016
Here lie a beloved couple who redefined the word
ALWAYS
Their love transcends mere death and
Their souls shall forever be together
Martha had come up with the dedication on the stone with her father's blessing. A single tear snuck out of her left eye. Once again, as it had often done, her thoughts went back to that horrible day. And as she always did when her thoughts drifted back to that day. She thanked the power that be for allowing her to die along with Rick. She was absolutely certain that she wouldn't have been able to continue on without him. They didn't always act like it when they were alive, but they really were two parts of a single whole.
"Hey, how long have you been here?"
She turned and saw her husband walk up next to where she was standing. "Oh, about as long as it has been since we were supposed to meet."
"Sorry." He bowed his head momentarily silently asking her forgiveness."
"Where were you?"
"I made a detour to make a quick check that mother had actually gotten our subtle hints to throw this party for our family and friends on this day."
Kate shook her head. "I'll admit I was skeptical that this would be a good idea. Having a party on the anniversary of our deaths seems kind of morbid."
"It's not a party. It's a celebration of good friends and family. It's an excuse to gather and reforge those bonds so time and distance can never destroy the love we all had for each other."
Kate gave him a kiss. "Are you sure this isn't also a chance to brag that you actually made it to the penthouse rather than the furnace room?"
"Ha ha. Though I'm pretty certain that my association with you is what allowed me to achieve such a lofty finale."
Kate shoved a weak elbow in Rick's side. "You were one of the top of our class?"
"I had good inspiration." Castle snuck a quick kiss. "Who knew that once you die you have to pass a probationary period of one year to teach you how to be a proper angel?"
Kate grinned. "Yeah, I thought that pretty odd too. But I was used to taking classes to achieve my goals. I'm just really glad that we both passed the requirements."
Castle blew on his nails. "We not only passed, but due to our good deeds in life we were both granted this chance to look in on our friends and family as ghosts and give them the peace of mind that we are in the good place, and still together.
Kate held out her arm to Castle. He put his arm through hers. "Shall we go?"
"Let's do it."
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The loft had stood empty for several months after Rick and Kate's death, but practical Martha came to its rescue. She moved back into the spacious apartment and made several changes, both to expunge the bad memory of the murders and to give it a Martha Rogers feel.
She had the kitchen, where her son and daughter-in-law had been found, completely redone. The floor had been ripped up and replaced. All the appliances, and cupboards had also been replaced. She did very little to the living room. She didn't want to lose all the good memories this place held.
The office was changed only a little. A large picture of her on Broadway hung over the wall safe, and the desk held a different computer and a few extra pictures. Castle's laptop was given to The Writer's Guild as a part of their traveling 20th Century Writers display at various literary conventions. The less said about how Martha personalized the master bedroom the better. Her old bedroom had been turned into another guest room, and Alexis' room was unchanged so it would be there if she ever wanted to use it. Even though she was living with her boyfriend, Max.
Kate and Rick arrived and kept themselves immaterial over in one corner of the living room where they could observe anyone who came through the door. It was still early so no one was here aside from Martha and the caterers.
Kate tugged on Rick's shirt. "Let's go up on the roof until the guests start to arrive."
"Okay."
An instant later they were up on the roof deck. It was late enough that the sky was dark enough to allow the brighter stars to shine through the light pollution from a city that never sleeps.
"I always loved it up here. It was so peaceful to come up and just gaze at all the twinkling lights up in the sky." Kate leaned her head on Rick's shoulder.
"Now we can look down on them from the other side." He chuckled.
She sighed. "Yeah, but it's not the same."
He pushed her hair behind her ear. "I have I told you lately that I love you?"
She turned at looked into the twinkle in his eyes. "It was exactly two hours and thirty seven minutes ago."
"No!" He exclaimed in mock horror. "Can you ever forgive me?"
"Two hours and thirty eight minutes and still counting."
"Katherine Beckett-Castle I love you." He leaned in and plundered her lips."
She had to grab a breath when they disengaged. "Not bad, writer man, you haven't lost the touch."
He waggled his brows. "You just wait until we get back."
She giggled. Kate Beckett actually giggled. "We should get back. I believe people are starting to arrive.
They popped back to their unobtrusive corner and watched as Martha fluttered about as people arrived.
The first to arrive where Alexis and her boyfriend Max. Kate had to smile as Rick gave Max the 'eyes on you' pantomime even though no one could see them. Kate gave Rick a punch in the arm.
"Be nice. I think Max is a pretty great guy. He loves her and treats her right."
Castle frowned. "I know, I've been watching. But he's with my little girl." He whined.
"Just be glad she has someone like that now that you can't be there for her anymore."
They watched Alexis give her grandmother a hug. "Oh, Grams, it's so good to see you. It's been too long since I've been back here on a visit."
Her grandmother gave her a big smile. "It's great to see you to sweetie. I know how hard it is for you to get away now that you are in grad school and working part time to help pay the bills."
Alexis nods her head. "Yeah it's been tough at times but Max and I are doing okay."
Martha puts her hand on her granddaughter's arm. "Honey, you know your father left you plenty of money to finish your education, you don't need to be working too."
"I know that Grams, but Max and I need to do this for ourselves. Dad's money is a great back up, but I want to know that I can succeed without being the daughter of a rich parent."
Castle grinned at Beckett. "Sounds stubborn, like someone I know."
Kate glared at Rick. "I'm sure I have no idea who you're talking about? Where would you even come up with an idea like that?"
He continued to grin. "Because I've known you for six years, been married to you for two more, and went to paradise with you for another year."
Kate raised a brow. "Your point?" He just laughed at her.
Alexis moved through the kitchen and pulled a canapé from a bowl and plopped it in her mouth. Once she'd swallowed it she turned back toward her grams. "So, Grams, what made you think that throwing this party for all Dad, and Kate's friends on the anniversary of their horrible murders."
Martha threw up her hands like a big finish on the stage. "I can't really explain it, but a few weeks ago I had the strangest dream. I don't remember much in the way of visuals, but the message just kept repeating itself until that's all I could remember from the dream."
"What was it?"
"I swear it was your father's voice and all he kept saying was he and Kate would really appreciate it if all their friends and family could get together to celebrate and never forget how much they all mean to each other."
Alexis nodded her head. "Well I can't say that isn't like something that dad would say. He always was about family." She fiddled with her fingers.
"What is it sweetie?"
"Well, this is going to be good for me too. I've been away for most of this past year and it would be good to see the guys, and Lanie again." Martha knew that wasn't all.
"And?"
"And, I admit that I held Kate responsible for dad's death for a long time."
"Oh, honey, no." Martha hugged her granddaughter. "That was always your father's choice."
Alexis nodded. "I know that now. I was just too broken to think straight for quite a while. I never looked into the situation closely. Remember how I started out defending Kate needing some time to 'take care of some personal problem'?" Martha nodded. "Well I supported her at first, but after I'd seen how she was hurting dad, I began to get angry with her."
"We all did honey."
"Yeah, well I finally realized that Kate was chasing something dangerous again and it clicked that she was pushing dad away to keep him safe."
Kate leaned her head against Rick's arm again. Rick combed his hand through her long locks. "She's a smart girl. I didn't realize what you were doing until I forced it out of you with our 'conversation' in your office."
A tear rolled down her cheek. "I still blame myself for getting you killed."
"I was a big boy, I can and did make my own decisions. When it came right down to it. What choice did we have? You were always going to protect me, and I was always going to protect you."
Kate nodded. "Yeah, you were annoying that way." She bit her bottom lip.
Their attention went back to a knock on the door. Max was closest so he opened it for their guests. In walked Jim Beckett.
Kate stiffened next to Castle. He heard her draw in a large breath.
Castle hugged his forever wife. "He looks good."
Kate nodded. "Yeah, he seems to have weathered our deaths fairly well. I'm so glad that we didn't cause him to relapse."
Castle gave her another squeeze. "I think that the loss of your mother has changed his perception of death. He found out, the hard way, that falling apart and hiding in his own pain didn't help in any way. All it did was hurt those people still around who cared about him."
"Yeah, I was so proud of him for not falling back to the bottle. But who does he have now?"
Castle kissed the side of her head. "That's why this gathering is so important. It tells everyone that there are others who still care about them. Jim became a part of the extended Castle clan even before we got married and he still is. Even if we aren't here anymore."
They watch as Martha rushes over to give Jim a hug. Alexis followed.
"I've missed you Grampa Jim, I've just been so busy lately that there hasn't been any time to schedule one of our breakfast update get togethers. I've missed those."
Kate bit her lip to keep from crying. "I love your daughter."
Castle just smiled. "Oh, someone else is here." He had heard the knock on the door.
Max in his accepted duty, quickly opened the door and stepped out of the way as Kevin and Jenny came in to the attention of everyone.
"Oh my lord, she's pregnant again." Kate's mouth dropped open.
Castle chuckled. "I guess the Irish like big families."
Kate shook her head. "I don't know how they do it?"
Martha and Alexis fussed over Jenny. Kevin walked over and talked with Jim. Kate was pleased to see her father giving Kevin some good natured grief.
Martha's voice rose over the general buzz. "Oh my dear, you look wonderful. What number will this one be?"
Jenny looked tired, but happy. "This will be number three." She gives Kevin a hard stare. "And it's going to be the last one…or else." Kevin suddenly got very interested in what Jim Beckett was saying.
Kate was laughing and Rick was grinning as Jenny explained that her mother, who was babysitting tonight, had laid down the law.
Castle found his thoughts imagining a pregnant Beckett. He had been content with only having Alexis, but once he and Kate got together he began to dream about having kids with her. In all modesty, they would have had really cute kids.
The next to arrive was Esposito. He came stag. He was his loud and boisterous shelf. He immediately started giving Kevin heat about Jenny being pregnant again. Kevin shot back with Espo's inability to keep a girlfriend longer than a month.
Kate had a smile on her face as she leaned against Castle while 'her boys' argued just like old times. While watching, they were able to find out what had been happening with her two former partners.
Shortly after Kate was gone, Javier transferred into SWAT. Ryan and stuck it out and passed his Sargent's exam, then as soon as he could he took and passed the Lieutenant's exam.
With Kate gone 1PP had replaced her with a Captain Reynolds. A desk jockey who was just biding his time until he could retire. Ryan had become the Captain's right hand man and was considered a shoe in to take over at the 12th once Reynolds retired.
Karpowski took over a newly formed Special Cases department and Ann Hastings became the second youngest woman to make detective. Kate was happy to hear that all her friends were doing well, but she was also sad that the old gang was beginning to drift apart. She realized that this get together had come at just the right time.
She frowned as she watched their friends mingle.
Castle leaned over and kissed her hair. "Don't worry, she'll be here."
As if that was a signal there was a knock at the door. Max dutifully answered. The couple greeted Max as they came in. They drifted into the kitchen area where everyone else was. Her distinct sass was heard almost immediately when she came upon Ryan and Esposito. She had make it. And she wasn't alone.
Kate was really happy to see best girlfriend but she was a bit surprised to see who followed her in. "Oh my, Castle, look who Lanie came with."
Castle's eyes followed. "Alan?"
Kate laughed. "I knew that Alan was interested in her, and that Lanie had a bit of a crush on him, but I wondered if he'd ever get up the courage to ask her out."
Castle remembered the young man who helped them on a weird case. He'd been literally killed several times and survived! He was a bit of a bumbler, but he was a nice guy."
Kate punched Rick's arm. "I don't believe it!" Kate pointed toward Lanie. "Look at her left hand!"
Castle gave Kate's hand a squeeze. "Looks like a nice piece of bling."
She gave him one of her 'looks'. "That's not just bling, that's a beautiful engagement ring. Who would have thought that a shy, nice guy would be the kind of guy that would interest Lanie?"
Castle shrugged. "Oh I don't know. He has a pulse and apparently enough money…"
Kate punches him again. "Be nice."
The ghostly couple stayed back and watched their friends reconnect and enjoy each other's friendship again. They wanted to give them some time with each other before they scared the crap out of them by revealing themselves.
Rick and Kate gave their friends and family another hour to give them enough time to have caught up with all that had been happening in each of their lives. Once that hour was up, they decided that people had re-established their comfort levels with each other so it was time for the 'big reveal'.
Castle took Kate's hand and led her out into the middle of the living room, where everyone would see them. Castle gave Kate a wink, she nodded back to him. They gave themselves a count of 3. 1, 2, 3!
Castle spoke. "If I could have everyone's attention."
The couple gradually appeared, like an old Polaroid picture that gradually developed in front of you. There were two screams, a couple of glasses were dropped, and Esposito swore under his breath.
"Please don't be alarmed. You are not hallucinating, or dreaming. We are actually here for a short time." Luckily the crowd was now stunned into silence.
Kate took up the narrative. "We want you all to know how happy we are that you all seem healthy and happy. Jenny, congratulations on another addition to your family. And Lanie… oh girl, you're getting married! I would hug you if I could."
Castle took over. "Now, as to why we are here. First off, you'll be pleased to know that Kate and I found ourselves up top."
"We never doubted Kate." Came from the back of the room. It was Esposito.
Castle smirked. "We have just finished our Angle Probation. Yeah, we were surprised to find out you had to go through a probationary period too." There were few weak chuckles,
"Kate and I were given the 'gift' of being able to come down in our ghostly forms and have this brief interaction with all of you. Our family and friends. We wanted all of you to know that we are happy, content, and together."
Kate's ghostly form shook her head which actually caused her long hair to swirl. "Who knew that Castle would be right? There really is such a thing as soulmates and as some of you might have guessed… we are. We will be together forever." Kate had a look of horror on her face. "Oh my, I just realized what I just said… forever with Castle?"
That had the expected response. They all laughed.
"Pay no attention to Kate's snarky comments. Being dead doesn't change who you are." He waved his hand to indicate all the people in the room. "We felt that this gathering would serve to allow us to let you know one last time how much you all have meant to us when we were with you, and we hope you continue to keep that bond throughout your lives and on till you come join us when your time here is over."
Kate smiled. "Yeah dad, mom says not to hurry but she will be waiting patiently till you eventually come back to her."
Martha was the one to ask what everyone wanted to know. "Will either or both of you come visit us again?"
Kate shook her head. "No, I'm afraid we won't be able to materialize, even in this misty form, again. This was a onetime 'gift' granted to Rick and me."
"But!" Rick grabbed their attention. "Now that I have a handle on these ghostly forms, and with Halloween coming up soon. I plan to haunt the heck out of all of you so be prepared for Castle Halloween pranks. It will be epic."
Kate grabbed his arm. "Sorry, I'll do my best to curb his Halloween enthusiasm."
Castle smirked to the crowd. "Or I'll persuade her to join in my prankster ways. After all, I have all of eternity to convince her."
Kate shook her head. "Not going to happen, Babe."
Castle gave her a big smile and then winked at the crowd. "I'm thrilled that we were able to see you all, together like this, one more time. And I'm happy that you now all know that Kate and I are happy and content that we have forever together and take solace in the fact that eventually you'll be joining us upstairs. It's really a pretty nice place."
As the angelic ghosts slowly faded. They looked out at the guests that were in Rick's former home. Several had a few tears, but all were smiling.
FIN
AN: First off, I will say that I am not promoting any particular theology or spiritual doctrines. I believe that religion is a personal choice. I just needed a heaven for the sake of the story. Also, I know that character death warnings are generally posted to allow a reader to opt out if they don't want to deal with that in a story. I figured that by leading with Castle and Kate not surviving Caleb Brown's attack would suffice. I hoped that the positive attitude of this story would balance the knowledge of our favorite couple's death.
All readers are appreciated, review if you wish.