Change of Heart

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my SEQUEL to AU version to a different outcome from the RISE episode in Canon COURSE CORRECTION and UNEXPECTED DETOUR, you will need to read those first to understand this work. This picks up exactly where we left off, no time jumps longer than a few months.

I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only

A/N Before I hear from all of the career Military folks, IT's AU, GO WITH IT. I'm sure there are issues in military protocol I missed, but I invoke literary licensee to get my plot points across. Now I'm sure as soon as someone reads this, they will take it upon themselves to tell me all about how it should be done, SAVE your time, any comments of that type will be deleted.

Chapter 2

Previously

Kate sought out Alexis, who was staying and making the rounds,

"Alexis, I think it's sweet you're staying but Baby, get your man and get out of here, go somewhere and make memories, just be careful and text or call if you need anything,"

Alexis wrapped her in a hug, "Thanks Kate, I'm running out of time, and I well I'm outa here" as she grabbed Shane and headed for the door.

Gina walked over, "Thanks Kate, it's going to be nice being co-Moms to our wonderful daughter" and hugged her,

Kate just smiled through her tears, a Mom, soon to be a wife, and her Mom now resting in peace, it couldn't get better than this. Finally, the Universe was smiling on the Castle household.

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Castle's Loft

Thursday, December 31st

4:30 PM

Rick and Kate decided to forego the formal New Years Eve party being thrown by Black Pawn, truth be told, they had other ideas of how to ring in a new year. Mandy and Gary wanted a quiet night as well, it wasn't lost that Shane had just received orders for where his next deployment was. Mandy being a military wife, along with Gary feared the worst, and both silently prayed they were wrong.

Shane to his credit, after all he was a Marine, played his cards close to the vest trying not to disclose anything but his love for Alexis. Rick picked up on little things the way he looked at Alexis, the way he cherished the little things, it didn't take a mind reader to know that his deployment would not be where Alexis, Mandy and the family had prayed for, he was probably breaking the news to his Little Girl now, in private, which was the right thing to do.

Alexis had excused themselves for a few minutes while they stepped out for a burger and Shake, Remy's was only open till 6:00 PM tonight, and Shane wanted a burger, or so he said. They were debating about attending one of two parties, or just ringing in the New Year in private.

"So, Rick, how have you celebrated the last few New Year's Eves, at the Black Pawn parties?" Mandy asked innocently, trying to avoid the ever-growing elephant in the room.

"No, I really didn't stick around the last three years or so, I mean Gina arranging Dates, and all of the fake press, it got people upset at me and I didn't even know it" Kate turns a crimson red.

"I made trips to Vegas, Mother and Alexis had their parties, and I didn't want to be reminded I was alone. I went to the Cosmopolitan and in the high rollers sections, there are no clocks." He said sadly.

Kate had her head low, almost ready to cry,

"I'm so sorry Babe, I really am, I was a fool in so many ways" as she reached and took his hand,

"Hey enough, we're not re-living the past, it's the future that we're focusing on. Mandy, you know your son better than anyone, but I think he received bad news yesterday. Call it intuition, or writers creepy staring, but I think he's taking Alexis someplace where he can tell her first. I hope I'm wrong, God I do, but what are we going to do if it's foreign soil." Rick asked concerned as any father.

"I should have known you as well as Gary would pick up on it, and I agree, I think he got his orders yesterday, and from his actions it's Iraq, Iran, or that theater." Mandy said tears in her voice

"I told Mandy yesterday, be prepared, he's headed for Stan, or Afghanistan if I were a betting man, his MOS, plus recent movements in DC make it almost a no brainier. The rotation out of that area is already two months late, so I would expect something sooner than later.

The only thing we can do is support our kids, whatever they want to do, I mean in my opinion and I'm only a Step Dad to be" Gary said, worry in his voice.

Mandy couldn't hold her tears any longer and Kate was by her side comforting her in a flash.

"Hey Mandy, come on, we don't know for sure yet, hang on to that, even if it does come, he's strong, and his love for you, for Alexis and all of us will bring him home." She hugged her and let her cry.

Remy's Shake Shop

4:00 PM Thursday December 31st

Alexis and Shane weren't the only ones who were tired of the traditional holiday foods and craving a burger, fries, and shake. They got the last booth, before the line started behind them, and as they sat down Alexis looked up into his eyes and said,

"Now are you going to tell me the bad news Shane, I love you, and I promise you no matter where you're at I will be there if I can, if I can't I'll be right here waiting for you" as her tears pooled in her eyes.

He looked shocked, then said "I should have known, you own my heart and soul there's no way I can hide anything from you. Baby I did get my orders yesterday, and, well, they're not what I requested or what we expected." As his voice broke,

"How bad Shane, …...Sweetheart, how bad is it?" Alexis found her voice,

"Well, I report to Camp Lejeune on January 12th, 6 weeks advanced training, then to Camp Pendleton for 4 weeks for special forces and other training, home for 5 days, then, well we got deployed to Afghanistan for 14 months" Shane got out before his voice cracked again as he watched the tears fall freely from his fiancé

"Shane' that's more than the rest of your enlistment, can they do that I mean you volunteered for 4 years, they can't just extend you can they Hun?" Alexis eyes were pleading for any answer but the one he had to give.

"Yes, they can, and routinely do, since I already refused the re-enlistment bonus, they know I am leaving so they can hold me with my clearance and MOS for up to a year, I've never heard of them going that long but they can.

I started with the TAPS program, or The Transition Assistance Program, so they knew there was no way I was reupping for another tour. Gary knows all about this, so I'm going to talk to him, but let's think positive."

"OK. I want to get married before you go overseas. Tonight, if possible" Alexis said, looking deep into his eyes,

"Alexis, what about school, what about, I mean if something did happen I me*"

"I would be your wife and able to find out what the hell is going on, Shane, just a fiancé won't mean jack dealing with them, and even if the worse case scenario did happen, I would rather have had you for the short time I did, than just plan for something that never happened." Now her tears are really flowing, Shane motioned for the waitress, two to go boxes and they were back outside walking back to the loft. Alexis had he arm around him, and he returned the love, her head tucked on his shoulder trying her best not to cry.

She had managed to get most of her emotions under control by the time they reached the loft, still walking with arms wrapped around each other, lost to the world. As soon as the Loft door opened, they heard Mandy,

"Oh my God, No, not again, tell me Shane it's not true, Please Son, please" She wailed, nothing like any of the others had ever seen.

Shane still holding on to Alexis made his way to his Mom and pulled her up with one arm into a big hug. No words were needed as Shane nodded yes to Gary, who lost all color in his face.

The three stood clinging to each other for over five minutes, Mandy finally regaining he composure, with Gary holding on to her tight, Kate, Mandy and Alexis all crying.

"I wanted to wait till tomorrow, I didn't want to spoil anyone's holiday" Shane said with a cracked voice,

"How soon Son? What are your orders" Gary asked?

"Lejeune Dec 12 6 weeks, Pendleton 4 weeks, 5 days R&R then Afghanistan." Shane repeated his orders almost on auto pilot, knowing what the last word was doing not only to his Mom but Alexis as well.

"How long in the theater? 6 months or 12?" Gary asked

"14 months, you and I both know it will go longer, most likely 18-20 months" Shane replied

"That pushes your EOS date doesn't it Son?" Gary asked forgetting the civilians didn't know that EOS was End of Service,

"Yes Sir, 4 – 6 months, I already enrolled in the TAPS program, so I knew we wouldn't get the State side assignment," Shane said with tears forming in his eyes, he blinked them back, Marines don't cry.

"I want to get married before he leaves, and please no one try to tell me how stupid it is. Look I'm not a kid, I know he's not going over there to teach swimming to the locals, and he's in a hell of a lot more danger than I would ever pray, BUT I want to be his wife, for however long we have." Alexis rushed out between tears

Rick was the first to speak, "Baby, whatever you want, Gary, can you help getting the permissions from his CO? I can have Bob Weldon call the senator if needed but I think they will go along once they know the name behind the girl."

"Where do you want to have it Alexis and when Sweetie, do you want me to call Gina and ask her to come over" Kate asked

"Thanks Kate, maybe you, Mandy and Gina and I can discuss what we can reasonably get done in the next week. He's not going back without me; I will be with him till the very minute they pry my arms from around his neck" Alexis said, completely distraught but with the same stubbornness that she had shown as a little girl.

Kate knew it would happen, just not when, finally when Shane stepped out of the room to retrieve his orders, Alexis fell into Rick's arms. "Daddy, what am I going to do, I just found him, it's not fair, it's just not fair, why my fiancé" as Rick calmed her with her tears flowing freely against his shirt, he whispered in her ear, she tried to giggle, but it was smothered by her sobbing. Rick slowly and gently led her to his office and gently closed the door. This was one of those times Gina had warned her, she needed her Daddy, no one else in the world would do.

Kate slipped into a guest room and called Gina and was shocked with the response she received,

"Hey Kate, everything OK with Rick and Lexi, please tell me it's OK, what's going on?" She rushed out, a far departure from the smooth debonair Gina Cowell publisher, this was Gina the Mom scared for her kid.

"It's OK so far Gina, Shane got his orders, he's being sent to Afghanistan, and Lexi wants, well is insisting she marries him before he ships out, I understand but I'm scared."

"Oh God Kate, just when things were going so right, what the hell are we going to do?" Gina cried

"Well she wants you Mandy and I to help her with her dress and arrangements, Rick is calling in a favor if needed from a senator to get permission for Shane, he's accepted that this is what she wants, no needs to be with him till he ships out. Can you come over, I know you have the party tonight, so when can you make it?" Kate asked

"The hell with the party, someone else can babysit those idiots, I'll be over in 45 minutes, would that be OK?" She asked

"You know it would be Gina, you may want to bring your sleep clothes I have a feeling none of us are going to bed anytime soon tonight, not because we're celebrating." Kate whispered

"Good idea Kate, let me make some calls, I'll be there soon as I can, …and Kate, Thanks for thinking of me, and our girl. I know Alexis is too upset now to think of it, so thank you, see you shortly.