AN: Thank you, as always, for the reviews. I know I'm going to disappoint some, but the next chapter is the last. BUT I do have another fic in the works (well actually two).

CH16

They had left for the Hamptons after work on Friday. Traffic was a bit brutal, but they got there safely. She had exited the car and to say that all of this was a bit overwhelming was an understatement. Times like this reminded her that she and Castle lived in two different worlds. He'd call it fate that they met and even though she still didn't believe in fate, the more time she spent with him the more she was starting to.

"Kate, you okay?"

She realized that she hadn't followed him and that he was already by the front door with their bags. She gave him a soft smile and a nod before heading inside with him. He gave her the grand tour and they ended up outside. He noticed that she was still a little distant. He went over to her and took her hand in his. He gently squeezed her hand.

"What's on your mind?"

"It's…spectacular, Castle."

"And that's a problem?"

"No, it's just…I can't help but think of how many other girls have gotten this tour."

"Ah, right. Well, I can't deny that I've brought other women up here." He squeezed her hand once more before he smiled. "But none of them were you."

She returned his smile and walked with him to where he was heading previously, to the pool. She let him sit down in one of the lounge chairs. "I'll be right back. I brought something I want to show you." His eyes light up. "Not like that…well, not right now anyway." She kissed him quickly before heading back inside and grabbing the box out of her bag. She headed outside with the photo box and sat down next to him. "I wanted to share this with you. Open it."

She had never shown, well maybe besides Will, pictures of her mother. He had never seen these though. These were some of her cherished memories and this was a big step for her. She could see by the look on his face that this was not what he was expecting and he was taken back. As he picked up the photos, she spoke. "I know we came here to relax, but I wanted to share this with you. I haven't touched this box in a long time, and I figured the next time I opened it up I would share it with you. After seeing Bracken the other day, I went home and found it."

He was speechless, for once. He knew this was a big step for her, to share a part of her life with him and let him in. He was glad (well more than glad) that she trusted him enough to let him in. He looked at the photos and came across a few of Kate and her mother at an ice rink. "You were adorable. Did your mother take these?"

She nodded. "Yeah, about three weeks before she died."

"Aww, I don't get to see you in action."

"Trust me, Castle, it was not pretty."

"Oh, now I have to see it." He was going to say more when he was puzzled. "Hm."

"What?"

"Did you ever realize that there were 24 exposures on this film, but only 20 pictures?"

She leaned over his shoulder more, to see what he was seeing. "Rick, that's the alley my mother was murdered in." Sadly, she knew why they were there. "It had to deal with the case she was working on, the one that got her killed. Ryan, Espositio, and I went through archives and found out that the murder that took place there involved the same detective that was in charge of my mother's case. He was killed in front of me."

She had brought Lanie with her, to meet Raglan at the diner. He said no cops, but she needed someone there that she trusted and that she could lean on if the information he told her was too much for her.

"I said no cops."

"She's not a cop. She's someone I trust. Tell me what I don't know about my mom's murder."

"I'm sorry, Kate."

"I still don't know if that was the day I was on his hit list or not. I know Bracken meant to kill Raglan, but I have a feeling if Lanie and I didn't duck for cover, he would have killed me too."

He moved the box to the side and brought her down to him. "You survived." He took her hand in his and placed it on the center of her chest, letting them both feel the beating of her heart and reminding them that she was alive.

"He never got the chance to tell me what he knew about Bracken. And it took me a bit to accept that even if he was able to, I wouldn't have been able to do anything with it since they would have had him killed as soon as he stepped out of that diner."

He wrapped his arms around her tighter. "We'll find a way to get justice for your mother."

She gave him a soft smile, knowing that they would too, before picking up the box again to share the good memories she had with her mother. They looked at the photos and Kate shared a few stories, depending on the photo. She watched as he looked at the pictures, trying to take in all the details.

"Beckett, were these elephants the ones you keep at your desk yours or your mom's?"

"My moms. She used to keep them in the family room, since they were a family of elephants, but then she moved them onto her desk."

"Why didn't you have them in the bakery with you?"

"I didn't want them to either get stolen if I put them on display or broken. At least at my desk, they're somewhat safer than on a countertop."

"Well, detective, that theory of yours would not hold up if one of my fantasies comes true."

She gave him a look. "Castle, we're not having sex on my desk."

He stood up and tugged on her hand. "Then I guess we have to settle for mine."