Faded Memory

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of what could have happened following Rick's discussion with Alexis about the night he danced, fell in love, and lost contact with a girl in college, sometimes memories come back at the worse time. COMPLETELY AU except for the conversation that prompted this and use of some characters names. THIS IS A CASKETT ENDING, EVENTUALLY

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

A/N Been exchanging ideas with a reader who thought Rick was a little hard on Martha, I explained and reiterate, now, he has not yelled, he has not cursed, but to find out she knew his Father, his identity and had spent time with him caused him to be so ill he lost his lunch. Setting an example for his new daughter, I still maintain, Rick behaved civil and did let her know that he was upset but did not turn into a raving lunatic going off on his Mother, so I appreciate the comments but STILL contend you are FAR too early into the story to make that judgment fairly. Consider he has just had his world turned upside down because the Mother of his child lied to her for almost twenty years, there's a lot of hurt and a huge parallel in the story. Just My Opinion, yours may vary,

Chapter 14

When they entered the Loft, Kate place her keys on the ring, and noticed a note laying on the bar, it was from Martha, she folded it in half and quickly handed it to Rick to read,

"Richard,

I know you probably think all sorts of things about me now, and in many ways you would be right. I only ask for an opportunity to explain my side of the story, when you are ready,

Until then, l''ll be at Chet's, I do love you Richard, that never changed,

Mother

*******************************************************************************/

Castle's Loft

Later that Night

Kate held Rick till he fell asleep, then slipped out of bed to let him rest, she had never seen him so tired before. She knew how hard it was on him to question his mother, it had been just the two of them his entire life and he adored Martha. She crossed the line when she lied to him about his father, that was black and white for Rick, he put her in the same category as June Allison Maxwell who had stolen almost twenty years of time from his first daughter's life, all because of a lie.

Kate grabbed two coffee's, two waters, and some aspirins, knowing full well that he would awake with an awful headache, she saw the three fingers turn into nine when he thought she wasn't looking but she wasn't about to say a word, not when he had been through so much. Just as she walked back into the Bedroom, she saw him reaching for her,

"I'm right here Rick, just out of bed Babe, but I'm here. I got you a coffee, and some aspirins, I know you are going to need them after that gulp of that expensive Single Malt you drink."

"Thanks Kate, and thanks for not trying to stop me from taking that drink, I mean I just can't understand what Mother was thinking when she repeatedly told the lie that changed my life."

"Well Babe, the only one who can answer that is she, I understand you're upset, hell I'm pissed at her too, she hurt my husband to be, but we have to allow her to at least tell her side of the story when you're ready."

"I know, but every time I see her, I no longer see the Martha Rogers who put on Christmas plays for us in our small apartment the years we were so broke no presents were bought, or the flamboyant actress who owns the stage when she performs. All I see now is a lie, a disgusting lie that tells me she didn't want my Father to be part of my life, and he certainly didn't bust any sweat trying to be here for me."

"Rick, listen to me sweetie, I'm not defending her or your father, I just don't want my husband to be to become so consumed with this that it destroys all the sweet and goodness he has deep inside.

Allison asked me to talk to you, to please don't let this change her Dad, because she just found him, and she loved him just the way he is.

She's so worried Babe that she caused this, and I know you don't want her to feel guilty, but she's your daughter. Just like you she takes on the weight of the world, which should make you proud, it sure as hell does me."

"Well, to be honest I was so Angry with Mother, well perhaps Hurt is a better word, that I wanted to lash out at her, to hurt her like all the times I had been hurt, but I saw Allison crying and she's just a kid.

She only found out through a death and searching through her Mom's final effects. If she could be that forgiving what example would I set to her, to Alexis and even to you if I stormed out at Mother, not the one I would want or one you could forget."

"Rick, I understand, so does Allison and even Alexis said "Well Grams really stepped in it this time to have Dad so upset, he just sent her home, no words no fight, just sent her away.

He's only done that one other time that I can remember, when I was little and he walked in and saw her slap me. I don't think he talked to her for months "

Rick smiled sadly, "Pumpkin remembered that, she was only 4 years old when that happened, and it was close to a year before I spoke to Mother, over three years before I allowed her to be with her alone again.

Mother had a boyfriend who had just hurt her again, and when Alexis pitched a fit, she lost her patience, it wasn't a hard slap, but I saw enough to know that she didn't deserve it."

"Well, we understand why you are upset, but please don't let it change you from that sweet man I fell in love with, that Allison just met, and that Alexis thinks can solve any problem, you're more than her hero, you're her Super Hero."

"Thanks Kate, I do love you more than I'll ever be able to show, please know that, you're my whole world now and I can't tell you how much it means to have you by my side, especially after these recent events."

"Speaking of that, did you look at the files before you gave them to Paula and me?"

Rick looks sheepish, "That's OK, I understand, but I want to do this together, I think it's important Rick that you are aware of every detail, every thought process, and then perhaps Martha's explanation will make sense, and again Babe, not judging or agreeing. I love you and I will fight till the death with anyone that tries to hurt you or my girls."

The mention of her girls brought a smile to his lips, as he looked at her, so beautiful without even trying.

"What?" she asked as he continued to stare.

"I love the words, My Girls, and I love how you have become my partner, my life but most of all I love how you protect me and all of us. Oh, and one more thing,"

"What", she asked

"How the hell can you look so beautiful any time of the day, not complaining, just so happy you're my Beauty." As Kate begins to blush, as Rick pulls her into him for a cuddle, cuddle turns to necking, necking leads to,

Well Kate raised up, locked the door and returned with a glass of ice, needless to say Rick had something to occupy his mind for a long time.

Castle's Loft

Next Morning

7:30 AM

Kate thought that the previous day, plus all of the energy they exerted last evening, God he could kiss, would be enough to keep Rick in bed till at least 9:00 AM, but when she awoke at 7:00 AM he was already up and gone. She showered before venturing out to the breakfast area, where she could overhear Alexis talking. She slipped to the office door and found Alexis on her phone and Rick busy behind the griddle making breakfast for his little girl, something he loved to do.

She slipped behind him, wrapping her arms around him, and grabbing a kiss as he turned his head towards her.

"Allison says Good Morning Kate, and you look nice, in those slacks." Alexis relayed,

"Well Good Morning Allison and thank you Sweetie, I know we have the family call tomorrow, but I'm glad you two are sticking close together."

"Yeah, she wanted to make sure that we were all OK, heck of a day yesterday" Alexis whispered with her hand over the speaker.

"Sounds Good Big Sis, Talk to you tomorrow morning, and we'll have the family video call later in the day," bye for now.

"That was nice you girls getting together on a call, I guess you both hit it off huh?" Rick mused as he plated the last of the pancakes.

"Duhh, she's my Sister, of course we hit it off. She was worried about you Dad, and still feeling bad that Grams and you had the falling out. She explained a little, not everything just that Grams knew more than she let on and she had lied to you.

She said she knew how you felt, when she first opened her mothers information and saw your name, pictures and the complete workup, she said she lost everything on her stomach as well, to think someone who loves you would lie to you about that."

"Yeah Pumpkin, it was a shock, but Kate and I are going to review the information about the man who fathered me, and then, in time your Grams and I will talk. I'm not angry Baby, I'm so hurt that she deceived me so long knowing the fights I had in school, the hard times I had adjusting, and all the things I missed out on because he wasn't around.

I don't want this to impact your relationship with your Grams one bit, she loves you, even as crazy as some ways that she shows it, and I don't want it to be All of Us against her, this is between Grams and I, Understand?"

"Understood Dad. I thought I would try to get a jump on Allison's Birthday next Friday, it's only 8 days away, and I want it to be special for her. I'm trying to find out her taste in music, where she shops, you know girl stuff, but it will give us an idea of what we can get her for her present."

"Excellent Idea Alexis, see if you can find out her sizes as well, who knows maybe you and I will need to go shopping to pick her up an outfit or something" Kate smiled,

"That'd be fantastic Kate, well I gotta run to school, be home later", as she makes it a point to kiss both her Dad's cheek then Kate's, "I love you both, see ya later"

Rick looked at Kate who was still a little shocked, "Well that was certainly different, guess you need to double up on your Wicked Step Mother pills, seems she likes you" Rick smiles as he sets another cup of coffee just the way Kate loved it in front of her along with a small pancake, few strips of bacon and one egg. "Now please eat while it's warm we have work to do today." As he made his way to the office, after grabbing a few kisses,

Fifteen minutes later he is deep in thought as he has the file opened, and his large screen has what looks like a computerized Murder Board used at the precinct. Rick had the timeline all mapped out from the first day at college, till the first contact with Paula, and finally the meeting. Pictures of Allison, her mother found from internet, and copies of the photos of Martha meeting with a gentleman, resembling Rick, same build but graying at the temples.

Rick had made it a point NOT to refer to the man as his father or dad, but rather by birth parent, was identified as Hunter Jackson, age 69, occupation, all information was redacted.

As Rick scanned the reports from the FBI, apparently someone owed Allison's Grandpa a favor, and had ran a background check on not only Hunter, but Martha, and Rick as well. It was apparent by the information that had been redacted Jackson was definitely CIA and not Domestic USA Operations.

"Babe, you may want to look at this, before I go any further" Kate said with fear in her eyes and heartbreak in her voice.

"What's the matter Kate, did you find something terrible?"

"Rick, please look at this, I'm closing the file till we figure out next steps."

Rick made a hasty trip around his desk to review what Kate had found, as he read tears pooled in his eyes, and a quiet anger was seething within.

"Son of a Bitch, this is far worse than I ever imagined them capable of, "as he slammed the file shut Kate pulled him into her for a hug, knowing the shit just hit the fan.