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

Chapter 16

Previously

"Hello Richard, I'm glad you called, I have so much to say, yo*"

"Mother if you want an opportunity to present your side of the story, be at the loft tomorrow at 10:00 AM, Sober and on time"

"Richard, I taught you better ma*"

"Just tell me are you going to be there or not?"

Martha became more contrite "I'll be there, and all I ask is that you hear the entire story, not just the pieces you've managed to put together."

"See you at Ten tomorrow Mother, Good Bye"

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

Castle's Loft

Next Day 10:00 AM

Rick and Kate had discussed potential scenarios of Martha's visit from the best case to the absolute worst, and Rick had formed some of his Action Plans so he would be as prepared for his Mother's visit as possible. Promptly at 10:00 AM the buzzer for the door rang, Rick answered to find Martha, and a strange man standing next to her.

"Good Morning Richard, may we come in, I don't want to have a discussion the hallway."

Rick nodded, but his scowl told Martha he was not happy she had brought along this guest to a family meeting. As they entered the loft, Kate appeared next to Rick, sharing his concerned look on her face as well.

"Martha, please come in, and bring your guest to the bar area, Coffee and bagels are ready if you care for some refreshments" Kate stated in a very cautious tone.

"Thank You Katherine, let me introduce Hunter Jackson, also known as Jackson Hunt, and a host of other aliases. I know you are aware of what that name means Richard, I apologize for not clearing it with you before I brought him, BUT he has much more of the facts that I'm sure you are looking for."

"Good Morning Kate, Good Morning Richard, I hope my presence here won't present too much of a distraction, and I can answer some of you questions if not all." Jackson replied.

Rick looked at the older Gentleman, and replied, "You should have checked with me before you brought anyone, especially him." Rick spit out

"Now Son, Please don*"

"I'm not your Fucking Son, Don't ever call me that again, do you understand?" Rick turned and had approached the greying man, who stood firm.

"Very well, My apologies Richard, I understand you hate me, and you have that right."

"What the hell do you understand about my life, my feelings, my wants and desires, I don't have any clue of who you are or what you are, but just because you spent a night with the woman who birthed me doesn't give you an open check to interfere with my life.

This may be crude, but my life could have began with my Mother using a bottle of wine, a cheap turkey baster and some Sperm Donor, in fact that's all I considered you to be until I found my Mother lying to me for years. All I asked for is answers WHY, as for all your other Bull Shit, go sell it somewhere else. I never asked to meet or see you so if you think this is going to be some fancy family reunion, think again." Rick spoke in very even and authoritative tones, this side of him had never been displayed to Kate before.

Martha had been silent, and the comment about just a Sperm Donor had certainly hit it's mark with her, Rick was right, and now she had to explain to him why things went the way they did.

Rick glared at Martha, "You asked for an opportunity to tell your side of the story, this is it, but don't lie to me, and don't spare the facts, you see I have more information than you both know. One lie, just one and I want you out of my house, out of my life, and you'll never see us again, so think VERY careful before you begin you explanation, Mother, is that clear?"

Martha took a deep breath, and replied, "It's crystal clear, and I understand"

"I don't want your understanding, you have 30 minutes to tell me your side of the story, so don't dawdle, your time starts now" as Rick slammed his hand down on the table.

"Richard when I was 23 years old, I was playing piano at the Bremen Lounge, and trying to land parts during the day going on auditions for plays. One night Jackson was in the audience for the first show, and afterwards he came up to me to ask me out, I refused, and thought that would be the end of things. At the end of the final show he once again knocked on my dressing room door, this time with flowers, a bottle of wine, and a smile that I couldn't refuse. Our night started in my dressing room and moved to his apartment where I spent the night, the one I have spoke so lovingly about for years.

I awoke the next morning to a note, that he had to leave, he was sorry, and to put the key in the planter outside the door. Long story shot 9 months 2 weeks later you arrived, and I had not heard another word from Jackson so the story I told you was the truth, well at least until you were 11, and suddenly I get a visitor from my past.

He had proof that he had been watching over us from a far away place, and that it was his sworn oath to keep details of his life secret from everyone, even his family. I wanted to tell you the truth then, but it would have meant blowing your fath, I mean Jackson's cover story of why he was back in the states, putting lives at risk.

We saw each other only a few times, and he did provide some financial support, not much, but some and the times we were almost being evicted and the rent was suddenly paid, well it was Jackson who did that. Please remember he could not tell anyone he had a child in the USA, it would have put you and I both in danger,"

"This is all very touching, and would make a great Lifetime Movie, but frankly, what I want to know is WHY the HELL did you keep the fact that I had a daughter from me, I don't really give a damn about this piece of shit for a Sperm Donor, but WHO gave either of you the right to withhold that information from me?" Rick spouted, as Kate sat quietly next to him holding his hand, and gently rubbing his back as he went off on Margaret and Jackson.

Martha looked at Jackson, and started to speak before he interrupted her,

"If you want someone to hate for withholding that information from you, then hate me, you Mother wanted to tell you, BUT was afraid of you hating her for withholding my identity from you for so long."

"I'm sorry Mr. Jackson, Martha, I've heard some bullshit stories in my time, but this has got to be one of the most obvious Swiss Cheese stories I've ever heard, there are more holes than cheese. Why did you come to know about June Allison Mack, Why was she even on your radar, Why were you still shadowing Rick, when you failed to provide support, claiming no one in the States could know you had son.

Martha WHY 5 years ago did you not come clean with your ADULT son, telling him what you could and maintaining the secrecy of Mr. Jackson, and whatever the hell he did or still does. He wasn't a child anymore, you knew he searched for Allison, the name she gave him, for over a year, yet when his daughter is found, and verified through records from a branch of the US Government, YOU MARTHA, YOU sat on the news.

Jackson had never been a father to him, I wouldn't expect his to understand what this did to YOUR son, but you Martha, I'm sorry there is too much bull in this soup for me to swallow." Kate is angry, Martha has never seen her this way before, and Jackson is uncertain what is going on.

Rick looked over at Kate, smiled when she looked like she was worried she had overstepped her bounds, then kissed her gently whispering "Thanks Babe, I love you."

"You have exactly thirty seconds to start answering the questions Kate asked, and for you Mother, I told you one lie and this is over, you got one reprieve, start talking and this time No more lies or you can get the Hell out my house and my life, forever, Understood?"

Martha knew her son, and he was serious, he was close to sending her away forever if she didn't start the story again, with the truth.

"OK Richard, Jackson we tried it your way, I told you it wouldn't work, so what we say here can never leave this house"

"Oh, please Mother, not another of your scenes from Madam President again I hope?" Richard was getting angrier by the minute.

"Richard, please just listen and keep the information we share in this room, that's all I ask. When I am done, if you choose not to believe me, I will leave, you, Alexis, and Katherine to have a happy life. Now may I proceed?"

"Just know, I am serious when I tell you, your lies have destroyed our relationship, and now it would be so much easier for me to tell you to leave with the Sperm Donor and never return. The ONLY reason I haven't yet, is your Granddaughter, but please be assured, you will be gone with the first lie, if that is understood, please proceed, eh, Mother you, not the stranger you brought with you."

"Let's backup to when you were 11, Jackson did contact me, and I was actually paid to provide information on certain Hollywood types suspected of promoting ideas not conducive with our Government. For this activity, I was paid quite well, but I could never disclose where the money came from. I provided Intel on several A Listers, for the next six years, then you left for College on a scholarship.

"I couldn't tell you then because of my clearance, need to know and the intel I had provided would certainly cause a lot of enemies if they ever discovered where it came from. Jackson was my handler, among other things, and yes I did you a great disservice by keeping the fact that your father was alive, knew about you, and could not come home like many soldiers but knowing you, it would have led to you researching till you either blew his cover, or discovered the entire truth.

While you were at Fresno, Jackson discovered a possible leak or snitch in our system, the target we were investigating was Sterling K Maxwell II, for potential drug smuggling within his shipments of coffee from Columbia. He loved to dabble in the arts and thought of himself as some sort of producer, so I was tabbed to get close to him, and provide any intel I could. I never met or spoke to his daughter, know to you as Allison, but Jackson did when she toured the Columbian fields the year previously.

She was on a watch list, which is why he knew she delivered a daughter, and he also knew who the father was. He arranged to meet in Washington DC, about 5 years ago, once he was transferred back to the US, and it was I who declined to tell you, not Jackson but me. If I told you of her, your daughter, you would ask questions as to how I knew, which I wasn't prepared to own the lie about your Father.

Hate me if you wish Richard, but I made a decision that I thought would allow you to find happiness, you had already moved on from that college fling, and I didn't see any need to bring up sore wounds. Not every decision a parent makes is as black and white as you like to make them to be, you should know that now being a parent yourself."

Rick is sitting in silence, but Kate knows he is boiling inside, about to erupt and she is trying to get him calmed down. He turned, looked into her eyes, and said with tears pooled in his deep blue orbits, "Promise me, no matter how hard we ALWAYS tell our kids the truth, lies like this can destroy so much good, and right now I am numb. The woman I knew as my mother is a stranger to me, the human who provided the input to create me is at best a liar, and God only knows what else."

"Babe, I promise you, we will tell our kids the truth. I support whatever you need to do now, and I know our girls will also, they love you and know you are loving, kind and fair."

Rick rises quietly and walks to the front door, without another word he motions for Martha and Jackson to exit.

"Thanks for coming, I have a lot of thinking to do, and Don't call me, Alexis, or Kate, until you and I have spoken, I will call you, DO NOT CALL ME,

Goodbye Mother, "