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 PLEASE note Martha was NOT a Spy, but a Paid Confidential Informant, under the guidance of Hunter Jackson, and any revelation to Rick would have forced her to be forthcoming about not only his father, but also his daughter, and the woman he tracked for a year during college.
Chapter 17
Previously
"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.
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Castle's Loft
2:00 PM Same Day
Rick had recorded the conversations from the meeting with Martha, and the man who fathered him, Hunter Jackson, AKA Jackson Hunt. The fact that his mother knew all these years, and was able to lie to him, still was a very bitter pill to swallow.
"Rick, do you think Martha was completely honest, or is there some details that are still bothering you?"
"I think she was as truthful as she knew, the Hunt or Jackson Asshole, knows a lot more than he is saying, but it's enough for now, for me. At least I have finality of what happened in college, and truthfully, I'm almost sad I discovered who fathered me, it was easier with the image I had created in my head."
"I'm sorry Rick, I truly am, what are you going to do now, I mean about Martha?"
"I have some ideas, but I wanted to talk to first, then bring Alexis and Allison into the discussion after we are in agreement."
"Babe are you sure, I mean it's always been just you, Martha, and Alexis, I mean how are they going to take having me or even Allison included in the conversations."
"I'm sure, I should have done it the day she violated our privacy by opening my office door, then the bedroom doors, no man should have to install a lock to keep his Mother out of his business. This has been coming a long time, and well it's time to do it."
"I know that was embarrassing, and she really didn't show any remorse at all, so I understand, I love her, I really do, but whatever you decide I'll support you."
Rick opened his laptop up and connected via Bluetooth to his theater system and shared his notes with Kate. The first thing she noticed, was he had categorized the issues as CURRENT, and TO BE. It covered everything starting with her residence:
Current, Loft To Be, Destination of your choice, Max Purchase price $8 Million, Must be completed within 45 Days
Monthly Stipend, Current $50K To Be, $40 K monthly, all expenses exceeding $4000 must be approved by Jerry Barnette Business Manager
All Access to Loft has been suspended, you are now a guest, your FOB has been disabled, you must be announced before coming to the Loft Door,
All Credit Cards are now limited to maximum of $15,000 purchases, monthly max $60,000 Again, all expenses exceeding $4000 must be PRE- approved by Jerry Barnette Business Manager
No Further Loans will be guaranteed by my assets, if you need a Co-signer, you will need to approach Chet or Jackson.
I'm sorry that it has come to this Mother, but a continued disregard for not only my privacy, but also of other family members makes this action long past due. I did not consider any funds you may have hidden in private bank accounts, nor do I want to know, BUT these are your limits, subject to change if you abuse or attempt to force your way back into my life.
I love you, I truly do, but at this moment I don't like you, nor can I understand how you could ever treat your child the way I was treated. You saw the hurt, you felt my pain and you continued to carry out your charade.
Even more unforgiveable, you were a coward, allowing my daughter, a daughter I never knew I had to inform me of secrets you kept with some mystery man who showed up at a Family Meeting. You justified your actions by saying you decided to allow me to be happy, and I had moved on from a fling that year in college.
YOU of all people know how I value having parents in a child's life, yet you, yes you and the Sperm Donor cheated me out of almost twenty years of knowing, loving, and providing for a child. You cheated her out of her time with her Father, who, by the way wouldn't have let anything stand in his way to be with her, not like your choice of a partner to recreate life with.
As I said I love you Mother, I will always appreciate the sacrifices you made for me, BUT you have a lot of work to do to earn forgiveness for what you have done. You will be invited to family functions, don't feel obligated to attend as you often did while you lived here at the Loft. Kate and I will be announcing our Wedding Plans soon, I won't shut you out, but please act accordingly as the Mother of the Groom and keep your comments to yourself till I am out of hearing range.
Also invited means you will be a Guest, so your input is not wanted, required or will be tolerated. In short if you want to attend, pretend it is at one of Chet's functions and act accordingly.
This has been difficult to write, I won't send it, rather it will be the script for our video call this evening with Allison, once she is off the line, or if she would like to stay you and I will discuss this in front of the family, so one story, one time, no sides taken.
Kate had been looking over his shoulder as his fingers flew across the keyboard, and then reading it on the projected image against the wall.
"Babe are you sure, and I only say this because there were times, I hated my Father, I cursed him, I hated everything about him, what he was doing, but I never vocalized them to him. He knew, but I never said, and yes, he hurt me, but he never deceived me like this. Are you prepared to live with yourself if something were to happen to Martha under these circumstances?"
Rick looked up and sadly smiled, "You are something else, Thank You for taking care of me. I thought about this a great deal Kate, and the only way Mother will get the message, is tough love. I could kick her out with nothing, but I want her to be safe, yet also understand there are consequences to her actions.
I think I could have forgiven her if it had only hurt me, but Allison, my child, we were robbed out of time, time we will never get back because she was selfish and a coward."
Kate took him into her arms, "Oh Rick, I'm so sorry for all the hurt, for you, for Allison, and for all of us. I'll be here beside you tonight on the call, so if you need me to step in just squeeze my hand."
"Thanks Love, I'll be fine just as long as I can touch you, you're my Rock"
Castle's Loft
Friday 7:30 PM
Family Skype Call
Rick had talked to Alexis to insure Martha would be on the call, she decided to be with her Grams during the call, especially after she and her Dad reviewed what he was going to say and the changes he had made.
She was upset but agreed her Dad had been more than fair and there had to be some action taken. Allison and she had grown closer than any girlfriend she ever had before in such a short time, and Alexis also felt cheated, she lost all those years with a Big Sis.
Kate and Rick are in his Office, lounging on his big couch, the screen was blocked until Rick heard the first guest arrive, so they made use of the time, the old fashion High School way. Precisely at 7:00 PM Allison arrived, and Rick activated the screen as Kate quickly straightened herself.
"Hi Allison, how are you tonight" Rick asked
"Not as good as Kate, way to go Mom, you may want to freshen your lipstick" she laughed as both Kate and Rick stuttered,
"You can't see my lipstick can you Sweetie?" Kate asked
"No but it was a pretty good hunch of how Dad and you spent the time waiting for the call, she laughed.
"I swear you are a carbon copy of this one" Kate laughed as she pointed to Rick,
A noise was heard as Alexis and Martha came on the line, and then the pictures showed up.
"Hey Little Sis, Good evening Martha, "Allison was polite, but she was still cool toward Martha.
"OK I don't want to hold everyone up, so first item is tomorrow, is someone's 20th Birthday"
A chorus of Happy Birthdays were heard from all on the call, "So Sweetie are we still on for your dinner tomorrow, say 7:00PM?"
"Dad, only if it is at the Loft or my place, no public places, not just yet till we get this all worked out and it doesn't feel so new, OK?"
"The loft it is, and there will only be family here, Kate's father Jim will be joining us, Alexis, Kate, myself, Mother are you planning on attending" Rick asked pointedly.
"I'm sorry, but I have another commitment, but I'll send my present to you via Alexis tonight"
"Oh NO Presents Martha, make a contribution to a Charity of your choice, I have all I need, and my present came early this year", she smiles.
Martha seemed a bit surprised, but replied, "Very Well Dear, I'll make it out to the Homeless Shelter where Alexis and Richard volunteer during the holiday season."
"That would be great, and again not needed but Thank You Martha."
"Mother did Alexis show you the changes that have been made in the last 24 hours?"
"Yes, she did Richard, Thank You."
"Well just for the benefit of the family I'm going to walk through them now, if this makes you uncomfortable Mother, feel free to leave the call, but I want the entire family to understand what is going on and the reasons."
Rick proceeded to explain that a great deal of hurt exists, and a plan needs to be formulated by Martha to mend fences with Allison, Alexis, Kate, and himself. He explained she had 45 days to close on her own apartment up to $8 million, and the changes in her monthly stipend, access to the loft, and credit cards, all changes effective immediately.
"Thank You Richard, is there anything else or can I step away from the call?" Martha asked, clearly embarrassed, and upset.
"You could have left at any time, but to answer your question I don't have anything else, Allison, Alexis, Kate, anything else except for tomorrow's Birthday Dinner." Rick responded, not in a cruel manner, but worse in such a nonchalant manner it seemed he didn't care if she were on the call or not.
A chorus of I'm good, and Can't wait, then Alexis and Martha were the first to disconnect.
"Dad, you and Kate still there?"
"Yeah Baby, Right here, everything OK?" Kate asked
"Yeah, it's just I feel so bad that Dad and his Mother have this split, I feel like it's all my fault, an*"
"Allison, stop right there, this has been coming a long time, your Dad had to go and buy a special lock for our bedroom after Martha walked through two sets of closed doors, so he had about enough of her entitlement attitude, long before this happened Sweetie, not your fault, not at all" Kate assured her,
There was a pause, then Allison started grinning, "Kate, did she interrupt anything, is that what upset Dad so much, or because she showed him and you no respect"
Kate blushed beet red "Well"
Allison's laughter was music to her ears, "how embarrassing no wonder Dad is so pissed at her, I would have thrown her out that day."
"Like I said Sweetie, your Dad is very patient but even he has limits, and he feels cheated out of time he would have done anything to have been with you."
"Dad, are you OK, I mean you're quiet"
"I'm fine Sweetie, it wasn't easy, but it had to be done, I just hope she can course correct before one of us is no longer here. I love her, like I'm sure you love your Mom, but I'm just so*"
"HURT, no Dad it still hurts, but you know what, We found each other and you, Kate, Lexi all have made me feel like many of those years I was with you, let's celebrate that tomorrow, OK?"
"OK Sweetie, We Love You, Happy Birthday a little early"
"Thanks, I love you all too, can't wait till tomorrow, get some rest, or well I'll stop there" as she shows that evil smile she inherited from her Dad.
"You're gonna get it young lady Kate kids her, Good Night Baby, we love you."
The line goes dead, and Rick pulls Kate over to him, just holding her.
"I'm here Babe, will be Always, we'll get through this together, OK?"
Her answer comes in a long loving sweet Kiss, "I love you, more than you'll ever know, Thanks Babe."
Silently they hold each other, until Rick picks Kate up and carries her to Bed, where he shows how much he does love his future wife.