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 For those reviewers commenting dislike for the Rick I portray, the man was cheated out of 20 years of his life with his child, by a LIE, and deceit from his Mother, someone he had idolized and adored. If the new version irritates you move on to a different story, it's not changing anytime soon since life events have consequences, and honestly, I think he has been more than Kind to her.

Chapter 18

Previously

"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.

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Castle's Loft

Next Day 4:00 PM

Rick had been worrying the entire day, fussing over every detail, the caterer, the flowers, the DJ, making sure three of Allison's closest friends were still in on the surprise portion of the party. Rick had paid a visit to his jeweler and had him duplicate the necklace he had given Alexis just a few months earlier, a diamond string, with beautiful pearls that spelled out the word "Daughter" very subtly.

He hoped Allision would not be offended, but if she saw Alexis wearing the identical one, it would confirm to her, at least he hoped, that she was indeed his daughter and he was and is proud to claim her as such.

"Rick, slow down, you are going to give yourself a heart attack, everything is under control." Kate pulls him into a sweet embrace and kisses him softly.

"I'm sorry Babe, it's just, well I mean she's going to be twenty, but this is her first party with me as her Dad, I just don't want to mess it up."

"If you haven't noticed Rick, your Daughters are close, very close, and both of them love and adore you. We are very lucky to have such wonderful children, especially given all that Allison has had to go through alone."

"You're right Kate, and Allison told me that she was so very happy you and I are getting married, I guess she and pumpkin have started planning some things on their own, which means, we are going to make Our Planning a priority, starting tomorrow.

I'm sorry the mess with Mother and Jackson delayed us a bit, but we're living out lives for us, our present-day children, and any new little ones we might be blessed with, that's the priority."

Kate's eyes sparkle at the thought of her becoming a mother, "Rick, could I ask something now that we are talking about it, I mean I know it's party day but I*"

"Kate, whatever it is, YES, I don't care what you want I will give it to you. Keeping you honest though I think I know what you want, want me to guess?"

Kate laughs and hits him on the shoulder, "Go ahead Mr. I know you better than you think I do"

"You Sure, because once I guess it, we have to act on it. Deal?"

"It's a deal, because you're never going to guess."

Rick takes her in his arms, kisses her deeply and passionately, and whispers,

"You don't want to wait for the big ceremony, and guess what neither do I, I want to marry you at City Hall, and let the girls plan a hell of a party. I don't want to wait one more day than I must to call you my wife."

Kate's face is in shock, as her tears pour out of her eyes, "How did you know? I mean I thought you wanted the big wedding, and all the bells and whistles,"

"ME, I thought you wanted it Kate, HELL, I would marry you in a heartbeat anywhere you would have me."

"OK, then Monday we go to City Hall, have Bob Weldon marry us, and keep it a secret, and let the girls plan the party, how does that sound Rick?"

"Just tell me what time to tell Bob we'll be there? I love you Mrs. Castle, more than I'll ever be able to tell you, but please know, my life began when I met you."

Kate glanced at the clock, "Rick, we have an hour before we have to get ready, if,*"

She is off her feet in a Bridal Carry, being carried to their Bedroom, where the hour went by far to fast but solidified, ring or no ring, this couple was going to be together for the rest of time."

Across Town

Chet's Flat, Same Time Frame

Alexis had decided to spend some time with her Grams before heading to the party. Allison had something to do at school, and she wanted to give her parents some much needed privacy after all that had happened lately.

She had called and gotten a warm reception from Martha, who was pleased at least one of the Castles were still talking to her. She opened the door, and greeted Alexis as soon as the buzzer rang.

"Hi Grams, how are things going here?"

"Hi Darling, Splendid of course, why wouldn't they be."

"Grams could we talk, and you not act like I'm still the little girl who played with your makeup and curlers, Please?"

"OK Alexis, I suppose you deserve an explanation of what happened, and why I made the decisions I did. I promise you everything I did was done out of love for your father, and for you and to protect you. Ask the questions you wanted to but didn't get the opportunity to do so at the Family Meeting."

"Grams, WHY did you start out with another lie, one that both Dad, Kate and I saw through immediately, when you told your partner Jackson, we tried it your way now we are going to tell the truth, you realize that Dad had already made his decision by then don't you?"

"I tried to protect your Grandfather, granted he hasn't been in your life, but he has stood guard from afar, and I thought what would the harm be, it's in the past and we can't change it now."

"Grams, you thought that protecting your lover, please don't call him my Grandfather again, you could just forget about twenty years of my Father's history, my Sister's life, and all because you wanted to protect some man no one seems to know except you?

That makes no sense at all, even if you want to think it does. You made a choice, and you chose the man who you had one fling with, then reconnected as a paid snitch when my Dad was 11. You completely disregarded Dad's feelings by calling it a fling in college, it may have been for June Allyson, but to Dad he was in love.

You also knew I had a Sister, 5 years ago, so Grams you cheated me out of that, Dad out of being a Dad to Allison, and most of all Allison out of knowing her real Dad. I don't care how much money she has, she cried many nights thinking she would never see him, all because of lies, yours and her families."

Martha has a tear in her eye, perhaps for the first time since the incident happened beginning to realize the hurt, she and others caused, and why her son, had taken the actions he had. Thinking now, he was still a very good man, he could have left her penniless to fend for herself, but he made sure she had a rood and more than generous allowance. In both cash and credit.

She also thought and regretted the times she had acted like the Diva Queen walking in on closed doors, many sons would have thrown her out, and Katherine, well she was a beautiful and forgiving woman.

"You're right Alexis, so very right and I see now the hurt I have caused all. You're right as well, I did choose Jackson and his mystic over my own family, for that I will forever be sorry."

"Well Grams, Dad has said this a million times, Talk is cheap, it's what you do after you screwup that measures your character, I gotta go, so Please think about this." As she headed for the door not waiting on Martha's reply.

Martha pulled out an old photo album, as she sat alone in a chair, looking back on the pictures of her and Jackson, was this worth losing her family over? She had to fix things but needed to think how.

Castle's Loft

Party Time 7:00 PM

Rick and Kate had almost not made it out of the shower and dressed before they heard the door open and Alexis yell, "Get some clothes on Child in the house" and laugh.

"We're in here getting ready for the party Alexis, come on in Sweetie," Kate replied through a deep blush.

Rick emerged dressed as eloquently as always, how does he do that, does he have a pole he slides down into an outfit all prepped and ready for him Kate thought.

"You look nice Dad, Kate you're always beautiful I know Allison is going to have a good time. I spoke to her earlier, she seemed a bit down, seems like her three best friends all had plans tonight, and not one wished her a happy birthday so I'm glad we're having her party."

Just then the buzzer rang, and Alexis bolted for the door calling over her shoulder, I'll get it to a smiling Rick and Kate.

The door opened to a smiling Alison, who squealed and hugged her little sister, the bond between the two had grown so fast, it was almost as if no time lapse had ever existed.

"Happy Birthday Big Sis, Thanks for sharing your day with us, Dad has been driving us all nuts today" she laughed.

Kate and Rick had approached the door, hand in hand as usual, and took turns hugging and wishing their oldest daughter Happy Birthday.

"Thanks Kate, Dad, Lex, this has to be my best birthday ever, and the presents were already unwrapped as she pulled them all into a group hug.

"I used to dream about a day like this, never knowing that someday it would come true, I hope I show what's in my heart, because I love each and everyone of you so very much.

Lex, you were so gracious to share Dad, I know you were the little pumpkin all these years and it would be easy to hate or resent the new one coming into your life. Dad taught you well, instead of resentment, you opened your heart, your life, and, (she pauses to compose herself for a moment), most importantly your memories which let me understand and appreciate just how much we both are loved by our parents. Thank You Sis, I'll always be here for you, whenever you need me, I'm right here"

Kate looked up at Rick who had tears pooling in his eyes, and a look of pride, for both his girls, she leaned in and just kissed him sweetly whispering "You did good Dad."

"Happy Birthday Allison, you will never know just how big a gift you are to this family, so although it's your day, we got the gift. We love you, always will, and will always be here for you or Alexis, no matter how big or old you both get." Kate got out before a tear fell from her eye, and both her girls were quick to wrap her in hugs and kissed her cheek.

"See Allison, told you, Dad wasn't complete till Kate came to live with us, he was always a Great Dad, but now, he's happy, truly happy for the first time in a very long time."

"I know Sis, I saw that the first time I saw them together, I'm so happy that they are getting married, and we get to be in the Wedding, that was really sweet Kate, Thank You again."

"My Pleasure, no one other than my girls are going to be there with me, so I am the lucky one"

Rick who had been silent, finally pulls out a whistle, blows it, and out of the kitchen area comes Becky, Vicky, and Gayle, Allison's three best friends pushing a serving tray with a huge Birthday cake on it, candles lit.

Allison shrieks then tears come to her eyes, "You guys, you told me you had other plans, I'm going to kill everyone of you", she half laughs half cries

"Well we did Ali, you see we were invited by a best selling author to help him host his daughter's first birthday party, even though she is twenty, so we made this montage from pictures we were able to crook from our relatives," as she hand Rick a CD, "Not every year is there but this should fill in some of the missing time chunks Mr. Castle."

Allison started laughing as Rick's eyes were pooling with tears, "You react to surprises just like I do Dad, and Vicky please call him Dad or Rick, he gets feisty when he thinks he is getting old", as the room erupts in laughter.

"Girls, Thank You this was so thoughtful of you, Kate and I will watch it a little later, but Allison, I know you said no presents but I don't think, or at least I hope you don't mind this one" as he hands her the wrapped necklace.

Rick holds Kate's hand a little tighter as Allison carefully, just like her Dad, unwraps the package, opens the jewelry box and begins to cry. Alexis is right next to her Sister,

"Ali, look this is mine, yours is just like it, see?" as she pulls her necklace out from her top to show Allison.

Allison pulls Alexis into a hug and before long Alexis, Gayle, Vicky, and Becky are all crying and hugging. Kate smiles at Rick, who is having a tough time holding back his tears but succeeding so far.

Allison finally recovers and walks over to Rick, takes his hands and crawls into his lap, and lays her head on his shoulder, "Thank you Daddy, you'll never know just how many little girl dreams you made come true, I love you, and I love Lex and Kate for sharing you with me, Best Birthday ever."

Rick hugs her tight as she sits on his lap a few minutes, finally he has enough composure to say, "Baby, I'm glad you like it, you made a lot of Dad dreams come true yourself, it hurts a little bit less now, Thanks Sweetie, for loving me, Alexis, and Kate."

Finally, Allison takes Kate by her hands, locks eyes and says "I had a Mother, but I never had a Mom till I met you, I love you Mom. Thanks for being the mortar that holds this family together."

"Oh Sweetie, you're welcome, you're the missing link we have been looking for, and I'm so thankful that we are all together. You two girls have a big job ahead of you, so as soon as your birthday is over, it's time to get to work."

"What Job Mom?"

"Well, your Dad and I want Alexis and you to plan our wedding, we have the date September 19th so we'll talk later this week then you girls are in control," Kate smiles as Allison and Alexis both start to squeal, "Really Mom Really?"

"Yep, no one else just you two, well along with any help you need to hire, but it's your show to put together for us, OK?"

The rest of the party is a blur, with 4 very tired and happy young ladies crawling into a limo as Kate, Rick, and Alexis walked them down to the secure area, 5 hours later.

Before they leave, Allison jumps out, "Thanks for the best Birthday ever, I love you all" as she hugs and kisses each, then yells I'll call you later Sis, Bye" and they were off.

Rick is flanked by Alexis and Kate both with their arm around him holding hands with the other as they make their way back to the loft without a word, till the door opens, and Rick kisses Kate, "Hell of a Day, wasn't it, but a Great Day."