Everything Changes
(Adopted from Muse of Apollo by permission of author.)
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Chapters 1-4 are loosely based on works of Courtesy of Muse of Apollo rewritten with permission. End of Season 2 AU, Everything Changes when Beckett leaves with Demming, Castle has had enough, Original concept based on abandoned story by Matt, Muse of Apollo. Rated M
I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 16
Previously
Toweling off and drinking some water, she opened her phone and saw a text from Rick, she had saved his new number under her contacts with his old picture. Almost dropping the phone, she fumbles to open the text,
"Kate,
Pick a place and time to talk, we need to settle some things,
Let me know,"
Rc
She hung her head, knowing this wasn't the text she had been praying for, but was expecting. She deserved whatever came, good or bad even in her own mind.
Kate Beckett's Apartment
8:00 PM Same Day
After reading and re-reading the 17-word message at least twenty times, she broke down and pulled the jewelry box from behind the couch. It didn't hold one piece of jewelry, but treasures far more important to Kate. It was the collection of everything Rick had ever given her, including the doodles on post notes, each one bringing a memory back to her.
The first coffee cup lid with Castle, on it, she had yelled at him and that was the last time his name was on her cup, from that day they all had Kate, or Beckett, depending on how miserably she had been treating him. She had to sneak the little tokens out so he wouldn't know, God Forbid she show a human side to the man who tried everything to make her happy.
How pathetic she thought, a paperclip chain he made when they were building theory, his wild imitation of the little stick man in her desk from her Mom's funeral, and touching notes of appreciation for every time she had done something to help him or his family, had she ever once said Thank You to him?
An IOU for a Bear Claw for the day he ran late and forgot to bring her one, a small calendar with all of the dates of his book tour with sad emojis, on and on just junk to most but to Kate, her heart was breaking as she carefully packed each away, after they talked that's all she would have left, memories and she knew it.
Hamptons Beach House
7:00 PM Same Day
Rick and Erin were lounging, having sealed their partnership more than once and showered together, well twice, before they were finally ready to receive company. They were lounging on the couch, just listening to music, when the door opened. Nicky and Alexis walked in hands over their eyes yelling, Kids in the room, Clothes Alert, as Erin blushes and hides her face.
Rick is laughing, knowing full well that this was Nicky's idea, Alexis was more on the shy side but Nicky, well she took after her Grandfather, if she thought it needed to be said, you were going to hear her. Erin looks up at him rolling her eyes in an almost sorry style, and Rick just held her hand and kissed her gently. He thought it was great that Nicky was so accepting, and this just confirmed what her Mom had said, she was pulling for them and a combined household.
"Hi Girls, did you have a good time, or were your Mom and I the first you got to embarrass today?" Rick laughed.
Alexis looked at her Dad, he was so very happy even with all that he had gone through, it seemed like someone had lifted the weight of the world off his shoulders, "We had a blast, and to have you know, you are too easy so you get what you ask for," as she is talking she catches the light reflecting off Erin's ring finger,
"NICKY, NICKY LOOK AT YOUR MOM'S Hand, HE DID IT, HE DID IT," Alexis yells out and the two girls start screaming and dancing around running first to Erin to look at the ring, then to Rick to hug him and plant kisses all over his face.
"Well Dad, it's about time, God I thought we were going to have to hold an intervention" Alexis laughs, as Erin hugs her and Alexis falls into her arms like she had been doing it her entire life, no awkwardness at all,
"Yeah Mom, you had till next Friday, then Lexi and I were going to take matters into our own hands." She opens her phone and nods to Alexis who does the same,
Nicky goes to Rick and sits in his lap, as Alexis pulls Erin into her on the couch, then the girls nod to each other, and they show the phone display to each. As Rick and Erin look, they see almost duplicate set of questions,
Questions when our Parents Get Married Alexis and Nicky was the tittle, and there were a series of questions listed.
"Girls hold one second", as he takes Nicky's phone and types in the wireless code and lowers the screen remotely and there were the questions on the big screen for the family to see.
"Wait one second" Alexis says as she flipped a setting and now both phones were displayed side by side
#1. When Mom marries Rick, can I be a Castle too and call him Dad?
#1, When Dad marries Erin, would she mind if I called her Mom?
Rick was wiping his eye, as he looked over to Erin, and patted his lap, she was there in two steps.
"Are you sure Nicky, is that you want, because nothing would make me happier than to have you as my daughter and a Castle? That is if your Mom approves."
"Rick, she has a good point, if I'm going to be a Castle, no reason she can't be as well as long as you want us both"
Rick kisses Erin, and blows a kiss to Nicky, "YES and that is settled"
Erin takes the lead for Alexis question, "Sweetie I'm proud to be your Mom, Step Mom or whatever you want to call me, but Mom sounds so sweet, Thank you both." Tears drop from her eyes as she lays her head on her future husbands shoulder.
#2. Can Dad cancel his book tour for my birthday, I want to spend it with my entire family, Nicky
#2. Will Mom help me learn to put on makeup the right way, I always smear it and Dad tries but he's a man.
Rick took Nicky's question #2 "I'm not going to miss a birthday, graduation, or any date my girls want me home for, ever again, that's a promise baby."
Nicky blows Dad a kiss, and mouths "Thanks Dad"
Erin answered Alexis next question, "Lexi I'll show you anything you want to learn, if I don't know how, we'll get some professionals in to show us all, is that OK, pumpkin?" trying out Ricks name that no one else ever dared.
"You know Mom, I thought I wouldn't like anyone but Dad calling me pumpkin, but it's nice to hear it from a female voice, and I love how the entire family is becoming one unit, that's important to me and Nicky both,"
"You bet Lexi, too many families at school say they are blended but what they are is two different houses living under one roof, when we first thought there was a chance for you both, we talked. We wanted to have a voice in OUR family since we're both teenagers and are going to need our parents, both of you more than ever now"
Rick is sitting quietly with tears in his eyes, when Erin notices,
"Oh Hun, did I overstep calling Lexi your pet name, if I did, I'm sorry,"
Alexis looks at her "Mom" showing nothing but love and concern for her Dad, when he looks up, clears his throat, and says,
"Not hurt, not at all, I'm just so happy that my girls are getting what they need, Pumpkin needs a mom, I need Nicky as much as she needs me, and I want to be the best Dad to both of them."
Nicky and Alexis join hands and go to Rick, "You are already Dad, no one could be a better Dad than you, and no one can be a better Mom than our Mom, we're just so lucky to have you guys get together."
Nicky hugs Rick, and gently takes a tissue and wipes his eye,
"I know you love us all, and I know how much and how long Mom has loved you, today my prayers were answered.
We don't need lists Dad, we'll just talk when something comes up," as she turns the screen off.
Rick looks up to see Alexis comforting Erin the same way, what a great day, and a great family. They all combine into a huge group hug, then the girls have plans since Roz and Mike were going to stop by,
Erin takes Rick's hand and leads him to the small veranda by the pool,
"I can't believe what just happened, our girls had already decided we were family, I'm so proud and love them both so very much."
"I was thinking the same thing, as much as the hurt was at the time, I wouldn't change it because, out of that we now have Nicky and Alexis. God you have no idea how happy I am right now; my life is almost complete"
"Almost love? What's missing?"
"Our wedding, the only thing that we need to plan to make my life complete, I love you, I know I say it but I'll show you every day Erin, you are my life, you and my girls."
Erin smiles and lays her head on Rick's shoulder,
"I feel the same, you and my girls Gosh that sounds great to be able to say that, and to have them ask that makes it even more special"
Suddenly they hear a knock, knock, and gentle rapping on the back-pool gate, Rick yells out
"Come on around we're on the Veranda"
The first thing they see is the smile on Roz's face and Mike's arm as always attached to her waist, they slip down to holding hands as they walk towards the table.
"Can we get you guys something to eat or drink, Water, Coffee, Beer?" Erin asked
"WAIT A MINUTE, Let me see that hand, You did it didn't you" as she punched Rick lightly,
"Yes, I did, I should have done it years ago, but things work out for a reason" Rick says unable to stop smiling.
"How are the girls taking it, or have you talked to them yet?"
"Well, not so good" Erin starts off looking to Rick,
"Yeah we knew it would be an adjustment, but, not this,"
"Hey, they'll come around, you know how kids are,"
Then Rick begins to laugh, and they explain the session they just had with their girls. When they were done, Roz was actually weeping.
"Rick, Erin I am so happy for you all, I'm really glad that your family is going to be complete, well at least for now, you never know about this stud" as she sees Rick's face panic.
"You know Roz, The good man above worked things out pretty well for us, so if he decides to give us a little one, I would be over the moon, what more could I ask for."
Rick smiles and looks at her in amazement, "You'd really be OK with-it Hun?"
"Absolutely, they would have a perfect Dad and Sisters who would kill for them, so if it happens, I would be happy, if not I am happy practicing the routine", as she kisses Rick.
Roz turns to Mike, "Want to go practice Stud?"
He laughs, turns Red as a beet, but never falters, "Hell Yes, let's go." As he kisses her sweetly.
"Rick had the fridge stocked Mike, I guess the people know what you like, and Roz, he has your blend of coffee also delivered, so enjoy, we'll see you in the morning for breakfast when and if either of us get up Good Night All,"
As the two walk toward the separate guest house, Erin walks over and sits on Rick's lap.
"Have I told you that I love you in the last ten minutes?
"Come to think about it, you haven't"
She kisses him sweetly, and purrs, "let's fix that now, I love you Rick, I have loved you since the second time I saw you so many years ago, and God I am so lucky to be right here, right now, with you. I would love to have kids with you, only if you want them, sorry if I put you on the spot"
"Not at all, I'm overjoyed that we agreed on that even though we never talked about it, it's like we're*"
"Like when we were first together Baby, you're my soul mate, and I'll never let you go."
A good old fashioned make out session proceeds, and when they pull apart Erin has already been sent over the top, God that man could kiss, she had almost forgotten their sex life before, well it could only be better now.
Ricks phone pings with an incoming text, he ignores it to a better time, when they are both gasping for air.
"Check your phone Sweetie, it may be important"
Rick looks and he sees a text from Kate.
"It's a text from Kate, you want to be here when I open it?"
"No Sweetie, look I appreciate the extra effort you're making to keep me informed but I don't need to know every detail, I trust YOU, and that's all that counts."
Rick opens his phone to read,
Hi Rick,
Sorry to bother you this late, just found out you still have to give your statement to Espo about the incident, so whenever you plan or feel up to coming into the city, maybe we can have coffee at that new place down from Remy's, it's never crowded and very public. Let me know if that works, and when you plan on coming in,
KB
Rick, looks at the message, there is absolutely no hint of emotion at all, so perhaps she had moved on already on her own, at any rate, he wanted to get this off his plate so they could begin wedding planning, and he also wanted Kate to hear the news from him, not some gossip or in the press.
Kate,
I'll schedule something with Espo for tomorrow, should be free by noon, let me know if that works
Rc
Her return message takes less than 30 seconds,
See you tomorrow,
KB
Rick then sends a group text to Espo, Ryan and Montgomery,
Guys,
Coming in tomorrow around 10:00 to give my statement for the last part of the report, free till 11:30 then have appointment, Please have someone at the station to take statement.
Rc
He suddenly feels tired, and see's the light to his bedroom on,
"I was just coming to see if you wanted to share a warm bath before bed," Erin purrs at him,
Taking his hand, she doesn't bother to wait for an answer other than the look on his face when he eyes her sheer night gown,
It was a very rewarding night, well at least for those in the Hamptons,
TBC