I realize that some of these are shorter than normal chapters, but that's just the way this story turned out. My apologies!

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Song of the Chapter: "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum (if I spelled that right).

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or anything affiliated with it.

September 1st, 2012:

Kate sat on her bed with a photo album that Castle had given her for her birthday; full of various photos he had sneak-taken with his phone. She had been looking at it for the past 45 minutes, unable to close it without feeling totally and completely empty. It had only been 5 days, but she already missed him. It seemed like lately in her life, nothing stayed the same. Work had changed, her home had changed, her friends were treating her differently…everything was different, and she wasn't sure she was fond of it.

"What'cha looking at?"

Kate hurriedly shut the photo album, and looked at Josh, who was standing in the doorway. "Oh, nothing."

Josh smiled a bit. "Castle photos?"

She sighed and opened back up the album. "I just don't know why he quit on me all of the sudden." She shook her head.

Josh sat down on the bed beside her and rubbed the span of her shoulders. "Friends come and go." He said with a shrug.

Kate raised her eyebrows, the corners of her mouth turned up in the faintest of smiles. "That doesn't help me at all."

He chuckled. "Look, I know you and Castle were close, but maybe it's time you let him go. Being sad forever isn't going to help."

"I know." Kate looked at her hands. "He was my partner though, you know?"

"I know." Josh nodded, and then wrapped her in a hug. "But hey, you've still got Ryan and Esposito." He kissed the side of her head. "And you have me."

She nodded. "Thank you."

"I love you."

"Love you too."

Castle came into his loft, laughing.

Alexis, who was sitting on the couch, looked up. "Dad?" She asked cautiously. "Are you okay?"

"I'm terrific." He beamed at her, and began to pull out his phone. "Wait until Kate hears about this, I –" He stopped short, his face falling, and stopped dialing, setting his phone back on the counter.

Alexis smiled sympathetically. "You okay?"

Castle shrugged. "I will be once I get it into my head that I killed one of the best things in my life."

"Why don't you just call her?" Alexis asked.

"She told me not to."

"She was just upset! I'm sure enough time has passed that she would pick up." Alexis pointed out.

"I just…I can't do it right now." Castle's voice sounded raw and rough. "She's with him now. They're married. I don't trust myself to sit by and not say anything about how I feel for the rest of my life. I'm too late, and it's about time I accepted that."

"Isn't being around her as a friend better than nothing at all?"

"Sometimes. And sometimes it's torture." Castle ran a hand through his hair. "I refuse to mess this up in any way for her. If anyone deserves a normal, happy life, it's her."

Alexis stood up and walked over to her dad and gave him a hug. "Then do me a favor."

"Hmmm?"

She took a step back and locked eyes with him. "Stop letting me find you looking at pictures of her every time I go into your study. It's sad, Dad."

"I'll try, kiddo."

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Also, big changes to come in the next chapter! Stay tuned. (;