A full moon hung high in the cloudless expanse of star-studded sky, washing the world below it in a muted version of daylight as the dark sedan moved quietly along the near empty stretch of highway. The amount of traffic had thinned dramatically the further it traveled from the city. Kate found it peaceful...a welcomed change from the stress and the frantic pace of the previous few weeks. Her eyes drift closed as the steady hum of the tires against the blacktop lured her into a relaxed state, as did the soft notes of the jazz music issuing from the radio. She felt the tension begin to slowly release from her weary frame. She could hardly believe that it was over…well, at least her part was over. For others, it was just beginning.

The papers were calling it the case of the century…and they were nearly correct. Not since the early 1900s had a case of corruption as wide-spread as this one struck the city. The evidence presented by the FBI, courtesy of Roy Montgomery, had provided the prosecutors with an air tight case as well as an extensive list of the names and roles of all involved. Many of those implicated were in positions of high authority within the city and included not only the mayor, but the police commissioner, a few high ranking judges and the heads of at least two of the city's most prominent news conglomerates. The police department had been hard hit as well with the arrests of a number of both on-duty and retired officers. There was no hiding from the truth…though many tried. Expensive attorneys argued uselessly against the undisputable evidence, unable to gain ground…not even the former mayor was granted the deal his lawyers sought. The final nail in his coffin was in fact hammered in with one short sentence:

"The prosecution calls Detective Katherine Beckett to the witness stand."

A tight smile crossed Kate's lips as she recalled the look on the mayor's face as she walked into the courtroom and took the stand. A mixture of shock, resignation and perhaps a tad bit of admiration. She blamed the influence of her shadow on the first words that had slipped from her mouth. "In the words of Mark Twain, the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." It had taken a good five minutes for the judge to return the courtroom to order. In the end it had all been worth it. The mayor was found guilty of all charge presented against him…including her mother's murder. The man had instantly offered to share all he knew regarding the former operation in exchange for protection and the opportunity to serve his life-sentence at a facility far from New York upon receiving the news that the guards of the maximum security prison had found the hit man, charged with the now attempted murder of Detective Beckett, dead in his cell as a result of what appeared to be a professional mafia hit. Though there were those who suspected otherwise, the note found pinned to the body left little doubt as it read For Nikki…a warning to others who might try. Apparently the mafia did not take the kidnapping of their people lightly.

One by one the cases were closed and justice was served…though it would be many months before the last was finally processed and perhaps a year or two before the city fully recovered from the impact of the far reaching scandal. However the people of New York City were nothing if not resilient, as evidenced time and time again. In time this incident too would just be footnote in yet another book regaling the history of the great city. With her part in the matter complete and the threat against her life removed, Kate was officially declared among the living and released from FBI custody. The Bureau had thanked her for her support by smoothing things over with the 12th precinct's new interim chief and securing a short leave of absence for her while the matter of her reinstatement was resolved. Apparently the paper work declaring her dead had moved a little too quickly within the department. She accepted the offer graciously though she had noted that the number of days she had been allocated matched the number of backlogged vacation days she had accrued exactly…suggesting that her partners had been involved in the plot to force her to take a well-deserved rest.

Lanie and her partners welcomed her back with open arms as she exited the courtroom following the mayor's conviction. As happy as she was to see them, she could not help be feel disappointment at the noticeable absence of the team's fourth and unofficial member. Lanie had simply handed her an overnight bag and her department issue cell phone as Will Sorenson reappeared at her side once more and ushered her out of the building into the waiting sedan. All he would say when she asked where they were going was that he had one last promise to fulfill…though there was little doubt in her mind as to whom.

Kate opened her eyes slowly as the car eased to a stop before a large iron wrought gate. Will identified himself to the guard who materialized beside the vehicle and then moved forward as the gate slid open to admit them. The grounds beyond the gate were simple and well tended with a large sprawling beach house at the far end of the long drive atop a small rise. It was a two story structure, with a simple design that seemed more at place on the shores of the outer banks of North Carolina than it did among the stately mansions and sprawling modern beach houses of the Hamptons. It fit its owner well with its strange combination of simplicity and grandeur, so well in fact that Kate could not help but wonder if it had been designed for him. The car eased to a stop at the foot of the walk leading to the front door; a wave of apprehension swept through her as she eased out of the car to stand at the foot of the path. It was just after midnight and everyone was most likely asleep. She wondered if Castle had told his family the truth regarding her death and that she had returned...and what they thought of her now. Would they want her here? Would he? Her partners had filled her in on Castle's activities over the past couple of weeks as well as his general state of health. He had left New York shortly after the arrests less than a week ago, retiring to the Hamptons to escape the city and the constant hounding of the media. No one had really spoken with Castle since, other than to let him know that she was back. They were worried about him, as was she.

The door opened suddenly, startling her from her thoughts; her pulse slowed to a normal rate as a second guard stepped out, moving to assist Will with her bag. She hoped Castle had spoken with Martha and Alexis as she really did not want to be responsible for heart failure (on Martha's part) or a panic attacks (on Alexis's part) if she were mistaken for a ghost. They were both strong women, they had to be to put up with Castle for so long, but seriously enough was enough. Kate turned to face Will as the guard moved toward the house, her bag over his shoulder.

Will smiled as he drew closer. "Tell the writer that we are even. I kept my end of the bargain."

Kate returned his smile. "What was that?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"I returned you safe and sound." Will grinned as Kate stepped forward and hugged him tight.

"Thank you." She whispered softly against his shoulder.

He hugged her close for a moment; his eyes met hers as he released her. "Take care of yourself, Beckett." She nodded as she watched him move away. Will paused and tossed a grin in her direction as he opened the driver's side door. "Tell the writer he's a lucky guy." He stated before sliding into the car and closing the door. Kate grinned in return as she watched until the tail lights of the car disappeared beyond the gate below.

"Ma'am?"

She turned to find the guard waiting for her; she sighed softly as made her way up the path, following him through the front door into the dimly lit interior. White stone tiles gleamed softly beneath the moonlight that shone through the large windows that framed the doorway. The white paneled walls curved slightly outward to complete a half circle, at the center of which stood a pair of open French doors with frosted glass panes; a spiraling staircase rose to the left of the door, leading up to the second floor landing. The guard closed the front door quietly behind them and then led the way through the doors. The expansive room beyond appeared to be a combination living area and library, complete with ceiling to floor built in bookcases and a large stone fireplace set against the far wall. Large area rugs covered patches of the dark wood flooring and a comfortable looking sectional sofa wrapped artful around the room like a long white snake. Warm lights spilled into the room from a wide doorway to the left side of the room where it curved around into what appeared to be a kitchen from the part she could see. The only other source of light in the room came from the moonlight shining down through a wall of glass window which made up the entire back half of the room facing the beach…and the ocean beyond. It was beautiful. The sound of voices came from the direction of the kitchen and Kate found herself turning away from the view as she heard her name mentioned. She moved slowly around the corner, pausing as the two occupants in the kitchen turned to face her.

"Kate?"

Kate smiled hesitantly as she moved closer as Martha gracefully slid off of her perch on one of the high stools which lined the center island. The older woman opened her arms as she approached and wrapped her in a tight embrace.

"Oh, kiddo, you don't know how happy I am to see you." Martha murmured.

Kate felt a pang of guilt as the older woman pulled back, leaving a hand resting on her arm as she studied her with watery blue eyes. Martha smiled softly as she brushed the tears from her eyes with an impatient hand. "Relax, kiddo, Richard told us what he could of the story when the news broke of your return. To be honest I thought he was having a nervous breakdown until he turned on the television and there you were."

Martha let out a soft laugh as she pulled Kate into another hug. "I'm so glad you are alright...and if you don't mind my saying so, I believe your mother would be very proud of you."

A few tears broke free of her tight hold at Martha's gentle heart spoken words. She felt the older woman's arms tighten securely as Kate allowed her head to drop against her shoulder as her over taxed emotions began to finally find release. Martha held her silently, soothing her gently as only a mother could...and it made Kate miss her mother even more. After all these years she had finally found justice for Johanna...she knew Martha's words to be true; her mother would have been proud. She wiped the tears from her face with a shaking hand as she slowly pulled away.

"How is he?" Kate asked softly.

Martha smiled, though her eyes held concern. "He will be fine. You know I never realized how talented an actor my son truely is." Her smile faded slightly and her gaze softened knowingly. "A little too talented…I think he was starting to believe his own act toward the end."

Kate felt her heart sink at her soft words, though they held no accusation…only concern.

"He's out on the deck." Martha said softly, the smile returning as she waved a hand toward the wall of windows, which Kate realized were actually sliding panels. "Go on…I think you might need him as much as he needs you right now." She said sagely. With that the older woman collected her mug from the counter and disappeared through the door leading to the stairs.

Kate crossed the room to the door; her hand hesitated for a moment against the cool metal of the handle as the apprehension returned. She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly as she forced the feeling back and slid the door open, stepping out onto the smooth planks of the wide deck. She closed the door quietly behind her and breathed deeply, feeling some of the tension release as she registered the sound of the waves rolling against the beach beyond the tall dunes. A soft cool breeze blew in from the ocean, carrying a soft scent of brine. She paused a moment, her eyes sweeping out over the vast expanse of moon kissed ocean; it was a welcomed change from the windowless existance she had been subjected to over the past couple weeks.

A tendril of confusion wove through her new found feeling of serenity as her weary mind remembered the reason she was standing on the deck. It was unlike her partner to remain quiet this long, particularly after the declaration he had made before they had been forced to part. She turned as her eyes swept the expansive deck, searching for him; her eyes softened as they paused on his sleeping form sprawled against the cushions of a large couch set back into the corner of the deck. She crossed the deck quietly, sweeping him with an assessing gaze as she drew closer. A small frown slid across her face. He looked as if he had lost weight in the time that they had been apart and new worry lines marred his face even as he slept. Martha's words came back to her as she watched him. It was no wonder he had begun to believe his own act. The others had at least had each other to remind them of the truth, while Castle had been isolated for most of the ordeal, surrounded by those who believed that she was dead.

Oh, Castle.

Kate slowly eased down on the edge of the lounge beside him and reached out hesitantly to brush a lock of unruly hair from his face…or at least that was her intention. Before she could move, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her as Castle pulled her securely against his chest. Her partner mumbled something about dreams and pumpkins as he cradled her closer in his sleep, pressing his face against her hair. His chest rumbled beneath her ear as he began to hum softly. Kate giggled softly as the humor of the situation broke through her temporary shock. The humming stopped at the sound and she felt him tense beneath her.

"Kate?"

Her heart twisted in her chest at the sound of desperate hope in his sleep heavy voice. She smoothed her palm against his shoulder as she pressed closer in response.

"I'm here." She whispered softly.

A startled squeak escaped her lips as his arms tightened around her, hauling her into his lap as he sat up suddenly. Her healing ribs ached in protest at the rough treatment, but she ignored them as she felt him shudder against her. She heard him breathe her name once more as he buried his face against her neck, holding her as close as humanly possible. Kate slid her arms free and wrapped them around him as she felt the damp of his silent tears against her shoulder. Her own tears began to slip silently down her face as she raised her hand to his head and gently stroked his thick hair.

"I'm here." She repeated.

Castle pulled back slowly, releasing her as he framed her face gently with his large hands. His face was shadowed so that she could not see his eyes; she relaxed as a smile, a shaky one but a smile none the less, slid across his lips. He studied her silently for a long moment before he closed the distance between them; her eyes drifted shut as she felt his soft warm lips press gently against her own. Before she could respond, he pulled away brushing a trail of soft almost reverent kisses along her jaw to her cheek to her forehead. She felt him smile as a small shiver ran up her spine as he brushed a kiss to each eyelid. His lips brushed her nose softly before completing the pattern along the untouched side of her face. A soft sigh escaped her as he pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth before claiming her lips once more. She threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer as she parted her lips beneath his, inviting him to deepen the kiss. For a moment time stopped and there was nothing but the two of them.

Castle pulled away slowly as the need for air became too strong to ignore; Kate felt his forehead press against hers as he shifted her in his arms, drawing her close.

"I was afraid I might be dreaming." He whispered, his voice husky with emotion.

She opened her eyes slowly to find his were still closed; she raised her hand, cradling his face against her palm. "You're not dreaming, Rick." She murmured softly as she brushed a few stray tears with her thumb. "It's over. No more need to pretend." A real smile spread across his face in response to her words. "Besides, didn't you say that I was too extraordinary for your brain to have conjured up?"

A soft huff of laugher answered her as he opened his eyes and raised his head.

"Esposito?" He asked ruefully, raising an eyebrow.

Kate smirked playfully as she watched a trace of humor return to his eyes.

"Lanie."

A small smile tweaked his lips at her reply.

"It was a beautiful tribute, Rick." She said softly, leaning her forehead against his as she gently traced the contours of his face with her fingertips. His eyes drifted close as he relaxed beneath her touch. "You know my favorite part?"

Castle smiled ruefully. "When I mentioned your temper?" His grin widened as she tweaked his ear.

"No," Kate murmured with a soft laugh as she returned her hand to his face, her eyes watching him carefully as she continued. "It was when you said that you'll always love me." A wave of warmth swept through her as his eyes opened and a blinding smile graced his face.

"Always."

Her heart leapt at the intensity of the promise in his voice; Castle smiled as he lowered his head and claimed her lips once more. He brushed a soft kiss to her cheek as they parted and pulled her into a tight embrace. Kate laid her head against his strong shoulder, tucking her forehead against the crook of his neck as he shifted them into a more comfortable position against the soft cushions of the couch. He laughed quietly as a yawn escaped her.

"You must be exhausted." He murmured.

Kate let her eyes drift close as she relaxed against him. "Hmm."

"You should get some sleep."

She felt him smile against her hair as she snuggled deeper into his arms; she did not want to go inside just yet, the fresh air was too inviting after spending too much time indoors…and she told him as much. He seemed just as reluctant to release her just yet.

"I've got an idea." He murmured after a moment, startling her from a light doze. She made a small noise of protest as he shifted her off of his lap gently and stood, returning shortly with a soft throw he retrieved from a nearby lounge. "Lie down." He ordered softly, smirking as she raised an eyebrow at him. Kate obeyed, shifting back against the soft cushions as he stretched out beside her, covering them both with the blanket. Castle gently wrapped his arms around her, cradling her close as she settled against his chest. She relaxed as the rhythmic whisper of the waves and the strong beat of his heart beneath her ear slowly lulled her to sleep… she lingered at the edge as she felt her partner's gaze.

"Close your eyes, Rick. I'll still be here when you open them." She murmured sleepily as she wrapped her arm around his torso.

"Promise?" came a half teasing reply as his arms tightened around her.

Kate smiled softly against his chest.

"Always."

Author's note: Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed the story….and while I do enjoy some things about the summer, I too hope that Castle and Beckett are back before too long to put us out of our misery. ;) Until next time, fellow Castle fans! – Red Fedora