I mentioned that I might to a companion piece to Ready to Live, which is about Beckett's perspective, and a few of you asked nicely, so here it is. Just some thoughts about why Castle is glad this is over.

Six years ago, when your new muse and friend Kate Beckett told you about her mother's murder, you could see the pain and lack of closure in her eyes, even though it had been ten years. And the only experience you had with solving murders was in your novels and a few cases over the past several weeks with the NYPD, but you had to do what you could to find out what had happened to Johanna Beckett, to see if you, with your writer's eye, could spot something no one else had. And Beckett thought she knew why you were doing this, because you were curious and immature and insensitive and focused on creating your character. But really, as you admitted years later, you wanted to give Beckett answers. You wanted to try to take away her pain. This brilliant, kind, beautiful detective you were already starting to fall for spent her entire life giving others closure regarding their loved ones' untimely deaths, but could never get any herself, and this seemed incredibly unfair.

Later, you discovered that a victim had been killed by Johanna's murderer, and you could see the grief all over Beckett's face. When she hurried out of the precinct, and then when she came to the loft that night, you resolved that you would help her in any way, even if that meant doing nothing. Because it was suddenly more important that you be at Beckett's side then that she find answers. And then you had the chance to do both, when you paid to have her mother's killer caught. Because you would pay any amount of money to make Kate Beckett happy.

And suddenly, Dick Coonan was dead, and it was your fault. Beckett was trying to save you, and so she killed him before she could get any answers. You didn't want to be at the precinct anymore. You didn't want to be a constant reminder to Beckett that she had killed her only lead. But she told you that you made her life more fun, and that she would find whoever sent Coonan one day and she wanted you to be there for that. And you hoped that would happen, that she would get justice for her mother, and that you would be at her side when it happened. And part of you hoped that by the time that happened, you would be more than her partner and friend.

And all of your hopes come true. When Beckett walks outside with Bracken, you're waiting for her. And yes, your relationship has changed since then. The ring she wears on her chain now is the one you gave her by your swings, and you're two weeks away from becoming her husband. And because you're about to promise to spend the rest of your life with her, you know what she needs to hear after she puts Bracken in a police car. And you know that she needs a hug from you, just as you need one from her, to symbolize that everything is over.

And you are glad that justice has been done, that Bracken's secrets are out and he'll never be president. But mostly, you're glad he's being put away because now Kate is safe. You won't have to find her bleeding on the ground, and take care of her even as you're fighting to control your emotions and fears. And you won't have to watch her get sucked into this again. You won't have to listen to her make plans to put her life in danger just to get justice. You won't have to contact Michael Smith to figure out how to save her from Bracken. She's not going up against an invisible monster you can't stop. Maybe you'll be able to protect her from everything now. You don't have to feel helpless every time she runs after Bracken without you.

And now Beckett's life doesn't have to be about her mother's death. She can truly live now, and you're moved by the fact that her new life can start just as the two of you are preparing to start a life together.

It's been five days since she interrupted Bracken to inform him that he'd been caught, and you know that she's happy and relieved, but at first, it was clear that there was still so much on her mind. And who wouldn't spend time remembering and reflecting. But over the past few days, she's started to move on from the past, and now whenever she's not at work, she's busy finalizing wedding details or spending time with you. You've barely talked about Bracken in days, but each of you knows how the other is feeling. You can tell that she's made peace, that she's ready to move on and focus on her life with you. And you know she knows that you're happy that she's happy, that you're there for her, as you always have been.

You would have been there to support her even if the search had taken the rest of your lives, but now that it's over, you're so grateful for the thought that maybe you only need to be by her side for happy moments now, that you won't have to ever watch her destroy herself over her mother's case again. She's happy and she's about to be your beautiful bride, and no one will be able to top that wedding present.

You're both at dinner now with your mother, Alexis, and Jim, and the atmosphere is happy and excited. As soon as you came back from DC, Beckett sat down with her father and told him everything, and you told some of it to your family, and now your combined family is sitting together and enjoying the happy moments to come. You're able to finally shake yourself out of your reverie and smile at Kate. She smiles back, without a care in the world, and you're able to be excited again that you're about to be married, as you sit there with the woman you will always love, and who will always love you. Always.

Thanks for reading!