Did you guys see the EW photo shoot?

The promo pics?

The Official Poster?

I just love Nathan and Stana so much.

I can't wait till September 24th.

"Wait! How do you know it's Lanie? There's no way you subpoenaed her financials." Alexis said. She really could've been a detective. Lord knows she covered all her bases.

"Please! I'm the financial holder of both their accounts. I had a friend of mine print me a copy of the bank statement since Dad does everything online and I recognized the account number. It's Lanie's." Johanna concluded. "But it's not the exact amount the care home charges."

"Well does Lanie make monthly payments anywhere?" Alexis asked.

"I'd have to go to her house and check." Johanna replied.

"Wait what? Why didn't you do that before you came over?" Alexis exclaimed.

"I thought you would've wanted me to... I'm sorry I guess I got too excited. But I'm pretty sure Lanie's home." Johanna said. Alexis shook her head in disappointment, but it didn't delay them. They quickly made their way over to Lanie's, giving her the excuse that Johanna had misplaced a file and needed it to finish one of her tax forms. Lanie knew she was lying because Johanna didn't make mistakes. And because she distinctly remembered all her tax forms were completed 3 months ago. She let them do as they pleased anyway. She never got much company. They set up in Javier's old office as Lanie went to prepare them tea and snacks.

They feverishly combed through the files, going from page to page, searching for the bank account number until Alexis concluded, "It's not here." She was beginning to second-guess her little sister. "Are you sure it was her bank account?"

"I'm sure. I just can't find it." Johanna said taking a seat. Lanie came in and set down the platter holding their tea and cookies. They thanked her as she left, leaving them to their business.

Lanie listened to them converse a while, smiling at how close they've come. She found a picture of her and Javi on the wall and imagined what he'd do if he were here. She moved to her room, entered the combination to her safe and pulled out a folder. This is what he would've done. There was no doubt in her mind and she smiled again because it made her feel closer to him.

"Maybe we should just ask her." Johanna said.

"No, then she'll know we lied." Alexis replied.

"She'll understand if we explain." Johanna argued.

"She's working with Dad. She won't tell us." Alexis responded. She was collected, thinking every scenario through. "But what if you interrogate her?"

"I could. I've gotten criminals to admit to much worse." Johanna said.

"Let me save you the trouble." Lanie interrupted. She stood in the doorway, holding out the folder for them. "It's what you came for right? Here, take it."

"Thank you." Alexis said, confused, but nonetheless she took it.

"Say hi to your mother for me." Lanie said. She walked away leaving the girls speechless. They were thankful, promising to visit more often as they left. "Good luck Castle." She sipped at her tea, staring at a photo taken at the 12th, the last time everyone was together and she smiled, knowing that this chapter of their story was coming to an end.

"Kate... I..." Castle fumbled with his words.

"Did you know? Who I was?" Kate said. She bit down on her anger, attempting to talk calmly. Attempting, not succeeding.

Castle had imagined this happening before, but never did he think he would be so tongue-tied. He stopped, feeling his explanation stuck in his throat. He took a deep breath, and replied, "Yes, I knew."

"What about Alex? Does he know? Or our other children?" Kate said.

"Oh yeah, we know." Alexis said, entering the room. The world shuttered in silence. Everything went black as Castle struggled to catch his breath. He had run through every scenario in his head, but none of them involved Alexis or Johanna, let alone the both of them. He sat at their mercy, each like a titan towering over him. He was small and feeble at best.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" Johanna said. Castle shook in his bed, but he wasn't scared. He felt guilt, he felt disappointment in himself, but most of all, he was relieved. The truth was out there. So what if they were angry. Okay maybe them being angry was still a little frightening, but nothing compared to the internal struggle he had been dealing with for the past three years. Finally, he felt like his life could move foreword again.

Castle peered out his window. "It's raining outside." Castle uttered.

"Is that your best attempt at changing the subject? Dad I can't believe you lied to us! To mom! We at least deserve an explanation." Alexis said, raising her voice.

"It was raining the day we lost your mother." Castle explained.

"We didn't lose her. She's right here." Alexis fought.

"Yeah, but she was lost." Castle spoke. Each of them was about to speak, but they couldn't. Underneath his words, they heard his heart breaking, slowly, but nonetheless. "I searched for you. I did." He said addressing Kate. "It took me ten years to accept what happened, but every moment of every day, I denied you were dead." Kate moved to his side, clutching his hand in hers. She forgot her anger, she forgot everything, and moved only on instinct.

"Castle." Kate muttered. She couldn't help it. She didn't remember a thing, but her body did. Her hand knew the crook of his neck, her fingers knew they fit perfectly between his, and her ears knew his cry. And no matter what God or fate or destiny had done to separate them, they would not succeed.

"And when I finally found you, I couldn't tell you who I was without feeling some sort of guilt. You went through so much, all alone, because of me. Because I couldn't protect you. I couldn't be there for you when you needed me." Castle spoke. Kate could feel his voice trembling, and small tears forming in his eyes.

"No, you were there for me." Kate replied. It didn't matter that he lied. "This locket!" She grabbed it off his book, opening it to reveal the picture inside. "This helped me through every bad day and every horrible night. It made me feel like I mattered to someone."

"You still do." Castle said, bring his hand to her cheeks, cradling her face. "Kate I never stopped loving you."

"But what…" Johanna said, shuffling to her father's bed. Alexis took hold of her arm, forcing her to stop. Alexis shook her head, signaling her sister that it was enough. They were done for today. They were done period. Castle smiled in a way they haven't seen in a long time. Probably the last time these two were really together.

Tomorrow Kate would forget. Maybe she'll read it in her journal. Maybe she'll remember on her own, but for tonight, she was his and he was hers, like it used to be. Two halves of a whole finally together, even if only for a moment.

"Hey Dad. I'm back from my tri…" Alex said walking in. He grew quiet, feeling he had missed something because everyone was here. "What's happening?" Every heart skipped a beat, as they stood motionless. They didn't know what to say, feeling the world stuck on pause.

Who knew moments were that short.

Enjoy

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(For some reason I've already written the last chapter [which is not the next chapter] and I cried writing. so, just... be prepared)