"I agree, but apparently some people don't."

"All I am saying is that I know neither one of you would ever cheat."

"That isn't what you just said," he points out.

"I didn't mean it like that. I just meant I would believe that you cheated, before I would believe that she did. You have been loyal to her without a fault, and I don't think that you're capable of doing something like that. Dad, I have total faith in you."

"I would never do something like that. You know that. We're not talking about me, though."

"Right. Esposito knew that Kate would feel guilty. He knew that eventually you, and Lanie would both find out. Why would he sabotage both relationships for one night?"

"Kate doesn't remember," he adds.

"What?! That can't be true."

"Why not?"

"Something she told me once."

"Know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em?"

"First of all she said that she had never been drunk enough to do something she couldn't remember. In the same conversation she also said to always walk away with your clothes on so that you don't do something you will regret later."

"It is great advice, but it doesn't mean that she followed it."

"Are you sure there is no conspiracy here?"

"I can't come up with anything that explains all of it, but I would love to hear your theory."

"Let's just say that someone wanted to sabotage your relationship with Beckett. Obviously this is one of the only ways to do it."

"Who?"

"Shh! Don't ruin my story with your logic."

"Sorry."

"Someone wanted to get you away from her so that they could get closer to her, maybe. They looked for a pawn who was close to home. Whoever planned this wanted to cause upheaval. You are strongest working as a team. If you break up the team maybe none of you will be able to put the pieces together in time," she explains.

"But, why would 'Sito ever agree to any of it?"

"Because he was threatened."

"He doesn't intimidate easily."

"Physical pain doesn't scare him. His weakness is the people he cares about. If someone threatened to hurt them, or to kill them, he would bend to their will."

"I don't know," he expresses doubt.

"Maybe Beckett can't remember because it never happened. Maybe he wanted to think the blackmailer to think that he went through with it. Obviously the two of you aren't together anymore, so they probably believe their plan worked. What they didn't count on, is that Esposito is a stand up guy. He would never violate your trust. He wouldn't betray you, or Beckett like that. He thought if he could get her drunk enough that he could convince her something happened. That is the only way the plan would ever work."

"Alexis I have to admit that this is a rather brilliant theory. I mean it would be one devious plot, but it's all about the details, and you're missing quite a few."

"For example?"

"Who would have motive to do this?"

"Good question."

"And for what reason?"

"She knows too much."

"Kate knows too much? You think her life is in danger?"

Alexis shrugs, "Maybe."

She sits in her dining area, at the table. The light hanging from the ceiling illuminates the papers in front of her. Two sealed envelopes sit before her. She looks at the phone sitting on the table to her right. She scoots her chair back, and takes a deep breath.

She looks down at her stomach. Her blue button down shirt is un-tucked. It hides the slowly growing bump that is beginning to form. She has yet to tell her employer, or her new partner. She stares at the ring that is still on her finger. The diamond in the center of the ring sparkles as the light from the chandelier hits it. She refuses to take it off, though she is certain that there is no repairing her relationship with Castle. There is no going back, no fixing things this time. She can't change what happened. She can only mourn the loss of what they had, what they could have had.

She unlocks her phone, and hits number one on her speed dial. His picture pops up. She looks at his face, wracked with guilt. She misses him so much that it hurts. When she wakes up in the middle of the night, in bed, alone it takes her a few seconds before she realizes why he isn't there, beside her. Each night before going to sleep she prays that she will wake up with him next to her. She wishes that all of this could be an awful nightmare, so she could wake up to a different reality. She vacates her seat, and heads to her room.

She ditches her clothes in a pile, on the floor. She showers, and throws on some clothes. She finds herself wearing his t-shirt. She climbs into bed, and closes her eyes. She doesn't set her alarm clock, as it is Friday night. She flips off her lamp, and closes her eyes.

She wakes up to the sound of snoring. She refuses to open her eyes, knowing it is all a dream. She can feel his arms snaked around her. She can feel the warmth of his body as he lies next to her, underneath the sheets. She can smell the scent of his man moisturizer. She doesn't want to open her eyes, praying that the dream won't end abruptly as it always does.

Finally she elicits enough courage to open her eyes. As she opens them the sunlight from the window across the room pours in. She looks down, and sees an arm wrapped around her waist. Fingers rest against her abdomen. She rolls over, still underneath his arm. She stares at his face in silence. He isn't clean shaven. He looks scruffy, it is obvious he hasn't shaved in a couple of days. He looks peaceful as he sleeps, despite the intermittent snoring.

She presses her hand against his chest. He doesn't threaten to move. The tips of her fingers rest on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart underneath his ribcage. She moves her hand, slowly reaching upward. She stops when she reaches his face. She presses her hand against his cheek. The bottom of her hand rest on his jaw line. She leans in close, and presses her lips to his.

She feels a sense of peace come over her as his warm lips press against hers. She feels her pulse quicken, knowing that this dream will soon screech to a halt. After a few seconds she recoils. She scrutinizes his face, waiting for him to disappear into thin air.

"Don't stop," he whispers. He places his hand, strategically against the small of her back. He pulls her closer to him. Her bare leg presses against the cloth of his silk boxers. Her toes touch his bare leg. She reaches for his arm. She finds the meatiest spot that she can, and she pinches him. He opens his eyes, and stares at her in bewilderment.

"That was uncalled for."

"You're not supposed to talk this is a dream."

"In your dreams I'm silent?"

"That isn't the point."

"No, you're right. The point, quite obviously is that you still dream about me, despite the fact that we aren't together anymore."