Rick and Kate held each other for a while. It had been so long since they had been this intimate with each other. Their relationship had become more than sex, and in this moment, it was just about the love they had for each other. Words weren't needed. They were healing in a different way, through touch. It was freeing and exhilarating. This moment, here in each other's arms, was perfect.

Kate had one arm cradling Castle's head to her. She ran her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. They still hadn't spoken, too worried to break the spell that had fallen over them when she explained her dream. Eventually, Kate could tell that Rick had fallen asleep again. They had spent so much of yesterday talking (fighting) that he hadn't rested nearly enough. Add in the nightmares that have been waking him up Kate was shocked he'd been able to resist the tug of sleep for as long as he had.

She was content to hold him, touch him, while he slept. Kate found herself awake before him on so many occasions while they were together that she reveled in the regularity of this moment. Plus, if it kept the monsters away Kate would stay here forever for him. She huffed at herself for that. She has become that girl, the girl she would've kicked her ass for thinking such obnoxiously romantic crap.

Kate Beckett has become mushy.

Castle slept for a few hours. Eventually, Kate sat up on the bed next to him and played on her phone, texted the boys and her dad, and watched Castle sleep. She wasn't in a hurry to leave the side of her writer, but she was also not ready to fall asleep. It was going to take her awhile to trust that the nightmare won't return. She didn't want to live in that hell again.

Kate thought back to everything that had happened this week. From getting the phone call about Castle, quitting her job, and fighting her way back to his side. Just today she woke up feeling great, then nearly lost Castle because of her pride, agreed to nurse him back to health while living with him, and now she is lying in his bed after he comforted her. It is a damn good thing she is used to accepting ridiculously crazy situations as they come at her, and dealing with them ok. She has had a lot of practice over the years, with Rick by her side, and this week counts as one of them. Partners, she smiled, even now.

"Katherine?"

Kate looked towards the door. Martha and Alexis stood just inside his room with slack jaws. It was apparent by the tone of Martha's voice and the look on their faces that seeing Kate in his bed was the last thing they expected.

This is going to be awkward.

"Oh. Hey," she waved, "come on in." Kate whispered as loud as she could. She didn't want to stir Castle from his sleep.

"We wanted to stop in and see how he was doing. We haven't heard from him today and we were getting worried. Thought maybe the nurse's had grown tired of his complaining and shot him up with morphine to knock him out." Martha joked.

Kate chuckled. "No, we used a pillow instead… won't show up in the blood work that way."

"Ah. Detective, it's a good thing we keep you around."

"Actually, he has been out running tests and starting PT this morning. It wore him out now that he is able to be up and moving. He hasn't even complained once." The love in her voice and the way she kept looking down at him while talking alerted Martha to a shift in their relationship.

"Darling, is there something we should know?"

Kate pulled her eyes from Castle. She looked back and forth between the two red heads. Martha had a knowing smirk on her face, one that she had seen on Castle countless times. It annoyed her how well they could read her. Alexis' expression was harder to read. She hadn't spoken a word since she entered the room. Her gaze was shifting between her father and Kate.

"No? I don't think so. I mean… obviously we are doing better than the last time you saw us, but nothing has changed." Kate stumbled.

"Right. Just like you two were partners for four years." Martha said.

Kate laughed. "Nothing gets past you, Martha."

"So what is the plan?" Alexis finally spoke up. Her voice almost monotone. She wasn't being rude, she had already apologized for the way she had first acted, but she was still being cautious.

"Well, your father is being released tomorrow, as long as everything goes well today. He will need someone to stay with him for 48 hours supervision, but they would like it to be for at least a week."

Kate paused before she the next part of the plan. She wasn't sure how Alexis was going to react to this news. She wished Castle was awake for this part.

"We talked and decided that I would stay with him in the loft."

"What? No, it's ok, Beckett. I'm going to stay with Dad. I've already spoken to my professors about taking the week off." Alexis replied.

"Alexis, honey, you can't put your education on hold. Katherine will stay with him while you are at school." Martha tried to intervene.

"Gram. It won't be a problem. I want to stay with him…" Alexis said.

"Alexis," Kate finally spoke, "I get it. You want to be with him to make sure he is really ok. Why don't we both stay? However, I'm with Martha on this… school is important. As soon as he wakes up he will say the same thing."

"I don't trust you with him." Alexis stated. She dropped her gaze to her hands.

"Alexis…" Martha started.

"No, Martha, its ok." Kate stopped the rebuke before Martha could say any more. She turned to Alexis, "I get that. I blame myself for this, too. I don't deserve your trust, but I want to earn it. Is that ok with you?"

"I guess."

"I'm sorry for hurting him. I made some mistakes, and I don't deserve his forgiveness. I also hurt you both," Kate said while looking between the two Roger/Castle women, "and I am truly sorry. I never intended to hurt so many people with this job. I had… reasons for why I left… but in the end it wasn't worth it. This, you three and my dad, are more important to me. I've missed my family."

Kate could feel Rick's hand gripping her leg. He was letting her know that he was awake and heard everything she just said to his family. She was grateful he was allowing her this moment to ask for forgiveness, even if it was scary as hell.

Martha reached for Kate's hand. "I'm glad you are home, darling."

Kate nodded her head. Her emotions catching the words in her throat.

"What reasons?" Alexis asked. She wanted to know. It mattered to her because she couldn't come up with a good enough reason for Kate to leave her dad. Alexis had begun to think that Kate was the real deal, the one to make her dad happy. It had comforted her and made her so happy that it was Kate. She admired her so much. Then, she ripped their hearts out and ran to DC.

"Well," Kate took a deep breath. It was hard enough talking to Castle, but now going over it again with Little Castle… this was way worse. "I admit to being scared. I was scared that Rick and I weren't going anywhere, that maybe we were going somewhere, and I didn't know how to handle it. We didn't talk about our relationship so I wasn't sure where we stood."

"I also took the job… to get Bracken."

"Bracken?" Alexis questioned.

"I worry that my mother's murder will eventually come back to haunt me. I thought… maybe I could take him down before he takes me down. Then…"

"You could have the family you want with Richard." Martha finished for her.

The women were silent. Kate felt embarrassed, both at revealing her thoughts and at how ridiculous they sound now. Martha understood, from a mother's perspective, how important it was to feel like you can protect your children. She also understood from a woman's perspective how scary it is to jump into a relationship.

Alexis looked at Kate. She knew she was being honest, and that it was difficult for her to be that open with them. It had taken her by surprise, to hear about Bracken. She knew the majority of the story behind Beckett's mom's murder. She hadn't thought about how it would affect their future.

"I… look up to you, Kate. My dad idolizes you for a reason… you are smart, bad-ass, and really pretty. I loved that you two were together, and I was excited to have you in my life. Then you left us. Just like my mom, just like Gina. I had trusted you with him, to be better for him than the others, but you left."

"I came back." Ah, so this is why Alexis is so upset with her.

"The others did too. They left just as quickly."

"You're right." Kate conceded. "Except, I love your dad, so much. Not just the fun side of him, or the author side of him. I love how annoying he can be. I love how excited he gets over small things. I love how much he loves you and Martha. I love how serious he gets on cases. I love him, and I don't think the others could say that."

"Is love enough?" Alexis questioned.

Kate's face turned. It became the strongly independent, kick ass detective face Alexis saw so often. "Yes."

One word. That was all it took. Alexis knew that Kate was going to fight for her dad.

"Alexis? I want you to know… I don't just love your dad. You are a packaged deal, but I also respect you as a person. I've watched you grow up into an exceptional woman and I'm proud to say that I know you. I love you, too."

"Thanks, Kate." Alexis felt overwhelmed.

Martha took that as her cue to break in to the conversation.

"Katherine, darling, have you eaten today?"

"No… it's been a crazy day." Kate was still a little caught up in her conversation with Alexis. It was difficult to turn her attention to Martha.

"Well, kiddo, how about we go get them some food and we eat dinner together as a family tonight?"

Alexis smiled. "Chinese?"

"Yes, please!" Kate said just as her stomach growled.

"We will be back in an hour. That should leave the two of you enough time to talk about what Richard over there is trying to pretend to sleep through." Martha replied.

"Hey! If someone wasn't so loud I would've been fine to stay asleep. It's not like I'm trying to recover from a bullet wound or anything." Castle finally spoke.

"Whatever, dear, we will be back."

And then there were two.

"So… how you doing?" Castle tested.

Kate eased herself back down so she was lying next to him. "7."

"7? 7 what?"

"Scale of 1-10 on freaking out. I'm a 7."

Castle chuckled. "You did great, Kate."

"Easy for you to say… those red heads are scary!"

"Believe me… I know."

They were quiet for a moment, enjoying being back in each other's arms.

"You love how annoying I am." Castle quipped.

"Shut up, Castle." She said with a smile.