Epilogue 2:
January 9, 2019:
Jennifer Burton stood on the deck watching the waves come crashing into the shore of Monterey Bay. She took a sip of her sparkling water as she gently rubbed her now swelling stomach. She felt the first kick two days ago and she was anxiously awaiting her appointment with her OBGYN to have the first ultrasound performed. She smiled when she remembered how excited her husband was hearing the news the first time.
'Husband'. She was still amazed sometimes that she was lucky enough to finally be with the man of her dreams. Jennifer closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for her mother. It was twenty years ago today that Johanna Beckett was senselessly murdered by Dick Coonan in that alley in Washington Heights. She hoped that her mother would finally be proud of her.
Her cellphone rang and she walked back into her home and picked it up from the table. Glancing at the picture displayed she smiles and answers with a cheery 'Hey babe, did the little man lose you again at the playground?' She listens to the response and can't help but laugh. There was something magical about her laugh, something that had been hidden from everyone for far too long. Her husband informs her that her son and he were having a very good time at the playground and wanted to know what you wanted us to pickup for dinner. After agreeing on pizza, she hung up the phone and walked back out on the deck. It had been a warm day for early January and she tugged her sweater a little tighter around herself as she returned her gaze to the ocean.
Jennifer walks back into the house and into the kitchen where she gathers up the plates and silverware needed for the food. Just like his father, her son loved pizza and was always happiest when they had it for dinner. That and macaroni and cheese. She finished setting the table just as her phone rang again. Jennifer picked it up from the table and smiled seeing who was calling. "Hey dad. How are you doing?"
"I feel great Katie, thanks for asking. Where's my favorite grandson?" She could feel his grin though the phone. Jim was adamant about calling Kate by her given name regardless of whatever it may legally be.
"He's off with his father for a little 'guy time'." She answered with a laugh. "They should be back within the hour.. So how are you really doing dad?" Eighteen months ago Jim had been feeling a little off for a while before he made the trip to California to see his daughter and grandson. She knew immediately that something was wrong and made him go to see a doctor while he was visiting. They found that his liver was failing and got him on the transplant list. Six months later, a donor was found in Washington DC. The transplant was successful and Jim was given a clean bill of health. He would forever have a regimen anti-rejection drugs that he would have to take, but he had many years to look forward to. Years to watch his grandchildren grow.
"I'm doing ok considering what day it is. I dropped off flowers from both of us. It's hard to believe that she's been gone for twenty years.. She was the love of my life Katie."
"I know dad. I miss her too. I just hope that she's not disappointed with me."
"How can you say that? Your mother would be so proud of you. You're finally living the life you always deserved." Jim paused to change the subject to a happier topic. "So, are you going to find out what the baby is beforehand, or are you going to wait to be surprised?"
"I haven't given it a lot of thought dad. We've got an ultrasound planned for tomorrow. It may be too soon to tell anyway. I kind of liked not knowing the last time."
"I'm so proud of you Katie. I love you."
"I love you too dad." Kate/Jennifer replies as she ends the call. Her thoughts drift back to that day by the swings where she said a single word that would forever make her life better.
She said yes.
May 2014:
She gasped as she looked at Rick down on one knee presenting to her what she believed was the most beautiful ring she ever saw. Jennifer nearly burst into tears as she almost reflexively replies. "Yes, Richard Edgar Alexander Rodgers Castle. Yes, I will marry you!"
The gobsmacked look on his face at her reply was priceless and she burst into a fit of giggles as he rose to his feet on shaky legs. She threw her arms around his neck and proceeded to pepper his cheeks with kisses. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and planted the most tender and loving kiss on her lips that made her knees suddenly weak. "I love you. I tried not to, but I couldn't stop myself."
"I love you too Rick, always.." She smiled and gave him a sultry smirk. "Would you like to go back to my apartment and celebrate our engagement?"
Castle could only give her what looked like a lecherous grin as he replies. "You don't know how bad I want to take you up on your offer, but I have an idea.. Lake Tahoe is a five hour drive away. We could be married in six. I don't want to wait another day. We've already waited six years."
"Let me pack some things."
"Don't bother. I don't think that you'll be wearing much for a while and we can buy you clothes there. Anything you want. There are some perks to marrying a millionaire.."
They were heading east on route 80 within minutes. The time to get there was well spent as they talked, really talked about everything. There were no secrets, no walls, no lies.
Castle was wrong. It took seven hours before they became husband and wife.
They flew to Hawaii for an official honeymoon three days later. Both agreed that this 'do-over' was a chance for them to start anew. Kate had no desire to return to law enforcement and liked the idea of going back to school. They both liked the idea of leaving New York and becoming permanent residents in Northern California. Rick liked the idea as he would be close to Alexis who was going to stay at Stanford. It looked like things were getting serious between her and Ashley.
The house in the Hamptons was quickly sold for a considerable profit. They agreed to keep the loft despite the fact that no one would be living there. Martha had been living in Kate's old apartment for several months now. They spent the first weeks back from their honeymoon just traveling along the coast of northern California searching for the perfect home. One that they chose together. They ended up picking a beautiful ocean view house in Pacific Grove, A smaller town between Carmel and Monterey. They were a two hour drive from both San Francisco and Palo Alto. Rick hoped that Alexis would take advantage of it to come and visit him more often. She might be a grown woman, but she will forever be his little girl.
Two months later, they were just getting settled in their new home when Jennifer came from the bathroom with a smile that Rick had never seen before. She reverently lays the white piece of plastic on the counter in front of Rick. Turning it over he sees the pink plus sign and can't control the grin on his face. Castle practically vaults over the counter to take his wife into his arms for a kiss that left both of them heading to the bedroom to continue 'practicing' despite their obvious success. Rick was sure that he had only been this happy once in his life and that was the moment when he first held Alexis in his arms.
The next few months were a blur. Castle was as nervous as a first time father despite having a full grown daughter. Jennifer was the sensible one, reeling him in every time he wanted to make some impetuous purchase for the baby. They both agreed to have a formal wedding ceremony for friends and family at a small church there in town. Jim and the other members of the Beckett clan were there. Rick chartered a small jet and flew Jim and his relatives along with Martha, Jenny, Kevin, Lanie and Javi. Jennifer was six months pregnant as she walked down the aisle at the small ceremony in Carmel. She absolutely glowed as she looked at the man that made all of this possible for her standing at the altar waiting.
Three months later Richard Alexander Rodgers Castle was born. Both mother and father were absolutely thrilled. All of her fears about being a mother vanished the moment she held the child in her arms the first time. Rick was everything that she could hope for in a partner raising a child. He willingly shared the duties that came with raising a small child with the same enthusiasm he had with life in general. Jennifer loved staying at home with 'Cosmo' as Rick had nicknamed him, but after six months the need to do something more started creeping in.
Not needing a paying job, Jennifer devoted her spare time to volunteer work helping tutor pre-school and elementary school aged children. She soon found that teaching a child to read was satisfying her need to help give back to others. She soon recruited Rick to devote both his time and money to help. Their work didn't go unnoticed, Jennifer was asked to run for recently vacated school board position. With a child of her own that would be entering the public school system in a few years, she jumped at the opportunity and was elected that November.
Things settled into a comfortable routine. The both shared parenting duties and Castle returned to writing his Nikki Heat novels. Having your muse as your wife certainly made life easier. Jennifer stayed involved with her volunteer work and the school board. Jennifer became so tuned to her husband's moods that she could sense that something was bothering him. Keeping her promise to never let any concern go unaddressed between them, she confronted him one night after they put their son to bed.
Rick sheepishly walked out of his office and laid the manuscript on the table before her. She looked at the cover page – 'A Murder in Washington Heights'. Jennifer turned to the dedication page and gasped as she read it:
'To Johanna and Jennifer. The two bravest women I've ever known.' Rick left her alone as she quietly read his telling of her mother's murder and the story of how they were finally able to get the justice that was deserved. Castle had changed all of the names of those that were still alive, not wanting to draw any undue attention. He also chose to use a fair amount of editorial license in omitting his involvement or his father's with the case.
Walking back into the room an hour later, Jennifer was still intently reading. Sensing his presence, she folded the corner of the page to mark her place and closed the document, looking up at him with puffy eyes. She rose to her feet and wrapped her arms around him in a loving embrace. "This may be the best thing that you have ever written Rick. Why did you hide it from me?"
"I wasn't sure how you would feel about me delving into your past.. I remember how angry you were when you found out I was poking my nose where it didn't belong. I'm sorry if you're mad at me, but I wanted the world to know just how extraordinary you and your mother are.. I haven't told anyone about this and I won't send it to Black Pawn unless you're on board with it.."
She could see the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke. Jennifer thought back to all those times she had heard people say how being with her made him into a better man. They were all wrong, being with him made her a better woman. The woman that first approached Rick all those years ago bore little resemblance to the woman standing here today. She kissed him tenderly on the lips and commented. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
Rick gave her a grin much like she saw on her son. "Yes, but I'll never get tired of hearing you say it." Taking her hand in his, he tugged her towards the bedroom with a sly smile. "It's time we start to make Cosmo a little sister.." He winked as he pulls her into the bedroom and quietly shuts the door..
AN: Thank you for making it all the way to the end. I trust that one of the endings was satisfactory. I always thought that it could go either way even while writing it.