Epiloge
It had been almost 40 years now since Senator Bracken was gone and Kate had accomplished what she wished for most in her life. The guy who had ordered her mother killed was long gone.
Kate had married Rick a short 3 months later. About one year later Kate gave birth to a little girl. Jennifer Lynn Castle or Jenn for short. One year later came another little girl Emily Ginger Castle or L for short.
Kate had asked to officially adopt Alexis one day before she married Rick. Now she had three little girls. Her life was just so different than what she had ever pictured just months before her mother had been killed.
Jenn and Emily had eventually undergone testing on Evergreen and been accepted and now they both had nanites flowing through their blood. It had come as a shock to them when they found out their father was a real honest to god ET and so was their big sister.
They seemed to take the fact that their own blood was now half ET in stride.
They all, including Kate eventually learned the language of their father and/or older sister.
Jenn got into politics for a short time in school. A short time because America had undergone a fundamental change in its politics. The government shutdown and short term default of the country's debt and been kicked down the street and repeated less than six months later. Only to repeat it all over again less than six months later.
It was too much for far too many people. There were severe riots in a lot of major cities. Entire blocks were burned down. It cost the county Billions in lost income and property damage.
A full 90% of congress was voted out during the next election and just over 50% of the house was also replaced. Those new people came in and while a lot fell victim to the risks of fraud and corruption of their predecessors. They were quickly voted out the following election year. All the others made massive changes in how the government was run.
All those weird maps of voting districts were federally outlawed and replaced with a mathematical based one.
The President was restricted to just two terms during his/her lifetime. Something similar was done for all in the Senate and the House. There were no more lifetime politicians.
The super conglomerates of super companies were broken up by government. This had an immediate impact on the number of CEO's who were paid giant amounts of money. All those golden parachutes were also banned by the government. It was a different country. Was in a better county? History will be the judge of that.
Even the Supreme Court underwent a change. They were no longer appointed by a President and they no longer had lifetime terms. There were even changes in the court system.
Example ; Chief Justice William Rehnquist's majority opinion held that a claim of actual innocence based on newly discovered evidence did not state a ground for federal habeas relief. Herrera had claimed that, because the new evidence demonstrated innocence, his execution would violate the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment which applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. Rehnquist's opinion noted that "[f]ew rulings would be more disruptive of our federal system than to provide for federal habeas review of freestanding claims of actual innocence." Rehnquist's opinion, although not explicitly holding that the Eighth Amendment does not prohibit executing an innocent person, emphasized that Herrera was not raising a constitutional violation.
Justice Blackmun, joined by Justices Stevens and Souter, dissented. Blackmun believed that "[n]othing could be more contrary to contemporary standards of decency or more shocking to the conscience than to execute a person who is actually innocent." Blackmun would have remanded the case to the district court for a determination as to whether a hearing should be held and to resolve the merits of Herrera's claim of actual innocence.
Chastising the majority for its circumspection, Blackmun wrote, "We really are being asked to decide whether the Constitution forbids the execution of a person who has been validly convicted and sentenced, but who, nonetheless, can prove his innocence with newly discovered evidence," and he took note of "the State of Texas' astonishing protestation to the contrary."
Four months after the Court's ruling, Herrera was executed. His last words were: "I am innocent, innocent, innocent. . . . I am an innocent man, and something very wrong is taking place tonight."
All that was changed. It wasn't the system that was in charge anymore. It was Justice.
As soon as the girls were born Rick had gone from writing two books a year to just one. Even though he complained of being overrun by a house full of Estrogen, Kate knew he wouldn't change it even if he could.
Which brought up a new topic for Kate today. It was her birthday. She was officially 80 years old today. She knew Rick was planning something, but even the girls weren't talking. Presents and a Cake, probably ice cream cake if Alexis had anything to say about it, would be part of it Kate knew.
If you looked at a picture of her when Kate was 40 you would be hard pressed to see the differences between 40 and 80. The nanites had done so much for her. Kate thought she knew what she was doing when she had accepted. But this was not one of them. It had done the same for all the girls. They just didn't look as old as they really were.
This had brought up a new problem for them all. Everyone was getting older and the Castle clan was not. They had already started making arrangements to change their names. Castle would become Crystal. Rick was going to change from writing murder mysteries to something more Sci-fi under his new name. He even had a new publisher that had agreed to his contract submitted. It seemed to be a good fit. He was an ET after all. When the girls got married they would be taking their husbands last name anyway. The only thing left to be worked out, was what was Kate going do. No one was going to believe that she was over 80 years old soon at the Detective University. Kate and Rick were still working on this one. They figured they had about one more year to come to a decision.
The major stumbling block was Lucile. They were not leaving her behind. Lucile had stated that she would be fine. She did not want to be the one to prevent them from living their lives. Rick and Kate had both shut her down instantly. They were staying in the house no matter what it took. Lucile had only smiled and had never brought up the subject again. Lucile was a Castle or soon to be Crystal, end of discussion.
Well Kate had a surprise of her own for all of them. As she rubbed her hand over her belly. Maybe this one would be a boy. The girls had been wonderful surprises and Kate was still amazed just how big her heart could actually get. After her mother had been murdered all she saw was darkness. Now all she saw was light. Just thinking of what Rick and the girls did to her life brought tears to her eyes. They had all saved her. Saved her life. Saved her dreams.
Jim had died peacefully in his sleep ten years after Bracken. Or AB as Rick was calling it. Kate had cried for days. Even the girls couldn't snap her out of it. Then one day Kate noticed that Alexis had stopped calling her mom and was calling her Kate again. It broke her heart to hear her own daughter not call her mom anymore. It snapped Kate out of her dark cloud and she started acting more like mom again.
The tears for all of them came year after year a little later. Rick had asked every three months for ten years straight, year after year to let their friends take part in the testing or at least receive the nanites. However they were rejected each time.
Jenny, Kevin, Javi and Lanie were all gone now. Only their little girl and the boy that followed along with Lanie's youngest was still with them. They had them over to the house as well as their families as often as they could. But it just wasn't the same.
Rick and Kate had really missed them over the last few years. Kate was really missing Lanie. They both had new friends but Kate had learned fast that Lanie was just irreplaceable.
Rick had tried for years to have their friends children included in the testing or at least receive the nanites. But they were rejected each time. It had initially caused a lot of friction between Rick and Kate. Kate knew Rick was trying but it didn't seem fair.
Charlie was long since gone too. They have had a number of Collies since him, …. Kate didn't know how many. They even had a Collie now, and there was talk of adding another. They had found that Collies loved children. Maybe the perfect family dog. Loving, loyal and protecting of their family. He even loved to play with the projection of Lucile. He never did figure out why he could never get her. You could tell him to go find someone and he would come back with them. Kate loved them all but Charlie meant the most to her. He was after all, the one that had proposed to her.
Vince was long gone too. Alexis had not taken his loss well. "He promised to teach me how to fight off all those boys that got too fresh with me." Alexis had cried out.
"I know he did sweetie. And if it was up to him he would have kept his promise. He loved you a lot." Kate had told her. Even though he was a mob boss.
Then they found out about Natalie Rushman and her husband Jimmy and their two boys. Sarah 'Mac' Mackenzie had been a big help in bringing Bracken down. She in turn had brought in Natalie and Jim via Hank to bring pressure on Bracken. They and their two boys had been accepted into the testing and given nanites. Kate had even found out that Natalie was three months pregnant again. Two months out in front of Kate. She called it her Marine gene. Natalie had to beat Kate at everything she could.
Their family had become the closest friends Rick, Kate, Alexis and the girls had. And since they were all accepted into the testing it was likely to stay that way for a long time. Rick had even gotten them bracers so they could show up at Rick's house on a whim.
It was like Kate's family had doubled overnight. They talked almost daily and had dinners together often. They even went on vacations as one big group.
Natalie and Jim were in overall charge of the Everett naval base. Including the new addition that had recently been added. The first official space plane base in the United States. And their two boys were the latest space fighter jocks. They were flying the latest in technology of fighter planes in space. They could take off from ground bases and reach space without any aid from booster rockets.
They had the latest in laser technology on board and also had the newest space capable missiles. The same Boeing Company that made their fighter planes was also making an unmanned project called SCOOP. It was planned that it would go into orbit, open up like a giant umbrella and collect as much orbital debris as it would handle, or SCOOP up, then fire it's booster and tumble into the sun and burn up. If it worked as planned there would be a least two more missions just like it. Removing almost every piece of orbital junk ever put into space.
The Castle family had started going over to see them at least once a month for the last 10+ years. Jenn and L had taken an immediate liking to both of Natalie's and Jim's sons. Jenn and L had started to notice, BOYS! And now they were visiting Natalie and Jim and family without Rick and Kate a lot more lately. Rick had left it to Kate to explain how boys worked and what girls could do to them or with them. Kate had even helped out with what to wear to get the boys to do what the girls wanted them to and coach them in what to say and do. Rick and Kate were just waiting for the guys to pop the question. They both already knew what the answer would be.
Kate really had become MOM!
Kate had been promoted to Captain and was placed in charge of the 12th Precinct after Captain Montgomery had retired. But she did not really enjoy the job as much as she hoped she would. Kate was an 'in the field' kind of girl.
And then along came an opportunity of a lifetime. With this new government came new ideas to solve old problems. Something the old politicians did was simply slap a coat of paint over the rusting out hulk and call it good.
The State of New York had opened up a new training academy. It was small at first, but the first person they had thought to ask to be in charge of it was Captain Kate Beckett – Castle. She was going to teach all the other detectives in the state how to be and what it meant to be a homicide detective. If this worked the State of New York would be filled with homicide Detectives just like Kate Beckett – Castle. Because she was going to teach them everything she knew and everything she didn't.
This new job had been an almost instant success. It had gone from a one room hole in the wall in an old abandoned building to its own state of the art facility. Rivaled only by some of the bigger Universities in the country. Now 31 other states were opening their own training departments and getting their 'Deans' from the graduating classes taught by Kate.
It seemed there would now be hundreds of Kate Beckett – Castle's all over the country. There was even scuttlebutt going around that it was going to become another Dept. rivaled only by the FBI in scope and size. And there was only one person thought to be number one on the list to head this new Dept. The only question remaining was, would she accept? With the Headquarters located at the NY campus, which was undergoing yet another expansion.
With the new government came a new way of thinking. Cars that ran on gasoline were coming harder and harder to come by. They were being phased out with new clean burning cars. The United States was leading the charge into this and other so called 'Green Technologies'. All of this change meant a new infrastructure. This in turn meant new jobs all across the country. The unemployment rate was at a new low.
Kate still had her Shelby GT500 Super Snake that Rick had bought for her. However since gasoline was getting harder and harder to find she didn't get to drive it much anymore. Still it was one of her most prized possessions. It had Rick's love written all over it. So she was keeping it till the day she died.
Which was part of a culture shock for Kate. At 80 years old she was still only just under one third of the way into her expected life span. She was still young actually. Dr. Lee had told her she could have still more children for several more years if she was so inclined. The one she had now that Rick was going to find out about tonight would be her third child by birth but really her fourth child. Alexis was still number one.
Dr. Lee had also been correct about one of her kidneys failing. Just 52 years into her life after the testing she was now the proud owner of a cloned kidney. Dr. Lee told her it was functioning just fine. However the other one may also need to be changed within the next 50 years. Kate and Dr. Lee were glad they had decided to take additional samples for the future.
"You girls ready? Your mother is going to be here soon." Rick was still scrambling to put every little piece in place for when Kate came home.
"Yes dad!" All three had said in unison. How those three always did that was still a mystery to him.
"Boys?"
"All set Uncle Rick." Natalie and Jim's sons were in on it also.
"Lucile?" Rick asked.
"Kate is just now approaching her usual door to open a Transmat wall. She should be up the stairs in less than a minute." Lucile confirms.
It had been another rough day at work. And wondering what Rick would say when she told him had her a little worried. Kate knew she shouldn't, but still…
Kate had reached the top of the stairs and was about to announce her presence when "SUPRRISE!" And everyone popped their hand held streamer bottle poppers and Kate was promptly covered in little lengths of colored paper.
Stepping up to the top and looking around. The girls had picked up another bottle of streamers to pop. Natalie and Jim's boy were here. And her husband was beaming at her. And Rick must have bought out an entire store of balloons. They were everywhere. It must have taken hours to get them all into place. Even JJ their latest Collie was bouncing around barking. JJ they found out the hard way, loved paper. In as many itsy bitsy pieces as he could get it into. They had lost a number of books thanks to JJ. The mail also appeared to be fair game to him.
There was an ice cream cake on the dining room table. As if this family could eat any other kind of cake. Along with presents in some of the most interesting color combinations of wrapping paper possible. Obviously her fantastic husband had a hand in that.
"Happy Birthday mom." Came from all three girls. And 'Happy Birthday Aunt Kate." From the boys.
Rick for his part simply came around the table pulled Kate into his arms. "Happy Birthday, beautiful wife." And the girls popped their streamer bottles and got their dad covered in the stuff also. And then Rick kissed her.
"We're sorry mom and dad couldn't make it. They send their apologies. Their gift is in this pile somewhere." The boys tell Kate.
Kate simply goes around to everyone giving out kisses while wiping away tears and giving out "Thank you's!"
"Here mom, cut the cake before it melts." As Alexis hands over the cake knife.
While Kate cuts everyone sings Happy Birthday (and not in English).
What's left of the cake is in the refrigerator, all the presents are open. Rick's present had gotten to her the most. Diamond ear rings and a diamond bracelet to match her engagement ring. "Saturn or Jupiter?" Kate had asked. "Yes." Was Ricks only response. Making Kate laugh.
The boys said their goodbyes and the girls had gone with them. Alexis wished her mom another Happy Birthday, gave her a kiss and left also to go see her boyfriend. Leaving Rick and Kate alone.
Rick breaks the silence. "We need to go shopping soon."
"Oh, and what are we going shopping for?" Kate questions.
"All three boys asked me if they could marry our daughters today." Rick spills the beans.
"Really? All three?" Kate's mouth is hanging open. Kate knew it was coming, but all three?
"We're going to have the house all to ourselves soon." Rick tells her.
Kate gets up and finds her purse and pulls out a small box. "I've got something for you to." Kate tells him. "Open it." Sitting back down next to Rick.
With a puzzled expression, Rick opens the box and pulls out a tiny pair of shoes. "KATE?" As tears start to form in his eyes.
Kate just nods her head. "Not empty for long." Kate tells him.
Rick flings the shoes over his shoulder onto the sectional and envelopes Kate in a giant bear hug.
"Rick, …. Can't, ….. Breath." Kate barely gets out.
Rick releases her but before she can breathe in any air, his lips are on hers in a kiss that he puts every ounce of love he can manage into it.
Breaking from the kiss. "I love you Katherine Houghton Beckett – Castle!"
"And I love you Richard Edgar Castle."
And in the background "I love both of you" Said a very soft and lovely voice.
So far there were two things that Lucile knew that they didn't. First – she knew exactly who was behind who killed Bracken. Second – Kate would never find out that Roy Montgomery was ever involved in this mess.
She was going to make sure she took those two things with her to the grave.
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For everyone that followed, you have my thanks. I trust you enjoyed it. Remember, anything is possible! Is it probable? Now you are talking about something else entirely.
As for my version of what happens to the US Government. Let's just say I'm mad! Anyone who has a job approval rating of less than 5%, like Congress does, deserves to be FIRED! Every, ... last, ... one of them!
As for the one reviewer who already wanted a squeal even before chapter 60 was posted. I didn't have one planned but i have started one. I'm up to chapter 11 so far. So you can look for it in about 2 weeks or so. It's titled "Life is a Beach".
See you in the funny papers.
"Th-Th-Th-Th-Th-... That's all, folks." - Porky Pig. Prior to Porky Pig it was Bugs Bunny, (Brooklynese accent) "And Dat's De End!"
