A/N: Thank you for all the reviews!

Third Time's the Charm

22 December, 2020

"Katherine, darling, thank you for coming," Martha presses a kiss on Kate's cheek.

"Good evening, Martha," Kate smiles at the older woman.

They sit at the table and sip on the wine Martha had served. They don't speak, enjoying each other's company for a moment. Martha, with all her dramatic flairs, do indeed enjoy some form of peace and quiet.

"So what are your plans after the divorce?" Martha is direct as ever, choosing the direct path instead of beating around the bush.

"I am moving in with my cousin, Sofia for a while. At least until I find a permanent place."

"Not that," Martha sighs. "What are your plans after the divorce?"

Kate doesn't know what to say. It feels as though something has lodged in her throat, refusing to leave, taking hold of her words and holding them hostage.

"I don't know," she says finally, a truthful confession of a fact she doesn't want to admit. As much as she wishes they will be better off without each other, she knows that he makes her better and she makes him better. Something had gone wrong in the equation and leaves them both hurting. She doesn't know what she will do in the future. She will continue her detective work, certainly, and be a mother to her children but other than that, she doesn't know what she will do. Maybe it's best. Maybe she can take the time to discover herself, find what she truly wants.

With or without Castle.

She finds herself tearing up, the emotions of the past year surfacing. Martha has been a mother to her and with her, she can't help but to be vulnerable, as much as she hates it. She misses her mother and she will miss Martha. She will miss every aspect of her married life, the good and the bad.

"Oh Katherine." Martha hugs her, cradling her head like how Johanna used to do. Her tears won't flow but she allowed herself to cry inside.

"What did I do wrong?" she whispers. She knows full well that the blame is not on her, not on any of them but she can't help but to wonder. "I should have-"

"Katherine, darling. Look at me," she is stern, yet gentle. Kate looks up. "It is not your fault. Do you understand?"

She nods and takes in a deep breath.

"Katherine, no matter what, you will always be family." Tears burn Kate's eyes.

"Thank you." Her voice is barely audible. She doesn't know what she has done to deserve such a wonderful... Family.

"Enough of the dramatics! Now let's finish the wine Richard has bought! No stopping until we are drunk!" Martha takes a long swig of the red liquid.

Kate laughs and joins in, allowing herself to indulge in some alcohol.

...

He was seething. His body was stiff, tense with emotions. His gaze was cold, so dark and emotionless that it sent shivers down her spine. He was like the darkest of night, the coldest winter, with haunting cold wind that settles inside of your bones, never truly leaving even if you are bundled up in clothes in front of a fire. His anger was silent and unforgiving.

And that made her angrier.

She was ice, she was cold. Like him, her anger was silent too.

The room was stifling, the emotions creating a weight that pushed against them and strangled them. There was no space left for a hint of any positivity. The air tasted like acid. burning their throats.

"You almost died," he growled, his eyes flashing.

"We've been through this," she hissed, glaring at him with all her might.

"You can't do this Kate. You can't just… Throw yourself in the line of danger."

"It is my job!"

"What about Jo? Ray? You almost died again Kate. Everytime... I don't want to get the phone call from Esposito telling me you are dead," he shouts, his hands balled into fists.

"You won't," she insisted and ran her hand through her hair, wincing at the pain that shot through her arm.

"I can't do this Kate. I can't just sit here and worry for your safety every damn time you step out of the house!"

They stand there, eyes aflame with ice. She was frustrated, he was tired. This argument had dragged on for months, ever since Raymond was born.

She loved her job, even the danger. It was what she did best. It was her passion. He could not take that away from her. She wouldn't allow that.

"Mum? Dad?" Joanna totters out from her room, rubbing her eyes.

They halt. "Hey little bug, you should be sleeping," Kate forced a smile and squatted down.

Joanna launched herself into her mother's arms and sobbed, her tiny body shaking. "I-I was scared!"

"I scared you huh? I'm sorry little bug," Kate pressed kisses on her daughter's head. Her daughter, her beautiful strong daughter.

"Ray cried! All day!" she continued to sob, pressing her face into her mother's shoulders, inhaling the familiar scent in, even if it was mixed with grime. "We wait for hours!"

Kate gently stroked her head, rocking her. "I'm sorry, Jo." Her cries slowly subsided as Kate comforted her.

"Let's get you to bed."

"Dad too," Joanna whimpered and reached for her father.

"Of course," he smiled, putting on the kindest, happiest smile he could conjure. Together, they put Joanna in their bed, and kissed her goodnight.

They went to Raymond, who was wide awake, his eyes wide with fear, as if he actually understood everything that transpired between his parents. With some cajoling, he went back to sleep and it felt as though everything was back to normal.

They could pretend that everything was all right, couldn't they.

…

She is looking through the filled photo album from 2016. She paused at the Christmas segment, a smile spreading across her face. Joanna was barely four months old, still so tiny. It is amazing how much she has grown through the years. It feels as though she is still the small baby a day ago.

The people in the photograph could be the very definition of bliss.

Lanie had snapped the picture when they weren't looking. Rick was sitting on the sofa, with Kate curled up against him. They are laughing as they watched Alexis and Martha try to entertain a unimpressed Joanna. Even as a baby, she had already perfected Kate's infamous stink eye. It must be the weird Christmas themed onesie Rick had bought for Joanna.

It is the smiles that caught Kate's eyes. Their mid-laughter smile was light hearted, innocently happy. She gets up from her feet.

The onesie must be in the loft somewhere. They had believed that it was lost, for no matter how much they tried to find it for Raymond, it never seemed to appear. Richard was disappointed but had found a new set of family sweaters for them to wear, which frankly, was far more ridiculous than that onesie.

She decides that she will go on a onesie hunt.

...

It still looks ridiculous after all these years.

She lets out a breathy laugh as she holds up the onesie she finds buried deep underneath Joanna's old crib.

"Kate?" he raps on the door.

"Hi," she smiles and holds the onesie up. "Remember this?"

His eyes sparkles with rare excitement. "I thought it was gone!'

"Apparently not! I think Joanna had stuffed it underneath her crib mattress."

"That sneaky girl," he says with pride.

"You still have not tell me where you got it from."

He blushes. "I made it," his confession is so soft she could barely catch it.

She laughs, throwing her head back, allowing her voice to be carried. It is one of her special laughs, the one that makes people feel compelled to join in.

He hugs her, laughing along.

Maybe third time's the charm.