I know I haven't updated this story in a while but my health has been acting up again.

Sorry Hope you enjoy the chapter :)

The garden was just like the way she remembered. Her mother had loved to plant in her spear time it reminded Kate of the times that she would come home from school and meet her mother hard at work. It was good that her father kept it clean and well trimmed even if it was a gardener who did it.

She walked over to the blossoming crape myrtle tree and smiled remembering how frustrated her mother was when she had first gotten it and the leaves fell off leaving the tree bare.

It never really started to grow until Johanna had died, she had gone out for fresh air one day and discovered a fresh sprig of leaves beginning to grow and she liked to think that the tree was a symbol of her mother's life, she always did feel better whenever she was around it.

She had just taken a seat under the tree when the back door opened.

"Katie, Katie..." Jim announced his arrival as he searched around the yard. He spotted her and then turned his gaze to the tree, his eyes watering as he did.

"Katie, what's this about? Is it because I'm dating?"

She stayed silent playing with one of the flowers at her feet.

"No."

Jim sighed and looked at his tight lipped daughter. "Katie, please talk to me."

"It's nothing dad." She thought about leaving it like that but no one really believed her when she said nothing anymore.

"Is this about me dating again Katie because I..."

Kate cut him off before he could go any further.

"It's not that dad, I don't mind you dating. I never expected you to be alone forever."

Jim looked confused. "Then what's the problem?"

"Did you have to pick someone so much like mom?" she snapped.

"Melissa is nothing like your mother Katie." He argued.

"Are you kidding she could be mom's twin. I told you so, that's moms four favorite words." She scoffed.

Jim looked from his daughter to one of the flowers on the tree.

"Katie I know your upset about me dating again but..."

"This isn't about you dating this is about you choosing a woman just like the the one you lost. It's almost like your replacing her." She stopped and sighed before continuing.

"And I know I said I didn't feel that way but I do and seeing her tonight having dinner with us I could help but think that it should be mom who's complementing Castle's books or playing with Becca or offering to help Alexis with her advanced Chem."

Kate finished allowing the tear to drop down her face.

Jim quickly wrapped his arm around her as she finally let her guard fall.

"I miss her daddy."

"Me too." He assured as the sobs of his daughter fill the air of silence before a tear fell down his cheek to.

"She hates me." Melissa said breaking the awkward silence in the room, her voice was wobbly and she looked like she was about to cry.

"I'm sure that's not true." Castle said hoping that it was enough to end the whole thing.

"Really then why'd she leave in the middle of the dinner... I screwed it up. Jim was right for making me wait so long to meet you all."

Castle looked to Alexis in a desperate attempt for help.

"Come on Becca let's go explore where mom grew up." The red head said making her escape as quickly as she could holding a giggling two year old.

He sighed but continued anyway.

"This is just new for her, your're the first person that Jim's dated since her mom died." He paused "At least I think so, anyway she's not very accustomed to this so just give her some time. I'm sure it's not you though."

Melissa calmed down and looked up taking his hands into hers smiling as she spoke.

"It's no wonder why you became a writer, you're amazing with words."

He beamed. "Thank you my wife wouldn't appreciate you stroking my ego very much."

Her face fell and he squeezed her hands.

"Just kidding he quickly told her."

Then she relaxed.

Finally when the sobs had subsided Jim looked Kate in the eyes.

"I love your mom Kate and that love will never go, no one can ever replace her but, we have to face the fact that she's gone now and try to move one and if I could ever come close to loving someone like your mom I think Melissa is a darn good try."

Kate wiped her tears and nodded.

"I love you Katie."

"I love you too dad now how about we have dessert by the spring."

She looped his arm with hers and lead him back into the house.

Kate watched Jim and Melissa sitting by the stream occasionally one would laugh at something the other would say and soon she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Hey you okay?" Castle asked sitting next to her on a blanket while finishing his last piece of pie.

Kate looked at the couple again before kissing him. "Yep I'm just fine."

"Look I'm a fish, splash splash." Becca yelled while jumping in the spring.

Alexis shrugged her shoulders, "I tried to stop her but look at the bright side at least she doesn't need a bath tonight." She pointed to the toddler now sitting in the spring.

She laughed at the teenager's joke and stood up to retrieve her daughter but Melissa had already joined her sitting in the water without a second thought and pretending to be a fish along with Becca.

Maybe Melissa was not only the perfect match for Jim but for the whole family.

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