a/n: just a reminder before reading this chapter, it kicks off where the prologue chapter "after, part 1" ends, so i recommend re-reading that chapter if you don't remember what happens.as always, your reviews are greatly appreciated :)

Kate woke with a start, but as the bright sun crept into the bedroom and she saw that she was safe in the sanctity of the loft, her heart rate slowed to normal and she willed herself to roll out of bed. Her feet pattered across the cold floor as the temperatures both inside and out had plummeted over night. She didn't mind the cold, though, because it reminded her of the firm grasp that autumn had on the city. Late October was always one of her favorite times of the year for that very reason–not the cold weather, necessarily, but rather what the weather represented: change. This time of year was also one of Castle's favorites, but not because of the crisp autumn air or the leaves changing color. Late October meant Halloween, the first of the Big Three holidays. So, when Kate opened the bedroom door to see the phantasmic decor that was overtaking her living room, she would hardly say she was surprised.

"Morning, honey," Castle calls from the kitchen. He was still in his pajamas, plus an old Dracula-esque cape that he undoubtably forgot he still had. He greets her with her morning coffee and a peck on the cheek as she reaches the island countertop. "How are you feeling?"

It had only been a few days since Castle helped her break out of her depressive episode with a cathartic shower, so he was still wary of her mood. After she laid in bed without saying a word to him for 17 days, she figured she owed him as much to not be annoyed by his frequent check-ins.

"Good," she said with some hesitation. "Better than yesterday," she course corrected. That was much more accurate. She added a smile to indicate that she really was doing better. "Are we opening a haunted house?"

"No, but that's an excellent idea to keep in mind for next year," Rick says with a flourish of his cape. "I just wanted to get into the holiday spirit. I hope that's okay. I know you're not really up for any type of celebrating, and uh, truthfully, I'm not either. But, vampire teeth make everything better."

"Of course, we can decorate however you want. Maybe we could pick up some pumpkins to carve later, too?" Kate suggests. "We could make a night of it, drink cider, watch scary movies?"

"Sounds like a great idea," Rick smiles. "Anything else you had in mind for today?"

"Actually, I was thinking about swinging by the precinct later," Kate says.

"Are you sure?" Castle asks with immediacy. "I mean, do you think that's a good idea?"

"Well, I gotta make sure Javi hasn't burnt the place down since I've been gone," Kate jokes, her first joke in...a while.

"Kate, you know they're doing just fine," Castle says.

"Without me? Just fine without me, was what you were gonna say, right?"

"No, I just mean, it's been a while. You know they miss you, but they've learned how to get on without you there," Castle tries to save himself.

"You're right. Javi's doing a great job," Kate says. "I just miss it sometimes."

"I know you do," Rick nods. "We could talk about that some time soon if you're thinking about..."

"I mean, I'm not ready for that. I know that," Kate says. "Eventually, maybe. But today I was just thinking it would be nice to get out of the house and see our friends."

"Yeah, yeah, that's a great idea," Rick sighs. "I just wasn't sure what you had in mind. Sorry if I sounded like I was doubting you."

"No, babe, it's all good. Would you want to come with? We could drop in with some lunch for everyone?" Kate suggests.

"Captain Beckett knows how to keep her command happy," Rick smiles. Kate smiles slightly in return. They finish breakfast together as they outline their plans for the rest of the day. After deciding that sandwiches was probably the best way to feed a precinct full of detectives, Rick calls in a catering order to the deli down the street. Kate makes a small grocery list for their fall-themed dinner and jack-o-lantern date, and as lunch time approached, they set off to see their friends for the first time in weeks.

"How come yours is always so much better than mine?" Kate chuckles as she evaluates her and her husband's completed jack-o-lanterns.

Castle glances over a Kate's creation with a sly smile and retorts,"yours is cute."

"I was going for scary," Kate laughs harder. "Yours looks scary. Mine looks like a 10-year-old made it."

"C'mon, cut yourself some slack. Can't compare your work to that of a master carver," Rick says.

"Master carver, right."

"I've just had lots more practice than you is all," Castle says. "I made pumpkins with Alexis well into her teens, and even when she wasn't around, I used them as decoration for Halloween parties in college. I've probably carved more than 100 pumpkins over the last 25 years and that's not counting all the ones I made as a kid."

"Right, sometimes I forget that you're a lot more experienced than me because you're old," Kate laughs.

"Watch it, young lady!" Castle protests as he digs his lips deep into the crook of Kate's neck. They both laugh as they set down their carving tools and share a few tender kisses, careful not to rubs pumpkin guts on each other's faces.

"Quick shower before the movie?" Rick asks in a whisper.

"Yes, but only because I have pumpkin everywhere," Kate laughs.

"Well, not everywhere, but that can be arranged," Rick says slyly.

"Richard Castle, I'm serious, no funny business, okay?" Kate says in a half-serious tone.

"I will be a perfect gentleman," he responds.

Kate bites her lip as she whispers into his ear, "you better not."

After a good soaping up, Rick and Kate were both squeaky clean in their pajamas as they prepared the snacks for their movie marathon. Kate carried over a giant bowl of popcorn and placed it on the coffee table before walking over to the shelf of DVDs that was stacked inside the shelf next to the TV. She presses the eject button on the player as she runs her finger along the horror collection.

"So, what should we...watch...first?"

Her hesitation caught Rick's immediate attention. When he looks up, he finds her frozen, staring down at the disc that sat in the open tray in the DVD player. "Kate?" he asks, walking over and quickly setting down the wine glasses next to the popcorn. He knew immediately what had her frozen in her tracks and so he walks over to the player and reaches for the disc. "Do you want to...call it a night?"

Kate looks up as if she was broken out of a trance. "No, no, um, it's fine. I just, it caught me off guard, is all."

"I understand," Rick says. "Can I put it away?" Kate nods and he grabs the disc and puts it back in its case and then back on the shelf.

"Which one should we watch?" Kate asks again. Rick grabs for his favorite and shows it to Kate, who smiles in approval. They put the disc in and the trailers start to play, so they take their spots on the couch, wine glasses in hand.

"Uh, what...do you want to do about tomorrow?" Rick asks.

Kate doesn't quite understand what he's asking right away, but then it clicks. Tomorrow. Halloween. Trick-or-treaters. Kids.

Right.

"I think we should pass out candy like we always do," she says.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah," Kate nods. "I'm sure." She grabs Rick's free hand and intertwines her fingers with his before pulling their hands to her lips.

"Okay," Rick accepts.

As the trailers finished and the title screen played, Kate turns her head from the screen back to her husband. "Rick, I'm so sorry for shutting down on you," she says. It wasn't the first time she'd apologized in the last few days, but this time felt different. This time, Castle felt like he was finally sure she wasn't going to do it again.

"Kate, I'm just glad to have you back," he says. "We'll get through this together."