Hello

I had different Castle fics I was planning on posting, yet the 5x10 Significant Others episode irked me.

Whoever wrote that stupid episode did not bother viewing 1x06 Always Buy Retail for Meredith cheating on Castle is why they got a divorce, and how pathetic of a parent she is to Alexis.

Unlike 5x10 for the extremely one-sided Meredith leaving Castle reasons of he knew everything, yet she knew nothing with portraying Castle as a bubbling bad guy. A clear retcon.

Putting aside the Watershed episode for Beckett with the entire Attorney General Job mess, seriously Castle's proposal couldn't have been enough of a cliffhanger on its own? Did we need the entire AG story, and Beckett keeping it quite stuff? Regardless, this episode is another one that gets on my nerves. Well, these two and Eric Vaugn one.

Loft

Castle pauses upon pulling out a frying pan with gently setting it on the stove feeling the subtle difference in Kate's mood shift. After all, has spent the past months in a relationship, or four years before in their complicated well actually not that now is not, but regardless knows something has shifted. Gently venturing over Castle looks over at Beckett who's trying to put varying emotions back in place.

"You know it's okay if you don't want a smore'lette, I can make you a regular omelet. Or a Spanish one I actually picked up for research for one of Storm's books, from this little restaurant" Richard says jokingly yet gets interrupted.

"Castle, it's fine. Just glad Meredith is gone" Kate says.

"So am I, and I've lived around women my whole life let alone you, so I know fine is not fine. What's really bothering you?" Richard questions "Please don't just brush me off like you did for not telling me why you requested the Christmas shift, either."

Metting his eyes before exhaling "Fine, it's just… Meredith said that it felt one-sided. Like you know everything about her, and knew nothing about you despite knowing enough to fill up books. That shouldn't get to me, but" Kate says.

"Don't let her get inside your head, okay? She does crap like this to manipulate and guilt trip people into getting what Meredith wants" Richard says.

"That's… probably the first time I've seen you say anything bad about her since Meredith arrived," Kate says in disbelief.

"Just… a force of habit, years of avoiding talking negatively about Meredith in front of Alexis. Let my daughter not be influenced by what I think but rather on her own. Now my mother on the other hand has never had any qualms about speaking ill of Meredith" Richard says.

Gently taking his hand "It makes you a good dad" Kate says.

"Yeah, but been a lousy boyfriend?" Richard inquires uneasily.

"A boyfriend who's still here, not that horrible Castle, and your ex-wife is gone too," Kate says.

A warm smile "I've let you into Alexis's life that Gina nor anybody else I've been with. Okay?" Richard replies gently squeezing her hand in return "And that has been near impossible for me to do."

"Frankly scares me sometimes how much you have," Kate says nervously.

"I know it does, but I know you can handle it," Richard says.

"Though I've heard Meredith's side, but why exactly did you end things? Besides the obvious way she treats Alexis" Kate says "I mean, I guess that's one reason I was so upset. Because I know how much you love your daughter, but well…"

"I get what you are saying, I do, and I would like to close Meredith out altogether more than once. But just can't, never to Alexis" Richard says, "I guess I never have told you the reason why I divorced Meredith."

Kate leans in closer, letting her other hand rest on the writer's broad chest.

"I returned home one night to discover Meredith in my bed with some director all for a cheap C-rated film and was not the first time either" Richard replies.

Kate steps back looking on in shock as rage briefly flickers in her eyes towards the red-headed woman and hurt towards the man she loves. Even if not ready for actually saying that yet, before guilt because caught up in her own issues towards this whole mess never stopped to even ask. Or just the entire past nearly five years.

"All this time, you never even said one single word, Rick. I mean getting past your page six self, took me time but goodness no wonder you were like that. No wonder you stopped going for real between Kyra just running off, something I've done repeatedly. Then Meredith… I'm just surprised you can even look at me after everything" Kate says varying emotions running through her "Why?"

"Just," Richard says looking awkward, vulnerable "Never felt like bringing something like that up? And didn't want the pity, even if I knew you wouldn't give me any. Felt easier to hide. I've spent years doing that at this point."

Stepping over Kate does something somewhat unexpected to them both by wrapping her arms around the man, before looking up meeting his eyes.

"You've spent so long trying to help me with my walls that you have yours, and I never" Kate begins yet gets gently interrupted.

"No, don't go there. Okay, Beckett? Don't blame yourself, that's all on me. And you do help break down my walls, every day you're here it helps. Knowing that my giving up for not quitting on one day… is not for nothing" Richard says warmly "You're the only person I've told willing about Meredith cheating on me."

Kate leans in kissing Castle on his lips who despite his surprise returns it as filled with passion, love, and parting the other's mouth open to fully grant easy access. Kate lets out a small moan. Following a couple of seconds, they break apart for air, Beckett looking a little more red-faced than Castle.

A light grin emerges on Beckett's face for it warms her soul, entirely faulting the writer for that phrase, while being honored at the same time with trust over Rick sharing this. Also, the detective knows this is how Castle must have felt when years prior she willing shared about her mother's murder. Both glance at each other their eyes darkening, with Beckett realizing needing to say something.

Otherwise not just forget breakfast, along with any plans of leaving are going to be left behind like the suitcase unmoving as they venture to his bedroom. Not that Castle would mind, and frankly neither would she. After all, she's had a hard time not just ripping his clothes off from their first case. Lust that turned into something different, something deeper, and that was even more scary. Unfortunately, it's the principle at least.

"Castle, breakfast?" Kate reluctantly inquiries.

"Right, on its way. A smore'lette, and a normal one coming up. Though really smore'lette one is rather cool, oh I sound like Smith's Doctor? Maybe I should get a tweed jacket, and bow tie" Richard replies taking the interruption while heading back into the kitchen "Of course that would make you River Song. Oh, I could totally see you use some of her outfits rather nicely."

"You just want to be wearing those in bed right before you take them off," Kate says smirking.

"Well naturally. How is that even a question in our lives anymore? Besides you like how I look at you, and me removing those clothes all the same" Richard replies smiling.

"Touche," Kate says.

"So do I have any chance of convincing you to stick around?" Richard inquiries, optimistically.

"I want you to stay," a familiar yet lightly horse voice comes from the stairs.

Both turn to see Alex sitting there on one of the steps looking directly at the detective.

"Meredith was here to drive a wedge and stick her nose inside your guy's relationship. Otherwise, we would have never seen her. My… mother shows up when it's convenient for her" Alexis says.

Kate winces since recognizes the younger woman for using a clipped voice, closer to reading facts off a murder case. Maybe something picked up from interning under Lanie or worse her. And some guilt for overhearing Castle and her conversation. Plus, once more pushes down a lot of anger towards the biological mother, a woman who has absolutely nothing to earn being called anything resembling that title.

Sometimes Kate wonders if Alexis knowing has a mother who exists, on paper, might be worse than having one only to lose her to a cold, bloody alleyway. Because at least Kate knows having memories of what her mother was to cherish, compared to having nothing. How both Rick and Alexis share that for their parents. Vaguely can a conversation start once more.

"Alexis…" Richard begins yet hesitant, knowing protecting his daughter from Meredith is gone. Has been gone for years now.

"That's why last summer I was so mad at you. We opened our lives to you, only to get repaid that by running away, no different" Alexis says bluntly.

Kate flinches hard in guilt, and shame while Richard does as well. The older Castle goes to speak then stops from being caught in that awkward spot on stepping in to defend his partner, defending them, not that Kate really needs it. Or remain quiet letting them sort this out.

"But then… you came back. Meredith never did, it's how I was able to forgive you" Alexis says warmer "So stay, like we all know you wanted to before everything."

"I… uh" Kate replies "Are all you Castles this observant?"

Beckett can feel Castle's happy face for how pretty much just admitted to being thrilled on years of attention actually paid off, and Alexis's grin doesn't falter. Also, Kate notices, not for the first time, how Alexis would be very dangerous in interrogation. And again, maybe spent too much time around Lanie.

"Family trait," Richard says happily.

"Okay, I'll stay for now. Until you get feeling better" Kate replies, and privately is no longer so terrified of the voice when her apartment blew up all those years ago. The one not wanting to leave, one that wanted to stay cause the Castles felt like family.

Hope you all enjoyed this and I kind of prefer this over what we got in the episode.

Like so many missed moments on screen of Castle, and Beckett are brought closer together. Plus, Kate with Alexis's bond explored more.

Until next time.