A/N: This story from the Visitors verse is set about two months after Kate's wedding; which a few details of have been mentioned in Tuesdays with Johanna (which begins a month or so after this story). I hope you enjoy this little ghost story!

Chapter 1

The sound of rain was pelting the bedroom window early that evening as Kate scrolled through her messages, frowning as she did so.

"Any word yet?" Castle asked as he watched his wife check her phone for what to be the fifth time since she had followed him into the bedroom.

Kate worried her bottom lip and laid the phone on the nightstand; the question hanging in the air without answer as her mind drifted. Her parents had left for London the day after her wedding, joining Jeff and Maggie for a business trip concerning the law firm. The trip was to be six weeks, possibly stretching into eight if needed…and even if their trip had stretched into eight weeks…they still should've been back the week before. She had spent the last week mentally preparing herself for the call or text telling her that they were back in New York…and she figured it would probably be a text since they hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms. No call had come…no text…no sign of them on Facebook except for a changed profile picture on her mother's page a few weeks before. She had a feeling that they had her blocked in some manner or another…after all, it wasn't her mother's nature not to post pictures of a trip she had taken; especially when it was somewhere she had never been before. They hadn't even let her know that they had gotten to London safely…but she had brushed that off; she had been on her honeymoon for three weeks, she was sure they hadn't contacted her because they didn't want to interrupt…but there was no reason not to let her know they were back.

"Kate," Castle said once again as he buttoned his cuff. "Any word?

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "They should've been back last week."

"I'm sure they're fine," her husband replied. "If something was wrong, you would've been notified by now."

Kate scoffed. "Maybe…I mean I did catch a glimpse of Mom's emergency contact thing on her phone and she had her brother listed after Dad. I asked her why and she said because Frankie will answer the phone and I usually don't and she doesn't want to take the chance that she has to die alone because I didn't answer…because she's never going to let it go that she couldn't reach me when Dad had to have surgery."

"Your mother is a bit petty," Castle remarked. "The whole wedding was an example of that. I'm sure your Dad has you listed second."

"Don't bet on it; after all, he's lectured me for years about how he's always the last to know anything in my life, the last to be contacted. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't have his brother listed second."

"Okay, they're both petty…that's probably why they're so good together. I really didn't expect him to be so offended by us declining his money for the wedding…I guess he's probably holding a grudge about that."

"Most likely," she agreed.

"But still…if something was wrong, I'm sure you'd know by now even if you are third on the list," Castle replied.

"You're probably right about that…I just really didn't expect them to completely cut off contact and not even tell me if they're back or not."

"You can always call them if you're worried," he replied.

Kate shook her head. "No; that's what they want and I'm not doing it. They're the ones that got pissed off about every little thing. If they don't want to talk to me, that's fine; we can leave it this way, I don't care."

Castle gave her an amused smile. "Yes, you do…if you didn't; you wouldn't check your phone every ten minutes."

She smirked at him. "It's not because I'm worried or care…I'm just surprised."

He nodded. "Sure, that's the story for publication."

"Go to your book signing, Rick."

"Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"I'm positive," Kate replied. "It's been a long week…and I don't want to do all the wedding talk to any media that might show up…unless you really want me to go."

He moved toward her and pressed a kiss to her lips. "It's fine if you want to stay home…I'll give you a personal signing later."

"You better," she quipped. "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Positive; there's really not anything you can do there; except get bored by watching me sign my name over and over," he replied. "You can have some down time; Mother is off with Ben; Alexis is with friends. You can just relax for the evening."

She sighed softly. "That sounds like just what I need. It has been a long week."

He nodded, the soft sound of thunder rumbling in the distance. "I wish I could join you; seems like a good evening for it."

"I'm sure there will be time when you get home. Have a good signing and reading…don't sign any chests, please."

"Word of honor," Castle said with a grin. "Have fun relaxing and having this whole place to yourself…maybe I should call in sick."

Kate laughed as she shook her head. "Nope, you promised me quiet, alone time while you're out so, get your umbrella and go."

"Wow, the honeymoon must be over," he quipped before stealing a kiss.

"Not at all; I just don't want to be blamed for you slacking off."

"When you put it that way, I understand completely."

She smiled and rose from the side of the bed, following him through the loft to the door to see him off. She kissed him goodbye and then locked the door behind him, a soft sigh crossing her lips as she did so. A flash of lightning through the curtains caught her eye as she padded to the kitchen; a stormy night alone was the perfect time to grab a snack and lay on the couch in front of the TV; forgetting the long work week and the stress and worries that she didn't want to carry.

The sound of rain pelting the windows and the low murmur of the TV that was playing an old movie she had enjoyed in her teen years, had lulled Kate to sleep on the sofa. A chill in the air made her stir as a flash of light hit her eyelids, making her grip the phone she had fallen asleep holding as her eyes flicked open. A frown touched her lips as she caught sight of the lady in green, as she had dubbed her in their first encounters nearly a year before.

"Oh, bunny, you haven't changed a bit," Sarah McKenzie said as she looked down at her great granddaughter.

"What are you doing here?" Kate asked sharply as she sat up.

The spirit smirked at her as she settled down in the chair. "I came to congratulate you on your marriage."

"I got married a little over two months ago."

"I'm aware of that," Sarah replied. "You were a beautiful bride, but I always knew you would be."

Kate's brow rose. "You were there?"

"Of course, darling; I'm always at important events concerning the family. You are my great granddaughter; I wouldn't have missed being there…although I know there was a list of people who were re-thinking their attendance."

"And by that do you mean dead people or living people?" she asked.

Sarah's eyes narrowed. "Both."

She rolled her eyes. "And who in the great beyond did I offend?"

"Your grandmother…she was quite upset that you weren't married by a priest."

"I knew Mom was turning into her mother," Kate muttered. "I got enough of that lecture from her."

"It was tradition, Katie…the only thing that really mattered to her concerning your wedding."

"It's an outdated tradition," she retorted. "Everything she complained about was because of antiquated notions and so-called family traditions."

Sarah's chin lifted in offense. "I see why your other grandmother calls you a brat."

"Grandma Beckett?"

"Yes."

"What's her problem?" Kate asked.

"She doesn't like what you're turning into," Sarah replied. "You're getting to be quite the little snob, darling."

"I am not!" she exclaimed.

"Oh you are."

"Why are you here?" Kate asked firmly. "Shouldn't you be haunting my mother? Or is London too far away for you to haunt?"

Sarah shook her head. "I can go to London quite easily, and I have a few times, but she isn't there."

Her stomach twisted a little. "Then where is she?"

"At home," Sarah answered. "She and your father have been there for a week now…plying the kitty with treats to gain her forgiveness for their absence."

Kate scoffed. "Glad she worries about the cat's feelings when I don't even warrant a phone call letting me know they made it back."

"Well, the argument could be made that you don't always make phone calls either when it comes to your wellbeing…and the kitty is quite accepting of affection…where you are not…."

"Really?" Kate asked. "You're saying the cat is better than me?"

"That argument could be made at times," Sarah replied. "Your father got that kitty so your mother would have someone besides him who would accept her love and affection."

"I'm a grown woman, I don't need my mommy holding my hand all the time," she retorted. "She can't get that through her head."

"Oh she knows you're grown…but that doesn't mean that she doesn't want the affection of her child once in awhile. I know what it's like to be hated by my own child…my son hated me for leaving him although it was out of my control…and he allowed his hatred of me to poison his own relationships with his children. He never wanted children…but the woman he loved wanted them more than anything and so he gave himself over to the idea of being a father because his only desire was to make her happy. He was happy when he had a son to carry on his name…to one day take over his business, to mold in his image as much as his wife would allow. He even allowed himself to be happy when a precious little girl came along…until he realized that she had the misfortune to have some of my traits. His hatred for me grew then…he accused me of ruining his happiness by tainting his daughter with my genes. Another little girl followed and he wasn't pleased with her either. Girls were weak…like his mother…so he set out to make them strong; especially that green eyed one. He tried to break her…to tame her; and in the process, he convinced her that she did not have his love and it's a wound she carries to this day."

"Number one, I never said I hated my mother. Number two, that business between Mom and Grandpa had nothing to do with me so I don't see why you're here giving me story hour."

"Well, number one, bearcat…"

"Bearcat?" Kate repeated. "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means hot blooded girl," Sarah replied. "Don't you know anything?"

"I guess my knowledge of 1920s slang is a bit lacking considering I live in the modern world," Kate said sarcastically.

"As I was saying," Sarah continued with a glare. "I didn't say that you said you hated her; I merely said I know how it feels to be hated by my own child…because my granddaughter does feel hated by her child. Second, I gave you this so called story hour because I was trying to make the point that Frank couldn't break her…but you very well could."

"Oh please," she said as she rolled her eyes. "She's just having a pouting session as usual."

"I think this time is different," Sarah replied. "Your wedding should've been a time of closeness between the two of you…it should have had better memories than it did."

"That's on her."

"I see," Sarah said as she eyed her.

"Your tone suggests that you don't."

"I do…I fully admit that Johanna is too softhearted, which leads her to be easily hurt…and you are too hardhearted and it makes you hurt people without much care. You're both at fault…but you always expect her to be the one to bend and I don't think she's going to this time."

"Then that will be her problem."

"And yours," Sarah told her. "Do you really want your relationship with your mother to wither and die?"

"She's the one making the choices. I just don't know why she has to be so damn needy and insecure," Kate remarked. "She never used to be."

"I don't think it's so much that she's needy," Sarah replied. "I think its more to the fact that she was separated from you for a very long time and she wants to close that gap that remains between you. She's not asking for every moment of your time…she just doesn't want to lose her place."

"I can't just be at her beck and call all the damn time, Sarah."

"No one asked you to be! I'm asking you to learn some compassion and understanding. You have so much of that for the families of victims…and yet none for your own family," the spirit replied. "You hurt your parents repeatedly during the course of your wedding planning and the event itself. She gave you an heirloom to wear at your wedding, wanted you to keep it and you put it back in her hand as soon as the photos were finished."

"I didn't want it…it's old fashioned."

Sarah shook her head. "That necklace has lasted five generations counting you…don't you understand? It's been passed down to the eldest daughter on her wedding day since it came into the family."

"Why do you even care? It came from the Calabrese side of the family, not the McKenzies so it doesn't have anything to do with you."

"It does have something to do with me…I saw my granddaughter being hurt by your rejection once again…I saw my great granddaughter throwing away her history."

"If Mom wanted to give me something, then she should've made sure she had the gift that she claimed she ordered."

Sarah's green eyes snapped with annoyance. "Just so you know, Bunny; your mother had your gift in her purse; a lovely pair of earrings that she and your father picked out together…but she felt that she couldn't give them to you because as she arrived in the room; your mother-in-law was giving you a pair of earrings…a family heirloom of hers…which you didn't shun; so she lied and said your gift hadn't been finished in time. She didn't want either one of you to be in an awkward position. She offered what she had…her own family heirloom…which you returned as previously mentioned."

Kate rolled her eyes. "It's better off being with her."

"Yes, perhaps she'll one day have a granddaughter that she can give it to who will appreciate the gift and it's history…since her own daughter doesn't, although she was raised to."

"Sarah, why don't you just go haunt Mom like you usually do. You both can complain about me together; I'm sure you'd both enjoy that."

"No, I'm staying with you."

"Why?"

"Because this is where I need to be."

"I don't see why."

"Because you're losing your second chance with your mother and I hate to have that happen on my watch, darling."

"What are you talking about, Sarah? Are you saying she's in some kind of danger? Is she sick?"

"No; we're not talking about loss in the physical sense, dear. We're talking about in the emotional sense."

She rolled her eyes once more. "Oh please."

Sarah gave her a sad shake of her head. "She's giving up on you, Katie."

"No, she isn't."

"Oh yes, she is…why do you think you haven't heard from her? She's accepting that the damage has been done; that there's no regaining her place in your life. She's letting you go so that you can have the peace from her that you desire."

"Oh my God, now I know where she gets her dramatics from," Kate remarked.

Sarah's jaw tightened as she reached out and flicked Kate in the forehead. "You're a horrid little girl, do you know that?"

"Ouch," Kate muttered as she rubbed her forehead. "Don't do that."

"I do as I please," the spirit replied. "I'd like to do worse to you but violence is frowned upon during a mission."

"Mission?" she repeated.

"Yes, darling; this is a mission…the mission of reuniting you with your mother before you lose the chance you had wanted for so long."

"Sarah; Mom isn't giving up anything; she's pouting because I didn't want her old fashioned ideals for my wedding…because she's insanely jealous of Martha…because she's not all that crazy about my husband…"

"Neither is your grandfather, just so you know."

"Which one?" Kate asked.

"My son; your grandfather Frank."

"He doesn't like Castle?"

Sarah shook her head. "No; he never wanted to see one of his granddaughters married off to a playboy who still has the propensity for immaturity."

"Wow, really? Or are you just saying that to piss me off?"

"Oh no, dear; I don't lie," Sarah replied. "He's not a fan of your writer."

"Well that's fine…after all, Grandpa's children weren't big fans of him, so maybe he shouldn't throw stones."

"Your grandfather is well aware of his shortcomings as a father and he carries those regrets so I'm afraid your feeble attempt to wound him was only a waste of your breath."

"Whatever," she remarked. "But as I was saying; Mom is just pouting…like I told you; she's never been this needy, insecure person like she has been since she came home. If anyone needs a lecture; maybe it's her."

"Your mother has always had her insecurities."

Kate shook her head. "She was always very confident."

"No; she wasn't…she's had her insecurities, her losses, wounds that never healed. She always put on a brave front for you…but it was always there underneath, hidden from your view. You have had your insecurities as well…"

"I'm not insecure," Kate interrupted.

"Oh, Bunny; you have had your moments like every other woman in the world. You've had your insecurities and your own traumas…just like your mother; and the two of you could probably work through them if you could just meet each other halfway."

"She doesn't want to! She just wants me to be the good little daughter she was to her own mother; going home for Sunday dinners religiously until she got married and had to split dinners between her family and Dad's; always taking Grandma's calls, always doing whatever her mother wanted."

Sarah giggled. "Oh you are so wrong, darling…your mother and grandmother clashed many times."

"No, they didn't; she worshiped her mother and she wants me to do the same to her."

"She does not require nor want worship…she merely wants a daughter…but I can see now that you don't know your mother well at all."

Kate rolled her eyes. "I think I know my own mother, Sarah. I've had enough of your unwanted opinions; why don't you go wherever it is you go when you're done annoying people."

Sarah rose; her chin lifting, reminding Kate of how her grandmother had always called that trait 'McKenzie arrogance'. "Stand up," Sarah demanded.

"Why?"

"Just do it," she snapped.

"No."

Sarah gave a graceful flick of her wrist and sent a stream of books from the bookcase to the floor. "Do as I say, miss hoity toity."

"And if I don't?" Kate asked.

Sarah's glare was icy. "You'll wish you had, mark my words."

Kate rose against her better judgement, her phone still held tightly in her hand.

"Put that telephone in your pocket."

"Why?"

"Because I said so; I want you to bring it."

"I don't have Candy Crush on it if that's what you're looking for."

"I'm in no mood for games," Sarah replied. "Put the telephone in your pocket…now."

Kate slid her phone into her pocket. "Now what?"

"Now we're going to take a trip," the spirit replied.

A hint of fear slid down her spine. "Am I dying? Are you here to take me?"

"Goodness no; don't be a ninny," Sarah replied. "You're perfectly fine."

"Then what's this business about taking a trip?"

"It's just what I said; we're going to take a trip."

"Where?"

"To the past," Sarah answered.

"So this is going to be a Christmas Carol kind of thing?" Kate asked.

"No; not exactly. You won't touch my dress…since I know how you feel about old fashioned things. You're going to take my hand and we're going to go on a journey."

Kate shook her head. "No, thanks…besides, my husband will be home soon."

Sarah smiled. "The beauty of traveling with me, darling, is that time will move in the past; but here in the present, it will be somewhat suspended…he'll never know you were gone."

"I think I'll pass."

Sarah smiled as she reached for Kate's hand. "I'm afraid that's not an option, Bunny. Let's be on our way now."

"I don't want to do this," Kate said, but the world became black before her eyes and fear made her gut clench as the only light she could see was the soft glow of Sarah's being as she held onto her hand.

"You might not want it; but you shall have it," Sarah declared.

"Where are we going?"

Sarah smiled. "To meet your mother."

"I thought you said she was fine!" Kate exclaimed, panic gripping her.

"She is darling…you're going to meet Johanna McKenzie…and who she was before you came along. You have nothing to fear but much to learn before the next generation comes into this family."

"I'm not pregnant, I just got married."

"I'm aware of that…but the time will come and fences need to be mended before the next generation comes along. You think you know your mother, but you don't. You think you don't need her, but you do. So we shall take this journey and you will be better for it…if you know what's good for you."

"And if I'm not?" Kate asked.

Sarah smiled. "Then I shall haunt you every day of your life until you are."

"I don't like the sound of that," Kate replied. "Where are we going…how long is it going to take? How is this even possible?"

"Ours is not to question why," Sarah stated. "As for your questions, they will answered shortly."