Author's Note at end of chapter
Their remaining days in Key West included doing a little sightseeing at Hemingway's Home. Lily was fascinated by the cats that wandered around the property. They mostly enjoyed their private bubble in Michael's home, just spending time with each other and with Lily. If Rick felt the tug of his typewriter, Kate and Lily would swim or play with Lily's toys, or Lily would watch Gus Gus while Kate read a book.
After a rather long time immersed in his writing, Rick apologized to Kate for losing track of time. Kate kissed his cheek and told him, "If I'm going to be unemployed, you have to bring in the millions, Babe. So you do what you have to do, and I'll make sure I feed you."
Rick stared at Kate for a second and burst out laughing. Lily looked at her Father with a frown, "Gus Gus Dada!" Both her parents laughed. Rick paused Sesame Street and picked up Lily, kissed her cheek, and twirled around with her. Lily laughed. Rick hugged his daughter and kissed her forehead. "Sorry I interrupted your time with Gus Gus, sweetie. Mommy surprised me. Do you want to watch Gus Gus, or do you want to play with me?"
Lily looked at the TV with Sesame Street frozen on the screen. Then she looked at her parents. "Play Dada. Play Mama."
"Then let's all play together," Rick told his ladies, and they spent the next hour playing with Lily and her toys.
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The week was almost over when Kate called Mia and asked if she would babysit Lily. She and Rick wanted to have a dinner out together on their last night in Key West. Mia was willing and able to spend Monday evening with Lily. Mia even recommended a small, locally owned restaurant that she and her husband enjoyed. The ambiance of the place Mia recommended was casual and friendly. Mia had told the hostess that the Castles would be eating there that night. Mia wanted The Castles to avoid being recognized, and have a quiet evening together. Because Mia had talked to her friend that was the hostess, they were seated at a table that was partially hidden from other diners. The food was delicious, and Kate and Rick had a wonderful evening. Rick left a large tip and told the hostess, "Thank you for a delightful evening."
The return trip to New York was uneventful, and Kate was once again pleased with flying private. She did feel a tad guilty, but she reminded herself what she had told Dr. Burke: Her husband is an economic force that provides income to the people whose services they use.
Rick called Michael to thank him for the use of his Key West home. He also praised Mia's services, and told Michael how wonderful they thought the restaurant was that Mia had recommended.
Once they had settled back into their home, the discussion about the seminar at the Police Academy had to happen. They hadn't let the offer interrupt their trip. Rick brought up the subject while Lily was napping the day they got home.
"Kate, we need to discuss the seminar offer from the Chief of Detectives. You're not a member of the force now. Do you want to do it? Or... do you feel obligated to do it? I'll do it if you want me to, but ..." Rick paused to find the words to explain the rest of his thoughts on the issue.
"But, if you feel obligated to do it, I vote that instead of doing a seminar, we make a video that can be used for classes at the Academy. My concern is that once we do a seminar, the NYPD will try to increase the number of times we do it."
Kate pondered what Rick said. "You might be right. I decided to quit, so I could be home with you and Lily. So I could have another baby. So you have uninterrupted time to write. Even doing a video would take a lot of time to write it, maybe get input from Espo and Ryan..."
Kate paused to think. Rick responded, "Do you want to do it once and have it recorded? We would still have to write a presentation. We could stall the Chief of D's by telling him we need time to consider what are the main points we need to talk about. I'm not interested in doing it for new officers. I'd only do it for new detectives. Considering the attitudes of detectives and others we've dealt with in the past, I truly don't think it will be worth our efforts. You're a female and I've never been an actual cop. If past is prologue, I'm not optimistic that the macho part of the force will listen."
Kate stared out the window while considering what Rick had said. Did she really want to deal with new detectives knowing that a significant percentage of them will be hostile or tune out whatever they try to teach them? She responded to Rick, "You have solid points. My experience in the NYPD makes me agree with you that our doing a seminar would be wasted on the majority of the men. The women would be more amenable to what we have to say, but few or none of those new detectives will have the imagination to search for the story. I was an experienced detective, and I didn't realize how important that was for a long time after we started working together. How about I call Victoria, Javi and Kevin and ask each of them if they think it's worth our time? Gates might back the Chief of D's just because she works there, but Javi and Kevin should be realistic about it."
"Yes. I'm not sure Javi has ever fully embraced that concept. So, let's invite Javi and Kevin over to get their opinions."
"I'll call them tomorrow, and I'll wait until we get their input before I call the Chief of D's. Maybe they can drop by for lunch or dinner tomorrow. Free food always helps get them to do something," Kate replied with a smile.
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Kate called Ryan the next morning and asked about the possibility of them dropping by for lunch or dinner to discuss something that the Chief of D's wanted her to do. The guys didn't have an active case, so they agreed to come for lunch.
Rick ordered pizzas. Kevin and Javi arrived just moments after the pizza was delivered, and Lily was down for a nap. While everyone was seated around the table with their food, Kate explained about the seminar that the Chief wanted her and Rick to do. Rick delineated his reasons for being skeptical that it would be useful.
Javi was the first one to respond, "I agree with Rick. It took me years to see the benefit of Castle's way of looking at a a case. That could have been partly because I didn't want him to be right." They all laughed at that admission from Javi. "Even Beckett, oops, I guess I have to say Kate now. Even Kate took months to see it. I don't think just talking about how Rick's brain works will be enough. Rick has all those bits of minutia, and contacts with people, and the imagination to make a connection that the rest of us would never think of. A seminar isn't going to be able to teach newbies to do what he can do."
Kevin spoke next, "I agree with Javi. It's not just looking for the story. It's having an imagination that can make the connections. We worked with you for years, and Kate you know our solve rate is not as high as it was when it was the four of us working cases."
"I think they're both right," Kate started her response. "Their solve rate is excellent compared to the NYPD stats for all homicide detectives. It's close to what our stats were before Rick showed up, but the stats were better when Rick worked on a case."
Rick looked around the table. "I'm flattered. Thanks. Anyone have a bright idea how to tell the Chief of D's that a seminar isn't going to be adequate to teach anyone how to do what we did? I spent hundreds of hours at the library researching things for my books. I spent hundreds of hours with people to learn about lifestyles that my characters would be living. Having money and a certain amount of celebrity got me places that most people can't get into. I just don't think a seminar is going to do what he thinks it will."
Kate looked at Rick, "I know you have an eidetic memory. Most people can't recall as much as you can. How about you help me write a response that explains that to the Chief of D's, and I'll call him tomorrow to turn him down."
Rick nodded his head and then turned to the guys, "Does anyone want some ice cream before they go back to work?"
Kevin laughed. "I think we need to head back to the 12th. Thanks for lunch."
Javi added, "What he said." Everyone laughed.
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The next morning Kate called the office of the Chief of Detectives. She and Rick had created a succinct explanation for why they wouldn't do the seminars. When the Chief of D's tried to rebut their explanation, Kate told him, "It wasn't just a system or routine that made the difference. It was many years of research and experiences that Rick had accumulated. He spent hundreds of hours at the library. He knows people in all walks of life. That was what made him able to come up with ideas that most anyone else wouldn't consider. New detectives aren't going to have the time or connections to build that knowledge. I'm sorry we can't do the seminar."
There was silence from the Chief, and then he sighed, "I was hoping that it would be something that could be taught. Victoria told me she didn't think most detectives had the imagination to make the connections between clues that your husband does. Thanks for your service to the city. I hope you and your family have a happy future." He hung up.
Kate looked at Rick. "He should have listened to Gates." Rick smiled and kissed his wife.
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They developed a new schedule for themselves. Kate didn't have to get up early for work, and there were no middle of the night phone calls. Lily was what their schedule was centered around. When the weather was agreeable, they would take Lily to the park or the zoo. Rick's birthday landed on Easter, and even though it wasn't summer, they spent a few days in their Hampton's home during a warmer than normal Easter Week. Lily's astonished reaction to seeing the ocean was recorded by Rick's phone and shared with family and friends.
Rick wanted the harpies off his back before Lily's birthday, so he had taken advantage of having his wife home everyday. He wrote while Kate took care of Lily. Instead of writing while Lily was napping, he spent time with his wife. This enabled Rick to finish his book early, to the amazement of Paula and Gina.
At the end of May, just days before her birthday, Lily took her first steps. It was perfect, because both of her parents were there to see it. A few hours later, a persistent Rick managed to get a video of Lily walking again. It wasn't her first time, but it was the same day.
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The weekend after Memorial Day was Lily's birthday. They drove to the Hampton's House on Thursday to get everything ready for the party. Family and friends would be arriving on Friday and Saturday. The weather was perfect. Lily's cake was adorable with a Snuffleupagus candle holder holding the single candle. When Rick was asked where he got the candle holder, he explained that it was part of a set of Sesame characters that one of his guys had drilled a hole in the head for the candle. The sides of the cake had icing images of Gus Gus.
Rick told Alexis, "It's amazing what people can do if you throw enough money at them."
Alexis responded with a grin, "I'm sure now that some of the outlandish things I asked for and got were acquired the same way."
Rick grinned back, "Maybe."
The party was fun for everyone, especially the children: Sarah Grace, Nicky, and Lily.
Lily's present from her parents was a Gund Snuffleupagus. It was large for a 1 year old, but Lily was in heaven when she saw it. After her party, Rick had a lovely picture of Lily sleeping with Gus Gus as her pillow.
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Their friends returned to the city on Sunday. Alexis, Martha, and Jim stayed for a few more days. Lily was joyous with Is Is to play with. Gam rocked her and sang to her. Gamdad told her stories about Grandma Johanna in heaven, and stories about when her Mommy was little. Lily didn't understand the stories, but she enjoyed the cuddles and the sound of his voice.
After the grandparents and Alexis left for the city, Lily toddled to her new stuffed Gus Gus toy. She babbled to Gus Gus and soon fell asleep with Gus Gus as her pillow. Rick picked up his daughter and her toy, and carried them to her room. With the baby monitor in his hand, he joined his wife in the kitchen. She had a cup of coffee waiting for him.
"So, Mr. Castle, what will we do with our time now?"
"Well, Mrs. Castle, the family is gone. The book is in edits. The baby is sleeping...I have some ideas of ways we might enjoy each other's company in our bedroom," Rick replied with a smirk.
Kate picked up her cup of coffee and replied, "Bring your coffee and the baby monitor, because I have some ideas of my own."
Life was excellent.
end
A/N: This took way longer to finish than I ever imagined. I'm sad when stories are unfinished, and I didn't want that to happen to this story. I hope you enjoyed it.