150. Chapter 150

After Watershed, Again

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: This makes an even five seasons of Castle that I don't own. Rating: K Time: See above and below.

Author's note: I wrote about this episode before, Chapter 54, and told of how Caskett told their family and friends of their engagement and Kate's new job. This is a mirror image of that story, told from the POV of their family and friends. Okay, to be precise, this takes place during Valkyrie, which is still after Watershed. Okay?

There were tears in Jim Beckett's eyes when he hung up the phone. He walked over to an end table and picked up a framed photo that was sitting there. It was the last photo taken of his family, taken on Christmas Eve, 1998. It had only been in the last couple of years that he had been able to stand looking at it. Now he found it comforted him.

"Johanna, that was Katie. Guess what? Our little girl is getting married. Yes! Rick Castle asked her to marry him and she said yes. I've been praying for the last couple of years that they'd get together and stay together. Now it's going to happen."

Jim wiped a tear away. "I was so afraid for Katie for all those years after we lost you. Katie had lost the joy and fun that used to fill her life. All that was left was this grim homicide detective, someone that I could hardly recognize as our Katie. But then Rick came along and she started changing. I know I've told you slowly she changed and how she fought it, but a year ago they finally got together. They became a couple. I wanted so badly for them to make it as a couple, and up until today, I had my doubts. But she just called me with the news. You should have heard how happy she sounded. We finally have our old Katie back."

"Just think! She'll be Mrs. Katherine Castle. And, if I know them, one day soon she'll be a mom, just like you were. Just like she wanted to be before…before you were taken from us. She'll have everything she's ever wanted, and everything we always wanted for her."

"Johanna, I'm so happy for them and I do wish you were here to see Katie and watch her get married. Oh, how I wish you were here. I miss you so much."

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Martha put the phone down and went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine. She poured herself a glass and drank half of it down. "There is a god. Oh, thank you, Big Guy Up There, my son has finally done the right thing. Everyone on the planet, except those two, could see that they were perfect for each other. That they needed each other desperately. And they finally saw it! We did it, God. You and me. Oh, they're going to Washington DC, but that's a minor problem, hardly worthy of our concern."

"But the wedding! Oh, I know that I made an effort for his marriages to that redhead and to Gina, but for Katherine? This will be a wedding for the ages."

Something suddenly occurred to Martha. "Children! Of course! They'll want children. I've heard Katherine talk enough about how happy she was with her family growing up to know she'll want kids and I know Richard will want children with her." Martha looked around the loft, then shook her head. "No, they can't stay here. It's just not big enough. We'll have to move. After all, with Katherine working in DC and Richard writing, someone has to take care of the little Castles. I should look on line. I think Georgetown would be a good place to start."

Martha went off to the computer, humming happily to herself.

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"Pi?" Alexis looked into the tent she shared with her boyfriend. "Are you in there?"

"Over here." He called from a tree behind the tent. "Look at what I found, it's a…" Pi stopped when he saw the look on her face. "What's wrong, Alexis?"

She put her arms around him. "I just got a call from grams. My dad and Kate are getting married."

"Do you have to go back for the wedding, or something?" He asked, concerned.

"No. They haven't even set a date yet."

"What is it?" Pi asked. "Don't you like her? Do you think she's wrong for your dad?"

Alexis shook her head. "No, I think she's perfect for him. And I like her a lot. More than I like my birth mom, in fact."

"From what you've told me about your birth mom…"Pi stopped, unsure if he should continue.

"I thought that they would get married. I mean, Dad was so obviously in love with her and she with him. I just don't understand why he didn't call to tell me himself. I just don't understand it. Why didn't he call?"

As a tear started down Alexis's cheek, Pi held her closer.

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I'm losing my best friend and I couldn't be happier. Lanie thought to herself. After all the years. After what everyone but those two could see, they're together. No, I'll admit that when I first met Castle, I thought he'd be fun for Kate, but certainly not husband material. He's changed and he's changed her. And if I'm right, and I am, she's changed him. Both for the better. I'm sure Kate has found what she's always wanted, someone to be with her forever. They had a long, hard road, made longer and harder by their own damned stubbornness, but that's all behind them.

Lanie smiled and looked around. It was late and there was no one around. She took a deep breath and, "WOOOOHOOOOOO!"

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"She'll be gone, bro." Espo shook his head. He had half expected that one day Beckett would walk in and announce that she and Castle were getting married. He even thought that one day, she'd leave the NYPD to be with Castle and her family full time. But he had never expected this.

"Yeah, and Castle, too." Ryan replied.

"Castle? Why would he leave us?" As soon as he said it, he realized how absurd that was.

"Duh!" Ryan said with a smile. "The only reason he didn't leave us years ago is because of Beckett. He'll want to be with her, especially now that they're getting married. I mean I couldn't live apart from Jenny for any length of time."

Espo stared off into space. "No Beckett. No Castle. That'll be weird."

"They'll come by to see us every once in a while. You know, bring the kids in, tell us all about their lives as a glamorous, world travelling couple. That sort of thing."

"Yeah. I'm going to miss those two all to hell and gone, too."

"No more than me, Javi. No more than me."

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Captain Victoria Gates looked out at the desk that soon would belong to Kate Beckett's replacement. There was no doubt in her mind that she was losing the best detective she'd ever worked with.

And while I still don't really like Mr. Castle, I do realize that in some bizarre way, the partnership of Beckett and Castle makes them more than the sum of their parts. I'm sure Castle will move on once Beckett is gone. In an odd way, I'll miss them both. They did make my life more…interesting.

Author's note: And so I've come to the last episode on the Season Five DVD and we'll have to take a little hiatus until the Season Six DVD comes out in September. But, I plan to go back and re-watch my favorite episodes, and maybe even some of my not so favorite episodes. I'm not entirely happy with some of the After….stories I wrote. Some of my stories here seem repetitive. Not at all surprising since one theme from Castle is that Castle and Beckett do not communicate very well. So you may see some more After…stories before September. And, I am still writing The Magnificent Seven and have two stories in mind. The next one will be on the theme of vengeance.

While I'm at it, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed these stories and thank you for your kind words.

So, let's all get together and do this again sometime.

Bob Hutchinson

AKA

UCSBdad

Another author's note: I haven't even started the re-watch of Season One and I already have an idea for an AU story. No, Rick and Kate do not get married in Episode 2. Hmm! Wait a sec…

Yet another author's note: Okay, actually, I've written another After…story. It'll be up tomorrow.