Disclaimer: I do not own Castle, this is simply a hobby.

It was late morning before they both woke again. Their limbs tangled together with the bed covers wrapped artistically around them. Castle woke first, his eyes drifting open to look at Kate's sleeping face. She looked peaceful, a warm glow radiated from her face, something which had been missing ever since she returned home. He had come to notice the dark rings under her eyes followed by the way she would startle slightly when she woke before fully realizing where she was. It had scared him initially, he had caught her flexing her fingers one morning, he didn't tell her that he saw the questioning look on her face, he presumed she was startled at the fact that she could move her hands. He couldn't imagine how she must have felt to wake up unable to move. He tried to stop his thoughts before they took over, he needed to move on, for her sake as much as his own. He had become used to her waking in a panic, or tossing in the bed until her elbow or foot connected with him and he was jolted awake. But not today. Today she slept soundly and he was in no rush to wake her.

Their morning had been wonderful, intimate and exactly what they had each needed. He gently traced his index finger down her cheek, just softly, barely touching the skin. He moved lower, down the column of her neck and across her pronounce collar bone, down the exposed skin of her arm and finally encompassing her wrist in his fingers. Her wrists had now turned a deep red color, one that showed they were healing but still bared the marks of the fight she had needed to endure in order to come back home. He slowly brought her wrist up to his lips, her arm weak beneath his fingers, he kiss her wrist softly as if it would take all the pain away before gently laying her hand back down onto the soft sheets, intent on letting her sleep a little longer.

"I love waking up with you" Kate confessed sleepily, keeping her eyes closed for a moment before slowly opening them and pushing her body closer to his.

"I didn't mean to wake you. You looked so tired earlier."

"And I wonder why that would be?" she smiled playfully.

"Why Mrs Castle I don't know what you are implying" he teased before moving in to capture her lips in a soft slow kiss.

"Do we need to do anything today?" Kate asked once they had pulled apart.

"No, although I know my mother is desperate to have a proper catch up with you and I need to explain things to Alexis properly. I didn't tell them much about why they had to leave just that you and them were in danger, that you had been taken and I couldn't risk them being in New York. I couldn't risk losing them too"

"You did the right thing Castle, but like you said Alexis will want an explanation, she is similar to you in that respect, she needs to know the story"

"I wish this was a story." Castle huffed.

"Come on, let's get a shower and then we can make some breakfast. I don't know about you but I feel like I have worked up an appetite this morning" she said with a cheeky smile before vanishing into the bathroom with Castle hot on her heels.

After another round in the shower, both Castle and Beckett eventually got ready and joined Alexis and Martha for breakfast.

"Good morning you two" Martha exclaimed as they walked into the kitchen.

"Morning Martha" Kate replied moving in to kiss her cheek; another simple gesture that the two of them had become accustomed to doing.

"How are you?" Martha asked, lowering her voice slightly as if the topic was someone off limits to discuss at a normal level.

Kate glanced to Castle who was busy prepping the bacon for their breakfast.

"We're doing ok, actually I wanted to talk to you, without Rick, if that's ok?" Kate asked nervously.

"Yes of course, come and sit down"

The two ladies moved towards the couch, Rick didn't question it and simply carried on cooking breakfast with Alexis.

"Are you sure everything is alright?" Martha asked, concern growing on her face.

She knew Katherine and she could tell when something was bothering her. Her body language gave it away, she became nervous, sitting straight up on the couch and playing with her fingers in a manner that was so unlike her.

"Martha I just wanted to say how grateful I am, to both you and Alexis. These past few days have made me realise how lucky I am to have you. When Rick was missing I was falling apart and you helped me get myself together again. I know you talked with Rick about telling me his side what happened. It's helped us move on. Anyway I just wanted to say thank you."

"Katherine my darling there is no need. Anyone can see that what you and Richard have is solid, there is no two ways about it, and if you do encounter some bumps along the way you always seem to find each other again. I believe that. When Richard told me you were missing he refused to tell me anything else because he wanted to protect me. All he told me was that you had been abducted, and he was going to get you back, and that was all I needed to know. I knew he would find you, deep down I knew he would, because you two are meant for each other. Think about everything you have each been through and it has all led to you being right here. You are part of this family Katherine and always will be."

Kate hadn't realised she had been crying, it was only when a tear drop slashed on the back of her hand that she noticed and quickly went to wipe them away.

"Thank you Martha" Kate said softly, moving into the older woman's embrace.

Those two months when Castle had been missing had been some of the toughest months of her life, but Martha had always been with her, she had always stood by her and encouraged her to never give up. It was times like this when Kate missed her mother the most. She longed for a hug from her mother, or even simply being in her presence. She knew the time she missed with her mother would never be able to be replaced and she was glad that Martha had never tried to do that.

"Now, come on. Wipe away those tears." Martha said, the positivity beaming from her face like only an actress could. Even under these circumstance Martha was still able to bring a sense of hope to the situation.

Kate did exactly that. She took a breath, focusing her mind; another technique she had learned from Dr Burke, before leaning back and looking Martha in the eye. Martha nodded once and Kate smiled back, a signal that she was OK but needed a moment to steady herself. She sat for a moment, watching the rest of the family prepare for breakfast.

Watching Castle with Alexis always made her heart melt, the way they interacted was something incredible to witness. Even after the events of the past few days the two of them were able to behave as if everything was normal. She knew Castle would talk with Alexis, he would explain how everything he did, and all the risks he took was not just for Kate but for Alexis as well.

It wasn't long before the whole family were sitting around the breakfast table, enjoying bacon and scrambled eggs. Castle had offered to make smorelette's but each member of the Castle family had kindly declined. After breakfast Kate went back into the bedroom and Martha excused herself to give Castle and Alexis some privacy.

Castle was washing the breakfast plates whilst Alexis dried and put away, a technique they had mastered over the years.

"So, how are you doing pumpkin?" Castle asked.

"I'm fine, glad to be home" Alexis replied as she wiped away the soap suds from the plate in her hand.

"I'm sorry you had to go away like that"

"Oh no, I didn't mean it like that. I meant that I'm glad everyone is home. I'm so glad that Kate is OK, when you told us she had been abducted I was really scared. These past few months we've grown really close. Especially after what happened to you." Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, a sign Rick knew meant that she was worried about something.

"Alexis, I want you to know that everything I did, I did to protect my family. You and Kate and your gram mean the world to me."

"I know dad. Kate is a part of our family, I love her. I know I had some reservations about her at the start but now, well now it's hard to imagine a time when she wasn't part of the family. I'm not asking you to tell me every detail, I know you did what you needed to do."

"I love you sweetheart" Castle said pulling her in for a hug, not bothering that he was currently soaking her back with the water from the washing up bowl. He was grateful that she didn't want to know all the details, he didn't think he could handle reliving it all again and then explaining to his daughter how he had practically executed a man. He would be forever grateful that he could spare her from those nightmares.

"I love you too" Alexis replied.

Epilogue

Kate stood in front of the full length mirror. Dressed in a light blue shirt, smart trousers that hugged her hips and her usual killer heels, she felt ready for the day ahead. Castle was busy making her morning coffee as Kate moved to the dressing table to fix her hair. Picking up her curling iron she began to curl the ends of her hair; something she hadn't done since coming home.

Once her hair was finished she moved on to her makeup, another thing she hadn't done since her abduction. Although Kate had never been one for living in her pajamas, the past week had really taken its toll on her. Her and Castle had made sure that each day was left free for them. They spent the mornings lying in bed, sometimes reading, other times cuddling, other times simple basking in the fact that they were back together.

She fastened her watch around her left wrist, the marks now completely healed leaving her body with no trace of what had happened. She glanced at her wedding ring, twisting it slightly between her index finger and thumb. She loved her wedding ring, it symbolized so much about who they were. Her abduction had been the first time it had been off her finger since the wedding, and having it back in its rightful place only filled her with more hope that she would overcome everything she had been through, and made her more determined that her ring would never leave her finger again.

The journey to the precinct was as normal as it could be. She was driving, a feeling that brought back a sense of control to her. Once they were parked up they made their way to the 4th floor.

Walking into the elevator each of them were struck by a sense of déjà vu. Kate hadn't remembered leaving the twelfth after they had given their statements, her body and mind had been too overwhelmed by the events of the previous days and desperate to get home and rest, that she had blanked out most of those memories.

She watched the light from the elevator glow and they were making their way up to the fourth floor. Castle by her side, just like he always was. The last time she had entered the precinct she had been weak, Castle had needed to support her most of the way by keeping his strong arms wrapped around her. She had made sure to travel in the elevator with Amy; the woman who had kidnapped her and has given her to those monsters. She had made sure to look her in the eye, to show her that she had survive, that despite her effort, their plan had failed. Nieman and Tyson were dead and Amy was facing a life in prison.

The elevator doors opened, but with Castle by her side, she was ready to face the next challenge.

They both were.

Well my dear readers that is the end of this story. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

I cannot believe how many followers this story has get, especially with it being my first story. I am extremely grateful for everyone who has left comments on this story, like I said back at the start, this was designed as a one-shot piece, I never imaged it would turn into a 30,000 word multi-chapter piece.

Once again thank you for reading, please check out my other stories and prompt fills and please feel free to follow me on tumblr at castlelover47 to keep up to date with my writing.

H. x