See You in the Fall. By ZARAelizabeth.

Kate Beckett sat legs crossed on the floor leaning against the couch. It had been 4 months since she had left New York. She was watching a video from when she was a little girl playing with her sister Claire. They were playing in the backyard. They were chasing each other around. Tears came to Kate's eyes. Claire's eldest daughter Grace, 16, walked up behind the couch.

"Is that you and mom?" Grace asked. Kate wiped her tears away. She looked at Grace and smiled.

"Yeah. Your mom was 8 and I was 5. I can still remember this day. It was when your mom broke her arm," Kate said with a laugh. Grace walked around the couch and sat next to her.

"What happened?" Grace asked looking at the tv.

"We were playing hide and seek with James and Lucas. I suggested that your mom and I hide on the tool shed roof. It had rained a few days before and she slid off the roof. She landed on her wrist and broke it. Mom and Dad had a fit that day," Kate said as a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I can imagine that happening," Grace said with a laugh. Kate pulled her into a hug.

"Your mom was so proud of everything you have done. She is going to be so proud tomorrow when you compete and win nationals. She is going to be so proud when you win the Olympics!" Kate said with a smile. Grace looked up at Kate.

"I know she'll be watching over me tomorrow and that she and dad will always be proud of all of us," Grace said. Kate smiled and kissed her on the head. Kate stood up.

"Come on. We have to go get some tea and then pack because tomorrow we go to Boston!" Kate said with a smile. She held out her hand for Grace. Grace took it and smiled. She followed Kate into the kitchen.

CASTLE

Richard Castle strode into the familiar break room of the NYPD. He grabbed himself a coffee and sat down on the other side of Esposito's desk. He was there about half an hour before everyone would arrive. He took in all the familiar sights. Not much had changed.

Half an hour later Lanie, Ryan and Esposito walked into the break room and sat down. Castle walked in behind them.

"Hey guys," Castle said. They all turned and smiled.

"Hi" they all replied.

"So where is the famous Kate Beckett?" Castle asked. Ryan and Esposito looked at Lanie.

"She, uh, not here anymore," Lanie said. This confused Castle. Where had she gone?

"What? Where'd she go?" Castle asked.

"Well, uh, she's living in Boulder, with her, uh, kids," Lanie said a bit unsure of how to put it.

"Kids? Since when did she have kids?" Castle asked.

"Since 4 months ago," Lanie replied.

"What happened 4 months ago?" Castle asked.

"Her sister and brother-in-law were killed in a car accident," Lanie said.

"What! Why didn't she tell me?" Castle asked.

"She tried but your ex always answered and after about, 3 days of trying she gave up. We all tried to contact you Castle so there should have been no reason as to why you didn't ring her!" Lanie said. Castle was taken back. Why had his ex answered his cell and not told him that they had called.

"Excuse me," Castle said as he walked out. He walked outside. He pulled his cell out.

"Hi Rick," Gina answered.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Castle asked angrily.

"Rick I don't know what you are talking about!" Gina said acting innocent.

"How could you not tell me they rang?" Castle said.

"Again I don't know what you are talking about!" Gina said again.

"They rang for 3 days and you didn't tell me! How could you not have told me?" Castle asked getting angrier.

"You need to concentrate!" Gina said finally giving in.

"Yeah well thanks to you I wasn't here when Beckett needed me!" Castle said.

"Oh come on! It can't have been that bad!" Gina said.

"Her sister and brother-in-law died Gina! DIED!" Castle said before hanging up. He was so mad right now. He walked up and down the street a couple of times before walking back into the NYPD office.

CASTLE

The next day Kate took Grace to the bus. She was traveling down an hour or so later with Grace's sisters and her brother. After dropping Grace off she got a phone call. She looked at the caller ID.

Lanie... (:

"Hey Lanie," Kate said.

"Hey! We are on our way to Boston!" Lanie said.

"WHAT?" Kate asked.

"Yeah I know right. We decided last night that we would come and see you and see Grace compete! Ryan and Esposito didn't even know that it was the national gymnastics titles!" Lanie said with a laugh.

"Oh my god! I still can't believe you're coming to Boston just to see us!" Kate said.

"Yeah anyway I have to go. We are stopping for a break," Lanie said. They said goodbye and hung up. Kate smiled. Her friends were coming to see her.

CASTLE

Lanie, Castle, Ryan and Esposito walked into the Boston gym. They saw Kate talking to Grace. Grace's 2 sisters, Massie 12 and Laura 8 and her brother Riley 5 were standing with her. They took a seat and watched as they all laughed together.

"They look so much like a family!" Ryan said.

"I know! They are a family anyway but they look so much more like a family now!" Esposito said. Lanie nodded.

"I can't wait to see her again! It feels like it's been ages!" Lanie said. Castle didn't say a word. He just watched as Kate interacted with her 'new kids'. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Her hair was longer and she looked amazing.

Kate said good luck and goodbye to Grace as she and the kids walked back to the seats. She saw Lanie and they walked up and sat next to them.

"Hey guys! I haven't seen you in ages!" Kate said as she gave Esposito, Ryan and Lanie a hug. She saw Castle and looked away. She sat down in between Castle and Lanie. Massie sat next to Esposito and Laura sat next to Esposito and Ryan. Riley sat on Kate's lap.

"Hi Riley," Lanie said.

"Hi," Riley said quietly.

"Are you excited to watch Grace?" she asked him.

"Yes. I think she is going to WIN!" he said louder.

"Yeah?" Lanie asked. Riley nodded his head. Kate smiled.

"Riley hasn't stopped talking about it for the past week! Have ya Riles?" Kate asked as she looked at him and ruffling his hair.

"She gonna win!" Riley said. Massie laughed.

"Yeah and she better! I told Tyler at school she was gonna win and if she doesn't I am not going to live it down!" Massie said with a laugh.

"Well that'll teach you for being so cocky!" Lanie said.

"Yeah well she should win! She came 2nd by a point last year and this year she's stepped up all her routines so she should be better!" Massie said. Kate just laughed. She loved her kids. Even if they weren't her real kids.

CASTLE

During interval Grace walked up to see Kate and the others. She was smiling.

"Hey!" She said as she gave them all a hug even Castle, who was taken back by the action.

"Hey Grace! You are going so well!" Lanie said.

"Thanks! It's not my best though. I just, I don't even know. We have 2 hours before we come back so I have an hour and than as Sasha says 'we're all his!'" Grace said with a laugh. Kate put an arm around her shoulders.

"Well then we better get going! Lunch and then we'll have to bring you back," Kate said. As she pushed Grace down towards the floor to grab her bag.

At lunch they were seated and having fun talking. Castle and Beckett disappeared and they started to walk down the street and began to talk.

"Hey, what ever happened to 'see you in the fall'?" Castle asked. Beckett shrugged her shoulders.

"Things change, I guess," she said. Castle nodded.

"I am really sorry I wasn't there when you needed me. I am so sick of Gina!" Castle said.

"Then why did you take her with you?" Beckett asked.

"Because you were happy with Demming and I didn't want to go alone," Castle said.

"I was going to go with you," Kate said.

"You were?" Castle asked.

"Yeah that's what I was going to tell you when Gina came. I broke up with Demming because I wanted you," Kate said quietly. This made Castle stop. He looked into her eyes and saw what he always wanted to see. Love.

"You did that for me?" he asked. Kate nodded. He pulled her chin up and then pulled her close and pulled her into a passionate kiss. They stayed that way for about 5 minutes. The only reason they stopped was when Grace wolf whistled.

"WOO! Go Kate!" Grace said. Massie laughed. Riley put his hands over his eyes. Kate looked up and laughed. She took Riley from Grace and pulled him into a hug. Riley kissed her cheek.

"I love you," he said quietly. Grace laughed.

"Aww Riley doesn't wanna be left out!" Grace said. They all laughed and then turned and walked back to the gym.