If…

The murder of 4x23 was not related to Kate Beckett's mother case?

"There is a universal truth we all have to face, whether we want to or not, everything eventually ends. As much as I've looked forward to this day, I've always disliked endings. Last day of summer, the final chapter of a great book, parting ways with a close friend. But endings are inevitable. Leaves fall, you close the book. You say goodbye. Today is one of those days for us. Today we say goodbye to everything that was familiar, everything that was comfortable. We're moving on. But just because we're leaving, and that hurts, there's some people who are so much a part of us, they'll be with us no matter what. They are our solid ground. Our North Star. And the small clear voices in our hearts that will be with us … Always."

The thunderous sound of applause cut the air and silence ensued after these words. The audience of parents, teachers and friends rose to applaud, while the valedictorian thank and retired from the stage, running out to the open arms of the man who she tried to say goodbye: her father, teacher and friend.

- It was amazing! Exceptional! My little girl an amazing speaker, I knew you could do this! - Rick Castle affectionately squeezed his daughter in his arms.

- And of course she took this talent from whom? Me duh! The artistic vein is in you, child! You inherited this natural gift from me... - Martha said, pulling her granddaughter to her arms under the replicas of "I'm her father" and "the gift of words, if I recall, came from me."

Then, Alexis deviated from the family dispute, still smiling, and went to embrace the third person who was there to see her. The person disentangled Castle's arm and hugged her.

- Glad you came, Detective Beckett. For a moment I thought you were not coming!

- I couldn't miss it for anything , Alexis, you were amazing! And please, you can call me Kate. It is very strange you call me "detective" here, in the midst of your friends - Kate pulled away and felt again the Castle's touch on her elbow.

All night had been like that, the imminent closeness, entwined arms, touches hands. They exchanged glances, subtle touches, a veiled caring.

After accepting the invitation in the last days, "that movie with lots of blood and action after my Alexis' graduation," Castle had asked not once, but many times also to accompany him to his daughter's graduation. As was usual, Beckett had refused the first offer, giving numerous excuses. Castle, on the other hand, was strongly folded and every request became more insistent.

"So, do you want to ruin my reputation, Beckett?"

"You're not going alone, you'll go with your mother, Castle ..."

"So I repeat: do you want to ruin my reputation?"

"Castle ... This is a particular thing, family ... I would feel like a stranger. How do you think Alexis would feel? "

"She would love it! After all, you are like family now ... I mean ... You, you know, she likes you, will not mind, will love! It is your obligation to me! "

"Obligation?"

"Yes, as a detective and NY police, you have to stop or a murder or a suicide!"

"Huh?"

"If you're not my date, and leave me at Mrs. Martha Rogers' mercy, or I will kill her or I'll kill myself ..."

"You will not give up, will you?"

"You know I won't ..."

Invitation accepted, for insistence or not, Beckett found herself in front of her closet in the morning, trying to dig for some hidden relic. All she had seemed inappropriate for a graduation party: too short, too long, too outdated, too old, too formal, too vulgar, too weird ... There were so many "too" that she was on the verge of canceling everything. And her mind drew numerous scenes with Castle appearing the next minute, with some dress from a famous store, or worse, his mother, or hell on Earth: some unknown fashion designer answering his requests. But the last scene imagined made her take a deep breath and look back in the closet: he, wearing tuxedo or suit. Occurred by the fifth unsuccessful attempt to any piece magically screamed her name and went shopping. She found what she was looking for at the first store she went. Beckett was in doubt about the impression that it would cause, but everything was vanished from her mind when Castle opened the door of his apartment.

- Wow! – that was the only thing he managed to say, after staying about 5 minutes stunned, looking at the portal - You are ... Wow! – he said through a sigh, measuring Beckett from top to bottom. Beckett struck again, if the goal was making Castle speechless, breathless, or ungrounded, whichever came first.

He followed her with his eyes, admiring the view, and she did not know if it bothered her or not. In the past, this would be cause for some pounding, but now it didn't make any sense. Beckett knew that it was his way to be, and she could hardly differentiate his "flirtation tested" those who were necessarily to her. All she could do was imagine. However, about a year ago, she began to pay more attention to these "jokes with grain of truth", more exactly after he said the three magic little words, very specifically, to her. And they were obvious still haunted her mind.

- My goodness! Dear "Detective", today you really outdid yourself. - Martha yelled down the stairs from the second floor. As always, Martha was amazing, but heard Martha compliment her choice of how to let Castle with no reaction was weird. In a curious way, she felt uncomfortable, it was like being caught cheating on the college 's final exam. - The red dress is so you, Kate, and the perfect choice of the strapless: you are not daring, but still dare...

It was incredibly cozy could be a witness of small familiar things, such as a graduation, and for many years she did not know anymore how it was like: to have a regular family. Although, the Castle's family was, definitely, not common.

After the triumphant Alexis' descent of the stairs, where Castle was keen to record everything twice from three different angles, they decided the night script: everybody would go to the party in Castle's car, even over Beckett's protests, who thought better to go with her own car. There, Alexis would go party with her friends, Martha would spend the weekend in the Hamptons, an excuse for some eccentricity, while Castle and Beckett would back home for the "cinema session " that they had combined.

Everything was beautiful! Hundreds of youth thronged the hall, shaking hands and sampling the gowns. Alexis said goodbye to everyone and ran to her friends, out of sight. Martha Rodgers was one that disappeared once found (or was rediscovered) a 'known'. By Castle's face, nor was thus only one "known", but someone well known to him, so he waved back politely.

Now there were only Castle and Beckett.

- Detective Beckett, if you give me the pleasure ... - And he offered her his right arm. So she, after looking at him for a second as she always did to see his real intentions, accepted the gesture, Castle continued - see, today will be me who will protect you ... For all these years, it was you who kept me from lifeless bodies, suspects, murderers, crime scenes and bosses foaming at their mouths - he was referring to Gates and it made her drop a shy smile. They followed down the toward hall to the anteroom, where the other guests were "socializing" - Today is my turn. Kate, you will enter the dangerous world of the undergraduates' parents and I want you know that I am leading you here among all these bodies full of life, but they are dead to me, and through the education scene. I believe the only survivor / witness is the valedictorian.

How he could do this? Be like that, make Beckett feel like a fool, twirling a lock of her hair that falls from her bun. She followed him, laughing and talking. But both of them felt the tension that was brewing with all this closeness. The whispers in the ear made both wince, their glances crossed more often than usual, and the time seemed freeze just a little, lasting for some minutes these small moments. These whispers were accompanied by intentional hits. Castle, with his approached, rubbed his nose in her ear. And twice he lingered there, breathing deeply, inhaling the sweet aroma of cherries that emanated from her, making Backett shiver. She, in those moments, appreciate Martha's idea to use a scarf around her shoulders, but she was aware that the scarf did not cover this vulnerable part of her body. She knew perfectly well that Castle knew the effect he was making. Kate turn to whisper, took her index finger next to his face, and while she spoke to him, she drew a fine line that ran through his jaw. After all, this game was for two, if everything was really a game. He looked long, and it was like the room and all around stay strangely blurred. Taking between his fingers a strand of hair that Beckett was curling, he placed gently behind her ear and linger there, holding the strand in place. That small gesture was answered by her body, which leaned toward him. But they were brought to the present by the patron of the occasion that asked guests to directing the audience to start the formalities.

Castle led them to their seats, and the tension accompanied them. As the silence was necessary, the words they exchanged were monosyllabic, and gestures and touches began to have new meanings. The arm in arm gave way to hands. Their interlaced fingers gave space to a slow "exchange caresses" dance, where the contact wasn't broken. For two times, they gave to the partner the chance to break this "magic" with a perceived remoteness, but both refused. In a strange way, it was like they were alone, and had realized they were still in the collation audience. Castle did not notice what time his mother had joined them, and no sign of the "known" that was abducted her by almost all graduation. He was trying to share his attention that night: his precious star that was at a stage before him, frightened and radiant, and the woman beside him, stroking his hand, and he hers, tormenting his thoughts since they met . And this torment was gradually transformed into something else, making him pronounce loud and clear to her three words that he had been reluctant strongly against the possibility. And now he knew that his muse was fully aware of them.

After the valedictorian's speech, all the audience were dismissed and the formalities were concluded. Now it was the part that all the young were waiting: the party itself. Alexis said goodbye to everyone, but she showed more reluctant to leave her father. After Castle reassures her saying that he had many things to entertained at home, like the new red helicopter and an Xbox, she smiled and went with friends to the party. While Alexis was saying goodbye to Kate, Martha pulled Castle with her arm and quietly remarked:

- I, in all these years, never said that, or if I did, you wouldn't listen. But now I want you listen dear: behave. - when Castle tried to argue she raised her hand and continued - I know, I know ... I know all you will tell me, that is nothing. But baby I got eyes on you... You really think I did not notice you two tonight? Be solved once and for all, if you must tell her again what you said before, just tell and make sure she is not taking another shot when deciding. Dear, it's so clear to who see outside ... But behave. Kate is a real woman, not an invention.

Then she turned and said goodbye to Kate. Soon, both are viewed alone once more.

- Ready for our movie? - Beckett asked while he offered her his arm again. They went out the hall, toward the parking lot.

- Actually, no. - And when she questioningly looked at him, he added with that way who make her melt and gave a corner smile - I actually would like to have dinner first. - And opened the car's door to her.