Kate couldn't escape the uncharacteristic disturbance cautioning her instincts. As though the air around her had shifted. Today was no different than any other rote day, but she felt as if she'd somehow begun to process events that she was not yet cognizant of. She opened her eyes directing her attention to the clock glowing on her nightstand. 5:30 am. She was grateful for the realization that it was a Saturday. Which meant that she could sleep in a while longer than usual, assuming Samantha did too. She released a drowsy sigh and folded her slight frame into the warmth of husband's. She couldn't help but smile as he hummed with delight into the crook of her neck drawing her closer.

"Mommy, mommy!" It never ceased to amuse Kate how a 'rude awakening' had the ability to compliment such an endearing little voice. Before she could even open her eyes tiny arms wrapped around her neck in elation. Her daughter's petite lips scattering wet doting kisses into her face.

"Good morning, baby girl." Kate smiled, her eyes still closed. She was intent on soaking in the tenderness of this moment. "And how did you sleep last night?"

"Good. How bout' you, mommy?" the bright eyed girl beamed, still situated atop Kate's chest. The way her appearance paralleled Kate's was uncanny. A fact that had Castle wrapped around her three-year-old finger.

"I slept well – but" Kate motioned for her daughter to incline closer to whisper a secret. "Between you and me – daddy snores too loud." Kate planted a playful kiss onto her daughter's cheek then pulled away and winked at her. The girl reacted with a bubbly giggle, a sound that Kate would never tire of. "Speaking of daddy, Samantha –"Kate glanced over to Castle's side of the bed only to find it vacant. "Do you know where he is?"

Samantha's eyes lit up as she nodded her head with enthusiasm. "Mmmhmm…"

"Will you take me to him, please?" Kate chuckled, rubbing the tip of her nose across Samantha's. The tentative look from Samantha puzzled Kate, prompting her to get out of bed and pull her daughter into her arms. As she approached the open door to exit the master bedroom she could hear Castle speaking in a hushed tone as if he didn't want to be overheard. The conversation didn't appear to be copacetic in nature.

"I'm not quite sure how to go about this – so much has happened since you – since she put everything behind her. " She could hear Castle say in a concern-riddled voice. Not wanting to reveal her presence in this conversation, she lingered out of sight a moment longer. Until she heard a voice whose familiarity incited both sorrow and trauma since past.

"Please, Mr. Castle – "The feminine voice pleaded. "I can understand your reluctance, but I need to make this right, I need Katie to understand why." A wave of ice encompassed Kate's body as a numbness settled in. Her instinct was to walk back into the room in a hurry and place Samantha on the bed. After doing so Kate rushed to the bathroom overcome with unbearable nausea.

'This is a dream. It has to be a dream.' Kate rationalized after crumpling onto to the bathroom floor. Her stomach now empty of any contents once therein. 'Wake up, Kate!' She thought slapping her face as she fought back tears. Desperate to jolt herself back into reality, but with no success. She was already awake.

"Kate?" Castle called out, she could hear him enter the room.

'Crap. I need just bit longer to process this.' She thought figuring that her confused and alarmed daughter had likely run to fetch him. Shock washed over her to see the pallor Castle's face, as if he'd seen a ghost. In that moment she realized that she hadn't been dreaming, the voice was familiar. A voice that as a distraught nineteen-year-old she had certain she would never be able to hear the warmth of again.