Disclaimer: I don't own Castle... the characters of this amazing show belong to the genius Andrew Marlowe and ABC. :P

A/N: I can't believe it, but it's time to post the epilogue to Habeas Corpses. It's not that long, maybe about four pages, but it says a lot. ;) :) It has been an amazing ride and I am so very proud that this story has been enjoyed by so many readers. When I had the initial idea for the plot, I was hesitant about even writing it, but it turned out that I really liked the outcome. This was my first bout in the Castle fanfiction world and I know it won't be my last. Thank you to all you readers and reviewers out there for taking the time to actually read this little gem. And thanks to my friend who made that amazing trailer to go with this story. She unknowingly captured a LOT of the feelings of the story without even reading it. She's just that awesome. ;) Well, without further adieu, I give you the conclusion to Habeas Corpses. Please tell me your thoughts. I love them. :D

Previously in Habeas Corpses...

Everybody bid their goodbyes and went their separate ways until Castle and Beckett were the only ones left standing by her desk. Castle broke the silence, "Thank you."

"For what?," Beckett furrowed her brows. Was he seriously thanking her for saving him? He didn't need to show any sort of gratitude. He'd do the same for her and has.

"Thank you for being you," Castle grinned, "I don't think I would've made it if anybody else was on the case."

"You're welcome," Kate returned his smile. Now that everything was wrapped up, Kate knew that Castle had to know about King's paternal identity, "Hey, Castle? Would you mind if I went back to your loft with you?"

"You want to come home with me, Detective?," Castle teased, "Should I be worried that you're going to try and take advantage of me?"

"I wouldn't be too worried, Castle," Beckett folded her arms, "After all, your mother will be there."

"True," Castle pouted as he followed her to the elevators and mumbled, "Maybe I should consider changing the locks."

Now the conclusion of Habeas Corpses...

Epilogue

Castle's Loft

"DAD!," Alexis ran into Castle in the biggest attack-hug she could muster, squeezing him tightly, "You're all right."

"I won't be if you don't loosen your grip, sweetie," Castle croaked out. He was still a little tender from all the hits and kicks he took. Lanie patched him up as best she could. Alexis immediately loosened her hug, but didn't let go. After a moment passed, Castle realized, "Wait a minute… why aren't you in school?"

"Yeah, I thought I told you to go to school today," Beckett added, sounding every bit of a mother.

"I did," Alexis replied, "The teachers sent me home once Dad called me. They said I should spend the day at home with my reunited family."

"Smart teachers," Castle squeezed his daughter a little tighter.

"Richard!," Martha came down the stairs and wrapped her son up in a hug once Alexis let go of him, "Oh, my boy."

"I hope the press didn't cause too much trouble for you guys," Castle started a conversation as everyone headed into the living room.

"Nothing we couldn't handle," Beckett assured him.

"I was talking to my daughter," Castle clarified.

"Oh," Beckett was a little embarrassed, "Sorry."

"They didn't give us any trouble," Alexis let him know, "Detective Beckett and everyone else helped ward them off."

Castle stretched back on to the couch with a long sigh, "God, it feels so good to be home… if I had to listen to another one of King's stories about his schemes or another cliché, I was going to scream."

Kate, Alexis, and Martha all caught one another's glances. They had to tell him sooner or later. Before anybody could speak up, Castle brought his head back up from the arm of the couch to look at Kate, "You still didn't tell me how you found out his name. I mean, I know you're a brilliant detective and all, but that name had to come from somewhere."

"It came from me," Martha revealed.

Rick sat up, "What? How did you know who he was?"

"I knew him," Martha explained, sitting down next to Castle, and put her hand on his knee, "I knew him long ago."

"I'm not going to like where this is going, am I?," Castle had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach and when he looked up to see Alexis and Kate's expressions, he knew the answer. He licked his lips and asked slowly, "H-How did you know him?"

"We met while I was traveling for one of my shows," Martha started to explain, "He didn't used to be like the way he is now… he was a sweet man."

"Were you two-?," Castle had a sinking feeling as to where his mother was headed with this explanation.

Martha looked to Kate and Alexis for strength. They both nodded for her to continue. Rick's gaze never left his mother, "Richard… Nick King is your father."

"I'm sorry, what?," Castle's eyebrows shot up. Martha gave him a moment to let the information soak in. Castle was at a loss for words, but he managed, "But, uh, I… I thought you said you didn't know who my father was?"

"I was trying to protect you, honey," Martha patted his knee, "I didn't lie about loving him a lifetime, Richard. He was a different man before that world corrupted him."

"Did he know about me?," Castle was too curious to not ask; especially after all that had transpired between the two of them.

"No," Martha shook her head, leaving her hand on his knee.

"It's okay, Dad," Alexis joined her family on the couch, on the other side of Castle. Kate remained standing, looking unsure what to do with herself.

Castle stared blankly ahead. He couldn't wrap his mind around what Martha just told him. That maniac was his father.He looked up at Kate, "You knew?"

"Your mother told me when I got his name from her," Beckett replied with a shrug and stepped forward, "And I told her I thought you had a right to know."

"I appreciate it," Castle nodded and looked to each woman with a nod and stared blankly once again, "I just don't really believe it."

"Believe what?," Alexis asked, "That he's your father?"

"No, not that, I mean, yes that, but mostly I don't believe," Castle shook his head slightly and looked up to Kate, "that my father is responsible for ordering the hit on your mother… that my father caused you so much pain. I-I really don't know what to say."

"Castle, you're not blaming yourself, are you?," Beckett furrowed her brows, walking closer to him.

"Why not? First I drudge up your mother's case when you asked me not to and then Coonan came out of the woodwork," Castle stood up, "And now this… I just seem to be a magnet of pain for you."

"Rick," Beckett started. Castle knew she was serious if she was using his first name, "I'm not blaming you for something that was completely and utterly out of your control… if it wasn't for you, I would've never been able to finally close my mother's case. I owe you a lot."

"But, it was my dad," Castle started, but Alexis cut him off, "He's not your dad, Dad."

Castle gave her a confused look before she explained herself, "I mean, yeah he's your biological father, but he's not your dad. He can never be your dad. He didn't raise you or teach you to play catch, take you to baseball games, or teach you right from wrong… love you. Nick King is just a father… you're a dad."

"He's not a part of this family," Martha added, "And he never will be."

Beckett felt a little out of place when the three of them shared a group hug, Castle sandwiched in between his mother and daughter.

Alexis noticed Kate's hesitancy and spoke up, "We're all a part of this family, including you, Kate."

"Yes, Beckett, join my crazy family in a group hug," Castle smiled. Beckett rolled her eyes as he stood up, pulling her into a hug. He whispered in her ear, "Thank you for everything, Kate."

"Now that everybody's safe and sound, I think I should get some rest," Alexis stood up, "I'll finally be able to get some sleep now."

"I think we should all get some rest," Martha agreed, "A good nap will benefit us all."

Martha and Alexis left the detective and the author alone in the living room after giving them both a hug respectively. Kate let the silence linger for a few seconds before cutting it, "I guess that now everything's out in the open I should head home and get some of that ordered rest."

"Nonsense, you're not going anywhere, Detective," Castle shook his head, "If you've been up for as long as Agent Shaw said you were, there's no way I'm letting you leave here until you're fully rested… I can take the couch and you can take my bed."

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to take your bed again," Kate shook her head and then her eyes widened when she realized what she just revealed to him.

"Again?," Castle raised a curious eyebrow, a teasing glint in his voice, "What do you mean again, Detective?"

"I spent the night here last night and your daughter suggested I take your bed to be comfortable," Beckett tried to explain herself.

"So, my bed was just right?," Castle teased.

"What?," Beckett laughed.

"You know, Goldilocks," Castle explained, "Your desk at work was too hard, my couch was too soft, and my bed was just right."

Kate shook her head with an amused laugh and then, just as abruptly, looked down. Castle noticed her immediate change in expression. She looked like she was fighting tears, "Kate? What's the matter?"

"Nothing," Kate tried to pass it off and turned around, putting her hands on her hips and then folded her arms.

"Kate," Castle didn't give up, putting his hand on her arm, "What's wrong?"

She turned back around, "I wasn't sure how we were going to find you. After seeing King's profile and his track record… what he was responsible for to be done to Sullivan and my mother. I wasn't sure if we'd find you severely injured… or even alive. And I didn't want to let somebody I lo- care about down again."

"You care about me?," Castle let out a teasing smile to lighten the mood. He let her little slip slide. Beckett just gave him a watery smile as he continued, embracing her in a tight hug, "I'm right here, Kate. You didn't let me down and you most certainly didn't let your mother down. Her case is completely solved. You can rest easy now… and I'm not going anywhere. As long as you want me to stick around, I will."

"Good," Beckett nodded, wiping away the remainder of her tears, "I guess we should get some rest then now, huh?"

"Yeah," Castle agreed, "Take my room. I'll be fine out here."

Rick started moving the pillows around on his couch so he would be more comfortable to rest. He stopped and turned around when he heard Kate address him, "Castle, I'm going to ask you something and for this next minute, please don't act like yourself… promise?"

Castle nodded. He knew when there was a time for teasing and when to be serious.

"Could you come into your room with me and lay down next to me?," Beckett looked like a little girl asking her father permission to take a cookie from the cookie jar. Before Rick tried to respond, Kate felt the need to explain herself, "I just need you there to reassure myself that you're really here and you're not off somewhere being tortured or killed by King. I just need you near me so I know that you're truly all right, safe and sound."

"Of course," Castle replied. He'd do whatever she'd tell him to do.

"No funny stuff," Beckett emphasized with her pointer finger. There was the Beckett he knew and lo- cared for.

"I give you my word," Castle said. They made their way to Castle's bedroom, Beckett leading the way. Kate took off her shoes and laid on the same side she was the previous night. Castle crawled up on the bed and laid on his back next to her, "Am I fine right here?"

"Thanks for not making a big deal about this," Kate smiled at him. Castle smiled in return as she continued, "But… if you tell any of our friends about this, I will find a way to make you regret it, Castle."

"My lips are sealed," Castle zipped his lips. Kate gave him an affirmative nod and closed her eyes. After a few minutes, they both fell fast asleep and during their slumber, Kate inched closer to Rick until she snuggled into him. Her head rested on his chest, the thudding of his strong heartbeat reassured her as he wrapped his arm around her. For the first time in years, Kate Beckett slept peacefully.

THE END

Well, that's all I wrote. I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Just a little thing I wanted to mention: I'm especially proud of the last line. It's like it sums Kate up all in one sentence to have everything resolved for her mother. I know some of you might have been expecting more of Castle's thoughts on King being his father, but I felt like it should've been an "in the moment" type feeling where he's just and shock. Knowing Castle, his main concern would be for Kate and I hope I articulated that okay. This story was more focused on Kate and I think my next story will focus more on Rick. :) Oh, and if we could get a scene like what I wrote here at the end on the show, I think we could all be very happy - just saying. ;) Please tell me what you think! I wanna know! I hope to write more Castle stories in the near future and I hope you all will be able to read them. :)

Thank you to those of you who just read this story as well. I really appreciate you too. :D

Clois and Caskett Forever! :D