I don't think the secret will be revealed. What would be gained from it? Watch for the twist. Reading comprehension is a must.

Beckett's family home
Scarsdale, NY

"Katie, you can't just sit around moping. God, this is worse than when that Bradley guy dumped you in high school."

"Mother, for the last time, he didn't dump me. He just started dating around. I saw him again at parties and …"

"Call him, Kate. If what you two said to each other – "

"I can't call him. His number's unlisted. I tried. He hasn't come back to the hospital to have the stitches removed, either. He probably just went to his family doctor…"

"Make a house call, Katie. You're a doctor and he's your patient. Isn't it your responsibility to see to it that he follows the 'aftercare' instructions to avoid infection?"

"Mom, doctors don't make house calls anymore. That went out with buggy whips and – "

"And caring for the welfare of patients?"

"Okay, I'm tired of this. I'm going to drive into the city and see what trouble I can get into. Who knows, maybe I'll meet a nice lawyer and settle down and raise spoiled brats."

"That's what I did…"

"Mother!"

Castle Loft
SoHo
New York City

"Richard, quit picking at those stitches. You're going to get an infection if you don't quit it." She slapped his hand away from his arm.

"Y'know, I think I liked you better before you moved in with what's his name. The only time I get to see you now is when you cruise by to lecture me on my lack of hygiene and social skills."

"I'm sorry, darling, I know it's hard being without your mommy…" Sarcasm delivered with such innocence.

"Go. Take Alexis and go. She's been looking forward to having a sleep-over at Grandma's boyfriend's house. I can't wait to hear all about this new guy. I've got a list of questions I'm going to give her to ask this guy – starting with 'What is the value of your investment portfolio?' and ending with 'You aren't going to make my Granny sign a pre-nup, are you?"

"Richard, you wouldn't…"

"Mother, yes I would."

"Alexis, time to go, sweetheart. Your father's in the bathroom so let's get a move on." She stuck her tongue out at her son and then kissed his cheek, patting it vigorously as he tried to pull away.

"Okay, no questions. Just don't let her run wild. She's getting over a flu and this is the best she's felt since I sliced up my arm."

"Promise me you'll get the stitches removed tomorrow. You'll have all day to get it done. I'll have Alexis back after dinner but definitely before 10pm."

"Fine. I'll go and get them removed and then you promise to quit nagging at me about every little thing?"

"No. It's my duty as a mother to properly prepare you for you final marriage encounter. I did such a poor job the first two times – "

"Well, Grandma did a piss poor job preparing you! What is it, FIVE trips to the altar? Or was it six?"

"Don't be gauche, dear. You know it was only four. Alexis, honey, let's go. Your father's getting separation anxiety already."

"I miss her when she's gone. Soon she'll be dating and going off to college and finding Mr. Right and then getting married and having kids of her own and she won't have time for dear old Dad."

"It's the cross we bear as parents, dear."

Castle thought long and hard about contacting Kate Beckett but the more he thought about it, the less certain he was about things. They'd made a date but then Alexis had come down with a nasty flu and neither of them had exchanged phone numbers.

He called the hospital HR department but was stonewalled even after offering a signed first edition. The clerk would not breach Dr. Beckett's privacy.

Frustrated, he called the hospital ER unit and asked for Dr. Beckett but was told she was off for the next few days. It figured. It had been a week and she said she worked an 18-hour shift so she probably worked 4 days and had 3 off.

The loud and insistent banging at the door startled him and he dropped the phone. Cursing his clumsiness and non-listed telephone numbers, he hurried to the door before whoever was banging on it knocked it down.

"What – " He stopped mid-thought. Beckett.

"You didn't call me, Rick. What was all that stuttering and stammering in the ER about? Just playing with me?"

"I couldn't call, Kate. You never gave me your number. Alexis came down with the flu and my mother decided to cohabitate with potential stepfather #4, or is it #5? I don't know. I had my hands full and had no way to reach you. The hospital wouldn't – "

"Oh, Jesus, Castle, just shut up and kiss me."

Sometime later, lying wrapped up in the tangled sheets that used to be so smooth and unwrinkled, Kate murmured "I came to take out those stitches. My mom told me I should make a house call. Let me get my bag. You threw it somewhere in the living room. I don' remember where exactly."

"Don't. It'll keep until tomorrow. I don't want to let you out of my sight for a second, Kate. I keep feeling like this is a dream, y'know, and if I just lose sight of you, I'll wake up and you'll be gone."

She leaned up and kissed him quickly but thoroughly. "I'll only be a second, honey. If you're good, Dr. Beckett will give you a lollipop."

He watched her naked form leave the bedroom and he laid back down and wondered again at how all this had come to pass.

Two years! They'd lost two years of being with each other and even though he was uncertain about how this would all work out, he was certain of one thing – he needed this woman in his life if he was ever going to be happy even for the briefest of times.

Given his history, he knew that eventually she'd do a Meredith or a Gina and he'd once again be walking around hiding the fact that he was the world's only living heart donor but at least he'd have her for however long Fate allowed.

She moved into the loft two months later. The commute to and from her parents' place in Scarsdale simply ate up too much time in her week and she finally broached the subject with Rick picking the time he would be most vulnerable – in her arms.

"Rick, I think it's time I moved out of Mom's basement and got a place in the city. Will you help me pick out a nice apartment someplace near the hospital?"

"Kate, I know of a really nice place that you could have for the cost of a kiss every day. Move in with me, Kate. Alexis loves you and you give her the role model I was looking for when I married Gina.

"Please, baby. I'll change, I promise. I'll put down the commode seat. I'll keep my stuff in a small shaving kit under the bathroom sink and you can have the whole vanity. I've already cleared out the walk-in closet for your stuff and there's additional room in the 3rd bedroom."

"Alexis loves me, Rick? Really?"

"Yeah. You two are like sisters and she already sees what a normal woman with brains and beauty can accomplish."

"But what about the landlord? Does he – do you love me, Richard Castle?"

"More than life itself. There's no limit to what I would do for you, surely you know that?"

"I do. I just wanted to hear it."

"I love you, Kate." He couldn't be any more sincere if he cut off an appendage. He couldn't prove it but he loved her with an intensity that scared him sometimes.

"I know. I just like hearing it. Okay, I'll move into the spare room and – stop! Quit tickling me. Okay, okay, I'll move in here and you can have your wicked way with me anytime."

Kate had called her mother on Friday and asked her if it was okay if she brought someone to Sunday dinner. Someone and his daughter.

"Anyone I know, Katie?" She hoped it was who she wanted it to be.

"Rick Castle. I took your advice and made a house call."

Jim & Johanna Beckett's home
Scarsdale, NY
Sunday

Johanna sat at the head of the table with Alexis to her left and Kate to her right. Rick and Jim sat in the remaining seats.

The conversation had been lively but comfortable and Kate announced she was 'moving out of the basement' and getting her own place.

"Well, I suppose it had to happen someday. My little bird is trying out her wings and – " Johanna began, hiding a smile.

"Mom, I've lived in the city before. I just want to be closer to work – and my boyfriend and his daughter."

"Katie, why don't you and Rick get a place together?" Jim Beckett had seen the look on his wife's face and knew exactly what she was thinking and so he piled it on.

Rick looked at Kate and smiled and nodded. "Mom, Dad, I'm moving in with Rick and Alexis. I already have a ton of my stuff at his place and the rent is – very agreeable."

Alexis giggled and Rick just blushed and then Alexis looked at Johanna and dropped a nuclear warhead on the dinner table.

"Mrs. Beckett, I know you. You were at Daddy's book signing and I gave you an envelope that a man gave me. He looked just like Daddy but older and tired. Remember?"

The three Becketts all shared a look and Johanna took the lead.

"Yes, I remember. A man from the courthouse brought me some files on a case I was working on. He told me to stay home and read them. I needed them for a summation I was preparing."

"Kate was there with you. I remember. She was impatient to go somewhere else."

"You have a great memory, Alexis. That was a long time ago but I remember now." She looked at Rick and smiled. "Demon child, Rick? This perfect little angel?"

"Well, she's grown up a bit but she still has her moments." He felt the discomfort and the strange looks that passed between the family and wondered what was going on but let it pass until he and Kate were alone.

They got engaged before Christmas and were married in February. They had a son, James Richard, a year later.

Castle Loft

"Kate, let's take J.R. to the park. It's a beautiful spring day. What do you say? The four of us can walk around and enjoy the fresh air."

It took forever to get J.R. ready for his outing and it was mid-afternoon by the time they left the building and started off toward the park.

"Kate! Kate Beckett!" Someone called her and she turned around letting Alexis take the stroller. Rick turned at the sound of 'Beckett' figuring it was one of her old friends.

It wasn't. It was Josh Davidson.

"So it's true! You dumped me for a rich bastard and you've already had his kid. You don't waste any time at all, do you, Beckett. I loved you and you tossed me aside for him?

He pulled out a small pistol from his jacket pocket and aimed it at Kate but Rick dove in front of her, pushing her out of the way.

There was a loud gunshot and someone yelling 'man down' as Josh crumpled to the ground clutching his shoulder. A police office, operating on a tip that someone was going to try to shoot a celebrity at this time and address, had shot him through the shoulder before he could fire his pistol.

"Rick! Are you all right? Why did you dive in front of me? Alexis and J.R. need you, Rick." She had a diaper wipe pressed against his forehead where Rick had hit the concrete sidewalk.

"Couldn't let it happen again. Wow, my head hurts! I guess the walk in the park is out."

"Rick, what are you talking about? Let what happen again?" She was afraid that somehow he'd learned the truth about his 'other Kate'.

"I don't know. Dizzy, babe. We need to go back upstairs."

Once everything calmed down, and after they'd given their statements to the police, Kate put an icepack on her husband's bruised forehead and slipped out of the loft and into the hall and called her mother.

"Mom, everyone's fine. The police got to the guy before he could shoot me or Castle. Rick dove in front of me to take the bullet. He was so brave. He hit his head on the cement and he was really out of it. He said he couldn't let it happen again."

"He must have really hit his head, Katie. Are you sure he's okay?"

"Yeah. I just put a dressing on it and it'll heal with no scarring I hope. Mom, how many times did you go back? Did he – did he shoot Rick?"

"No, baby, he shot you. You bled to death in Rick's arms and I had to do something so I went back and called a fake 911 call about hearing some guy in a bar talking about shooting some rich writer guy over near the park. They missed him the first time but got him this time. It's over Kate. Just go back to living life and loving your family."

Johanna Beckett looked at the files spread across her desk. She'd lied to her daughter. She went back several times and it was only this morning that she was successful.

She held up the picture of her grandchildren and smiled at how much the two girls looked alike.

A/N: Think about it.