A/N: BE PROUD! If you are still reading this thing that is! As this is my second upload this week ;D

Disclaimer: I own nothing… You know this

ALONSY!

'Well just be glad it's my face and not the alliance' Badger grinned back at the captain.

'Uhh dad?' Alexis questioned 'where are we?'

'We're on Persephone, I take it Serenity is here?' Rick answered whilst looking at Badger still

'Of course but first I have a job for you' the short man grinned

C-F-C-F

'How is Beckett holding up? Has she said anything to you?' Ryan asked whilst he and Esposito awaited test results.

'She has been pretty quiet and won't bring it up. Apparently there is a guy in her life' the ME answered the Irish detective

'A guy? Already?' Esposito joined the conversation

'What's happened already?' Beckett asked as she entered the morgue

'Uhhh nothing' the Latino replied and quickly changed the subject but Kate was too consumed by the text message she had just gotten. As a wide smile spread across her lips the pain left from Castle subsided. It didn't vanish but it did subside as it always did when she was with or talking to them.

C-F-C-F

As they made their way through the streets of Persephone, Alexis watched in awe of everything that happened around her, the kinds of people walking about, the items on display and all the Chinese. She now understood why her father had taught her Chinese when she was little. Rick and Martha could believe how little things had changed in their time there. Sure the people were older and some small things had changed but all in all this Persephone was very similar to the one he had left so many years ago.

'Malcolm' Martha called gently.

Then as he turned his gaze to her, he looked up and saw it.

As he looked on in ecstasy he felt tears form at the corner of his eyes.

Serenity.

Rick left everything behind him and started to run towards his ship.

Zoe was the first person Mal saw as he ran into the loading bay and enclosed her in a massive hug.

'I missed you so much Zo' so, so much!' he smiled into her hair as she hugged him tightly back.

'It's good to have you back Sir' she smiled back at him as they released.

'Wait, Wash? What the Dìyù are you doing here?' Mal exclaimed

'Well they wanted to test the time travel device out first' he smiled back

After all the introductions were made, Kaylee whisked Alexis off for the grand tour, River and Wash got the ship started, Jayne took their luggage, Zoe showed Martha her room and Simon fixed up Mal's cut.

'You seem different, more calm' Simon stated quietly as he dabbed the cut with antiseptic. Mal winced.

'Well I didn't have people shootin' me for no good reason' his accent coming out a bit.

'Well I'm not complaining' Simon smiled 'Alexis seems lovely'

'She is. Much smarter than I am. She may even give you a run for your money' Mal chuckled.

'Well that should just about do it' Mal was informed as Simon stuck the last bandaid on 'you can go and be with your ship now' he smiled and Mal was grateful to get away.

'Not so fast! We're havin' a meal' Zoe stopped them and the three of them made their way to the galley.

C-F-C-F

NYPD Detective and inspiration for Nikki Heat, Kate Beckett, was seen strolling the streets of Manhattan with a mystery man just a week after her author-partner was killed in a car accident with his mother and daughter on their way to the airport. The trio was said to be going on holiday to Aus-

'Bro why are you reading that crap? You know it isn't true. I mean really? A car crash? A car crash to Richard Castle? That aint right' Esposito exclaimed as he snatched the paper from his partner's hands.

'It says she was with a guy. We both know how she felt about Castle, as if she would date a guy already?' Ryan asked incredulously.

'Everyone copes in their own way. Maybe we just give her some spa-'

'Where are we on the Copeland case? How did those suspects end up?' Beckett interrupted.

'All of them had solid alibis with lots of witnesses' Ryan offered

'Dammit! We are getting no where!' was shouted as a whiteboard marker went flying

'I never thought I'd say this but we need a crazy Castle theory' Espo spoke quietly

'No! We don't need him! He is gone and there isn't a damn thing we can do about it!' Beckett screamed as she broke into tears and quickley ran to the stairwell.

As she sat and cried the door opened but she didn't look up.

'I can't even imagine how hard this must be on you but it wasn't your fault Kate. Death is hard no matter what but you couldn't have prevented it' Karpowski offered as she sat beside Beckett and gave her a one armed hug.

'I should have told him. If I had of just told him how I felt then maybe he'd still be here' Kate resignated.

'It'll get better' Karpowski smiled

C-F-C-F

'Wait, you stole a horse when naked?' Wash boomed

'It's true' Mal answered as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

Laughter filled the galley as the crew wwere in tears from the stories that Mal Martha and Alexis told of Earth-that-was.

The meal had been pleasant and the crew all sat and enjoyed each others company again as the laughter died down.

'Sir, just ask the question' Zoe stated all of a sudden, looking at the Captain

He sighed, 'where is she?' he questioned whilst barely looking up from his empty plate.

'Training House' Simon answered him

'Does she know?'

'That you're back? No, we haven't waved in a while' Kaylee spoke

'Then there's no need to trouble her' Mal still wasn't sure if Serenity was the right choice, let alone adding her into the equation. But he had longed to see her again for so long. His marriages were just "Rick" trying to fill that massive hole she had left and Kate had filled that hole. That's why it was so hard for him to leave her. He really did care for her. Maybe they could go back still?

C-F-C-F

'How was work today' came the voice from behind the wine glass Kate was being handed.

'It is okay. I may have yelled at my team at one point.' was the reply.

'Oh Katie, I'm so, so sorry! Just know that I am here for you no matter what' she smiled at that and gave into the impending hug, allowing herself to be enveloped by those strong arms and tantalising cologne. As she moved out of the hug she twisted her head slightly and gave her comforter a soft and tender kiss.

'Thanks' she smiled at him as she bit her lower lip and moved in to kiss him again.

Slowly things became more heated, yet still tentative between the two and as they rose he pulled her into his arms, honeymoon style and carried her into her bedroom.

C-F-C-F

There was a soft knock.

'Dad?' came Alexis's voice

'Hey Pumpkin' the captain smiled at her 'what's up?'

She moved to sit on the edge of his bed 'I just wanted to say that I know you let go of a lot when you decided to come back but I'm glad you did and thank you for making that decision for me. I love it here' she beamed at him and he opened his arms wide to give his little girl a hug.

'You know I'd do anything Lex' he smiled back. Just then a gentle thud was felt throughout the ship, signalling that they had landed somewhere.

'We shouldn't have landed yet. Stay here Alexis' Mal looked confused and moved into action.

As he ran down the halls to the cargo bay he was reminded of the pitter patter of tiny feet in over sized combat boots and was reminded of the little things hat he had missed. He ran down the stairs and made the final turn into the cargo bay.

'What's going on?' Mal called when he spotted Zoe

'We're on Santo, have a pick up for Badger' she replied as she opened the doors and Jayne bought the mule out with River on board 'you stay here Sir, we've got it' she smiled back and after some protest he made his way to the bridge to sit with Wash.

C-F-C-F

As the sunlight filtered through Kate Beckett's window she felt the rise and fall of the chest under her head. As she looked up she saw that peaceful face staring back at her. As he slowly stirred into conscious awareness he caught sight of Kat staring down on him.

'Morning' he mumbled with a smile as he leant up to give her a light kiss on the edge of her mouth.

'Morning' she smiled back.

She rested her head on his chest again. Everything with him was simple. It was easy. Maybe this time things would work out.

'I think I love you Kate' he interrupted her thoughts.

Well that was slightly unexpected. She raised he head and saw only truth in his eyes

'I think I love you Josh' she smiled and as she said those words she broke through her barrier and they dove in together.

So there you have it :)

I'm sorry but I just HAD to have Wash in it because he is one of my favourite characters!

That will probably be the last Castle scene unless you really want me to continue with it...

So let me know what you liked and didn't like and how I can improve :)

AM xxx