I July 2024 and I am just reading this story. I could not stop after the first chapter and were thru to the end. I did enjoy the back in force between Rick and Kate, it seems more real than the story line in ending in year seven and eight. Drinking on the job or hiding it at home seems to be a problem with high stress jobs, not just police. AA is very important to them and their families, Alcoholism is, I think a Heraty disease, and a sickness, it is my family, Keep up the good stories.

Always love your writing! Great story.

I found while looking for a story where Beckett struggles with alcohol on the Castle Fanfiction Tumblr. Wow. I have barely done anything besides read this over the last 24 hours. Thank you for this amazing and heartbreaking story.

I had to re-read this one. I knew when I started reading that it sounded familiar, but I couldn't pull away.

Such a tasteful, yet terrible portrayal of alcoholism. I never thought I'd say this, but I can see Kate falling into the bottle. There were signs after the sniper case at the beginning of S4, and if Castle disappeared into thin air, I think this is a more than plausible premise.

Also, I'm glad we can see not only Castle's unwavering support, but Kate's strength. Ultimately, it's her who has to decide and stick with her decision, and accept her past.

Again, wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Couldn’t stop reading thiseven when I should have been working! Thank you

Хорошая история! Спасибо

Through all their ups & downs they came out of this resilient. Loved even with all their hardships, they never gave up. Just love and devotion and humor with them. Now they're living together, and engaged.
What a beautiful love story.

I personally don't even like the idea of someone watching me sleep but I always found it endearing when he watched Beckett sleep.
Ugh! If only they were that open and considerate of each other on the show. Wish she would have included Castle and the boys in her search for her mom's killer. She usually shut him out, it so lovely to hear her promising not to go solo. What a difference that would of been for their relationship to deepen in canon.
They're both so raw, open and honest. I feel like they're finally heading down the right path together. They try to bring out the best in each other, they would both crumble if some thing split them apart.
You should have been a writer for the show (Especially S08). You just have to figure out a crafty way of having Alexis disappear ;-)

Disappointed Kate decided to have a drink. At least she stopped after one, threw it back up. She's back at square one but she's so upset and disgusted with herself. That's a really good thing. Hope she remembers that feeling.
He definitely didn't help her by lying (even if he had the best intentions) but he didn't force her to drink. Easier said than done, but she has to learn how to cope with things without reaching for the bottle. Thoroughly enjoyed the speech he gave about needing one another. How she has support from him, Emily and AA. Also, he believes she would have done the same thing if someone were targeting him.
Aside from Kate's setback, this chapter was extremely uncomfortable for me to read. I just feel like anything I might say would be overly personal. So I'll leave it at nice chapter.

I was going to sit on this for a bit. But I have the urge to strangle you! It was going so well for them. I know! I know! You warned me about this coming. But I still feel irritated. Such a lovely time in the Hamptons with the decadent hot chocolate she was making. What's wrong with Nestle's or Swiss Miss? Lol
Than I had the rug pulled out from under me . I was expecting the talk about her wanting to join the force again but not Maddox and Smith being brought up. She didn't like him keeping secrets the last time and this is so much worse.
I get her taking off. I really do. But I was really hoping she wasn't going to end up in a bar. I'm so annoyed I can even mention parts, I'm aggravated with the both of them.
You promised a happy ending. So you are safe. For now!

I often found their fights to be so enjoyable to watch on the show. Mainly, because it was nice to see a different side to Castle.
She clearly didn't take his news about lying to her very well. I get she was hurt, felt betrayed. But really how else was he going to find out where she was? They didn't exactly part on the best of terms.
Beckett wouldn't be Beckett if she wasn't maddening and frustrating at times. So glad she saw the light and realized he had her best interest at heart. Nice she actually made the effort and met him more than halfway.

You capture their ease, their closeness along with their silly banter so well. I thought that this was going to be a fun-filled, sex-filled chapter, and it was. But you put that paragraph in there with them taking a shower. She remembers with fragments of her memory that they took a shower together before. Only that time she was plastered, and had vomit and blood on her. Loved how she became weak in the knees with the memory and the shame of it. I literally sat and stared at that paragraph for a few minutes. For how much laughter there was in this chapter, that part was my takeaway for sure.
Loved the part with Castle at the diner, when they were discussing baseball and the whole oreos/Orioles conversation happened. That would totally be something he would say!
And the kinky talk between the them. Jeez, it wasn't even subtle. Lol
We finally got Lanie in a chapter. (I just loved her on the show).
Damn! Why does everyone keep bringing her booze? Dear God! No surprise Lanie was kind and took some of blame for not noticing her change in behavior.
She shared some JUICY tid-bits of their naughty times as well. But seriously SEVEN times! Should I contact the Guiness Book of World Records or something? Is Castle taking Viagra?

I'm more coherent this time around, shouldn't leave reviews when the words are a blur to me. She is like a moth to a flame, with Castle. Kind of happy that she gave him a tight hug, instead of a kiss.
Tremendously happy he told her about Al-Anon. And she was more then ok with it. She was so moved. The old Kate would have shut him out, and made him crawl back with his tail between his legs. He handled her news perfectly. He always tries to look for the positive things she did, points them out to her. She needs time and understanding and someone (especially Castle) to help her with that.
Hmmm. All say there were some Major Developments! Good to know he's even more silky than the boxers he had on. Lol
And what I sweet way Kate woke him up from his nap. Love a nice drive through Mville.

Read chapter 20 & 21. Wish I could continue but I'm so tired, I'm becoming cross-eyed. Loved Castle's fumbling attempt at trying to be cool and not show how "excited" he was that Beckett stayed the night and part of the morning.
Wasn't expecting the issues with her not being a cop anymore. What's he suppose to say to that? Liked he thoughts, What's truthful but not hurtful. What's realistic? He has to tread carefully with this conversation. I don't think she's well enough to go back to her job, at least not yet.
Then he left, I wasn't expecting him to leave so soon. To be honest, I'm very concerned that she can't function without him there. Even with all her distractions, she isn't doing very well. She can barely do day-to-day things. And she wants her job back? She's just getting herself back on her feet. Using her training wheels to keep her steady. She just wants too much, too soon.
At least she had enough sense to call Emily. Her sponsor, I'm assuming? You end it with Beckett going back home. Is she going to tell Castle, she wanted to drink? I do think it's for the best she's out of the cabin. She needs her support system, somebody she can lean on. Just one day at a time. She'll get there. She's her own worst enemy. I have serious highs & lows from one paragraph to the next with this story.

That went better then I thought it would. Loved the line, "Not here just for the fun times, Beckett." He is so understanding and wonderful and almost saintly with her.
Christ! Her dad bought her sake. So much for easing into the conversation. The poor thing is ashamed and is in downright agony. Jim could not have been more perfect and patient. Who better to understand, then someone's who's been down that road and recovered? Really, really loved the line, "You're not a disappointment to me. You never will be." Perfect words. So touching.
Glad to know, that Jim feels the love between them. Even if she didn't fully admit it.
Love how emotionally open she is becoming. Especially with Castle at the loft. I really don't know what would've happened if he wasn't around anymore. She probably would have continued to spiral out of control and isolate herself further.
I completely forgot that they aren't intimate yet. It just seemed so natural when she crawled into bed with him. This time I'm sure he'll get to actually wake up with her.
I feel at ease. For now.