I've lost count of how many times I've read this story. I don't think I've seen another story that really examines and forces Kate to face the consequences of her choices quite as well as you have in this story.

I've always wanted to see a continuation or sequel that explores how they get through the 8 months between the last chapter and the epilogue.

Excellent story with a surprise ending. I enjoyed it. Thanks.

When I read fics from the distant past that I've never read before, I usually wait to the end to leave 'reviews.' I had to stop here and leave one for the last sentence of this chapter: It's brilliant.

Thank you for having them hash out all their issues and problems, I feel like it was needed. They were both in the wrong, and you addressed Kate's faults to a T. I'm glad you gave us this different perspective.

Thank you for sharing this story with us!

Another great story! I like reading about Kate and Rick away from crime!

Your stories are so well written and great to read! Are you still writing?

Loved this story. And the ending is spot on. Thanks you

I think your AN here is so important. You're so not alone. I agree with you 100%!

Happened to come across this story and have to say it is amazing! Putting it on my favorites list. Thanks!

Loved it, that was amazing, and I really wasn't expecting the last sentence, that was totally unexpected, but so good.

Loved this story. Heartbreaking at times, but everything turns out alright in the end.

i dont agree with you to be honest, being emotional unstable is extremely hard to process, especially being just shot and dying on the table. From my own experience of battling with mental illnesses, going to therapy, and taking medication, I can totally understand why she did it. Whenever people ask me "why don't go dating, or have a boyfriend", because I want to learn to love myself before loving someone else. That is basically what she did. She wanted to work to be a better person for herself and for castle. Also, she was not going to therapy for PTSD, but for mending herself from a traumatic experience when she was 19 years old. She thought she was broken, not worthy enough for Castle and how many times has she told Castle "my wall is coming down", or "i hope you can wait for me" and he did, he told he understood and would wait, but no, he heard what she said during the interrogation and assumed the worst. And you know what's even worst? When he told he liked fun and uncomplication. Bingo, right on that wound she was going to therapy to close. She knew she was complicated, had so much baggages and she was trying to get rid of that; to lock away those baggages. I know I have baggages and am super self-conscious about being a burden on people and when people reject me, or say that I am annoying, all those times I went to therapy feel worthless and a waste of time, so yes, I completely understood why she did it.

I cant believe Ive never read this before. Brilliant!

You are one of the few authors who has, I think, fully channelled my frustrations with Beckett of season 4. I knew that Castle's secret was shocking and could ultimately destroy them, sure - but the more I've thought about Beckett's choices and actions during that season, the more I've come to judge and even dislike her somewhat.

You hit the nail on the head with the question Castle asks - would she have gone back to find him if he didn't have information about her mother's case? Would she have just left him hanging?

And even at the end of Always, which I still think is the greatest season finale I've ever seen of any drama series, I always wondered "why did you make it so easy for her, Castle?"

Even so, if I hadn't seen the post 47 Seconds timeline in canon before I read this story, I would have been surprised and possibly a little skeptical about Castle's reaction to Beckett in this story. But as we know he can lash out and be angry as anyone, it does make sense. And again, if I hadn't seen Beckett break down at the end of season 4 I might have found her reaction HERE to be a little unbelievable...

I'm sort of writing in circles. What I really want to say is THANK YOU for also voicing my frustrations in the whole situation and for writing it in such a way that had me feeling for the both of them, in spite of their mutual mistakes and misunderstandings. You really do have a gift when it comes to painting the world and these characters - maybe the best I've seen written in Castle fic.

I know this was written three years ago but I just have to endorse your AN here. Not only did Kate take the easy route with her denials... there really is absolutely no justification for it. What would Castle *really* have done if she had just said "Yes, I remember, but I cannot deal with that right now". He was, initially, standing there looking at her in her hospital bed with her now fairly long term boyfriend by her side, what did she think he going to do? Say "no, Kate, if you don't dump the doctor and run away with me *right* *now* its over?"

But, even beyond the lie. She tells him in the same breath that "Some things are better not being remembered." And, at the time, we all think she's just talking about the pain of being shot... but you take that statement and combine it with the knowledge that she never forgot a moment of the event... and she just told him his avowal of love wasn't worth remembering... and people honestly see him poking at her case, with a healthy dose of blackmail and guilt tripping from a dead Montgomery and his buddy Smith to both keep her away from it and find a way to keep the dragon caged, as the worse secret?