Caskett: Never Ending Love

28: What's in it For Me

Kate and Castle have a child Lily and they're at their apartment building walking in when Kate notices a criminal from they're case is stalking them

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Never really had to play this
Feeling out my alter ego
Hustling to your agenda
No gracias, mi amigo
You fool me once fool me twice, but the ends don't meet

Karmin - What's In it For Me

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"One, two...three! Up and away!" Castle exclaimed with joy as he lifted his 4 year old daughter into the air, spinning her around, his and his wife's heart melting at the sound of pure happiness.

"Daddy! Higher, higher!" Lily shrieked with laughter as she closed her eyes.

"You two are so cute." Kate hummed walking beside her husband and daughter. She couldn't be happier. All the pain and loneliness, all of the moments where she thought she couldn't go on, had led her to this, and she was happier she pushed for the glorious happy ending she deserved.

Castle placed down Lily and grabbed her left hand, while Beckett grabbed her right, so Lily was in the middle of her two tall parents.

"Hey, Lily-pad, you wanna try something?" Castle asked with mystery in his voice. He looked over at Beckett and made a gesture with his eyes and she instantly understood.

"Yes!" She looked up at her father in awe.

"Ok, I want you to jump forward on three, ok?" He asked, earning a nod from Lily, "one, two, three!" Lily leaped forward and both Beckett and Castle lifted their arms causing Lily to fly off farther than her jump and swing forward and then landing gently on the ground. She burst out laughing.

"Again! Again!" She exclaimed. Castle and his Beckett did this about five more times before they reached their apartment building. They entered in as the spring air filled their lungs one last time, before the lobby doors closed behind them. As they reached the elevator LIly pressed the button. Kate felt the familiar breeze from the lobby door open and close and craned her neck to see who came in, if it was someone that they were familiar with. She saw a man in a hoodie enter the lobby. She and him made direct eye contact and the man immediately averted his gaze and headed for the stairs. Content once again in her own little family bubble the doors opened and her and her, Castle, and Lily entered. For some reason once the elevator doors closed the man's face came back into her mind. He looked really familiar, like someone she knows or should know. A shiver sent down her spine and anxiety spread through her body. She didn't yet know why but she wasn't about to stand alone and do nothing.

"Castle, pick up Lily." She stated bluntly.

"Huh?" Castle looked at her somewhat confused, then looking down at their daughter who was content staring at the elevator buttons.

"Pick her up."

"Beckett, what's-what's going on?" Castle asked worriedly as he picked up their daughter.

"When the elevator door opens go straight to the house and lock the doors and don't open it until you hear my voice on the other end. Ok?"

"Kate, where is this coming from?" Castle asked holding Lily closer against his chest.

"I think there's someone following us, and his face-his face just looks so familiar, he-" the elevator door dinged indicating the doors would soon open. Castle hurried out and headed for the loft while Kate stepped out slowly and surveyed around her. She looked over her shoulder and was almost content with her search up and down the hallway. She figured she'd check the stairwell and then head inside. As she turned diagonally she saw the man, the same man watching her and her family, standing there behind the door looking through the glass window. Kate turned her slow steps into quick strides and began to run towards the door. The minute the man saw he he bolted headed down the stairs. She ran after him but he had a few seconds ahead of her.