I had always wondered what it would be like when Castle regained his memories. Many scenarios played in my mind and my answers to every conversation that we would have, but the reality was completely different. Nothing had prepared me for this.

Devin had lectured me about following his rules, but my eyes were trailed on my newly awaked husband. Castle had sat through the grilling without a word, and Devin had assumed this to be one of Castle's usual oblivious behaviors. Then, I'd gone straight to our bedroom, and I was thinking of what I was supposed to do now that he was back.

I was quite certain that he had regained his memories unless I'd imagined what had happened downstairs and it was all in my head. His face had morphed completely, like he finally knew what was happening around him and I would be lying if I said I wasn't remotely intimidated.

I was in my bedroom, over-analyzing everything that had happened during the car ride. I'd zoned out, and Castle had been silent throughout the way home.

And then I heard it, the footsteps coming closer to the bedroom.

Cold-sweat broke over my neck as I felt his presence behind me. I knew he was standing there.

What if he wanted a divorce?

It would completely shatter my heart, but it was a possibility that I couldn't deny. As much as I loved the innocent, caring, sweet Castle, I knew the real version of him was a different man. He was a man of a high social standing, rich, powerful, and I did not even compare to that. Devin had gotten me married to Castle as some twisted revenge, and if not for that, I'd just be another employee in this house.

So if Castle told me he wanted a divorce, I would give it to him.

But I would first tell him about my feelings. I loved him wholeheartedly, and I was ready to accept the new man that he was. The money didn't matter to me. I wanted him safe and loved.

I owed it to the old Castle, the one I'd fallen in love with.

Suddenly, I wished I'd worn something better. The Castle that I knew didn't care what I wearing, but I wasn't so sure about this one.

Oh, stop it, Millie. There are no two people.

I was standing by the window, looking outside, when he stepped inside the room and I looked up. He closed the door behind him.

"Millicent." He spoke, looking directly at me.

"Castle."

He smiled knowingly while reaching out to inspect the train on the mantel. His demeanor screamed for control. "You know, I was single when I had the accident and when I woke up, it turns out I'm married." He chuckled, "It's fucking hilarious. How long has it been?"

"You've lost your memories since a year, but we married four months ago," I told him.

This is the moment he says 'yeah, but I didn't even remember marrying you. Let me pull out those divorce papers.'

He gave me a nod. "I'd like to thank you for everything that you have done for me so far. The marriage, the torture, the escape plan. None of it was included in the Caregiver's contract when you signed it, was it? Or did Devin make amends?"

I stared at him foolishly until he started laughing. The sound of it was a deep timber, like dark chocolate. He'd switched personalities. I'd never known this playful side of him.

"I...I...didn't know..."

"Are you afraid of me, Millicent? You sound very afraid." He noted.

"No, sir."

His brow arched up.

My face burned up, and I kicked myself. This wasn't my boss, for god's sake! He's my husband. He's my Castle...only...he wasn't.

"I mean, no."

He just had this aura that was making me a mumbling mess.

Before Castle could open his smart mouth again, I said, "Listen, Castle...I understand that this is not what you expected, but Devin forced this marriage on us."

"I know." He said.

I continued, "But I accepted it wholeheartedly," because I love you. "This wasn't just an obligation from my side, neither was it from yours. I'm not sure how much you remember, but it would be very unfair of me to expect you to love me the way I love you." I had to lay it all out and be honest with him.

His whiskey eyes leveled with mine; I felt the weight of his scrutinizing stare. I sighed. I kept my head held high when I said it. "I may not be of your social standing; I was only an employee looking after you, but took my duty as your wife very seriously. If you want a divorce, I completely understand." The tears almost blinded me, filling my eyes to the brim. I swiped them quickly, embarrassed that I'd let him see them.

Castle said nothing for a few seconds and then he was walking towards me in those same confident strides. He stopped in front of me and took my hands in his. He brought them to his lips and kissed my knuckles, his fingers tracing over the small ring. "Is this all I could give you? This ring is a shame. Devin is an asshole. For that fall you took from the speeding car, you deserve an eight-carat diamond emerald."

My Castle had humor. I laughed as I let the tears fall freely. They weren't lying. He was charming.

I looked up at him as he swiped the tears with the pad of his thumb.

"Do you remember everything? I don't mean just your memories, but the time that we spent together. I mean...do you remember me?"

"It's coming to me. Piece by piece, one memory after the other. I remembered when I first woke up in the hospital, but it wasn't quite there. When we were in the car, it was a tsunami of memories flooding through my mind. When I looked at you, I couldn't recall who you were until it slowly made sense."

He pushed some loose tendrils behind my ear. "Judging by the way you're looking at me, and shaking like a leaf," he grinned, "I'm guessing you thought I was some kind of monster like Devin. Regardless, I have two choices for you. One, you can have the divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences, I'll take the blame for it and I'll give you the house in Beverly Hills which belonged to my mother and a hefty settlement that will let you live the rest of your life without having to work. This also means you'll be far from this mess; you wouldn't need to worry about anything regarding me or the family."

It was an option I would have taken happily if I hadn't fallen in love with him.

"Castle—" I started.

He raised his hand, cutting me off. "Let me finish. My second option is for you to continue to live with me as my wife, but in doing so, you would be exposed to any amount of danger my family poses in the unforeseen future. While I promise to protect you from them, I know they will continue to target you to get to me." He said, "I can't have you become my weakness, Millie. I don't want anyone to hold leverage against me."

"I want to stay with you, fight with you, and I promise not to come between whatever you're planning. This is what I want, to continue to be your wife and support you."

He gave me a nod, pleased with what he'd heard.

"What do you want, Castle?"

"I want you here with me." He said simply, caressing my cheek.

A weight seemed to have lifted from my shoulders. All those days that I had spent thinking about how we could get out of this situation unscathed, I hadn't been able to sleep at nights as I had been constantly worried about Devin's next move and how I could protect Castle.

The Castle right now didn't need any protection. This time, he would protect me.

There were so many things I wanted to ask him, so many questions that needed answers to. His family history, the mysterious death of his parents, and if he remembered who drowned him that night during the boating accident.

He pulled me into a hug, and I buried my face in his chest, so relieved he was here. His touch was tender, and the heat of his fingers burned through my skin. "This will all be over very soon." His fingers thread through my hair. "We're a team."

There was a knock on the door.

"Millie, are you here?" Theo's voice drifted from the other side.

"Yes, Theo, come inside."

"Mills...did you..." Theo started saying and then he looked at Castle.

Castle pulled away from our embrace and turned his attention to his brother. He dug his hands in his pockets.

The posture. The stance. It was a dead giveaway.

"How have you been holding up, Little Booger?"

I thought Theo had stopped breathing for a moment.

He kicked the door shut with his foot and exclaimed, "Fuck!"

And for the first time, I saw the strong, foul-mouthed Theo, who had far too much pride to show tears was sobbing uncontrollably without caring that I was standing right there. He ran into Castle's arms, who wrapped him in an affectionate brotherly hug, more like squeezing the life out of him.

"I never thought I'd get such a warm welcome."

"Fuck you! You took too long." Theo said. "You almost fucking died!"

Castle looked at the both of us. His expression was now serious. "Not a word about this to them,alright? I'll handle the rest."

"So good to have you back," Theo said, wiping his snot on his t-shirt sleeve.

"Now," Castle said, his face read Game on. "I want you two to listen to me very carefully." 

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