Best Case Scenario: Your hopes for season four!

Since season four isn't until another TWO MONTHS and THIRTEEN DAYS - I thought a thread about what we'd LIKE to see happen in season four might help keep us from going completely .
For instance, we all want Kate and Rick to get together , but WHEN and HOW? What about the guys? How do you think they're handling Montgomery's death? Will Alexis and Ashley still be the most perfect teen couple? Will Martha's school work out? Will Martha MOVE out? And WHAT about Montgomery's mysterious package?

I'm sure you guys can think of a lot more stuff, so come on, share your ideas about season four possibilities - and give us ALL more to hope for while we countdown:

My only hopes for this season is to see another level added to their flirting... which slowly escalates and in the finale we get a huge defining moment that suggests in the beginning of Season 5 that they will be together.

So yes, I want them together.. but at the very end of this season. 4 seasons is enough dancing around it for me.

I believe Castle will have the package so I look forward to Kate kicking his butt when she finds out.

I'm not too concerned with Ashley and Alexis. I like Alexis okay but if she's in it less because she's off to college I'll be OK with that and I wish her lots of luck with Ashley.

I hope Martha stays though... I'll miss her talks with Castle about Beckett.

If Alexis is around, I think it'd be cute to have her become even closer to Beckett... or heck... after her almost dying maybe Alexis gets scared of caring too much and withdraws leaving Beckett a little hurt and Castle confused... I dunno ::rambles::

Let me see...

I'd like the relationship ball to be in Beckett's court this season.
We have the hanging question, the wondering if KB heard Castle's declaration of love? And the follow up to that would be how will that manifest itself in the plot? How will that come out? Beckett will have to defend Castle (a neat switch from 3x24 where she told Montgomery she wanted him gone) to Gates. That would actually be a nice change, I don't think she shows her appreciation for what Castle does for her...she might feel it, we might see it...but to have it put into words would be nice.
Beckett also said to Castle that being the schools funniest kid was not enough. Is dragging someone out of a hanger to save their life and then trying to push them out of the firing line (only to have them take their seemingly last gasp in your arms) enough? He said he loved her...is that serious enough?

The return of 3XK.
Jerry Tyson took Ryan's badge (& gun) so I'm wondering if we'll see ol' Jerry come back into this season when ballistics matches a bullet to Ryan's weapon...or if Ryan goes to talk to someone only to discover a "Detective Ryan" has already been and flashed his badge? Of course Jerry could just start killing blonds again (or brunettes...think of the flashbacks!...or redheads...think of the angst!)
There is definitely a debt to be settled between Castle, Ryan & Tyson. This time round I'm hoping that it will be Castle & Ryan's story. How ironic would it be if Castle started to pursue this case only to have Beckett warn him to back off? I'd love it if they acknowledged that. Have Castle remark that it is very frustrating trying to reign someone in...try to stop them disappearing down the rabbit hole.

A darker side to Castle?
Tyson also said something to Castle, that he was drawn to death, thrilled by it, he asked him how close to death he'd like to get?
When Raglan died right in front of Castle, Beckett says it's different when you see someone die close up, close enough to watch the lights go out.
Now, Castle has held the woman he loves and watched the lights go out. He has seen death creep out from behind the bright white tombstones to kneel with him on the damp grass.
What effect will this have on Castle in S4?
He will also be weighed down by the burden that Montgomery has placed upon him. We're all pretty much convinced that Castle's got the mailed package that Montgomery sent before his death? Montgomery also placed responsibility on Castle's shoulders before he died, as did Jim Beckett. KB's father & father figure both telling Castle she won't listen to me...it's all on you. Does he feel like he failed them?
Could it be that the school's funniest kid begins to grow up?

The dropping of the Package Bomb.
I could seriously see the I Love You story line being woven into the denouement of Montgomery's files. When Beckett finds out that Castle has the files (and she will find out, I can't quite decide if I want her to figure it out or if I want Castle to tell her) she will hit the roof!!! There are a couple of ways this could play out...
If Beckett heard Castle's I Love You (she did, we all know she did) then that is her secret that she's keeping from him (I bet it scares her). A lie of omission.
Castle has more information on Beckett's mother's case. He is keeping this information from her because he know what happened last time. He nearly lost her and he loves her (losing her again scares him.) Another lie of omission. What a pair!
Now, they could have another knockdown, drag out argument? Beckett could ask (shout) why Castle has been sitting on this for so long? And he could reply (yell) back that he does not want to risk losing her, that he loves her? That would be it...the two "hidden" story lines out in the open, free to cause mayhem!

...and I'm gonna stop there for a moment!!!

Don't worry I'll think of more!

Well, the first thing is Beckett letting go of Josh. I really want her to admit she knows he's not the one. Choosing Castle over Josh is great, too, but I like the idea that she knows that even if Castle wasn't in her life, Josh STILL wouldn't be her "one and done."

I do agree, Tink, that the ball is in Beckett's court. I'm going with she heard him, but it won't be dealt with right away. It might be cool if reveals to Castle that she would have gone with him that summer - that she dumped Demmings for him. Maybe it comes out while she's explaining to him WHY she's working so hard to keep him at the 12th - despite the new captain. Beckett is slower with the words, but she showed him the murder board she made while he was gone, and then revealing this info would show Castle that she's had intense feelings about him for awhile.

I don't see them jumping into anything right away either, Fairytales. Between the new captain and Montgomery's info, there's enough to make them hesitate. Kate especially: having Montgomery keep those secrets has to have messed with her trust issues.

At the same time, she almost died - again. That whole, life is short thing is also in the air, so that thought should also be effecting the relationship. I like the idea that they both know and acknowledge that the relationship depth is way more than friends, but also that they have some fears about the timing... definitely want kisses that's not forced or undercover. I like the idea of mutually conscious UST that gets occasional moments of relief from kisses they know shouldn't happen...


I do think Alexis is growing up. She has a serious boyfriend. While I don't see ANYTHING involving teen pregnancy, I think having Rick having to deal with Alexis a young woman dealing with how sexuality should fix in her life at this time could be fun. It also would give him and Kate something else to discuss besides the insanity of the cases, Kate's mom, and Montgomery. It could also give Kate and Alexis some nice scenes if Alexis ends up talking with Kate.

I like the Alexis thing because it could open the door to Rick's past. In one of Stana's interviews she pointed out that while the audience knows Rick wasn't the one who messed up his marriages, Kate doesn't. Rick and Kate talking about Alexis's questions about "when is it right" could lead to Kate realizing Rick's the one who got burned.

Anyway, those are my thoughts - for now.