A/N: This story is kinda sorta inspired by a story by MommaKristine called To Have and to Hold her story is so much better than this one and you should go check it out!
Richard Castle made his way to the elevator of the 12th precinct. He had said goodbye to Beckett on his way out who had been overly distant all day, when he questioned her about it she couldn't look him in the eyes. He decided to give her some space and leave early today. The elevator opened and he stepped inside just as the doors were about to close Beckett was running towards him, he put his hand out to stop the doors. Beckett took a step inside and leaned against the back wall.
"What's wrong?" He asked again. She looked up at him and then sighed heavely. Beckett reached out and pushed the emergency stop button. "Beckett?"
"Castle, I have something to tell you, and I wanted to before you heard from somewhere else..." Castle waited for her to continue. "Josh...He...he proposed last night." Kate forced her eyes to meet his. Castle felt like he had just been hit with a ton of bricks and suddenly found it hard to breath.
"He proposed?" he said quietly but still managing to keep the pain out of his voice.
"Yeah." her voice was almost as quiet as his.
"That's...That's amazing, Kate. I'm, happy for you." His smile was genuine but something in his voice told her otherwise.
"Thank you." She smiled. Kate pushed the button again and the elevator once again was moving down. "You're okay with this?"
"Yes...of course." He smiled and exited the elevator, not looking back.
"See you tomorrow?" she called after him.
"Yeah." he said softly.
Rick walked down the sidewalk, he had plans of going home and writing before he spoke to Kate, but now he just wanted to walk. He passed the hospital and looked at his watch seeing it was only 5pm. Lanie should still be working, so he decided to talk to her, not sure what he'd say. He stood at the entrance of the morgue Lanie was in and watched for a while as she poked and proded at the body that had dropped just this morning. He kocked twice at the door lightly, Lanie turned to see the writer looking rather sad.
"Hey...Castle. What are you doing here?" She asked slightly confused seeing as he was alone.
"Lanie, can I ask you something?"
"Sure Cas..."
"But you can't tell Kate I told you." he interupted her, raising his eyebrows.
"She's my best friend, I can't keep..."
"Please?" He said more as a plead than a question.
"Okay."
"Kate...she's...she's engaged."
"What?" Her mouth was wide open.
"Yeah, and I was just wondering, have you met him? Is he good for her?"
"Castle, I know it's not what you want to hear, but yeah I think he is good for her, he makes her happy." She tried to smile.
"That's all I needed to know..." He sighed. "Thanks." He turned to walk out.
"But between you and me? You're better for her." Lanie tried to make him feel better.
"Thanks." He said softly, and then he was gone.
At home, Castle was in his office, typing furiously on his computer. His mother walked in and immediatly could see the kind of mood he was in.
"What's bothering you Richard?" She questioned and brought her hand up to touch his shoulder.
"She's getting married...married, can you believe it?" His voice broke a little.
"Who's getting married, dear?"
"Kate." His eyes dropped from the screen and then up to meet his mothers.
"Oh Richard, are you okay?"
"No, but I'm getting there." he sighed, and continued to type.
One new message from To Kate Beckett:
Kate, this part of the last chapter of my final book 'Heat Rises' I hope you like it.
Nikki Heat stood at the alter wearing a dress that was a beautiful she was. A white laced dress that went to the ground, with a light green band that wrapped around her waist and went perfectly with her eyes. Nikki wasn't one to settle down but she had found someone who loved her for who she was. She looked longingly at the man standing in front of her his eyes promising forever. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jameson Rook sitting in the very back row smiling the best he could she smiled back.
"And do you, Nikki Heat, take Daniel Chase to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do." She smiled.
"I now pronounce you Daniel and Nikki Chase, you may now kiss the bride." The two kissed and applause broke out around them. They parted and smiled between each other then made thier way down the isle. Jameson smiled and nodded in acknowlagement then made his way to his car the smile soon faded and was replaced with a look of sadness. Even though he was happy for her that she found someone to spend her life with, somehow he had always thought it would be him in the end.
Author's Note: I have learned many things while shadowing the wonderful detectives at the 12th precint. One in particular is that life isn't always fair, most know that. But death is also never fair no matter who the victim is, there will always be someone who loves them, misses them, and will mourn for them. Death is even more unfair when it comes to murder, but the detectives at the 12th are the best, and work unbelievable hours to give those victims some justice. I'd like to thank those who give justice and that have let me follow them around for the past few years. None of this would be possible without them, and you know who you are. -Richard Castle
Kate couldn't believe what she had just read, part of her wanted to be mad, angry, because he had once again given her personal life to Nikki Heat. But she was also sad because for the first time in almost four years he was telling her that he was backing off that he was giving up. Was that really what she wanted? She had tried to tell him how she felt many times before but was somehow always interupted. Kate was also pretty sure he had attempted to tell her before too, and one time acually did but she was with Josh and didn't want to hurt either of them so when she woke up in that hospital bed she pretended not to remember anything. And it worked for a while but now Josh wanted to marry her, he was willing to spend the rest of his life with her, after she got married everything would change, Castle wouldn't come around the precinct anymore because he had no reason to. Kate couldn't imagine what work would be like without him. One thing Castle didn't know was that Josh proposed but she never actually gave him an answer. Kate read the last chapter over again and then once more before she made her final decision what she was going to do. She took a deep breath and pulled out her phone.
"Josh?..."
A/N: So guys sorry it's been so long since the last post but I haven't had internet for a while. But that doesn't mean I haven't been writing like crazy. I left this at a cliffhanger for two reasons 1. I'm a huge fan of cliff hangers, they are fun to write! and 2. I'm actually not a hundred percent which way I want this story to go yet so I stopped there so I could think it over. I am always open to suggestions and other story ideas, thank you for reading and I hope to see you right back here on friday which is when I plan on posting the next part. Please review and favorite!