50!

This is my 50th fanfic story.

Oh my wow.

Authors Note: Hi all so for my 50th story I decided I wanted to do something different. I decided to write an AU story. For those who don't know an AU or Alternate universe story means that things are going to be a little different. You might have the same characters or themes but they are twisted into a different story.

Now some people hate Au stories. That's fine. I have read some that are fantastic. I have also read some horrible ones. With this story, my other stories, heck even other people's stories remember one thing.

Reviews are there not only for you to express your feelings but to help the author.

If you don't like a story, that's fine you can say that. But say why? And no "because its stupid" isn't a valid reason. Go into depth. Perhaps the story is unbelievable or characters are out of character(Although you have to understand if you are reading an au story there is a good chance that's done for a reason). If the author needs a beta or the story doesn't flow well then point it out nicely. Insulting an author helps no one. Remember no one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to read a story. mean words can effect an author just as much as kind ones. Being mean or offensive can cause an author to stop writing therefore depriving the rest of us the joy of reading their work and deprive them of sharing something magical with the world. Even if you don't think so.

So think before you review but I do encourage you to review.

Storm Clouds

By

Natalie Elizabeth

Richard Castle opened the door to his apartment with a spring in his step. He was in a good mood, which was unusual for him for him; especially considering his ex was in town. His first ex-wife Meredith, not his second, Gina. Well technically, they both were in town, and both had the potential to give him grief.

Gina was not only his ex-wife but his publisher. She was always on his back, and put him in a bad mood. It had been too long since he had written anything publishable. He was worried that he was burned out. The raging fire that was once Richard Castle, Master of the Macabre, had been doused by boredom. Derrick Storm, the character he had developed what seemed like a life time ago had become predictable and boring. So he had killed him off, thus pissing off numerous fans and his second ex-wife.

He had a plan though. He was going to create a new character. Someone hard-core. A character that kicked ass and took names. Except a two line character synopsis was all he could manage in character development. So he had decided to take a break from writing, something he never did, but that had been the point. He needed to get out of his comfort zone. So he had travelled the world while his daughter Alexis had been off at school. Snorkelling in the South Pacific, cruising the Milford Sound in New Zealand, climbing a coat hanger in Australia, yet still he lacked inspiration. Yes, he had met a variety of people and had made notes in his journals, but they would make great secondary characters or killers. He needed a leading man and he had come up dry.

So he had been getting more and more miserable. It wasn't as if money was a problem. He had made millions of dollars on his previous novels and invested wisely. The thing was he loved writing. Or, at least he had. Writing had started to feel like work, and that was something he never did.

Except he wasn't going to think about writing tonight, he was going to think about making his daughter dinner. He walked into his small kitchen and began unloading his groceries. The apartment was small but cosy. It was meant to be temporary after he had split from his second wife, Gina. Yet it suited their needs, so there was never any real reason to move. He was thinking differently now. Maybe it was the small confined space that was causing him to be blocked. A large open loft might be on the cards. After Meredith left, he'd talk to Alexis about maybe finding somewhere new to live. He didn't want to bombard his daughter with too many new things.

Her mother being in New York when she said she would be was something new for Alexis, him too. A few months ago Meredith had started changing, and for the better. She had starting making regular calls and emails to his daughter. He had been surprised to get a call from her just asking how their daughter was. There was no ulterior motive, she was generally interested. She had called three weeks ago saying she was coming for a visit after she finished up an acting job. He had naturally been sceptical; it wasn't the first time Meredith had said she was coming, then never showed up. Meredith stuck to her word, she arrived and on time. She was staying for a week and had even booked herself into a hotel.

In the past when she had visited it had been spontaneous and she had expected to stay with them. Well, really with him, in his bed. In the past he had indulged her, but that had been years ago. She had on more than one occasion tried to get him to change his mind. He ended up sleeping on the floor of his daughter's room, giving his ex-wife his bed. Sleeping on the couch was too easy for Meredith to make a midnight rendezvous.

Yet not this time. He had seen her hotel room but not for any other reason than to pick her up for dinner. Usually he tried to avoid time with his ex and had every intention of doing just that. Meredith hadn't even pushed for more than just spending time with Alexis. The pair had been out for lunch, shopping, even a movie. Meredith had been putting in a huge effort and there seemed to be no ulterior motive. So he had invited her out to dinner, with Alexis of course. Then Alexis had suggested they all meet up for a walk in Central Park the following day. He had reluctantly agreed, worried his daughter was playing match maker. It turned out she wasn't, and Meredith had even laughed at the thought. She had moved on and was looking toward the future.

Tonight Meredith was meeting up with old friends, but would be coming over tomorrow night for board game night. That would be interesting but he had agreed to it anyway. Meredith wouldn't be here for long and it was what his baby girl wanted.

Tonight, however, was daddy daughter night. She had gone to a friend's house after school to study and then she was coming home. To lasagne, if he ever got his act together. Opening up the fridge to grab garlic and onion to sauté for the sauce, Castle frowned when he heard a buzzing sound coming from his bedroom. Closing the fridge, he walked over to his bedroom. Had he left his alarm clock on snooze instead of turning it off completely? It wouldn't be the first time he had done that. His neighbours had wanted to kill him and it had cost him quite a few tickets to the theatre and ball games to smooth thing over.

Castle walked over to his room and pushed the door open. He froze at the sight before him. Meredith was lying on his bed. Shaking his head, Castle gritted his teeth. No, this couldn't be happening. He had been so sure his ex-wife was serious about being a mother and letting go of their relationship. Now here she was in his bed. He was going to wring her neck.

"Meredith."

Meredith didn't move. Castle rubbed a hand over his face. He hated dealing with his ex-wife when she was being stubborn.

"Come on Meredith. Get out of here. Alexis will be home soon. Do you want her to find you in here and have her think this past week was all a sham?"

She still didn't move.

"Meredith."

Castle then looked at his ex-wife's shirt. It was red. Bright red. Meredith didn't like wearing red because she said it clashed with her hair. Taking a few steps closer, Castle gasped. It wasn't a red shirt it was blood.

"Meredith," Castle yelled as he ran towards the bed.

His hand was at her throat immediately. No pulse. He scanned over her chest there was so much blood and her chest wasn't rising and falling. Kneeling on the bed, he grabbed his ex-wife's head in his hands and quickly gave a few short quick breaths into her mouth. He then clasped his hands together and placed them on Meredith's chest and began doing compressions.

"NYPD open up."

Castle turned at the sound of pounding at his door.

"In here. I need help," he yelled before returned to his compressions.

"NYPD. Open up."

He couldn't leave Meredith, he had to keep trying to revive her. Hearing the sound of splitting wood, Castle was surprised that they actually did that in real life.

"I'm in here. I need a paramedic."

Castle felt Meredith's throat for a pulse again.

"Step away from the body scumbag."

Castle turned around surprised to see several guns pointed at him.

"Ahhhh."

"Did you hear me Scuz Bucket? Get your hands up and step away from the victim."

Castle raised his hands. "Okay. Okay. But you have to help her. She doesn't have a pulse. I've been trying to give her CPR but I don't know if I am doing it right?"

"Isn't that how you like them? Not breathing."

"What?" Castle asked confused. "No. What? I didn't do this. I found her like that. Someone else did this to her. You have to help her."

"Paramedics are on the way. Now step away from the body."

Castle kept his hands raised as he stepped away from his bed.

"I didn't kill my ex-wife."

Thank you readers, writers and friends. You have no idea how you have changed my life and for the better.