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A one time thing

Chapter Eighteen - Righting the wrong

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If it only takes a moment for your life to change forever, can a 'one time thing' right the wrong? An AU Caskett meeting.

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Beckett drags her gaze away from the murder board to scan the bullpen. Her vacant stare slides past Esposito and Ryan at their desks, practicing their own version of time wasting, and as she continues taking in the room, Castle's chair comes into focus. It's been empty now for five weeks, and while Montgomery, thankfully, hasn't filled the position of her partner - it will always be his in her heart - the ache that comes with not seeing his face across from hers hasn't diminished as each day blurs into the next.

"Kate."

Her head jerks up, her body twisting, and standing, her cheeks warm with the single word.

She's conjured the man in question.

"Hey, Rick."

Stepping around her desk, she meets him in the middle of the room. Her fingers glide between his, find their way into the grooves that are hers alone, and rocking back a fraction, she tugs on his hand. His presence makes her giddy in spite of the second glances from those around them.

"How'd the meeting go?"

The breathlessness that comes out isn't at all what she was aiming for.

He's been placing so much pressure on himself, on what happens next if today's meeting is unsuccessful, and she's been trying not to add to it. Her main focus has been on being a pillar of strength by his side, a yang to his yin and it meant keeping all of her emotions locked within chains, but now that he's here they're all breaking free of its constraints.

"It was-"

"Yo. Watcha doing here, bro?"

Espo's interruption cuts across Rick's answer and she could easily fling herself onto the floor and weep. Now is not the time. Her question requires an answer.

"Hey. I've been out and about with meetings all morning and thought I'd drop in and see if someone is free for lunch." Castle finishes with an extravagant wink, and as Ryan joins Espo before them, the younger detective grins.

"Awww, sweet. But I already ate."

"That's okay, Ryan, Espo here is always ready for a second meal, right?"

All three boys laugh at their joke, and Beckett hides the curve of her lips into Rick's bicep, her forehead resting against the material of his shirt until their chuckling dies down.

"Okay. Seriously, how did it go today?"

Both Espo and Ryan wear matching expressions of curiosity, and while dragging Rick into the break room is the smarter option, his body is unmoving, the muscles of his hand relaxed within her grip.

This is all positive. Surely, it means that he's got good news.

"Did Kate tell you I had a meeting with Black Pawn today?"

The partners shake their head in unison, their actions comical, and normally she'd be having a go at their behavior, but not today. Today has too much riding on it.

Ryan twists his head, blue eyes glinting mischievously as he looks at Espo. "Black Pawn is a publishing company. They make books. Books are things we read and are written by authors, like Castle."

His smart-ass remarks have Esposito taking a halfhearted swing at his head, and ducking easily, Ryan refocuses on Castle.

The easygoing vibe continues to roll off Rick, his expression light as he smiles at the bickering pair. There are no secrets between the four of them now. Not since he'd resigned. It had fallen to her to explain to the rest of the team why he wouldn't be coming back, and with Rick's permission, she'd filled in the gaps.

She has no idea if they've ever spoken to him about it, but it hardly matters, the times that they've gone out for drinks, had the odd poker night, or even lunch as a group, there has been nothing but friendship between them.

Castle will remain a part of their team, even if he's no longer a part of the NYPD.

"So I had a meeting with them about the new book."

"Ohhhh, the one about the slutty detective?" Esposito's question is purposely antagonistic, his smirk matching the glee in his eyes and in spite of her better judgment, she rises to the bait.

"Nikki Heat isn't slutty."

The boys don't need to know about the three-day argument that had broken out when she'd discovered her 'character's' name or the desperate forms of persuasion she'd applied to convince Rick that he should change it.

Who would ever have guessed that not even cracking their 'so many times in one night that I can't walk straight' record could alter it.

"It's a name for a pros-"

Her glare cuts Ryan's word in half and his throat clearly constricts as he swallows the rest of it unsaid. Even if he is right, and she'd protested the exact same thing, he can keep it to himself.

"If you two aren't careful, I'll convince Castle that Ochoa and Raley need to meet an unpleasant end!"

Shaking their heads they make a point of zipping their lips, and with silence from the peanut gallery, Kate squeezes Rick's fingers.

"Did they like Heat Wave?"

"Right, so they read the manuscript and-"

"Castle. To what do we owe this honor?" Montgomery claps a hand to Rick's shoulder as he joins their group, and she groans at yet another interruption.

Seriously, can no one let Rick finish his goddamn sentence?

"He was just telling us if they're going to publish the new book. So are they?"

Rick's gaze travels from Montgomery, to the boys, before landing on Kate. Her fingers are locked tight between his, her expression a controlled mixture of hope, concern, and optimism - although now there's also a flicker of irritation and his cheeks pull, his grin widening.

The joy that bursts in bright rays from where his heart sits could take the place of the sun. She's been walking on eggshells since he'd dropped off the manuscript and organized for a meeting, navigating between encouragement and not putting too much emphasis on it needing to be successful. "There are other publishing houses out there." And talking up what he'd written, "Always knew your mind was a brilliant, dark and twisty place."

He will forever be indebted to the powers that be that had caused him to stumble upon her amongst the sweaty haze of people inside the club that night, nearly a year ago, and grateful that what was supposed to just be a one time thing turned into an attraction that they couldn't ignore.

That the electricity between them blossomed with time into a love that has given them a future full of possibilities.

It's all for the taking as they stand side by side together.

"So, after much thought. And discussion." Rick turns to face Kate, his free hand finding hers so he can hold onto all ten fingers, and he leans forward, lowering his voice. "They're overjoyed that I'm writing again, and look forward to publishing Heat Wave."

She doesn't squeal, Kate Beckett never would, but the noise that rushes into him is close enough, and letting go of her hands, he wraps his arms around her hips. Encompassing her completely, he infuses all he can into the hug, instills in her all the emotions that he's been keeping a lid on until this moment. The happiness that is zipping through his system since he'd heard the news has every strand of hair standing on end, every nerve ending twitching at the excitement.

Her arms lift high, and curling around his neck, her fingers tangle in his hair, her mouth hard against his ear. "I'm so proud of you, Rick."

It's not just words from her, or pleasantries. She was the inspiration that had sparked the itch inside his fingers, had planted the first seed of a story, and throughout the journey, she's been his muse, ensuring that the next sentence escapes onto the page. She's witnessed it all, has experienced the hard work by being there for the aftermath, has plied him full of coffee just so he could make it to the end of the day.

"Thank you, Kate."

Nuzzling into the angle of her shoulder, he places kiss after kiss against her skin where her long brown curls hide his actions, and he attempts to impart what his words lack.

Thank you is nowhere near enough. Doesn't even come close to explaining what he feels for her, for what she has done, but it is all he has.

He'll make up for it tonight. Will whisper all the ways he loves her, all the ways he is thankful, against her skin as he worships her body, stoking the ever-burning flame that is alight between them, until words are no longer required.

Their souls will do the talking.

It's only when Rick pulls away from her that the sound of clapping registers. The boys and Montgomery stand tall, matching smiles adorning each of their faces as they applaud the good news and a flush of heat surges across her skin, her head ducking down.

Damn them.

It's the one aspect of their togetherness that she still isn't comfortable with. They'd hidden their relationship for so many months that to conceal is still second nature, but there is no need, and she straightens her shoulders, faces them.

They really are happy for Rick and he deserves all the praise.

He's worked so very hard for this, pushed past self-doubt, the memories of the past, the worry for the future, to put it all on the page.

"Thanks, guys." Rick steps away from her, accepts the back slaps and shoulder knocks as they congratulate him, before he comes back to her side, his hand settling onto her hip as his arm crosses her back. "I thought if you're still treading water with your case, we could go out for lunch to celebrate?"

Glancing down at her, his gaze doesn't linger, traveling instead to the murder board. They'd discussed the case last night while they'd prepared his pasta carbonara, and unfortunately, there is nothing new to add except Lanie's autopsy results.

"Sounds good. All we have on our Jane Doe are the four numbers that she'd written on her hand."

He drifts to the murder board, habit no doubt still ingrained deep, and lifting a finger, he traces the picture of their victim's hand, the faded numbers that Lanie had highlighted standing out brightly.

"Have you had a missing person's report from a fiancé or husband?"

Shaking her head at his question, she moves to his side, attempts to see what he does, and as his thumb slides across the victim's fourth finger, it becomes as clear as day.

"She's missing a ring." They'd been so focused on the numbers that the tan line completely slipped under their radar, and bumping her shoulder into his, she offers her silent thanks.

"Geez, Castle. You could be a detective." Esposito chuckles as he approaches, but his stride stumbles under her glare, his mouth contorting.

"Too soon, dude." Castle volleys back, humor lacing his words, even if she is sure that it's a mask to hide the pain.

It will forever be too soon for that joke; just because she's happy - thrilled - that new doors are opening, they're both still mourning what they lost.

"It's a good catch though, Castle." Coming closer, Montgomery's head tilts, deep thoughts clouding his normally bright eyes, and Kate's eyes draw together at his expression. "You know, this character in your book - the journalist that follows the detectives around - that's happened before. A while back, there was a civilian consultant over at the fifty-fourth. Ex-marine with connections and too much time on his hands."

Her heart thumps wild, thrashes against her ribs until she is sure that they're going to crack under the pressure, while hope surges, a wave that crashes over her and for a fraction of a second, the noise inside her ears is all that there is.

He could come back…

"Sir?"

Ever respectful, Castle stands still beside her, eyes locked on her captain, and it takes all she has not to reach for his hand where it curls slowly between them.

"There'd be no pay, waivers would need signing, and there are rules about work place behavior." Montgomery smirks as he glances between them and she shuffles sideways, creates an extra inch between herself and Castle. "And I'd have to speak to the Mayor. Ain't no one happy unless he is. But I know he was a fan of your work, or at least your closure rate, so I can't see any issue."

Her heart well and truly explodes. Bursts into tiny pieces of glorious glitter at the notion that she would have her partner back, by her side where he belongs.

"I- That-" Flickering between Montgomery and her, Castle appears unable to work out where to look, but as the stunned expression morphs into pure joy, he stops on their captain.

"I can't think of anywhere else I would rather be than here, as a part of this team. To be Beckett's partner again."

There is nowhere else he should be, either.

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This is where I get all teary. Thank you, the response, the support, for this story was truly amazing and left me squealing and dancing, but mainly very speechless that the characters, even with the AU changes, were loved. It left me feeling just as loved xoxo

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There is a video trailer that now goes hand in hand with this story, done by the oh so talented XFchemist. If you Google Castle/Beckett - A one time thing Fic Trailer, you can watch this story unfold beautifully.

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Thank you to Jo and Jamie, there really are no words that describe your awesomeness xoxo

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Thank you for reading xoxo