Merry Christmas chicanita11! This is for the 2011 Castle Secret Santa, I got chicanita11 and the request was 'Kate's mom never dies, she lives a happy life, Castle never has Alexis.' So here you go, I hope I do it justice.

I don't own anything.


'Miss Beckett, a Richard Castle is here to see you.'

Kate barely heard what the blonde woman had said, she was too busy signing off the last few pieces of the case she had just closed. 'Send him in, thanks Julie.'

The young lawyer paused, rubbing her temples trying to get rid of the headache that was beginning to form. She had just gotten a call from her Mother trying to arrange a dinner for Saturday since they hadn't been able to catch up in weeks and subsequently found herself buried in a pile of paperwork that needed to be done before she left that night.

Rick paused in the doorway, looking at the woman leaning over some paperwork, concentration evident in her face. She had her hair pulled back into a loose bun at the nape of her neck. She was younger than he would have thought, and a lot more beautiful. 'Miss Beckett, I presume?'

'That's me.' She said as she closed the manila folder lying on her desk she stood to look at her guest. She was shocked to realise that standing in the doorway to her modest office was Richard Castle, as in the Richard Castle. She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach and attempted to put on her court room face. 'When Julie said Richard Castle was here I didn't think she meant the novelist.'

He gave her a lop sided smile, 'you've heard of me then?'

'In passing,' Kate shrugged, trying to hold down her need to squeal in joy. She gestured to the dark leather chair on the other side of the desk, 'please, take a seat.' He moved over and sat down, reaching to play with the trinket on her desk, she swatted at his wandering hand. 'What is it that you wanted to talk about today Mr Castle?'

He sat back in the seat, arms lying along the sides of the chair. 'I need a lawyer.'

'I thought you were the man who was never actually charged with anything.'

'Not for me.'

Kate sighed, 'for whom then?'

'Kyle Cabot.'

Kate leant forward slightly, her sharp elbows resting on the cluttered desk, 'Kyle Cabot, as in the man who killed Alyson Tisdale?'

'No, well yes, but no.' Kate raised one eyebrow questioningly at the writer. 'It's a long story but to put it simply Kyle is nothing more than a red herring, he did not kill Alyson Tisdale.'

'And why are you so certain?'

Rick was glad to see the slight smirk on her face, because that meant she would let him speak, even if it was just to humour him, he might just get her convinced, 'because I was consulting on the case.'

'The police let an author follow a detective during an actual homicide investigation?' The lawyer was appalled at the number of protocol violations that must have caused.

'The killer was copying murder scenes from my books, and so I got myself put onto the case.' Rick leant forward, trying him charm smile on the lawyer, 'so are you willing to help me or not?'

'Mr Castle, you do realise that I am not usually asked to take on cases like these. I am a civil rights lawyer, not a criminal justice lawyer.'

Realising that his usual charm smile wasn't all that she needed to bend to his will, Rick decided to go for all out flattery. 'Yes, but I've heard that you're the best of the best.'

Kate smirked slightly, showing the writer that she knew just how good she was in the court room but refused to acknowledge it verbally. 'You must be certain that Kyle Cabot is innocent.'

'Oh he is,' the writer nodded slowly.

Kate's brow furrowed as she thought, 'sure enough that you would attempt to convince a lawyer who is less than likely to take on the case to help you out.'

'With the amount that I would be willing to pay you I promise that it would be me helping you out.'

Kate sat back in her chair, contemplating the man in front of her. As she let her thoughts roll around her mind she tapped a finger lightly on the edge of her leather chair. Suddenly she leant forward, resting her thin arms on the crowded desk in front of her. 'If I agree to take on this case you have to promise me one thing, Mr Castle.'

'You name it.' He said sitting forward eagerly.

She looked him straight in the eye, testing him, 'you will not ask me out.'

'Miss Beckett, what kind of man do you think I am?' Rick said, feigning hurt.

Kate rolled her eyes and leant back in her chair, 'the type that I've had more than enough of.'

'Alright, I won't ask you out, scouts' honour.'

Kate tapped a pen on the desk and pursed her lips slightly, 'fine. If you can prove to me that Kyle Cabot is innocent I will agree to take on the case, pro bono.'

'I am more than happy to pay you.'

'No need Mr Castle, if the jury found out that a man who helped on the investigation was paying the accused's lawyer it would cause a retrial and I have a soft spot for kids like Kyle.'

Rick followed her lead and stood, before making his way over to the door. 'And when can I see you next?'

'Tomorrow, one o'clock,' Kate said opening the door to let him through. 'Don't be late.'

As he disappeared down the hallway Kate let the grin she had supressed for the whole meeting take over. Smiling broadly she bit her lip to stop the squeal of excitement that was threatening to escape, she had to call her Mom.


Yes, this will be a multi chapter story, but not too long. Hopefully it will all be up in time to make the deadline.

Writing Mom is making my hands twitch…

I hope you guys like it, if so review, if not still review and let me know why.