This is a companion piece to Learning To Live Again, I suggest reading it before reading this. This is a collection of random one-shots in varying lengths that relate to LTLA, both during the fic and after the epilogue and will be in no particular order. I will post at random intervals.

Ok here's the fun part, I need ideas! If you would like to submit an idea please private message me with the subject line filled in with: Prompt. Please tell me what scene you would like me to write and what genre you would prefer, if any. All I ask is that you remember this is related to LTLA and therefore needs to at least slightly relate to Ryan, Dev, and/or Alexis.

Thank you and happy reading!

Title: Gangsta's Paradise

Summary: This is actually a deleted scene from LTLA. I wrote this but then realized I had nowhere to fit it in and didn't have the heart to delete it.

Genre: Humor

Characters: Ryan, Esposito, Castle

Castle trotted down the steps in front of the 12th precinct, his feet hitting the concrete lightly as he whistled to himself and headed towards the parking lot. Just as he stepped around the corner and caught sight of the boys's red Charger he pulled back and bit his lip to keep from laughing. When he was sure he could stay quiet he pulled his phone from his pocket and peeked around the corner before beginning to film the hilarious scene in front of him.

Ryan and Esposito, arguably two of the cities best detectives, were seated in their car singing a very spot on and enthusiastic rendition of Gangsta's Paradise. The windows were down, their arms resting on their respective sills and their heads bobbed as they sang every word along with the radio. Small smiles were on their faces, their eyes hidden behind sunglasses and laughs escaping them every so often.

Tell me why are we, so blind to see

That the ones we hurt, are you and me

Been spending most their lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

When the song sadly came to an end Castle pressed a few keys before sliding his phone back into his pocket and waited a beat before walking up to the car with a large grin. "Hey guys."

Ryan actually jumped in his seat, only his seatbelt keeping him in place while Esposito narrowed his eyes at the writer's suspiciously smug expression. "Castle. Where's Beckett?"

"On her way down."

Beckett suddenly appeared next to Castle and looked at her two detectives. "Ready to go?" At their twin nods she read off the address of where they were all headed before her lips twitched. "Be careful. You better watch how you talkin', and where you walkin' or you and your homies might be lined in chalk." With a wink she made her way over to her car leaving a hysterical Castle and two men wearing the same gob smacked expression.

Ryan's jaw dropped as his eyes darted to Esposito, the other man's alarmed expression matching his.

Sensing they had no idea how to respond Castle took over, "Don't worry guys, I only sent the video to everyone in the precinct."

Esposito finally shrugged, "We sound damn good. We could do this as a second career."

"Crime fighters by day, rappers by night," Ryan grinned.

Castle smirked, "What would your name be?"

"Salt and Peppa."

Ryan twisted in his seat, "Wait, am I Salt? I don't want to be Salt."

"Well you sure can't be Peppa, Vanilla Ice," Esposito replied.

"Are you calling me vanilla?" he asked in shock. "Well your name can be brown sugar." A grimace covered his face, "That makes you sound like a stripper, forget I said that. What else it white?"

"Crackers."

Castle watched them drive away, a grin still covering his face. "I wonder if I should post that to Twitter," he wondered aloud as he climbed in Beckett's car.

"Definitely."