Alright, this one starts out slow but I'm going to make it a full-fledged, multi chapter story. With a plot and everything! :O I know, it scares me too. Honestly. It does.

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle. I wish I did but, sadly, I don't.

Oo..oO

Sometimes I pretend. I like to pretend he doesn't exist. See, I don't like him. I don't really have a good reason. Unless you count stealing the woman I love. Okay, so he didn't steal her. No one can steal Katherine Beckett without her express permission. All the man's doing is dating her. And I hate him for it. Maybe you need an introduction.

I'm Richard Castle. I write crime novels. Kate Beckett is my inspiration, my muse. She is an NYPD homicide detective. I follow her around. We're partners now, I guess. Josh Davidson is her boyfriend, a cardiac surgeon. He's a good man in anyone's book. And yet...

One thing you really should know is that I love Kate Beckett. Really, I do. That's why I've got to let her go.

'No!' you yell, 'Fight for her!'

No, I say. I can't. I have to let her be happy. From what I can tell, he makes her happy. Maybe, if I told her how I felt things would change. But no, I know I've missed my chance. I kept telling myself I'd get another shot, that we had lots of time. I was wrong.

If I told her now, it would destroy the delicate shell of friendship that we've build. It would ruin in the holes I've dug, the ladders I've built and the doors I've constructed to get behind her walls. She might never speak with me again. I couldn't handle that.

So I shall bow out. Say a final adieu, as it were. Let her be happy. Until, of course she leaves Dr. Motorcycle Boy. Then I shall come back with a vengeance.

I have to face facts though. The man stayed back from Haiti to be with her. Things are looking serious.

I should get something else straight. It's not about the books anymore. I have enough research for ten more Nikki Heat novels. I'm still there for her. I thought I'd have a chance I thought I'd have time, I... No. No, that's enough with that. One thing is for certain. I'm not following her around to watch her be with another man.

If things get more serious between Kate and...Josh (cursed be his name), I am going to leave. There is no point in staying around. Unless I have the sudden urge to hurt myself. Knowing she loves another would certainly cause unbearable pain.

'But,' you protest 'You love her, right? Then tell her!'

Make her choose? That is the cruellest thing I could do to her. Choose between her partner and her boyfriend? I couldn't do that. No, I have to withdraw from her life. Slowly, so she won't even notice. No need to cause her worry.

Wait, I don't want you all to think I'm abandoning her! I most certainly am not! She'll-she'll have someone else! It's not like we're best friends or anything...

Ugh, you're right. I could never leave her. I don't even want to try. Days like today keep me here. What? You want to know what happened today? Well... I guess...

Oo..oO

I woke up this morning to 'Who's That Lady'. I jumped out of bed at once. Beckett was calling me. I knew what that meant. Murder! My phone was lying across the room and I ran to it, as fast as I could at six in the morning. I nearly fell a couple times but I managed to make it. I hit the green answer button, cutting the Isley Brothers off mid-verse.

"Morning, Detective." I chimed.

"Hey Castle, we gotta body. Central Park."

"That's pretty vague. Can I have more detailed instruction? There may be psychics in my family but I..."

"Yeah." She cut me off and granted my request for a location.

"Great, be there soon."

"And Castle? You may wanna skip breakfast."

"Thanks for the heads up."

"Anytime." She disconnected with a click. The second she hung up, I did a mad dash around my room. Shirt, socks, underwear, shoes, belt...What was I forgetting... Right. Pants.

When I was fully dressed I hurried downstairs. Alexis was sitting at the counter with her textbooks and a bowl of cereal in front of her.

"Hey dad, would you like some..."

I cut her off quickly. "No pumpkin , we got a body." I dropped a quick kiss on her head, wished her a good day at school and practically ran out the door.

Twenty-five minutes and a quick stop at a coffee shop later, I was at the crime scene.

And what I saw shocked me more than anything ever had before.

Oo..oO

A/N: Please review. Let me know. Feed me ideas. :)

I would also like to say that I know absolutely nothing about New York. So, sorry for that.