*Watches the tumble weeds roll by*
Umm, hi.
I know, I haven't done this for a really time and I'm sorry, but life and my original story had to take priority.
I will get back to all my stories as soon as humanly possible. I promise.
Hopefully the new year will be really good for me writing wise.
Meanwhile, this is a new story to tide you over for a bit :D
I hope you like it.
Just in case I don't upload again before Thursday, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, have fun, eat, drink and be merry and may you all have a safe and happy time.
NYLF xx
The young woman threw back her shot and perused the dance floor. The pulsing beat of the music blaring from the speakers was thumping in her chest, manipulating her heart beat even as the alcohol danced in her bloodstream.
She was so very drunk, so very out of place but in a dress that barely covered her ass, the purple Lycra tight enough to advertise that she wasn't wearing any underwear, the bouncers didn't give her a second glance as they waved her through.
She slid from her stool, wobbling just a little on her six inch stiletto heels.
With her hips swinging involuntarily to the beat of the music, she made her way to the middle of the floor. Tonight she was going to get drunk and flirt with a stranger. Tomorrow morning, when she woke up, she'd be free in that blissful haze of non-memory.
She danced for a few minutes before a possessive hand slid across her hip and onto her stomach, pulling her back into a decidedly male chest.
"Mind if I cut in, gorgeous?" A voice husked in her ear, barely loud enough to be heard over the music. She shivered as she smiled, tipping back into the stranger, pressing her body against him.
"So long as you can keep up." She teased, earning a growl from her dance partner as he slid his other hand around to meet the first, cradling her pelvis as he swung both of their hips to the beat.
Innumerable time and shots later, he cupped her head and kissed her for the first time.
It was possessive and primal but had edges of sweetness and tenderness to it that had her moaning into his mouth in response. He groaned, pulling her impossibly closer, pressing his hand at the base of her back, his fingertips flirting with where her panties would end, as he pulled her pelvis into the cradle of his hips.
He pulled away but didn't go far.
"Are you even wearing panties, you bad girl?" He growled before latching onto her neck and sucking gently, not enough to bruise, but enough to make her knees tremble.
"You, you wanna go find out?" She panted, leaning into his head as she cradled him close.
He pulled up sharply, more than one question swimming in his eyes.
He took her hand, pulling it to rest on his chest even as his other hand cupped her waist. He pulled her close and leaned down to talk into her ear, shouting to be heard over the thumping beat of the music.
"You sure you wanna do this? I'm only gonna break your heart."
She shook her head. "Can't break what's already broken."
He leaned back, shooting her a look that, in any other circumstance, she would call concern. She waved him away, pulling him closer again with a hand at the back of his neck.
"You're seriously telling me you don't want to?" She teased, her hand dipping dangerously low on his abdomen, proving to herself just how much he did indeed want to do this.
"Just warning you." He winked before grabbing her hand and dragging her, at a run, from the club, listening as she laughed all the way out to the cab.
The young girl sniffed, wiped her nose with the back of her coat sleeve and looked over her shoulder.
No one could see her doing this, she couldn't allow it. No one would understand. This would be the best option. He would know what to do better than she would.
She wiped away her tears before turning back to the bundle in her arms.
The baby girl slept on soundly, unaware of what was about to happen, unaware that she was about to be abandoned.
The teenager's brow furrowed at the thought.
She wasn't abandoning her. He was her father. He would be a better option for this tiny, perfect angel, than her mother. Her off the rails, stuck in a grief spiral mother. The teenager shook her head. She couldn't believe she was about to do this. How could she just give up her baby like this?
Reality was a sharp kick to her gut.
No one even knew she'd been pregnant. She'd hidden it for all this time. Keeping the baby wasn't an option, no matter how much she loved her.
With one more look behind her, the young woman climbed the steps and pulled open the door. She slipped silently past the reading doorman, thanking her good fortune. How she would explain this had he caught her, she had no idea.
The elevator was silent and smooth.
She used the time to memorise her daughter's tiny beautiful face. This being the last time she'd see her, her first and only day with her.
She shook her head, holding the baby close. This was the best option. It hurt, felt like she was leaving her heart behind, but it gave her perfect baby daughter the best chance in life.
No matter how much it would hurt her mother, it would save the infant so much pain long term.
The young woman left the elevator after a quick look to see she was alone.
She walked swiftly to the front door, her brain being assaulted by the memories of him, them.
He'd pressed her against this door so gently, tender in his caresses despite the alcohol coursing through both of their systems.
He was drinking off a divorce and she had been his port in the storm. But he had cradled her so gently, held her so fervently, touched her like she was the most delicate of laces and had politely not asked about the tears deserting her eyes, even as he erased them with the soothing touch of his thumb across her cheek.
She repressed the memories, knowing they would do nothing to ease her pain, her loneliness, and knelt before the door slowly.
Her tiny miracle shifted a little in her blanket and it made the young mother pause before she took herself in hand and carefully placed the tiny bundle on the floor just in front of the door.
She gently traced her finger across her baby's cheek before leaning over her to kiss her forehead, lingering for a lot longer than necessary, knowing this would be the last time she saw the girl.
With a heavy heart she stood and hesitated just a handful of seconds before raising her fist and knocking on the door sharply.
It was the middle of the night, in reality he may not even be home.
She waited a heart beat before running to the end of the corridor, hiding behind the wall so she could see the door, but whomever opened it wouldn't see her.
Time seemed to slow horrendously.
Her heartbeat in her ears was drowning out all any sound.
Suddenly, the door opened and there he was.
Richard Castle, Rick, stood tall and proud, just like he had that night.
He looked so safe, and warm, and she knew if they had met in different circumstances, she would have loved to take him up on his offer to stay the night.
But she was toxic, no good for him, and especially bad for the tiny girl he was currently not seeing.
Rick looked around, up and down the hall, looking for the source of the knocking he'd heard.
He was just about to turn around and go back to his bed when a quiet noise from the general direction of his feet caught his attention.
Rick looked down and gasped.
Babies left on doorsteps was a thing of fairy tales and legends, wasn't it?
No one actually opened their door in the middle of the night to find a neatly wrapped baby human on the other side.
Apparently that's what was happening though.
He crouched down and gently scooped the infant into his arms, holding it close. He quickly looked it over and found the neatly folded piece of paper tucked into the blanket.
Keeping the baby against his chest with one hand, he opened the note with the other.
Hi,
I hope you forgive me one day for this. It's a girl, by the way. She was born on the fourth of November, at nine fifty six in the morning. You were the first stop when I left the hospital.
I can't raise her. I'm such a toxic influence, she'll be safer away from me.
Obviously, I would like her to go to you. I'd love for you to raise her, but I realise that leaving a baby on your doorstep doesn't guarantee that you'll raise her. I do understand if you think she'll be better off with someone else but, please, make sure she's safe.
There isn't a lot I can say, I know, given that I left her on a stranger's doorstep just hours after she was born, but at least I left her on her father's door.
You saved me a thousand times that night, Rick, and I will never be able to thank you enough. I have never been in love, but that night, I think it's the closest I've ever been. Thank you.
She, she doesn't have a name. I didn't feel like I had the right to make that decision for her but, in case you were wondering, I like Rebecca. Though, there's no obligation for that.
I'm sorry, I don't really know what to say here. Just, keep an eye on our daughter? Please?
Despite my actions tonight, I do love her. So very much. In any other life, she would be the centre of my universe but, I can't give her that. But I hope I can give her you.
Every decision I've made tonight has been out of love for her, I promise you that.
Paint me to be the monster under her bed if you have to, but keep her safe, make her happy, love her. That's all I ask.
I'm sorry.
Rick looked around one more time before sighing, folding the note again and putting it in his pocket. He looked down at the tiny child in his arms for a few seconds. Apparently this was his flesh and blood, his daughter. He'd, of course, have to verify that but... he sighed and shook his head before going back inside and closing the door, his daughter safe against his chest.
The young woman sighed in relief, sagging against the wall as she finally let her tears fall freely.
Her daughter was safe, her job was done.
She made sure the coast was clear, before making her way back to the elevator, and heading out of the building.
Making a vow to clean her life up, to be the woman her daughter needed as a mother, despite knowing the likelihood she'd ever see her again was slim, she hailed a cab and headed home.
Her baby was safe. That's all that mattered.