A/N: This is a result of an idea I got stuck in my mind. It's essentially Castle we know and love, but maybe a year before and, mostly, with one difference: what if Castle hadn't pushed so early to start following Beckett around?
I should warn you that, so far, all proofreading is done myself. As a result, a lot of misspellings and other errors are bound to be found just lying around.
Richard Castle had concluded his reading of a riveting couple of chapters of Storm's Last Stand, his latest Derrick Storm's release, and then had started his signing duties, in the first publicity event open to the general public. The book's official launch party on the previous Friday was a complete success, and Rick's agent, publicist and publisher were all ecstatic with all the positive reviews on his newest work and the as well as the media attention the author was receiving.
As Rick continued signing copies of his book for his fans attending the event – many of which were overly eager young women (and he couldn't say he was disappointed with all the flirting coming his way), his hand was almost cramping after repeatedly writing for nearly two hours nonstop. Briefly glimpsing over to his agent, who was standing behind him to his right, he turned back to the fan in front of him sure that Paula Hass had gotten his message. Rick was not disappointed when, as soon as he finished signing his name with a flourish on the inside cover of the book in his hand, Paula held up his next fan in line and arranged for him to take a short break. Rising from his chair, Rick glanced apologetically to the fan –a seriously curvaceous blonde wearing a tight fit red dress – and walked a few yards away alongside his skillful agent. He was glad that, at least this one time, his publisher and soon to be ex-wife was not coordinating this signing event.
Upon returning to the signing desk 20 minutes later, he noticed that the line had shrunken considerably and that his first fan in line was now an older man wearing a 'I-heart-Castle' t-shirt. Putting on the same dazzling smile he showed to his bimbo fans (no one could accuse him of favoring any followers), he asked the man whom he should make the dedication out to and went on with his signing as if nothing was unsettling about this scene.
As soon as the disturbing older man left – not without first taking a picture right next to his "favorite handsome author" – Rick noticed that the full-bosomed blonde who had been standing in line before he took his break had returned and was talking to his agent, trying to convince Paula to let her get her book signed without having to go to the end of the line; apparently, she had stepped out just a few minutes earlier to use the toilet and did not think it was fair to lose her chance at meeting "the sexiest author in Manhattan" simply due to a full bladder.
Before Rick had a chance to address his next fan in line, said fan – a sharply dressed and attractive brunette, he noticed – turned to his agent, who was at the verge of dragging the buxom fan to the end of the line by her hair, and told her the blonde could get her book signed ahead of her. Crisis averted, the bimbette was all smiles and touches with Rick, leaning over the table to grant him a better view down her cleavage as he signed her book, and leaving without so much as a glance toward the brunette fan who made it all possible for her. Shaking his head as he tried to stifle his laughter, Rick took a deep breath and then smiled as he called on the brunette fan.
"Hi there. What's your name?"
"Kate." The stunning young brunette replied, smiling back at him. He noticed that, although her smile was beautiful, in no way it carried the flirtyness he expected.
"Well, Kate, do you want me to write anything specific for you? I'd be glad to comply with your wishes." His smile grew sexier at that.
Trying her best to hide the amusement at his blatant flirting from her own smile, she swiftly retorted, "No special requests, Mr. Castle. Just write what you feel like will fit best."
A bit disappointed, he replied, "All right." He directed his attention at her copy of Storm's Last Stand and wrote his dedication. Handing her the book, he spoke up. "There you go. And by the way, on behalf of the nice lady who just left, thank you for letting her get her book signed ahead of you."
At this, she openly laughed. "No problem. Wouldn't want to keep you from meeting your true fangirls." Taking the book from his hand, she addressed his stunned face. "Thank you, Mr. Castle. Have a great night."
"Good night!" He said as he faced her retreating back. "And thank you for coming!"
Smiling with mirth to himself, he quickly turned to his next fan and carried on with his signing, hoping that the 50 minutes he had left would suffice to attend to close to 80 fans left in line.
Pulling out her mobile as she left the Barnes & Noble store, Kate Beckett quickly dialed her boyfriend's phone. "Hey," she said when he picked up. "I'm leaving the store now. Do you want me to meet you at the movies or are you still at work?"
"Neither," she heard him reply and the line went dead. Staring at her phone confused, she barely had time to register the voice coming from behind her. "I would never have you meet me at our destination when I can simply be a gentleman and come pick you up."
Smiling at his chivalry, she turned to give Will Sorensen a kiss. "Hi."
"Hi." He smiled back. "So, how was the signing? Did you turn to puddle at his feet? Should I be jealous?"
Her smile grew wider. "No turning to puddle. He has enough fangirls to do that for him." She kissed him again. "No reason to be jealous, Will. Although he is much more handsome than you, there is no way I could have a chance with him." At his bothered expression, she laughed. "Relax, I'm just pulling your leg. You know there is nothing to be worried about."
"Hmm," he murmured before kissing her yet again. "I know." Pointing at the book in Kate's hand, he asked, "What did he write to you?"
"I haven't seen yet," she told him. Opening the book, she read the dedication to herself for a second and, sensing Will trying to peek at it from over her left shoulder, she read the message out loud. "To Kate. That you continue to dazzle the world with your beautiful smile. And that my books bring you enough entertainment and reassurance to contribute to your happiness. Rick Castle."
After a moment of silence, Will couldn't help but ask, "Did you tell him about your mother?"
"No," she replied, somewhat perplexed. "I didn't tell him anything."
After another moment of silently staring at the dedication, Kate closed the book and put it in her Michael Kors handbag. Turning once again to her companion, she plastered her face with a smile to prevent Will from noticing her confused thoughts. "Shall we?"
"We shall." He smiled at her and, taking her hand, walked off in the direction of the 14th Street-Union Square subway station.
But Kate's mind was suddenly a long way from her plans with her boyfriend for this evening.
A few weeks later, as she looked over the young female's body positioned on its back over a table, modestly covered by red rose petals and eyes invisible behind two sunflowers, she suddenly realized why this scene seemed so familiar to her.
"Flowers for your grave…" Detectives Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito, who were standing somewhere near Beckett, heard her mutter under her breath.
"What?" Ryan asked her.
"This body," she started explained. "It's laid out exactly as a murder victim in Flowers for Your Grave."
"Come again?" It was Esposito's turn to ask.
"The book," Beckett tried again. Sighing once she noted they didn't get the meaning, she spoke again, annoyed. "Don't you guys read?" And then, she concluded. "This scene was staged as the murders depicted in Flowers for Your Grave. It's a book written by Richard Castle." Pausing, she then added, "And we will probably need to bring him in for questioning."
TBC
(All characters, the homicide case plotline and even some of the quotes in this fanfic don't belong to me. This is made available for entertainment only and not for profit. No copyright infringement is intended.)