A/N: I don't own Castle or the song used. The song is from The Librarian 3: The Curse of the Judas Chalice.
Melodious notes floated through the homey apartment, accessing the neighbor to engage in dance. The neighbor smiled as she swung her sash, but froze and cringed as the music paused, followed by an outburst of frustration.
Back at the apartment where the music came from, the pianist banged her head on the electric metronome. Damn that thing! It always confused her and messed her up. She would destroy it if it hadn't cost $70. The piano itself had cost $1300, and thank god it was a digital. Any bigger and she would have to remodel. She had to push her couch to the corner of the living room, and she had to squeeze around the piano to get to the bedroom, though.
The piano looked exceptionally real except for the knobs and the wires. It was black wood, heavy keys, all three golden, shiny pedals, and it even came with a piano bench! The only thing it didn't come with was a metronome, which was unusual, but she bought one.
Speaking of metronomes, the metronome unexpectedly burst out in ticking, startling the young cop. She threw it at the brown couch with the floral print, and dropped her head in her hands, groaning. Damn that thing!
Yes, Kate Beckett, homicide detective, cop, control freak and Castle groupie (Not that anyone knew that) was trying to learn piano.
She picked it up about a month before now, a month after he left. A month after she was about to confess her feelings! She had broken up with Tom, decided to go to the Hamptons, put aside her fears, and what does he do? He shoots her down! Shows up with his ex-wife, whom he doesn't even get along with, and leaves her standing there! With everyone watching! Jeez, how… Idiotic can you get!
Anyway, she needed something to take her mind off things. Lanie suggested guys, Epsosito and Ryan suggested beers, the Captain suggested a day off, and Karpowski suggested piano. Completely random, but hey, it certainly works.
No way was she going to get a teacher, she didn't have the time. Cop, remember? So she bought the books, the piano, the sheets, and that damn metronome.
Beckett wasn't what you would call a 'sharer' so she told no one of her piano learning. Lanie popped in for a surprise drink once, though, and well, the piano wasn't that easy to hide. So Lanie found out, and eventually it slipped out to Esposito, and he obviously told Ryan, and that was how she found Basic Piano for Dummies on her desk.
Of course, everyone in the precinct saw it, so she made sure everyone saw her drop it into the garbage, right next to her desk. She was always the last one there, so she snatched it out of the can and ran to the bathroom with it, skimming through. Hey, there was some pretty good information in there!
She was extra cautious, who knows if someone would peek over the stall and catch her? After making sure that the book was worth reading, she slipped it in her bag and left to her apartment, but this was weeks ago.
The book was now lounging on the floor of her closet, for she didn't feel like giving it a proper place, and she only took it out when something went wrong with the piano. Ever since Castle left, she was lazy, and didn't feel like giving everything the control and neatness she liked.
She scanned the notes in her practice book, her eyes squinting as the reflection of the lamp glared off the paper. She rested her right hand on the keys and played a small, quick tune. She put the book on the stand and placed her fingers delicately on the keys. She started a soft, jolly tune with the left, which was accompanied by her right hand, slowing the song down and giving it a sadder glow. Just as her pinky hit a D, her index finger skimmed a C#, which was a minor mistake, almost invisible, but to Beckett, the control freak, it meant everything.
She shouted in frustration as she threw her hands in the air. Why world? Why? Why must she mess up, when it was going so well?
She took a deep breath, and started again. The song brought back memories, for it was a lullaby her mom always sang to her. It was a sad lullaby, but a lullaby all the same. It was fairly common, so the sheet music was easy to locate on the Internet. (But if anyone asks, she modified it in her head.)
A smile crept on her face as the notes blended in harmony. She recalled the song in her mind and opened her mouth, chanting quietly.
"I see the sadness in your eyes is more than you let on
They ask where love is gone
Was it some magic or a twist, a spell that crossed the stars
Whatever happened here we are"
Her voice went a little smoother, but stronger as well.
"I gave up hoping oh, so long ago, I can't remember even when
But I wonder could this be the one who'll make me live again"
She was about to start the chorus, almost laughing at the fortune of how her song was coming. It was actually working!
"To love and lose and love again, like seasons come and go
It's what odds are made for-"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Her hands froze, her voice silent. She closed her gaping mouth to stop herself from yelling, "Damn you!" at the door. She closed the piano lid and slipped her hand under the cushion on the piano bench, pulling out her off-duty piece. Good hiding place, huh?
She hid it behind her back as she slowly walked up to the door. She kept the chain lock on and unlocked the deadbolt. She opened it a crack and eyed the stranger outside her door. She fought the urge to cry in anger. Of all people to interrupt one of the hardest experiences in her life, it had to be him?
She closed the door and unhooked the chain, and swung the door open, her gun still ready behind her back. (You can't blame her, can you?)
She made sure he got a clear profile of her baggy clothes, her worn face and tussled hair. She saw a look of surprise on his face from her appearance, and then Beckett slammed the door in Castle's face, turning every single lock.
No way was she going to let him in, not after what he did to her. Not after how he hurt her. Not after how he broke her.