Dinner Date

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: This is my AU version to the events when Demming has dinner catered by Hung's China Sea, complete with the candle light. Sometimes a candle provides the light that is needed to get you out of the dark. Based on a prompt and request from mbeckettcastle or JC. This is for you, I hope I do it justice.

I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 2

Previously

"You're right Pumpkin, as usual, and I can't do that being here, I'll get sucked right back into her web the minute she needs me. Enough, time to think of me, I'll make the arrangements if you're sure. You know you can't tell anyone where I am or what I'm doing, even your Grams, I'm afraid of too much liquor will sink my ship.

Only you and Paula will know so I am trusting you both. I can't give out my cell number to anyone, not even Gina, so if she needs to get in touch with me, have her call the burner cell and leave a message. I can't think of anything she would need to discuss that wouldn't involve Paula anyway."

*************************************************************************************/

Castle's Office

Latter Same Day

Rick opened his laptop, and quickly came up with a check list to insure he didn't miss a step in the process. First thing was to contact Paula and make sure the offer was still valid, everything else depended upon that.

He pulled up his office phone, hit speaker, and dialed Paula's number. After three rings, she answered, "Paula Haas here, how can I help you?"

"Hey Paula, it's Rick, when was the last time you spoke to the agents managing the next three books of that Certain British Agent? I was wondering if the offer was still open, or did I miss the window?"

"Ricky, you must have ESP or something, I just got a telegram increasing the offer by 20% for the initial offer, and adding a 40% bonus if the books hits the NY Times Best Seller, I was going to call you, since this is serious money now Ricky, far more than you've ever gotten from Black Pawn."

"Paula, Call them, don't telex or wire them, Call them then follow up with my acceptance. I have to get Clive working on the Black Pawn Contract to void it after this book, as our clause reads."

"You're serious Ricky? I mean I know you had your heart stuck here in New York, but if you're serious, I'll be on the phone as soon as we hang up. Ricky, you know that this will have to be done as a Ghost Writer under Ian Fleming name, right?"

"Yeah Paula, and I need you to keep this whole deal quiet, things are going to get sticky, maybe ugly and the less you know the better. You and Alexis are the only ones who know the truth, so PLEASE keep it as confidential as you always do"

"What are you going to do about the last Heat Novel Ricky? I mean it's not impossible to write two is it?"

"Between us, it's done, needs revisions but the frame is there, plus I have a bonus book if my Attorneys need it, I'll give them a two book buyout clause, I need to get the wheels in motion as soon as possible. I want to be in England before Memorial Day here."

"I can make that happen Ricky, I may need to make a trip there myself, do you mind if I tag along your first flight, you know how I feel about you, but it's up to you"

Paula braced herself for the typical response but was shocked when Rick responded,

"It'd be nice to have a friendly face, especially one as pretty as yours the first week or so I'm there, not promising anything Paula, and you know how I feel, but yeah, make the arrangements for both of us and let me know OK?"

"I'll call you later Ricky, gotta run to make some arrangements, Bye,"

Next on the list were the lawyers, Rick held a conference call with his General Counsel, as well as his publishing attorney, and the plan was put into place. They would notify Black Pawn that he was exercising his buyout clause, and if a release could be secured within three weeks, Rick would agree to a two book buy out, rather than the one if he gave 60 days' notice.

He thought for a few minutes, then muttered to himself, "Oh what the Hell"

He pulled his cell phone out and dialed his ex-wife and publisher Gina Cowell.

"Gina Cowell's office, Melanie speaking, how can I help you?"

"This is Rick Castle; can you see if I can talk to Gina please?"

"Sure thing Rick, can you hold please?"

"Hi Rick, Please don't tell me you're going to be late with the next chapters, I've had a hell of a day, and this would just send it over the top"

"OK I won't tell you that. How close are you to wrapping up your day?"

"About an Hour or so, why? What do you have in mind?"

"Well there's a lot of moving parts and things are happening at such a pace, I want to be sure you get the entire story, from the horse's ass, or mouth,"

He hears her giggle, then "Rick, are you, Alexis, and Martha OK? Don't lie to me please"

"Oh we're fine, I just thought I would like to meet you for a drink, dinner if you're up to it and talk, you know like we used to do before life got in the way"

"Rick, you're scaring me, please tell me the truth, are you OK?"

"I swear Gina, I just want to do something the right way for a change with you, are you free for dinner, I have a table at LeCirc I can meet you at, if that's OK?"

"OK Rick, I'll see you in an hour, and you better be telling me the truth, I still care about you all, even if you don't believe me." As the phone disconnects.

Rick takes a deep sigh, he may regret meeting with Gina, but she had shared his life, his dreams, his future for a while, and being truthful it wasn't her that broke them, it was him.

Next on the list was the call and letter to Roy, well he was gone for the day by now, and chicken shit as it was, a voice mail would have to do. He dialed Roy's private direct office number and got the standard greeting, "You've reached Captain Roy Montgomery, 12th precinct, leave a message with a call back number at the beep,"

"Roy, I had hoped to reach you before you left for the day, I'm sorry to have to do this via voice mail. Things have come up, I won't be returning to the precinct anymore, so please tell those I worked with I appreciate all they did to help me. I'll follow up with a written letter for your files and to satisfy HR requirements, also there will be a number of gift cards for everyone with some special gifts for those I worked close with. Unfortunately, this is it, my cell has been disconnected, I'm off for a new mission. Thank you for everything Cap, take care of yourself and stay safe, it's been an honor Sir."

Rick opens a new Word Document and types with a frenzy,

"Dear Captain Montgomery,

Once again, I apologize for the cowardly departure, I wish I could explain but conditions prevent that. Please know I truly appreciate what you and your entire team did over the last two years to tolerate, assist, and finally to some degree accept me as your token pain in the ass. As I said in the voice mail, I can't talk to you, my phones are disconnected and my family doesn't even know where I am or what I'm doing, sorry but it has to stay this way.

There were a lot of good times, some memories I'll cherish the rest of my life, others well I'll just say some days I wish I had never embarked on this journey, or ever written Nikki Heat. You can tell everyone the series will be ending soon, watch the news for the exact date as we complete the negotiations. I'm sorry it was such a burden on everyone, especially Detective Beckett, it was not my intention to make her life difficult. Royalties for the last book will be donated to the Widows and Orphans fund to attempt to make up for the hardship I have caused.

The old saying there is no gain without pain, well evaluating it now, the pain was far too much, the sacrifices far too great, and the loss of time with those I love to spend time with those I considered friends, only to find I was nothing more than a requirement they were forced to accept. For the hardship I placed on them, I apologize. There is a separate shipment of gift cards for the entire precinct, as well as some special gifts for those who suffered the most.

I know we closed a lot of cases, I used to think I had some role in that, but lately I have been reminded constantly that I'm not a cop, not by one but by multiple sources. I finally took heed and listened, I'm not a cop so perhaps they were right, the closures were in spite of not because of anything I did to assist.

I wish you and the entire precinct the very best of luck, and hope you'll stay safe each day, Please contact Ms. Paula Haas at the numbers below if there are any issues or you need to contact me for anything, expect delays of up to a few days,

Thanks for Everything,

Castle

PS. When Beckett admits she has hit the wall with her case, have her look into the step-brother, I told her and got jeered out of the office by her and Demming but I'd bet you a case of your favorite spirits he is the man. Good Luck

He quickly addressed the envelope called the front desk and asked Eduardo to insure the courier service picked the letter up for delivery Monday to Roy Montgomery, signature required by him only upon receipt.

Checking the task list, he was almost complete, now he had to grab a quick shower and meet Gina at LeCirc in an hour. It was funny how little things would jog your mind, as he showered, he wondered how would the water pressure be in England, how was the housing, and would he really be happy there all alone. Well too late now, he had already gone too far to back out now.

Just as he finished dressing his phone pinged with an incoming text, it was from Paula, his new phone would be hand delivered tomorrow, one of the perks of being rich.

"Ricky, It's a GO for that certain BA, working on our itinerary now, Gina called me worried guess you two are having dinner, please watch yourself, you know how I feel about you, Not saying anything else, but remember we have a lot at stake,

Talk to you soon,

PH"

Of course, Gina would call Paula, but not for the reasons Paula thought, Rick knew Gina still loved him, Alexis and even Martha. He also knew that the failure of the marriage rested in his lap, no others. Gina at least deserved to know as much as he could tell her, she would be a nervous wreck regardless but hopefully this would help reassure her.

Rick arrived at LeCirc 10 minutes early, and Gina had already been seated, and was working on her first Mai Tai, guess she really did have a bad day today. As he walked toward her, he realized just how beautiful a woman she was. More than beauty, she was stunning. She spotted him from across their private room, and almost ran to him pulling him into a hug.

"Rick, level with me, I even swallowed my pride and called Paula, what the hell is going on, and are you sure you are well? PLEASE, if you loved me for even one second, please tell me the truth," as tears spilled from her eyes.

Rick takes her into his arms, and consoles her, neither spot the paparazzi at the entrance of their private entrance, and by the time he gets her to the table and consoled there are plenty of shots, including one where she is kissing him on the cheek and getting mostly lip.

"Gina, I swear to you, I am fine, Alexis and Mother are fine. I wanted to meet with you first to say I'm sorry, I never realized how badly I hurt you, and for that I ask you to forgive me. Next, Legal will be talking to you, and I di*"

"Rick, I don't give a damn about the books, Nikki Heat, real or fictional, legal told me you were severing your contract but no other details. I want you to know it was never about the books, it was always about you, and I'm sorry I've been such a bitch about your new love, I know I've made it harder for you, and I'm truly sorry."

"Hey, hang on, now You never made it harder, and you've never been a bitch, nag, yes bitch no" as her tears stop, and a smile crosses her face. "Second, there is no new love, Beckett is hooked up with a real cop from Robbery, so the story has found it's natural ending, see how that worked out, and you didn't bother it. It's me who has done things to drive you crazy, I'm sorry to make you call two or three times before I send the chapters, tha*"

"Unnecessary to talk to me, yeah, Alexis told me you had chapters done but held them back to make me call you, all you had to do was pick up the phone if you wanted to talk. I forgave you a long time, I can't say I stopped loving you because I didn't, and I won't apologize for it."

"When did you talk to Alexis? I mean you have every right too, she's your step daughter, and I*"

"Rick, you raised that young lady right, she picked up on one of my calls to you that I was very depressed, so she called me a few times, then invited me to lunch, well one lunch became a standing date and my shrink told me she helped me tremendously"

"Oh Gina, I feel like an Ass, I never knew, Alexis never said a word, I'm so sorry, I have hurt you again," Gina looks as tears pool in Rick's eyes, and she can't take his hurt.

"Hey, stop that, You weren't responsible for that, well not all of it Rick. I was pretty set in my ways so to say either of us were flexible would be overstating things. I'm sorry too Rick. I won't ask what you're doing, but please let me know you're OK, even through Paula, I will call her to find out your condition if I have to,"

"Alexis can update you, I'll give her the green light when I get home, and no I'm not angry she's seeing you, in fact just the opposite, I'm extremely proud of her. She loves you, and took the divorce very hard but I guess she couldn't talk about it with me, some Cool Dad I turned out to be eh?"

"Richard Castle stop that this minute, you may be a lot of things, one of those is the best damn father I have ever seen, your daughter loves you so much, how could I keep from loving her too. No piece of paper can break that Rick, and I'm thankful she reached out, she really called at a bad time, I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't had her to look forward to seeing each week."

"Well Gina, PLEASE know this has nothing to do with you, I need to go another route to, well I need to I*"

"Rick you can say it, you need to get Kate out of your heart, I wish you well. I love you still, God knows I tried to hate you, to dislike you, and finally not to feel so damn in love with you like some high school girl every time I see you.

I fume every time I see you with another woman, and before you ask, the women you are with for Black Pawn are controlled, either bribed or threatened if they touch you. I know how you must hurt, if as you say she has someone who has connected with her like God knows you tried."

"Yeah, I guess I really made an Ass out of myself sometimes, sometimes I wonder what the hell happened to my pride, I mean, what the hell does she have on me?"

"You're not the only one thinking that Rick, I tried to please you in every way, I really did, I mean I'm glad we weren't together when you met her, I don't think I could have taken being rejected for her"

"Hey, Gina, you know me, you know how I feel about cheating, and I promise you, I never did nor would I ever cheat on you, I know how badly that hurts first hand"

"Oh Rick, I'm so sorry, I forgot about Meredith, Please forgive me"

"Nothing to forgive Gina, as he kisses her gently, it was a long time ago, the hurt is gone, sometimes the anger flares back up then I have to remember, she gave me the greatest gift I could ever have, my pumpkin."

"Rick if you would let Alexis just let me know if you're happy or if there's anything I can do, God I'm gonna miss you so much and you haven't even left yet." As the tears pour out once again. Once again Rick consoles her, and the Paparazzi has moved to a better spot, this time capturing the kiss, even if it was brief, it was heartfelt between the two ex-spouses.

"I'll miss you too Gina, when I can I'll try to call you, it'll be a while I'm sure but I'll provide a burner cell to you via Alexis so when I call, it'll be between just us, there's a lot at stake for more than me in this.

For the record, I love you too, I just wish we had fallen deeper in love with each other, but I take responsibility for the marriage failing, that's on me. Please, it's late but I am sorry for all the hurt I caused you, please believe me."

"Rick, you don't have to tell me anything, but from the sound of your voice, and knowing you like I do, I take it you will be gone soon, am I right?"

All Rick could do was hang his head and nod,

"Can you do me one favor, please, can you spend the night with me, no monkey business as you call it, I just would love to be held by you once more, I understand if y*"

The kiss this time was more than accidental, it was intentional and answered Gina's question. They had their meals boxed to go, as Rick called the Car Service to take them home.

"The loft or your place? Where would you like to go?"

"Can we go to the Loft, one last time, the last time I was there I didn't leave on such good terms and I'm sorry."

As they enter the loft, the Paparazzi gets his last shots of the night, as Rick assists Gina out of the limo, kisses her on the cheek and walks toward the elevator with his arm around her, she responds by laying her head on his shoulder and wraps her arm around him as well.

Rick spots him but it's too late, "Gina, hate to tell you but we'll be in the paper tomorrow, I'm sorry"

"I'm not, Not in the least, but you better call Paula, she'll think I staged it in my plan to get you back," she smiles,

"I'll call her when we get upstairs," as they pause, this time the kiss is jointly initiated and neither seem to care about pictures, press or anyone else,

TBC

A/N Had a few reviews saying the story wasn't for them, Thanks for trying it, as I said it was a request, and I'm doing my best to make it what she wants. I will say this, be careful assuming you know how the story is going to play out, and as for the characters, I will remind you, this is AU, keep you hate for them in Canon please.