Disclaimer: "Castle" is owned by Beacon Pictures, Experimental Pictures and ABC Studios. This work is for entertainment purposes only and no copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: For this visit, since I've been setting this story during season five of GG and "Castle" did not begin until 2009, these events take place pre-series for that show when Rick Castle was still writing Derek Storm novels.

Cooking up a Storm

When the tall man walked in Lorelai gasped. "Michel, look who it is!"

Just as Michel looked up, the man flashed a bright smile and introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Rick Castle. I have a reservation."

"No way!" She elbowed Michel. "See?"

Michel rolled his eyes as he worked on the computer. "I don't have a reservation for a Rick Castle," he replied coolly.

Lorelai looked over at the screen and pointed. "Michel, it's right there. Richard Castle."

"There? Oh, silly me," he uttered sarcastically. "It seems that I'm just supposed to read this gentleman's mind when he doesn't provide me with his legal name."

Lorelai, hands on her hips stared at him for a moment as if he were from another planet. "Don't you know who this is?" She gestured wildly to the man in front of her. "This is Richard Castle."

Rick beamed at her. "You've heard of me?"

"I've read all your books, Mr. Castle. So has my daughter, Rory." She knew she was becoming a gushing fangirl, but she didn't care. "So, any plans for a new one?"

He gestured to the laptop bag on his shoulder. "That's why I'm here. You know, get away from the distractions in the big city so I can really focus on writing."

"Well, we are honored to have you here at the Dragonfly."

"Speak for yourself," Michel muttered as he tapped his foot impatiently. He gave Rick Castle a pointed look. "We will need a credit card to check you in."

"Oh, yes," Rick gave him an apologetic look as he reached for his wallet.

"You know, Michel, I think it's about your break time." She clapped him on the back. "Why don't you go take it now and I'll finish checking Mr. Castle in?"

"I have already taken my break," Michel protested.

"Michel," she gave him a warning look.

He let out a huff and said, "Fine. I will go."

"So...new book?" Lorelai questioned after Michel was gone and she reached for the card in Rick's outstretched hand. "What are you gonna' call this one?" She swiped his card and handed it back to him.

"Well, actually-" he began as he put his card away, but was interrupted by Lorelai's exuberance.

"Storm Cellar, Blinding Storm-"

"Ooh...now, there's a thought. I could have Derek Storm suffer from hysterical blindness. That would be a twist I haven't used yet. To be honest, I don't have a title for this one at the moment, but if I think of one before I leave, I'll let you know."

"Well, you're all checked in. You're in room seven, top of the stairs." She handed him his key.

"Lucky number seven," he crooned. "I can feel my writer's block slipping away already. I just met you and I already feel like I'd follow you blind through a storm at midnight." He started for the stairs, but then turned and added, "Oh, and I'd appreciate if you didn't let anyone in town know I was here."

"Will do," Lorelai promised. Once he was out of sight, she quickly picked up the phone and dialed her daughter's cell. "Rory, you will never believe who just checked into the inn."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Several hours later, Lorelai descended the stairs after checking on the housekeeping staff to find Luke at the bottom of the stairs, toolbox at his feet. "You get that banister all fixed up?"

Luke looked up from his task. "I just started on it."

She blinked in confusion. "But you got here an hour ago."

"I was going to get to it right away, but then Michel handed me a whole list of stuff that needed done. He does realize that I don't work for you, right?"

"No, you just work IT for me," she teased.

He rolled his eyes. "Well, then did you realize there's a guy in your dining room that's been sitting there forever?" He waved an arm at the doorway of the dining room. "At least he's been there the whole time I've been here and Sookie was out here a minute ago with that...look. You know the one."

"Yes, I knew he was there. That's Richard Castle."

"The mystery writer? The one who writes all the Derek Storm books?"

"One and the same." She nodded excitedly. "He's working on his newest book."

"Then what's Sookie so bugged about? You'd think it would be good for you to have a famous guy like that here, especially working on his book. You can say something like 'Come stay at the Dragonfly where Storm of the Century was written...or something. Might drum up more business for you."

"That title's already taken by Stephen King and he'd kick my ass if I used it," Rick interjected from the dining room.

Both heads turned to look at him. "You know Stephen King?"

Rick shrugged. "Sure. He's one of my poker buddies."

"Well, I'd better go talk to Sookie and calm her down." Lorelai walked through the dining room and into the kitchen. "Hey, Sook. What's going on?"

Sookie immediately flew at her flailing her arms wildly. "That...that man out there has been sitting there taking up space in MY dining room for the better part of two hours ordering nothing but...coffee!"

"Sookie, you gotta' calm down."

"No, no, no. I can't calm down. I just got my lunches back. I can't lose them again."

"Sookie, you're not gonna' lose your lunches again. Mr. Castle is a guest of the inn and he's here to work on his new novel."

"Oh no!' Sookie cried. "Oh, God, it's Norman Mailer all over again!"

"Well, would that be so bad? I mean, yes, we had to put the lunch menu on hold when he was here, but you also found out you were pregnant then too."

"Oh, God! What if I find out I'm having twins? Jackson would freak out. He's already doing that freaky thing with the calculator again."

"Sookie!" She grasped her friend by the shoulders. "Sookie, listen to me, everything's fine. You're not having twins, you're not losing your lunches, and this could be really good for our business if word gets out that he wrote his newest bestseller here, okay?"

"Okay, okay."

"Now, I'm gonna' go out there and see if Mr. Castle needs anything. Are you gonna' be okay?"

"I'm okay." Sookie nodded. At seeing the panic leave her friend's eyes, she returned to the dining room to find him typing furiously.

"You doing okay, Mr. Castle?"

"Mm-hmm," he mumbled, his mind lost in the words on the page.

"Come up with a title yet?"

He let out a sigh and looked up at her. "Not yet...though I'm still thinking about your Blinding Storm."

"Or you could do Kick up a Storm...maybe Derek Storm gets his ass kicked. Or Storm in a Teacup...maybe he..." She paused as she thought for a moment. "...uh...takes a trip to Disneyland."

Rick shook his head. "No. I don't think so."

"But what if there was a murder at Disneyland?"

"The happiest place on earth? Uh-uh."

Lorelai thought some more. "Uh...Storm Clouds...Storm Window."

"What could I possibly do with Storm Window?"

"Maybe someone throws him out of one?"

"Nah." He scratched his head as Sookie entered from the kitchen.

"Mr. Castle, I was just wondering," Sookie began nervously as she tried to keep her calm. "Are you gonna' be here much longer?" When Lorelai glared at her, she added, "Oh, I mean it's fine if you are, but it's just that, well, dinner's going to be starting soon and I...uh...I'll need to know if the table is going to be free or if you're going to be eating dinner or..." She fidgeted. "'Cause you know, I'm the chef here."

"And co-owner," Lorelai reminded her.

"Oh, right. I always forget that part, but you know, that's probably because I'm always in the kitchen...you know, just cooking up a storm."

"That's it!" Rick shouted.

"What's it?"

"Cooking up a Storm. That's what I'll call my new book."

"Really?" Lorelai questioned. "After all the suggestions I gave you?"

"Yes, it's perfect! I've always wanted to write one set in a restaurant where some grisly thing happens with the Cuisinart or one of those big industrial ovens." He began typing again. "Yes, this will work!" He then looked up at Sookie and asked, "So, you said something about dinner? That sounds great! I'm famished after all this writing."

"Well...uh...it...uh won't be ready to serve for at least another hour," Sookie stammered nervously.

"No problem," Luke chimed in as he entered the room, toolbox in hand. "I was just getting ready to head back to my diner to get ready for MY dinner rush. You're welcome to tag along. Some of us serve food whenever people want it." He gave Sookie a pointed look.

"Diner, you say? You know, I could use a good, thick, juicy burger. Brain food." He packed up his laptop and slung the bag over his shoulder. "Lead the way."

"You're leaving?" Sookie pouted.

"Well, you wanted me out of your dining room. Presto!"

"It really is Norman Mailer all over again," Sookie pouted as she made her way back to the kitchen.

"You know, I think I'll go with you," Lorelai chimed in "I haven't had my dinner yet either and Luke makes the best burgers." She linked her arm with Luke's free one and the trio headed out.

When they reached the town square they were all startled by the blaring of trumpets, followed by Taylor's voice on a loudspeaker. "Stars Hollow would like to welcome bestselling novelist, Richard Castle!" He waved his arm in a grand, sweeping gesture at Rick.

Luke, disgusted by the parade up Main Street blocking the entrance to the diner, stomped up the steps of the gazebo where Taylor stood and demanded, "Just what the hell is going on here?"

"Well, Luke, it's not every day that we have someone as famous as Richard Castle visit Stars Hollow. We need to revel in this moment and celebrate it."

"Why don't you just revel your ass on back to the market and get that..." He gestured wildly to the fanfare in front of the diner. "...circus out of the way of my restaurant!"

"Did you tell anyone I was here," Rick hissed in Lorelai's ear.

"Just my daughter, but she doesn't live here. She's at Yale." When Rick glared at her, she responded, "What? You just told me not to tell anyone in town and she isn't in town."

"Well, did you tell her not to tell anyone?"

"Apparently not because she called Lane," Taylor explained "And Lane told her band and Gil told Mrs. Cassini and you know how those things go." He stepped down from the gazebo, approached Rick and vigorously shook his hand. "We are so honored to have you here. I'm Taylor Doose, Town Selectman and I own the market and the soda shop and I have it on good authority that you have chosen our humble town as the place to write your newest novel."

Looking at Taylor's swaggering posture and the fanfare surrounding him, he responded dryly, "Yeah, I can see just how humble it is. But I'm thinking this just might not be the right place to quietly write, after all."