Ladies and Gentlemen do you know what this is? If you guessed a new chapter of Glass Slippers you would be correct. Its about the right length and everything. I thought the last few chapters were a bit Beckett central and I think the next one will be to so I thought I'd let you know what's going on with Rick. Reviews are really the only way an author know if people are even reading her work let alone liking it so even if you hate it, just give me a shoutout please.

Enjoy 3

To Kyra Blaine, you make the stars shine.

Rick read the dedication for the umpteenth time and his heart still flipped over. He handed the book back to the squealing groupie, who offered a smouldering look before turning to head back out the door of the bookstore.

As yet another copy of his second and famously successful novel, A Rose for Ever After, was thrust into his face, he plastered on charmingly fake, trying desperately not to think of Kyra. It was growing more and more difficult when he was forced to sign his love letter to her over and over again. Trust his new agent to book at least a dozen signings right around the one-year anniversary of their parting.

Yes, sadly, it had been a year since Kyra had left for England, and he still had not gotten up the courage to call her. He constantly had to remind himself that she wanted space, and thus, he couldn't talk to her until she talked to him. He was so upset, he was this close to calling his mother to ask for advice, but not just yet.

It was the oddest sensation, to have his heart thrust in his face every thirty seconds, needing to pretend he was charming the ladies before him instead of thinking about a certain brunette.

Unfortunately, thoughts of Kyra always somehow led to thoughts of Alison and their brief affair together. He couldn't explain it. He had only known Alison for six hours, and yet she constantly consumed his thoughts. For the longest time after he realized that he couldn't find her anywhere , he started to think that he had simply made her up in a drunken fit.

Then he would find that diamond stud and his heart would skip a beat. The thought of that earring resting in a box in the back of his carry-on bag brought a smile to his eyes that almost became sincere in the face of adversity. He always brought the earring with him and, for some unexplainable reason, it always made his trips a little lighter. Maybe he was subconsciously hoping that he would randomly meet her at an airport and they would reconnect. Maybe he just liked to hold on to that particular memory – before all of this drama with Kyra.

And his thoughts returned to Kyra.

What was it about these two women that just pulled the noose of miserable love tighter around his neck? Maybe it was a brunette thing. Well, if that was the case, he decided, he was done with brunettes. Never again would he love a brunette; obviously they were just put on this earth to make him miserable. With a new resolve, Rick plastered a tight smile on his face, determined to get out of autograph session as quickly as possible.

"And who should I make this out to?" How many times had he asked that question?

"Meredith." Something in the woman's voice caused him to look up and all he received was a handsome eyeful of creamy cleavage. Not bad. But what grabbed his attention were the sparks of shiny red hair flowing around a very sultry-looking face. She's attractive, he decided; attractive enough. She had the look of a diva – a red-haired diva – and for a fleeting moment, he wondered if this was what his mother had looked like when she was younger. Perfect; just what I need right now. A nice little one-night stand to get me through the week.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Meredith." His smile almost seemed genuine.

Five months Later...

"Rick."

He looked up as he heard the distraught voice coming from the bathroom of his new home. Shortly after publishing A Rose For Ever After, he had decided to splurge on himself and buy a downtown loft. A week later, he had met Meredith and now she was spending more time there with him than at her own apartment – which he suspected had run out its lease.

The loft was wonderful; it had all the right modern accommodations and a wonderful view of the city. Perfect for a writer in the prime of life – one part brood, one part woo, two parts very expensive. At least it would be. Before Meredith practically moved in, the only other person who had been to the loft was his mother, and he was not about to advertise that. As soon as Meredith grew tired of sleeping with him – which he figured would happen eventually – he was going to have to fill the loft to the brim with beautiful women.

It's not that he didn't like Meredith – he truly did – but they were starting to get into a routine. Sex; that was their routine. Honestly, it wasn't a bad routine with a woman like Meredith. But sometimes… you just want more. He doubted their sex could ever become boring as long as they found new places to do it, but a man can dream, right? He had no desire to settle down when he was the peak of sexual age. He certainly wasn't complaining but… maybe he was missing something that he could have had with someone else.

"Rick?"

His thoughts were again interrupted by the sound of his girlfriend's voice from the doorway of the main floor washroom. He looked up from his notebook to see Meredith, completely naked and with pure fear in her eyes, holding a tiny white stick. It took him a moment to squint at the object in her hand before realization kicked him the nuts.

"Meredith, is that - ?"

"I think I'm pregnant," she blurted before he could finish his thought.

He simply stared at her for a moment before he released the air he had been holding in a breathy laugh. "That's funny; you're not pregnant," he informed her. "You can't be; we're always careful."

Meredith didn't seem offended by his denial – probably because she had gone through the same mantra in her head several times before it had really sunk in. "The one time we actually did it in a bed, we didn't use protection." She shrugged, waiting for him to catch up. It was longer than she had anticipated, and the waiting was killing her. "Rick, say something," she requested quietly, not daring to move.

"Marry Me."

She froze. "What did you say?" She remained in her stance of complete confusion and shock as Rick suddenly stood from his spot and stalked towards her.

"Marry me, Meredith."

He was so close she could feel his breath on her lips – that intoxicating scent of him filing her nostrils and clouding her judgement. "Okay," she breathed. Rick stared down at her as though they had only just met. Had they both just said that? He suddenly felt so vulnerable under her adoring gaze; so naked. He almost laughed at the irony of it all. He suddenly looked her up and down in a mix of wonderment and stunned disbelief. He had always admired how comfortable Meredith was with her body. It made him feel more attractive just because she was so outgoing and adventurous with him.

Now suddenly she was staring up at him expectantly, waiting for him to make a life-altering decision at the drop of a hat, and he had said the first thing that came to mind. He certainly hadn't expected her to accept. Maybe he was wrong to think Meredith was only dating him for his money. He remembered the way she used to hang on his arm when they first started dating. suddenly recalling how she had become less and less clingy. At first, he wondered if it was because she was starting to lose interest. Maybe she had finally understood that his writer persona was just an act. Yes, that was it. Meredith was different from all of those girls who thrust their chests in his face.

Meredith was carrying his child.

As Rick stared at his reflection in the mirror, he absently muttered for whoever had knocked on his door to enter. He heard more than saw his mother pause and admire him with astonishment from the doorway before entering and heading straight for his crooked tie.

Today was the day. The day he was going to take the big step and get married. The big 'one and done'. But why did that sound so daunting?

"Oh here, Richard, let me." Without further prompting, Martha Rogers began to primp her son in anticipation of his big day. She combed her fingers through his hair – though it did little to help – and adjusted his tie so many times she had lost track. Needing something to keep her busy, she tied and retied it at least four times before Rick brought his hands up to gently grab her hands.

"I'm nervous, too, Mother." He spoke gently, without revealing the dread he felt. Knowing that she was still feeling anxious about the whole affair, he allowed her to fix his tie a fifth time as they spoke.

"I'm not nervous." She shrugged, not meeting his eyes. "I'm terrified. My only son is getting married to a red haired bimbo who - "

"Hey, now," he teased. K He knew there was nothing to be done for the instant dislike his mother and his future bride had for each other. "That is the mother of my child you're talking about."

"Notice how you didn't say 'the woman I love'."

"Mother, that's uncalled for." He hated more that she was right than the fact that she had said it out loud. "You know how I feel about Meredith. And no matter how you two may feel about each other, I am marrying her today and that is final." He didn't even sound convincing to himself there was no way that had convinced the actress in the family.

"Richard Castle," she scolded exasperatedly, "you and I both know that you are not madly in love with this woman. The only reason you are doing it now is because you want your unborn child to have what you never got from me: a family. And you've every right to want it for your child; but I don't want to you to regret this later on."

Rick sighed, unsure how to answer her without admitting that maybe she was right. Finally, he took the desperate way out. "How did it get like this, Mother? How did I become like this? Before I was Richard Castle the novelist, I was just Rick, the carefree guy who was just trying to get through college. Then I get a whiff of money and I turn into… this." He waved his hands over his chest to indicate himself. "What happened?"

Martha looked up at her son and smiled. After a long moment, she said, "You know, I don't believe that money changes people. I believe that it simply magnifies their personality. You may be immature and irresponsible at times."

"Gee thanks," he muttered exasperatedly at her.

She slapped his chest to silence him and allow her to finish. "But look at what you're doing today. You're putting on the old ball and chain for the love of someone you've never even met. You're a good man, Richard Castle, and while I may not believe in all of your choices, I believe in you. And that's enough for me to put on a smile and pretend to love your future wife." With the first hint of sincerity he'd donned in what seemed like ages, he pulled his mother into a one armed hug as they examined their reflection in the mirror: a mother and her son on the threshold of breaking apart forever. They had never looked so content. After a moment, he turned to her.

"Well, I'd say it's about time to get this party started." He offered his arm to her. "May I escort you to your seat, Madame?" With a loving smirk, she threaded her arm through his as he opened the door and they walked into the crowded church together.

Forever was going to be an awfully long time.