Sorry this has taken so long to post, but I wasn't entirely happy with the original ending and was racking my brain for better ideas.

After getting so caught up in the spoiler season over the past few weeks, I realized I had gotten a little side-tracked from my writing. Oops.

It actually worked out well, though, as I opted to throw in some references to some of these spoilers, just for fun, and managed to work one possible one into the actual plotline here as well and decided that it would now solve my earlier problem!

I hope the chapter / scene works for all of you and that the ending has the intended impact that I was going for.

As always, reviews are most appreciated!

And now, FINALLY, the closing chapter:

Chapter Fourteen

The elegant room was filled with a barrage of well-dressed people, drinks in hand, as the steady murmur of conversation mixed with the soft music and radiated from wall to wall. A barrage of New York's elite, members of the publishing community, media personnel, excited Castle fans, and some familiar faces from the NYPD mingled together while the champagne flowed freely.

The author of the hour worked his way through the crowd, signing autographs and charming each of the guests that he stopped briefly to thank for coming. He scanned the room anxiously, finally catching the eye of his mother. Martha smiled at her son and tipped her glass of champagne towards him. Castle excused himself from the conversation and made his way over to her.

"Congratulations, Richard, this is quite a turnout." Martha said to him, beaming with pride.

Castle smiled. "Thank you, mother." He replied, looking around. "I thought Chet was joining you this evening." He questioned.

Martha sipped her drink and nodded. "Well, Alexis and I made plans to get ready together earlier, so Chet said he would meet us here." She frowned a bit as she glanced towards the main entrance. "Actually, he should have been here by now." She stated.

"Speaking of my darling daughter," Castle began. "Where did she run off to?"

As if on cue, Alexis joined them at their table. "Sorry, I was stopped by a couple of reporters on the way in." She stated, rolling her eyes at the thought.

Castle grinned. "Really?" He began. "Did they ask you what it was like to be the daughter of one of the most brilliant writers of our time?" He asked, smugly.

"As always." Alexis replied. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she continued. "So I told them they must have me mistaken for someone else, that I'm actually just Richard Castle's daughter." She finished, beaming as her father nodded in appreciation of her joke.

"Well played." Castle conceded, wrapping his arms around Alexis.

The young girl's cell phone emitted a playful beep and she opened it quickly. A smile spread across her face again. Castle looked over at her and cranked his neck trying to see what she was smiling at. Alexis pulled the phone away and began to type away on it.

"Ah, technology." Martha remarked with a disapproving tone in her voice. "You know, in my day, when we wanted to talk to someone, we talked to them. Nowadays it's all texting and emailing, a complete lack of personal connection."

Castle studied the smile on Alexis' face as she waited for a response on her phone. "Who could you possibly want to talk to right now more than us?" Castle asked her, mockingly.

Alexis' eyes darted between her father and grandmother. "Oh, just a friend that I met at Princeton." She replied.

Martha nodded her head in understanding and sipped her drink.

"And what is this friend's name?" Castle asked, somewhat accusingly.

After a brief pause, Alexis responded. "Ashley." She said, forcing a smile in the hopes of hiding the fear that was running through her.

Castle grinned, content with her answer. "Well, it seems like you two must have hit it off this summer. I'd like to meet her sometime."

Alexis looked over at Martha, who raised a knowing eyebrow at her granddaughter. As she opened her mouth to reply, a familiar voice pierced through the crowd.

"Rick!" Paula shouted as she bustled through the room towards Castle and his family.

Castle smiled at his agent. "Paula, you remember my mother, Martha, and my daughter, Alexis?" He said, motioning to the two lovely ladies in his company.

"Sure." She replied, brushing them both off just as quickly as she had arrived. "Listen, Rick, we need to talk business for a minute."

Castle took a deep breath and looked over at his mother and daughter. Both knew enough that this was their cue to leave.

Alexis was the first to speak up. "I'm just going to see if I can get better reception outside. Excuse me." She said politely as she hurried away.

"Yes, and I should see what's taking Chet so long." Martha added.

Castle smiled at his mother. "What happened to showing him that you aren't always just going to be waiting around for him?" He asked.

Martha laughed. "I spent all summer doing that, kiddo, and I realized I really didn't want to waste any more time playing games. Every moment counts, you know."

Castle nodded, a slight twinkle in his eye. "I know exactly what you mean, mother."

Martha tipped her glass towards him again before heading off towards the lobby.

Paula wasted no time getting down to business. "Well, Rick, you've really outdone yourself this time." She started. "Heat Wave was a huge hit for you, we're in talks to get you involved in the screenplay for the movie, and now Naked Heat is about to be released..."

Castle looked back at her, stunned. "Did you say 'screenplay'?" He asked, the shock written all over his face. "Paula, I've never written a screenplay before. And I'm having a hard enough time keeping up with my writing as it is." He started to say, stumbling over his words.

"Calm down, Rick, they don't want you to write the thing, just be involved in the process." Paula confirmed, putting Castle's mind at ease. "They want to stay true to your novel, so they want you to be involved in the rewrites."

Castle smiled. "I'd love that." He started, pausing with a concerned look crossing his face as he thought of something. "Would I have to go to L.A. to do that?" He asked.

Paula studied his expression before responding. "You'll be able to do all of it from home, for now, over conference calls and email and whatnot."

"Ah, technology." Castle replied, an approving tone in his voice.

Paula continued to watch his expression, knowing full-well why he was so hesitant to leave. "So where is she?" She asked, causing Castle to break his train of thought and turn back to her, confused. "Your inspiration?" She prodded, mockingly.

Just as Castle opened his mouth to respond, the crowd of reporters and journalists made a mad rush towards the entrance, cameras flashing and the conversation buzzing.

Kate entered the room, capturing the attention of just about everyone there, not only because she was easily recognized as the inspiration for Nikki Heat, but also because she looked absolutely stunning. She was sure she would never get used to all of this attention, and she blushed as she made her way slowly through the crowd, lenses and recording devices surrounding her. She stopped to talk to a few reporters and answered their questions as best she could. As much as she just wanted to get into the room and enjoy her evening out, she knew this was important for Castle and for his fans. She was, after all, one of them.

Captain Montgomery appeared by her side, helping to escort her away from the media and over to one of the tables in the room where they were greeted by Ryan, Esposito, and Lanie.

Castle watched, smiling, as the table full of his partners and friends seemed to be enjoying their night so far.

"Listen, just promise me one thing…" Paula's words snapped him out of his daze. "Promise me you won't screw this up." She continued, smirking.

Castle looked over at his agent, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Paula laughed. "I've known you for a long time, Rick. I was even at both of your weddings, remember?" She asked.

Castle nodded, not sure where she was going with this. "Yes, I remember. As I recall, the 'open bar' wasn't as open by the time you were done with it." He chuckled.

Paula glared at him before she continued. "As I was saying, I've known you for a long time. And I've never seen you look at another woman the way you've been looking at her ever since she walked in the door." She pointed towards Kate, a suggestive look in her eyes.

Castle smirked.

"So, like I said, Rick, don't screw this up." Paula added.

Castle looked over at his agent and laughed. "Are you getting soft on me, Paula?" He asked, amused at her sudden concern for his happiness.

Paula shook her head and chuckled. "Rick, you've written a bestselling novel that's being made into a movie now, with a second book about to be released to rave reviews, and two more on the way in this deal I landed for you." She grinned. "She's obviously one heck of a muse to you, and it's paying off for both of us." She paused, lightly slapping him in the chest. "So, one more time, don't screw this up."

Castle laughed as Paula walked away towards the bar. He looked over at Beckett and smiled.

"So, what do you guys think?" Castle asked as he strolled up to the table where the homicide team sat, laughing and enjoying their evening.

Lanie was the first to speak up. "You definitely know how to throw a party, that's for sure."

Ryan and Esposito nodded in agreement. "Yeah, bro, this is pretty sweet." Esposito stated.

"I could definitely get used to this life." Ryan added.

Montgomery raised his glass towards the writer. "Congratulations, Castle, it looks like you're about to have another bestseller on your hands."

Castle smiled. "Well, I couldn't have done it without you guys, so thank you." He replied. "Cheers" he added, raising his own glass and waiting for the rest of the team to follow along.

Once they were done with their toast, Castle quietly moved towards Beckett. She felt him gently place his hand on the small of her back and she tensed slightly, somewhat startled by it. Castle turned to her, almost whispering. "If you have a minute, I'd like to show you something."

Beckett nodded, her voice unable to find itself in that moment. Castle gestured towards the centre of the room and Beckett turned to walk with him. He led her to one of the tables filled with copies of 'Naked Heat.'

She grinned when she saw the book. "Yeah, I've seen it already. She's not even strategically holding a gun this time, Castle." She said, mockingly.

Castle frowned. "So I take it you're not going to be a fan of the posters then…" He replied.

"Posters?" Beckett's brow furrowed, her eyes almost burning into Castle's.

Castle shook his head, trying to change the subject. "That's not what I was going to show you, though." He recovered quickly. He reached for one of the copies of the book and opened it up to the first page, extending it towards Beckett.

She looked at the words on the page in front of her. To the incredible KB; my inspiration, my partner, my champion. May you always get what your heart wants.

Kate swallowed hard as she tried to keep her composure. Castle studied her expression, trying to see if the words she had read had affected her.

She smiled and he smiled at the sight.

Castle closed the book and set it back down on the table. Beckett looked over at him. "Castle, I…" She searched for the right words, still a little overwhelmed. "Thank you." It was about all she could muster and she immediately regretted that. He had such a way with words and she never seemed to know what to say herself.

"Well, I meant every word of it, detective." Castle replied.

Kate held his gaze, eyes locked as they inched closer, unknowingly and unintentionally.

Castle was the first to break the silence. "Listen, I was thinking…" He started.

Beckett chuckled softly and rolled her eyes. She knew what this usually led to and she wasn't about to fall for it again. Her brow furrowed when she realized their case was closed, wondering if maybe this I was thinking was going to end differently than the others. She looked back up at Castle as he continued.

"I know this may not be the best time or place." He began, suddenly seeming very serious. "But I just want you to know, no matter how long it takes…" He paused again, smiling when he remembered her words. "No matter how many rounds we have to go, no matter how many punches I need to take, I'm just going to keep standing in this ring, detective." He grinned.

Beckett swallowed hard, completely thrown by his words again. She hated that he had this effect on her, that he could render her speechless so easily. On the other hand, part of her loved it, lived for it. She tried to tell herself to stop standing there, to say something or do something, anything to let him know what she was thinking and feeling at that very moment. She opened her mouth to reply.

"Sorry to interrupt." Esposito chimed in, Ryan right beside him.

Beckett exhaled deeply as she broke away from Castle's gaze, turning to face the detective as she regained her composure again. As soon as she saw the look on Ryan and Esposito's faces, she knew something was wrong. "What is it?" She asked, the concern evident in her voice.

"We got a call from one of our uniform buddies." Esposito replied.

"A murder?" Castle asked, almost a little too excited.

Ryan shook his head. "Not exactly." He started, pausing as he tried to find the words.

Castle looked puzzled. "So why'd he call us?" He asked.

Beckett noticed the Ryan and Esposito's reluctance to speak up and knew something was very wrong. "Esposito, what is it?"

Esposito looked over at Castle and then Beckett before he replied. "It's your mother's boyfriend, Chet. There was an accident. He's in the ICU at the hospital." He paused, looking over at Castle. "I'm sorry, bro, he's in pretty rough shape right now, they don't think he's gonna make it."

Castle and Beckett both looked at Esposito and Ryan, then at each other.

Fade to black… roll credits… the episode is over.

Okay, so I know that's definitely not how Season Three will start, but it would have been interesting!

Thank you so much for reading and for all of your reviews, and hopefully I'll have time to get another story going soon enough!