AN: Thank you for your reviews. I'm still insecure, but with your help I'm getting better, so it's great to see you like this story. I know this chapter it's shorter than the last 2, but I think it's better like this. I don't want to give you too much. Only joking

The next chapter is in progress and would be a little longer.

Here is the new chapter. Enjoy :D

CHAPTER 3

The Memorial weekend was approaching and he couldn't spend it in any other way than being at his beach house, so he made arrangements to go there even for a few days.

Rick was on his way to the loft to pack for the Hamptons, but the doorman of his building stopped him to give him his mail. An unsigned letter? That's odd. It could be a fan. Yeah, most probably a fan. When he got in his living room he opened the letter. It was from-Meredith?

It's been two years since he last heard of Meredith, and now she decides to send him a letter, really? Rick wanted to burn that letter but the curiosity got the best of him so he opened it.

„Dear Richard,

I know it's been a long time, but I really need to write this letter. I should have told you about this face-to-face but couldn't find the courage to do so.

I really hope you could forgive me for what I did to you and for what I am going to tell you. I need you to know that I really loved you, but couldn't imagine my life spinning around a baby. And I know I should have told you back then and we would have found a way to figure it out, but I got scared, and you know my life could not be like that.

What I really want to tell you is... Why is this so hard to put this into words? Richard, you have a daughter. She is around 1 year old. But I couldn't take care of her, so I gave her up to adoption. I couldn't come to your doorstep with a crying baby in my arms and tell you to take care of her. You would have thought I might want to be back in your life.

I found out I was pregnant 1 month and a half after I broke up with you and at first I thought the baby can't be yours, but when the baby was born I could tell it's yours. I just couldn't find the strenght to tell you.

You know I moved to LA to pursue my dreams, so probably you're asking at which adoption center I took our daughter. To answer your question: I had a few contacts back in New York, so her records should be at Alliance for Children Adoption if she was adopted. I hope you can find her, so she could have the family she deserves.

Probably you are wondering why I am writing you now, after all this time. I decided to move to London for my acting career, but firstly, I wanted to make amends with you and Martha. I know what I did was wrong and cruel, but at that time it was the best choice.

Please forgive me.

Meredith"

He forgot about packing, about Hamptons, the ocean, everything. The only thing he had in mind was: who gave Meredith the right to hide something so important from him? And she said it was the best choice she could make. But who asked him how he felt about this? Why she had to be a coward and hide his daughter from him? He needs to find her soon, but right now it was late at night, who could be at the adoption center to give him answers? The next hours are going to be the longest hours of Rick's life.

The first thing Rick did in the morning was to call his mother to tell her all about what Meredith did. Martha was shocked but wanted to know all about her granddaughter, so she met with Richard in front of the adoption center. To say they were both nervous is an understatement, but got into the building, each being the suport the other needed.

"Good morning, I am Richard Castle, I have an appointment."

"Yes, Mr. Castle. Good morning. Please take a seat, someone will come to get you."

Rick did as he was told, and he hoped it won't take long because he couldn't stay still for more than five minutes.

Two minutes later the cute receptionist (Linda? Was that her name?) guided him to Eric Crown's office.

"Good morning Mr. Crown. I am Richard Castle, and this is my mother, Martha Rodgers."

"Good morning Mr. Castle, Mrs. Rodgers . To what do I owe this early visit?"

"I will get straight to the point. My ex-girlfriend sent me a letter in which she told me she gave our daughter to adoption and I need to find her. I have the letter right here if you want to see it."

"Ah, I see. There is no need to show me the letter, I believe you. You didn't know about the pregnancy, right?"

"How-How did you know? It doesn't matter, I just want to find my little baby. The only thing Meredith told me is that my daughter is one year old. That's all I know about the baby."

"Can you tell me your ex-girlfriend's name to look into our database?"

"Meredith. Meredith Harper."

"I got it! She gave a girl to adoption, but the baby is not in the system anymore. Oh no-"

"What's wrong sir?"

"Well, it seems our servers were down for a while and can't find the people that adopted your daughter. I must give some calls and see if I can find something about this, but with our technical problem I am not so hopeful. I am really sorry Mr. Castle."

"So that's it? I won't find my daughter because of some damn servers?" Rick was angry. How could this happen to him?

"Richard, please calm down. It will do no goods to you or anyone else if you are going to be angry. I know this is upsetting you, but you need to be calm."

"How can I be calm, mom? I thought I would finally be happy after the last years by finding my baby, and now they don't even know where she is." The look of the little boy was in Rick's eyes again.

"We will find her Richard. Don't lose your hope."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I know you. You are stubborn and if you put something in that mind of yours, you will accomplish it. You must be patient and have faith."

Rick and Martha left the adoption center. Rick was more disappointed than ever and thought writing would help so he went to his favorite bar, The Old Haunt, where he wrote his first novel, 'In a Hail of Bullets' and Martha was meeting an old friend, so they parted ways.

When Rick arrived at The Old Haunt writing was his last thing in his mind. He went straight to the bar and ordered a glass of whiskey, and then another and another until he lost the count of glasses. The barman, Brian, was worried about him and asked if he can call someone to come and take him.

"I am capable to go on my one, thank you very much." He said, almost falling when he tried to stand. He left the bar feeling much worse than when he came. Why can't the alcohol wash the pain away?

'Maybe a walk through the park will do me good' thought Rick. In the middle of the park he saw a horse. Great, because of the alcohol he is imagining things now. But the horse seems so real. So, he approached the horse and decided to ride it. It was a lonely horse, and nobody would be hurt, right? He didn't saw the 'POLICE' marks on the horse and a few minutes after he took the horse, he was approached by a beautiful woman who showed him her badge.