Another Auld Lang Syne
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Based loosely on the song Same Auld Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg and incorporates scenes from Food to Die For. Beckett meets Brent Edwards at her HS Reunion, delaying Caskett if not derailing it completely. Also, we may take liberties with the events and timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, Warning THIS IS AU, with only brief flashes of Canon.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Previously
"You called me for Rick's phone number after three years Kate, is that correct?" Lanie's voice was even colder than before
"Yeah, Lanes, I just found out something and I need to explain things to him, so please, please, can you just give me his number?" Kate was almost begging
"I can't Kate," Lanie said with no change in her voice
"What, why Lanie, you know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important, so do I have to beg, Please?" Kate is begging now,
"I can't Kate, he asked me not to and that was over two years ago, so I guess if your important news waited this long it can wait till I talk to him and ask him to either call you or give you his number. I won't betray his trust Kate, not for you, or anyone"
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Chapter 3
Kate Beckett Apartment
New York,
Present Day
Kate was numb when she heard the dead phone line, she knew Lanie was pissed at her, but not this bad. She couldn't think of one time previously had she ever refused to help her; in fact, she was one of the biggest supporters for her to get together with him. She knew that Lanie was fierce, stubborn and as loyal as the day was long, so it was quite possible she wouldn't ever get Rick's contact information from her.
She looked at the letter once again, growing angrier at that two-timing bastard Brent. She should have remembered her Mom's old saying "Never give anyone a second chance to break your heart" if she had listened things would be different now.
Even worse, she had discovered the other woman, well the latest in the string of other women was none other than her good old friend Maddie Queller. Not only had she fucked up her life, but she felt somewhat responsible for the hurt Rick must have felt when once again a woman he was with dumped him for someone else. To her, this was Maddie-Brent Round Two, and there would be NO coming back from this.
FLASHBACK
She discovered his first affair within the first three months of their marriage, for someone who had cheated on every partner he had ever had he wasn't very good at it. It didn't take a lot of legwork to figure out the secretary accompanying him on his so-called business trips was his old girlfriend, he forgot he married a cop who had disposal to many tools. She was heartbroken, to say the least, but, since she made her bed, she was determined to work through it. He denied it at first till he finally realized he was busted and agreed to seek counseling with Kate to uncover the problem.
One month later, she came home earlier than expected and heard voices, she had inadvertently discovered his FaceTime call with a new conquest, except this female, wasn't exactly new, she knew the laugh the moment she heard it. She used the record app on her phone this time, and then quietly took up a position and filmed from her camera ensuring she caught a clear picture of Maddie, it helped with a 60-inch TV projecting her image. The evidence was presented to a friend the next day, and a restraining order along with a request for the disillusionment of their marriage was served to Brent the next day.
It was almost poetic justice when Esposito and Ryan got to serve the papers to him, and when he bellowed, he wasn't going anywhere, he was placed under arrest for attempted assault on a police officer when he pulled his arm from Espo's grasp. He mistakenly used his one call to phone the one person who wanted nothing to do with him, Kate. When he was pleading to get him out of holding, she simply hung up.
It was over, and she now realized what a fool she had been. All that was left now was the court fight, and it was a fight. Kate was awarded alimony, which he thought she would reject, but she accepted it, then promptly donated it to the Widows and Orphans fund charity. When Brent's employer was advised of the judgment against his wages, he was immediately terminated, and the last Kate heard was living in the basement of his Mother's home in Iowa, still accruing interest on the past due alimony.
PRESENT DAY
What had started out to be such an easy fix to an awful problem had turned into her worse nightmare. Even her best friend wouldn't betray the trust of Rick, so she had to think of another way, just in case Lanie or God forbid Rick himself would tell her to go pound sand. Rick hadn't ever been a vindictive person, but who knew what this had done to him. He was hurt about Deming, and according to Lanie was absolutely destroyed to hear the news of her and Brent.
She looked at the letter, Rick had gone through his attorneys for a reason, so that would be the place she would have to start, with Mr. Walter A. Austin, Attorney at Law, the law firm Rick had used. She knew he would never have entrusted this task to someone he didn't have total confidence in, probably a long-time acquaintance or longtime friend of the family. She did a quick web search and found an attorney with an address that matched the address on the letter, so she was now taking action to correct something that she was sure was very painful to Rick, perhaps even more than Maddie walking out on him.
She thought about a glass of wine but settled for a bottle of water as she sat on her couch, writing pad in hand ready to take the first step to hopefully get Rick to call her to discuss the issues. He was always fair, perhaps sometimes a bit sensitive, but fair, and she was praying that he remained that way, if his lawyer would forward the letter to him.
Dear Mr. Austin,
My name is Katherine (Kate) Beckett, and until 3 weeks ago I was married, my hyphenated last name was Katherine Beckett-Edwards. There has been a change in my marital status, and I am now legally Katherine Beckett once more. The reason I am writing this letter involves one of your clients, Mr. Richard Castle, AKA Richard Rogers, who I just discovered had attempted to set up a memorial scholarship fund in honor of my deceased Mother, Johanna Beckett.
I won't bore you with details, but my ex-husband was the architect behind all the correspondence blocking this action, WITHOUT my knowledge, perhaps a big reason why he is an ex-spouse. I found your last letter dated two weeks ago, the postal service finally forwarded my mail to the correct address, and I was shocked to read your letter of apology. It is I who apologize that such a kind and generous act by Rick would be thrown back in his face. Again, I had no knowledge of what my ex-husband was doing, but I assure you, I would welcome this should it be still available.
I wanted to reach out to Mr. Castle directly, but it has been almost three years since we spoke, and those possessing his phone number are honoring his wishes for privacy, which I totally understand. I am asking if you can forward this letter to him and ask him to please, please call me, text, or write, to this address should he not want to hear my voice. I need for him to know the truth, and to receive my heartfelt apology, I am truly sorry for the callousness of my ex-spouse, and if I could change things, I would do anything to do so.
I am also attaching my card, should Mr. Castle only want to call or correspond with me at my place of work, any arrangement that would suit him I will welcome. Please advise if he will accept this letter as soon as you know, as you can imagine, my emotions are all over the place, guilt, sadness, disappointment, and anger, so the sooner I can get this resolved, the sooner I can return to start re-building my life,
Respectfully,
Katherine (Kate) Beckett.
She sat and transferred the letter from the yellow legal pad to her stationary and began to cry. It was the last Christmas present Rick had bought her, and now could be carrying her final hope to touch base with him. She knew he would remember, he always did, not like most men, he truly cared.
A few tissues and only one page that had to be totally redone because of tears, Kate was awaiting the messenger service who guaranteed delivery tomorrow. Less than forty-five minutes later her doorbell buzzed, and there stood the messenger holding his ID to the peephole. One signature, a tip, and polite good night, and now the matter was out of her hands, all she could do was hope.
Xx
San Clemente, California
Via Escorial Drive
Casa Castle Estate
Same Time Period.
Rick had returned home after his visit with Roy and Evelyn Montgomery feeling recharged and much better about himself. It seemed that when he could make a friend happy, much of his own grief and sadness were pushed to the side, and if there was ONE happy man in New York, Roy Montgomery would be him. He was puzzled and, well if he were being honest hurt and confused with Beckett's make that Beckett-Edwards' action of late. It was almost as if he never knew her at all.
He had picked the one gift that he thought would touch her heart, perhaps allowing a peaceful exit from each other's lives since they had parted in such an abrupt manner. She left and never even said goodbye, and the next time he heard from her was when he received the wedding invitation in the mail.
He couldn't return to the precinct, first, there was Deming who was acting like an ass, telling all sorts of tales, then everyone else had heard of her reunion with the love of her life, her one and done. He didn't feel right about the case, so he spent the next few days by himself in his office until he figured it out. He called Roy as a courtesy and then sent his presentation via email; less than two days later Roy returned his call with a huge thank you, Case Closed.
When Alexis had decided finally that Stanford was it, he didn't hesitate, he called Gina and met with the brass of Black Pawn and his lawyers. Several hours later, Black Pawn was being transferred to a new LLC, owned as a subsidiary of REC Enterprises, and Gina Cowell was named the new Managing Editor. He didn't take pride in seeing people suffer, but he did enjoy the looks on the faces of the writers who had been just hanging around, knowing that their gravy train was over.
He had gone to Q3 to end things with Maddie and received the shock of his life when she said the restaurant was just sold, and she was coming with him if he would have her. It wasn't love between them, both knew it, but with great sex, they had to admit, it wasn't bad either.
He had fallen into a comfort zone with Maddie, who seemed to never tire of the physical touch, and often was the one who instigated it. Perhaps the timing of her note was what shocked him the most, they had just enjoyed a marathon weekend of mind-blowing sex, and he thought things were going well, growing fonder of her each day. Then he returned from a meeting to find the letter, and once again the same old pain came to his heart, rejected once again, not good enough.
After reading the first few lines he hadn't bothered to read the remainder of the letter, what good would it have done? She was gone, he was alone, and once again, even as rich as he was, his heart was bruised if not broken. He had placed the letter from her with the notices from Beckett's wedding, and promotion to Captain, all hurtful reminders of lost opportunities, If Only. After his visit to New York weeks later, he was ready to face reality, including reading the letter as well as what Paula had sent to Beckett as her congratulations and best wishes packet for her wedding.
He opened the bottom right desk drawer, used a small key on his key fob ring, and opened a separate section of the drawer where he kept his most private thoughts, papers, and memories of days gone by that were reserved just for him. He had always been careful not to show any of it to Martha or Alexis, it was almost like his sanctuary where he came to forgive himself of his unworthiness.
It had to be him, why else would every relationship he ever had cumulate in tragedy, so perhaps he was meant to be alone. Sometimes loneliness is the better choice than heartache, he thought, it could always be worse the optimistic side of him thought, although he didn't know how.
He pulled the small chest out, and opened it slowly, to retrieve the letter and Paula's notes to Beckett, not relishing what was in store for him, but knowing he had to face the past if he ever had a chance for any future. Gina had drilled him on that, if she could move forward with her life, he could as well.
The first document he picked up was the letter from Maddie, dated almost three years ago to the day now. Oh, what the hell he thought, rip the band-aid off and get it over with, as he opened the pages that he had not seen since the day she left. He began to read, more for his own sake than anything else, he knew where she went and why by now, but he was curious to see how truthful she had been with him when she left.
"Dear Rick,
First, let me say how sorry I am for being such a coward and not telling you this face to face, I know it will hurt you, and that's one thing that I am having problems accepting. I know if I look into your eyes and see your pain, I won't be able to go through with this, so it's better for us both this way, even if it is cowardly.
First thank you for caring for me, and trying your best to show me the love I know you still have for Kate if she knew what I did she would be on the first plane running to you begging for you to take her back. Life doesn't work that way, we both know it, but we also know as you put it, 'the heart wants what the heart wants' and Rick I am still in love with someone else.
He is nothing like you, in fact, he's a player, a liar, a cheat, but God help me I can't help myself, I still love him, and I must give it one last shot. The worse part of this entire mess is I know I am hurting two of the best people to ever come into my life when you finish the letter you will understand. Please know, I really did enjoy our intimate sessions, no one has ever taken me to such heights, or cared about my physical feelings during intimate sessions before, and I will treasure the memories we made. I wish I could bottle your techniques; it would make us both millionaires, well me one, you a larger one.
I know I pushed my way into your life, and I won't say I'm sorry for that. The time we spent together will always be one of my fondest memories, you were more than I could have ever hoped for, or even dreamed about. I can't tell you how proud I was to be seen with you or to hear "that's Richard Castle's girlfriend", it made me so very proud you would accept me. I know Kate marrying Brent so quickly really hurt you, and I hoped that I could take just some of that pain and loneliness away from you.
Now for the hard part Rick, you always told me the truth, a trait I learned from you, honesty even if it hurts is better than living a lie, so here it comes. The man I am going to be with is Brent Edwards, and yes, he and Kate are still married, technically. She has caught him in extra-marital affairs already, but to her credit, she tried to work it out.
He called me after they returned from the honeymoon to thank us for the gift, well that was his pretense, and one thing led to another, and we have had communications since then, although I have NOT been physical with him, yet. I can't live a lie, living with you, loving him is not healthy for any of us.
I know Kate knows of us, and now you do as well, so I will ask your forgiveness, as I say thank you and goodbye. I never wanted to hurt you or Kate, but I know I have. I am truly sorry for this, please believe me. I hope that in time you and Kate can forgive me for following my heart, even as misguided and screwed up as it sounds today. Goodbye Rick, I wish you love, and happiness, you gave me the world and I'll never forget it or you,
Maddie,
Rick's hands were trembling when he finished the letter, even though it was old news and he had heard that Kate was once again a Beckett, he didn't want to know any of the details. She must have been destroyed by this, round two of the deceit of her two best friends, this time they couldn't plead it was a high school event and we were kids. They both were adults and knew the hurt they were causing but did it anyway.
He had heard of Maddie only once since she left, apparently, Brent wasn't capable of being true to anyone and they lasted less than 3 months. She appeared on a national TV Show looking for romance, although she hadn't won, had enough offers to sort through from others. Where she was or who she was with didn't concern him now, his heart relived the hurt, not for himself but for Kate who had believed in love so deeply this had to have crushed her.
Reading about her promotion, it all made sense now, when her personal life was in the crapper, she turned to her work, old habits were hard to break which made her the successor to Roy. He knew her well enough to know she was deeply hurt and embarrassed, and he struggled about what he should do if anything. Hell, it had been almost three years now, so what good would it do. Just as he finished that thought his cell phone rang,
"Castle" he barked into the phone,
"Rick, this is Walt Austin, we need to talk"
TBC