I'll Still be Loving You
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Thisis my AU version SEQUEL to Dinner Date, Please read that before starting this. This story picks up without any time lapse and continues with Kate and Rick as they forge ahead as a Couple and concludes the story arc started when Rick left suddenly.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 15
Previously
"Begging your pardon Doctor, I'm Cricket and I have a friend who is an OB/GYN at St. Bartholomew's in London. Her name is Doctor Kate Harris, and she's been published."
"You are friends with Dr. Harris, I know of her work and have met her at a few seminars, so if Ms. Beckett approves we can co-op on his during the time you are away. I would like you home at the start of your 7th month without fail, just to avoid any pitfalls." Dr. Manning said smiling
Kate is beaming with joy, fully expecting to be missing her Husband to be once again, but now to hear she was going, she was delighted.
"I'll call Dr. Harris and let her know the plan, if she is too busy I am sure she has an associate who can watch over things till you are home Kate, so enjoy London, and please remember to follow the instructions for your supplements and pre-natal vitamins"
"Rest Assured, Doctor Manning she's in good hands and she can't just bat her eyes at me and get away with things like she does my Dad" Alexis laughed,
"Great, Alexis, Call me with any sign of trouble or if there is any mix-up with Dr. Harris, have a great trip all", and she was out of the office on to her next patient.
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Two Weeks Later
GREYBROOK HOUSE
London England
Once the doctor cleared Kate to travel Cricket had booked flights for the four of them to leave the following week, immediately after Kate's check up with Doctor Manning. She had gained 3 pounds, so the doctor was pleased. Kate had gorged herself on milkshakes to gain the weight, fearful that the doctor would put a stop to her travels. She had been away from her man long enough, she needed to be next to him, every minute she could.
The flight had been uneventful, and Cricket had been a doll, assisting in getting appointments setup with Dr. Harris. They had just returned from her first visit and she was thrilled she was able to see such a popular doctor, even if it did seem strange that the office that her fiancé, step daughter, and good friend Cricket accompanied her.
Dr. Harris turned out to be a huge fan of Rick's, and promised to keep her notoriety on the down low, she wasn't sure who was more happy, herself, or the doctor when she found she would be taking care of her favorite author's wife to be and unborn child. She had given Kate and Cricket her personal mobile number as she called it, unheard of by any standard Cricket told her later when it was just the two of them.
"Kate, Dr. Harris is totally smitten with you and Rick, I have never heard or seen of a physician, especially one of her caliber give out her personal number like that" Cricket smiled,
"Really, more with Rick than with me, I'm sure Cricket, he has legions of fans all over the world, and I'm just a s*"
"You're just the woman he loved so much he ran 3000 miles away from everything he loved to assure that he wasn't in your way of happiness, now Kate, even I know that isn't something that happens in the real world."
"You're right Cricket, I know he loves me, but sometimes it's just scary, what if I'm not enough for him, I mean I'm going to get fat, and bloated, and all hormonal, not that I wasn't a big enough bitch to him before, who could blame him for leaving"
"KATE, you know what kind of man he is, I tried something very stupid when we first met, I'm ashamed to admit it now, but I tried everything, and I mean everything to get him in my bed.
He didn't budge, and it wasn't Gina he mentioned when he told me, no thanks. He said he was here to mend a heart, not break another. He knew I was in about as bad a place as he was and refused to take advantage of the situation.
He told me during a late session he was sorry, the old Rick would have jumped at the chance, I think he said and your bones, not sure what that meant but anyway it was the first time he mentioned you. He just said, As long as Kate is happy, I can do this, it's not forever then I'll go back to my old life before her knowing she found her one and done."
I hated you then, never met you, but I hated you for hurting this sweet man. He was always thinking about others, so I thought what kind of woman doesn't want that kind of attention. Then I came to New York, and I witnessed your love, you proved to me you put him before everything else and I told him to follow his heart like he told me.
Anyway, I wanted you to know before you heard, yes, I threw myself at Rick, but No, nothing happened and I thanked him later for not taking advantage of the situation. He just said, it was Karma he was betting on, hoping his little girl would have the same favor someday."
Kate was very quiet, looked away then pulled Cricket into a long hug.
"Thank you for taking care of him, and I knew you tried something, he told me everything when we first got together. I was very worried, here you're young, beautiful and well have the assets most men look for, so I was threatened."
"It's funny you call these assets, (holding her breasts for a second) actually they are a curse. You never know if a man is in love with you, or just got cut off from Breast Feeding too early and longs to go back" she said dryly, as Kate burst out laughing.
"Well, you seem to have gotten the screening process down pat," As they both laugh,
Lord Barrow Office
Fox Run Publishing
Monday the following week
Rick and Cricket had worked the remainder of the week preparing for the launch meeting, and as Cricket suggested Kate and Alexis took advantage of the good days, before morning sickness took over, to shop and go visit museums. Their daily excursions seem to bring them closer together if that were possible. Little Castle was even more protective than Big Castle, insuring no one or thing came near her Mom to bump or jostle her.
Rick had pitched the idea he and Cricket finalized, the title of the new book was Final Chances, where Marta came back into Bond's life admitting that she still loved him and had made a mistake in leaving him. The case centered around a series of museum thefts, conducted in bold daylight, and suspected to be carried out by a French Art Thief, known for his cockiness.
Lord Barrow loved the idea, and it would add some closure to the series of three books Rick had written, the tie to the first would surely increase sales and revenue.
"Rick, we love the idea, and think it would tie the series together, just one question. The donations to the Human Trafficking effort has done so much good, we were wondering if we could also ask for a similar effort to another cause?"
"Well, actually I do. I would like to recognize those pregnant women around the world without healthcare, and a special nod to the babies born with cleft palates, which is easily repaired in most cases. We could call it project Smiles. Women who are about to become Moms would go to any extremes to protect and provide for their children, let's make it a little easier. I'll increase my share to 10% and I don't expect you to match that, bu*"
"It's matched Rick, now let's go make another smash, Good Luck and Cricket, keep me apprised please as you always do."
"Yes Sir, always a pleasure to do so Sir." She replied with a smile.
In the car on the way back home, Rick observed that Cricket wasn't her normal bubbly source.
"Cricket, is everything OK, I mean things are good, I have a surprise, I have half the book written already." He smiled, and noticed the sigh of relief, coming from his young assistant.
"That's Fab Rick, actually it helps me tell you what I've been dreading for weeks now, I'm leaving LB. and the firm in 6 weeks, I'm sorry I couldn't give you more notice." She almost cried
"Leaving? Why Cricket? Did we do something to offend you or hurt you?" Rick asked perplexed,
"No, no nothing like that Rick, your family, well my family is everything to me but I've been corresponding with my ex-husband, it seems he's turned his life around and wants another chance to make a go of it. He's also arranged financing for a small publishing house, similar to the one we had before it all went south as you would say." She breathed a sigh of relief, now that Rick knew,
"Cricket, I don't want to rain on your parade, God knows I have jumped into bigger dreams, but are you sure, I mean you've just seen him a few times, and now all of a sudden he has money to buy a publishing company, Sorry but that sounds just a bit on the odd side to me" Rick said politely,
A look of anger came across Cricket's face, a look Rick had never seen before and the words came off her lips in a tone so full of acid it would have melted metal, "I didn't expect you to be happy Rick, but can you put your own needs aside just for a moment, give me this, please, my last shot at happiness. You found yours with Kate, why can't I find mine?"
"Cricket, I didn't mean to upset you, I'm just looking after you, just like you did for me, I mea"
"I think it best if we just let this go back to a work relationship Mr. Castle, I gave notice two weeks ago to LB., my replacement should be in place in two weeks so I have a month to train them." She doesn't look at him, but she is angry, too angry to see the crushed look on Rick's face as he replied,
"Very Well Katherine, so it shall be" Rick said quietly
Kate knew something was wrong the moment Rick walked into the room,
"Babe, what's wrong didn't they like the book idea?" Kate asked as she was up and, in his arms,
"No, they loved it actually, in fact they asked for another charitable cause, so I chose Operation Smile, and healthcare for uninsured pregnant women, and raised the percentage to 10%. I told them I didn't expect them to match it, but LB. without batting an eye just said "DONE" and we closed out the meeting and got in the car to come home." He said softly as he held his fiancé and kissed her gently.
"OK then what happened in the car, because I know you Richard Castle, something is bothering you deeply?"
"Well, Cricket is leaving the firm in six weeks, and reuniting with her ex husband who is getting out of prison, and buying a small publishing company, with what money I have no idea, he was sent up for embezzlement and it sounds like he is just getting her into trouble."
"Oh Rick, you didn't say that did you? No matter how bad it looks to us, it's her decision, and Babe, she's a grown woman, just like our Daughter is a young woman. You have to let go and let them make their own mistakes." Kate said sadly as she leaned back and gently rubbed his back
"Well, I said something, I'm not even sure anymore, it doesn't matter because she wants it to go back to strictly business, she even called me Mr. Castle." Rick said sadly,
"What did you reply Rick, I hope it wasn't something hurtful," Kate looked truly concerned,
"I think I said, Very Well Katherine, so it shall be, and not another word was said all the way home. She went directly to her quarters, I apologized before but she spoke in a tone that I never heard before, and well, just let it go, at least for now" Rick said slowly,
Kate laid her head on his chest, and said,
"Babe, you were only trying to look after her, don't beat yourself up. This will work out, just like you tell me, something will come up and it will all work out."
"I hope so Kate, I really do" as he kissed the top of her head with gentle kisses.
The rest of the evening passed in quiet solitude with Rick working on the edits of the book that Cricket had returned, the sooner he could wrap this up, the sooner they could all get back to New York, and their lives.
Around 3:00 AM Rick was still working on the edits, Kate was up and joined him,
"Can't sleep either Babe?" he asked
"No not really, just too much on my mind."
She had just sat down beside him when the door opened and a very disorientated and shocked Cricket walked into the office,
"Can we talk, You were right all along Rick, and Now he's gone for good"
"What, Cricket, what are you talking about?"
She handed her phone to Kate, who read a text and then dropped the phone as she exclaimed, "Oh My God, No!"