If Only

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of an alternate ending to Love and Die in LA. Some Angst, some canon but mostly AU. All things are the same till the Gantz ending, Previously notes courtesy of Dust Jackets dot com.

I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 6

Previously

"Paula, yeah it's Rick, yeah we have a situation you need to get on top off," as he described what happened.

"Got it Rick, may not be able to stop them all but should be able to get the big boys worried about their liability, especially now that they are dealing with two powerhouses, you and the new Miss Sipos."

Darlene's Penthouse

Cosmopolitan Hotel

Las Vegas Nevada

3:30 PM Local Time

Darlene is still an emotional wreck, after the reality set in, then the paparazzi, the rude questions being shouted from everywhere. Rick fixed her a drink, took it to her, and gently placed his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into him.

"I'm sorry about all that Dar, I kind of figured that would happen, and believe me they would eat you alive if you let them. Thanks for letting me accompany you."

Tears are in her eyes as she turned and looked at Rick, "You shielded me, you knew it was going to be bad, that the press is going to print all kinds of lies and make your life and family's life hell, yet you shielded me. Thank You Rick," she kissed him lightly on the lips before moving to a longer kiss on the cheek and clung to him as he held her as she sobbed.

"Hey, it's over, and I can see why you love Wayne, he's a nice guy, he really is, but the universe didn't align for you two, so it's not your fault. As for the money, do you have any idea of what you are worth now Dar?

I mean it doesn't mean anything, yet, but you have come a long way from that $35,000 a year Hair Dresser from Ohio, and you did it the right way. You didn't set out to screw anyone, so good karma begets good deeds."

"Dar when you feel up to it, I'm going to Skype my daughter and I want her to see you, so when the pictures come out tomorrow, and they will, she will know the sweet lady that is being lied about in the tabloids, OK?"

"I'm ready now Rick, I mean I can't go around bawling the rest of my life, we have to find out how we can make the money work for those who need it," then there it is her beautiful smile.

Rick dials Alexis on Skype, she answers on the second ring, "Hello Father, do you need bail money yet? You need to raise my allowance if I have to come out there to save you" she laughs

"Hello Daughter, and no I don't need bail money, besides I have a good friend I want you to meet, then we will explain what's going on OK? Alexis, this is Darlene, Darlene my daughter and center of my universe Alexis," as both ladies come into view you can hear "Dad", from Alexis, embarrassed a little by her Dad's introduction.

"Hi Darlene, How are you doing, Dad told me you had to go to court today, and I'm very sorry you had unhappiness come into your life"

"Hi Alexis, thank you so much, you're just like your Dad said you were, sweet and kind, and hey, I got off lucky, your Dad was there with me to support me the whole way. This is important to me Alexis, so I'm sorry if it embarrasses you, but your Dad and I are TRULY just friends, Up till about 30 minutes ago I was a married lady which your Dad and I both respected, I just wanted you to know."

"And you're just like Dad said you were, direct, open and honest as well as very pretty and a great influence on my Dad." She laughs as she sees Rick re-enter the screen with a fake scowl on his face.

Darlene is blushing now as Rick resumes talking, "Pumpkin we wanted to let you know that Dar got blitzed coming out of the courtroom with the Paps and although Paula is already on it, wanted you to be prepared in case something gets by her. As she said we are good friends, very good friends and have supported each other."

"Thanks for the heads-up Dad, Darlene don't worry about it we know the drill on our end, Paula will take care of everything and if something slips by, we just smile and keep walking not even giving them a no comment. We've done it hundreds of times so don't worry about us, just take care of yourself If you can spare the time, watch over my Dad, he means well but sometimes his plans need to be reviewed for danger if you know what I mean"

Darlene is laughing hard now, "Alexis I know exactly what you mean, I'll share the Rock Climbing experience with you sometime soon," as Rick is heard, "Dar, you wouldn't dare, that was supposed to be between us."

"Pumpkin, thanks for being so understanding, and just tell Grams before she hits the liquor cabinet tonight," then Darlene pops in "Thank you so much Alexis, I have to say this has been tough but having good friends has made it so much easier:

"You're welcome Darlene, just remember don't let anything they say, or print bother you, those who know and love you know the truth, and for the rest who cares. Got to run meeting Paige Dad"

"Bye Pumpkin, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Rick looks over at Dar, "Well?"

"Well, she's exactly as you described her, and mature beyond her years. You had to have been a fantastic Father Rick, no kid comes out like that by accident"

Rick blushes slightly, "Well I got lucky, at first it was just the two of us, she was all I had in this world, then success came and so did the phonies. That's one thing Dar, as sweet as you are you are going to need help not believing every sob story asking for money,"

"You want to toughen me up Rick?" she smiled and is surprised by his serious reply,

"No, I just want to take care of you, to make sure nothing else bad happens to you, you've had pain enough in your life."

She crosses the room and puts her arms around Rick pulling him into her and just holding on, "you sweet, sweet man, I'm here for you too you know, when the time is right, talk to me Rick, it won't upset me. I promise. Any woman would be proud to be on your arm, as a girlfriend, wife, or just friend, I know I am every time we go somewhere, and after the first few times I really didn't care about what people thought"

"You OK now? If so, I'm going to head down and shower for dinner, that is if you will do me the honor of accompanying me"

She leans back, kisses him gently on the lips, "You bet, text me when you're ready but give me 30 minutes, OK?"

"Sure, thing see you in 30 minutes" as he kisses her cheek and blushes ever so slightly.

Kate Beckett's Apartment

6:00 AM Next Day

Kate couldn't sleep again, and the weather wasn't cooperating either, as a cold dreary rain had been falling for hours, ruling out her morning run. She decided to turn on the morning news to see if there was going to be any let up in the rain, and as she flipped channels, she saw a picture of Rick, on TMZ. Turning the volume up, she heard the spokesperson say,

"Once again, our top story over night comes from Clark County Nevada, Las Vegas to be exact where Billionaire Developer Wayne Marzano and his wife of 5 months Darlene Sipos Marzano have completed their divorce.

What makes this even more intriguing is the spectator, as they zoomed in on Ricks face, is New York's own Rick Castle, who has been seen with the former Mrs. Marzano all over Las Vegas the last 10 days, could it be that this was the reason for the split.

Lawyers for both Marzano's dispute the claim of any infidelity, but TMZ has learned that both Mr. Castle and the former Mrs. Marzano are both staying at the same posh hotel in penthouses, one floor apart, and have been constant companions at the many restaurants and clubs, even taking a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon and Rock Climbing in Red Rock Canyon."

As they show a series of grainy photographs but clear enough to show Rick with his arm gently guiding Darlene into her door.

"Additional photo's exclusive to TMZ show the two entering the former wife of Mr. Marzano's suite, shortly after exiting the courthouse through a private entrance into a waiting limo that returned them to the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Both are checked in under aaliis, and the hotel has threatened legal action if such information were disclosed. You know what they say, where there's smoke, there's two bodies rubbing together to make it or something like that, Back to you in the studio Harvey, we'll provide updates as they're available."

Kate had seen enough and slammed the remote down after turning the power off to the TV. A few moments later the tears began to fall, as she thought about the letter from Mike Royce, if this weren't an If Only moment for her, she would never have one.

The thud on her door announced the arrival of her morning paper and giving the delivery man time enough to clear her floor, she opened the door and retrieved the paper. Once again, the tea kettle whistled, she was drinking tea, coffee was just to bitter for her now, in more ways than one.

Retrieving her cup of tea and the paper she sat at her small dining room table, opening the paper to the entertainment section, there it was. Larger better pictures of Rick and the woman, identified as Darlene Sipos Marzano, with Rick's arm gently guiding her through what appeared to be a group of tables, perhaps at one of the restaurants the TMZ piece mentioned.

One picture had captured them looking into each other's eyes, and Kate knew then that this was not a one-night stand, or some pick up, this woman meant something to him. Another showed the smile for her that used to be, yeah Kate get used to that phrase used to be, hers.

She had half expected to see some female with half her tits hanging out leaning in and all over Rick as they kissed, when she saw Darlene, the professionalism, the way she looked at Rick, it was almost more than she could take. It was clear there was a mutual respect, if not more between the two. What hurt the most, if she were being honest, Darlene made him happy, that was apparent by the smiles on both of their faces.

There wasn't one picture of them kissing, the closest they had come was when her head had leaned against his shoulder, and when they stared lovingly into each other eyes, but no PDA, but Kate could tell, this time she had gotten her wish. The 9-year-old on a sugar rush, pain in the ass, her partner, the man she loved was gone, and from the looks of things had no reason to ever come back. another heartbreak, more tears she had to hide, but he would never see them, she still had her pride.

TBC