Love's Journey 2
by Castlefan6
Authors Note This is the continuation of Love's Journey, originally authored by The Muse of Apollo, chapters 1-7 all following are work of Castlefan6' IF you haven't read the original Love's Journey please do so before proceeding with this,
I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 17
Previously
Jim has Kate in a hug, as they remove the covering from the first Street Sign Name to reveal RAE Boulevard. He holds her just a bit tighter as the second street name is uncovered to reveal, JOHANNA Place. Tears fall from Kate, Jess and Martha, as Jim fights like hell to keep from letting the waterworks go.
"Katie, she would be so proud of you all, especially Rick, Jess, Mike and the team you work with, thank you all for this honor, I know Jo would be saying to us, I told you so, meaning this area was worth saving and as usual she was right.
Castle's Loft
One Month Later
Rick is typing away furiously and seems to be deleting as much as he is typing, as Jess walks up behind him, "Sweetie, want to talk about it? What's got you stuck so bad?"
"Angel it's getting to the end scene, I'm not sure I can do it, I don't really want to have to put it out there, it seems like it is a disgrace to her, I could never do it justice."
"Is Kelly asking you for the details" Jess simply asks, "I mean you can portray it anyway you are comfortable with it, in a way you feel you honor Rae, Sweetie,"
"No, No he's not so it doesn't have to be a recount of her actual suffering" You're right I can leave out or change whatever I want," Jess I love you, you're a genius.
"Rick really I think you want to pattern that part with a totally different event, you know how the fan sites are, and since you are a "New Author" Alex Richards, you definitely don't want any Storm or Heat scenes to appear or Gina will have you in court."
"Brilliant and Beautiful, how did I get so lucky? "Jess deadpans back, "I lost the bet"
Which brings sure panic across Rick's face. "Bet, what Bet"
"You probably don't even remember but I had been with RCE for about a month when I fell for Garza's baiting, and I took a sucker bet."
"I think he was trying to fix you up with anything that breathed at the time" Jess laughed.
"Anyway, the bet was if I lost, I had to ask you out to lunch until you said yes or a minimum of 10 times. Lucky for me you said yes on the first invitation, I was so nervous Rick" "I think I started falling for you before the drinks even arrived" she confesses, and blush is full on her cheeks,
"Are you serious Jess, you wouldn't have asked me out if you hadn't lost the bet?" still showing concern
"Rick, I lost the bet on purpose, who doesn't know what baseball team has gone without a championship for over 100 years" she laughs. Garza wanted you to go out so bad I figured it would allow me to ask you and keep my pride if, and I thought you would, shoot me down. I could have fell over when your replied"
"Miss Hawthorne I would be honored to go to lunch with you, but only if I am allowed to pay" They both repeat word for word in unison, then fall into each other's arms remembering the beginning of this love, and each praying that it wasn't a dream.
"Rick, I love you more than words can say, I know I say that, but Sweetie sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize I am not dreaming"
"Well I can't tell you how many time I wake up from a dream and have to touch you, just to reassure myself that you chose me, out of all the men in the world, you love me. I have always given and been rejected, this is the first relationship that I never worry and all I ever want it your happiness, nothing else matters"
The chapters don't get completed this night, but there is some great batting practice, cuddling and serious talks about the future of how they want the MRR to function including adding two family suites to allow families to stay together.
Castle's Loft
Next Day
Jess awakes sore in those areas that remind her of oh yea she has her man and she feels completely satisfied to find Rick out of bed. She hears the coffee brewing cycle sound complete then click click click of his fingers flying over the keyboard.
She slips out of bed, dons her robe and slips past a very zoned out Rick to the kitchen where she prepares the coffees then slides back into the office, setting the tray down she slips into his lap and kisses him with all the passion she has left, Success he comes out of the zone and returns her passion.
"Well remind me to put that down as my favorite way to wake up every day Angel"
She laughs, "Sweetie you have been pounding the computer for over two hours, Any progress?"
"Actually, a great deal" he smiles, "seems I got my inspiration back last night and into the early morning" "I was able to open my heart to you last night Jess, for the first time since that night, I could address it, all of it and it's all thanks to you My Love"
"Rick, you do know that I love you, all of you, but when you share with me the thoughts and accounts we did last night, I know no one has ever held that part of your heart, it's mine and I will never give it back, I love you too Sweetie."
"Well I have 6 chapters to Edit, I sent the last 5 to Kelly about an hour ago so within in a week or so, we should be ready to see Lost Innocence in Editor's Print Mode completely" "How's Martha's house coming along?" a name he had started calling the building recently.
"It's Great, we have all of the rough in's done, we need to schedule a walk in for the Framing with Mike and Kate, to be sure we are not missing anything next week, but we are actually about one week ahead of schedule, AND Under Budget."
Both have gravitated towards the couch and Jess sits sipping her coffee as Rick lays his head in her lap, as he stretches out, stroking her inner thigh so gently, "Sweetie, can I ask you a question, it's personal and you don't have to answer if you don't want to, OK?" Jess purrs
"Something tells me that this is about my past and may not be all about me, right?"
"Well yes, Kate and I were talking, Mike and she have gone out for drinks a few times, and dinner once or twice, but ***"
"Kate is concerned about his past, and how private he is? Right?
"Yes, she said that after the Demming mess she would even have her paper boys vetted, and you have to admit Hun, she got hung out pretty bad, I'm just glad you helped her."
"Angel, you know that Mike and I are close, there are somethings that I won't reveal no matter what, but yes I can understand where Kate is coming from so ask, doesn't mean I am going to give an answer, fair?"
"Well Mike made a comment to me about you early on maybe even on our first customer visit together about "you knew your relationship was over but still stayed true, he should have used your example" "I didn't question it but I'm glad you were the one who stayed true to whoever she was"
"We were overseas, I was dating a girl from the neighborhood and since we had agreed to be exclusive, when we shipped out I took that with me,"
"Mike was dating her cousin, she was in love with him, I mean head over heels, the sun rose and set in Mike, so it wasn't a surprise when they got engaged. One month later we shipped out, and Mike caved within 2 weeks to the locals offering a lot for a pack of cigarettes, then moved on to the daughter of some rich guy, all the time still writing Melanie, "
"I wrote every chance I got, and about the third letter back I could see the difference, shorter letters, not as many I love you, longer response time, didn't take a genius to figure out Susan had moved on."
"Mother caught them coming out of a restaurant and confronted her, all she asked was for her to write to me and tell the truth. She told Mother she would, and when it slipped in a call home, my suspicions were confirmed, BUT I didn't confront her until I got a surprise leave home and let's say she was surprised for sure"
"Mike finally saw the mess that Susan had caused me, so he went to Melanie, hat in his hand and on bended knee, but she asked the right questions, and one thing Mike doesn't lie. He left the house and hasn't talked about it since. Melanie married a guy we used to run with, he's a Dentist now, and they have a couple of kids. Mike hasn't been the same since."
Jess is sitting rubbing Rick's temples tear drops falling gently from her eyes, "All I ever do is ask you to relive the most Hellish times in your life, Hun, I'm so sorry, I should never have said a word."
"Hey like you say, you are proud of me being the one who stayed true right" Rick tried to joke to make Jess feel better,
"Mike said in that conversation that when Rick commits he commits, NOTHNG sways him Jess and that's one thing you never have to worry about. Besides he can't hide anything, wrong he would come home and tell you before anyone else ever did, he's just built that way." "I love you for that you big lug" as she bends and gently kisses him sweetly and lovingly
"Hey Jess, when you talk to Kate, don't make him out to be a total CAD would you, he's beat himself up for years"
"Sure Rick, she needs to know something's, but like you say, somethings stay between you and your brother"" as she smiles
A/N Going to stop here, Book is nearing completion, remember not Richard Castle, Alex Richards, building progressing, no need to fear Simmons crew in in Virginia now, and Jess has some background she can help Kate with in questions about Mike.
