Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Castle.

Author's Note: Alright, I am very sorry that it took me so long to write this next chapter. I had a hard time figuring out where exactly I wanted to take this story. I think I have figured it out and I hope you guys like it.

Richard Castle sat on his couch in the living room of his Hamptons beach house with his computer in his lap. He had been trying to finish this paragraph for hours. He just could not find the inspiration to write, not even with the gorgeous sandy beach view to his right. The double glass doors let in the soft rays of sunlight as it made its descent into the night, flickering off the ocean. Outside, he could see a beach volleyball game going on while others sat and enjoyed the last radiance of the sun. He wished he was anywhere but stuck inside of his house with no idea how to finish this book.

Well, maybe not just anywhere. His thoughts drifted to Kate. He knew she had begun to say something. Something important. He wished he knew what it was. Maybe he should have stayed and pressed her on it. Maybe he should have stepped away from Gina and allow some room to talk for a minute. He might never know now.

He wished she was here right now, that she would have agreed to come with him. Instead, he is stuck here knowing that she is somewhere with Demming right now and left to wonder what exactly they were doing. Maybe they were cuddled up on his couch watching a movie and drinking coffee. He wondered if Demming knew her exact coffee order like he did. He wondered if she let him play with her hair or nuzzle her ear; if she allowed him to pull her into his lap and wrap his arms around her just to simply be there with each other, no intention of anything else.

He was torturing himself. He wished the answer to all of his questions was no, of course not. He knew otherwise, however. He was her boyfriend. Of course she let him cuddle with her and twirl his fingers in her hair. He started to imagine himself doing those exact things with her. He imagined it was she in his lap instead of his computer. He imagined caressing her hair and bringing it up to his nose to breath in the aroma that was Kate. He imagined gathering it up and pulling it to one side so he could lay gentle kisses on her neck and ear. He imagined her giggling as he did so. Then, she would reach out and stroke his cheek and he would lean in ever so closer until the distance between them was almost breached.

"Rick!" He was stunned out of his musings and looked up to see Gina standing in front of him, hands on her hips and eyes that bore daggers into him. "What the hell are you doing?"

Rick looked down at the computer. "Um, Writing?"

"Oh is that right? You haven't written a single word since I left you here two hours ago." She crossed her arms and waited for his excuse.

"Right. Look I'm sorry. I just have a little case of writer's block. I'll work it out. Don't worry." He set the computer on the coffee table in front of him and stood up. "I'm going to make myself a little snack. Would you like something?" He started to walk towards the kitchen.

"Oh don't say sorry to me. You're the one that's going to be sorry when the company decides not to publish your book because you're taking too long to write it." Gina followed him into the kitchen. Castle rolled his eyes thinking, would that be such bad thing? He turned to her and but the apple he had just grabbed.

"And you don't work through writer's block by eating. You work through it by writing." She grabbed his shoulders and steered him back into the living room.

Castle slumped his shoulders and stomped back to the couch like a twelve year old that was told to do his homework before he played outside with his friends.

"Fine. But I'm telling you, nothing is going to come out. The words aren't just going to suddenly appear in my head just because you told them to."

Gina narrowed her eyes at him and was beginning to retort when there was a knock at the door. Castle, knowing he was off the hook said, "You'd better get that so I can finish writing," with one of his signature grins.

Begrudgingly, Gina gave him a death stare, but proceeded to walk over to the door. Castle tried to peek around the corner to see whom it was, but Gina obstructed his view. Deciding that it probably wasn't important, he went back to staring at his computer.

Gina opened the door to an average height, black woman with curly hair landing just below the shoulders. Her eyes were hard and stood on the doorstep like she owned the place. Gina leaned against the doorframe and before she could ask who this woman was, she said, "Gina Griffin?"

Gina straightened up. "Yes," she said creasing her eyebrows.

"I believe that is your car over there." She pointed to the street a few yards behind the house.

Castle faintly recognized the woman's voice, but…no. He had to have been imagining it.

Gina looked to where the woman was pointing and saw that a greasy looking man in overalls was towing her brand new Cherry Red BMW. Mortified, she raced over to him, screaming, "What the hell are you doing! That's my car! Get your slimy hands off of it! I swear I paid those parking tickets!" In her haste she left the door wide open.

The woman sauntered in, slamming the door effectively grabbing Castle's attention.

Castle stood up, "Lanie?"

"Sit down!" Castle fell back into his seat with a dropped jaw.

"What are you-"

"Zip it!" She came and towered above him. He snapped his mouth closed and waited for her to finish. "You are some kinda fool, Castle."

Castle crinkled his eyebrows; "What-" He saw the look Lanie was giving him and immediately shut up.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you know what kind of state you left Kate in? How could you come here with that woman, Castle, after what Kate did for you?"

Castle decided to brave the death stare and stood up. "What I did to her? She lied to me about why she couldn't come here with me. I invited her before I even spoke with Gina. She told me that she was working. And she wasn't. She was going away with Demming." He spat his name like it was a disease. His nostrils flared as he and Lanie had a stare down. "You don't think that I would rather be here with her?" Castle continued. "You don't think that I have been sitting here agonizing over what she and Demming are doing right now? It's been torturing me! I haven't been able to write a damn word since I got here!"

Lanie took a step closer to him. "Well then you will be surprised and pleased to know that she broke up with Demming."

Castle's stance faltered a bit, letting Lanie take the lead. "What? Wait…What?"

"That's right, Castle. She was going to tell you that she-" She stopped short, thinking that should be saved for Castle to hear from Kate. Lanie turned around and closed her eyes, trying to mask her mistake.

"That she what?" Castle said, disbelievingly. "That she would rather be with me? That she broke up with him for me? …That she loved me? Please! You know that's only in my dreams!"

"Is that so?" Castle spun around to see Gina standing at the door, a hurt expression on her face.

"Gina. I didn't…" She walked towards him slowly.

"If that's how you feel, then why string me along? You think I'm little puppy that will come running to comfort you whenever you call my name?"

"Gina, that's not-"

"Rick. For Gods' sake just be honest with me!" Her eyes bore into his, pleading.

"Gina…I…."

"Do you love her, Richard?" Gina crossed her arms and dared him to lie to her.

Castle stood there with remorseful eyes, not knowing what to say.

Gina scoffed. "Goodbye Rick." She proceeded to walk back to the front door.

Castle grabbed her arm. "Gina, wait. Please."

"I just hope you actually have the guts to tell her, unlike me." And then she was out of his grasp and out the door.

Castle stared after her, unwavering in his stance.

"Well?" Lanie gently asked.

Castle turned to her, a defeated look on his face. He shrugged sluggishly. "What?"

"Do you?"

Castle's eyes changed into an incredulous look. "Didn't you see what just happened?" He pointed to the closed door. "Gina just left me! Because you decided to show up here and put ideas into my head!"

"Oh no. You do not get to blame this on me. You were the one who said that you would rather be here with Kate. You're the one who couldn't answer her when she asked if you loved her. This one is on you."

Castle turned away.

"And anyway, what does it matter? You don't love Gina. You just wanted to get your mind off of Kate."

Castle turned. "That's not what this-"

"Tell me I'm wrong," she challenged. After a few seconds of silence, she continued. "You were right."

Castle looked at her, confused. He crossed his arms and walked a little closer to her. "What are you talking about?"

"About what you thought I was going to say earlier."

Castle thought for a moment. "That can't be true."

"Castle I assure you, it is."

"You mean to tell me that Kate left Demming so she could come here with me?"

Lanie just looked him in the eyes, willing him to see the truth in them. Castle's face deteriorated with recognition. He uncrossed his arms and said gently, "That's what she was going to tell me in the precinct?"

Lanie just nodded. Castle turned away and was still for a moment. He suddenly slammed his fist into a nearby wall. "I'm so stupid!"

Lanie just shrugged, thinking; well now he realizes it. "God, now she probably hates me! Why? Why couldn't I have realized this before?"

"Yea that's what I said." Lanie scoffed. She turned to see Castle eyeballing her. "Sorry."

"Lanie, I have to fix this." He sobered and walked towards her again.

She waved him off. "Relax. I already got it covered." At Castle's disconcerted look, she added, "What? You didn't think this was my only plan did you? Please. This was just part one." She smiled deviously.

Author's Note: Ok, so I already have the next chapter written and ready to put up. So maybe, if I get enough reviews, I'll put it up later tonight...If not...well then maybe I'll make you guys wait a whole other week. It's up to you. ;)