Enough is Enough
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: This is AU; A different scenario after Rick returns to the Precinct in Episodes 3-1. Based on a few quotes I live by,
"Castle, go home! Go back to your ex-wife, your Hamptons, your book parties, okay? I've got work to do." This is what prompted this story
I don't own Castle; I only use the characters for amusement purposes, except the ones I create.
Also, we take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this more believable fiction, thanks. Remember This IS AU. Timelines, Events, and Outcomes may vary from the Original Script.
WARNING! THIS WILL NOT END AS A CASKETT FIC. If that disturbs you, please don't read
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Chapter 9
British Airways
Flight 4442
3 hours Later
Rick sat in his first-class seat, the woman of his dreams snuggled into his shoulder, heading back to the city he had left almost three years earlier in almost crisis mode. The woman he thought he was getting closer to each day had lied to him, and then the entire precinct, causing a lot of hard feelings.
He thought it best if he got out of the city for a while, never thinking it would be this long, or end with such great fortune. He wasn't just referring to his net worth, although that had certainly risen as well, but rather his personal life.
His mind drifted back to the day he had decided to try a new coffee house that had just opened, he enjoyed tea, but when you have a taste for coffee, nothing else will suffice.
He kissed the head of his lady, then closed his eyes and recalled the life-changing events that occurred that day.
FLASHBACK
He had just arrived in London two weeks ago and was still trying to get the lay of the land in his neighborhood. He loved the huge rental home that the Publisher had provided for him, and that his administrative assistant Faith took care of all of the mundane tasks he always avoided and usually got into trouble about.
He was walking down the street after leaving a productive session at the office when he spotted what appeared to be an American-style café. He walked in and was immediately taken back by the décor on the walls, and the music coming from the huge jukebox sitting in the corner.
Rick was too young to remember the groups, but he remembered MOTOWN and the effect it had on kids. Jimmy Ruffin, brother of David the lead singer of the group The Temptations had moved to the U. K. after his one big hit in the States,
The jukebox blared, and Rick paid attention to the lyrics, hell it was the story of his love life he thought.
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
Jimmy Ruffin
As I walk this land of broken dreams
I have visions of many things
But happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion
What becomes of the brokenhearted?
Who have love that's now departed
I know I've got to find some kind of peace of mind
Maybe
The roots of love grow all around
But for me, they come a-tumbling down
Every day heartaches grow a little stronger
I can't stand this pain much longer
I walk in shadows searching for light
Cold and alone, no comfort in sight
Hoping they bring, oh someone who cares
Always moving and going nowhere
What becomes of the brokenhearted?
Who had love that's now departed
I know I've got to find some kind of peace of mind
Help me, please
I'm searching though I don't succeed
For someone's love has a growing need
All is lost, there's no place for beginning
All that's left is an unhappy ending
Now what becomes of the brokenhearted?
Who had love that's now departed
I know I've got to find some kind of peace of mind
I'll be searching everywhere
Just to find someone to care
I'll be looking every day
I know I'm going to find a way
Nothing's gonna stop me now
I'll find a way somehow
And I'll be searching everywhere
I know I've gotta find a way
He glanced around and there was the owner of the place walking among the patrons laughing, smiling, and having a great time, it was Jimmy Ruffin himself, the name of his café, was Ruffin It, and as he passed Rick he was singing along. He hadn't lost his voice at all; he sounded as good as the day he recorded the record.
"Welcome to Ruffin It, I can see by the look on your face you're not a local, so what part of the states are you from?" he asked Rick with his smile never dimming
"That obvious am I, well yes, I'm from New York. I'm here working on a special project for work while my daughter attends Oxford University," Rick replied,
"I loved New York, BUT I didn't love what was happening between the races in the US, that's why I packed up and moved here. I did one tour and fell in love with the country and the people. I tried to get my little brother over here, but, well, he did his own thing." He said sadly,
"I understand, I read his book and listened to all of the Temptations records, so I know where you're coming from. How did you come by this song anyway if I may ask, hell, it could be my life's story" Rick quipped
"Do you believe that five groups turned it down, it was offered to me because I happened to be in the studio that day, and it changed my life, I mean without that song, no tour, no England, no Jimmy Ruffin the singer. I would probably have wound up like Davey, it was a hard time back then" he said,
"Love is hard no matter what age you are, I know I'm here to get over one that would never have worked out, as well as monitor my daughter from as close as I dare get to her" he laughed,
"Well, please come back, the burgers and fries are as close to the ones in the States as we can make them, so I hope you enjoy them." He said as he was called over to another table.
Rick enjoyed a hamburger, nearly as good as Remy's, much to his surprise. He loved the music, the atmosphere, it was almost as if David had captured a small part of the states and brought it with him when he moved here. He listened for a little while longer, then went to pay his check, where he bumped into an attractive lady,
He was apologizing before he looked up from picking up the contents of her purse, when he lost his breath, "Kyra? Kyra Murphy?" he asked shocked
"Hello Rick, it's Kyra Blaine again, Gregg was more like his Uncle Teddy than I realized, and I wouldn't put up with the infidelity. How are things between you and Kate? What are you doing here anyway?
"Can we talk, I mean in private, I have a home just about two blocks from here, I promise, no funny stuff. It's just that I need to say some things that I didn't get the opportunity to, the last time I saw you. You're divorced? I'm sorry Kyra, I really am" He finally acknowledged what she had said,
"Sure Rick, I know there are things I wanted to say to you as well, but hell it was my wedding day to someone else" She let a tear drop from her eye,
"Hey, none of those, let's just go talk like we used to do, OK?"
They started to walk silently from the café to Rick's rental home, finally, as they walked Rick explained that he was in the U.K. to do what he had always wished to do since he was nine years old,
"Rick, I read that they were revising and reissuing a few of the books that were real flops, but I never in a million years thought that you would be the one to breathe life into them," she said,
"Well, things had reached a point of conclusion at the 12th, and well, Paula negotiated a whale of a deal, so here I am. It doesn't hurt that I'm only about 64 miles from Alexis, in case she needs me. She transferred to Oxford from Stanford after she and her fiancé broke up. Truthfully, I was glad, but what could I say, I mean she's older than we were when, eh, you know" He said, not wanting to bring up the past, it still was painful.
"About that Rick, let's get the elephant out of the closet right away, shall we? You were correct, Mother was the one behind convincing me that the school over here would be best, I allowed her to browbeat me into agreeing with her, but there wasn't one day that went by that I didn't know that I had made the wrong decision, I cried every night the first year I left.
"I threw myself into my work, hell, I didn't have you nor wanted anyone else, and for two years I worked almost non-stop. That's why I own a chain of boutiques that are as successful as they are. I would give them all up in a heartbeat for one more chance with you, Rick.
"I know I screwed up, and when I married Gregg, well, it was after Mother convinced me that you would never come to find me, that you had moved on, and I should as well. I never stopped loving you, but when I saw how happy Detective Beckett made you, I thought, I should just leave the past in the past." She said, choking back tears,
"When did you and Gregg divorce?" Rick asked,
"The marriage lasted 7 months before the first time I caught him cheating. I gave him another chance but 4 months later he was caught again, it was almost like he wanted to get caught. I filed and he didn't contest, so six weeks later our annulment was finalized. Mother cried more than I did, I have no idea why" Kyra said,
How about you and Detective Beckett? I mean I could tell she cared for you, and you were all puppy eyes in love with her" she said as she squeezed his hand, "it's OK Rick, I left, not you, you deserved to be happy." They arrived at his door, and settled into the living room, with a drink and the fireplace going.
"Well, it's funny everyone told me that they could see the love between us, everyone that is except her. It's a long story, but she was secretly dating a detective from Robbery and lied to me when I asked her to the Hamptons for a getaway, no funny business.
"She hadn't clued her boyfriend in on the secrecy part, he let it spill that afternoon she was going away with him. You know how I am about lies, all she had to say was I have a boyfriend, that would have been the end of the story.
"Gina saw how upset I was, so she offered to come to the precinct and pose to be my date not only for Memorial Day, but the entire summer, everyone in the precinct thought I was throwing Beckett to the side for Gina, and treated me like crap when I returned, so I just thought enough was enough. I didn't deserve that treatment, and I finally took a stand and left." Rick said, softly and sadly,
"I'm so sorry Rick, I'm sorry you were hurt yet again. I should never have listened to my mother; I should have never left you in Times Square"
"Hey, it's OK, you were only trying to please your Mom, we were kids back then Kyra. I mean,"
"We may have been young Rick, but I loved you, really loved you, not the crush or puppy love mother made it out to be. I wasn't strong enough to stand up to her then, but sadly I was when it came to Gregg."
"What do you mean Kyra, what did your mother have to do with your divorce?" Rick asked,
"She told me that every marriage has one partner that has extra partners, and I should just live with it. I thought she was talking about Dad, but she confessed she had been having an affair with Dad's best friend for years. I told her she was sick, that normal people didn't act that way"
"Wow, Sheila cheated on your Dad? I never would have thought,
"Worse, she told me to cut Gregg off in the bedroom and find myself a stud that could serve me, no strings attached, quite a role model, huh?"
They spent the entire night talking about old times, and events that had happened in their lives since they were apart. She confessed she almost called her wedding off after seeing him, but she didn't because she thought he and Kate were an item.
She spent the night, but not in his bed, but rather in the guest room. It was the start of a long way back, but she told him to take his time, she would wait for him this time. It took several months before he kissed her, weeks later before they made out, and finally another month before they made love. When that animal was unleashed, it was almost as if all of the years apart were being made up for each other's absence.
Over the next several weeks she had met Gina first, then Alexis, and spent a day with the younger Castle talking woman to woman. Alexis was impressed with her, but it took Gina to tell her, if she wanted her Dad to be happy, accept the new lady in his life. She was happy with Carl, so her Dad needed someone to make him happy. After receiving Alexis's blessing, they dropped all pretenses of living separate lives and she moved in with him.
She also sold her boutiques in Paris, London, and Los Angeles, keeping only the flag bearer store in New York, known simply as K's Boutique. It was the first store she had opened, and she knew Rick needed some time to himself from time to time. She would be content to be his woman, it didn't matter if there was a title or not, as long as she had him, she knew she had found a second shot at happiness.
She promised Rick that she would prove her love and had done everything possible to do so. She even revised the role she performed when he was first starting as a writer, his proofreader. Alexis had warned her she would get stuck with that job and was surprised when Kyra opened up to her about their three years together and how happy she had been. It sealed the deal for Alexis, and now she was happy for them both.
CURRENT TIME
Rick awoke to hear the captain speaking over the loudspeaker, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are approximately 120 miles from touch down at JFK airport, please listen and comply with the instructions from our flight attendants. It's been our pleasure to serve you this evening, and we look forward to seeing you on another British Airways flight soon. Have a pleasant stay in New York City, or if you live here Welcome Home."
The flight attendants were busy readying the cabin for landing, as Kyra leaned into Rick and whispered, "Welcome Home Rick, can we make a couple of stops before we head to the loft?" She purred in his ear,
He laughed, "You know we can do anything you want to do; we'll just have to follow my security details instructions until we are safely out of the airport, OK?" he asked, She leaned in and kissed him sweetly, "Anything you say, my love" and then laid her head on his chest to breathe in his aroma.
Twenty minutes later they were on a golf cart and headed down a tunnel away from the crowds that were in the terminal to greet loved ones, as well as a pack of paparazzi there to spear any picture or story that they could sell. Rick's car, along with his driver and Matt, his head of security, was standing by an SUV with dark windows and assisted them into the car.
A few minutes later they were on the interstate headed in the opposite direction of Rick's loft and were joined by three other vehicles exactly like the one they were riding in as they approached the next on-ramp. The paparazzi became confused and started following the two decoy SUVs but they continued driving in the wrong direction until they exited ten miles later. Where they switched cars to a white limo, seen all over New York and finally they were on their way home.
They had managed to evade the paparazzi, even slowing down to look at Times Square, and placing an order at Remy's before they entered the back entrance to the parking garage of Rick's building. The remainder of the security team joined the original two, as they were whisked to a waiting elevator and delivered to the sixth floor, and home.
Rick thanked each of his staff, shaking hands and palming a large denomination bill to every member. He always rewarded good service, and nothing could be more important than the safety and privacy of his family.
They started to enter, then Rick stopped, turned to her, and asked, "Are you sure, no regrets, and you're ready to be Mrs. Richard Castle, even with what we had to go through just to get home? You know it's going to get much worse, once we announce our engagement, don't you?"
She pulled his head down and kissed him sweetly I have a two-word answer for that, "HELL YES" I'm sure, now never try to get out of this again," she laughed, the sound that made Rick's soul fill with joy. God, when she laughed, he could face just about anything.
He opened the door, to see Gina, Alexis, Paula, his Mother, Roy, and several other close friends there to welcome him home. The sign that hung behind them said, Congratulations Kyra and Rick, we love you both," and had everyone's signature on it.
She turned to him and kissed him, as she said, "It's good to finally be at home, where and with whom I belong" as the gang cheered and applauded.
TBC