[EDIT: 02.04.13] THIS WAS AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE. DO NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

Disclaimer: Castle belongs to ABC (America) and Andrew Marlowe. No money is being made from this work and no money or credit will ever be sought regardless of any similarity to future plot-lines. But, you know, if you're a fanfic writer, don't plagiarise me. Please. 'Cause then I'll be sad. Plus I have over three hundred followers. At least one of them will report you.

To all my Christian Followers, I hope you're having a great Easter. To everyone else, I hope you're enjoying your long weekend. To everyone who likes and is allowed to eat chocolate, I hope your recovery is going well.

I wrote this one a while ago. It's been sitting in the Doc Manager and I've been debating whether or not to post it. I finally decided to submit it, partly because I don't really have a lot of time to write new chapters right now, partly because the timing just feels right and partly because I know I should be writing for myself, not others, and as much as I love giving you chapters you enjoy - it's motivated me beyond belief - there are certain things that I'd like to express through my writing. No one else has read this and I'd like to share it with you. I know some of you will probably have strong feelings about it - most likely negative feelings - and that's ok.
Let me put this into context for you, though, so that you may better understand what kind of head-space I was in when I wrote this. I had just gotten my heart broken for the first time, and to add insult to injury, one of my ships sank - check out my profile for the details on the latter (although I'll warn you it mostly comes off as a thirteen-year-old girl's diary entry; only less coherent). So, when I sat down to write a fluffy chapter, this came out instead. Also, Significant Others had just aired here so some of the stuff at the end kind of fuelled the fire a little. The good news is that once I'd gotten all that angst off my chest, I was able to then write the aforementioned fluffy chapter (that's next) in true sweet, romantic Caskett style. I hope you enjoy it. I'll have it posted within the next day or two. Until then, though, here's Chapter forty-two.

I only ask that you keep an open mind.

Upload Date: 01.04.13

Chapter Rating: T

Chapter Summary: Beckett breaks up with Castle (open mind, remember).

#74

When Castle opened the door to his loft and entered, he was surprised to find Beckett standing in the middle of his living room, her hair up, carrying a box of her stuff. He recognised some of the things on the top as stuff she had left in the loft over the course of their relationship.

"Kate? What's going on?"

Beckett put the box down and took a deep breath, taking a step towards him.

"Castle, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. I've made a decision. I just don't feel this is working for me anymore."

"What's not working for you any more?"

"This; us. Castle, we're over."

He felt as if he'd been punched in the face. He was disoriented; his mouth dry, causing his voice to be low and throaty once he'd recovered form the shock of her words enough to force some words out.
"What? Kate, where is this coming from?"

"This has been coming for a while, Castle. Ever since we've gotten together I feel like I've been putting everything into this... relationship and getting nothing in return."

"What are you talking about, Kate? Sweetheart," he implored her, taking her gently by the arm, "I've put everything I have - "

"I know you believe that," she interrupted, shaking him off. "That's what makes it so sad. I guess you're just not cut out for a committed relationship," she shrugged.

"Kate, I am committed to you."

"Your version of commitment is just not what I'm looking for."

"Please, Kate, don't do this. We're so good together and - and... I love you!"

Beckett smiled sadly, reaching up to stroke his face.
"I know. I still love you, too - in a way, I guess; but things have changed. I've re-connected with Josh."

Castle stared in stunned silence.
"Josh?" he finally managed to choke out.

"He's back in the country and we've been talking. I realised I made a mistake and he's been good enough to take me back. Castle, we've had some fun times but we're just not right for each other. Josh is the person I belong with."

As if on cue, Josh appeared in the doorway.
"Hey, Babe, ready to go?"

"Coming, honey."

"Honey?"

Beckett ran a hand down her long hair which cascaded down her back.
"I think it's for the best if you don't come back to the precinct."

She picked up the box.

"I appreciate all your help over the years and I hope you find happiness. I have."

She smiled at Josh, who smiled back at her as he helped her with the box.

"No, no, this is all wrong."

"I know it seems like that now, but trust me, I'm doing the right thing for both of us."

His heart broke as he watched the woman he loved being escorted out the door by the leather-clad doctor who was evidently trying his best not to look smug.

Had he been a complete idiot to have thought this was real? It had felt real. Was he a fool to have started planning a future, a future he pictured her in?

He was struck by an inexplicable wave of grief. He had done this before, and it wasn't that difficult to erase her from his conscious mind; he was quite good at compartmentalising. But when it came to his heart and soul, she was permanently branded there. That summer with Gina in the Hamptons had been great at first. Outside of his writing he hadn't thought of Beckett at all... until one night, he had woken up with her name on his lips, an echo of images,each one of her, fresh in his mind and an ache in his gut - not dissimilar to the one he was feeling right now. He had turned over and been unable to suppress the surge of disappointment at seeing who was lying next to him.

Oh, God, he was going to have to go back to that, wasn't he? Being totally in love with her, but not being able to touch her, or even look at her, to share jokes, watch her roll her eyes at him, to bring her coffee...

It was over and it hurt like hell.

Beckett turned back to face him one last time.

"Goodbye, Rick."

Reader: Oh, you're dead.

Author: AH! *runs away*

Reader: *Finds author. Kills her. Eats her entrails* That's what happens when you mess with Caskett, bitch!