Part of Me, Part of You Chapter 4, a castle fanfic

Part of Me, Part of You

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Sequel to Girl from Yesterday, No Time Lapse, the story picks up where we left off. This is AU; Beckett has left for D.C. and the Feds. This describes the activity of each during the time away from the other. It blends some Canon dialog; courtesy of Dust Jackets Dot Com then goes quickly and completely AU. This will describe what our friends have been up to, Rick and Kate WILL NOT END UP TOGETHER! Taking a Literary License to fill in the blanks.

A/N: THIS IS NOT A CASKETT ENDING: THIS IS NOT A CASKETT ENDING.

I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.

Also, we take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this more believable fiction, thanks.

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Chapter 4

Tide Mill Basin,

Kirby Lane,

Rye, New York,

Six Weeks Later

The workers were putting the finishing touches on the new home under the careful eye of both Serena and Alexis. The two had bonded over the project, and the younger Castle had grown quite fond of her Dad's fiancé. She was able to talk about problems that she hadn't been comfortable sharing with her Grams or her Dad, but Serena listened and then offered very realistic and practical advice, even when it included a difficult message.

She had caught Mike in a lie, it wasn't the end of the world, but it was hurtful to her, and Serena understood. "Well, Alexis, I've been lied to by men I loved, not your Dad, never him, but others and I've found that you have to deal with it head-on, or it will only grow bigger and easier to avoid the truth," she said, as she put her arm around the young lady.

"So, what do I do Serena, I mean if I approach him he may break up with me, and if I don't it could continue so either way I lose" Alexis whined,

"Only you can answer that, can you live with the lie, with yourself for not trying to approach it while it was still fresh, or are you willing to accept bigger and more serious lies in the future? Honey only you know the answer to that, I think I know you well enough to have a good idea.

"Love was never meant to be easy; you work at it if you truly value it and your partner. You don't walk away at the first sign of conflict, if that happens, it wasn't really love anyway honey." She tried to encourage the young lady.

"Serena, that's good advice, but you never asked me what he lied about, I mean"

"I don't have to know that, in fact, no one but you two need to know the details. I suggest you sit down with him and ask him directly, Why he lied. You'll know within a few minutes if you're dealing with a man who made a mistake or a serial liar who has done it in every relationship they ever had."

"Thanks, Serena, you're right. Oh, and just one thing that you probably already know about Dad, he hates lies more than anything on this earth. I guess you gathered that, I mean, I"

"Sweetie, your father, and I have no secrets, I know who and what you're talking about, and thank you for the heads up. He's been hurt, far too much and I never want him to feel any emotion other than happiness, I mean, he's made me so very happy. I'm going to try like hell to be sure he is as well."

"You already do, Serena, I've never seen Daddy as happy as he's been since you two made it official. You did a great job on the house, and the little extras you put into his office, well, let's just say that Dad pretends to be tough, but when it comes to matters of the heart, he's putty in your hands" She smiled and scrunched her nose,

"Sweetie, I can never thank you enough, I leaned on you a great deal, but I love the home, I hope I didn't mess anything up for your Dad, I mean,"

"Serena, you know by now that all it takes for Dad to be happy is for you, and us, his family to be happy. That's all he ever wanted in life. You make him happy, which makes me happy, and I know Daddy loves you, so it's easy for me to love you as well.

"I just don't want to be the smart-ass kid in your way, even if Dad still thinks I'm 12 sometimes. He knows that I will be out of school in about a year and then after my Ph.D. I think Mike wants to get married, provided we can get over this hurdle." She said sadly,

"Well, like you don't want to be the spoiled kid, I don't want to be the meddling Stepmom that you don't need in your life, you're a mature grown young lady, and I'll always be here if you need help. I promise you that, but I won't stick my nose, and I'll try my best to keep your Dad in his lane as well," she laughed, as Alexis hugged her, and mumbled, "Thank You, I know you love us and will keep Dad honest"

"So, as of tomorrow, all our furniture will be here, as well as the new pieces that the decorator has blended, and it will be the start of our new life. I wanted to ask you something Alexis, what do you think about having the wedding here, on our property?" She said her arm was still around her waist.

"I think it's a fantastic idea, it won't be that huge, so you have plenty of rooms for the guests in the house, and why not, it's the house you fell in love with. It's a perfect place to seal your new relationship, legally, you're already our family to Grams and me."

"Can you call me tomorrow after you and Mike talk, I don't need details, just that you are OK?" Serena asked, as Alexis smiled, kissed her on the cheek, and said, "Of course, let's get home before Dad sends out the search party one last night at the Condo and you will be officially moved in."

The ride back to the city had shifted to talk about the wedding and the details, and possible dates to have it. They arrived back just as Rick was bringing in a catered meal from LeCerc and Mike was opening a cold beer. Alexis said something to Mike then they excused themselves and left, Rick just said, "I wonder what that was about, Mike was looking forward to staying"

"Well, I'm sure they need to talk, I've hoarded so much of Alexis's time I'm sure they would like to spend some time alone together, I know I want to with you, after we eat I'm starved." She laughed as Rick pulled her into a deep kiss.

Beckett's Apartment

Same Time Frame

FLASHBACK TO KATE'S NY VISIT

Kate and Lanie had spent almost the entire week when she was in town discussing the wedding, Kate meeting her fiancé, Doctor Paul Rucker, one of the up-and-coming Cardiologists in New York. He was polite, and it was apparent that he worshipped the ground Lanie walked on. "Hi Kate, I'm so happy you and Lanie have reconnected she has spoken of you a great deal." He smiled an easy smile,

He was paged, which cut their meeting short, but after he left, Kate hugged Lanie with tears in her eyes. "You're right Lanes, he is perfect for you, don't blow this opportunity as I did with Rick." She said,

"I'm so sorry sweetie, you know I did everything short of kicking your ass to get you together, then I thought my job was done. I still don't know how this new job came about, and when you decided to leave, well, it hurt deeply. This was the type of thing that we always talked about, I mean I was your person, then I found out after the boys?" She said, wiping a few tears from her eyes.

"I know Lanie and the short answer is I fell for a recruiting line, and like I always did, hid it from Rick. My words of IT'S MY LIFE came back to bite me in the ass. Rick finally agreed that it was my life, and I know I hurt him terribly. I don't know what the hell I was expecting, but I know it wasn't him setting me free.

"Did you know he had purchased an engagement ring when we returned from Los Angeles and Royce's case? That was over two years that he held on to it, and when he showed me, I almost fainted. I had accused him of not committing, then the Vaughn incident, and the lie that finally broke everything, the interview in D.C.

"My partner fell for it worse than I, she actually called off her wedding less than a week from the date to accept the job. I know she tried to contact her fiancé a few times, and wrote letters, all of which were returned as Deceased, No Such Person, marked in red across the envelope.

"Chelsi Aberts is her name and is a country girl from Georgia, who had fallen for the same line I did. She ran into him on one of her leaves at her Mom's home, he was with another woman pushing a baby stroller,"

"Damn, that had to hurt, he moved on fast, if I can say what's on my mind," Lanie said.

"Well, Chelsi had broken him up with his old girlfriend, who was a friend of them both, and who happened to be in the bridal party, some southern family obligation or something, anyway, he found comfort in her arms quickly. She doesn't blame either of them, if she hadn't bit on the sucker line, she would be married to a successful attorney in Alpharetta Georgia." Kate said,

"Still, I mean at least Rick didn't jump into Serena's arms weeks after you left, I mean, hell forget that Kate. I'm so sorry, same old think it, just say it, I didn't mean"

"It's OK, Lanie. You're right he didn't, I couldn't blame him if he had, but I still am shocked he is getting married so soon. She must have impressed Alexis, or he would never have moved in with her at her Condo." She said with a tear in her eye.

"Well, Alexis adores her, they are like mother and daughter, and Serena asked her to be her maid of honor, which just sealed the deal with her," Lanie said,

"Wow, so she's gotten the blessing from the Reds, I guess it's real or Alexis would have called her out on it, she did me a few times, and rightfully so," Kate said.

"I'm so sorry Kate, I know"

"Hey enough of history, let's discuss your big day with Paul, have you set the date yet?" Kate asked.

"Well, with Paul's schedule, it's going to be about 3 months, he's trying to block the week of the honeymoon so can I let you know as soon as it's approved? I need my best friend to be by my side on that day." She said as she gathered her hands and squeezed them.

"Of course, Lanes, I didn't want to mention this, but I'm transferring to the New York office as soon as the official opening comes, perhaps in a few months. Who else is going to be in your bridal party?" she asked,

"Well, I hope it doesn't upset you, but when we weren't connecting on all cylinders, I wasn't sure if you would want to or not, so I asked Rose Karpowski, and Paul's sister Fran." She said, and looked down at the floor,

"Hey, Lanie, it's OK, I should have been a better friend, and I'm sorry I put doubts in your mind. Roz is a great friend, and I never had anything against her. She's worked hard to climb to the rank she has. It's all good, we'll include her on my next visit, I promise, OK?" she smiled,

"That would be great Kate, Fran is nice but all she wants to do is show up, stand at the ceremony, and then off to the reception. She's not that close with Paul, but if I hadn't asked her, his mother would have been hurt." She said,

"I understand, hey how about we go to dinner, I don't know about you, but I hear Remmy's calling my name." She laughed

"Let me get my coat, you don't have to mention it twice" she laughed."

PRESENT DAY

BECKETT'S WASHINGTON APARTMENT

Kate returned to D.C. just as conflicted about her feelings as when she had left. She had said all of the right things but really, she was talking from anywhere but her true feelings. Her heart was breaking, and she knew it was entirely her fault.

Perhaps it was the universe getting even, providing karma as Rick had always said. For all of the times she had hurt him, and there had been so many, perhaps this was the payback the universe was delivering.

One of the most difficult tasks she had to do the week after she returned to D.C. was to talk with her partner, Chelsi. Her transfer request had been approved and was scheduled for 7 weeks from today. She knew it was going to be difficult, she had grown fond of the young southern belle, almost like she was a younger sister.

She called and arranged to meet her at her apartment, and then go to lunch later the same day since both were still off duty. She arrived and knocked on her door, to see a red-eyed, Chelsi, holding a tissue, listening to Faith Hill's song, There You'll Be. Chelsi had gotten her into Country music, much to her surprise, and this seemed to be the anthem for both of their personal lives.

She heard the lyrics and felt Chelsi fall into her arms, one of her really bad days.

When I think back on these times
And the dreams we left behind
I'll be glad 'cause I was blessed to get to have you in my life
When I look back on these days
I look and see your face
You were right there for me

In my dreams, I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart, there'll always be a place for you for all my life
I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am, there you'll be
And everywhere I am, there you'll be

Well, you showed me how it feels
To feel the sky within my reach
And I always will remember all the strength you gave to me
Your love made me make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me

In my dreams, I'll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart, there'll always be a place for you for all my life
I'll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am, there you'll be

Cause I always saw you in my light, my strength
And I wanna thank you now for all the ways
You were right there for me (You were right there for me)
You were right there for me
For always

"Hey Chelsi, this isn't helping you, what happened to that girl, I'm moving on. I know, I know sweetie, I just found out Rick is getting married, and worse, he's happier with her than he ever was with me." She said as she hugged the young lady and turned off the stereo playing on a loop.

"I don't know what I would do without you Kate, I mean, I depend on you for everything." She said in cry talk only females could understand.

"Yeah, about that Chels, we need to talk. I'm transferring to New York City; I just got the confirmation. I'm sorry, but hey I'll always be a phone call away. You are going to be fine; I promise you." Kate tried to encourage the young lady who was struggling to draw a breath, almost as if someone had punched her.

"You're moving back home? Maybe you can catch up with your ex, and make things right, there's still time, he's not married yet" she said,

"Chelsi, you're sweet, but not realistic. Rick is gone, I threw him away, and now he's set to marry someone his family loves, so I'll just have to be happy for him." She said as tears threatened her eyes.

"Well, part of the reason I was crying Kate was, that I'm leaving D.C. as well. I'm going to the Macon Georgia office, in six weeks. Mom made it clear that I was not welcome there after embarrassing her and costing her and Daddy so much money on the wedding.

"Macon is close enough to the few friends I have left, and if Daddy or she needs me, well, they're getting to the age that they are going to need me, like it or not." She said, as Kate smiled, a huge relief filled her,

"That's great Chelsi, I know how much you hated this city, and frankly so do I. I'm happy for you, and I'm so glad I'm not leaving you here for the wolves to feast on." She laughed,

"Kate let's get a drink, maybe a lot of them, and don't shush me. If I get lucky take a cab and call me tomorrow, OK? I'll do the same for you." She said,

"Well, I'm not ready to fall into bed just yet, but I won't say no to a few drinks, it's been a hell of a few weeks." She said as they headed to Gasly's, the local watering hole for law enforcement of many departments in D.C.

TBC

A/N: This update will be the last for a few weeks as I have some business to take care of and potential medical procedures. I'll return as quickly as possible, and I have no intention of abandoning it. Thx for the kind reviews and notes.