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 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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A/N: If you hated the original, Girl from Yesterday, you are really going to hate this one. No, I don't hate Beckett, It's building on the story I wrote from a user prompt, and other readers asked to add where are they now, or a follow-up. Thanks for reading, Once again, Trolls will be deleted.
PREVIOUSLY:
Once the news broke, a celebration to end celebrations broke out at the 12th precinct. Rick threw a congratulations party for Roz Karpowski who had been named Captain of the 12th precinct, an honor that she knew Roy Montgomery had been grooming someone else for. Circumstances have a way of working themselves out, or as Rick said, the Universe took control.
Whatever it was, it was the beginning of the rebirth of the 12th precinct, minus a few players. Beckett was of course gone, Gates was awaiting sentencing, and several other IA cops were trying to arrange plea deals. Kevin was promoted to Lieutenant, Javi decided to leave the force, and Anne Hasting left on her three-week honeymoon, undecided about her future.
The place sure didn't look the same as the first day Rick and Serena had talked, nor was it. Rick felt relief when it was all over and done, and he, Serena, Bob, and his wife Marge took a two-week-long trip to an undisclosed location to decompress and vacation privately.
Kate only discovered the happenings when she had to return to Montanna to finally arrest her tax cheat. Watching it on TV, thousands of miles away from a life she had known and loved so well, put credence to the song that was playing on the jukebox this visit, Glenn Frey's Girl from Yesterday, that was exactly what she had become, a footnote in history, a sad experience for all.
TWO WEEKS LATER
St. James, Barbados
"Rick, I can't believe it's over, our vacation where did the time go, Luv?" Serena asked as she stepped behind him on the veranda, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Thank you for the best two weeks of my life, actually the best 8 months if I'm being serious. I've never felt this way or been treated like this by anyone before" She turned his face gently and kissed him with a kiss that he never grew tired of.
"I know Serena, It seems as though we just got here, and its already time to leave. I can't tell you how happy you've made me, truly happy so thank you. You know just what to say, and when to say it. You never get tired of listening to me vent, and you have put the pieces of my shattered heart together again." He looked at her with his blue eyes showing every bit of love and affection she was feeling as he returned her kiss.
"Rick, do you still feel the way you did before we went to Toronto and visited Mamaw and Papa's graves? I mean we've moved pretty fast, and well, I just need to know if we're still on the same page" she said shyly,
He stepped back one step, creating a slight separation between them, took her hands in his, and said gently, "I have to be honest, Luv, I don't. I'm not sure when it changed, but you see, I don't just love you, I'm in love with you. He flipped on a recording of a song by Glen Frey, Part of Me, Part of You, and the words filled the beautiful night air, as she struggled to maintain her composure.
She fought to keep her tears from falling, losing the battle about the second line of the song, falling into his arms, hugging him so tightly, and whispering words of love. She had prayed for this day, and here it was. She fell in love with him during the trip to Toronto, his heart was so big, and he couldn't do enough to please her.
You`re a part of me, I`m a part of you
Wherever we may travel
Whatever we go through
Whatever time may take away?
It cannot change the way we feel today
So hold me close and say you feel it too
You`re a part of me, and I`m a part of you
I can hear it when I stand beside the river
I can see it when I look up in the sky
I can feel it when I hear that lonesome highway
So many miles to go before I die
We can never know about tomorrow
Still, we have to choose which way to go
You and I are standing at the crossroads
Darling, there is one thing you should know…
"Rick, I do feel it, I think you knew that. Hell, I was a goner once we got to Toronto, and I prayed every night that I wouldn't screw up the best thing that has ever happened to me, tell me I didn't Luv, please. I'm in love with you, and I promise, I will wait, I can wait until you are ready." She said, as he gently wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Wait for what, sweetie? I'm in love with you, you're in love with me, why should we wait for anything? I mean unless you're not ready, I mean" she silenced him with a non-verbal answer. Her kiss told him the answer he was looking for.
"Rick are you saying what I think you are?" she got out between her tears, as she realized he was already down on one knee, looking up at her with his blue eyes sparkling,
"Serena Nagy Nagyová Kaye, mali anđeo, I'm on one knee asking you to take a chance on this man who was broken until you came into my life. You`re a part of me, I`m a part of you, Wherever we may travel in life, Whatever challenges we face, Whatever obstacles time may put in our path, it can't change the way we feel today. Will you please make me the happiest man on this earth, say yes as I ask you Will you marry me and become a part of me, and I a part of you, until death takes us away?" He got out before a tear fell from his eye down his cheek.
She was already nodding her head yes before he had finished, but she looked down, locked on his eyes, "Yes, Rick, I will marry you, I'll be your little angel, your wife, and your partner in life. You are part of me, and I'm so happy to be part of you, I love you, Richard Castle, and I'll always love you and will prove it to you every day." She said, As his smile widened, he stood, wiped her tears, kissed her lovingly, and slipped on a beautiful ring on her finger.
He had it custom-made when they were in Toronto. She had pointed out the style she liked on a walk through the old neighborhood from the showroom of the very store where Papa had purchased Mamaw's ring.
It reminded her of the ring she wore around her neck, the only remembrance of her Mamaw. The big difference was the size of the stone, but she didn't care if it had been a plastic ring from a gumball machine. The love of this man was all she ever wanted. Her love of jewelry was overshadowed by her love of her fiancé. God that sounded good to say.
"Well, fiancé what do you want to do now? Go for a drink alone, tell Bob and Marcy. Anything my future wife wants." He said as he kissed her sweetly,
"Rick, could we call Alexis, I want her to be the first to know. She was the first to reach out and make sure I wasn't in this to hurt you, I want her to know, if that's all right?" she asked, A smile so large came across his face,
"Come on let's FaceTime her now, it's still not too late," as he was reaching for his iPad. The phone rang twice before the image of his daughter appeared, "Dad, is everything OK, Is Serena OK, What's going on?" one question after another,
"Alexis, everything is fine, it's better than fine, but I'll let Serena tell you, As he turned the iPad in her direction, "Alexis, I wanted to tell you something, well actually that and ask" as her ring caught the glimmer of light, and all that was heard next was a shriek, yelling, jumping up and down, and Alexis saying
"He did it, he really did it, God, I'm so happy for you Serena, for you and Dad. Finally, someone who loves him just the way he is, You did say yes, didn't you?" She panicked, as Serena laughed, "Yes baby, I said yes, I just wanted your blessing, I mean"
"God yes, of course, and thanks for asking, but I told Dad if he didn't ask you soon, he was going to lose the best thing that ever happened to him." Alexis smiled, and Serena cried happy tears, as Rick kissed her gently and wiped her eyes. "Thanks, Alexis, you made a beautiful night even more beautiful" Serena got out,
"I'm sorry, I'm just so excited, and happy for you both, did you want to ask me something, Serena? I was rude and cut you off", she said quietly,
"Oh, yes, thanks for reminding me, Alexis, You can say no if you don't feel like doing it, but would you be my Maid of Honor? We don't know any of the details yet, but I'm going to need someone who understands the family to help me plan, I mean"
It was Alexis who was crying now, "You want me to be your Maid of Honor? Are you sure, I mean I would love to be, but only if you won't hurt anyone from your side of the family. That's a huge honor, thank you for thinking of me," she said, as she wiped her eyes with a tissue,
"It's settled, sweetie, there is no one else in the world I would even imagine other than you, as long as you are sure." Serena smiled, "I love your Dad, and if you want to know a secret, I've loved you since I met you." She said, Rick wiped an eye with that comment.
"I know you love Dad, Serena, you've proved that over and over. I know Daddy loves you, and well, I love you too. All I ever want is for Daddy and you to be happy, that will make me happy. It's gonna be nice to have some help in finishing his raising," she said, as both ladies broke out in laughter,
"OK, Pumpkin, we're going to let you go, We have a lot to talk about, but we both wanted you to be the first person to know," He said, as he looked deep into his fiancé's eyes.
"Thanks, Dad, I know it was Serena who thought of it, but I still love you both, Travel safely, and I'll see you soon. Welcome to this crazy family Serena, we love you as well, Goodnight" as the connection went dim.
"You're something special, do you know that Angel? Alexis is over the moon, and she did tell me to get my act together, Good women like Serena don't come around every day were her exact words." He said,
"Rick, could I ask you a personal question?" Serena said, looking deep into his eyes
"Sure, what is it?" he asked,
"Please tell me I'm the only lady you ever called Angel?" she said, then "I know it's stupid," he kissed her, "YOU are the only Angel, I have ever had in my life, and yes you are the only one I have ever called that name." he kissed her as she returned his kiss,
"I didn't want to keep stealing your Papa's name, so I hope you are OK with me using just a part of it," he said,
"More than OK, Rick it's perfect, You are so much like Papa in so many ways, and I'm proud to be your Angel," she said, as a chill went up her arm.
"Hey, let's order room service, and lie here and discuss our future, We can tell Bob and Marcy tomorrow if that's OK," he said, as he carried her into the room and closed the door to stop the cool night air from coming in.
"It's perfect, my future husband, God that sounds so good to say. I keep looking at my ring to make myself believe it's really happening." She said.
The rest of the night was spent celebrating in a very private setting. One thing was certain, there were definitely two less lonely people in the world tonight as Air Supply sang as they finally fell asleep after who knows how many sessions of love.
XxX
1820 E Street
Washington, D.C.
Same Time Frame
Kate Beckett had worked her way up the ladder, at least a few rungs, so to speak, and was beginning to get more important cases, although she still did draw the BFE, or (Bum Frick Egypt) locations that no airlines serviced. Her ass had more miles on it from sitting in cars driving than a frequent flyer had to commute to different locations.
She had been in contact with her New York friends much more since the first time she had visited and received cold shoulder treatment from everyone, but she still had a long way to go to earn her way back. As Lanie put it, "Kate, we love you, but no matter how much, all of us have had enough of the old behavior. Prove to us that we're important, and then I hope we can get some of the old days back." As usual, Lanie never pulled any punches, but she was right.
She had been fortunate enough to gain a new partner, one who was much more compatible, Chelsi Aberts was a country girl from Georgia, who had fallen for the same line she had. She left her fiancé to accept the interview offered by Agent Stack, and well, long story short, her life had traveled much the same path as Kate's had. It was long on career and short on personal relationships, especially once she left her soulmate of 7 years for the job and the big stage, or so she thought.
They didn't bring up their private lives often, but one night in a drunken mess, Chelsi admitted today would have been her wedding day, had she not screwed over the man she had loved since 11th grade in high school. Kate could relate, but she only took care of getting her back to the room, never sharing her demons about her relationship with the writer.
Kate knew that Rick Castle was her favorite writer and that she had heard that he had been involved with a New York Detective, but not the name. Kate never told the truth, choosing to keep her name out of the conversation. "Yeah, I heard that that Bitch worked him over pretty good, leaving him high and dry after he had given her almost anything she had ever wanted," she said,
"Well, Chelsi, you can't believe everything you hear on those gossip shows, I'm sure the lady had a good reason to break it off with him," she replied to the younger agent.
"Well, maybe, but I also saw on his website, a notice from both his publisher and agent, that he would be gone for a while, then they posted pictures of him with a woman on a European trip. Everyone was going nuts until they found out she was a friend from school and rumored to be his therapist." She slurred her words as Kate tried to get her to the car.
The song on the jukebox ironically played a song that she thought was fitting for her life, especially after hearing and seeing at least on TV that Rick had indeed moved on with Serena Kay. She closed her eyes and remembered the immediate attraction between the two of them when they worked the jewelry case for the museum. It wasn't hard to make the leap, he wasn't wasting time in replacing her, but who could blame him? Now she had to start over, as the song played on,
Try and Love Again
Song by Eagles
When you're out there on your own
Where your memories can find you
Like a circle goes around
You were lost until you found out
What it all comes down to
One by one, the lonely feeling is gone
Day by day, they slowly fade away
Ooh, the look in her eyes
You never know what might be found there
She was dancing right in time
And the moves she made were so fine
Like the music that surrounds her
Should I stay or go?
I really wanna know
Would I lose or win?
If I try and love again
Oh, oh, oh, oh, gonna try and love again
Oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm gonna try and love again
Oh, oh, oh, oh, gonna try and love
Right or wrong, what's done is done
It's only moments that you borrow
But the thoughts will linger on of the lady and her song
When the sun comes up tomorrow
Well, it might take years to see through all these tears
Don't let go, when you find it you will know
TBC
A/N: I reviewed some requests; One was to write what came next for both Rick and Serena and would Kate ever find happiness. I'll attempt to do that with this story. Once again this is NOT A CASKETT STORY, so please save the flame'o'grams, you have been warned. Updates will be sporadic, as I have surgery, and two trips planned over the next month and a half. Thanks for the support, - Tim