Private Life

by Castlefan6

Authors Note AU: Beckett and Castle have reached their first If Only moment, which forces Rick to leave the precinct. The episodes Cops and Robbers and To Live and Die in LA have been rearranged to suit this Timeline; please go with it.

I am taking a Literary License to fill in the blanks.

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

This is COMPLETELY AU and May or May Not Wind Up with a Caskett Ending.

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Chapter 9

Hidden Hills, California,

Later, Same Time, Frame

Rick knew that something was bothering Maddie, no matter what she said or how hard she tried to hide it from him. He had a good idea what she was upset about, but he wanted to clear one more hurdle before he made it official.

He was finally applying for his discharge from the Marines and planned on cutting back on extracurricular activities for the man known as Jackson. He knew that Maddison had grown tired of the life, the secrecy, the living one life in public and another in private. It had taken a toll on them both until they came together almost four years ago.

He spoke to Alexis about his plan to return to New York, and she was thrilled to hear he was going to ask Maddie to move into the loft. Although she was young, she wasn't ignorant that the lady was nuts about her dad. She was glad her Dad had found someone that truly made him happy. She had worried for such a long time that it would never happen and was very happy that Maddie met her one requirement: her Dad came first, before anything else.

They were going to dinner tonight when he would surprise her with his news and ask her to move into the Loft when they returned to New York IF he could keep it a secret that long.

"So, what are your plans today, Rick? I have to go to the office today, at least for a few hours; you know how Jackson is about the planning, especially now that we're rotating out in a few months." She said as she saw the frown on his face,

"Please, that man. Some days I want to... well, never mind. We'll be home soon. To answer your question, I have a manuscript that is about 90% complete, which I've been reworking into the next Nikki Heat book. I still need to keep my cover in play, plus I owe Black Pawn two more books on my contract." He said

"I didn't know you had another two books due to the She Beast. When the heck do you find time to take care of everything, me included, and still write?" She asked, using her nickname for Gina Cowell, his publisher and ex-wife.

Rick smiled, "Some more jealousy, I detect? No need to be we never stood a chance and should never have gotten married to begin with. I guess I thought Alexis needed a Mom, and well."

"Rick, you don't owe me any explanation. That was before us. I can't say I disagree with your assessment; she smiled as she drew him in for her goodbye kiss. "I'll call you later when I get some idea of the time I'm coming home," she said, kissing him between words.

"You better. Don't forget we have reservations at Fleming's Steak House tonight, and I know you've been itching to go." He smiled as her eyes lit up, and he kissed her goodbye.

It was a typical day at work for her, trying to put the pieces together for a transition plan for the next team coming on. Rick's efforts had put a considerable dent in the operations of the man still known only as "The Dragon." His network had been severely damaged with Rick's efforts, but things were getting too hot to keep him safely in the operation, so it was time to wrap things up and return to his "normal" life.

She was preparing the biographies of the new and replacement players that had been recruited to fill the openings caused by the arrest of so many of the "Dragon's" team. She knew that Rick had something up his sleeve. He was like a little boy trying to hide a surprise. She only hoped it would be the news, actually, the question she had wanted to hear for so long.

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Fleming's Steakhouse

7:12 PM Same Day

Rick had the limo pull around to a private entrance. As usual, they had a private room, and even the wait staff had been warned to keep their distance, especially if they desired the large gratuities that Rick was accustomed to leaving.

As they ordered, she knew he was bursting to tell or ask her something, so she took his hand in one hand, turned his face to hers with the other, and kissed him like there was no tomorrow. "Now, do you want to tell or ask me what has been driving you crazy for the last week?" she smiled, sneaking one more kiss in as he blushed and stammered.

"I, eh, what, I mean, how do you do that, Maddie? I worked so hard not to give it away.

She laughed softly, "I know, sweetheart, the harder you try, the more you act like a little boy trying to hide a Christmas present for his girlfriend that no one knows he has." Her eyes sparkled, knowing that she knew him so well, he stole a kiss back and said,

"For that, I should make you wait until we eat, but, well, the secret is killing me as much if not more than you." he smiled,

She batted her eyes and gave him a look that he could never resist, "OK, you win," he relented. "I know it's been weighing on you since we got the word we would be returning to New York in a few months about our living arrangements. Well, I want to ask you to move into the Loft with me when we return, but also explain some changes that are coming." He said, her face tightened

"OK, Rick, you're worrying me. Of course, I want to live in the Loft; I never want to be away from you, as much as I know that's impossible, but what changes are coming? Did I do something to mess us up?" She said, her courage in her voice fading quickly

He took her hand in his and gently said, "Of course not, but I put in for my official discharge from the Marines, and I notified Jackson that I was cutting back on accepting assignments immediately. I want to be with you, and well, let's face it, we both know how dangerous the job can be." He said as he saw her breathe a sigh of relief.

"Rick, seriously?" she asked with tears falling down her cheeks.

"Seriously, you can guess the first question Jackson asked when I spoke to him." Rick smiled,

"I bet it was something to do with me or us, wasn't it," she said, regaining her composure as Rick gently pulled her into him. She always felt so safe when his big arms surrounded her.

"Right on the first guess, he wanted to know if I had put a ring on your finger. I told him it was none of his business, and he would hear through HR, like any other one in the chain of command, if and when it happened." He said, locked on her eyes,

"Rick, I'm not pushing, I"

"I know Maddie, but I enjoyed our time together here in Los Angeles, and well, I'm hoping things don't change when we get back to New York. I want you to know that I'm losing that fear a little more each day, so thank you for being patient with me." He kissed her gently as their drink order arrived, and she made a little more room between them. She usually would sit across the table, but tonight, she needed to feel him close by.

"If you mean going through a cheating wife with a newborn, then to face Atilla the Hun at the office as well as home, how could anyone not give you time to recover from that nightmare." She smiled as he played with her hand.

She thought of a song her Dad used to sing to her Mom when she had been a Biatch, "It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chew your ass out all day long." She laughed as she recalled the title,

"What's so funny, Maddie?" Rick asked until she pressed the play button on her iPod; a few minutes later, they both were laughing hysterically. "I can't believe they actually recorded that," Rick said,

"They weren't supposed to release it, it was just a gag record when one of the artists was going through a divorce, but someone forgot to tell the marketing guy. Next thing you know, they hear it being played on the local radio channel.

"They had to do quick damage control, including a fake name for the group of artists. My Dad loved the story, and since he and Mom worked together for a number of years, he used to sing it to her just to piss her off." Maddie got out between her tears and laughter,

"I bet; I mean, I can only imagine their horror thinking about the backlash." Rick laughed, "You're right, though; the words do fit Gina, the publisher, and Gina, the sometimes wife. I never put the two together until I heard the words in the song, "He looked away,

"Hey, just because we work together, that song doesn't have to fit either one of us, at least I hope it doesn't," she said as she turned his face gently towards hers,

"It doesn't, I was just thinking that I may have gotten it right this time" he smiled as she kissed him gently,

The remainder of the evening was spent in comfort. In a few weeks, they would be back in New York, just in time for Spring, and she would be moving in with him in his permanent location, the Loft.

She had checked to see how Alexis felt about her moving in and was thrilled when Rick showed her the text that he had received from his daughter.

"Daddy, a blind person can see how much Maddie loves you. Don't you dare take advantage of her. I mean it. You don't want to hurt her like you've been hurt, so if she makes you happy, ask her to move in and clear the air about Meredith and Gina. No woman wants the memories there to haunt them, and I'd love to have you both back in the loft when I do finish this quarter. Love you both, A."

It was unusual for Maddie to interact with Alexis. She thought the younger Castle would resist, and she was shocked and surprised to read what was a glowing endorsement of their relationship. The last weeks flew by quickly; Rick had finished not only the second Heat Book but had the third all done except for final edits.

Finally, the day of departure from the organization came; she could hardly contain her excitement. She loved the home in Hidden Hills, but in reality, it was much too large. She loved being as close to Rick as she could, the loft was perfect, affording him privacy when he needed it, but not so large she would lose sight of her man.

Jackson had about blown a gasket when she resigned from her position to spend more time with Rick. Actually, the official reason she gave was she owned three successful restaurants, and they needed the owner's attention. He knew it was BS, as well as she did, but he accepted her resignation reluctantly and said to her softly,

"For the record and strictly off official business, I wouldn't oppose being a Grandfather if you two get your head out of your collective asses. I know, I know, it's more my son than you, but maybe you could, I don't know, forget to take some medicine or something," he said, as she blushed,

"Well, since it's officially off the record, it's really none of your business, and I would feel more comfortable if you addressed those matters with your son. I'm sure he has his reasons for what, when, and how he is doing things." Maddie spat back,

"Well, at least you acknowledge that I have a son, something that Richard has yet to do, he still hates me, I guess more than ever now," Jackson said,

"As you said, Rick has his reasons, and I haven't, nor will I ask what they are. I know Rick pretty well, and if he has refused reconciliation with you all these years, you must have done something unspeakable. She turned to face him,

"As I said, this conversation never happened, and for the record, I wouldn't oppose it, meaning making you a Grandfather again either, but the ball is in Rick's court. Give him time; he's dealing with a lot of things, and your professional duties thrust on him didn't help one bit." She said as forcibly as she could,

"You're right, I have a lot of things I never talked to him about that I have to, someday, I mean,"

"Jackson, we lost eight men on the last three raids; one of them could have been Rick or you. Time doesn't have an unending supply for any of us. You better get your act together before it's too late for all of us. I have to go," she said as she walked out the door one last time, feeling every bit as free as she ever had.

When she got home, Rick was waiting for her; this time, it was he who had her bath drawn and her favorite drink, a fuzzy navel made just the way he could make them. Take your bath, relax, and then you can tell me how hard Jackson made it on you; I'm sure it wasn't easy to walk out after so many assignments.

"Are you sure you won't be bored staying at home with me?" he asked and was pushed into the tub with her, locked in a deep kiss.

"I'm right where I want to be, with whom I want to be, so you better be careful that Mr. that you're talking about is the man I love," she laughed,

After several attempts, they finally exited the tub just in time to make dinner only ten minutes late. If there were any regrets about the career moves, it would be hard to determine which one had any. They both seemed free and looking forward to the next chapter of their lives, now in New York.

TBC

A/N: Logical stopping point even though the chapter is a bit shorter than usual, I'll try to make the next one longer to make up for it, _ Tim