Note to the Readers: I am still not 100% sure where I am going with this…I have 3 ideas bouncing around and I decided to let the characters determine it by their behavior. We will see. Yes, there will be a case at some point. Yes, Rick will be in this one, just not in person until chapter 3 or 4. Chapter 2 he will be on the phone.

Disclaimers: No, I don't own them. Castle belongs to other more talented individuals.

Kate tore through the Manhattan Streets. She enjoyed running so early in the morning where the night's inhabitants were on their way home. The streets lulled into dormancy for a brief hour or two before dawn broke in one of busiest cities in the world. Most morning her run invigorated her for work. Not this morning, today she was trying to burn off her anger. She knew this day would come, she just expected Rick would be there to help deal with the mess. He called her from Australia to tell her how well his book tour was going. He had two more television shows on which to appear, three book store readings with autographing sections and then he would fly home. According to her latest calculations, she would see him in 122 hours and 22 minutes. She sighed while waiting for the pedestrian crossing indicator to turn green. The gauntlet in front of their building was going to be rough this morning.

As she sprinted down the last section of the sidewalk she had intended to run to the rear of their building, but then she noticed the press had camped both places. She decided at the last second to face them head on rather than hide. Meredith may be Rick's ex-wife but she may no longer be among the living once Rick found out that she had tweeted one of Alexis' photographs of their wedding in Belize. The tweet had gone out sometime around midnight Pacific Time which is why Kate had seen it seconds before her run. When she had left the building, there was not a reporter in sight. An hour has passed since she began her run; there are at least 30 reporters with cameras at the ready.

The last 4 months had been blissful. She couldn't have asked for a better beginning to their marriage. Everyone who needed to know about the wedding knew. Lanie had begun to defrost towards Kate. Her feelings were still very hurt, but after a lot of coaxing Kate had finally shared with her why she wanted such a small wedding. Lanie wasn't happy, but she understood. And then there was Meredith. Meredith had not been told about the wedding intentionally. She has a bad habit of airing everyone's dirty laundry including her own. Kate was sure of one thing, when she finally spoke to Alexis she knew that Alexis would have several choice words to share about her mother.

Time to face the hyenas. Kate slowed to a walk just before colliding with the reporters. The reporters were barking questions at her so fast that she wasn't even certain what all of them were. Kate was making a concerted effort to ignore them

Mrs. Castle, just a few questions please!

Bennie, the doorman, handed the bottled water to her as he was opening the door.

Why the short engagement?

Why is your husband honeymooning away from you?

At that question she choked on her water.

"What was that again?"

Why is your husband honeymooning away from you?

Isn't it strange he went on a book tour so soon after the wedding?

"Our honeymoon was two solid weeks and then we were here for several months before the tour. When do you think we were married?"

The former Mrs. Castle says it was last week.

Kate laughed and shook her head leaving the stunned reporters in her wake.

Are you pregnant?

She heard the last question and winced. It was going to be long day.

She entered the apartment and went straight for the shower. She toweled off, did her makeup and dressed for work in what felt like record time. When Rick wasn't around to distract her she could be ready for work in under 30 minutes if you didn't include her work out. If Rick was home, getting ready for work usually took at least another hour sometimes two depending on whether he was coming into the station or not. The length of time they were apart always lengthened the time for her to leave.

She looked at her watch 121 hours and 43 minutes until his plane touched down. She sighed and went to prepare breakfast for her favorite red head.

Kate was busy slicing fruit when Alexis came in the room. She timidly sat her things by the door before entering the kitchen. Without a word Alexis made their two cups of coffee. Their ritual from the first morning was sacred to both of them. Alexis handed Kate her cup just after she poured the batter for the first crepe.

"Kate, I have something I need to tell you…" Alexis' pleading eyes told Kate that everything that happened had been an accident.

"Lex, I have already seen the tweet and so has every reporter in New York. It isn't your fault that your mother hasn't an ounce of discretion."

"So you aren't mad at me?"

Kate rolled her eyes at her. "I am not mad at you, but next time you send Meredith a photograph, think about its contents first. The fact that you and Martha were matching, your dad was in a tux and I was wearing a white dress with a bouquet just might have tipped her off to it being a wedding."

"I didn't realize I sent her that one. She asked to see photos of our trip to Belize. I forgot that I hadn't removed your wedding photographs from that album. I have a separate wedding album too, but I just let there be duplicates. I am sorry."

"The presses were going to find out sooner or later. I just wish your dad had been here to enjoy the feeding frenzy which reminds me. I better call Paula."

"Kate, she is in Australia with dad."

"Oh, crap. I guess I will call her anyway. She will know what to do, but I guess I should call her soon or I will wreck her day for tomorrow."

"Paula probably has a contingency set up for this anyway."

Kate flipped the last of the crepes on to their plates and poured the pureed fruit on top with a little whipping cream.

Alexis lifted an eyebrow at the breakfast. "No offense Kate but isn't this a little calorie heavy?"

"Yes, but I am really hungry. I couldn't eat last night remember."

"You were nauseous. I remember. What made you sick?"

"I don't know for sure, but I have a few ideas, but none I am ready to share at the moment."

"Ooo. Hopeful and cryptic. Too bad dad isn't here, I would know by dinner."

"I will make you a deal. If I have an answer tonight and I share it with you, you can't tell anyone especially your dad!"

"Deal! I better get moving I have a few early classes at Columbia this morning. I am glad I chose to start at the summer semester, it's better than wondering what college will be like."

Kate watched Alexis disappear after they did a quick kitchen clean up.

She was dialing Rick as she stepped through the door.