It was the middle of the day. Castle was doing a project for one of his books and decided to take the subway. He wanted to just do some watching and observing of the people around him and what he saw. Alexis was gone for the day and his mom was at the spa with some of her girlfriends. Getting on he sat down putting his bag on his lap. It wasn't to busy seeing as it was the middle of the day and not rush hour. He knew later in the day it would get pretty busy. Shifting in his seat slightly at the next stop he looked up to see a woman get on trying to wrangle a stroller. She had a sleeping baby in the stroller and a crying toddler on her hip. Hearing the crying toddler everyone looked at her but it seemed as though no one wanted to help. Looking around moments later Castle gets up and helps her get the stroller on the subway. Now this was not some new fangled thing with all the bells and whistles. This stroller had been around the block a few times. It was dirty and even ripped in one place.
"Here lemme help." Castle smiles softly at the woman helping her with the stroller. The woman barely looked up at him but when they locked eyes he could see the fear and helplessness in her eyes. The woman was dirty and her hair a mess. Castle almost thought she was homeless, but then he noticed she did not have all her lives worth with her. Not that it meant she was not homeless. As castle went to sit down the woman thanked him and went to find a seat near the door. Watching her he couldn't help but wonder what kind of life she lived. He was rather intrigued and wanted to get to know her more. Sitting down he tried not to stare but he couldn't help it. She had found a seat but was trying to sooth the crying toddler. Nothing she was doing was helping. She knew he'd had a rough morning and was in need of a nap. Well hell, they'd all had a rough morning. Castle really had no where to go so he stayed on and waited to see what stop she would get off at. Looking up a few moments later he noticed they had stopped at 59th street, he watched and having already put the now (thankfully) sleeping toddler in the stroller she gets off. He doesn't want to seem like a stalker so he waits a moment before grabbing his things and getting off. He watches following at a safe distance as not to be seen from her. Finally he see's a park in front of him. He'd been here before but years ago with Alexis. It was nice and open, plenty of room for her son to run around. Finding a bench he sits down and relaxes just enjoying the day. He smiles awhile later seeing the woman play with her son as the baby slept. After awhile later he decides to go get lunch and head home. he'd made the decision to come out and do this again tomorrow hoping that maybe he'd see her again. That one moment of looking into her eyes he felt something. It was nothing major but he knew he at least wanted to become friends with her.
The next week or so Castle got on the same train and spotted the same lady. He tried to step back and not be seen by her. The second week he couldn't go everyday but it was wednesday and he got on the subway and saw the same lady, this time she had a bruise on her face. It worried him. Getting off when she got off he finally got up the nerve to catch up with her.
"Hi, Uh, I know you don't want to talk to me, or anyone for that matter but…" he pauses and looks at her.
"I'm sorry but I have to go." She says pushing the stroller towards the park.
"I swear I'm not a creep!" He sighs.
"Let me get you lunch! Please?" Castle says coming up next to her.
"Fine." She sighs and stops to look at him.
"Theres a little family friendly Cafe down the street." Castle smiles showing her the way. About an hour later they are at a small table and the woman is scarfing down a sandwich. The toddler was eating some chips and the baby was sleeping. Castle tried to get her to talk but she was not really into talking.
"I know you most likely don't want help but please, I want to help you." He sighs as she shakes her head.
"I can't." She sighs looking up.
"At least let me get you lunch for a few weeks." He says as she watches him.
"I promise I won't hurt you." He looks at her and she finally agrees.
A week or so later he finally gets a chance to talk to her. She opens up about her past. Her name was Kate Beckett. Her mother had died a few years ago and she was in an abusive relationship, she'd been laid off from her job from the 12 precinct. She had just been promoted to detective but since she was new and there was budget cuts they had to let her go. It was the job she tells me that made her husband go crazy. He thought she could be the bread winner and that her job would pay for his girls and the alcohol. She had wanted to get out but he scared her so much that she just couldn't. Castle had convinced her finally to get out. Knowing her husband would be out for the day Castle helped her get her things out and call the police. He had offered for them to stay a few nights while they found a new place and got everything situated with the police. It was then that he really started to like her. He knew it would some time to get really close to her. A lot of time that some might be pushed away because of that time, but because he was starting to really like her he was going to do anything to win her over. Getting her temporarily moved in he offered her a shower and took her clothes to get them washed and cleaned. After she got out and they camped the kids up in Alexis' room Castle took Kate to the living room and sat down with her. They talked for a pretty long time about things. Slowly but surely he got to hear more about her past. What her living was like and just lots of little things. A few hours later the kids wake up and castle goes to help Kate. He gets a super and changes Nathan (the toddlers) diaper while Kate feeds Hannah. Picking up Nathan he takes him down stairs and sits with him in front of the TV to watch cartoons with him. A few minutes later Kate and Hannah join them on the couch.
"Thank you." She smiles at Castle. Castle nods and smiles back.
"I know this was all really quick and I scared you but your a nice person and I really like you." He smiles softly as Nathan giggles at the TV.
"Maybe we could go out for dinner or something?" Castle asks softly.
"I, uh, I don't know." She sighs looking down.
"Come on, I'll get my mom to take you out for a few new outfits and I can get Alexis to baby sit." He suggests.
"Well..." She pauses thinking.
"Alright sure, I guess I can do that." She smiles softly. It was the heat of the moment but she was taken up in it and leaned over and kissed him. Castle kisses back as she pulls away.
"S-sorry." She says getting ready to get up.
"It's ok." He smiles and leans back in for another kiss. She lets go and kisses him back. Moments later they let go and she takes a deep breath. Nathan is now climbing on Castle having become bored with what was on the TV.
"Ok, buddy, you want to go for a walk?" He chuckles softly.
"Let's go for a walk and we can go to the target down the street and pick up a few things." He smiles.
"If your going to stay here for a while then we will need a few things." He says getting up.
"Please Castle, you don't have to do to this." She sighs softly.
"But I want you to stay with me, you'll need things." He sighs. She grumbles and gets up. The four of them leave and walk down the street to target. They pick up a few things including two car seats for the kids, a new stroller, a new set of bottles, diapers, a new set of bottles, some clothes, and all the little bits kids need. Kate was internally grateful for what Castle had done. She wanted to be able to repay him for everything but he told her that every was fine. They come back to his place and the girls are home. Castle helps bring the stuff in and smiles seeing his mom and daughter.
"Martha, Alexis, this is Kate." He smiles as Kate smiles back.
"Hi!" Martha smiles and runs over to hug Kate.
"So happy to meet you!" Martha smiles as she lets go.
"Uh, yeah you too." Kate sighs. She tries to be happy but this was a lot for her to take in.
"Let's get a pizza and just hang out, I'll help put together the baby things, we can watch a movie." He smiles as Alexis nods.
"Sounds good daddy." She smiles at him as Castle orders a pizza for them to enjoy. They spend the rest of the night, a movie on, pizza to eat and the baby things to assemble. It went great.
