Title: Joint Custody

Summary: When Kate spots an old friend on TV, she finds its time to move forward...

Disclaimer: I invented the letter Q. I tried to trade it in exchange for Castle. My offer was not accepted. Alas.


Kate dropped the carton of Mu Shu pork onto her dusty coffee table and leaned back into her couch. She'd gotten to her apartment an hour ago, found that her fridge was empty (why did she expect it to be full anyway?) and had ordered from the Chinese place down the street. Half the normal order, of course, because Castle was off doing the famous writer thing. She'd come to hate the nights he had to meet with an editor, do an interview, participate in some promotional event.

She looked around her place. It had been, at one time, her sanctuary, her place to just be her. Now it was four walls and a mortgage payment. She'd spent, maybe, a dozen nights there in the last five months, and even then, this was only the second one where she'd been alone.

She fumbled around in the couch cushions, looking for the remote. She'd rather read, but her books, the ones she was currently reading anyway, were sitting on her nightstand at the loft.

Her nightstand. How odd, and yet comforting, to think of parts of the loft as hers.

She flipped channels idly, hoping that something would catch her attention, but mostly the images and sounds washed over and past her without registering. It was all just white noise, white light, against the boredom. What was she doing here?

Whoa. Wait... was that?

She sat forward, flipping backwards through the last few channels she'd seen, until, there. Yes. On E! - a reality TV show - and an old friend.

She looked at the silly Golden Retriever she hadn't seen in nearly a year. Remembered how happy she'd been to curl up with Royal on the couch. Remembered her weird conversations with Castle about joint custody. How much better it would be, right now, if Royal, or Royal and Castle, were here.?

An idea flashed in her head; one that would have been unheard of any time in the last thirteen years, but now... but now...

Now it was perfect.


"Kate, not that I'm not up for a little adventure, but maybe you could tell me where we're headed?"

They were walking down the street, holding hands, enjoying the fall air. Castle was absently rubbing his thumb over her knuckles as they walked, and while there were some days where she really wanted to kill him, in small moments like this, she felt happier than she'd ever been before.

Not that she'd let him know that.

"You're lucky, Castle, since we're here," she said, stopping in front of a building with a small sign. He stopped too, looked up.

"Forever Home?"

"It's a no-kill animal shelter."

"I know what Forev ... are you getting a dog?"

"Come on," she said, pulling them up the stairs into the shelter. She registered with the receptionist while Castle wandered off. She walked around, looking at the pictures of the new "families" that the shelter had all over the walls. Happy faces, showing off the cats and dogs that they were taking home. She smiled.

She finally found Castle sitting cross-legged on the floor of the pit, playing with a litter of beagle puppies. One was sitting in his lap, getting her tummy scratched as three others jumped up and down over his legs, licking his face and begging for his attention. Kate leaned against the wall, just watching Castle act the overgrown boy, loving the pure joy on his face. He looked up, spotted her.

"Hey, come in here. These guys are the best."

She stepped over the low wall that kept the puppies in, sat next to him on the floor. Two of the puppies stopped going after Castle, came over and started begging for her attentions. She picked one up, the girl whose tummy Castle had been scratching, and cuddled the little beagle against the side of her face. They both sat and played with the puppies for several minutes.

"Ms. Beckett?"

Kate looked up, saw one of the adoption councilors standing in front of the pit. "Yes?" Kate asked.

"Have you found a puppy you'd like to adopt?"

Kate looked at the little beagle she held in her hands, and then looked over at Castle for confirmation. He nodded.

"Yes, I think we like this little girl right here."

"Excellent. Can you come with me?"

They put down their puppies, reluctantly, and stood up. The councilor turned and walked back down the hall, Castle following her. Kate took one last look at the little beagle she was going to get and then turned to follow Castle down the hall.

Right before leaving the adoption area, a dog caught her eye.

"Excuse me, who is that?"

The councilor looked to where Kate was pointing. "Oh, that's Thomas. He's a sweetheart. He's kind of our mascot."

Thomas looked like a huge brown lab-like mutt with sad wet brown eyes and a small dusting of gray on his muzzle. Kate walked into Thomas' room, and Thomas got up from where he was sleeping and walked over to her. When she bent down to scratch behind his ears, he leaned forward, laying his huge head on her bent knee. She tickled his chest.

"So he's not up for adoption then?"

"Oh, he is... most people want a puppy though, or something smaller. And Thomas has had some bad luck."

"Bad luck?" Castle asked.

"Thomas wasn't treated very well before he came to us. He's very sweet, but shy. We adopted him out twice, but both times...the families thought they were dog people, but it turns out they really weren't. So now he just lives with us."

Castle bent down next to Kate. Thomas lifted his head, turned inwards so that his side was resting in the vee of Kate's legs, nudged his head under Castle's hand, started licking Castle's palm. Castle scratched his ear, leaned down to rest his head against the crown of Thomas' head. Kate scratched Thomas' side, enjoying the frantic wagging of his tail.

"You say he's shy?" Kate asked.

"Well... normally. I guess he likes you two. Anyway, shall we get back to your adoption?"

"Actually..." Kate said, trailing off.

Castle took her hand, gave it a squeeze. "Do it, Kate."

"Actually, can I adopt Thomas instead?"

"Are you sure? He's had two bad experiences... the next adoption needs to be his last."

Kate looked over at Castle, saw the twinkle in his eye. "Yeah, I'm positive," she said.

"Oh, good. Good," the councilor said. "Follow me then."

"We'll see you in a minute, boy."

Thomas barked in reply.


It doesn't take long to figure out that they aren't getting out of the shelter in a minute. Kate had figured she'd have to sign a paper or two, make a donation or pay a fee, and then that would be that. But when the councilor lead them to a small office, and then pulled out a large folder stuffed with papers, Kate's stomach dropped.

"Okay then," the woman said, "let's get to the interview."

"Interview?" Castle asked.

"Yes sir, Mr ..."

"Castle, Rick Castle."

"Yes, Mr. Castle. We interview all prospective adopters. We need to make sure all of our prospects are properly serious and responsible. Can't have our little guys going to bad homes. So... Ms. Beckett, are you the adopter, or is it both of you?"

"Both of us," Kate said, ignoring the questioning look on Castle's face.

"Um, yeah, both of us," he agreed after a moment.

"Okay, and you two are married?"

"No."

"Hmmm..." the woman said with a disapproving sound, "well how long have you been together then?"

"Four and a half years," Kate said. Again, Castle gave her a look. She tried to send him a message telepathically... follow my lead... follow my lead, she thought. After a second, he seemed to catch on. He turned back to their interviewer, nodded.

"Children?"

"One, yes," Castle said.

"Well, I should warn you. Thomas is very good with children, but... children can occasionally have trouble adapting to a new dog in the house."

Castle laughed. "My daughter is eighteen and off at college. She doesn't live with me. It will be fine."

"Live with you?"

"Live with us," Kate said quickly.

"Yes, okay. Any plans for more kids then?"

Castle choked a little, "What does that..."

Kate jumped in, "Not for a little while, no."

Kate looked over at Castle. For a moment, she was worried that his eyes might pop out if he opened them any wider, but then he softened, gave her a look of pure adoration. Her heart did a little flip.

"Ahem, yes. Well, I am little worried that you might be viewing a dog as practice for having children, will put Thomas aside once you have children."

Both Kate and Castle clammed up, unsure how to respond to that one. "Anyway," Castle said finally, "are those the last of the questions?"

"No, Mr. Castle. We're really just getting started. Okay, next up, what kind of home or apartment do you have? Thomas isn't that energetic, but he needs some space."

"Um," Kate said, "we live in a loft. Two levels. Plenty of room."

Castle looked over at Kate again, but Kate wouldn't meet his eye. "Um, can I use your restroom?" he asked the councilor.

"Oh, yes, of course. We have a lot of questions still to get through," the councilor said. "It's down the hall, third door on the right."

"Thank you," Castle said, standing up. He ran his hand over Kate's shoulder as he left.

"I hope he's not long," the woman said after Castle left, "we really do have a lot to get through. So many questions. Our little angels here are very precious, and so few people make the grade. I don't think I've managed to find a suitable couple or family in weeks. But it's okay, because we have plenty of room, and there are good people like me who can take care of them until they find their forever..."

Kate leaned back in her chair, let the woman's diatribe fade into background noise. Her heart started to sink. She'd only spent five minutes with Thomas, but she was certain that she and Castle would both be heartbroken if they had to leave without him.

Castle returned just as the councilor seemed to be running out of steam. He'd brought someone with him, a tall blonde woman in an expensive dress.

"Ms. Beckett? I'm Ann Neville. I run this shelter. We spoke on the phone yesterday?"

"Yes, Ms. Neville. Pleased to meet you," Kate said, standing and shaking Ann's hand.

Ann turned to the woman on the other side of the desk, "Maggie, why don't you cover reception for a while? I'll finish up here."

"Um, I really think..." Maggie started.

"Maggie..." Ann said in a tone that reminded Kate of Captain Gates.

"Yes ma'am," Maggie said, and left.

"Sorry about that," Ann said. "Maggie has been getting a little ... exuberant... lately in her interviews. And I'm sorry I didn't put two and two together before now, but you're Nikki Heat, aren't you?"

Kate looked over at Castle, who shrugged. "Ann and I know each other from the charity circuit."

"Yes, Rick has made several nice donations in the past. He was quite the prize at our bachelor auction a few years ago, but I can see there won't be a repeat performance of that." Ann looked from Castle to Kate, caught the expression on Kate's face. "Anyway... Thomas is about four years old, so his vaccine and boosters are current, and he's been neutered. He really is a sweetheart. He just wants someone to curl up next to on the couch. You guys will be great with him."

"So we can take him then?" Kate asked.

"Oh, of course, yes. He's yours. Just, if for whatever reason it doesn't work out, please remember to bring him back here. But I don't think that will be a concern. And don't be a stranger, okay, Rick? We'd like to see you at the rubber chicken dinners again."

"Thanks, Ann," Castle said, taking the leash from Ann.

"Come on, let's go get Thomas," Ann said.

When they got out in the hall, Kate whistled. A second later, Thomas came bounding out of his room, ran over to Kate and Castle. They bent down, hugged him. Castle attached the leash to his collar while Ann handed Kate all of Thomas' papers.

Kate, Castle and Thomas walked down the street, Thomas between the two humans.

"Kate?"

"Yeah, Castle."

"I forgot about this while we were in there with the Spanish Inquisition, which I totally didn't expect by the way, but..."

"But?"

"Well, I know what you told Maggie, but..."

"Just spit it out, Castle."

"Where is Thomas going to live, exactly?"

"What, we can't split custody?" she asked. She'd wondered how long it would take to get to this line of questioning. She was pleased that it hadn't taken long at all.

"We could, sure, but didn't you say, with Royal, that that was a bad idea? Constantly moving him back and forth?"

"True. I suppose he'll just live with me then."

"Oh. Okay." She wanted to burst out laughing at his hangdog look, the listlessness in his voice.

"What are you thinking, Rick?"

"It's just, if he's at your place, you'll have to go over there more. Won't be staying over at my place as much."

"Hmmm... I suppose that's true." Come on, Rick, she thought. Get to where we're going.

"Well, you could..."

"I could what?" she asked, trying not to smile. She knew what he was going to ask. Knew what she hoped he'd ask.

"Nevermind."

"Oh, okay... too bad. I'm guessing it was a rather interesting idea."

"I was just thinking... Thomas could live with me. Then you wouldn't have to choose between seeing me and seeing him."

"Yes, of course. But then, in what way would he be my dog?"

"You know, if you lived with me, then he could be our dog..."

"Normally that would be an attractive offer, if you hadn't extended it to Thomas before me."

Thomas looked up at them at the sound of his name, gave Castle a reproachful look.

"Maybe I was extending it to both of you."

"Maybe?"

Castle finally seemed to realize she was teasing him. He stopped, turned towards her. "Kate. Move in with me? Live with me? We could go home together after work, I'll make dinner. Afterwards, you can curl up in the couch, Thomas by your side while you read..."

Kate decided not to point out that, except for Thomas, Castle was describing most of the last five months. Instead she reached into her back pocket and handed him the intent-to-sublet form she'd filed with her building last night. She'd officially be vacating her apartment in 30 days.

"Is this?" Castle asked, looking at the form. "You set me up, didn't you? My goodness you're a crafty minx."

"Come on, Castle," she said, kissing him gently while holding his chin. "Let's go show Thomas his new home."


A/N: I started this off as a one-shot, but I had an idea of where I wanted to take it. I may make it longer, if people are interested...