I just wanted to see where this would go. My timeline is a little different, Alexis is 5. Kate is on her way to Stanford in 2 months. Richard Castle had yet to exist, (but Richard Rodgers does!) Please read and enjoy.

Chapter 1

The sweltering June heat kept the streets of Manhattan nearly clear. Kate debated with herself whether or not to take cover from the near 110 degree heat in the already overcrowded Starbucks. Finally deciding it was better than standing outside on the scalding sidewalk Kate pulled open the door, cool air rushing past her, she inhaled deeply the wonderful scent of coffee grounds. Kate was able to squeeze into the back of the line. The shop was indeed crowded, people crammed in line, jam packed at tables, not one of them wanting to leave the air conditioned heaven they had stumbled upon.

As Kate's eyes wandered around the packed Starbucks she resumed her habit of people watching. She'd always loved making a story about someone, maybe they were a secret agent or over exhausted parent. She was no bestselling author and never would be, she never found being famous something she wanted, never understood the attraction to having millions of people know everything about her. She looked around the dimly coffee shop for a new muse. Her eyes came to rest on a man two people ahead of her in line.

He was standing sideways in the line gazing off out the window. He was handsome; short chestnut brown hair and watery blue eyes. He was muscular but not somebody who worked out every day, he looked to be in his early to mid twenties. The kind of guy Kate would fall for. Probably picking up some fancy iced coffee for his girlfriend. Kate thought taking a step forward.

No story coming to mind for the ruggedly handsome stranger as the line crawled slowly forward, Kate's mind wandered to college. It's the summer between her senior year of high school and freshman year of college. In two months she would be unpacking across the country in a dorm room at Stanford. Kate had spent the entire morning at home packing what she could. Deciding it she was long overdue for a break, Kate grabbed her purse and phone, calling her best friend since freshman French class, Madison Queller to see if she might want to get together. Kate was positive that Maddie had made-up the excuse about packing for NYU and was really sneaking out to see her boyfriend. Surprisingly both of Maddie's parents had, like Kate disapproved of the new boy Maddie seemed to have reeled in.

After what felt like an eternity Kate made it to the counter, ordering an iced venta green tea and paying she moved to the small counter, about five feet from the line, she found a small huddle formed around the two square feet of counter. Deciding it was probably safer to stand a little ways away, she stopped. Gazing around her eyes locked on the same handsome man ahead of her in line, he was standing no more than four feet dead ahead of her. He had a glazed look in his eye; she could feel him concentrating hard on something from her short distance away. Something he must have forgotten seemed to have returned to him because the hazy look in his eyes vanished and he was digging around his pockets for something. Looking around frantically he reached over the counter and grabbed a pen and napkin, jotting something down he folded the napkin and shoved it into his pocket. Kate had to stifle a smile.

Kate pulled her phone from her purse and after glancing at a short text from Maddie saying that she was sorry for canceling. Kate replaced her phone, a moment passed until she heard her order being called over all the commotion. Making her way to the counter she grabbed her iced tea and turned around, walking headlong into somebody.

"I'm so sorry." She gasped as the top of her drink popped off, iced tea spilling down her front, the floor and front of the person she walked into.

"No, no. It's not your fault. I'm the one who should be sorry. I walked in front of you." The man's voice was sweet, sensitive, and playful, yet Kate picked that he could be stern and strict. Looking up Kate was at a loss for words. Of all the people I could run into, I run into the ruggedly handsome stranger.Kate thought, trying hard not to hit her palm against her forehead. The man was reaching past her now, leaning forward so their bodies were inches apart. "Thanks." he muttered moving away. "Napkins." he stated holding up a large pile of brown napkins.

Kate watched as he bent down on one knee and started placing napkins all over the spill on the floor.

"Here let me help- Ouch!" She was bending over as he was rising, their foreheads collided.

"Ouch! No let me do it." He said rubbing his head. He reached for the small wad of napkins in her hand, but she pulled her hand farther out of his reach and looked at him with narrow eyes. "Fine. I see I'm fighting a losing battle." Kate smiled and handed him half the napkins. After clearing up most of the mess Kate straightened up, only to be met by the watery blue eyes of the stranger. "At least let me buy you a second drink."

"I can't let a man, whose name I don't even know buy me a drink." Kate said.

"Rick. Rick Rodgers. There now you know my name." He held out his hand to shake hers.

"But you don't know mine." She challenged.

"I'm buying you a drink either way." He shrugged, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Narrowing her eyes and raising an eyebrow she grasped his hand, "Kate. Kate Beckett."

"Now was that that hard?" He asked releasing her hand.

"You have no idea how much pain I just suffered." She mocked as they walked to the back of line.

"You wound me with your sarcasm." Rick said, placing a hand over his heart.

"I can't believe that you're buying me a drink after I dumped mine all over you." Kate motioned at his wet shirt, which was now clinging to his skin, every muscle visible and perfectly outlined.

"It's fine really. I've got nowhere to be, nothin' to do."

"What no supermodel girlfriend in a bikini somewhere that you have bring iced coffee to?"

"Nope. What about you? No hot boyfriend waiting for you somewhere?"

"No boyfriend. Just packing."

"You moving?"

"College. Actually. Stanford this fall." I don't even know this guy! Why am I telling all of this?

He let out a low whistle. "Wow. Stanford. Sorry I can't ask you then, I only date supermodels in bikinis." He mocked, smiling lopsidedly at her.

"To bad. You're missing out." She smiled.

Kate was amazed at how fast the line moved while she was talking to someone, when they reached the counter Rick looked down at her and asked, "What did you order?"

"Iced venta green tea." Kate directed her answer at the cashier.

"Make that two please."

"What happened to your drink?" Kate asked turning to look at Rick as he pulled out his wallet.

"Dumped it all over you."

"So your drink is all over us and the floor over there." She nodded in the direction of where their drinks spilled.

"What can I say, the only way I can pick up a girl is by spilling my drink on her." He smiled jokingly at her.

"Must not get a lot girls then, huh?" She smiled back.

"How'd you know?" He asked walking with her over to the small counter to wait for their drinks.

"Must be a sixth sense."

He laughed, looking her up and down. "Sorry for getting stuff all over your shirt."

"It's old. Probably wouldn't have lasted anyway." She looked down at her tank top, it was slowly turning gray, and most of the white was mostly gone. Looking down further she noticed how short her shorts were, they just barely covered her butt, showing off her long tan legs. Her converse were also old, and losing some color, the laces were frayed at the ends and the white soles were becoming a dark gray color.

Kate looked back up, simultaneously giving Rick a once over. He was wearing Nike tennis shoes, khaki cargo shorts, and a white v-neck. On his right wrist was a beaded bracelet, Kate smiled and looked up to meet his gaze.

"What's the story behind the bracelet?" She asked, looking back down at his wrist.

"What- Oh." He laughed wringing his wrist so that the beads spun a little. "My daughter made it for me."

"Oh." Kate nodded, not knowing what else to say.

"Her name's Alexis, she just turned five. We do stuff like this all the time, it's been just her and me since she was one." He smiled, looking down at the brightly colored beads.

"What about her mom?" Kate asked. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." She added as her cheeks turned light pink.

"It's fine. Meredith left for an acting job in L.A. She visits on occasion, but never stays to long." He pulled his phone from his pocket and after scrolling for a minute he turned the phone toward Kate. "That's Alexis."

Kate looked at the picture, a small red haired girl was smiling at the camera. "She's adorable." Kate said pulling her eyes away from the screen.

At that moment they heard their orders. After grabbing their drinks, Rick reached past Kate, once again their bodies only inches away, besides the smell of iced tea and coffee she picked up a hint of cologne. She inhaled deeper, the smell filled her lungs. Rick pulled away and held up a handful of napkins.

"Just in case." He smiled. They searched the coffee shop for an empty seat, not finding one Rick said, "Come on. We can go to Central Park." He started toward the door.

Kate followed. What the hell am I doing?

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