When he woke up the next morning, he noticed her waking up as well.
"Good morning." He smiled.
She stretched, her hands joining over her head and yawned, "Morning Rick."
"Would you like something to eat?" He asked her, throwing off the covers and easing out of the bed.
She considered him for a moment, he had already done so much for her and what she was craving right now wasn't food, but she guessed she should get something in her and try to get her mind off of what she actually wanted, so she agreed.
"If it's not too much trouble."
He shook his head, standing up "Are you kidding? Breakfast is my favourite thing to cook."

She nodded, suddenly remembering that they were not alone in his loft.
"How old is your niece?" She asked curious.
"She's six, she'll love you. Do you like kids?"
"I do, but I'm not sure if she would like me."
"Oh Kate, Alexis is a good kid, she loves everyone unless they give her a reason not to." He assured her as she eased out of his bed, standing awkwardly by his bed.
"Hey um, I'm going to get started on the breakfast, you can join us, whenever you're ready." He told her, sensing her discomfort, "Do you like pancakes with chocolate and raspberries? I know it sounds gross, but Alexis won't eat anything else for some reason."

She nodded, at this point, who was she to be picky about food?
"It sounds fine." She told him with a small smile.
"Bacon?" He asked, turning back to her.
Now that sounded more like it, "Please."
He smiled knowingly, "Alright, I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."
He left the room, leaving her alone. She looked around the place, taking in his room. It wasn't gigantic, but it was the perfect size, with his office just on the other side. It was a comfortable room that felt like him, it may have been decorated by a personal designer, but it felt like him and not an impersonal place. It made her feel safe.
She moved over to the window and peered out at the view, she always loved the city covered in snow as a child, but when she was homeless, it was a cold jungle, but now she felt the same way she did as a little girl, warm and safe. Well as safe as she possibly could in the home of a famous author.
"Kate everything okay?" He called out

She was brought back to the present by his question and noticed how long she had been standing by the window, staring out, feeling just a bit nostalgic.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine, I'm coming." She called back.
She quickly headed into the bathroom, doing what could be done about her appearance. She splashed some water on her face and tried to sort out her hair, that so needed a cut right now.
She used the bathroom and headed out to meet Rick and his niece. She had to admit, she was feeling a little bit insecure, she didn't know why, it's not like she was dating the man. She just didn't want to be hated, or to be thought of as a bad influence on the young child.
Walking into the kitchen, Rick was cooking and the little girl she guessed was Alexis was seated on one of the stools by the counter. She turned towards Kate when she heard her coming out.
"Are you Kate?" She asked curiously, her bright blue eyes glancing over her and back up to her eyes.
Kate took a seat on the other side of the counter, leaving a space between the girl and herself.
"Yes I am." She told her, sending a glance Castle's way.
"Could you do pigtails for me?" The little girl asked, her eyes desperate.
She just noticed the little girl's hair, red and long, loose around her shoulders.
"Sure sweetie, do you have a brush?" She asked, feeling less nervous now.
She always loved children. They were so innocent and bright eyed, always seeing the best in people, it was refreshing.
She grinned and jumped off of her stool, running up the stairs "I'll go get it!"
Castle turned to her, after flipping a pancake, rather impressively she might add.
"Kate you don't have to."
She shook her head, "It's okay Rick, for all that you're doing for me, it's the least I could do."

Castle stared at her for a moment, his eyes soft and warm and she could feel herself getting lost in the sea of blue when Alexis bound down the stairs.
"Got the brush!"
Alexis ran over to Kate, handing her a comb, brush and hair ties. Kate laughed, and sent a wink over to Castle before slipping off of her own stool as Alexis settled back into hers.
"He tries, but he just can't get it right." Alexis exclaimed, gesturing over to Castle.
"Hey!" He exclaimed, placing some bacon in a frying pan.
Kate shook her head, laughing at the interaction between the two. An interaction that reminded herself of her and her parent's relationship.
She got to work, untangling the curls in the girl's hair and had just began putting them in pigtails when Castle's phone rang.
"Hello Gina." He answered, moving into the next room.
"That's not his girlfriend." Alexis informed her.
She looked down at the girl wondering why she would feel the need to tell her that.
"Who?"
"Gina, she wishes she was, but she's not."
She had to admit to herself that she liked being here. Even though it had been one night, she felt welcomed and safe here in his home, with him, his mother and Alexis.
She finished the girl's hair, tying the ends carefully with her hair ties.
"Thank you Kate!" She squealed, hugging her tightly before running back up the stairs.
At that moment Castle returned and quickly shut off the stove, serving pancakes and bacon on three plates.
"I'll have to go down to Black Pawn today, work out some book stuff after breakfast. You'll be okay here?" He asked as they settled down at the table and Alexis came to join them, pouring syrup all over her pancakes.
"Yeah, I guess." She said.
"It'll only be for a couple hours. Then when I come back, we'll go find you some clothes." He told her.
"Oh, you don't have to." She said.
"Kate, I want to." He said, setting down his fork and pleading with her with his eyes.
"Okay." She gave in, because she really couldn't say no what he was looking at her like that.

So he watched him go, with Alexis and sat around, read a couple books until he returned. True to his word, he took her out and bought her a decent amount of clothes. He stopped to pick up Alexis on their way back to his house and stopped for Italian – the only thing besides chocolate and raspberry pancakes Alexis would eat.
They ate together and watched a movie, before he took Alexis up to bed and decided that they too would head to bed.
That night she was asleep, she was haunted by a bad dream.
Rick noticed she started to squirm and whimper.
"Kate, Kate." He called to her, shaking her shoulders trying to wake her from whatever bad dream she was having.
She sat up in bed, breathing heavily, clutching at herself.
"It's okay Kate, you're okay." He assured her, rubbing her back soothingly.
"They were stabbing me." She gasped.
"Who was stabbing you?"
She took a steadying breath, "My drug dealer." She told him.
"Did he stab you before?" He asked.
She nodded, "Yes."
"When?"
"When I realised that I was about to lose everything, I tried to stop. One day when I was walking home, he sent people after me and they tried to stab me and then the other night when I tried to buy some and I was a little short on cash." She cried, "What if he comes for you? For Alexis? I can't let that happen! I can't –"She moved to her out of bed, but he stopped her with firm hands.
"Shh Kate it's alright, I've got you, I won't let him hurt you. Nothing's gonna happen to you, me or Alexis okay? I promise." He comforted her.
She took another breath, trying to calm her heart rate down, "Sorry for waking you."
"It's okay. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"
She hesitated, not wanting to ask this of him, but she so desperately needed the comfort, "My mom used to stroke my hair." She told him.
"I can do that for you, if you'd like."
"No, it's okay. I'll be fine go back to sleep." She changed her mind.

"I can't go back to sleep when I'm worried." He told her, staring into her eyes with that same look from this morning and she couldn't remember what she was telling him no for.
"Okay."
He turned to face her and began gently running his hands through her hair, watching as she closed her eyes and she drifted off to sleep.
He continued running his hands through her curls, her soft, hazel curls. He watched her as her breath evened out. She was cute when she was asleep, her nose twitched like a little bunny every now and then and she would let out a little snort and change positions.
He smiled and leaned over her, softly kissing her forehead.
"Goodnight Kate." He whispered, "Sweet dreams."