Here is chapter 2! I know the story line seems a bit thrown together, but I had Castle talking to his mother, so I wanted to show Beckett seeking advice as well. I was going to continue to the babysitting adventure in this one, but I decided that deserved it's own chapter. It will be posted soon, thanks for you patience!


"He said what?!" Lanie gasped setting her glass down on the counter.

"He said he knew what it was like to be a parent and he respected my need to keep Gen separate from my work, so he wouldn't ask any questions. Then he offered to babysit…" Beckett repeated.

"Castle said that? The same Richard Castle that has no concept of personal space, literal or otherwise?" Lanie was having a hard time believing her friend.

"I am just as shocked as you are," Beckett admitted.

"He has it worse for you than I thought," Lanie mused.

"What are you talking about? Castle has no interest in me, no man has any interest in me after they realize I am a package deal. But it doesn't matter because the last thing I need is a man in my life," Beckett sighed.

"Castle is a package deal too, and you saying he is not interested is like saying a bird doesn't have wings," Lanie replied, ignoring her best friend's comment about not needing a man.

"But Alexis is seventeen, nearly off to college. Gen is eleven, she still has quiet a few years before she it out of the house. Plus Castle is a multimillionare, any women out there would give…" Beckett was cut off by Genevieve coming into the kitchen.

"Hey sweet girl," Lanie greeted.

"I didn't know you were coming over!" Genevieve squeaked, hugging her mom's friend.

"Your mom was in need of a little girl time," Lanie explained. "I heard you got the movie Beastly. I wanted to see it,"

"Can we watch it?" Gen met her mother's eyes. Beckett checked the clock. The girl barely needed an excuse to watch the movie since it was given to her a week earlier.

"If you get through the shower and ready for bed," she allowed. "and if Lanie has time," she added quickly.

"Do you have time?" Gen asked eagerly.

"For you, I always have time," Lanie chuckled. Genevieve squealed and ran out of the room.

"You don't have to give into her everytime," Beckett chastised.

"How could I ever say no to her? She is so sweet and look how happy it made her," Lanie countered.

"I wish she would find people her own age that make her that happy," Beckett sighed.

"She's at that awkward age. Once she gets into middle school, she will find friends," Lanie assured her.

"She is just so smart that she can't even be bothered with people her own age," Beckett laughed.

"She is truly your child," Lanie commented. Beckett rolled her eyes. "But you can't use her to change the subject. Why am I just now hearing about what Castle said to you? Not that I like my best friend keeping this from me, but when you do you usually don't come clean without a reason," Lanie went back to their earlier conversation.

"Well I need a babysitter," Beckett admitted.

"For the seminars next weekend? Because you know I have to be there with you," Lanie assumed.

"Yes, and I know that, but even my dad is busy that weekend. I am thinking of asking Castle," Beckett mentioned.

"What's stopping you?" Lanie wondered.

"I don't know if I trust him with her and she is so weird around strangers," Beckett disclosed.

"Well you trust him with your own life in some pretty dangerous situations, I don't see how much harm he could do to Genevieve at his loft. As far a Gen is concerned, all she is going to want to do is read and maybe watch a movie or two. If he allows her to do that, she should be fine around him. You're really worried you will never hear the end of it if you ask him," Lanie finished with a laugh. A blush crept into Beckett's cheeks.

"Maybe," she grumbled.


Beckett dialed his number and hung up three times before she finally let the call go through. Even though he offered to babysit, she really didn't want to give him the satisfaction of actually taking him up on it. However she was in a tight spot. She really needed someone to watch Gen, more so supervise her. She was really too old for a babysitter, but Beckett didn't like leaving her on her own incase something were to happen.

"Is there a new case?" Castle answered.

"No this is about something else," Beckett stated quickly, knowing she would lose her nerve. Then she would still have the problem of no babysitter.

"Something personal?" she could almost hear his eyebrows waggle through the phone.

"Castle, I need someone to watch Gen," she said in a tone that warned him his last statement was out of line.

"Oh, I'd be glad to. When?" he asked excitedly.

"Next Saturday and Sunday, all day. I would pick her up in the evenings, but I have required retraining seminars all weekend," she informed.

"Ok, sounds good to me. As far as I know, I have nothing planned. I think I was supposed to be writing, but it's nothing I haven't blown off before," he replied. She rolled her eyes despite the fact he couldn't see it through the phone.

"Um, thanks. I'll see you at the station tomorrow," she ended the call.


Beckett nearly groaned out loud when she saw Castle bounce into the precinct. He was either up to something or had something on his mind, both of which could be very dangerous where Castle was concerned.

"So I was thinking…" he started. At that Beckett did groan. She sent him and expectant look knowing he would continue whether he wanted her to or not."On Saturday, Genevieve and I could go to the zoo and if we get back early enough I could talk Alexis into a game of three person laser tag at the loft…"

"Castle, no," Beckett interrupted.

"No?" Castle was confused.

"She won't like that," Beckett stated bluntly.

"What 11 year old girl wouldn't like going to the zoo?" he remarked.

"Genevieve, and it's not about the zoo, it's about who she is going with," she replied.

"You don't think she'll like me? I mean I know it was a bit awkward meeting her, but we did manage to make some conversation," Castle seemed hurt.

"Castle, it's not personal. She is very shy. More than likely she will just want to read. You got lucky she spoke to you; she usually doesn't even make eye contact. However she is very comfortable at the station so that probably worked in your favor," Beckett explained.

"Well, if I make her comfortable around me, then can I take her to the zoo?" he asked, sounding a lot like a child.

"Castle, no. It takes her along time to adjust," she sighed.

"But what if…" Beckett cut him off again.

"Bring it up one more time and I will find someone else to watch her," she warned. Castle knew she was bluffing. He knew she had no one else to ask, that's why she asked him in the first place. However, he said he respected her as a parent and all she was doing was protecting her child. So, respectfully he backed off.