Okay it's taken me a while to get back into this story but I have lots of chapters written now and know where I am going with it so...if people care to read what I have come up with, yipee...if not that's cool too.

This is just the third chapter so catching up with what's happened so far won't be too hard. Heads up all, Kate is the Captain...I've decided to put a new spin on a story. This chapter is setting the scene for some interesting plot lines to come, give it a chance. Castle will be following Ryan and Esposito on a job and Kate will find someone else involved with her investigation into her mothers death.

Lets go...

"Hey Dad your'e home early." Alexis came downstairs as her father was coming in the door.

"Yeh nothing much happening down at the "office" so I thought I would come home and spend some quality time with my daughter."

"Oh really...that's great but I've got a million and one things to do before I go away and tonight Ashley and I are going to see a movie."

"Oh well that's okay I was planning to get some writing done anyway."

"You sure you are okay with that?"

"It's fine Alexis...It was a bit short notice anyway."

"So I will see you later then dad?"

"Sure I'll be here, not going anywhere else." he gave her a kiss on the head as she headed out the door.

He turned around and serveyed the empty loft. Martha was out of town for a few days so she wasn't coming home either.
Quiet time at last for a bit of writing. he thought

Castle sat infront of his laptop looking at the blinking cursor, nothing had come to him for the past half hour he had written about half a page then came to a screeming halt, it had happened before so he wasn't too worried about it but it was non the less annoying. He ran his hands through his hair, he also checked his phone again to see if Kate had rung. Nothing to report there either. He thought about ringing her but as she had said when she left the office that afternoon she wanted time by herself and he had to respect that, no matter how hard it was, this was Kate he was dealing with. Still so many layers to be unturned with her but they had to be brought out in the open in her own time.
-

"Katie." Jim answered his phone.

"Hey dad, up for a chat?" Kate said as she sat on her bed.

"Sure, what's up?"

"Does something have to be up for me to call you."

"No, but something usually is, how are you feeling? I herd today was your first day back at work."

"No prizes for who told you that."

"He is a good guy you know that Richard Castle."

"Yeh I know." she looked at her mothers ring on the chain, holding it up.

"So how's things with you and him? Did you have that talk I said you should have?"

"We did...and we have decided to see what happens between us...take it slowly."

"Good to hear Katie. So I take it this call isn't about you and Castle."

"No, not really...I sat in the Captain's chair for the first time today Dad...it wasn't right."

"These things will take time Kate it was just day one."

"Day one and I couldn't even stay all day, I had to walk out, since when do I ever walk out on anything."

"Since you have let your emotions take over, had major surgery, decided to go back to work early..."

She rolled her eyes because she knew he was right.

"And I bet you are doing that eye rolling thing as we speak."
She smiled. "Okay you got me."

"You don't need to bottle things up Kate."

"I'm not."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yeh, I know how I feel...most of the time."

"Makes no difference Katie, look what happened when I bottled things up about your mother for too long."

Kate remembered the drinking but didn't mention it.

"So what do I do?"

"Accept that you are human and move forward...things don't stay the same forever, even if we would like them to."

She smiled. Then bit her lip.

"So...can you tell me a bit more about you and Castle, other than what I already have guessed."
Her smile broardened.

Castle opened the door to Beckett.

"Hey." she said not sure if she should be there.

"Hey Kate, come in."

"I'm not disturbing you am I?"

"No, got a bit of writers block...you turned up at the right time I was just about to order dinner, got anything in mind?"

"No, whatever you like is fine."

"Okay, Italian it is. Would you like a drink?"

"Sure, sounds good." she followed him into the kitchen. "So where is Alexis tonight."

"At a movie with Ashley."

"Really, home alone Rick and you didn't call me."

"You said you wanted time by yourself."

"Thank you." she smiled. "I needed time to think a few things through."

"And what did you come up with?" he said as he poured her a drink.

"Well I know I like being here with you like this."

"Good to know." he smiled.

"And that I should give this Captain thing a go for a few weeks at least."

"Really." his eyebrows raised.."Whatever you decide I'll stand by you."

"I know you will," she smiled and moved closer to him. Putting her arms around him "Thank you." she pulled her head back to face him and they leaned forward into a gentle kiss. Castle ran his hands through her hair.

"Are you going to stay tonight?"

"Depends on what you may be offering." she raised her eyebrows.

"I'm sure I could come up with a few ideas."

Alexis came home and found her dad and Kate on the couch watching a movie.

"Hey sweetie how did your movie go?"

"It was the best dad and after Ashley took me to dinner."

"Dinner and a show, thats great."

"Hey detective Beckett." Alexis sat down next to her.

"Hey Alexis, your dad told me about your date tonight and you can call me Kate remember."

"Okay I'll remember,I'm glad you are here tonight, I don't think dad would've handled a whole night alone in this place."

"Hey I've spent plenty of nights by myself thanks Alexis."

"Yeh I know but when you are missing someone it's hard to stay alone, just sayin." she looked at the tv.

Kate nudged Rick. "Miss me did you." she said softly.

"I may have."

"Well I am going to bed, I'm just going to get a water, do you both want anything while I'm getting it?"

"No thanks Alexis we are okay." said Rick. Kate agreed.

"Goodnight then." she gave Kate a kiss and her Dad.
Alexis headed off upstairs.

Kate turned to Rick and said "Maybe we should go to bed also, you can show me that better offer you had in mind to get me to stay." she smiled.

"I can do that Detective."

"That's going to change soon."

"Really, care to fill me in."

"Let's just say my talk tonight with my dad had set a few things straight with me and maybe I could give this new role a go, not saying I am going to like it straight away but...let's see."

"That's the Kate I know." he said kissing her forehead.

She closed her eyes breathing him in...things were changing that's for sure and she would accept them however they came.