AN: Thank you for all your reviews :) heres the next update. Hope you like where I'm going with this :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle

Chapter 3

Avril entered the café to find him already sitting at the table near the window. She smiled. He was staring outside and smiling at something. She approached him and said "What you looking at?"

he was brought out of his reverie with a start and looked up to find her
"Oh, you're here, please have a seat.." he chuckled.

"I was just watching this little kid.. He's been throwing tantrums to go into that toyshop over there."

"And that's funny for you?"

"Well of course it is. It isn't for you?"

"Hey, if I was in his shoes I'd be doing the same thing."

Castle looked out again and spoke…

"Yea. I know… I remember taking Alexis out for a stroll and how she'd throw tantrums sometimes… I could never say no to her…"

"But after all you've told me about her, she's turned out pretty awesome hasn't she?"

"Yea. I don't know how." he chuckled. "I pampered her and spoilt her, her entire childhood"

Avril laughed. Castle then looked at her seriously and said, "You never did tell me anything about your family."

two coffees were then set on their table, "There's nothing amusing about my family" she smiled sadly. Looking down into her cup of coffee.

She knew this would rouse more questions. But she wasn't really one to talk about her family problems to anyone, let alone a writer who probably didn't really care.

"Hey… who said any of us are perfect?"

"Your family is…"

Castle realized there was much more to this young girl and he felt obligated to know what was going through her head. Obviously she was troubled about something that had to do with her family. And maybe she needed to talk it out to someone… He needed to make her feel comfortable. To assure her that he could help, even if lending a listening ear was all he could offer.

And to form that trust, he had to be open with her.

"How about I tell you a little something about myself…"

She looked up at him, really interested in knowing more about this writer.

"My life may seem perfect now… but that's only because I've been through the worst in my early days. I've been through two failed marriages, and that makes me cautious of the relationships I get into. It was a struggle raising Alexis all on my own, but I'd like to think it's made me a better person.

Now I know there's something on your mind that you don't want to share with me. But I think we're friends now, and I'd love to hear you out with anything that's troubling you."

She paused for a moment and said "How about we finish up with my assignment. And then I tell you what's going on in my life."

"Fair enough" Castle smiled

They went about adding a few things to her assignment, editing and rewriting a few pages. And finally when they were done, and Castle took his last sip from his coffee mug, Avril took a deep breath, closed her eyes and then spoke.

"My mom and Dad have been fighting a lot lately. Infact its been a couple of years that things have been rough. Dad never listens to any of us. He's always got his own stuff to do and he's never really there for us. Mom's been trying to be the bigger person, trying hard to work things out, but Dad seems disinterested in making anything work."

"if you dont mind me asking, what is it that your parents do?"

"My mom's a homicide detective and my dad's in the FBI. So their jobs allow them only the evenings to communicate. But all they ever do is fight. "

Castle was just about to say something to her when her phone buzzed with a text message. She read it and said
"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to take your leave or I'll be late"

"Oh okay. Yea sure. We'll talk later"

She got up, threw her bag over her shoulder and just before walking out, she turned back around, stared at him for a moment, hesitating, and then walked out.

Castle just sat there. He felt bad for the girl. She doesn't deserve to go through something like this.

Just then his phone beeped.
It was a message from her, "I've never really told anyone about my family issues. Thank you for listening"

he quickly sent a text back "Don't thank me… If at any time you just need someone to talk to, I'm here."

When Avril told Kate that her assignment turned out to be one of the best papers written in her class, Kate had been so proud of her. She even read the entire thing and said "I don't believe you did this all on your own"

And Avril laughed and said "I can never get anything past you, can't I?" she walked over to her mom gave her a kiss and said, "I had a lot of help from a new friend I made at the library."

"Oh yea, what's her name?"

"HIS name is Rick…"

"I see… well how about you invite him over for dinner, it's the least we could do after he helped you out with this."

Avril's face lit up "Really?"

"Yea, why not. I'd love to meet this new friend of yours…"

"Awesome! Let me go find my phone and I'll text him immediately. Oh mom you're going to love him!"

She squealed and ran upstairs in search of her phone. Kate laughed and continued dinner preparations for the night.

Castle walked back to his loft after spending the entire afternoon in the park. And all along the way he could only think about what a young girl of Avril's age must be going through when her parents are going through a rough marriage. He felt bad for her, and really wanted to be of some help.

That evening he received a text from Avril.

"She loved it! The assignment! Oh my god! She was so impressed. I'm so grateful to you . Thank you! I told my mom about it too, and she's asked me to invite you over for dinner with us tomorrow, please do come."

Castle chuckled to himself and then quickly replied "That's great. Sure, send me you're address and I'll be there. Can't wait."

It was true, Castle couldn't wait. Even after Avril had told him about the problems her parents were having, Castle wanted to meet them, they who had raised such a bright intelligent young girl.

Avril had mentioned that she was always in awe of her mom. He was eager to meet her, and tell her what an amazing daughter she has.

Will didn't turn up for dinner that night. Kate had stayed up studying a few case files and Will walked into their bedroom at exactly 12 midnight.

"Where were you for dinner..?" She asked him as he made his way to the bathroom without even acknowledging her presence in the room.

"I had dinner at the office. Now go to sleep"

Kate didn't believe him. He was a little tipsy, which obviously meant he went out somewhere and had a few drinks.

"Are you drunk?"

"What, no I'm not, now go to sleep."

"You better be home for dinner tomorrow… One of Avril's friends are coming over"

"Yea yea. Whatever"

and that's when Kate saw that mark on his neck. It was a love bite. The anger that boiled up in her was raging. He really was sleeping around.

She quickly put her files away, pulled the covers over herself, turned to face away from his side of the bed and tried to forget how miserable her life seemed at this moment. She really needed to do something about it.

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