Martha approaches him, slowly. She peers down at the sleeping newborn in his arms. A little girl dressed in yellow who looks like Kate. Her subconscious screams at her, as she longs to hold her new granddaughter. She knows that stating the obvious may cause friction between them. As she considers the consequences, but all she can think about is the angelic face of the newborn in Richard's arms. She tips her head upwards, and makes eye contact with him.

"Richard something isn't right here."

"She's been gone for months, and she never told me that she was going to have a baby, our baby. Yeah, I can agree with that."

"That is not what I meant."

"What did you mean?" he questions suspiciously.

"Katherine would never abandon her child."

"She left her outside the door, in the hallway right after the newspaper was delivered."

"I am not accusing her of putting the baby in any danger, though I am going to guess that she has."

"What are you saying, mother?"

"She is not Meredith. She would never willingly walk away from her child."

"You don't know that. Maybe the thought of having a child was just too much for her."

"Richard you're wrong," she says gently.

"I'm wrong?"

"She left this baby on the doorstep for a reason. She wanted you to know that she is under duress."

"What makes you think that?"

"I don't care what case she was working, or what kind of demon she is chasing, family means everything to her. You should know that. You should be able to see that there is only one way she would leave her child, even with you, and not know if, and when she will return. The only way is if she had a metaphorical gun to her head. I know the kind of person that she is. She would give up anything for her child."

"How can you be so sure?"

"It is the kind of person that she is. We both know that."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Find her, and bring her home."

"How?"

Martha smirks, "With a little help from your friends."

He nods understandingly, "I need to make some phone calls could you..."

She cuts him off, "Certainly," she reaches for the sleeping infant.

He places the sleeping beauty into her arms. He slides out of his seat, and slips into the other room. Martha stares down at the baby in her arms.

"You are beautiful. I just hope that you don't break his heart too," she rolls her eyes, "What am I saying, you're his daughter, it is your job to break his heart, at least a little bit."

He glances at the clock, but reaches for his phone despite the early hour. He calls Ryan first, guessing he will already be awake. Ryan answers after two rings.

"Castle?"

"Ryan I know that it is really early, and I am sorry if I woke you up," he begins.

"You didn't wake me up. I was up with the baby. What's going on?"

"Can you come over here?"

"What's wrong?"

"It's something we need to discuss in person."

"It's that bad?"

"Despite my reputation as a wordsmith some things are just better in the flesh."

"In the flesh? What are you talking about?"

"You have to see it to believe it."

"Does this have something to do with Beckett?"

"It has absolutely everything to do with her."

"Is something wrong?"

"My mother seems to believe so."

"What about you, what do you believe?"

"My mother made a very persuasive argument, and this is a rare occasion in which I happen to agree with her."

"Okay I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks, I owe you one."

Ryan hangs up, and Castle dials Esposito. The phone rings several times before anyone answers.

"Esposito," he greets, sheepishly.

"Hey, Javi I know that it is really early. I'm sorry that I woke you up."

"Castle it's not even five o'clock in the morning yet. Man someone better be dying, or dead."

"Don't hang up. No one is dying, or dead to my knowledge, but I need your help. Someone's life could be in danger."

"Is this some sort of joke?"

"No."

"Castle what's going on?"

"I got a message from Kate."

"What kind of message? What did it say?"

"You have to see for yourself."

"See for myself? Is she okay?"

"'Sito I don't know. I just know something isn't right. I need your help to sort all of this out. I will owe you one, okay?"

"You sound desperate."

"Please."

"Okay I'll be there."

"Thanks," Castle hangs up the phone.

He shoves the phone into the pocket of his pajama bottoms. He returns to the kitchen. He finds Martha sitting on the bar stool staring at the little girl in her arms. He smiles at them, and approaches slowly. Martha looks up at him. He stops in front of her, and reaches for the newborn. Martha slips the baby into his arms.

He finds himself completely mesmerized by the baby in his arms. She's got chubby cheeks. She looks like an angel as she sleeps. He plants a warm wet kiss on her cheek. She doesn't stir. He inhales the scent of new baby.

Martha clears her throat, "Richard?"

He looks up at her, "Yes, mother?"

"What are you going to do?"

"As much as it pains me to say this, you're right. Kate wouldn't leave her willingly. I have to figure out what is going on. I have to find her."

"You really didn't know?"

He shakes his head, "How could I? She didn't even know."

"I should call Alexis."

"Call Alexis, at this time in the morning?"

"Someone has to watch the baby."

"I am her father. Last time I checked I was capable of taking care of an infant. I can admit that I might be rusty, but..."

She cuts him off, "You're going to take her with you? Richard someone has to go shopping."

"Shopping?"

"She only has a days worth of stuff in that bag. She doesn't even have a place to sleep."

"Don't call Alexis... yet."