AN: I am sorry this took so long, but unfortunately, my baby boy has been in and out of hospital for the last month and taking up majority of my time, not that I mind or anything :) Good news though. We're heading home tomorrow morning and hopefully won't be back in for a while... I said that last time, but here's to hoping... Anyway, read on :)
The afternoon rolled by quickly, with Rick choosing what Alexis had dubbed "the Ferrari" of strollers and then starting an argument with Kate after she found a long piece of fabric.
'What is it?' he asked touching the fabric. It was soft, yet very sturdy. Kate handed him the brochure she'd been reading about the woven wrap.
'You wrap her up in it and wear her on your back or stomach... Free hands!' she said with a grin.
'That's what the stroller is for, Kate!' He said, sighing and placing the fabric back on the stand. 'And besides, it looks dangerous! What if she slips out?'
'Rick, people have been baby wearing for thousands of years without incident. Hell, I even wore my host family's baby in Kiev. He loved it. If she's wrapped properly, she won't slip out.'
Castle's face had gone from worried to disbelieving in seconds, 'You know how to work this thing?'
Kate rolled her eyes, 'Seriously Castle, you get your stroller and I'll get my wrap and we'll see what she likes best. Huh?' Kate felt herself start to laugh at the pouting face Rick was giving her. 'What's the matter, sulky?'
'Babies always love their mommies more. It's not a fair bet!' he said, clutching the sleeping baby closer to his chest.
'Rick, she's going to be living with you and seeing me every other day for a few hours, are you really that insecure?'
Alexis piped up, a sly smile playing across her face, 'He totally is Kate.'
'With good reason! You've already stolen one daughter from me!' He said glaring at Alexis.
The girls giggled and Kate turned to pick one of the wraps from the shelf, 'Technically, I won't be stealing Schyler. You were the one who wrote my name under the mommy section of the adoption papers. You brought this on yourself, Castle. Oh this is gorgeous!'
'I like that too, Kate,' Alexis said, watching the smile on Kate's face get bigger. 'Could you show me how, too?'
Rick groaned, 'I'll be over picking out dresses when you're done being girly!'
They arrived at the loft just in time to let the delivery men in to drop the bigger items off. The box containing the crib was deposited in Ricks office, Kate had insisted on purchasing a Leander cradle to put in Ricks bedroom until Schyler was old enough for her own room. Luckily for them the delivery men offered to hang the cradle so that they could be sure that it was secure. One hour and an enormous tip later, Rick and Kate were sitting side by side on his bed watching Schyler sleep.
'She's so peaceful,' Rick said with a soft smile. 'It's such a contrast to how she came into the world. One wrong move and she might not be here.'
'Its a shame she'll never know her real mother or father. The more I think about it, the more I feel blessed for even having a mom... Even if she was taken from us.' She felt Rick squeeze her shoulders and pull her in for a hug.
'Schyler is blessed that you've given her a chance. One day, everything you missed out on with your mom, you'll be able to do with her. It was part of the reason I chose you.'
Kate smiled into his shoulder. He really had thought this through. She rested her head on his shoulder and breathed in deeply. This was going to be one exciting adventure.
The room was completely dark when Kate woke to a soft mewling coming from the crib. Her brain was groggy as she sat up and took in her surroundings. Remembering that she had fallen asleep on the couch, she put the pieces together, coming to the conclusion that she was in Rick's bedroom... In his bed... Oh, crap... Realising that Schyler was still crying in the hammock, Kate rubbed her eyes and quickly plotted a course of action. She didn't even think twice about climbing over Rick to get to the baby. He grunted and let out a small whine, 'Honey, the baby...'
She froze and looked down at him, he was sleep talking. Probably thinking about a time when Alexis was this small. Yeah, that was it.
She bent over the crib and touched Schyler's face, so she wouldn't startle at the sudden lurch of being lifted out of the crib. The little ones cheeks were dry, though she was crying like there was no tomorrow. She'd have to ask Castle about it in the morning. Trudging out through Rick's office and into the kitchen, Kate set about heating a bottle of formula that Rick had made up before they sat down to watch some television before Kate intended on heading home. That plan went straight out the window as soon as she sunk into the comfort of the couch, promptly falling asleep.
Oh well, there were worse things than waking up next to Richard Castle, Kate thought with a grin.
After testing the bottle on the inside of her elbow, Kate popped the teat into Schyler's searching mouth. 'You know, Schyler, I don't know how this is gonna work out. Even after one day, I don't want to leave you,' Kate jumped as a strong pair of hands came to rest on her hips.
'Do you know how perfect you look, doing that?' Rick asked quietly. 'We have room here, Kate. I mean it. I know I didn't really give you a choice in this... Just know, I wasn't trying to trap you into anything, Kate.'
Kate turned slowly, 'Rick, I know exactly what you were doing when you made this decision for us. Schyler needed someone. You felt compelled to help her, if I had the means and guts to do adopt her, I probably would have considered it myself.' She put the empty bottle on the counter and handed Schyler to him, 'It's your turn to be covered in puke, daddy. Try not to get it on me when you come to bed. Thanks.'
'But...' Rick watched as she walked back through his office and into his bedroom. 'Wow, if this is all it takes to get your mommy into bed, I would've invited her over when Alexis had the flu.'
