A/N: Still loving this story, and so glad to hear with every review that you guys are as well! Thank you for being amazing. You're the bestest :)

The quiet murmurings of Casa de Castle didn't so much wake her up as present themselves in her wakening, a soft and comforting backdrop for those first few moments of drifting somewhere between awake and asleep. Kate's subconcious yearned for more sleep, but the other part of her was far more aware. As she drifted farther into consciousness, she groaned inwardly, realizing that she'd fallen asleep the night before and that Rick had clearly decided not to wake her. She could hear Rick and Alexis in the kitchen, along with a voice that she didn't recognize, but which she assumed belonged to Martha. She hadn't met the actress yet, but that inevitable meeting seemed to loom even closer just then.

Steeling herself, Kate stood from the criminally soft sofa, and all three of them noticed her immediately.

"Katie!" Alexis squealed. She managed a smile for Alexis.

"Morning," Rick said softly.

"Morning," Kate replied.

"Ah! You must be Katherine!" Martha said. Kate nodded, slightly thrown off by the use of her full first name, but not bothered by it. Somehow, coming from Martha, it sounded endearing.

"Hi," she said. "Martha, right?"

"That's me," Martha replied. "Such a delight to finally meet you." Kate smiled at her.

"Likewise," she said. She glanced at Rick.

"I can't believe you didn't wake me up," she said. He just grinned at her, that charming smile.

"You seemed pretty peaceful," he replied. "Plus, it was late," he added. She just rolled her eyes as she took the coffee he offered her.

"Thanks," she said.

"Daddy, can Kate walk with us to school?" Alexis asked. Rick glanced at Kate.

"She's welcome to if she wants," he answered.

"Katie, will you?" Alexis asked. Kate only had to hesitate for a second before she nodded.

"Sure," she said. Alexis cheered as Rick attempted to hide his smile.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Martha," Kate said with a smile. Martha smiled back at her.

"Oh, the pleasure was mine, my dear," she replied. The older woman hugged all three of them, and the Kate, Rick, and Alexis were heading down the elevator to walk Alexis to school.

"What are you doing today, Alexis?" Kate asked.

"We're going to the library," Alexis told her. "That's my favorite."

"You like to read, don't you?" Kate asked, to which Alexis nodded vehemently and Kate laughed.

"I always like to read, too," she said. "What's your favorite book?"

"Well, I can't read them by myself yet because they're a little scary, but Daddy reads them with me and that's okay, so I really like the Harry Potter books," she said. "But the ones I can read on my own are good, too. I like the Magic Tree House, and Henry and Mudge, and Saddle Club and Pony Girls," Alexis listed off. "When I get to the next level, I'll be able to read Phantom Stallion, too." Kate caught Rick's eye, exchanging a smile with the writer.

"Wow," Kate said. "Sounds like you're a little bookworm, huh?"

"Yeah," Alexis replied. "When I grow up, I'm going to be a dancer in the New York City Ballet just like you, and I'm going to write books about my adventures just like Daddy." Kate and Rick smiled at each other over Alexis' head, and Kate couldn't help but imagine a future just like this.

When they reached the school, Alexis hugged them both and hurried inside, eager to get to school. Kate and Rick looked at each other.

"You heading home or...?" Rick asked.

"The studio, I think," she said.

"Mind if I walk you there?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I don't mind at all," she replied. So they set off at a leisurely pace toward her studio.

"Kate?" Rick asked after a moment.

"Hmm?" she replied.

"Can I ask you something?" He sounded hesitant, too hesitant. As if he were about to ask a question he was nervous to ask.

"Sure," she said.

"Why is it, whenever anyone mention the New York Ballet or professional dancing, you get all tense and quiet and change the subject?"

Kate sucked in a breath. She hadn't been prepared for him to ask about that. She trusted Rick, she liked him, and she was willing to tell him the backstory. She was willing to let him into the past of Kate Beckett, let him know what had gotten her where she was.

But not here.

She stopped, turning to face him.

"Before I say anything," she began, "I want you to know that I am not shutting you down, okay?"

He nodded seriously before she continued.

"I'm willing to tell you all about that, but not here. Not now, not like this." Rick nodded again.

"Why don't you come and pick me up later?" she suggested. "We can go to the park or to dinner, somewhere we can be alone. And I'll tell you everything. Promise." Rick smiled gently.

"Okay. After I pick Alexis up, we can take her back to the loft and go out, grab an easy dinner somewhere," he agreed.

"That sounds good," Kate replied.

They smiled at each other for a moment, and then broke eye contact, resuming their walk just a little bit closer to one another.

Ready to hear Kate's backstory? :) Leave me a review, I'd love to hear some speculation about what Kate's deal is.