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The next six months were the best six months of their lives. They fell deeper in love with each passing day. Kate was practically living at Rick's loft. She would go to her apartment whenever she had a hard case and needed some down time. However, she found that she craved his company more as each day went by.

He had asked her to help him plan his daughter's fourteenth birthday. Alexis just wanted something small. Mostly just her family and a few close friends. Which meant that Rick was going to have to invite his ex-wife. Alexis had asked him if she could invite her mother. He knew that there was a fifty-fifty chance of Meredith showing up. Her track record for visiting her daughter was terrible. She had missed more birthdays that she had attended. So, when he called her to invite her, he was surprised when she immediately agreed. She told him, "I'm curious about your new girlfriend Richard."

Rick sighed and told her, "There's nothing to tell."

"That's not what I've heard from Alexis. Apparently the two of you are getting quite serious. She's been spending a lot of time at your loft."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He knew that Alexis had talked to her mother about Kate, but sometimes he wished that she wouldn't have. Meredith had a way of driving him crazy.

He finally told her, "Yes, we are dating. Yes, she has been sleeping at the loft. I'm not calling about that though Meredith. Are you going to come or not?"

"I'll be there."

"Y-you will?"

To say that he was surprised was a major understatement. He heard her laugh and she said, "Of course Richard. I wouldn't miss this for the world. I want to see what's so special about this woman. I want to make sure that she loves you for you."

It was at that point that he wished that Alexis had asked for anything else. He would have preferred her going out to California to visit her mom. Sure, it would mean that his daughter was away for her birthday, but at least he wouldn't need to be subjected to his ex-wife.

After talking to her for a few more minutes, he finally disconnected the call with a sigh. He heard Kate laugh and he whipped around and said, "It so isn't funny. That woman drives me insane."

She walked over to where he was standing and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly. She pulled away and said, "It will be fine. After all, it's only for one night."

He groaned and told her, "Let's see if you still feel that way after you meet her."

Her hands were still wrapped around his neck and she pulled back and asked, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, she's coming for Alexis' birthday. You are going to be here for her birthday right?"

Biting her bottom lip, she whispered, "I wasn't sure that you would want me here. I mean, it's a time for family and…"

He smiled, "Of course we want you there. In fact, Alexis specifically asked if you wanted to come."

"She did?"

Nodding he smiled and gave her a peck on the cheek, "She did. Of course you don't have to get her a gift. I've already bought her a gift. Several in fact."

Laughing, she smiled, "I'd like to get her a little something. Although…"

Rick smiled and asked, "What?"

"Maybe I can take her out to lunch. Just the two of us. I mean, I know that I'm not her mom, but…"

"She likes you Kate. You're real and honestly you've been there more than her own mother has. Plus, you treat her like an adult and not a little kid. That's important to her."

Everything he had told her was true. After they had been dating for a month, Alexis had sat down with him at breakfast one morning and casually mentioned Kate. The conversation had been somewhat tense at first. Because she had brought up the issue of him being Richard Castle.

~Flashback~

It had been a typical weekday morning. Kate had gotten up early and went into the precinct. Since he had a late class that morning, he would join her after. Alexis had come bounding down the stairs and she prepared her cereal.

Sitting down next to him she chewed the first bite carefully. She finally said, "Dad? I need to ask you a question."

He smiled at her and said, "Sure Pumpkin. What's up?"

He watched her take a deep breath and then she asked, "Well, I know that you really like Detective Beckett. I was just wondering. Ummmm..."

He asked her softly, "What?"

"Well, I know that we really aren't supposed to tell anyone about your writing career. Especially the fact that you're Richard Castle, but don't you think that you should maybe tell her? Especially if you like her as much as you say you do."

"It's not that simple Alexis. There are things that…."

"You're afraid that she's going to hate you. That she's going to be mad at you."

"Well yeah. I mean it's pretty important and she's kind of in love with him. I should have told her before we got serious and slept tog- Uh, had a sleepover."

Alexis rolled her eyes and laughed at her dad. Then she told him, "I know you better than that dad. Look, I just think that you need to tell her. Sooner rather than later. You should have told her on your first date."

"I don't think she would have believed me. In fact she probably would have thought that I was making the whole thing up. She might have even laughed at me."

"Really dad? That's the best that you can come up with. That she would laugh at you. You really need to tell her before it's too late."

Part of him knew that his daughter was right, but another part worried that Beckett would be upset with him for not telling her sooner. So, he told his daughter, "I'll handle it Pumpkin."

Alexis gave him a look and he knew that she didn't believe him, but she also knew better than to push him. So, she just said, "Well, when it all falls apart don't say that I didn't tell you you should have told her."

He nodded and told her, "Duly noted. Now, it's time for you to go to school and I have to head to my class."

"I'm going, I'm going. Just think about it dad. Please? I really like her and I think that's she's good for you."

"You do?"

"Yeah, she keeps you in line and you're different when you're around her. I can tell that she really, really likes you dad."

Sighing, he knew that his daughter was right, but he still hesitated to tell her. He put it out of his mind and the next thing he knew, they had been together for six months…..

~Flashback Ends~

Rick smiled and kissed her again. Then he asked, "You'll come?"

She finally sighed and then told him, "Fine. I'll come. Just don't leave me alone with your ex-wife."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

He kissed her again and closed his eyes. What he had no way of knowing was how this party would mean the end of his secret and it would reveal a secret that Kate held also…...