A/N: Busy RL and vacation kept me away from writing! You had been warned at the beginning that it will take me a while to get this story down onto paper! =) Thanks for being patient, and again, this story won't be left unfinished! *promised*
Chapter 9
Richard Castle was downtown in Soho where he had to meet up with his publisher for a book signing. He had promised picking Kate up from work later that day once her day ended. At six thirty sharp he strode over the threshold of the day care center where a multitude of his senses were heightened right away. A mix of freshly used paint and recently baked cookies filled his nostrils. Laughter, crying and chattering of children reached his ears as his gaze swift around the place in search for an adult.
"May I help you?" A black woman exited what seemed to be an office room and locked the door behind her. By the look on his face, he must have looked lost and confused.
"Yes, please. I'm here to pick up Kate… I mean Miss Kate Beckett…" Rick quickly added to make sure he wasn't there to kidnap some little girl whose name happened to be Kate.
"Hi, I'm Rhonda. Pleased to meet you. Just give me one minute and I'll lead you to her room."
From the smile on the petite woman's face Richard Castle concluded that Kate must have mentioned him in one of her conversation. He stood in the foyer and waited patiently for Rhonda to return as a handful of parents entered the center, leaving it again shortly afterwards with kid or kids in tow. He lovingly smiled down at a little girl who didn't look older than four and who had bumped into him by surprise. She literally stared at the tall man's blue piercing eyes before turning on her heels and running away.
Shortly afterwards, Rhonda guided him to the second floor and pointed to the far end of the hallway.
"Just straight on. Don't forget to look out for the kids when opening and closing the door."
Castle flashed her a warm hearted smile and a thank you. As he approached the glass door his curiosity got the better out of him as he stopped without entering the room. He gazed at the display in front of him. One provider and four babies filled the room, but Kate was nowhere in sight. As he waited some more, she finally appeared from an adjoined room balancing a wailing infant in her arms, trying to soothe it while conversing with the other provider, before bending down and also bring attention to a younger toddler, who was showing Kate something from a book.
With mesmerize Rick watched Kate comply in her task. She must have felt his presence, which wasn't all too difficult since it was a glass door, as she eventually looked up. A smile grew on her face as she waved him inside. He carefully slipped into the room mindful of Rhonda's words. He remained awkwardly standing at the entrance.
"Hi!" Kate greeted him with that gorgeous smile of hers, "Lilly, this is Rick…" she introduced one another as they shook hands.
"Wow, so you're Richard Castle?" Lilly awed with a slight blush on her cheekbones, "So you're real… I mean… really Kate's friend. And here I kept teasing her about it."
"Oh trust me, I'm very much real… and yes, we've been friends like forever…"
Rick spoke with a charming smile purposefully not mentioning their time spent apart from each other. Unless Kate had told Lilly about her long time lost friend but he fairly doubted it since she had only recently started on the job.
"Are you going to be okay with Alyssa?" Kate asked dropping the wailing baby into Lilly's awaiting arms, but Lilly only nodded her head.
"Of course, don't worry. Devon and Matt's parents should be here soon anyway. Oh, look! There they are! So I'm down to three, just go ahead and have fun! See you tomorrow."
Kate was already busy wrapping her coat around her shoulders and picking up her purse on their way out. She said her goodbye to Lilly and closed the door of the room behind her. Once outside the building she let out a long sigh and took a deep breath of the fresh air waving right in.
"Alyssa's our little new one. She is still very fussy and doesn't really understand her new surroundings quite yet. I managed to get her to sleep this afternoon on and off, but she kept waking up and wailed every time on end."
"How old is she? She looks really small!" Castle wanted to know as they walked down the pavement down the few blocks to the restaurant he had chosen for them to eat out.
"Four months. She's our youngest for now. She's really precious…", Kate's eyes were literally glistening as she kept going with her tale. Apparently also looking after such a young infant for real was also new to Kate, as she proclaimed that it had been awhile since she last had held such a tiny baby in her arms.
By the time they arrived at the restaurant, Castle knew pretty much every child who was in her unit. From Alyssa, four months, to Jayden eighteen months. Even though he wasn't all too much interested in it, he still couldn't help being all ears for her, while they checked the menu and placed their order.
Half way through the meal Kate mentioned a new friend; Tom. They had met at a recent friend's place and they seemed to have hit it off right away. Words kept sputtering out of her mouth and excitement was written all across her face. Needless to point out that Richard Castle felt protective and needed to asked her about this new acquaintance. She answered all of them, her smile never fading. Rick tried to ignore the pain he felt in his chest. Why did it bother him anyway? She seemed happy and all he wanted was for her to be happy.
"Are you all right, Rick? You haven't said a word the entire meal!"
"Hum? Oh… no, I was only listening to you…" Rick replied with a shrug.
"How was your book signing today?"
"Oh good… it went really really good!" He briefly paused and continued, "Who's that Tom guy? When do I get to meet him?"
Castle fought to keep up his façade in an effort to sound casual. Kate blushed up at his words.
"Oh, he's just… a guy. He's really nice and… well, cute, but… I don't know…"
"Ask him out!" Rick challenged her while mentally slapping himself. Why on heaven's earth couldn't he keep his mouth shut? Kate shook his words off, "Just ask the guy out for coffee or something…"
Rick saw as her imagination was running wild. She seemingly felt an attraction for the guy. He couldn't blame her for being normal. It's not like they were a couple. She was his best friend and he was there for her whenever she needed him. He always would be because she was very dear to his heart.
"Okay… maybe I will." She finally concluded with a beam.
Rick forced a supportive smile to his lips.
For the remainder of their evening they continued their conversation around books they were reading and the project of visiting a photo gallery that upcoming weekend. Before they knew it, they were standing outside Kate's apartment door. Rick was used to bring her safely back home.
"Did you want to come in some more, or…?"
"No… I mean, I would like to, but I know you have to get up early to go to work tomorrow. The advantage of being a writer is that you are free to set up your own working schedule." Rick reminded her with an eye wink. "So thanks, but I'll take a rain check on that one…"
Kate mirrored his smile, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck for a hug and placed a kiss onto his cheek. Goosebumps rushed through every inch of his body at that simple gesture. His eyes also briefly drifted shut as he took in her sweet scent of cherries. His entire being and mind were busy ignoring and fighting against the feelings rising within him. Kate remained quite oblivious to what she was actually causing him with her innocent touches and kisses. Add to this her smile, laughter and all-round inner beauty and Rick was a goner. He would climb the highest mountain there was if it were for her. Over the past weeks he had found himself staring at her more often than usual. He would be lying to himself if he were to say not feeling attracted to her. But this was Kate… his little Katie… his sweet pie. He wasn't allowed to have feelings for her at all; at least not the kind he was actually feeling for her. He was little by little falling in love with her. And here she was, standing in front of him, ready to have a possible cup of coffee with that Tom guy, who – by the way – would be silly to decline such an offer. How could anyone with good judgment refuse having a drink with a beautiful woman as Kate Beckett.
"Okay, I'll see you Saturday, two p.m. at the Gallery then. And thanks for dinner, again. Next time will be my treat."
Rick Castle was in no mood to counter her right now. He was well aware that he would never let her pay for his dinner. He wanted to be the man in charge. Plus he wanted her to save her money for something else. She needed it more than he did.
"Night, Kate…"
"Good night, Rick." She unlocked her door, dropped a wet kiss to his cheeks, went inside and closed it shut behind her.
tbc
A/N: Hides from flying tomatoes.
