Hello!

A/N: Would you look at that...another update! As usual thank you so much for your reviews, favourites and follows! It means the world. It's so nice to know that so many of you are enjoying this story. I'm really enjoying writing it.

This chapter continues right where the last one ended.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned something as cool as Castle.

Chapter 10

Kate hesitated slightly as she sat at the dining table next to Rick, and across from her Dad. It crossed her mind that the last time she had been this nervous to have a conversation was when she told her parents that was was pregnant. It felt like a lifetime ago now. Kate felt Rick's hand settle on her knee, and she placed her hand over his.

"So, what couldn't wait until a reasonable time of day?" She questioned, looking up from her lap to meet her father's eyes. When she looked at him she felt sad. He was a shadow of the man he had been mere months ago and it broke her heart. The man sitting in front of her was not the man she had loved and trusted as she had grown up - not anymore.

"I just wanted to…" Jim's voice trailed off and he was unable to finish his sentence. He looked at his clasped hands on the dining table, avoiding the gaze of his daughter. "I wanted to apologise."

"To me? Or to Rick?" Kate scoffed.

"Both of you. Things got out of hand the other day, and I am sorry."

"Out of hand? Dad, Rick ended up in the hospital. You almost hit me. I'd say thats more than out of hand."

"I know." He replied, "I know that, and I really am sorry."

"I'm not sure that's enough," she cried. "How am I supposed to trust you around the baby? I can't say absolutely anymore that I know you wouldn't hurt me - or even her." She cradled her bump as she spoked, stroking her fingers over her skin.

"Come on Katie, don't say that." He ran his hand over his face and looked at her. Kate felt like for the first time since her Mom's death, her Dad was finally looking at her properly. He could finally see the toll the last several months had taken on his daughter. "It won't happen again. I promise."

"You can't promise that if you keep drinking."

"I've told you before, it's not a problem. I can stop anytime." He implored.

"Really?" She asked, "So you haven't had a drink today?" The aversion of his gaze was the only answer she needed. "I can't do this anymore, Dad. I don't have the strength to watch you do this to yourself." Rick squeezed her knee again in an attempt to show his support.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I will - no we will - help you get the help you need, but if you keep insisting you don't have a problem I don't think I can continue to be a part of this." Kate could feel tears burning in the back of her eyes but she tried to keep them at bay. "I need to be strong for my daughter. Something you haven't been able to do." She knew it was a low blow but Kate felt it had to be said. Despite what had happened he still didn't seem to understand the pain he had caused.

"Well if that's how you really feel, I guess I should leave." He stood quickly and nearly lost his balance, indicating that whatever he had drunk before arriving was more than just a glass or two of whiskey.

"Seriously? You're just going to go?" She asked, the shock in her voice very clear.

"I won't be patronised by my own daughter. I don't have a problem, Katie. I just like a drink or two at the end of the day."

"Dad, please, you have to listen to me." She implored him to listen.

"I have listened to you, and you want me to go."

"That's not what she said, Jim." Rick interrupted. He stood too, groaning slightly as the sudden movement made his already sore head swim.

"This is a family matter. Stay out of it." Jim responded.

"Kate is my family." Rick felt Kate's hand on his arm, and he looked down to where she was still sat at the table.

"Please, Rick. Don't." She begged. Jim seemingly ignored his daughter's input and he walked the couple of steps around the table to get closer to Rick.

"I wish she'd never met you at that damn party when she was in high school. Not only have you ruined her life by getting her pregnant, but you've ruined mine too."

"Dad-" Kate started fiercely, standing up herself, but she was interrupted by Jim.

"She was meeting us at a restaurant you chose. She could still be here if it wasn't for you." He yelled in Rick's face.

"That's not true." Kate argued, "The alley where she was found was no where near the restaurant. It's not Rick's fault. And I'm so glad I met him. If Rick wasn't here, and it was just you and me in this together. I'd have no one." She wiped a stray tear off her cheek, "You've barely looked at me since she died."

Rick looked between the father and daughter as the room fell into silence. They were so broken - each in their own way. Kate had just about held herself together in the months since Johanna had died and he was proud of her for it. He knew she had tough days, and she had even mentioned to him that without him around, and without the baby, she would have probably fallen into oblivion. Jim was broken completely. Rick hoped that in the future if, God forbid, anything happened to Kate he would be able to hold himself together for his child.

"Look," Rick said looking back and forth between the two Beckett's who were both as stubborn as each other, "It's really late. Why don't we try and talk properly in the morning." Kate nodded, and smiled at him gratefully for intervening.

"No. I think it's fair to say everything has been said." Jim replied.

"What?" Kate said, her voice cracking as she spoke.

"I'll go." He said angrily as he walked towards the front door. He opened the door and turned back to Kate. "Don't come to me when this all ends badly." He slammed the door behind him leaving Rick and Kate stood next to each other in shock.

They stood in silence for a moment until a loud sob from Kate reverberated throughout the apartment. Rick quickly pulled her into a hug, and ran his hands up and down her back as she cried into his shoulder.

"He just left." She cried.

"I know, we'll go over tomorrow. We can fix this." He soothed.

"I don't know if I want do." She sniffed as she pulled back from him and looked at him properly, "I don't want him around Regan if he's like that. I don't think I even want him around us."

"Let's not make any hasty decisions now. We'll go back to bed and figure it out in the morning. Ok?" He smiled at her and wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Ok."

"So you're definitely going to send him the letter?" Rick asked as they had lunch the following day.

"Yeah. I don't want to talk to him again, not after last night, and this is the best way to get across how I feel." She laid the letter on the table in front of her and passed it over to Rick. "Do you want to read it?"

"Already did." He replied.

"And?"

"I think it says all you need to say." He stood from the table and put their dishes on the side near the sink. He watched as Kate put the letter in the envelope and wrote Dad on the front. "I'll put it in his mailbox at your parent's building on my way to campus."

He was going for his last exam, Kate had implored him to tell the college about his injury but he had refused saying he still felt ok to continue. After a lot of promises that he would let someone know if his headache got too much under the fluorescent lighting in the class room, she had relented. Whilst he knew the bruises on his face would certainly raise a few eyebrows, he just wanted to get the exam out of the way.

"Thanks." She smiled at him.

Rick picked up his rucksack off the floor and walked over to where Kate was sat. He took the letter from her hand and kissed her quickly.

"You're definitely sure you want to do this?" He asked as he pulled away.

"Positive."

"Ok." He leant in and kissed her again, "I'll see you later." He walked towards the front door.

"Good luck, babe. I love you." She shouted after him.

"Love you too."

Rick hesitated as he stood in front of the Beckett's mailbox. He sighed as he looked at the envelope in his hands. He wanted nothing more than to fix the relationship between Kate and her father, but he knew that would never happen if Jim continued on the path he was on.

Rick placed the envelope in box and left the building.

Dear Dad,

After last night I thought the best course of action would be to write to you. The last thing we need is another argument.

I love you, Dad. But you aren't the person you once were. I need to think about my family - Rick and our baby - for now and it seems like you can not be a part of that. It breaks my heart to have to do this, because I now feel like I've lost both my parents, but I'm asking you to stay away.

I need you to keep a distance from us until you can at least admit you have a problem. As soon as you can admit that to yourself we will be more than willing to help you. Rick even offered to pay for rehab out of the first pay check he'll get once his books hit the shelves next month. He's offering to help you even whilst recovering from a head injury you caused him. He's always been a much better man than you have given him credit for.

So please, stay away until you can recognise you need help. As soon as you do come see me.

By the way, we're naming your grand-daughter Regan Johanna Castle. It occurred to me this morning that you never asked. Please get better for her, for me and for Mom. She wouldn't want this for us.

Love,

Katie.

Please let me know what you think! I know Jim is out of character here, but on the show we've only ever known him on the other side of his alcoholism. I know from personal experience with family members that alcohol can make people very different. So I hope you can see what I'm trying to do here.

Next chapter will be the launch of Rick's book, his first ever book signing and skipping forward to his graduation ceremony.

I'd say there are probably 3 - 4 chapters left of this now including an epilogue. I'll then get working on the sequel and the prequel (which as I've said before will be a series of oneshots.)

As per, reviews mean the world to me.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year.