A/N: To address some of the reviews yes there is an actual Kite flying festival, it's not really a competition from what I read online but I tweaked it to fit this story. I'm sorry about some of the grammar issues I do have my friend go through before I post but I also read through it myself before and change things so the mistakes are mine and I do my best.

Kate stepped out of the elevator when it reached her floor, she fished her keys out of purse, and she was so distracted looking for that them that she didn't see the person waiting outside her door.

"Hi Katie," they spoke up.

She jumped back into a defensive stance, looked around quickly before realizing whom it was. "Oh mom you should know better than to sneak up on a cop. What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way home from the office today and decided to drop by, been here for about 30 minutes. Tried your cell phone but you didn't answer, I figured you caught a case," she rambled.

"No, no case. I was off duty today," she answered, unlocking the door and heading inside. "Come on in." Kate set her things down. "Do you want anything to drink?" she offered.

"I actually brought some wine and snacks."

"Just decided to drop by huh?" She looked at her like she had just caught a suspect in a lie.

"So I stopped by the store on my way over," She shrugged.

Kate headed to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses and a plate. Johanna took out the cookies and pastries while Kate opened the wine. They got everything settled and sat down on the couch.

"Are you going to tell me or do I have to bring it up?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You met Richard Castle?"

Kate almost spit out her drink, "What?" How did her mom know it was him she's been with?

"At the game, with your father. I can't believe I had to hear it from him, you didn't have the decency to call me?"

She took a breath, "Oh right, sorry works just been crazy and it slipped my mind."

"Well are you going to tell me about it?"

She went on to tell her about the bathroom and then seeing him again at the dugout store. She left the lunch with him and Alexis out of the story, she wasn't ready to share that part just yet.

The conversation died down, they picked at the cookies for several moments. Kate was waiting for her to say something but Johanna was just sitting in silence, letting it speak for itself.

"It's really annoying when you do that."

"Do what?"

"You know what you're doing, we both do. I'm a detective and you're a lawyer. We know exactly how to let the silence do all the talking."

"Okay you're right. I'm sorry. You aren't a client you are my daughter. So if not a case what have you been doing?"

"I've been out, with a friend."

"Are you going to tell me who this friend is?" Johanna's eyes met her with an arch eyebrow. Kate could tell she had pieced together her friend must be Richard Castle but that doesn't mean Kate has to confirm it; she could let her mom wonder for a little while.

"He's a…" Kate wasn't ready to let her two worlds collide, being with Rick allowed her to forget everything that's been going on with her family, if she told her mom then that would mean she would want to meet him. Especially when she found out it was her favorite author; she wasn't ready to let those two worlds mix. "He's a friend, things are happening but we'll see how things work out." She hoped that was enough to keep her mom at bay for the time being. She was being honest but vague, she knew her mom saw right through it but she also respected her space and her mom knows that she'll tell her everything when she's ready.

"Alright I won't pry more. Just one more question; is he good? Does he make you happy?"

"That's two questions." Her mom just stared at her. "He is the sweetest guy I've met, and yes he makes me happy. He's different; he's immature, childish, egotistical, but also caring, kind and trustworthy. I have fun when I'm around him."

"Sounds like you love him."

Kate sucked in a breath at that statement, quickly saying, "It's way too early for that, I'm still getting to know him."

"That may be true, but sometimes it happens when you least expect it."

"Like I said, I'm still getting to know him."

"Kate, time doesn't mean anything. I knew I loved your father after a month of knowing him, that's before we started official dating. Listen, you had on a smile as you were remembering him. The same smile I get when I think of your father, and the same smile I get when I think of you and Mark as kids."

"Mom…"

"I know you and I know what it's like to be in love. You may not be ready to admit to yourself but don't deny it for too long, don't want to waste a good thing. Well I should get going, don't want to keep dad waiting. You know how he hates to cook."

"I'll walk you out, you want to take home the rest of the cookies?"

"You keep them, they're your favorites."

They walked to the door and said their goodbyes.

Kate started to think about everything her mom had said, then all the thoughts from earlier came back. Could she really be in love with Richard Castle? The real Richard Castle, not the one on page 6. She needed to clear her head a bath would just make her think more. A run. She needed to go for a run.


"Can we get pizza on the way home for dinner?"

"Are you still hungry? After all that ice cream we just ate?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I'm a growing girl."

He pulled her in for a side squeeze. "Of course we can. Sausage and basil from you're favorite place?"

She nodded enthusiastically; she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him back. "Thanks! You're my favorite dad."

They walked into the loft with pizza in hand. "What do you want to do tonight?"

"Laser tag after pizza?"

"Sounds perfect, pumpkin."

They scarfed down the pizza. "You go get the gear and I'll put the left overs away."

Alexis followed his orders and ran into the closet to get the guns and vests, only to find them missing. "Dad? The game is gone. Did you move it again?" She walked into the living room to find it completely dark and empty. Rick popped up from behind the island, shooting the receptor on the table next to her.

"You should know by now, young grasshopper, always have the upper hand."

She put on the gear quickly, they started out at opposites end of the loft; Rick in his office, Alexis in the kitchen. They counted down and at 0 they snuck around finding crooks and crannies to hide and attack from. Alexis hid underneath the stairs while Rick squished underneath his desk. After a few minutes of silence through the loft he slowly climbed out and headed for the door, he heard a crash to his left, spun around to shoot where he thought Alexis was. She snuck up behind him shooting from his right. He spun back around just to see the end of her hair ducking behind the couch.

"Oh that was clever but you're going to have to do better than that if you're going to beat me."

He ran behind the piano, his back against the window. This time they sat like that for a lot longer, waiting each other out. He knew that she would get tired or bored or have to go to the bathroom; he just had to wait her out. He was right she came out from behind the couch and he took his opportunity.

"Dad! That's not fair."

"Sorry, nothing is fair in laser tag."

She pouted, "Fine. But I'm calling a time out."

Rick plopped down on the couch and started fiddling with his phone while waiting for Alexis to come back and play.


Kate loved running, especially in the evening. It was her way of relaxing after a long day at work, clearing her mind. It was the best way to work out new theories on an old case. But right now she wasn't thinking at all. Just feeling the pounding of her heart, the blood rushing through her body, the air filling up her lungs. She pushed herself, ran faster than she had since making detective, it was like she was back in training all over again. Keeping up her speed and stamina for the academy training. She lost all focus; she couldn't see anything except straight ahead of her.

She was able to block all the thoughts from earlier, take them one at time. Taking one at a time allowed her to work things out but still stay relaxed and focused on the run. She knew there was something more between her and Rick, it wasn't her typical relationship for multiple reasons. They were dating; officially together that wasn't the part that scared her. It wasn't even Alexis, okay it was partly, she just didn't want to attached if the relationship didn't work out. That scared her even more, what if Rick and her didn't work out; if that happened it would be her fault she was sure of that. She had a tendency to run when relationships got serious but she would do everything she could to not let that happen. The problem was that it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, however she wasn't an old dog but she wasn't a puppy either.

She was lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the car coming as she ran across the street. She felt the impact as car came to stop but not soon enough, she doesn't remember anything, everything went black.


Rick sat on the couch fiddling with his phone when it started to ring; he saw Kate's face pop up, "Miss me?"

"Hello Mr. Castle?" He sat up when he heard the unfamiliar voice, why wasn't it Kate's voice? His heart started to beat faster.

"This is he."

"We need you to come down to New York Presbyterian Hospital."

A/N: I'm sorry for this, I had no intentions writing the end of the chapter like this but it kind of just happened so I went with it. Remember if you kill for me this I won't be able to post what happens next, but don't worry this story isn't going to become to angsty there will be a happy ending, if that helps.