Here ya go! Pandora tonight!
After lunch, the trio decided to return to Castle's loft. Alexis, being the persistent little redhead that she was, decided that Kate had to carry her back to the loft.
Kate held Alexis, who was dozing off with her head on Kate's shoulder.
"So" Rick mumbled, searching around them for any paparazzi. Spying none, he slid his hand into Kate's and linked their fingers, squeezing her hand softly. "She asleep yet?"
Kate turned her head and looked at Alexis, who was finally out cold on her shoulder. "Yeah" Kate nodded, smiling. She loved the feeling of the small child using her as a pillow.
"Want me to take her?"
"No, she's fine. She will wake up if we start passing her off. Besides, we'll be to your loft soon. So, what do you want to do when we get back?"
Rick grinned and tightened another squeeze, his thumb drawing circles on the back of her hand. "I have an idea."
Kate blushed furiously and smiled, drawing her bottom lip in once again. "I'm sure I will love it."
They walked into the elevator and Alexis snuggled closer into Kate's shoulder. "Mmmm. Mommy, are we almost home" she asked in her sleep. Kate and Rick's faces froze as they stared at the sleeping three year old. Before Rick had a chance to react, Kate had untwined her hand from his and shifted Alexis to the front, wrapping both arms securely around her.
"We're almost there" Kate whispered. Once she realized she replied so nonchalantly, she quick looked at Rick, who just smiled.
Once in the apartment, Kate and Rick got Alexis settled in her bed before residing in the kitchen.
"Rick, I-" Kate began, about to apologize for her act with Alexis, but she was cut off by his lips on hers. Startled at first, she began drawing back, before melting into the kiss. Her hands came up to cup his face as his arms drew around her waist, tugging her against him. She rose up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, opening her mouth against his to deepen the kiss. He angled his mouth against hers to deepen the kiss before the both pulled away for much needed air.
"What was that for?" Kate whispered. Her forehead was pressed against his, her finger tangled into his hair as she caressed his cheek with her thumb.
"I have wanted to do that since I saw you today" he said, his voice rough, before capturing her lips again. This time, the kiss moved much slower, holding more passion.
She smiled into the kiss and bit his bottom lip, her lips moving slowly against his, memorizing every inch. Kate knew that from now on, no matter what happened between them, she never wanted to forget what it felt like to have his lips pressed to hers. Kate pulled from the kiss this time and stared into his eyes, her fingers combing his hair from his forehead.
"Want to sit?" she mumbled against his lips.
"Mmm" he grunted, scooping her bridal style into his arms.
"Rick!" Kate yelped as he carried her to the couch, throwing her arms around his neck. "Put me down."
"Okay Detective" he said, dropping her onto the couch.
Kate fell back, her hair fanned across the pillow, glaring up at him. "You're going to pay for that." She reached up and hooked her fingers into his belt loops, tugging him down on her. Their lips crashed against one another's, her arms wrapping around his neck.
Rick planted his hands firmly beside her and lifted himself up, his dark eyes gazing down at her. "We need to slow down" he whispered, nuzzling his nose against her cheek.
"I know" she whispered, tilting her head to look away from him. Though she didn't realize it, her action opened her neck up, which he couldn't resist. He dove back down and nipped at her exposed skin, practically devouring her.
"Oh! Rick" she breathed out, drawing a hand up to tangle in his hair. "You... We... Oh god don't stop." She succumbed to the feelings and let out a breathy moan as he tasted her skin.
Kate knew there would be a mark across her neck but she didn't care. It was worth it.
As Rick began kissing her collarbone, there was a loud knock at the door.
"Dammit" he growled, pushing himself off of her. "Be right back" he whispered, kissing her quickly before walking to the door.
Kate sat up and attempted to recollect herself, but the flush on her cheeks wasn't fading. She sat back on the couch and looked in the kitchen while he opened the door, her body freezing when she heard the voice.
"Ricky please."
"No Meredith."
Kate got up and walked to the pillar, looking around it at him and Meredith. The woman was wrapping herself around Rick, who kept shoving her away. "Quit it" he grumbled, prying her off of him.
"Please Rick. I want to talk about it. Fix us. Please, for Alexis sake."
"Oh yes, because having a mother who lets her daughter get kidnapped while cheating on her husband is the perfect role model. Come on Meredith; really think about this. You didn't even want her when we found out we were having a child. I had to beg you just to give birth to your own child. You always have, and always will, care more about your work. So what is the point in trying? Just let it go. It's over. We're over."
Tears formed in Meredith's eyes, and Kate's stomach clenched. She felt like she was intruding on a private moment, when really she had just come to make sure he was okay. As she began to back away, Meredith spotted her.
"You... You..." the redhead growled before practically flying at Kate. "Home wrecker!" Meredith screamed repeatedly, getting closer and closer to Kate.
"Please, I-" Kate began, before a ferocious punch landed against her jaw.
"You dirty bitch. That is MY husband!" Meredith screamed, winding her hand up for another punch.
Using her training, Kate dodged the incoming punch and grabbed Meredith's wrist, twisting her arm so it was pinned securely behind her back and she couldn't move.
"Let go of me!" Meredith yelled.
"Stop punching me!" Kate replied, tweaking Meredith's arm slightly to keep that level of control.
Rick stood back in shock before finally coming to. He drew in and took Meredith from Kate's grasp, shoving her onto the chair in the corner. "Don't you dare move!" Rick bellowed, his face flushed with anger. He turned to Kate, who's jaw was now bleeding, and worry filled his eyes.
"Oh god, you're bleeding. Hospital! We new a hospital" he panicked.
Kate shook her head and stopped his with her hand on his chest. "I am fine. I'll go get cleaned up."
"The hell you will. Not in my house." Meredith yelled, preparing to fight again.
Rick quickly intercepted and grabbed Meredith's arm. He was about to tell her to quiet down due to Alexis sleeping, but was cut off the by crying of his three year old.
"I-" he started, but Kate was already rushing up the steps to aid the crying child.
Alexis curled into her bed sheet and cried, her little hands balled into fists, rubbing her eyes. She was trying to stop, but it wouldn't work, which only made her cry more. She heard yelling downstairs and got scared, bringing back all of the memories of the last few days, which frightened her greatly. When the door opened, she cowered in the corner of the bed, refusing to look up.
"Alexis."
She recognized Kate's soft voice and began to tremble less.
"Sweetie, it's me. Kate."
A soft hand rubbed against her back, and Alexis turned, her eyes adjusting to the dark room. She made out Kate's soft race, and recognized the blood drying on her face.
"You, you're bleeding. You have a boo boo." The small child's bottom lip trembled and she began to cry again.
"Oh, Alexis, sweetie, don't worry. It's nothing. I just… fell." Kate scooped Alexis into her arms and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Are you alright?"
"I heard Mommy screaming. She's here, isn't she."
"Yeah she is. But you need to go back to sleep, okay? Mommy and Daddy are just talking, and I'm going to go clean up. So little girl's like you need to catch up on their sleep so that they can watch a movie later."
"But she's going to take me away from Daddy forever."
"No she won't. Your Daddy and I will never, ever let that happen" Kate reassured, hugging Alexis close. "Hey, how about you help me clean up my face, and then I'll read you a story so you can sleep again. Sound good?"
"Okay" Alexis said quietly. She wrapped herself around Kate, who carried her out of the room and into the bathroom.
Kate set Alexis on the counter, showing her how to clean a wound properly. Though she was three, every kid deserved to know how, in case of an emergency.
Once her face was clean and bandaged, she carried Alexis back into her room and settled the little on into her bed.
"What do you want me to read?"
"Umm… Dr. Seuss."
Kate got out the book and climbed into Alexis' large bed.
The three year old sniggled into Kate's side and laid her head on Kate's abdomen.
As Kate read the book, Alexis dozed off into deep slumber once again.
Kate closed the book and stared at the ceiling, sighing heavily. She could still hear the faint sounds of Rick and Meredith arguing downstairs, and began regretting her decision to come over after lunch. She loved being around them, but the words Meredith yelled were beginning to sink in. Lost in her own thoughts, Kate snuggled down and fell sound asleep, holding Alexis protectively to her side.