Chapter 25 – Her Protective Family
The next morning Livie woke up once again in her mother's arms, she had stayed with her mother, wrapped in her protective embrace, she knew her mom was mad at Jak and wanted to do something about it but she didn't want a huge deal to be made out of it, she wanted to move on and forget all about it. She snuggled deeper into her mother's chest and felt her unconsciously tighten her grip on her, she sighed as she breathed in the scent of her mother's hair, remembering how she would do this as a child after nightmares when she would run to her mommy scared of the monsters.
She sighed and watched her mom sleep, she knew how much she must have sacrificed to give her a good childhood, her mom worked so hard as a detective and then would come home in the evenings and try to play with her to keep her entertained, she would spend her day off trekking her places and used up her money buying her thing, and paying for her to have horse riding lessons because she loved it so much. She loved her mom so much and was grateful for what she had done to make her happy, and now she was trying to pay her back by making her happy.
She smiled at the thought, from the moment her mom had first met Richard Castle and had come home ranting about him, she had known that there was something there, she had met annoying people before but she had never ranted for quite as long as she had about Castle, plus she loved him books, they were the only crime books she had read, she didn't understand that, why would someone who dealt with murder daily want to come home and read about it? She had just shrugged and said she had enjoyed his books long before she had become a cop, when her mom had died.
Over the years she had watched her mom rant less about Castle and become gentler and praising about him, of course he had still annoyed her but she had gotten used to it, Livie had loved hearing about her mom's adventures with him, when he had gone to the Hamptons, he mom had been quieter for a few weeks as though she had missed him, that was when she had realised there might be a little something.
But it wasn't until she had woken up and moved into his apartment that she had seen something more, a spark. Then at dinner she and Alexis had seen a full firework display of love and then she had seen the encore of their kiss and wow, then she had known, so she and Alexis had plotted and succeeded in their mission, and here they were now.
She smiled happily and then sighed, they were both so happy now, her mom was in love and she finally had a father figure and the older sister she had always wanted she snuggled into her mom's arms again and closed her eyes. It felt like only seconds later she was being gently shaken awake by her mom, her eyelids fluttered open and she groaned "up" her mother encouraged, she was already dressed "come on otherwise you will be late for school" Livie rolled over burying her face into the pillow "no don't wanna go to school" she grumbled, her mother laughed gently "I know but you have too" Livie stayed where she was until she felt the mattress sag and knowing what was coming leapt up "alright I'm up I'm up don't need tickles" her mom laughed at her and then looked at her carefully "you ok now" she asked gently, Livie nodded softly "I just don't ever want to see him again and move on, no big deal made out of it" Kate nodded and stood up, she touched her daughter's cheek as she passed on her way down to eat. Livie dressed slowly and then joined her family for breakfast.
XOXOXO
When she arrived at school she was greeted by her friends, she tried to shake off the uncomfortable feeling she had been feeling since the incident last night and join in with their conversation, it was hard, after everything had worked out fine, she had been suddenly reminded of her painful incident and it had hurt. She shook her head to focus as they moved towards their Biology classroom, smiling at them as they glanced at her curiously "you ok" Megan asked concerned "you don't really seem with it today" Livie smiled "I'm fine guys don't worry about me" they looked at her, they knew her too well, she sighed "I had some more flashbacks of the incident last night, but I don't want to talk about it if you don't mind" they both nodded but when they arrived at their classroom they both moved forward and hugged her, Livie smiled as she hugged them back, she was very lucky to have two such wonderful and understanding friends.
XOXOXO
Kate looked up from her computer to find Ryan and Esposito watching her "what" she asked annoyed "and don't you dare say nothing", Ryan looked at her long and hard before asking "what's wrong, you have been acting different all morning did you have a fight with Castle" "no" Kate said "of course not, it's…" she stopped anxious "Livie" Ryan guessed, she nodded "she and Alexis went out last night with Ashley and his cousin Jak, on the way back Jak began to be all over Livie, she ignored him at first but then he put his arm around her and wouldn't let go, she pulled herself free, but he grabbed her again and she panicked obviously remembering her kidnapping" she looked at the two men standing in front of her their faces getting stonier and stonier as she spoke.
"Alexis said she flipped out struggling to get away and he hit her knocking her to the floor, she had another flashback and then she bolted, she arrived home and it took us forever to persuade her to let me in and calm her down, she was so scared" "is she ok now" Esposito asked "do you want us to go get him" Kate smiled at their concern for her daughter "I think Alexis dealt with him, he followed her home and tried to come in, so she slapped him across the face" they both smiled "good old Alexis" Ryan said "what a kid" Kate smiled "so what are you going to do about him" Ryan asked "cus we will help, Livie is one of us now" "Livie doesn't want me to do anything, she just wants to forget all about it, she asked me not to do anything" she sighed "I respect that, but if he tries anything again I will come down on him no matter what she says" "we'll help" Ryan and Esposito said together and she smiled at them.
XOXOXO
When school ended as always Livie moved off to the bus that would take her to the precinct, she sat and listened to her music happily, today had been fine, she had been slightly on edge waiting for something to set her off again but she had been fine, she gazed out the window of the bus watching New York City pass by, when it stopped near the precinct she leapt off happily and went down to the car park to see who was in, neither her mom's car or Esposito's car was in the lot, Ryan's was but he was probably with Esposito, she made her way towards the door into the precinct tugging out her headphones as she did so.
"Livie" she froze recognising that voice, she whirled round and then staggered back a few steps, Jak was coming towards her, marching forward looking determined "what are you doing here" she asked curtly, he stopped a few paces from her and looked at her "I was just passing and saw you head down here and I wanted to speak to you" she frowned, he lived on the other side of town, why would he be over here "you were following me" she said, he ignored that and moved towards her, but she hastily stepped back maintaining the distance between them "look I just want to talk ok hear me out" he said, and there was a hard edge to his voice that scared her "look Jak, what happened last night, was too much, I don't want to be reminded of it ok, so just go" "look" he said as though she hadn't even spoken "I didn't mean to hit you ok, and I followed you back to say sorry but your sister wouldn't let me in, she slapped me" Livie smirked at that, Alexis was now her sister, she thought protecting her.
She looked back at him as he continued "you can't blame me for hitting you, I mean you went ballistic and wouldn't calm down" Livie interrupted "maybe if you had let me go I would have calmed down" he watched her "I didn't know about what happened to you ok Ashley told me you had been kidnapped and what I did obviously reminded you of it, so I want you to give me a second chance and I will do better ok" Livie stared at him "give you a second chance at what, it wasn't a date, it was movies with our family and you thought it was more, I don't want to date, I am not ready I don't want to 'try again' sorry" she turned towards the door again and then froze as he caught hold of her arm again "give me a chance" he said, Livie struggled, his voice had a dangerous note to it "you are so not helping your case" she said yanking herself free and backing away.
He moved after her "come on Livie don't be so stuck up" Livie raised her eyebrows "you are calling me stuck up and stalking me outside a police precinct for crying out loud" he continued to move towards her and Livie continued to move away, he seemed pissed now and she was worried, she edged towards the door into the precinct hoping he would just leave if she made it in there.
The next thing she knew she was being pressed against the wall, he was gripping her arms tightly, there was anger in his eyes as she struggled to push him off of her, but he was older and stronger "get off me" she gasped, when he didn't she took a deep breath preparing to shout out when his lips came crushing down on hers silencing her, she was so shocked that for a second she didn't fight, she just froze. Then she began to pull away, fighting him hard, he pulled away to look at her and she punched him hard in the stomach causing him to double over, "you…" he gasped grabbing her wrist but she fought hard again gasping.
At that moment there was a shout of "hey let her go now" they both looked over to see Ryan and Esposito coming running towards them the doors to Esposito's car lying wide open, they both had their guns out, they stopped a few feet away and looked at Jak "let her go" Esposito said again and although his voice was calm, it sent a chill of fear through Livie, there was a threatening note to his voice, Jak didn't move, he continued to hold her wrist but he eyed the two detectives warily, Livie suddenly lifted her knee up and jammed it up where it hurt, he cursed and she threw him away and sprinted to where her uncles stood, she ducked behind them panting and trembling slightly, Jak straightened up and glared at them all "hey Ryan" Esposito said not taking his eyes off the boy in front of him "why don't you get Livie upstairs man" Ryan nodded and turned to Livie his face gentle "hey you ok kiddo" he asked softly, Livie nodded still watching Jak uncertainly "come on" he said touching her arm carefully as she passed Esposito she paused and whispered in his ear "don't hurt him Esposito, he just isn't worth it" he pouted at her and then winked and nodded, he waited until his partner and Beckett's daughter were inside the elevator and the elevator moving before turning back to the boy who did now look worried
"Jak isn't it" he said "I really think you and I need to have a talk, and make a few things about Livie clear yeah" he watched happily as the boy stepped away but he stepped forward "first things first, Livie means a lot to us, she is part of our family and we protect our family whatever the costs ok, so if she comes to me and tells me you hurt her, I won't question her, I will just hunt you down, the same goes for Ryan so the main thing I want to say is this" he moved forward again until he was towering over the boy who almost cowered 'pathetic' he thought.
"if you ever come anywhere near Livie again, unless she asks you first, we will hunt you down, there will be nowhere safe for you to run too, because no matter how long it takes we will find you and punish you, if you ever try to kiss her or hold her, you can kiss your life goodbye" he glared at the boy and then turned "I was going to hurt you but Livie told me you were not worth it, and I agree" he moved towards the door and then turned back to him "Livie is very special and has more heart, love and personality to her than any other child that I have ever met" he said "I won't let you take that away from her and destroy her, just remember that there are a lot of people in this building who care for her, and we nearly all have guns and a licence to kill if need be" he smirked at his fearful face and then went into the precinct pleased with how that had gone.
XOXOXO
Livie stood with Ryan in the elevator silent and worried, Ryan watched her concerned "hey" he said softly "you ok" she looked at him her eyes frustrated "why is it all happening to me" she asked "seriously everything happens to me now, I think I have had my fair share of pain now" Ryan sighed sadly "I know kiddo, and you don't deserve any of it, you are the sweetest kindest person I know and what happened to you cannot be justified" she smiled at him "just think" he encouraged "things have got to perk up from now on, good things will happen to you now" her smile widened "yeah" she said "I think they have, I got a new family, with a sister, a father figure, an aunt and two uncles and I still have my mom" he grinned at her, she surprised him then by hugging him tightly, after a moment's hesitation he hugged her back smiling slightly
"thanks Ryan" she whispered "no problem kiddo" he responded, she looked up at him "Esposito isn't going to hurt him is he" she asked "because I don't want him getting fired or suspended for beating someone up on my account" Ryan grinned "oh I am sure the boy will be fine, Esposito would love to beat him up but since you told him not to he won't, he will just frighten him silly" Livie giggled "that I don't mind" she said and they were laughing as the door opened and they stepped onto their floor and made their way to the bullpen.
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