AN: Thank you so much for reading this story. I don't know for sure how long this story is going to be, but I hope you'll be here until the end :D

As promised, a longer chapter for you, so enjoy

CHAPTER 4

Kate was waiting for that phone call that could change her life since her father sent the adoption papers to the center. She went to the adoption center with her dad for a month to see the kids there, but Kate fell in love with the six months old girl, with beautiful blue eyes and red hair since the first day she saw her. And the girl seems to be attached to Kate, so it was a natural thing to adopt her. It felt like Alexis chose her. Kate spent there every free hour she had. She talked with Alexis, played with her, took a nap on weekends, changed her clothes. It seems like she was born to be a mother, and if she managed to finish her tasks as a future mother here, with all eyes on her, at home it could be way better. And since Montgomery found out about her plan, he supported her more than ever, even gave her more free days to spend with Alexis. Ryan and Espo were so happy to be uncles that they offered to take some of Kate's shifts. Lanie screamed when Kate told her about the little girl that stole her heart and promised her, she would spoil the baby.

A few days later, Jim called his daughter to talk to her about every arrangement they still had to do. What he heard at the other end almost broke his heart.

"Katie, what's wrong, why are you crying?"

"Sorry, dad. But I miss Alexis so much. What if I can't adopt her? I know I have this connection with her, I could feel it. And now what if I can't see her anymore? What if she was already adopted by a family? I won't stand a chance if another family would want her. They won't give Alexis to a single cop, they're not idiots."

"Sweetheart, they are idiots if they won't give her to you. She got so attached to you in a short time. They must be blind to not see the connection you both have. I am sure they will give her to you, and you only. So what if you're a single cop? Maybe you could love her more than every other couple on this planet. You do love her, and I can tell this by looking at you when you talk about her. Lanie saw that too. She told me the other day when we helped you paint the room for Alexis and-"

"Sorry dad. Someone is calling me, maybe we got another case. I must take this call. Promise you I will call later. Bye dad! "

"Bye Ka-" and the line went dead.

Kate didn't recognize the number but answered anyway.

"Beckett!"

"Hello! Ms. Beckett? I am Callie, from Alliance for Children Adoption center. I am calling to let you know the process for adoption is now complete. Congratulations! You can come and take your baby when you want."

"Hello! Are-Are you sure? You mean, Alexis is my baby now?"

"Yes. And I am very sorry for making you wait for so long. My colleague had to call you a couple of days ago but lost some of your papers. When can you come to take Alexis home?"

"No problem at all. The wait was worth it now that I can take her home with me. Can I come today, maybe in a few hours? I'm sorry, but I am so excited!"

"Don't be sorry for this, ever! Of course you can. All the papers are ready for you to sign and the baby is so ready to see you. I think she got so used for you to be around, that now, every time the door is opening, her eyes are on the person who enters the room" Callie laughed.

"Thank you so much Callie. I will be there in a few hours!"

"Okay Ms. Beckett. See you soon!" Kate was so excited about this, but she couldn't go by herself, so she called her dad.

"Katie, is something wrong? You told me you would call later but that's sooner than I had expected." Jim laughed, but was worried of why his daughter would call him so quick.

"Dad, I got her! I got Alexis! She's my baby now!"

"Are you serious? Of course you're serious, that's not something to joke about. That was that call about?"

"Yes dad, I am very serious. I can get her home as soon as I want. And I want to get her now. Can you please come with me? To meet your granddaughter for the first time, officially?"

"Of course I'll come. There is nothing in this world that could stop me see my girl finally be happy. I will go now and call you when I am in front of your apartment so you can come down. It's okay with you?"

"It's more than okay, dad. Thank you!"

Half an hour later, Kate and Jim were on their way to the adoption center to get the little baby home. When they got there, Callie was playing with Alexis in the hallway. And like she could feel Kate's presence, Alexis smiled instantly and turned immediately to get to her mom. Kate scooped her up and kissed her cheek, and the little girl giggled. Jim got the car seat for his granddaughter while Kate signed all the papers left there for her. Shel felt like she was at the precinct, doing her paperwork, but that was worth it even more.

The first couple of days were pure hell for Kate. She couldn't do anything. Alexis needed all her attention, and Kate gave the baby what she needed, but after the girl accommodated in her new home everything was easier.

Montgomery planned a schedule for Kate's working days and she had to be at the precinct for only 4 hours every day, unless there was a case that required a new pair of eyes, but she could take the papers home. If she had to stay at the precinct, Alexis would stay with Jim, then spend some time in the park or playing more with Grandpa Jim and mommy. But what she loved the most was to spend time with her mom, to watch cartoons and cuddle, and the bath time was her favorite part of a day. She adored her uncles, which made funny faces at her every time they saw her, and aunt Lanie who always gave her something. Sometimes she got a new onesie, sometimes a new toy, but her favorite one was a monkey, mom even named him Monkey Bunkey, and was her sleep partner.

Kate had to protect her little curious baby from everything around the house, since Alexis started climbing the reachable furniture. The young mother couldn't believe Alexis is going to be 1 year old in just a few days. She planned the party with her father, and they invited all their family, Ryan with Jenny, Espo, Lanie, Montgomery with Evelyn and the kids, even LT, Karpowski and Hastings.

All the invitations were sent, the cake was ordered ( a huge Frozen scene, since Alexis loved the movie so much) and aunt Theresa was going to take care of the food, with help from Kate, Lanie and Jim. Everything was perfect, until Kate got a call from Montgomery. She had to take Alexis to Jim and head to the precinct for this case. On the way to Grandpa Kate talked with Alexis (okay, only Kate talked, and Alexis just babbled) but when they got on the porch of Jim's house, Alexis surprised Kate to tears. Jim opened the door when the baby pointed in Jim's direction and looked at Kate very proud of herself.

"Ma'!"

"What? Dad, did you hear her?"

"Yes Katie. Alexis, who is she?" Jim asked the baby and pointed at Kate.

"Ma'! Ma'!"

"You're right baby. I'm mama!" Kate kissed Alexis and wished she didn't have to go to the precinct after this beautiful moment.

"Now we have to make you say 'Grandpa' too. Can you say it?"

But Alexis's attention was only on Monkey Bunkey now.

"At least I tried" said Jim while taking Alexis in his arms.

"Maybe tomorrow, dad. Now I really have to go to the precinct. Call me if you need anything or if Alexis is upset."

"Katie, this is not my first time with her, and you know it. And plus, I already raised a beautiful girl, who turned into a great woman. So I think I did good, even if I had some moments."

"You're right dad, I'm just worried. And you did great with me, no matter what, don't forget that."

"Thank you, sweetheart. Now go, you don't want to spend too many hours at the precinct, away from your little girl, so go. I'll call you if something's wrong, don't worry."

Since Kate left her Crown Vic at the precinct yesterday, she had to walk through Hudson River Park, and because it was a beautiful day, she wasn't bothered by this. Maybe this walk would clear her mind and she could help the boys close the case faster, and she can come home to her little angel.

She saw that officer Morris from the 12th was in the park with his horse for the daily patrol. They greeted each other, changed a few words since Morris was in his lunch break and waited at the hot dog cart. What seems odd for Kate was that his horse wasn't there, but didn't asked the officer about it, so she continued her walk.

A few minutes later she saw a man riding a police horse, and it wasn't an officer, but a civilian. So she stopped the horse (she had a training course when she was a rookie, and she knew something about horses), showed her badge and told the civilian to get off the horse. The civilian looked very familiar, but Kate didn't know where she saw him, or if they met before. He looked so upset and drunk?!

Maybe in his drunken state this idea of taking the horse seemed a good one, but right now with the policewoman in front of him, Rick had second thoughts. He didn't register when the officer cuffed him, but he heard her calling officer Morris, who called another officer to take Rick and the gorgeous officer to the 12th precinct. Great, Roy's precinct, so maybe this is not a bad thing, because Roy is his friend.

When they arrived at the 12th, Kate sent the drunk man to holding. She would question him later, after she helps the boys who were more than happy that she's finally here. After only 2 hours they closed the case, the only thing they had to do was paperwork, and both Ryan and Espo tried to postpone it, but with no luck, because their boss (yes, they considered Kate their boss) gave them her patented 'look'. That terrified the detectives more than an old cold case, so they started to fill the papers, while Kate told Hastings to get the drunkard to the interrogation room 1 and bring his report too. She opened the file to see his name but was shocked to see the drunk man is her favorite author, Richard Castle. How has he got himself in this situation? She didn't hear much about him since he killed Derrick Storm, just that he broke up with his girlfriend and went for a period to the Hamptons. He missed the press attention and that was the reason he stole the police horse? That was a little low, but Kate was used to this type of actions. She knew Castle was a friend of Montgomery, that's why she would interrogate him, so she got a coffee for him, maybe it will wake him up a little more, and entered the interrogation room. She didn't saw a drunk man, she saw a man with a broken heart, but Kate couldn't understand. The sooner she's going to finish this, the sooner she gets to stay with Alexis.

"Mr. Castle, I am detective Kate Beckett. Do you why you are here?"

'Oh, so she's a detective, and a very gorgeous one.'

"Yes, I know. I stole a police horse, and I am very sorry for that. It wasn't my greatest move, but I was so upset and didn't thought straight. I don't think there is a person who didn't do anything wrong. But I am truly sorry for my reckless behavior."

Just after that, Beckett's phone ringed, and saw that captain Montgomery was the caller.

"Sorry, I have to take this. Yes sir!"

"He won't? Okay, I'm gonna tell Mr. Castle."

"What happened?" Castle was confused. He is going to spend more time in the holding cells?

"Officer Morris said he won't press charges, but if you get close to the horse again , he will handcuff you. You're free to go."

"Understood. Thank you, detective!"

Just when Kate showed him the way to the elevator, Roy came to him.

"Rick Castle! What are you doing here? We agreed to meet on Friday, and today is not Friday."

"Oh, hey Roy. It's a long story."

"I got time. Come into my office. Detective Beckett, make sure no one is going to disturb us, unless the precinct is on fire. Tell the boys, and then go home to your baby."

"Sure thing, sir! See you tomorrow!"

Rick told him the story, since the day Meredith left him, even if he did know that part. When Rick told him about what his ex-girlfriend did, Roy was so angry, but thought of how to help his friend.

"So what you're going to do now? How do you plan to find the baby? Because I don't think that alcohol would help you."

"I don't know, Roy. I know, I know. You sound like my mother right now, so please stop. I don't need another lecture. I thought about going to the adoption center again and ask for their records, but I'm not a cop. Even if I'm a father looking for his child, I don't think they will let me see the papers."

"Maybe I can help you with that."

"Would you?"

"Of course! You're like family, so how can I not? I need you to give me the name of the adoption center and see what I can do."

"Thank you so much Roy! It's Alliance for Children Adoption center. I can give you the address too."

"There is no need, thank you! Now, how about you going home and take some time for yourself, maybe even write something? Or you can come to dinner. I know the kids would love to see you there."

"Thank you, but I don't feel like a great company right now. Maybe other time. I'm gonna head home."

"Promise me you won't drink again."

"I promise. And please call me if you find anything."

"I will. Say 'Hi' to Martha for me. And take care of yourself." Montgomery said as watching Rick going to the elevator. He really needs to help him, because never in over 15 years of friendship he didn't saw Rick so devastated.

AN: I know there are problem with , but if you got here, thank you again for reading the story. Stay safe. Until next time