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Here is chapter 5. Enjoy! :D

CHAPTER 5

It was Saturday, so it was Alexis's birthday. She was wearing her Frozen dress, the cake was in the fridge, Aunt Teresa was done with the food preparing, and Jim was playing with Alexis, while Kate greeted all the guests.

After some time, Montgomery approached Kate, he really needed to talk to her about something.

"Kate, thank you for inviting my family and I today. You know I couldn't have missed this for anything in the world."

"Thank you for coming Sir-I mean, Roy."

"That whole 'mom-thing' suits you Kate. You're so happy, and I am happy for you."

"Alexis did all of this. She made me see all the joy in the world and I am happy because of her. With every day that passes I am happier."

"A kid teaches us something new every day. I learned something new with all my kids, and every time it was something else. I am glad you can experience this."

"I am too. I don't know how their parents could gave her for adoption."

"That is their story to tell. But if you opened the discussion about adoption, I need your help. I want you to take care of a case. But come to the precinct Monday morning if you can let Alexis with Jim. I want to discuss more details with you, but only if you're willing to accept it. You don't have to tell me now; I am waiting for you on Monday."

"I will be there, don't worry. Now, if you don't mind, I want to go to my little girl."

"Not at all, please go."

"Enjoy the party, Roy!"

Everyone enjoyed the party, especially Alexis who was in love with all the balloons but didn't let Monkey Bunkey out of her sight for a second, not even when she tried to blow out the candles, without success. So, mommy came to help, but Alexis made all the hard work, as mommy told her.

Soon, all the guests were leaving, but not before helping Kate and Jim to clean Jim's yard, even if the father-daughter duo told them there is no need.

Everything was great, Jim was happy, Kate was happy, and most important, Alexis was happy; that's what mattered for Kate.

On Monday morning Jim came to Kate's apartment to stay with Alexis, while Kate took care of some tasks from Montgomery. How hard can that be?

Everyone at the 12th was so busy, they didn't even saw Kate enter the bullpen. But Ryan got up from his chair exactly when Kate was about to call him and Esposito.

"Hey boss, what are you doing here so early? Everything is okay?"

"Yes Ryan, thank you. Actually, Montgomery asked me to come today, to help him with a case. Do you have any idea what this is about?"

"A case? I mean, we have an open case right now, but we don't need any help. Maybe it's something else. I don't have any idea. Bro, do you know something about it?"

"No, nothing. A cold case maybe?"

"I have to find out. Get back to work guys. I know how much both of you love the breaks, but we still need to keep up the number of solved cases, even if I'm not here for so much time."

"We are working on it. Don't leave before saying 'Bye'." Espo really needed more breaks and interruptions.

"I won't…Mom" Kate laughed while making her way to Montgomery's office.

"Morning, Sir! You wanted to see me?"

"Good morning Beckett. Yes, please close the door and take a seat."

"What this is about, Sir?"

"Kate, you know Mr. Castle, right? He's a very good friend of mine and he needs some help. And I want you to help him. About 2 years ago he had a girlfriend, but she broke up with him." Mr. Castle? What was this about?

"Okay, but how can I help him?"

"Well, she was pregnant, but didn't told him until the day you arrested him. She gave the baby to adoption, and the only thing Rick knows is the name of the adoption center." How can someone do this to their insignificant other?

"If you accept the case you will have to talk to Rick Castle. So, what do you say? You can take the case home, and spend time with Alexis, I know how much you think you are missing. It's a challenge and an opportunity at the same time."

"Thank you for this, Sir. I think I will accept the case. I can't say 'no' to spending more time with my baby."

"I knew it. And Kate? Please treat this as private as possible. I don't want the paparazzi to follow Rick more than they do it right now."

"I won't dissapoint you, Sir."

"I know you won't. And thank you. Here you have the contact information for Mr. Castle." Said Montgomery while handing Kate a business card.

"I am the one that has to thank you, for giving me this opportunity. I will keep you posted about this case."

"All right detective. Have a good day!"

"Thank you, Sir! You too!"

Okay, this will take so long, but fortunately she's going to be home with Alexis, and that's the best part of this case. Now she needs to go home and see her daughter and then call Richard Castle. Richard freaking Castle. Just the thought of this makes her excited.

"Hey dad."

"Hey Katie! You're home early. Not that I mind, but why?"

Kate started to laugh.

"Montgomery gave me a case, and I can work from home. Now I have to figure some things out."

"The boys can't solve it without you? What this is about?"

"Actually, is something personal for Montgomery. Apparently, he's friend with Richard Castle, who is looking for his baby, and Montgomery asked me to take care of this."

"He's your favorite author, if my memory serves me right. But what man loses his child?" Jim had little Kate in his sight all the time, even now, when they went somewhere he was looking after her. How can someone lose his kid?

"He didn't. His girlfriend broke up with him, and she was pregnant but didn't told him anything, besides the name of the adoption center."

"Oh no... He must be devastated."

"He is. I arrested him last week for stealing a police horse. It was the same day he found out about his baby, as Montgomery put it. He was drunk, and I think that was the motive. Now I'm going to help him.."

"And how do you plan to do it?"

"I want to meet with him, if he can. And if you can stay a little longer with Alexis." Kate hoped her dad could spend more time with his granddaughter, because she didn't want to bring Alexis with her. Richard Castle was a stranger, even if his books helped Kate to get over her mother's death a little easier. It helped her because he was her mother's favorite author too. But he still was a stranger for her daughter, and Kate didn't want to risk anything.

"I was about to ask you if I can take her to the park. Maybe we could feed the birds. You know how much she loves to be surrounded by pigeons."

This image brought back some memories about the first time Kate and Jim went to the park with Alexis. She was in her stroller, but when Jim threw some wheat, all the birds came to them. That made Alexis almost jumped from her stroller, but Kate was careful, and took the baby in her arms. Jim caught a pigeon and showed it to Alexis, who was scared at first, but then touched him. When the pigeon started to move, the baby bursted in laughter, and now Jim has all of this on his camera. And every time they go to the park, Alexis is looking for the pigeons.

Alexis can't walk yet, but maybe in a few months she will be able to chase the birds with her grandpa.

"Of course you can take her, dad. I can't keep Alexis away of her 'pa'." That was Alexis term for 'grandpa', and Jim loved it from the day she said it.

"Great, we are already on our way. Good luck on your meeting, sweatheart."

"Thanks, dad. I think I need some luck right no."

Kate was thinking how to talk to him.

'Hello, I'm detective Beckett. I know about your story and I want to help you.' Definitely not. Why it was so hard? Maybe she can turn down this case. No, she won't quit. It is going to be a hard case, but she knows she is able to solve it. Oh, just call the man- her consciousness made the decision for her. So she took her phone and the business card Montgomery gave her.

"Castle!" He didn't bother to look for the caller ID.

"Hello Mr. Castle. I am detective Kate Beckett, from the 12th Precinct. Roy Montgomery asked me to take your case. Can we meet to discuss about the detail?"

"Ah. Yes, detective, of course. Roy told me you would call me. I didn't thought it will be so fast. Can we meet today? I am free all day?"

"I was going to ask you that. Do you have any place in mind?"

"What about Remy's? It's a diner close to the 12th, and we can have a quiet conversation. I don't know if Roy told you, but I want it to be as private as possible."

"Yes, he told me and I intend to keep it that way. I know the place. We can meet there in an hour, if that's ok with you."

"It's perfect, detective. And thank you very much for doing this. See you in an hour." and he hung up the phone.

Kate knew it would take her about 30 minutes to get ready, and another 20 minutes to get there. But when she entered the diner, she saw that Richard Castle was already there. 'Better get this done, Kate. You can do it'. She took a deep breath and made her way to the booth the author was in.