"What's this?" Kate asked as she took the pieces of paper from the writer who smiled and remained completely silent, waiting for her to look at the documents he'd just handed her. "Rick," she said quietly, taking a seat beside his desk before glancing down at the pieces of paper, taking in all the information as her smile continued to grow. "Are you serious?" she asked quickly, looking up at him in amazement as he nodded, taking in how excited she looked before laughing when her arms tightly wrapped around his neck. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe that he'd found her a job already.

"I know you wanted to look but I thought I'd call around and see whether anyone had any positions open that might sound like they'd interest you," Rick explained as she stared down at the piece of paper again. "I know it's probably not what you want to do for the rest of your life but it's a career for the moment until you can work out everything," he stated as she nodded, unable to remove the smile from her face.

"So what do I do then Rick?" she asked, knowing that he'd know more about the job than the information provided.

"You'll get a collection of manuscripts that are sent to the company and you'll read through them, see which ones sound interesting to you. It'll give you something to do and I know you love reading so hopefully it'll be something that you'll enjoy for a while," he explained as she nodded, excited to start a job. "You start next week," he said simply before standing up and moving towards the door, unable to stop himself from smiling at her as she reread the document again. She couldn't believe it had been that easy. "Are you excited about tonight?" he asked from the doorway as Kate nodded, looking up at him.

"I am," Kate admitted before biting into her lip for a moment. "I was thinking…" she began as he nodded, watching how nervous she suddenly was. "I was thinking that perhaps we could invite your friends round for dinner, Lanie was commenting how it would be nice for me to get to know Esposito and Ryan outside of mom's case," she explained as Rick nodded at the idea, thinking that was a great opportunity. "Maybe we could go out or something."

"That sounds great, we'll arrange it when you get home tomorrow if you feel like it," he stated as confusion covered Kate's face.

"Feel like it?" she asked.

"You have no idea how much Lanie and Jenny will drink tonight, you will have the worst hangover tomorrow," he stated, a laugh leaving her lips as she shook her head at him. "Just you wait Kate, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning and all you'll want to do is go straight to bed," Rick explained quickly as she shook her head at him before she joined him in the doorway, both of them slowly walking out of the room together to see Martha and Alexis lingering in the kitchen. "And what are you two smiling about?" Rick asked his mother and daughter as he entered the kitchen and poured both him and Kate a mug of coffee.

"Just the fact that you two are talking again," Alexis smiled, kissing her father's cheek before moving to hug Kate who laughed and wrapped her arms tightly around the redhead for a moment. "You were both starting to get annoying," she stated as Kate laughed and pressed a kiss into Alexis' red hair before stepping away from her and taking the coffee mug away from the writer.

"How was your day with Lanie darling?" Martha asked as she moved towards the living room with the brunette, the two women slowly sitting down on the couch and relaxing.

"Really good, I'm going to hers tonight for a girly night with Lanie and Jenny actually," she explained as Martha laughed. "Why are you laughing?" Kate questioned as the redhead stared at her for a moment.

"You're going to have such a hangover tomorrow," Martha smirked as Rick glanced across at Kate who glared at him for a moment. "Everyone has a hangover after a night with Lanie Parish Kate," she stated like it was common knowledge. "But you'll have fun and Jenny is an absolute sweetheart," she added quickly before both Rick and Alexis joined them in the living room, the conversation quickly moving to Alexis' plans for the day.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"Kate are you nearly ready?" Rick asked as he walked through his office and knocked on the door to the bedroom, waiting for a reply from the brunette. He had agreed to drop Kate off at Lanie's apartment and to pick her up the following morning when she called asking to go back to the apartment and now she seemed to be on a go slow. "Kate?" he asked again, knocking once more before he slowly opened the door to see Kate sat on the bed in a tight pair of jeans and a t-shirt with tears running down her cheeks. "Hey what's the matter?" he questioned quickly as he moved to sit down beside her while she shook her head and forced a smile onto her face, turning the picture she was holding around so he couldn't see the image.

"I'm fine, I was just emptying out the rest of my bags while I had some time to think," she explained, attempting to move off the bed but stopping when Rick rested her hand on her arm to stop her. "I…" she began slowly before shaking her head, not wanting to start crying again. She wanted to go out and enjoy herself; she didn't want to think about everything else that had happened to her. She was desperate to be like everything else.

"Tell me, let me help," he whispered quietly, his hand slowly finding hers before they laced fingers.

"I found this is a book that was in the bottom of my bag," she stated, passing him the photograph before he looked down to see a young Kate cuddled into her beaming father's side. "It was my mom's book; he must have left it at the hospital at some point. I'd forgotten about it until I found it in the last bag," she explained quickly before glancing down at the image, desperately trying not to cry again. "We went to France on holiday, mom and dad had been saving for weeks," she explained quickly as he nodded. "It was my first holiday abroad; I had the most amazing time. That photo was taken on our last day there, I never wanted to leave."

"Give me two seconds," he whispered before standing up and disappearing out of the room, reappearing moments later with a blank frame. "Here," he stated, passing it to her before she opened it and placed the photo inside, closing the frame moments later to place it on her bedside table. "He loves you Kate, I know he did," Rick said quietly, knowing that was what had upset her. She missed her father, however much she pretended not to be affected by his abandonment, she did miss him. "We could try and find him Kate, we have access to the resources," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her as she cuddled into his side.

"Can I think about it?" she asked quietly, suddenly scared about the idea of finding her father. Did she really want to see the man who'd walked out on her when she needed him the most? "I'm going to be late," she suddenly blurted out before standing up and brushing her fingers through her hair while Rick watched her in amazement. She seemed like a completely different person now. She was composed, ready and smiling at the idea of going round to Lanie's. "Come on Rick," she smiled before walking out of the room, the writer slowly following her out.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"I've always found him a bit attractive," Jenny blurted out as Kate and Lanie both laughed before moving to fill up their glasses, Lanie groaning when she tipped the bottle to find it completely empty. None of them were completely certain how many bottles they'd gone through so far and it didn't seem like they were going to stop anytime soon. Opening a new bottle that was littering the floor, Lanie quickly poured two glasses before passing one to Kate who nodded quickly. "I would never do anything, I love Kevin but he has something about him that's really attractive," the blonde giggled, relaxing back into the corner of the couch as her smile grew.

"What about you Kate?" Lanie asked as confusion covered Kate's face. "Richard Castle, attractive or not?" she stated as her smile continued to grow while Kate glanced down at the red liquid that filled her wine glass.

"Umm…" she said slowly, not knowing how to respond. Did she find Richard Castle attractive? Clearly Jenny and Lanie both found him slightly attractive but did she? "I guess he's attractive," she said quietly, remembering all the times she'd caught him coming out of the bedroom in just his boxers and a t-shirt but also in various suits for events and evenings out. "He's attractive," she stated quickly before taking a long drink of wine, surprised when she found she'd finished the glass and was in need of another.

"Rick might be attractive but nothing beats Javi when he gets out of the shower," Lanie smirked as Jenny and Kate began to laugh at the ME. "All those muscles when they're wet," she sighed, relaxing back into the sofa while Kate shook her head. "I bet Kevin looks pretty good too," she explained as Jenny shrugged.

"He's not exactly muscle man," the blonde smiled. "But he's attractive and I love him and I can't wait to marry him," she blurted before finishing her glass of wine. "God I just want to marry him," she declared while Lanie rolled her eyes at Jenny, knowing how excited the couple were about their approaching wedding.

"When are you getting married?" Kate asked quickly.

"Three weeks today," Jenny beamed, reaching across to pour herself another glass. "Everything's ready and it's going to be perfect," the blonde smiled, thinking about all the preparation they'd done for their big day. "You'll have to come too Kate," she said quickly, realizing that the brunette hadn't been invited.

"Are you sure? I don't want to cause any trouble," Kate responded as Jenny nodded, desperate for the brunette to come to her wedding. She already liked Kate and knew that she was important to Rick and she didn't want Kate missing their wedding.

"I want you to come and Kevin will too," she stated quickly as Kate nodded slowly, realizing that she wanted to go to the wedding since Jenny had mentioned inviting her.

"I'd love to come to your wedding Jenny, thanks," Kate smiled, glad to be out of the apartment and surrounded by new people. This was what she needed to get on with her life. She needed to be normal and do things that normal people did.

XOXOXOXOXXOXOX

"Castle," Rick yawned down the phone as he collapsed back against his pillows, after answering the screaming cell phone. He desperately hoped that whoever was the phone had something important to be discussed because he was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. Right now dead bodies didn't appeal to him! "Hello," he said again, contemplating hanging up the phone if whoever it was didn't answer in the next five seconds.

"Castle, it's Lanie," the ME suddenly responded as he sat up, now worried. "Kate's had too much to drink and she wants you to come and get her," she explained as Rick climbed out of the bed and began to get dressed again, resting the phone between his head and shoulder as he heard Lanie soothing the brunette.

"Put her on the phone Lanie," Rick sighed, Lanie not talking as she passed the phone over. "Kate," he said quickly, waiting for her to respond as he slipped on his shoes.

"Rick," Kate suddenly slurred as he sighed, realizing that Kate probably wasn't used to drinking a lot. "I feel really sick," she moaned as he ran out of the apartment, horror covering his face when he heard Kate heave down the line.

"Attractive Kate, really attractive," he sighed as she began to sob. "Hey don't get upset, I'll be there in half an hour and then we'll get you home to bed," he comforted, waiting for her to calm down as he approached his car. Climbing into the vehicle, Rick sat behind the wheel of the car while Kate continued to cry down the line. "Kate, I need to hang up but I'll be there soon."

"Okay," she said quietly before he put the phone down and started to drive towards Lanie's apartment. Parking quickly, Rick practically jumped out of the vehicle before running up the stairs, not bothering with the elevator. Reaching the door, he found the door already open before he stepped inside and saw Jenny asleep on the couch and five empty bottles of wine littering the floor.

"Lanie," Rick groaned as he moved towards the bathroom, knowing the layout of the apartment from previous visits, to see Kate leaning against the wall while Lanie held out a glass of water. "What have we said about drinking Doctor Parish?" he asked quickly as the ME turned to face him.

"We weren't really counting the bottles. We were gossiping and we just kept drinking," Lanie explained as Rick nodded and knelt down beside the brunette. "You better get her home and to bed, I forgot she probably wasn't used to alcohol like the rest of us," she said quietly, ashamed at herself for letting this happen.

"It's okay Lanie, she wanted to have a good time and she's allowed to do this. She's an adult and she'll be fine tomorrow after a good night's sleep," Rick explained as he lifted Kate into his arms, smiling weakly when she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder. "Thank you for distracting her, she needed this," he smiled before he carried a practically asleep Kate through the apartment. "Come on sleepy head, let's get you back to bed," he said quietly, unable to stop himself from smiling as she cuddled into his neck. Approaching his car moments later, Rick sighed as he glanced down at Kate, realizing that it would be impossible to hold her and unlock the car. "I need you to stand."

"Don't want too," she moaned against his neck.

"Then we'll end up spending all evening here Kate and I'd like to get home at some point tonight," he explained, helping her to her feet as she groaned and ran her fingers through her hair. "You look terrible tonight."

"Thanks," she yawned, leaning against the car as he unlocked it and opened the door for her. Shutting it after she'd climbed into the car, he quickly moved to his own seat before glancing across at her. "Tired," she said quietly, burying her face into the seat as he removed his jacket and draped it over her body. "Feel sick."

"Please don't vomit in my car Kate," he joked as he began to drive towards his own apartment, occasionally glancing across at the brunette. "You alive?" he asked.

"No," she moaned as he shook his head at her. "Want to go to bed Rick," she admitted as he parked her car and quickly walked over to her side, lifting her out of the vehicle as she buried her face into his neck again.

"You are definitely not used to alcohol Miss Beckett," he sighed as he carried her into the elevator and towards his apartment once the doors opened. "Let's get you into bed," he declared, carrying her into her room before resting her on the bed.

"Don't leave me," Kate called out when he moved towards the door, a nervous smile appearing on Rick's face as he looked at her. "Please don't leave me."

"I'm just going to get you a glass of water. You're going to want one tonight," he stated as she buried her face into the pillow and groaned. "You're going to have a terrible hangover in the morning," he sighed, disappearing to collect a glass of water before returning to see her lying on the bed perfectly still. "Kate you need to get some pyjamas on."

"Don't want too, want to sleep," she moaned like a child as he sat down beside her and watched Kate turn to face him. "Sleepy," she yawned again while he slowly moved to undo her boots before looking at her again.

"Get some sleep then. You're home and you're in bed," he said quietly as Kate groaned and cuddled into his side, trying desperately not to feel sick. "I need to go to bed too, it's early and I have to do some work tomorrow or my editor will come after me."

"Stay, please," Kate begged like a terrified child as he sighed and nodded, not wanting to leave her when she needed him. "I'm never drinking again," she whispered as she shut her eyes and remained curled up against him.

"I'll believe that when I see it Kate. Everyone says that but they never stick to it," Rick smiled as she groaned, not wanting to think about alcohol anymore as she took in the familiar and secure scent of Rick, the smell that made her feel safe. "I think you need to learn to control how much you have to drink Kate. It's about enjoying the alcohol, not about getting sick," he whispered, glancing down to see that she was asleep against him. "What am I going to do with you Kate?" he asked quietly before reaching down and pulling a blanket over her body to stop her shaking.

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update but life is taking over at the moment with university starting in just over two weeks. I am going to make more of an effort to update more frequently as I've had messages about my slowness and I've gotten over the two chapters I've been finding difficult to write so it'll be easier to get chapters written.

Anyway please review. I love hearing from you and your ideas are extremely helpful so do keep them coming and I promise that Castle and Beckett's relationship will start to improve soon and they won't be in limbo forever.