NOt much to say here. All disclain=mers are still in effect...other than that...Enjoy chapter four, my lovelies.

(yeah, this one is pretty short. so is the next one. I apologize for that. I had gotten sever writers block about halfway through this chapter, so i was just happy that i could actually think of an ending for it. same with the next chapter)

I got a text from Castle, fifteen minutes later, letting me know he was at the door. He must have hurried, because it usually takes him twenty minutes.

"Hey Castle. That was fast."

"I know. Impressed?"

"A little."

He smiled like a kid in a candy store, and held up a bottle.

"I brought wine."

I smiled at him, brighter than I normally do, and he smiled just as brightly as he walked in and grabbed two wine glasses.

"So I have a little problem."

He looked up from pouring the wine, prompting me to continue.

"Sophie should have the bed, but she fell asleep on the couch, and I can't move her."

"Ah, the old "child needs to be in bed but fell asleep somewhere else" dilemma. I'll take care of it."

He added a smirk and a wink, and then walked over to the couch. He slid one arm under Sophie's knees, the other under her shoulders, and effortlessly carried her to my bed. I watched as he gently set her down and tucked her in. I watched him as he walked back out to the kitchen, a small smile across my face.

"What? Do I have bed head?"

"No."

It was a simple and quiet response. It was all that was needed.

"What is it then?"

"I've always know you were a father, Castle, but sometimes I forget that you're more than that. You're a dad. It's sweet."

He was beaming because I called him sweet. But it really was. It was refreshing to see him acting so fatherly.

"You know what else is sweet?"

"What is it, Castle?"

"The Chocolate that I bought with the wine."

"You brought chocolate?"

I tried sounding annoyed, or even angry, but I was sure he would catch it. I could tell by the look on his face that I was wrong, and I smirked.

"Gimme."

…..

We ate our chocolate and finished the wine before he reminded me why I had called in the first place.

"So, what was the problem you had earlier?"

"Sophie. I don't know what to do about her. She can't go home. Both of her parents died. And even if they were still alive, her father abused her so she couldn't go back anyways."

"She was abused? That's horrible. I can't imagine any father wanting to hit his child. How long?"

"Since she was seven. I'm really lost here, Rick. I don't know what to do."

"Do what you have to."

"I'll call tomorrow."

There was a long, yet comfortable, silence between us before he spoke again.

"Have you talked to your dad yet?"

"Yeah, I called him while Sophie was in the shower. She's definitely my sister. My parents had to give her up because we didn't have enough money to raise her, it had all gone to my college fund. He said they hid it from me because they didn't want me to be upset when they gave her away. I guess that's why they suddenly changed their minds and let me go on the four month tour of Europe with my friend, considering she paid for the whole thing. I don't blame them, really. I understand where they were coming from. I just wish they had told me. I would've taken money from my college account so we could raise her. I always wanted a sister."

"I know you would have. Does he know about her adoptive father?"

"No. I don't really want him to, either. He would just blame himself."

Sometime during our conversation, Castle and I ended up sitting very close to each other. VERY close. We didn't notice. We were too involved in our conversation, not to mention a little buzzed. We kept talking for a while, but then I realized that I hadn't thanked Castle for his help.

"Hey, Rick?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you. For helping me with this."

"Always."

Pretty soon, we fell asleep, unaware of our current position. I was sideways, my back against the back of the couch, partially on Castle, who was laying on his back with his arm around my shoulder. My left arm was draped over his stomach, and my head on his chest, and his cheek was pressed against the top of my head. We slept the rest of the night.

….

The next morning, we woke with a start to the sound of Sophie's voice. She didn't say much, but it was enough to snap us out of that sleepy state and into the world of the living.

"And you expect me to believe he's not your boyfriend?"

We sat up, and tried to explain, but she wouldn't hear it.

"I'm gonna take a shower. Oh, and by the way, don't try to deny this. It won't work. I took pictures."

She giggled like an eight year old and took off toward the bathroom. I looked over to see Castl looking at me, smiling, almost laughing at what just happened.

"Wow, she really is your sister!"

OK, yes, i really need to work on the creativity/cleverness of the name of the problem about having to move a seleeping kid from on place to another. im sorry abpout that.

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I stand by that statement 100%

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