When Kate knocked on Rick's door that evening, she heard Alexis come to the door running. At least she hoped it was Alexis. She couldn't help but laugh, imagining Rick running to open the door. When the door opened, Alexis yelled "Kate!" and jumped in her arms.

"Hey Alexis! I take it you're happy to see me?" Kate laughed, walking inside and closing the door behind them.

When she turned to the loft, she stopped. This place was HUGE! She was sure she could fit her apartment twice in here.

"Kate, hey!" Rick said, coming from what she assumed to be the kitchen considering he was wearing an apron.

"Hey!" she said, not knowing what to do.

Was she supposed to kiss him with his daughter in her arms? Did he tell her something about the night before? She had her answer when he kissed her quickly on the lips, causing Alexis to giggle.

Kate put Alexis back on the floor.

"What are you cooking? It's smell absolutely delicious." she said, walking after him in the loft.

"Ah! That's for me to know and for you to find out. But you're not allowed to help."

"You're with me until dinner and then you're with daddy." Alexis said

"Oh, you've divided up my time with you?" Kate asked, looking at Rick.

"Yes, daddy said we had to share because we both wanted to spend time with you." Alexis answered.

"Yeah, so we shared you. That's the problem with being so popular." Rick reasoned.

"Yeah right." Kate said. "So, Miss Alexis, what do you want to do while your father is cooking us dinner?"

"We can read a book." she proposed.

"You already know how to read?" Kate asked, surprised.

"Yes!" Alexis exclaimed, really proud. "But just the one for little children."

"Well, that's great because I love children books. I think they're the best!" Kate said, smiling to the girl.

"Hey! What about my books?" Rick asked, pretending to be hurt.

"Well, they're ok too." Kate smiled before letting Alexis pull her to her books in the living room.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

When Rick went to the living room to tell his girls dinner was ready, he stopped in the doorway and looked at the scene in front of him. Kate was sitting on the couch, Alexis standing in front of her and she was braiding her hair. And Alexis was giving her her opinions of each Disney Princess. Kate was going along, asking questions and agreeing with Alexis that Cinderella was the best princess.

This was what Rick wanted for his daughter. A real family. With a mommy, a daddy and lots of children. For the first time in a while, Alexis seemed to be accepting a new female in her family. It had been three years since Meredith had left and she had been having a hard time with women since then. The only one she really accepted was her grandmother, and still, it had been hard at first. She was scared she would go too. And now she was letting Kate brush her hair even though she had known her for barely a week and met her only twice! This was huge.

Rick was pulled out of his thoughts when Alexis caught sight of him.

"Daddy, look at what Kate did, she painted my nails!" Alexis said excitedly, showing him her little hands. "And she did my hair too!" she continued, turning around so that he could see. "She's the best!"

"Yeah she is." he answered without thinking, making Kate blush. "Hey, why don't you go wash your hands, dinner's ready." he continued.

"I hope that's ok Rick, she said she wanted some nail polish and ..." Kate started.

"She's right you know, you are the best." Rick said, smiling.

Before she had time to reply, he was kissing her passionately.

"I've wanted to do that since you came in through that door." Rick said, trying to get his breathing back to a normal rhythm.

Kate smiled and buried herself in his chest, felling safe and at home in his arms. For once, she didn't hear any little voices telling her it was to fast, too serious, or that he was not the right one. It sounded crazy, even to herself, but he felt like he was the right one, even if they had met only a week before, even if he had a daughter. She had never pictured herself, at 23, dating a man who had a child.

They stayed there, in each other's arms until Alexis came back with clean hands.

"Come on Ladies, your dinner's waiting." Rick announced, backing away from Kate bu taking one of her hands to lead her to the dining room. On the way to the table, Kate saw a framed picture of the two Castles and a famous actress on the mantlepiece of the fake chimney. She stopped instantly and reached for it.

"Oh my God, you have a picture with Martha Rodgers! I love her! My mom used to take me to all her plays. She has so much talent! Once we went to see … what?" Kate asked when she saw both Rick and Alexis laughing.

"Well, she's uh... how can I say that without you freaking out … uh … she's ..." Rick started.

"She's Gram!" Alexis exclaimed.

"What?" Kate asked, looking at Rick, certain she had not heard right.

"Well, she's my mother."

"Martha Rodgers is your mother?" Kate asked again.

"Yes."

"How come I did not know that? I love you both as artists and I didn't even know you were related!" Kate said, eyes wide open.

"Well, now you know, so be prepared to meet her one day because she has a tendency to drop by unannounced and usually with a very bad timing." Rick said, going to the kitchen to take their dinner from the stove.

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

Once Alexis was in bed – after having been read a story by Kate, she had insisted on that – Kate and Rick were cuddled on the couch, watching a movie none of them were paying attention to.

"Oh, I meant to ask you, how did it go with your friend this morning. She seemed king of … shocked … when I left your apartment." Rick inquired.

"Oh, she was horrible. She literally jumped on me in the bed and wanted to know what happened." Kate grumbled.

"What did you tell her?"

"Nothing. Madison is not really the kind of friend you confide in … unless you want everyone to now about it. She's nice and all but she just can't keep anything to herself."

"Why is she your friend then?" Rick asked, confused.

"Oh she's nice and fun, that's not the problem. She's a good friend, she was the first to come to me when my mother … uh … died … but she's not best friend material."

"Do you have a best friend? Because I can be yours if you want." Rick proposed, realizing how childish he sounded

"Thanks, but I already have that covered." Kate laughed.

"Tell me about her."

"Well his name is Javier Esposito and ..."

"Wait, wait, wait. He's a guy? Your best friend is a guy?"

"Yes, why? Is that a problem?" she asked, glaring at him.

"No, not at all, why would it be a problem?" he asked innocently."So, who is this Javier?"

"I met him at the Academy, we were in the same class. I … I joined just after I lost my mother and he was the only one talking to me. The others were basically just ignoring me, but it didn't bother me, I didn't really want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to do my things and get it over with. He sat with me every day at breakfast, lunch and dinner, I guess after a while we just started talking and getting closer. He works with me at the 12th now, we're even on the same team."

"That's great. But … tell me … how close did the two of you get?" Rick asked.

"Why? Do I detect some jealousy Mr. Castle?"

"No … Yes … maybe ..." Rick admitted, playing with her hand."

"He's just my best friend Rick, he's like my brother, there's nothing more … oh God that would be weird." Kate laughed. "And don't be jealous not to be my best friend, I prefer you to be another king of friend." she continued, getting closer to him.

"What kind of friend?" he asked, knowing exactly what she meant but wanting her to say it out loud.

"You really want me to ask you like if we were … I don't know … 14?"

"Yes, I do." Rick answered, smiling brightly.

"Ok then, Richard Castle, would you like to be my boyfriend?"

"Yes, I'd like that very much." he answered, taking her head between his hands and bringing her to him.

Things heated up rather quickly and soon they were laying down on the couch, Kate on top of Rick, and hands were starting to travel under pieces of clothing. It was all cut short, however, when the front door of the loft opened and footsteps came their way.

"What did I tell you, very bad timing." Rick whispered in Kate's ear, while she tried to hide between him and the back of the couch.

Thoughts? Commentaries?