Chapter 14

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Contrary to what other people assumed when they looked at his lifestyle, Castle did occasionally have to do work as a published author that didn't just involve spinning around in his office chair as he tried to come up with good ideas. Normally, he made sure to arrange his appointments around Kate's schedule or when he was certain that Lanie, Esposito, or Ryan were off so that they could babysit.

It didn't always work out, though.

Which was why Kate found herself in a department meeting, trying to keep her daughter quiet and entertained. So far, it had been working with Zoey only occasionally crawling away from her unnoticed and surprising people when she scurried underneath their chairs or between their legs. They always seemed more amused than annoyed. Likely due to the fact that these meetings were always such a bore and Kate had provided them with a distraction in the form of a 28lb, preciously pig-tailed, easily humoured package.

"Excuse me, gentlemen." Montgomery cleared his throat as he addressed the group of officers in the corner who were passing Zoey around like a football and giving her cookies from the tray of snacks provided for the meeting. He raised his voice when they didn't seem to have heard him. "Gentlemen!"

"Oh, yes sir!" The one named Lee answered while the other three snapped to attention.

"Do you think you can all stop being distracted by an adorable child long enough to focus on this new protocol?" Montgomery said with just a hint of annoyance.

The four officers mumbled their 'yes, sirs' among chuckles from the others in the room.

Montgomery gave Kate a pointed look.

Kate said with an innocent shrug, "She was perfectly content sitting here with her Cheerios and her crayons. Lee and company just lured her away, that's all."

"Hey!" came a chorus of offended male voices.

"She won't be here much longer, sir," Kate continued, "Somebody—"

"—Castle," Esposito coughed out, eliciting his own glare from Kate.

"Somebody's coming by to get her soon," she finished.

The Chief nodded but Kate made sure to keep an extra close eye on Zoey for the rest of the meeting.

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"Castle!" Kate hissed into her cellphone, "Where the hell are you?"

"Kate! I'm sorry!" he sounded like he was walking outside, "I thought I only had that one thing to do at my publicist's but it turns out—" Kate heard a loud honk, followed by him swearing loudly.

"Look, if you can't make it, I'll just try to call my—"

"No, Kate," he seemed to have recomposed himself, "I"ll be by soon."

"Castle, if you have things to do, I understand," she said.

"I'll just take her with me."

"Are you sure…?"

"It'll be fine. Don't worry," he said hurriedly, "Listen, I gotta go. I'll see you soon, 'k?"

"Okay…" Kate still sounded uncertain.

From the time she hung up to the time Castle showed up at the precinct was almost exactly one hour.

When he approached her, she saw him temporarily forget where they were and then, upon remembering, having to physically stop himself from giving her a kiss.

"Hey," he said, instead.

"Good timing," Kate responded in greeting. "We just caught a case."

"Where's Zo?"

Kate pointed to Velázquez' desk. "She's been making the rounds all morning. Turns out, very popular with homicide detectives who think they're a bunch of badasses."

Castle grinned and then lowered his voice. "What time will you be home?"

"I get off at six."

"So… nine?"

"Oh, haha," Kate responded dryly. "Are you sure it's all right to have Zoey with you all day?"

"Your job is different from my job," Castle said, "With my job, I need something significantly distracting to keep me from wanting to go to sleep as people talk at me."

She rolled her eyes. "Uh huh. I love how you're always keeping Zoey's best interests at heart."

"You know it, babes."

"Castle. What did I say about nicknames?"

"…Don't?"

"That's right, kitten. Now, go get your distraction."

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"Up!" Zoey commanded when she and Castle entered the elevator. It was the building where the main office of his publishing house was located. "I want to push!"

"All right, Zo," he said, "But you have to hold on while all of these other people go first." They were going up to the 47th floor so he was sure it wouldn't be the first stop.

Zoey was jumping up and down impatiently as the elevator filled and the doors closed.

"She can push my floor," said an attractive-looking woman behind them, giving Castle a smile. "59th."

Castle chuckled. "Thanks," he said. He lifted Zoey up. She had only learnt how to count up to ten. "Okay, Zo. Did you hear what the nice lady said? Can you find five and nine beside each other?"

Zoey's index finger drifted over the buttons, her face the picture of concentration. It landed on 56. "Yes?" she asked, turning her head back to look at Castle.

He shook his head. "No, that's a five and a six. A nine is like an upside down six."

Zoey quickly turned back around. "This one!" she exclaimed, pointing to the right number.

"Yup!" Castle nodded. "Now what's our number?"

"Four and seven," she responded seriously.

As Zoey searched, Castle's peripheral vision caught the other occupants trying to hide their smiles while they pretended not to look at Zoey.

"I did it!" Zoey clapped, after having successfully found the right number.

"High five," Castle said, offering his palm.

"Your daughter is very smart," said the 59th floor woman. Only the three of them were left in the elevator.

"You are very smart aren't you, Zo?" he asked with a grin, bouncing Zoey a little.

Castle didn't miss her eyes quickly flicking down to his left hand before saying, "You and your wife are very lucky."

"Actually, I'm not married," he answered dryly, having been on the other side of this conversation enough times to know where this was going. Castle decided to save her the trouble when her eyebrows raised. "But I'm involved," he cut in before she could say anything else. "Very involved."

The elevator door dinged and Castle stepped out.

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"What do you mean you won't go?"

Castle winced. Paula's face, already naturally expressive enough, had contorted to one of fury.

"Black Pawn is sending you to Europe on an all-expense paid book tour and you're turning them down?"

"It's just that the timing…"

"Oh, what? You want them to halt the release of the third Nikki Heat over there?"

"But one month is just a really long stretch…"

"Yes," said Paula, frustrated, "But you'll be in Europe for that whole month – did you forget how much you love Italian cuisine and British accents?"

"What if we were to cut it shorter?" he asked hopefully, "Like to a week and a half?"

"Richard Castle, do I need to remind you that doing promotion for your books is a part of your job?"

"It's just… Paula, I can't."

Paula didn't miss the way his eyes darted to Zoey who was on the other side of her glass office door, playing with her assistant in the waiting room. Paula had a severe aversion to people under the age of ten while Melanie was baby-crazy. Castle had thought it was probably in Zoey's best interests to stay outside.

"Oh, I see," Paula said, her tone somewhat mocking, "You can't. Remind me, Rick. Exactly what is your connection to that child? I'm sure her mother will be able to find a suitable babysitter to replace you in your one-month absence."

"I'm not babysitting her," Castle replied, feeling his anger flare up at Paula's words.

"Then, what are you doing?"

"I—I'm taking care of her. I'm… one of Zoey's guardians."

"So, she's your daughter, is that it?"

"Well, no, not technically."

Paula sighed. "You know, when Alexis was little, you would just take her along with you on these things."

"Well, yeah, because her mother didn't have a full-time job that she had to go to every day but Kate—"

"—Oh!" said Paula with a raised eyebrow, "So it's Kate, now?"

Castle didn't dignify that with a response. Instead, he sat back, resolute. "I'm not going, Paula. I've made my decision."

Melanie knocked on the door, interrupting their stare-down. "I'm sorry, Paula, Mr. Castle," she said, "But she was getting a little antsy."

Zoey ran over to Castle and he picked her up immediately. "Hey baby girl," he said, settling her on his lap. He turned to the assistant, "She's probably just ready for her nap. Thanks so much for looking after her."

"Oh, it was no problem, Mr. Castle," Melanie smiled. "She's a real sweetheart."

Zoey was quickly wilting in Castle's arms with her thumb in her mouth, a sure sign she was tired. He kissed the top of her head and looked straight at Paula. "I can't go," he said, "I won't leave her."

"Who are we talking about now, Rick? The little girl in your arms or the woman sharing your bed?"

.

"Ouch, mommy. Mommy, oww!"

Castle entered the loft later that night to the sound of Zoey's yelps. Kate was trying to get the tangles out of her hair as gently as possible with a wide-tooth comb. Since day one, her curls had been a major source of annoyance for Kate and the most repetitive source of suffering for Zoey.

He walked into the living room and gave Zoey a kiss before seating himself on the couch beside Kate. Zoey was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of them, the more-than-occasional complaint coming out of her mouth.

He leaned over to give Kate a kiss on the cheek but she made a face at him. "You know, Castle, I like how you always make me the bad guy. Maybe if you brushed her hair sometimes, I wouldn't have to go through this as often."

"But, she gives me that face! That pouty, don't-do-this-to-me, face!"

Kate rolled her eyes. "You know, she gives me that face, too."

"Yes, but you're stronger. Also, I'm still having nightmares from that time Alexis got gum in her hair." He shuddered for dramatic effect. "You have yet to live through that."

"Let's hope I never do," she replied. Picking up the bottle of detangler off the floor, she sprayed some in Zoey's hair before asking Castle, "How did your talk go?"

"It was a lecture hall full of eager young co-eds," he replied wryly, "Half of them wanted to know how to become the next J.K. Rowling and the other half wanted to know if Natalie Rhodes was just as hot in real life."

"Done now, mommy?" Zoey chirped from the floor.

Kate brought the comb through one more knot and said, "Yup, all done."

Castle lifted Zoey up and settled her between them on the couch. Zoey was already in her pyjamas, clutching her stuffed animal, Toto. Ever since Alexis had given her the plush yellow dog for her birthday, Zoey wouldn't go to sleep without having it tucked in right beside her.

"Are you staying?" he asked Kate, though it wasn't really a question so much as verification.

Kate divided Zoey's hair in half and started loosely plaiting the right side. Castle followed suit with the left – he was not embarrassed to admit that he knew how to make braids having raised a daughter who had always insisted on having long hair.

"Yeah," she replied, "Do you mind?"

Castle smiled. "You know you don't ever have to ask that, right?"

"Well," she shrugged, "It's not late or anything. I mean, I usually just stay when I'm too tired to drive home."

He tugged a hair tie off of her wrist. "You can stay anytime, Kate." Then, trying to sound casual. "I love it when you stay."

A/N: This chapter was basically 'A Day in the Life of…" because I feel like we've been missing out on some pure Zoey cuteness. Also, an excuse for more gratuitous fluff… Hope you enjoyed!

By the way, I know I don't reply to all of you but I really, REALLY love and adore and appreciate all of you taking time to write those wonderful, wonderful reviews. Even if it's to point out something I overlooked or did wrong, I appreciate because it helps me make the story better and shows that you guys actually care! And, no worries, I have been listening to some of your ideas but, you may have to be a little patient to see them come to fruition!