Kate woke early, the life of a cop often lived in the wee hours of the morning when most other sane people were still sleeping. She remembered when she had been one of those sane people, back in college; her earliest classes had started at ten- noon if she were lucky. But being a cop had become such a part of her personality, she found she was more of a morning person than she ever would have thought possible.

And she could actually relax in the loft at such an early hour; in the week she'd been staying there, she had yet to see Castle this early in the morning. Kate knew it wasn't very green of her, but the thought of arriving at the precinct in the same car, coming from the same apartment, with Richard Castle was not something she wanted the guys witnessing. So she went in early, claiming paperwork called her in.

Not that Castle had ever asked her about it. He just showed up when he was good and ready, or when she called him because they had a case. He never pried, but she still had excuses- legitimate responses- lined up in case he did.

This morning though, Castle appeared. Noise at the head of the stairs alerted her to his presence, and she watched as he descended, his eyes half closed, his attention on making it down the steps without tripping. He was wearing a white t-shirt and baggy blue cotton pajama pants. She watched him for a moment, as he made his way down stairs. He was kind of cute like that, his hair mussed, rubbing his eyes like a kid.

Before he could catch her staring, she turned to make the coffee.

"Mornin'," he called, making his way slowly toward her. He stretched as he walked, giving Kate a glimpse of firm skin she pretended she wasn't mesmerized by.

"Good morning," she replied.

He chuckled when he saw her, her hair pulled up in a messy pony tail, her pajamas overlarge.

"What?" she said, self conscious.

"We match." She glanced between their bodies, comparing. The flannel pants were different patterns, but they were both blue. "We're even wearing the same size."

She smiled a little, then gave him a sarcastic look. "Don't even think about it, Castle."

"What?"

"I will not be sleeping in anything silky or lacy while I'm here. So don't even try."

Castle chuckled then let out a noisy yawn, taking a seat at the bar facing the kitchen. "You don't have to make coffee every morning, you know."

"I know," she said, pulling down two mugs and pouring coffee for herself and for Castle. "I make coffee for myself, though. It's not that hard to add more water and make enough for everyone."

"I'm sure Alexis appreciates that. I don't always get up in time to make her breakfast."

"From what I've seen, Little Castle manages pretty well for herself most mornings." Kate set a mug in front of him, the coffee flavored exactly how he liked it.

He smiled, pride in his offspring obvious on his face. "Thank you," he said, sipping from the coffee.

Kate glanced at the time on the oven, then moved to get another mug down. She made a third cup of coffee- which was more like half coffee and half milk- and set it beside Castle. He looked at her in question, but Kate just smiled and continued moving around the kitchen. She popped some bread into the toaster, then started making scrambled eggs.

Castle watched her work, amazed to see her so comfortable in a kitchen. After the 'Styrofoam temple' he'd found in her own apartment, he'd assumed she didn't know how to cook. But Kate's movements were comfortable, efficient and totally at home in her work space. She was finished cooking in minutes, eggs and toast split between two plates.

Kate set the second plate next to the third coffee cup, and when Castle moved to grab some of the eggs, she slapped his hand.

They glared at each other for a moment, Rick nursing his slapped hand, when Alexis suddenly appeared at the head of the steps. As Alexis practically skipped into the room, Kate warned the teen, "Better eat your breakfast before your father does."

"Thank you so much, Kate." The girl sat down and immediately grabbed her fork. "You really don't have to make me breakfast, though."

"You tell me that every morning," Kate replied, her voice stern but affectionate. "And what do I tell you?"

"Shut up," Alexis responded, rolling her eyes. When she glanced over and saw her father's look, Alexis corrected, "Well, not literally, but something along those lines."

Kate laughed, then turned serious on the girl's father. "Did you know she doesn't even eat breakfast most mornings?"

Castle frowned, not liking the accusing tone in Kate's voice. "She's a big girl."

"And you're a big boy, so," Kate slapped his hand again, as he picked a piece of egg off his daughter's plate. "Make your own breakfast."

Rick smiled as he popped the small piece of food into his mouth.

He thinks he's SO charming, she thought as she glared at him. She had to turn quickly so he wouldn't see her begrudging smile.

Kate took her plate and sat beside Alexis, and when he realized no one was going to be serving him, he sighed theatrically, heaving himself up to go get something to eat.

He grabbed a muffin, and leaned over the inside of the counter, making conversation with the women, more than actually eating. He inquired after his daughter's plans for the day, then Kate's. Kate noticed the Castles working to include her in the conversation, though it didn't seem forced or fake.

It was a happy little moment between a happy little family, and that thought had Kate suddenly uncomfortable. They included her in their lives so easily, not at all begrudgingly. In fact, they were warm and welcoming.

Kate finished her eggs quickly then and left the Castles to their family moment.

It was unnerving to Kate how easily the Castles just accepted her into their home, how easily she seemed to fit in with them. It felt great, on one hand, to have a family- or at least the pretense of a family. But she knew it would end, and she would lose this feeling of family soon. It terrified her every time she remembered this was only a temporary situation. And this wasn't her family.

It also freaked her out that she even wanted to be part of Richard Castle's family.

It scared her that she could so easily picture herself as a member of the family- as Alexis's mother-figure, and Martha's pseudo-daughter. Even picturing herself some way related to Castle came much easier than she cared to dwell on.

So she chose not to dwell on it, pushing it out of her mind, as well as Castle, and resolving to avoid the family as much as possible while living under the same roof. It was a big loft, plenty of space to continue leading her own life, apart from the Castle family- apart from Castle himself.