Author's Note: I guess I should have clarified that either way Rick and Kate get caught kissing, I wasn't going to let the drama get in the way. This was kind of a wish fulfillment type story, so I hadn't planned on writing drama. But the votes leaned toward… well, I'll let you figure that out. :-D Oh, and I guess I should also warn you that I am a total California girl. The closest I have even been to New York is Wichita, Kansas, so, yeah… not close AT ALL! That said, I have no idea what the Museum of Natural History is like, so please forgive me for being vague and/or wrong. My knowledge of the East coast is severely limited to what I see on Castle. Which is ironic, because the show is filmed on the West Coast!
For two hours, Kate, Alexis and Rick wandered the museum, saving the Egypt Exhibit for last. Alexis planned on staying there as long as she could to get ideas for her extra credit assignment. As the three moved through the halls of the museum, they walked close together, chatting; they discussed the exhibits, Castle sometimes entertaining the women with stories inspired in the moment by what they saw. Sometimes Alexis wandered off to get a closer look at something, or she ran ahead to see something she was excited about. But Rick and Kate walked side by side the whole afternoon. They walked so close together, their hands brushed with every other step, but they didn't hold hands.
Kate was hyper aware of Alexis and the looks the teen had been giving the adults. And Rick was ever conscious of a promise Kate had made that morning contingent upon him keeping his hands to himself. And he totally and completely trusted Kate to keep her work and not let him even hug her goodnight if he didn't 'behave' in public.
As they finally made their way toward the Egypt room, Alexis on one side of Rick, Kate on the other, Alexis casually commented, "You know, it won't kill me if I just happened to see you two holding hands. You don't have to hide that kind of thing from me."
"We're not hiding anything, Lexi," Kate was the one to answer. She grinned and added, "I'm still trying to figure out whether or not I want to hold his hand."
Alexis smiled her sweet, dimpled smile and Kate, returning the smile, realized something in that moment. Kate realized she wanted this. She wanted weekends spent exploring the city she loved with Alexis and Rick. She wanted a home to go to every night, knowing someone would be there to ask her about her day. She wanted people she loved who she could ask about their day. She wanted to come home every night to Rick, and she was finally able to admit it was because she loved him like she'd never loved anyone before him.
Kate also realized how much she'd grown to love Alexis in the short time she'd known the girl. She was smart and fun and wise and innocent. And Alexis needed a mother. Kate doubted her ability to fill that role, but she wanted to try. With that impulse came the desire to protect the girl as well. Kate wanted to protect Alexis from the bad people in this city that she met daily in her job. She wanted to protect the teen from pain, physical and emotional; which meant she had to protect Alexis from whatever consequences might come from dating the girl's father.
As soon as they entered the Egypt room, Alexis moved away from the adults, leaving them standing alone in the center of the room. She approached an exhibit to study the details closer. And Kate turned to Rick and did the same thing.
After several long moments of pretending he didn't notice Kate closely studying his face, Rick finally asked, "What?" He finally turned to look at her and her 'serious face' began to scare him.
"I really care about Alexis," Kate admitted.
Rick smiled. "Well, that's good!"
Before he could make a joke of it, Kate continued, "I mean, I really love her. And I don't want anything that happens between us to cause her pain."
"Alexis is a big girl…" Rick started, but Kate cut him off.
"No, Rick. She's not. She acts the part because that's who she wants to be, but she's still a child. Having once been a fifteen year old girl myself, I should know."
Rick turned to watch his daughter and at that moment, Alexis spun and called, "Dad, look!" He was suddenly reminded of Alexis at eight. At that age, she had wanted to share everything with her father, so for a year she called to Rick nearly every other minute, "Daddy, look!"
"I'll be right there, Pumpkin," Rick called to Alexis. He studied her a minute longer, comparing the eight year old child to the young woman studying a sarcophagus and he smiled tenderly. He finally turned back to Kate and said, "You're right. But you're wrong, too. Alexis doesn't just act the part; that is who she is. Part of her is still that child who wants a mom and wants her dad to be happy. But she's old enough to know life doesn't always turn out how you'd like it to. You're making things a lot more complicated than they need to be, Kate." Rick reached out with both hands to grasp hers and held tighter when she tried to pull her hands back. "I'm not about to hide our relationship from my daughter. We're either together- the three of us- or your premonition of doom will come true."
Kate studied his eyes as she fought to sort out her feelings. She knew she wanted what he was saying, but she was worried for Alexis and for herself. "I want us to be together," she finally admitted. "But I don't ever want Alexis to hurt… especially over something I've done."
"I know exactly how you feel," Rick smiled sardonically. "It's called being a parent. But she's going to hurt some time in life, and the only thing we can do is be there for her when she needs us. Even if we're not an us." Rick frowned after that last statement, then added, "You know what I mean?"
Kate smiled. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I just want her to know I'll always be there for her, even if you and I don't…"
"She knows," Rick assured, then pulled Kate closer, guiding her arms to lock around him. He held her close and added sternly, "And will you please just stop assuming we won't work?"
"Look at the facts, Castle," she reasoned. "You don't have the best track record with women. And I'm 32 and still single, so my record can't be much better, can it?"
"But look at us," Rick argued. "We haven't even slept together, and I still find you interesting, a year and a half later. Imagine how much more interesting I'll find you once we finally do sleep together."
Kate smiled, teasing, "You'd find me absolutely fascinating."
Rick smiled just before pulling her in and kissing her as if there were no other people in the room. A long, open mouthed kiss Rick usually would have saved for the bedroom. Rick was so excited that he was finally allowed to touch her- to taste her- that he forgot where he was and who else was in the room and let himself get swept away in the kiss.
Too soon, there was the faint, delicate sound of someone pointedly clearing her throat. And then Alexis said, "Dad!"
Rick broke the kiss, mumbled, "Yes, sweetie," then moved to continue kissing Kate, his lips nibbling along her neck.
In a droll voice, Alexis informed him, "You're drawing more attention than the mummy exhibit."
"Mm-hmm," he agreed, not removing his lips from Kate's skin.
But Kate regained her mental faculties then and nearly shoved Rick's body away from her own.
Rick grinned at her, taking in her flushed skin, her accelerated breathing, and he couldn't feel sorry for taking that kiss, even if he did lose his chance at more, later. But judging by her unguarded response to his kiss, he didn't imagine he'd have a difficult time persuading her.
Rick and Kate finally turned their attention to the exhibit and let Alexis tell them about her favorite parts. The adults followed as Alexis wandered around, but this time, Rick took hold of Kate's hand and didn't let go for the rest of the afternoon. Not that Kate offered any resistance. Though they both noticed Alexis's grin every time she glanced at them.
Author's note: See, no big deal. Alexis just teases them a little. I'm sorry if the ending is a little off. I'm super tired after taking Nyquil (I'm a little sniffly) and I still had to write the ending. But I wanted to get this up before I go to bed for the night. I guess I still feel bad for neglecting this story for, what was it, five months?