Little nervous about this chapter. I haven't played scrabble in years, so I did a lot of researching and I still don't think its completely right. I googled the highest point words and one made me laugh, I just had to use it.

Thanks for pointing out all the words that were British. I changed a few of them in previous chapters. Point them out if you see anymore.

I honsetly thought Americans start Kindegarten at six. Never mind. To cover it up, we'll just say that Alexis starts school at six at her school.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.

Chapter 6

Kate grinned wickedly, knowing too well that she was going to win. He watched her carefully now, thinking that he could work out her next move. Alexis sat on Kate's lap, watching her letters with great interest, wanting to help.

"What about that one?" Alexis asked, pointing to the letter 'Z'.

Kate grinned. "Maybe, we'll need to make a big word to win."

"Whoa," Rick said. "The two of you can't team up against me. That's cheating."

"She's six, Rick," Kate reminded him. "Now lay down your word, so we can both kick your but."

Alexis giggled. "Yeah, daddy."

"Snowy," Rick said, placing the tiles on the board. "That's eleven points, but O is on double points making it twelve."

"Snowy?" Kate grinned. "That gives you two-hundred and fifty-four points now."

"Yes," Rick grinned. "And you one-hundred and sixty-eight points."

"I'd wipe that smirk away, Rick," Kate told him, picking up the tiles, placing them on the board to Rick's look of shock. She was defiantly showing of too much, but she couldn't stop herself and the letters were right there, unmissable. "Muzjiks, its in the English dictionary so its allowed. The Z lands on a triple, giving me another thirty points on top of twenty-nine and then I used up all of my tiles. Total of a hundred and nine points. That's two-hundred and seventy-seven points."

Rick looked at her in complete shock, unable to wrap his head around it. "W-what does it mean?"

"It's Russian for peasant," Kate smiled. "I believe that's the end of the game."

"Yay!" Alexis cheered. "We won!"

"Hold up," Rick said." You speak Russian?"

Kate grinned. "kakovo eto poteryat's devushkoy, Rik?"

His mouth hit the ground. Alexis looked up at Kate, grinning. "What did you say?"

"I said," Kate's smile widened. "How does it feel to lose to a girl, Rick?"

"Say something else!" Alexis begged, smiling at Kate.

"Tvoy papa kak ryba pryamo seychas." Kate said to her. "It means, 'Your daddy is like a fish right now.'"

Alexis looked over at Rick, laughing. A moment a go, Rick had been opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish.

"That is unbelievably hot," Rick finally managed to say, watching Kate in a way that made her grin. "Where did you learn to speak Russian?"

"I studied in Ukraine for a bit and then at college," Kate said.

"Can you teach me?" Alexis asked.

"I'm sure I can teach you a few words," Kate told her. "Right now, we both beat your dad."

Alexis grinned. "We sure did."

"No," Rick said as if he was realising for the first time. "No, you spelt a Russian word. That's not allowed."

"It's in the dictionary, Rick," Kate grinned at him. "It's allowed and I beat you."

"No," He shook his head. "We'll have a rematch."

"Your bad loser side is showing," she told him, sharing a high five with Alexis, who giggled. "Come on, little girl, lets go get some dessert and then we can watch a film before I go."

"Okay," Alexis said jumping up.

Kate stood up, noticing how Rick still stared at the board in complete shock. She grinned, leaning down next to him, knowing Alexis won't hear what she whispers. "Maybe next time we could play strip poker."

Rick sucked in a breath. "You're a tease."

"Who said I was teasing?" She winked at him, walking over to Alexis, leaving Rick to his confusion and misery of losing. Kate had a feeling losing wasn't the only thing that was on his mind right now, it was likely forgotten. She grinned.

"What did you whisper to daddy?" Alexis asked, taking Kate's hand.

"I told him how he should get used to losing with me," Kate told her.

Alexis giggled. "No ones ever beaten daddy before."

"Do you think that's why he was acting like a fish?" Kate asked her.

Alexis laughed. "Yeah."

Kate opened the container that she had brought with more brownies. Alexis got the plates out from the bottom cupboard she could reach, smiling as Kate put some brownies on the plates for her, Alexis and Rick. They went back into the living room, finding Rick still staring at the scrabble board.

"Really?" Kate sighed.

"No one has beaten me before," Rick groaned. "Let's just have a rematch or..."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "We'll see what the night brings."

"Can we watch finding nemo?" Alexis asked Kate.

"The film with the fish?" Kate asked. "I've never seen it."

"You've never seen finding nemo?" Rick asked her shocked.

"No," Kate said. "I never had a reason to before."

Alexis sat up with Kate, wrapping her blanket around the both of them."You're going to love it."

Rick put the film on, joining them on the sofa. He kept sending glances Kate's way, she biting her lip to hide her smile. Did he seriously think she was being serious? She shouldn't keep playing him like this, but he was just too easy. "One question before the film," Rick said. "Where did you learn to play scrabble like that?"

Kate bit her lip, it had been her mother who taught her. It was a game they used to play together almost every week. Her silence must have said it all. The necklace around her neck suddenly felt heavier, but before she could feel herself slipping, Alexis snuggled up closer to Kate. Rick squeezed Kate's hand, him giving her a small smile to show that she wasn't alone. She squeezed back, keeping her hand in his.

Rubbing her eyes, Kate groaned, waking up. A lump shifted next to her, an ache going through her side. Kate opened her eyes to realise that she was still round Rick's. She had fallen asleep on their sofa with Alexis and Rick. Alexis slept close to her side and Rick leaning back asleep next to her. He looked peaceful, his eyes shut and his hair askew.

Getting out her phone, she saw that she had an hour before she had to be at work. Kate still had to go home and change, she couldn't turn up at work in the same clothes as yesterday. Gently picking Alexis up, she laid her on the sofa, bringing the blanket up over the girl and kissing the top of her head.

"Kate?" Rick questioned, opening his eyes.

"Hey, uh, sorry I fell asleep last night," Kate bit her lip.

"Nothing wrong with that," he grinned. "You having to go to work?"

"Yeah." Kate said.

His grin widened. "You have great morning hair."

"Shut up!" She told him, groaning.

"And a bit of a temper?"

"I'm going," Kate said, picking her bag up. "Could you, um, get my stuff?"

She groaned again, seeing the look on his face. "Of course, detective in training." Kate looked back down to the sleeping girl once more, giving the girl a small smile that she couldn't see. Following Rick into his study, Kate watched as he opened his draw, handing Kate her gun and badge. "Still waiting for the day you use the handcuffs on me."

"Keep dreaming, Rick." Kate told him, putting her gun and badge in her bag.

"Oh, I will," she didn't need to look up to know he was smiling. "At least let me make you a coffee before you go."

"I need to get home and change," Kate bit her lip.

"Right," Rick paused. "Still, I'll make you a coffee to go."

She looked up, finding him watching her with a smile, a look in his eyes making her blush. "You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?"

"No," his grin widened. Kate followed him out of the study, towards the kitchen, where Kate watched him make the coffee. He brought out a mug to go, filling it with coffee before handing it over to Kate. She took it, smiling.

"I'll bring the mug to go back later then," Kate said.

"It's only a mug, Kate," he said. She looked up to his clock, she was running really late.

"I should get going," Kate said. "Thank you."

"Anytime."

Kate looked up to him, biting her lip. For a second, her gaze travelled to his lips. Looking away, she hurried towards the door. Stopping to turn back to him. "I'll call you?"

"Sure." He smiled.

She closed the door behind her, pausing. Had she really thought about kissing Rick then? Kate shook her head, no, she wasn't going to let that happen between them. As much as she liked him, she didn't want to risk Alexis with a relationship with Rick. If things didn't work out between them then she couldn't lose her.

Before Kate even got home, she had a call of a murder down by the pier. Thank god for Rick and his coffee, she had a feeling today was going to be a long day. By the time she had changed clothes, sorted herself out and gotten to the crime scene, she had arrived just on time.

"Oh," Lanie grinned. "Your shirts inside out."

"No," Kate looked down. "No."

"Good night?" Esposito asked with a grin.

"Didn't even last a month," Lanie shook her head, smiling.

"Oh, Rick," Esposito grinned.

"You heard of the author Richard Castle?" Lanie asked him.

"Lanie!" Kate groaned, she didn't want anyone knowing about her private life, especially Esposito.

He looked at Kate. "No way."

"Yes way," Lanie said.

"No way," Kate told them.

"Nothing happened. I accidentally fell asleep round there."

"All this time Rick is that famous author that chicks love?" Esposito shook his head.

Kate glared at Esposito. "Not all chicks love him."

"But you do," Lanie sang, bending over to look at the dead body. Kate looked over at him, seeing him laying on his front, a stab wound to his lower back. The pool of blood surrounding him. "Or you soon will."

"Lanie," Kate hissed. "Nothing happened last night, OK?"

"Your blush tells us otherwise," Esposito grinned.

"Let's just focus on the body," Kate told them both. Karpowski – one of the detectives – came over, questioning Lanie about the victim. They focused more after that, where they were soon heading over to the victims apartment, Lanie to the morgue. It was another long day, finding evidence and assisting the detectives with the investigation. Luckily, the case was closed in a day with the victim being killed by his friend for having an affair with his wife. The guy had slipped up, dumping the murder weapon in a bush down the street from the pier with his fingerprints all over.

"You would think if you were going to kill someone, you'd be a lot smarter than chucking the murder weapon in a bush near the crime scene," Esposito shook his head.

"People act before they think," Kate said. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah," he leant back in his chair, grinning.

"You off to see writer boy?"

"No, I'm going home," Kate told him. "We aren't together."

"Not yet," he said.

"What is it with you and Lanie?" Kate sighed.

"She was right when she said you was complicated," Esposito said. "If you like the guy then why not just get with him."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Are you giving me relationship advice, Espo?"

"No, I just know what your guy is going through, liking a complicated girl." He shrugged.

"Oh, and who's the complicated girl in your life?" She asked, invading Esposito's privacy now.

"All girls are complicated."

"Right," Kate rolled her eyes. "You stick with your complicated love life then and I'll stick to mine."

"So, you're agreeing that there is something going on between the two of you?" Esposito grinned.

"No!" Kate said. "I'm going now, bye."

He put his hands up in surrender. "Fine. I heard Lanie was giving you a month, you have a week left."

"Yeah. One week until you're both proved wrong." Kate grinned.

The mug to go sat left in Kate's car, she bit her lip, wondering what she should do. Should she go home or take the flask back? That way she could see Alexis again and maybe hang out with them this evening before going home. She would rather be with them then home alone.

"Good evening, Kate," the doorman greeted her, opening the door.

"Evening, David."

"Good day at work?" He asked.

"Great," she said. "Is Rick and Alexis in?"

"I believe Mr. Castle is in."

"Oh," Kate wondered where Alexis was. "OK, thank you."

She caught the lift up to Rick's floor, remembering Alexis telling her last night that she was going out with her grandma today. It would be stupid if she left now. If she just dropped the flask of and then she would go home. Outside his door, Kate took a deep breath and then knocked. Rick opened the door, seeing Kate, he smiled.

"Kate?"

She smiled slightly, holding out the mug to go. "I brought this back."

"You know you could have brought it back the next time we met," he laughed, taking the flask. "Alexis isn't here."

"I know." Kate smiled.

"Do you want to come in?" He asked with a shy smile.

"Sure," she followed him inside, hearing the door close behind him. Kate turned around, unsure what to say or do. Alexis had always been there with them before or asleep upstairs.

"Coffee?" He asked, waving the flask slightly as she turned to face him.

"OK," She said, following him into the kitchen. There was an awkward silence between them. "So we had another body today."

"You did?" He was always interested in Kate's cases, asking whenever Alexis wasn't around.

"Yeah, a guy was stabbed and bled to death down by the pier," Kate said, watching him make two cups of coffees just like she had this morning. "It was his friend. Turned out the victim was having an affair with his girlfriend."

"You solved that in a day?" He asked.

"The detectives did," Kate said. "Me and Espo just found the murder weapon in the bush."

"You still solved the case, though," Rick said, handing Kate her coffee, watching her smile.

"True," Kate said. "What about you and your ego? Still trying to get over losing last night?"

"I'm waiting for that rematch," he said and then grinned. "Or your alternate game to play."

Kate blew on her coffee, not meeting his eye. "Who says I was being serious about that?"

"Tease," he said.

"You're easy to play, Rick," she looked up with a smirk. Taking a step forward, she put her coffee down on the side, keeping her eyes on him. "Were you wanting to play?"

"Uh- what game?" He asked, taking a gulp of air. Kate grinned, even telling him that she was playing him, he still fell for it.

"Whatever game you want," she whispered. Her eyes fell onto his lips again, seeing them parted in anticipation. If she kissed him, what would happen? The clink of his coffee cup caught her attention, he had put it down. His body leaned more towards her now, his lips closer. She bit her lip, looking up to his eyes.

"Are you sure you're playing me?" He whispered, closing the distance between them. Kate sucked in a breath, his lips were so close to hers. "If you want me to stop just say."

Her eyes flickered to his lips again, her fingers moving towards him. Rick closed the distance, his lips finding hers, pushing her body against the counter. His hands cupping her cheeks, hers finding their way into his hair, pulling at the strands. Kate closed her eyes, pulling him closer towards her. Her body trembling underneath him with the kiss and his hand trailing down to rest on her waist. Rick pulled away after, resting his forehead against hers. Kate froze staring at him. His eyes were still closed, savouring the moment.

She hadn't come here to kiss him. What she wanted was to see them, to see Alexis, to not be left alone in her apartment. This couldn't happen between them. All her relationships in the past had ended badly, ended with promises made to only be broken. If that happened again then she would lose Alexis. Tears fell down her face, falling onto his hand that still cupped her cheek.

"Kate?" He asked, concerned, wiping the tears away from her eyes.

"I-I can't," she whispered, moving away from him. Kate didn't need to look at him to know the confusion and pain he was feeling. Picking up her bag, she hurried from the loft, ignoring Rick's shouts after her.

Oooo. Little nervous about that end. It came sooner then I planned, but I think it was the right moment for the story. Excited for you to see the next chapter. Should be up soon. Please do review.