Hey everyone! enjoy this new chapter!

When Kate woke up, Rick was writing in bed. She cuddled up against him and sighed happily.

"Hey you." Rick said, bending down to kiss her. " Did you sleep ok?"

"Mmm" she simply answered, burying deeper in his side.

Rick let her a few minutes to wake up before talking again.

"I think Alexis came back about an hour ago. I heard the door and someone get up the stairs. Thank you so much for having let her sleep at your place." He said, caressing Kate's back.

"She looked really panicked last night when we got your text. I figured, since I still have an empty apartment, why not let her use it? You want some coffee? I definitely need coffee." Kate said, getting out of bed, putting Rick's robe on and heading to the kitchen.

When she got back in their bedroom, Rick was writing, engrossed in all his ideas, his fingers apparently not going fast enough for him given the frustrated look he had on his face. Kate placed his mug on the nightstand on his side of the bed and went back to sit in the bed. He didn't even seem to notice the movement around him, but she didn't worry, she had gotten used to it. It had worried her at first, wondering what was happening to him once when she tried to seduce him at his desk, completely naked, just to have no reaction at all. Later, without giving any unnecessary details, she had talked to Alexis who assured her that it was completely normal … or at least that she thought it was because he had been doing it as long as she could remember. So Kate settled on her side of the bed, coffee in one hand, a book in the other. This was their routine for no-work days. They took the right to do absolutely nothing (Rick often complaining that writing was not nothing, that it was his actual job) until lunch.

After a while, Kate felt the mattress move. Looking up from her book, she saw that Alexis had collapsed between her father and her.

"How long has he been like that for?" Alexis asked, looking at Rick, who was still typing as if his life depended on the number of words he could write in a minute.

"Hum … wow almost 45 minutes now." Kate said after having looked at the clock. "How was your night? You found everything you need at my place?"

"Yeah. Thank you so much for letting me sleep there. I really didn't want to have to face her right then. This morning came fast enough." Alexis said, almost groaning when she remembered her discussion with her mother.

"How did that go?" Kate asked hesitantly.

"Well, not really good but I guess it could have been worse. But I think I proved my point."

"How so?"

"Well, we were talking and her phone rang. So naturally … she picked up and walked out of the room. So I just left her. I don't know if she's noticed I'm not there anymore." Alexis shrugged.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Kate said, caressing the girl's red hair.

"It's ok I guess. I asked her not to tell me if she plans to come and visit. And don't worry I warned her. Next time she shows up she's not staying here."

"Alexis … I don't want to keep you from your mother. I won't lie and say that I'm thrilled that she's here, especially when she jumps on me when I'm sleeping, but if you want her to stay here she can stay here. It's not because I live here now that anything should change between the two of you. She's your mother, I'm not. You shouldn't take decisions like that based on me."

"That's just the thing Kate. She doesn't act like a mother. She acts like … I don't even know who would act like that. And … maybe it's horrible for me to say that but I prefer making plans based on you than on her. At least I know when you say something you keep your word. And even when you can't make it you at least send a text. How hard is it, seriously? When she'll realize how awesome I am and that she's missed everything, maybe she'll change." Alexis said, smiling.

"You definitely are awesome." Kate laughed. "But are you sure you're going to be ok?"

"Yes. I'm going to be ok. Maybe not tomorrow but I'll be ok. Now, I was thinking, do you have any plans for the rest of your week off. I know Dad had some stuff planned but …"

"But what?"

"Well, since I'm here until the end of the week, I wondered if you would want to move all your stuff by the end of the week. I can help and then we can have this dinner party to celebrate, and I can cook and …"

"I'd love to Alexis. Now, go and get dressed, I'll tell your father."

The young woman kissed Kate's cheek and jumped off the bed. When she was gone, Kate turned to the man next to her in the bed. She didn't know if Alexis had noticed but the sound of typing had stopped not long after the beginning of the discussion. Kate was not that surprised when she saw tears roll down Rick's cheeks. His eyes were close, head leaning against the headboard of the bed, his hands still on the keyboard of his laptop.

"She'll be ok Rick. She's a strong and intelligent girl." Kate said quietly, taking the laptop and putting it on the floor before taking her man in her arms.

"I know. She's awesome after all, right?" he asked, his voice hoarse from emotion.

"Yeah she is. The awesomest of them all."

"That's not a word."

"I know."Kate laughed, kissing him lovingly before getting up. "Now, go get ready. The Castle moving company has been hired for … let's say at least the next three days."

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

It was now Saturday night and the Castle clan, which now included Kate, was waiting for its guests to arrive. They had managed to get everything moved from her place to the loft in three days, even if Rick still couldn't believe it. "This has to best the fastest move-out-move-in ever!" he kept repeating.

On the first day – well, afternoon really – they had managed to pack most of Kate's bedroom, bathroom and kitchen and had even started packing the living room, after having decided what Kate would throw away and what would go in the loft. She had also called her father, asking him if he wanted some of her stuff. On the second, with Jim's help, they had managed to pack all the rest of the apartment: living room, office, and all the closets and had even moved some boxed into the loft. And on the third day, they had moved the rest of the boxes and the piece of furniture Kate had kept.

On the evening of the third day, the living room full of boxes, Rick and Alexis found Kate's photo albums and the three of them spend a good part of the night looking at the photos, trading stories.

The next day was spent arranging everything and cleaned the loft. And now, on the evening of the flowing day, they were waiting for Lanie, Javier, Kevin and Jenny to arrive. They didn't tell them what they were celebrating. They had decided to let them find by themselves, helping them with some hints and clues. Except Jenny, the all worked for the NYPD, they should be able to figure it out.

When the doorbell rang, the three of them smiled. Let the game begin!

So, what do you think of this chapter?

I'm not really proud of it but I needed a sort of linking chapter for what is to come ...