Chapter 10

Castle and Ryan sprinted down to the room the sound was coming from. A young girl was sitting on the carpet, a stuffed animal in her lap.

"Hi Emily." Castle said. Kneeling down next to her. She stopped crying and stared at him, her head tilted to the side. Her arms extended and Castle picked her up. Emily started laughing and playing with Castle's ear.

"Let's go tell Ryan." They went downstairs and found Ryan looking in a washing machine. "Yo. What are you doing?"

"Looking for- oh you found her." He looked a little embarrassed.

"Just call the station." Esposito said.

Castle pulled his phone out of his pocket, with Emily on his other hip.

"What's up with the kid?" Montgomery asked. Castle was sitting in his chair next to Beckett's desk, with Emily in his lap, playing with some of the toys Castle brought with them.

"She doesn't have any family who can take care of her, right now."

"So hand her over to social services. I can help you, if you want."

"No. I called them. They're really busy and can't take her until Thursday. Um, since I already have a child, and I work with the NYPD, they said I could take care of her tonight."

"K. Just make sure she doesn't get in harms way, or ours."

"Hey is it okay if I go home? Kind of tired."

"Sure. I don't care. Won't get far today without Beckett any way. Not with those eggheads in charge."

Ryan and Esposito were staring at the murder board, with open mouths, looking like idiots- again.

Beckett put on her pajamas, still pissed off with her captain. Then left her bedroom for the kitchen and started the new coffee maker Castle bought her. Someone knocked on her door. Beckett washed her hands and opened the door.

"Castle? Who's that?" Beckett asked. Referring to Emily on Castle's hip.

"Can I come in?"

Beckett nodded once and gestured behind her. "Once again who is that?"

Castle sat down on the couch and put Emily next to him. "It's Emily Moore."

"Did you kidnap her?"

"No! I'm watching her."

"Why? And don't give me a beat- around- the- bush crap again. K?"

"Fitzgerald and her eight year old son were shot in their kitchen. She was upstairs, killer evidently didn't know she was there. Since her father's in jail, and social services can't take her until tomorrow, I said I'd take care of her."

"Then why are you here?"

"Um. Here's the thing. Social Services wouldn't let me take her home unless I was married."

"You didn't."

"Uh, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. You want a cup of coffee? Unpacked the cappuccino machine yesterday. Thanks by the way."

"No problem. I'd love a cup. Thanks."

Beckett stood up and went to the kitchen, fixing another cup of coffee. She took a sippycup out of one of her cupboards and leaned down to a bottom cupboard. Her tank top slid up a little, which Castle obviously noticed. Beckett straightened up and put a can of hot chocolate mix on the counter.

"What was that?" Castle asked staring at Beckett.

"What?" She asked looking over her shoulder.

"That. That was a tattoo." He stood up and walked to her side.

Beckett pulled her shirt down a little. "No."

"Yeah it-" But she stuffed a napkin in his mouth, and he remembered the time she stuffed a doughnut in his mouth to get him to shut up.

"Here." She stuck the cup of coffee in his hand, with his other hand he was taking the napkins out.

"Why do you have a sippycup?" Castle asked, looking at the hot chocolate Beckett was making.

"My cousin comes over with her kids a lot." She walked over to Emily and handed her the cup. "Here, sweetie."

"Dank oo." She began sucking on it, and you could tell she enjoyed it.

"She is so cute." Beckett smiled, she brushed some hair out of Emily's face. Castle walked up behind Beckett and pushed the edge of her tank top up. "Castle. What are you doing?"

"A butterfly." Beckett whipped around, her eyes narrowing to a slit.

"Okay. I was seventeen and not thinking straight."

"Oh. So you were drunk."

"Hasn't Alexis been?"

"She wouldn't do that."

"Huh." Beckett smiled, making Castle feel intimidated. But it slowly faded. "Don't touch my back again, or I'll shoot you."

"I'll remember." Castle nodded. "We're going down to the beach. You should come!"

"I don't—"

"It'll be fun. When was the last time you truly relaxed? This would be great for you come on."

"Fine. Let me get my swim suit." Beckett caved. Castle picked up Emily, who was still working on the hot chocolate, and walked behind Beckett into her bedroom.

"It's a mess in here." Castle said, putting Emily down and letting her run around. It was almost as bad as the Moore's house but no trash. Clothes were strewn all over, and the TV was completely dusty, like it hadn't been touched in a while. Through the doorway you could see the bathroom, towels all over the floor and hanging over the edge of the tub.

"Yeah. Not much time to clean. Shit. Can't find my suit."

"What about that one?" Castle pointed to one on the bed.

"Uh, that's a bikini."

"Even more the reason to wear it."

"Fine." She grabbed it. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to change."

"Oh." He went out the door and shut it. "So. Emily that cocoa good? Emily?" He looked around him but she wasn't there.