Be our guest
Guys! I'm so sorry I haven't posted in so long, but again school sucks blablabla. This one is fluffy and it's a lot longer than what I normally do, so I hope it was worth your wait J Just one more thing: Thanks to all the new and old story followers! 70 people care about this fic hahah
"It makes perfect sense! It has to be him" Castle was excited
"Well, it's our best lead so far, so we're gonna follow it."
"I've sent his picture out. In the morning every uniform will be looking for this guy. We're gonna get him" stated Ryan
"So we have that he probably didn't contact the police about his missing daughter because he was worried about exposing himself"
"He must be looking for her in the places they used to go. We'll go to her school, parks, everywhere and ask if he's been there today"
"Uh, okay, let's go home guys. Today was exhausting"
"She certainly thinks so" Castle pointed to the couch where Annabelle had blacked out when all the sugar burned off. She hadn't even moved.
"Oh crap" Beckett said when her phone rang, knowing it was Mrs. Kaye on the other side. "Beckett. Hello, Larissa. No, she was of great help, actually. Yes, she's sleeping" Pause. She closed her eyes and blurted "I'm afraid that's not going to be possible"
The boys looked at each other, curious about what she was talking about. They only knew she was crossing a line.
"We think her father is the killer and he's after her. He did all of it because of her. We can't let her unprotected. No, sending a patrol car is not enough. He's dangerous, the first thing he's going to do in the morning is look for her in every foster care there is, we can't let him find her
"I think it is best if she's spends the night with me. No, I'm not kidding. I am 100% sure it is safer for her and that's the only reason I have in mind. You can come take her in the morning, do your stuff" Castle was by Kate's side now and whispered in her free ear that she should give her his address. She looked annoyed at first, but then relented and did as requested, informing Larissa and her cell and phone number from her supposed home. When she hung up Esposito messed with her
"And yet another side to Detective Beckett"
"What, did you really think I was going to let her go to a foster care? It's only for one night, anyway"
"Gates will flip in the morning when she sees her here"
"I'll deal with her in the morning then"
Beckett put on her coat and went to the couch, picking the girl up. She stirred before relaxing again, letting her arms fall comfortably around Kate's neck, cheek pressed against her shoulder. Rick put his coat over Belle's should like a blanket and they headed to the elevator.
"What the hell was that, by the way? My place was perfectly fine"
"We can't go to your place, you don't have a videogame" She rolled her eyes
"What makes you think I wanted you to spend the night?"
After Ryan and Esposito stopped laughing at Castle's face, they decided to mess with her, because, well, it was obvious she wanted him to
"Yes Castle, you being there will ruin everything" They were giggling "That's why she said your address that fast, too"
She squinted her eyes at them "He's the only one who has a daughter isn't he?"
"I'm sure that was the only reason you wanted him to go"
"What's up with you two tonight?" The doors finally opened and they walked in, standing side by side facing the two clowns
"Isn't it" He framed the picture with his hands "domestic?" Ryan joked and they broke out laughing as the doors closed
"It is domestic" Castle casually commented when they came to a stop
"You didn't hear me complain" That put a smile up his face.
Belle woke up in the middle of the ride, interrupting the adult's conversation.
"Hey sweetie, you're going to be spending the night with us, okay?"
"Yay! Can we eat?"
On the loft, Castle made them spaghetti carbonara. Belle was sucking up her noodles as she told them about her pre-school and her friends, she was very talkative after that long nap. By the end of the meal they already knew a lot more about her everyday life, details that could turn out to be helpful. Both of them had decided it was better not to mention anything crime related to the kid that night, she could use some fun.
Still with her hand dirty from the banana she had just eaten, Annabelle was walking around the living room, singing "Apples and Bananas" and that was when she saw it. There, peacefully standing on the corner was a beautiful, and longing to be touched, guitar. She bounced towards it, stretching her arms indicating her next move when Castle held her head, stopping her
" Oh- whoa, not so fast, kiddo. Why don't you tell me what you want before you touch anything?" He heard Beckett's smirk all the way over the kitchen
"The guitar!"
"Oh, but it's not a real guitar, you know?"
"Yes you play in the TV with it, daddy had one but he never lets me play" She pouted
"So I'll let you play here. There's nothing like the birth of a game lover. Ok come here" He led her to the couch and taught her how to hold the instrument and just by doing so, Annabelle squealed in childish delight of experimenting new things. After he was done turning on the console and inserting the disc that had Taylor Swift's songs on it, he found Beckett on the couch "I want to see her concert"
"Okay kid, all you have to do is lower this lever when this thing is up here" He explained pointing to the screen and to her "Got it?"
"Got it!" She was over the moon the second he pressed play. Castle sat around beside Kate and put an arm around her neck, where her hand reached for his. They pretended to be impressed by her musical skills and clapped after the first time "Picture to burn" ended
"Can I play another one?" He then told her how to choose the songs and she handled it from there, leaving them some space to talk, trying to ignore the background 'music'.
"I've never played Guitar Hero" she said after a while. His jaw dropped "Oh crap, here we go"
"No, no, you're wrong. No speech for you tonight. Let's just put this one to bed and I'll teach you so then I can look to you as my equal again"
She looked up to meet this eyes "What did you just say?" She was pressing his knuckles with her fingers, tighter with every second "Aaah, aaah, stop it Beckett" He freed his hand and stroked it "Gee, sorry"
"Lesson learned I hope. Okay shorty, time for your bath"
She complained about stopping the game, but Beckett carried her to the bathroom and filled the bathtub with hot water. She heard giggles and found Belle blowing bubbles at the walls. Lifting her sleeves and pants, she kneeled and put the entire girl's hair up like a cockatiel and felt a finger placing foam on the tip of her nose in return. It didn't take long before the bathroom was a complete mess, but both of their were laughing, enjoying the moment. Kate shampooed her hair and then soaped her body "Left arm up. Right arm up. Now the tummy aaand turn, now the back". This was when Rick arrived but decided to wait at the door, just watching them. It reminded him so much of times when he was the one bathing Alexis, the sheer joy of the simple moment that seemed so far away now.
He came out of his memories and announced himself, careful not to slip on the wet floor
"I brought you this boat that I found around here and that is not what I play with when I take baths" Kate threw her head back laughing and raised her arms in order for him to help her get up. When he did so, she half turned away from the tub, whispering in his ear
"Last I checked, you were playing with something else"
He bit his tongue and decided to ignore the comment, even though she was still laughing, head hidden on his shoulder, and quietly handed Annabelle the toy.
She went crazy over it, drowning it and almost killing all the 'twipulants' before the super Belle came to the rescue, obviously splashing more water on the floor, soaking their bare feet.
"Crap, Calvin possessed her"
"I bet that's the part you don't miss at all"
"How did you-"
"I know you" She gazed his blue eyes and received a grin
"Well yeah" He gave in, acknowledging the truth in both her statements.
Castle grabbed one of Alexis' towel and wrapped Belle like a burrito, swinging her in his arms, but still holding tight so she wouldn't be cold. He took her to his office, where he had made a bed out of the couch and sat her there while taking her clothes out of the bag
"You're gonna sleep here, it's right next to our bedroom, if you need us in the middle of the night"
He proceeded to dry her and dress her up
"There you go, you feeling warm?"
"Yeah"
"Let me comb your hair" She turned around
"Why do you have a pink towel?"
"Oh but this is my daughter's"
"You have a daughter?"
"Yes, a baby girl, just like you, just you know, a little taller"
"But where is she then?" Annabelle pouted
"She's in college"
"Then she's not a bab!y" She chuckled, as if he was dummy for not knowing that
"She'll always be my baby girl, because I'll always be her daddy"
"Oooh...What's her name?"
"Alexis"
"That's a pretty. Is Kate her mom?"
He laughed out loud, shaking his head. But Beckett had actually helped him and Alexis so many times over the years, way more than Meredith "No, it's been just a while since we've been dating. Okay, go kiss Kate goodnight and I'll tuck you in"
Annabelle left the room running to the living room where Beckett was trying to figure Guitar Hero out and jumped on the couch. Kate thought she looked the cutest thing, hair combed back, her belly showing in her footsie pajama. She kissed the toddler's cheek
"Goodnight baby, sleep with the angels. I'll go check on you later and we'll be right here if you need anything so just shout"
Beckett patted her tushy before putting her back on the ground. "Go, go, go"
When Belle was tucked in, holding her giraffe tight, she shyly asked:
"Will I always be a baby girl to my mommy and daddy?"
He put a strand of hair behind her ear
"Yes, honey, you will." That was when he hoped, for the first time, that he was wrong about his theory, about Belle's father.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead "Goodnight kiddo, sleep tight" He left the hall lights on and hoped she was already asleep by the time he closed the door.
So? Please tell me what you think! Oh, and in case you are wondering,(spoiler alert I guess) I had had this idea before we even had spoilers from 5x12 (I swear!) so if you think about it, they copied me ok? HAHA
Ps1: there were lots of ways I could have written that tub scene in Portuguese with some Brazilian songs, but they don't exist in English, sucks :/ Anyhow, if you're Brazilian come talk to me I'll tell you eheheh
Ps2: this night will continue next chapter ;)