Disclaimer: I do not own Castle!
"Until next time, Kate." He whispered.
"Next time." Kate promised, pulling the door shut and leaning her head against the headrest with a smile that wouldn't leave her face until the next morning.
When Rick opened the door to the loft, he felt his legs become restricted and looked down to see a head of red hair. Rick dropped his keys into the bowl next to the door and leaned down to lift the girl up. As he did, he groaned.
"Ugh, Alexis, you're getting so big I can't even lift you up anymore." The girl giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You're just getting old, Daddy!" Rick laughed and kissed the side of her head.
"What are you still doing up?" His eyes flicked to the clock, "It's almost nine o'clock." He put her down and she ran into the living room with her father close behind. When Rick walked into the room, he saw Alexis' babysitter, Serenity, cleaning up a few coloring books and a box of crayons.
"Sorry I'm so late, I got caught up, thanks for watching Alexis." The girl was 22, and she'd been Alexis' babysitter for years since Alexis' mother was absent from both Rick, and the girls lives. Serenity smiled and put her hand on Alexis' head.
"It's okay, Mr. Castle, I always love spending time with Alexis."
"Will you ever call me Rick?" Serenity and Rick laughed as he ushered her to the door. He paid her and closed the door behind her when she gave her thanks and said her goodbyes.
Rick walked back into the living room to see Alexis standing near the table watching her father. Rick quickly pulled her into his arms and flung her over his shoulder, laughing as she shrieked and hit his back.
"Time for bed!" The two laughed as they walked up the stairs. Well. Rick walked, and Alexis was carried. Walking into the bathroom, Rick put Alexis down and dragged the stool from beside the toilet to in front of the sink.
"Brush your teeth so they can be white and pearly for tomorrow." Alexis stepped onto the stool, grabbed her toothbrush, and started humming the 'Happy Birthday' song.
After her third time singing it, she spit her toothpaste into the sink and hopped from the stool to wipe her hands and mouth on the nearby towel. She turned to face Rick and yelled
"Pajamas!" Rick followed her into her room and when he entered she was already looking through her drawers, moving aside anything that didn't fit her liking for that night. Finally, she picked out a set of pajamas, with monkeys across the shirt and pants. They were blue and said 'Daddy's Girl' in brown all around the pants.
Lifting her arms above her head, Rick slipped the shirt over her head, replacing it with the monkey shirt. Alexis made Rick turn around so she could change her pants and when he turned around she was headed for the bed. She crawled in and he sat down next to her, a hand on her forehead.
"Read me a story, daddy?"
"Not tonight, pumpkin. It's late. Just sleep, okay?" The girl nodded her head, turning on her side. She put her hands on either side of Ricks face and kissed his forehead. Rick smiled, and did the same thing. The same thing they've been doing since she was two.
"Night Pumpkin, I love you."
"Night daddy, I love you too." Alexis pulled the covers to her chin and put her hands under her pillow. Rick flicked her light off and shut her door quietly. Rick smiled softly and made his way to his room.
When Kate gave the cabbie his fare and stepped out of the cab, she was still smiling. When Kate walked into the elevator to go into her fifth floor apartment, she was still smiling. When Kate opened her door and slipped her shoes off, she was still smiling. When Kate walked into her bathroom and looked into the mirror, she frowned.
She'd met the man not eight hours ago; she shouldn't be smiling as much as she was. Well, him being Richard Castle, famous author Richard Castle. Hell, he was Kate's favorite author, why shouldn't she be smiling as much as she was? Because she didn't meet him as a fan.
She met him as a woman. As a classmate. A friend. Rick didn't even know she was a fan. He didn't know that she had all of his books, and that she even had one signed. Kate moved into the kitchen and pulled out the day-old Hamburger Helper, putting the bowl into the microwave.
As Kate leaned against the counter, her mind jumped to the pros and cons of meeting, having coffee with Richard Castle. Mentally marking the list as she went down them in her head, she tapped her fingers on her chin.
Well, he's famous. Kate shook her head. Con. He writes. Pro. He has two failed marriages behind him. Con. And then Kate stops. She ignores the beeping of the microwave, the noises she can hear outside. She even ignores the couple she can hear fighting across the hall.
He has a daughter. She can't be any older than five, at least, Kate thought as she took out the bowl from the microwave. She hissed as the heat radiating off of the bowl and set it down on the counter.
The girl? Not necessarily a con, but something that she would probably hear about soon enough. Not getting his number? Kate lifted her hand to make a check mark as she whispered to herself, "Pro." For now, she silently added.
A/N: I don't know whether or not I like this chapter. I thought at first that I would have the chapter reflect on the thoughts of both of them, but then I thought I would sort of point out how independent Kate is and how Rick has a daughter. So I hope you guys enjoy! :D (P.S. Sorry it's so late! It's been a stressful day!)