Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.
When Rick returned to Alexis' room fifteen minutes later, his heart warmed at the sight he walked into. Kate's shoes were still on the floor, her clutch on the bureau next to him and she was sitting on Alexis' bed with the girl in her lap. Rick knew she wasn't asleep, but Kate had her cheek rested on Alexis' head and her eyes were closed.
Kate's hands were running through Alexis' hair and the girls arms were around Kate's waist. Rick leaned against the doorframe and watched them for a few more moments. Rick took a slow breath and thought about the woman he'd met only six days ago who was already becoming so welcomed into his home, his life. His heart.
He'd met her and he knew she was something different, but the way she affected him was shocking to him. He never thought he could think of a woman the way Rick had felt about Kate. No, he didn't love her, but there was something he couldn't quite figure out about her that drew him into her.
He took in the realization that Kate, a woman he'd met six days ago, was sitting in a dress in the middle of his daughter's bed, with his daughter on her lap. Kate looked up then, finding his eyes quickly. She lifted her head and smiled.
"Hi." She whispered, arms still wrapped around Alexis.
"Hey," Rick stepped towards her and Alexis moved a bit. He stopped halfway to the bed, let Alexis stop stirring, and then made his way across the room. Rick slipped his own shoes off and climbed on the bed next to Kate.
"Do you want her?" Kate glanced down at the girl, letting her arms fall from around her.
"No, she looks comfortable." The two shared a smile and Rick looked at Kate. "But as comfortable as she looks, I don't think you want vomit on your dress." Kate laughed and leaned her head against Rick's shoulder.
"Yeah, you're probably right. But I don't want to get up yet, so she can stay like this for a few more minutes." Kate closed her eyes, her head still leaning against Rick's shoulder, and Rick smiled. He smiled until Kate's phone blared from inside of her clutch on the bureau. Kate's head flew up and Alexis moved to her father's lap, and then to the barrel, yet again emptying her stomach.
Kate was standing near the doorway while Rick rubbed Alexis' back, whispering words in her ear. When Kate answered the phone, Rick cocked an eyebrow and looked up at her.
"Beckett." A pause. "Yeah, okay. Where?" Another pause, and Kate took out a pen and a sticky note from her clutch. "Alright, I'll be there soon." Kate hung up the phone and threw it back into her clutch, turning to look at Rick.
"You're leaving?" He asked, now settling Alexis, who was clearly not listening to them as she curled her arms around her pillow and turned away from them.
"Yeah, we have a case." She didn't mean to let it slip, considering she still hadn't told him she was a cop.
"A case?" Castle is now standing, and picking up both of their shoes. He nods towards the door and they walk out it, Rick leaving Alexis' door slightly ajar.
"Uh, yeah, I'm sort of a cop." Kate grimaced as the two made their way down the stairs.
"A detective."
"A detective?" Rick handed Kate her shoes and she held his arm for balance as she put them on.
"A homicide detective." Now that caught Rick's attention. His jaw dropped and.. Was he smiling?
"That is so cool!" Rick's face broke out in a smile and she opened and closed her mouth a few times, not exactly knowing what to say to that reaction.
"Uh, I guess," Kate laughed awkwardly and picked up her clutch, with the sticky note still attached to the front of it. "I'm really sorry; I didn't expect them to call me tonight. It's my night off, so it's obviously something big." Rick was still smiling at her as he put a hand on the small of her back, letting her walk in front of him to the door.
"Eh, I got a sick kid, I guess we're even. Rain check?" Kate opened the door and let her hand rest on the handle as she turned around to face him, almost to his eye level in the heels she was wearing. Kate smiled and kissed his cheek, letting her lips linger far too long.
"Rain check." And with that, she walked out, shutting the door behind her.
A/N: I have three things I can do with this. I can make it a not important case and just have it have been a small one, I can start a case that would just be a regular case, or I can start a case involving Castle. Tell me what you guys want to see! I hope you enjoy this! :D