She watched her father go and open the door. She was still looking at Jim, Claire, Lisa and Andy when Alexis arrived behind her.

"Are you hiding?" Alexis asked

"No" Kate denied, even if it looked like she was.

"Why are you not going down then?"

"I don't know" she answered, started to go down the stairs.

She and Alexis welcomed the three newcomers. Claire still seemed to be panicked when Kate was around. While Jim and Alexis were around Andy and Lisa, Kate went to Claire.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Kate asked

"Uh … yes, of course" Claire answered, following Kate in the garden

Once they were away from everyone else, Kate turned to Claire.

"I'd like to know … why you seem so stressed when I'm around. I know it's not easy for you, but it's not for me either but I try to … I don't know …look normal."

"I know, I'm sorry Kate but I'm completely lost here" Claire admitted.

"Lost about what?"

"About how I should act with you. I mean … I love your father, I really do, but I don't know … I don't know what you think of that, of us … and of me. Jim told me how you found out about us and well … it's obviously not the best way to find out that your father is dating another woman. He told me what happened to your mother and … I don't want you to think that I'm trying to replace her in any way, not for your father and certainly not for you. I completely understand what it feels like. I mean … I lost my husband in a car accident three years ago and … well … I don't want to compare it with what happened to your mother but … I understand what you must have gone through and I want you to know I love your father but I'm not trying to get him to forget anything. I just want to be part of his life from now on, and if you'd let me, I'd like to be a part of yours too."

"Wow, when you start talking you just don't stop." Kate laughed

"Sorry" Claire said, looking at the ground

"No that's not what I meant it's just … surprising that's all" Kate said, trying to reassure her. " I can see that my dad is more happy when he's with you, he almost seems to be back to his old self and that's all I want for him. I know he won't ever forget my mother but I'd like him to just go on with his life. As long as you're good to him I have no problem with your … relationship. I won't lie to you, it will take me some time to get used to the idea but I won't be mean to you or anything. If you're good to my dad I see no reason for me not to like you. But if you hurt him I won't like you … at all!"

"I can understand. Thank you so much ! I feel so much better!" Claire exclaimed, hugging Kate tightly.

Kate was more than surprised by this outburst of emotion. She saw her father looking from the house, a huge smile on his face. Rick was also looking at them form Kate's room where he had taken a shower. He had a satisfied smile on his face.

"Come on, let's get some dinner!" Kate said when Claire released her.

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

The dinner was going really well, for everyone. At first, everyone was a bit uncomfortable but Jim managed to get the dinner going in a good atmosphere. Rick and Jim were talking about some books, Alexis was talking to Lisa and Claire about Ashley and school and Kate … well, she was completely hypnotized by Andy. He was playing with a piece of bread in his highchair. Kate was simply watching him, smiling to him whenever he would look at her. She was thinking. She was imagining what her children with Rick would look like. They would be gorgeous, of course. They would be loved, of course. Everything would just be perfect. She was startled out of her thoughts when Andy threw his bread in her plate saying "ball", making Kate laugh. Everyone around the table looked at her, wondering what was so funny.

"Can I take him outside?" Kate asked Lisa

"Sure, just put his jacket on him" she answered

Kate took the jacket and lifted Andy in her arms. He started playing with her hair as soon as he could reach it. She smiled at Rick and went outside, picking up the ball Lisa had brought on the way to the garden. She turned on the outside lamp and sat both of them on the floor. After exchanging the ball for a few minutes, Andy seemed to get interested in the trees and flowers in the garden. She took him back in her arms and stated pointing at different things and telling him what it was.

In the house, the dinner was over. They were now playing cards. Rick did not join them though. He was too busy looking Kate interact with Andy. She seemed so at his with him. And Andy seemed to enjoy being with her. She was rocking him in her arms as she walked over the garden. Rick decided to join her when she finally sat on the bench that was at the end of the trees. He sat next to her and noticed that Andy was asleep in her arms, his head on her shoulder, his fist clenching her shirt. Rick kissed her on the head and caressed Andy's back.

"You're really good with him" Rick whispered.

"You think?"

"I know. It's so obvious. You're a natural. I suppose you don't have a lot of babies in your close acquaintances?"

"No"

"And then you know exactly what to do. I saw you show him the trees and the flowers, it was so cute" he said, putting his arm around her. "You will be great with our children, I have absolutely no doubt about that."

"Don't you think I'm weird?"

"That's an established fact Honey, you need to be a little more specific" he laughed.

"Hey! You're lucky I have an adorable baby in my arms or you would hurt right about now" she said

"I'm joking. Everyone knows I am the weird one. What do you think you're weird about?"

"The fact that I want little Castle babies even if we haven't been dating for three weeks yet."

"I won't complain but I'll admit that it surprised me a lot" Rick said softly

"It's just … I don't open up easily, as I'm sure you have noticed, but when I find what I want that's it. I don't feel the need to hide anymore. I feel that with you I can be my real self again, you know? Not Detective Beckett, just Kate."

"I love both of them" Rick said in her hair.

"Even when I was in other relationships, short ones or long ones, I never really felt like sharing the real me with anyone. And now that I found you … I just can't hide anymore. Even when I want to, which is something I don't really like" she laughed, looking at him in the eyes. " I think what I want to say is that your it for me. You're my one-and-done Rick. If you leave me one day, I'm not sure I would survive. I know that it sounds really cliché, or dramatic, or whatever you want but it's true."

"I'm never leaving you Katherine Beckett, you can be sure of that" Rick said, kissing her lovingly

"Are you free next weekend?

"Yes why?" he asked, surprised by the sudden turn of conversation

"I want to move all my stuff in your loft"

"I'd be more than happy to help you" he said, grinning from ear to ear.

Andy began to stir in Kate's arms. He turned his head and buried his face in her neck, falling back asleep immediately. Kate couldn't help but sigh and smile.

"You don't want to wait, do you?" Rick asked, a smile on his face.

"Not really" she admitted. "I don't really want to plan it either. Maybe we could just be … as careless as we can?" she asked rather shyly.

"Oh I can do careless" Rick replied knowingly, kissing her quickly. "Let's get this little buddy back inside, it's getting rather chilly, even if you're pretty hot".