Richard heard footsteps running quickly down the hall and stood to leave the activity room where Alexis sat playing with a dollhouse. He entered the hall just in time to catch his son. Rick spoke in a harsh whisper. "What did I tell you about running indoors?"
Aiden stared at the floor and crossed his arms, while muttering, "Not to do it."
Rick let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes before giving his son a one armed hug.
"How is Alexis? Gram and I brought some flowers for her room." Rick looked behind his son to see his mother standing with a bouquet. Gathering them, he led them toward Alexis's room when they met Kate coming through the door. She had changed from her scrubs to a tight black pants, heels and a purple plaid blouse.
"Oh, Castle, he's even taller in person and he looks just like his mom. Hello," Kate reached over to shake Aiden's hand. Confused, Aiden hesitated and looked around for some other person, then shyly took her hand. "Oh, don't be shy Aiden." Kate leaned over and smiled.
Aiden didn't know who this strange lady was, but he immediately liked her. "How do you know my name and why were you in my sister's room?"
"Where are my manners. My name is Kate and your sister is sharing a room with my daughter, Mackenzie. Your dad told me your name when he showed me your picture."
Aiden squinted his eyes, glaring at Kate. He couldn't resist asking her about her earlier comment. "Did you know our mom?"
Kate squatted down in front of him and smiled warmly. She reached out and touched his shoulder. "I only met your father last night. But, he showed me your family picture. Your mom was a beautiful woman and it sounds like she loved her family very much. I know your dad misses her, but how are you doing?"
Her open acknowledgment of their mother and her question took him by surprise. No one had talked about their mom in years, let alone asked if they missed her. The sadness Aiden usually covered with sarcasm bubbled to the surface and his eyes stung with tears.
"I miss her more every day." Aiden whispered, choking a little on the words. "No one understands me like my mom did..." Aiden's voice broke as the tears started to fall. Kate embraced him and rocked him making soft, soothing sounds.
"It's okay to miss her. Never forget that she loved you. She will always be with you in your heart." Aiden tears slowed and then stopped with a hiccup. He pulled away and stared at Kate for a moment. She smiled at him and pulled a tissue from her purse.
"Better?" She grinned mischievously at Aiden. "Why don't you come with me? There are some games in the activity room that might interest you, like Xbox? That's where your sister is anyway."
She stood and took Aiden with her other hand and talked as they walked down the hall. Rick watched Kate lead his son away. He and Martha had witnessed the entire exchange between Kate and Aiden. He turned to Martha. "See what I mean, Mother? She knows him 30 seconds, and she can... just..." Rick trailed off, gesturing to the place they'd been standing.
Martha eyed her son as Rick watched Kate bounce happily down the hallway. Martha knew that look well. He was already falling in love with this woman, but how long would it take him to realize it. It had taken him months with Kyra, and he didn't have half the emotional baggage interfering back then. Martha liked Kate Beckett. She was good for this family, and it was now her duty to keep Kate connected after Alexis's hospital stay ended. Time to put all of her skills of acting to work.
"She is remarkable." Rick turned to face her, and Martha could see the conflict written all over his face. He reeked of guilt and fear. This is definitely going to take some work. "I know this isn't the best time to bring this up darling, but I must remind you that starting next week I will be in that play I was telling you about. And tomorrow is our dress rehearsal."
Rick rubbed his finger against his temple and started pacing up and down the hall. "I'm supposed to do an interview with Kristina Kotera tomorrow night. Have you tried any of the agencies for a sitter or a nanny? I don't feel comfortable leaving the children home alone and our schedules are becoming less in sync."
"I've contacted a new agency and should hear something back from them tomorrow." Rick could tell his mother wanted to add something else to the conversation. "What about Miss Beckett? Would she be willing to watch the children?"
Rick considered the idea, and then discarded it with a wave of his hand. "No, no I couldn't ask her. I barely know the woman and she's very busy."
"Ask me what?" Rick's heart practically jumped from his chest at the voice coming from just behind him. He leaped around and almost stumbled right into the woman. "Pacing again? That can't be good. What's worrying you?"
"Oh, ah, I...I um should go check on the children." Rick stammered and excused himself, sidestepping around her towards his escape. Kate watched him walk away with a hand on her hip, and then turned to Martha.
"What does he need that he doesn't want to admit to?" Martha grinned. She couldn't have asked for a better set up. She proceeded to fill her in on the dilemma, to which Kate sighed; annoyed that Rick hadn't just asked her. "It's no problem. My Mackenzie's birthday party is tomorrow. Two kids won't even make a dent. In fact, having two kids would be a blessing." She smiled and Martha watched her walk away, her plan already forming.
Rick decided to stay at the hospital again that night. With no one at home, it meant asking Martha to cover for him again, but she was surprisingly cooperative. Of course, he still had a mountain of work to do.
He had tried to writing several times during the day, but had been interrupted. Half way through one chapter, Kate had insisted he attend Alexis's first meeting with the therapist regarding relaxation technique. She wouldn't take no for an answer, coyly suggesting he may want to learn an alternative to pacing.
The second time he'd picked up his computer, she had dragged him over to join them for lunch. Kate had arranged a picnic on Mackenzie's bed, complete with checkered blanket, a basket and even fake butterflies swaying daintily on wires over plastic flowers. She and Mackenzie had kept them laughing for an hour with their stories.
Of course, Aiden had pulled him away the next time. After the visit at the hospital, he'd gone home and shocked Aiden by making dinner for them for the first time since Kyra died.
The most recent distraction wasn't really her fault either. He'd returned to the hospital to find Alexis already tucked in and sleeping. He'd just settled into his chair to write again when she'd emerged from the bathroom, ready for bed. She had combed out her hair, which was now hanging loose with her soft curls framing her face, and had also removed her make-up. She'd put on a fuzzy, white bathrobe and her purple slippers. Kate didn't even notice his transfixed look as she yawned a sleepy, "Good night Castle," before pulling Mackenzie's curtain shut.
He listened to the two of them whisper their love and excitement about Mackenzie's party. A while later, he'd heard her gentle cries and whispered prayers for Mackenzie's recovery. Through it all, he tried to write some asinine story that he couldn't even remember the plot to.
He wished he had her ability to comfort with a word or gentle caress, but he feared going to her now. He knew what he feared and it kept him fastened to his seat, wondering, debating, arguing with himself until the sounds ceased, eventually replaced by her steady breathing.
Thoughts of her continued to roll through his mind until he finally closed the laptop and set it aside with an exhausted sigh. Two hours had passed without any progress. He might as well get some sleep, since he couldn't concentrate with her so close. His mind kept returning to what it would be like to comfort her in his arms, wipe away her tears, or kiss her until the pain disappeared. That sent him into a panic. He didn't want to feel that way about anyone again. He had learned as a child that if he did not rely on anyone else for love, he wouldn't be hurt when he didn't get it. Kyra had changed all that. He'd been magically drawn to her and hadn't been able to resist her warmth, laughter and emotional strength. He'd never felt anything like it before in his life and he was hooked the day they met.
Oh, he had fought it, but in the end came to trust her sincerity. He'd found the true and everlasting kind of love. He pledged his love forever, and although she was gone, he would never break that promise. Comforted by his own resolve, he drifted to sleep.
"Castle, Castle wake up." Kate's voice dragged him out of sleep. "I'm sorry to wake you, but your business associate left an urgent message."
Rick sat up quickly and groaned at the stabbing pain in his neck. He reached up to rub it away and tried to focus his bleary eyes on Kate. She was already dressed, this time in a bright red blouse and skin-tight black pants. He pulled his eyes away from her legs and met her smiling face above him.
"I told you it was torture. Here, allow me." She stepped around him and started to rub his shoulders. "Miss Haas called to remind you that you have a signing today, which 'you must arrive at 10 AM sharp'," Kate mocked the woman's request. "It's a completely unreasonable request of anyone up past 3 AM like you were, by the way. Also, she wants to know what kind of progress you have made."
Rick groaned. It was just as much for the pleasant feeling of her massage as for the unpleasant message from Paula. "I couldn't even get through the first chapter, I was so distracted yesterday."
Kate stopped rubbing his shoulders and moved over to retrieve his paper and coffee. "Well, if you want my advice,you should just start over. That case you had Detective McAllister work on in In Hail of Bullets was phenomenal and Flowers for Your Grave, I thought the dialogue was witty though I cried at the hero's loss. But then that whole ordeal with Adam Parel in Hell Hath No Fury," She indicated to the wastebasket in the corner. "I mean, angry wiccans out for blood? You have to admit that the story was a bit of a stretch."
She turned to pick up her own coffee mug. She sipped her coffee as he stared at her openmouthed. She noticed his incredulous stare. "What? I'm a sucker for a mystery with an interesting case..."
"When did you have time to read all those?"
"Oh well, your first three books I read last year some time when I couldn't sleep."
Kate blushed a little. "I read One Bullet One Heart earlier this week. You have a real gift. Have you ever considered creating a detective series?" As his silent stare continued, she flushed a little deeper. "Forget it, I'm no expert. It was just my opinion."
Rick finally recovered from his shock to reassure her. "I haven't considered it but I appreciate your opinion. Thank you."
She beamed happily at the complement, and then turned to face their girls, who were stirring from sleep. "Good morning, angels." She and Rick both moved to the space between their beds.
At the look on Mackenzie's face, Kate pulled the privacy curtain closed around them and reached for a bucket from the bedside table. She raised Mackenzie up just in time, and continued to hold her, rubbing her back until she finished. Kate wiped her mouth and gently laid her back down as Mackenzie began to cry silently.
"I hurt, Mommy. I want it to stop."
Kate pulled Mackenzie to her chest and rocked her as she stroked her head. "We're trying, baby. I'll talk to Dr. Davidson. Let's see if he will give you your medicine now."
Kate reached over call the nurse, but Mackenzie shook her head. "No, I don't want to sleep through my birthday. I can wait."
"Mackenzie, I won't have you hurting all day. Everyone will be here at 3. You can rest until then."
After discussing the situation with the doctor, Kate returned and held Mackenzie until the nurse came with some medication. She stayed, rocking and humming a lullaby until Mackenzie fell asleep. She came around the corner just as Rick was leaving for the day.
"Castle, before you go, can I ask you a favor? I was wondering if I could take Alexis for an outing today. I need to shop for a dress for Mackenzie, and I'd love some company."
"I don't have any objections, Beckett, as long as it's all right with her doctor."
"Great, I already cleared it with Dr. Clarke. What time will your interview be finished this evening? I'll feed Aiden too and get him working on his homework, but I want to inform everyone we'll have late a family visitor."
Her question caught him off guard. When did this get arranged? Mother! "Oh, I should be done around 8. At the latest, I will pick up Aiden around 8:30." He gave Alexis a quick kiss on the cheek and left, one less worry on his mind.