Author's Note-Kate may be a little OOC in this for some people, but she has a lot to deal with, in a very short space of time. Personally, I think it fits, but do let me know if she's too OOC for you. NYLF xx

Kate stopped shaking in his arms after a few minutes. Rick held her against his chest, waiting for her breathing to go back to normal completely before speaking.

"If you need more time Kate, that's fine, but I'm going to go check on Nevaeh. I don't like the thought of her out there by herself." Kate nodded before slowly releasing her grip around his neck. "You need a minute?" She nodded slowly, not quite meeting his eye. "Okay." He smiled sadly and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Rick?" She called out before he'd gotten very far, marvelling at how steady her voice seemed.

"Yeah, Kate?"

"Just a minute, okay? I'll be out in a sec." Rick nodded, his smile slightly wider than before, and let himself out the office while Kate rose slowly and made her way through to the bathroom, determined to not look like she'd been crying when she went out to face her little sister.

"Is Kate okay?" Nevaeh asked as Rick came back into her eye line. He smiled softly before sitting beside her.

"She's had a long day Sweetie and she got some news that was kind of a shock for her. She's a bit overwhelmed, but she's okay." Nevaeh nodded, seemingly accepting Rick's explanation.

"Do you think she'd like to watch films and eat ice-cream with us? It might make her feel better." Rick smiled brightly, drawing the little girl into his side and pressing a kiss to her crown.

"I like the way you think, little one."

Kate smiled as she listened to their conversation. Rick seemed so at home in Nevaeh's company. There's no way she would be able to do this if she wasn't with him. She knew that for fact.

Taking a deep breath, to settle what felt alarmingly like nerves, she opened the office door and made her way to the kitchen, bypassing the couch and the adorable scene. A glass of water feeling like a much safer option.

"Rick made us sundaes." Nevaeh offered as she watched Kate survey the mess of the kitchen. Kate smiled.

"I see." Nevaeh either didn't notice, or didn't call attention to, just how uneasy Kate sounded.

"We watched a movie. It was really good. And now Rick calls me Navi because I needed a nick name." Kate looked between them both, confusion furrowing her brow.

"It was that or 'No Nuts'." Rick chuckled as Nevaeh giggled. Kate looked to him for help. "I'll tell you later." Kate nodded distractedly.

"We were about to watch another film, you could join us if you like? It's not scary, it's a Disney." Nevaeh assured her carefully. Kate laid both her palms of the counter before locking eyes with Rick. He shot her a reassuring smile and winked at her. Kate nodded, more to herself than either of the other people in the room.

"That would be, that'd be nice Nevaeh, thank you." Nevaeh smiled and skipped the movie back to the beginning again while Rick settled in beside her. Kate hesitated only a second longer before joining them, curling into Rick's other side. Castle smiled and held her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Kate stood at the sink, rubbing the bar of soap between her hands over and over as she stared into space. Castle leaned against the doorframe, watching for the last thirty seconds, trying to work out how best to break her from her trance.

"I think they're clean." He told her gently. Kate startled and broke her staring contest with the mirror above the sink to look at him. "Your hands? I think they're clean." She looked down at her hands before putting the bar back into the soap dish and flashing him a sheepish smile before turning on the tap with her elbow and washing off the lather. "Nevaeh's in the bathroom." Kate nodded. "Good job we have two, huh?" The attempt at a joke fell flat as Kate turned off the tap and grabbed the towel, wrapping her hands in it before dropping her chin to her chest and sighing.

"I don't know what to do, Castle." Rick knew she needed the emotional and physical distance to get this out, but the break in her voice made him itch to gather her up in his arms, hold her close, fight her demons for her.

"You don't have to know right away, Kate." She leaned heavily against the sink before turning her head to face him.

"Do you think I'm being unreasonable? Shouldn't I want to protect her? Shouldn't some familial instinct kick in?" Rick shrugged, looking every bit as helpless as she felt.

"I'm an only child, who is the son and father to only children; I wouldn't know."

"Me either." Kate murmured softly. "How would you feel if Martha had another kid and didn't tell you?" Castle crossed his arms to stop himself reaching out for her.

"Pretty pissed Kate, I won't lie, but it isn't Nevaeh's fault." Kate nodded.

"I know that." She sighed again. "What if we don't find Hannah? Or we do, but it's too late?"

"Then you've both lost your mothers and this all gets that much closer to home." Kate shook her head.

"That isn't what I meant." Rick gave up trying to give her space and moved behind her, laying his hands either side of her own on the sink. Kate leaned back against his chest apparently craving the contact as much as he was.

"I know." He gently rested his chin on her shoulder. "Kate, we'll deal with it, as and when it happens. If Hannah isn't able to take care of her, logically they'll ask Jim if he can."

"He didn't exactly sound thrilled to find out he had another daughter."

"Kate, stop trying to find things that will go wrong. Right now, you and I have a seven year old little girl to take care of. Whether this becomes a more permanent arrangement or not is something we will deal with as and when. For now, how about we just live for the moment and help Nevaeh?" Kate closed her eyes before leaning fully into his chest, rolling her head to press her cheek into his chest while his arms came up to wrap around her.

"You aren't frightened off at the prospect of having another little girl to take care of?" Castle smiled, laying his cheek against the top of her head.

"Kate, she's part of you. That's more than enough incentive for me to want her, to protect and care for her."

"Just a bit early for children, huh?" Rick chuckled at her wry tone.

"For a seven year old, certainly." Kate's eyes snapped to his as she contorted herself to face him. Rick smiled at her softly, a sign that while he was sorry about the timing, he was unapologetic about the statement itself.

"Yes, well, that's a conversation for another time." Rick kissed her cheek as she disentangled them. "Come on, Nevaeh will be wondering where we are. And you still have to explain where 'Navi' came from."

"Well, when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much..."

"The name, Rick." Kate called over her shoulder as she left him standing in the bathroom, a huge grin on his face.