Kate paced the living room, as best she could on her crutches, beginning to question the wisdom of this idea. Nevaeh was blissfully unaware of her sister's preoccupation as she stood beside Rick in the kitchen, them both preparing dinner for the three of them and Jim, who would be arriving any minute.
Rick washed his hands before turning to the girl beside him.
"I'm just gonna make Kate sit down, you gonna be okay?" Nevaeh nodded.
"I'll be fine Rick." He flashed her a smile before walking around her to go to his girlfriend's side.
"Kate?" He murmured, knowing by the pensive look on her face that she wasn't in the room right now and he wouldn't do well to startle her. Kate looked up at him, but he could see it took her a moment to register his presence.
"Hey, I thought you and Navi were cooking?" Rick smiled gently.
"You've been pacing for a while now. Dinner's ready to go as soon as your dad gets here." Kate nodded slowly. "Baby, you need to sit down. Crutches and casts aren't conducive to pacing for any length of time." Kate sighed, dropping her head to the floor. "You don't need to be so nervous."
Kate smirked at how well he could read her. "Castle, my dad is coming for dinner. To meet the child he fathered in a drunken tryst. I know in my gut that he won't want to raise her. He's retired for heaven's sake. He should be bouncing grandbabies on his knee not running around after a seven year old." Rick chuckled.
"Hey, if you wanna give him grandbabies Kate, you just say the word." Kate glared at him and he raised his hands in surrender. "Kate, I know how difficult this must be, but please, try and relax? You have had a stupid amount of stress in the last few days and quite frankly, I'm worried about you." Kate sighed and visibly deflated. "Just, sit down. He won't be here for a few minutes yet. Just relax for a moment, take a few deep breaths. It will all work out. Whether Jim wants to raise Nevaeh or not, she'll always have a home here. You don't need to worry about her."
"I'm scared Rick." Kate murmured in a tiny voice. Rick closed the distance and took his into his arms, holding on tighter when he noticed she was trembling. "I don't know what scares me more though. That he won't want her, or that he will." Rick gently pressed a kiss to her temple before leading her to the couch, supporting most of her slight weight.
"We'll deal with it no matter where the chips fall okay? Try not to let it get to you so badly. It's just dinner." He sighed overdramatically, garnering a laugh from Kate. "There, much better." He captured her lips gently.
"How do you always know what to say?" She whispered against his lips. Rick smiled, pecking her once more before pulling back to kiss her forehead.
"I love you." He shrugged. "And I know how your mind works." Kate smiled softly.
"Me too, you know that right?" Rick smiled.
"Of course I do." He kissed the top of her head before returning to the kitchen to help Nevaeh set the table, pleased that he could calm Kate down enough to stop her from hurting herself with her incessant pacing.