So, I got another idea. I know, I know, I have tons of other stories to finish. But whatever.

This is COMPLETELY AU. And I don't own anything recognizable.

Some background info on this:

1) Kate has a 7-year-old daughter. She's said that she went through a 'wild child' phase, so I don't think it's a stretch to imagine that she got pregnant. When the story starts, Rick doesn't know she has a kid.

2) She had the baby when she was 18, and while her parents were originally shocked, they ultimately convinced her to keep the baby, and helped her raise her daughter while finishing high school.

3) Johanna Beckett was still murdered, but it was a year later, so Kate was 20.

4) Kate never went to Stanford. She applied and got in, but having a baby made it more feasible to stay in New York. Instead, she enrolled in the academy right away.

5) Jim Beckett still turned to the bottle, but after a year, Kate threatened to keep her daughter away from him, so he went into rehab and is now the best grandfather.

6) Kate's been a detective for a few years, and has been in charge of her team for just over 2 years.

7) Rick's life is basically the same, but Alexis is about 10, and Rick isn't quite as old as he is in the show. He's been divorced from Gina for nearly two years, and has been working with Kate for a few months.

That's basically it. Let's see what happens.

Ryan was giving Kate the rundown on their suspect when her phone rang. She took one look at the screen before excusing herself.

Rick watched as she walked away, his writer's mind already coming up with theories about the phone call, and why she'd looked so concerned. Ultimately, his attention was drawn back to the murder board and the information Ryan was now sharing with Espo and Rick.

"Hey, guys?" Kate asked a few minutes later.

"Yeah?" Espo answered, a look of concern on his face.

"I've gotta head home. Can you cover for me today and tomorrow?"

Esposito gave her a quick once over and nodded. "You got it."

Kate gave him a thankful smile before she grabbed her jacket and hurried to catch the elevator.

"What's going on?" Rick asked, confused by everything that had just happened.

Ryan and Esposito shook their heads and turned back to their work, and after a moment, Rick joined them.

Kate drove quickly through the streets; grateful she'd gotten the call when traffic wasn't too horrible. After about 15 minutes, she pulled into a parking lot and killed the engine. She took a steadying breath before She opened the door and walked inside.

"Ms. Beckett. Glad you could get here so soon." The receptionist said with a smile.

"Thanks for calling." Kate answered as she signed her name where the lady indicated.

"She'll be in here in just a moment."

Kate nodded her thanks and went to sit in a chair while she waited. It wasn't long before she heard a familiar voice calling to her.

"Momma!"

Kate smiled as she stood and held her arms open. "Hey, baby girl."

"I thought Poppa was gonna pick me up."

Kate smiled as she brushed her daughter's hair away from her eyes. "Well, I wasn't busy, and I figured you wouldn't mind. What happened, Jilly-bean?"

"I got sick." The little girl said with a grimace. "The nurse said I have a fever and have to go home."

Kate nodded as she pulled her daughter's backpack onto her shoulder and pulled her daughter into her arms.

"Then let's get you home, alright?"

"Can I sleep?"

"Wait until we get home, ok?"

Kate's daughter nodded as they headed back toward the car. When they arrived, Kate held the door open for her and made sure she was buckled before closing the door and making her way to the driver's seat. She got in and tossed her daughter's backpack on the passenger seat.

"Hey, Jilly-bean, wait to sleep till we get home, ok? Then I'll get you some medicine."

"I'm so tired now, Momma."

"I know, baby. It won't take us long to get home."

When Kate got an affirmative nod, she made her way out of the parking lot and toward their apartment.

They arrived 10 minutes later, and Kate wasn't surprised to find her daughter asleep.

"Come on, Jilly. Let's get you upstairs." Kate said quietly.

Her daughter nodded and shuffled toward the elevator. When they finally got into their apartment, Kate dropped their bags by the door and crouched down to her daughter's level.

"Go put on some pajamas and lay down, alright? I'll bring you some medicine in a bit, and then I'll call Poppa and see if he has any of that turkey soup you like, ok?"

"'Kay." Her daughter responded softly.

Kate smiled and kissed her forehead before gently pushing her daughter in the direction of her bedroom.

After she called her dad and asked him to come over, Kate went into her bathroom and got out the children's Motrin and brought it back to the kitchen where she got the recommended dosage ready for her daughter. Just as she was about to head to her daughter's bedroom, she heard a knock on the door.

Confused, Kate made her way over, knowing it was too early for her dad to have arrived.

When she pulled the door open, Kate stared at the person in front of her in shock.

"Castle? What are you doing here?"

Rick looked sheepish as he looked down at his shoes. "You just- you left in such a rush, and I just wanted to make sure that you were ok."

Before Kate could answer, another voice joined in.

"Momma? Is that Poppa?"

Rick looked into Kate's apartment when he heard the voice, and found himself frozen in shock. The little girl he saw had to be about 7 years old, although she was tiny. She had Kate's chestnut hair that fell straight to her waist, and when she looked up at him, the brilliance of her green eyes shocked him.

"You're not my Poppa." She said as she leaned into Kate's side, and Rick watched in awe and Kate's hand automatically ran through the girl's hair, before cupping the back of her head.

"Your Poppa?" Rick asked. He knew that Kate was single, and he was just realizing that this girl probably had a father.

"Yup. Momma's Daddy. He's bringing me soup, cause I got sick at school."

Rick nodded as he brought his eyes up from the little girl to look at Kate. She still seemed surprised to see him, but she didn't seem to mind that he was learning these things about her.

"Jilly-bean, why aren't you laying down?" Kate asked, suddenly just remembering her instructions to her daughter.

"I did. I was waiting for you to bring me medicine, and then I heard voices, and I thought it was Poppa."

Kate smiled down at her. "Poppa's still at work, baby. It'll be a while before he can come over."

"Oh." Her daughter replied softly.

Kate sighed. "Why don't you go lay down in my room, ok? Then I'll bring you some medicine."

Her daughter nodded and turned to make her way to Kate's bedroom. She was halfway there when her mother's voice stopped her.

"Jillian Rose Beckett, don't you dare use my pillow."

Rick was shocked that she would tell her daughter to lay in her bed, but not to use her pillow, until he looked and saw the smile on her face.

"I don't need Jilly-bean cooties."

Jillian laughed. "I'll make my cooties go all over your stuff."

Kate took what was supposed to be a threatening step toward her daughter, but the smile on her face thwarted any efforts of looking scary. Jillian stuck her tongue out before she turned and continued into Kate's bedroom.

When her daughter was out of sight, Kate sighed and turned back to find Rick still staring at her in shock.

Kate ran a hand through her hair and opened the door wider. "Guess I have some explaining to do, huh?"

Rick nodded as he stepped inside.

Well, there's that. I really have no idea where I'm taking this, but it invaded my brain, and I couldn't really write anything else until I got it all out. Hope you guys liked it, and that it's not too random.

Reviews are wonderful. You should write one. :)