Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or Beckett, that credit goes to Marlowe and CBS. I do own Eleanor, though, and this plot.

Thank you, all of you who have reviewed! Please continue to do so!

Chapter 3: Windows & Desires

April 10th 2013, Kate's apartment

She lay quietly in bed, her head resting on Rick's shoulder, her left arm wrapped around his waist, her hands toying with the him of his pyjama pants.

"Kate…" He whispered, drawing circles on her bare shoulder. Kate sighed, content. "Babe, what was it you saw at the park today, that you wanted to tell me?" He asked softly. Kate turned her head so that her eyes locked with his. How she loved his eyes, how she loved seeing all the love he felt for her in them. She loved his blue eyes just as much as she loved his heart, his soul, just as she loved Rick Castle.

"I met someone today…" She said slowly, kissing his neck, reassuring him that it wasn't another man. There could never be. "A little girl named Eleanor." Rick nodded for her to continue. "She's three years-old Rick, and when I looked into her eyes, they were the prettiest turcquoise, I saw a little girl who had seen so much, lived so much, suffered so, so much…" By now Kate had tears cascading from her eyes, and Castle didn't move to wipe them, she needed to pour her thoughts and frustrations out. She needed to cleanse. "I don't know, I just saw so much of myself in them, in her. A bee had stung her little arm, no one was there for her, not a nanny nor parents, and she was crying, so I went to her. I kissed her pain away, at least the physical and I felt like she washed mine away too. She's so, so special…" Castle pulled her closer to him, if possible, comforting her with the warmth, the love he radiated.

"You love her already, then?" Kate nodded, the tears subdued. "She said I was pretty like a flower, the daisies she was trying to pick before it happened. It was so simple what she said, but so intense, I felt like she was saying much more than that I was pretty, I felt like it was a plea, she had pleading eyes. She was asking me to help her, but most of all to love her. And now I do, and I don't even know her, or where she lives, or who she lives with. All I know is that I feel like I'm going to burst, with this ache in my chest, like she needs to be here, with me, with us…" Rick stared at her, surprised, maybe even shocked. Had Kate Beckett just admitted to be in love with a child, maternally so? Did she want for them to have a kid?

Somehow, no matter how much he craved to be a father again, to a baby of theirs, he thought he'd never hear such things coming from her lips. Sure, she loved children, everybody knew that, but having your own, being a parent is so different, so much more complex. Kate wanted that complexity, and this desire of hers was awaken by this little girl, this Eleanor.

Finally Rick realized it wasn't just any child his girlfriend, his love wanted, it was that child, that child from the park. Eleanor.

He nudged Kate, kissed her on the forehead, not knowing if he should smile and be greatful or if he should perhaps cry, be angry, be selfish. He loved her with all he had, was he really ready to share her, or better yet, was he willing to share her with a child that wasn't even theirs?

Kate was asleep, her face not very peaceful, her forehead creased, and Castle had no choice but to sleep on this new realization, until Kate was willing to talk about it once again.

….

April 11th 2013, Unknown building five blocks from the 12th precinct, 3rd floor

The room the six children usually slept in was of a bright white. The Bedroom was spartan, with six single-sized mattresses lined up against a wall, and a wardrobe and dresser at the end of the room. The two large windows were barred and there was no way they could be open. The room was stuffy because of it, but they couldn't afford accidents, not when this whole business was risky the way it was.

In the apartment there was a master suite, not very large however, but better decorated, a living room with a dining table for eight and a small kitchen to the side.

To an outsider, there was no way this could be a child's environment, much less that of six toddlers. Everything was white and spotless, the furniture was minimalist and the walls were all bare. No toys, no books, no drawings of children stuck on the refrigerator, nor were there any pictures.

Aubrey entered the apartment way past the children's bedtime, knowing she'd find them all laying asleep on their cots, all except the exception. Eleanor sat on a chair next to the window, concentrated on the view of the street, people still out on the streets, some shops, bars and clubs still open, cars flashing by, the lights all flicking upon the little girl's serious face.

"Eleanor, it's past bedtime." Aubrey said sternly as she took off her coat and hung it in the closet beside the front door.

"I'm not tired." The child answered, still not ripping her eyes away from the street. Her voice was serious, unfaltering. Aubrey knew there was nothing she could do to make the child sleep, thus was her stubborness, and if she tried to punish her with a pinch or with spanking, there was no way, not this week, as they would receive people to come and inspect the children, as if they were an item of furniture or clothing, for them to buy and do God knows what.

"Well Eleanor, if boss comes in tomorrow with you sleepy you know what happens, no breakfast and no lunch. Got it?" The little girl nodded, understanding, shifting her gaze to Aubrey's stern face.

"I like flowers, I love flowers. Yesterday at the park I saw a new flower, Aubrey, and she's my favorite. I wish I could have her. She was white and green and gold-brown. She was my flower and I wanna see her again." Aubrey's jaw fell, she had never, since this child was brougt into her care heard her speak so much, with so much intensity and despair. Her turcquoise eyes had on Aubrey's lifeless gray ones.

"A flower. Good, that's nice. Now go to bed Eleanor." The woman said, pretending to be angry, about to hit Eleanor, and the little girl just looked at her as if to say, 'all that you're doing me today will be paid back double the price'. Eleanor hopped off the chair, the cast-off pyjamas that had first been Cassidy's still large on her, heading for her cot, and dreams of flower and smiles.

THANK YOU FOR READING. PLEASE REVIEW!