Falling

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle

Chapter 4

"Mom, Kate's staying over tonight"

"Brilliant! You'll get to meet Alex in the morning too"

"Gosh, I forgot about that" said Alexandria

Kate laughed. "Oh come on darling, Alex will be delighted to meet your new friend."

"I'm sure" she said sarcastically as she sat herself down for dinner.

Kate and Martha sat too, and they began to eat.

Martha was quite the entertainer Kate noticed, and she made Kate feel so at home. Alexandria too was so full of fun and the two of them were wonderful people. Kate learned that Martha was an actress, but that was something that didn't surprise Kate. There was an air about her that showed she was a woman of the finer arts.

"Kate, I would love to meet your mother someday"

Kate shivered. And Alexandria noticed it. She jumped in to the rescue

"Mom, you don't have to meet all of my friends mom's, you'll scare them away"

"Andrea, Maddie's mom is not scared of me, she simply is intimidated"

"Potatoh, potaato"

Kate smiled. She realized what Alexandria had done, and she appreciated the diversion of subjects.

So when Martha wasn't looking, she lipped a 'Thank you' to her. And Alexandria smiled.

After desert, Martha said goodnight to the girls and all of them retired to their rooms.

After Kate had changed into some comfortable pajamas and readied herself for the night, she came out of the bathroom to find Alexandria seated on one side of her bed, waiting.

Kate came and sat by her side, and pulled the covers over her legs

"You probably have a lot of questions don't you?"she asked Alexandria.

"I do, but if you don't want to tell me, if you don't trust me enough yet, I'll understand, we've only been friends for a day."

"And you've been more than kind to me"

"You're a good person, and I think we can be great friends" said Alexandria.

They were quiet for a moment.

"I'll tell you everything someday soon, but for now..."

Alexandria waited.

"I lost my mom last year..." said Kate.

"I'm so sorry" Alexandria said, and placed her hand over Kate's.

"Thank you" she squeezed her hand, and Alexandria noticed she had tears welling up in her eyes.

"You don't have to say anymore if you don't want to, I can imagine how much it must hurt"

Kate wiped at her eyes "I'm alright"

"How did your dad take it" Alexandria asked

"Not well" said Kate, and then she paused

"He started drinking, things got bad at home, and he often forgets his responsibilities as a father..."

"Hey, if this is making you uncomfortable, you don't need to say anymore..."

"I trust you, that's why I was able to even tell you this much"

"Kate you're a strong girl, it'll all be okay, don't worry"

"Thank you Alexandria"

It was 3 am when Kate's eyes opened, she panicked at first, not recognizing the place she was in, and then she remembered. She turned around and saw Alexandria fast asleep. Kate sat up, she needed a glass of water. She carefully stepped around the bed and got out of the room and into the corridor, she tip toed down the stairs and walked into the kitchen.

She hardly stood before the kitchen counter, and was startled by a squeal. She jumped with a start too, her heart caught in her throat

Before her on the other side of the counter stood a tall, naked man, wearing nothing but his boxer shorts and a terrified look, a man who's first instincts was to pick up a pan to defend himself

"Who are you?" Kate asked

"This is my house! Who are you?" he sounded terrified!

Kate understood then. She smiled

"I'm sorry, you must be Alex" she said

Alex put the pan down, but didn't let go of it.

"Who are you, how do you know me, and what are you doing in my home?"

"I'm a friend of Alexandria's"

"I've never seen you before"

"I'm new to the city" said Kate.

"Why are you looking so unsure of yourself?" he asked.

"Cause I'm afraid of why you aren't letting go of that pan" she looked down at his tight grip on the pan.

Alex then looked down at his hand, and at how tight he was holding on to the handle.

"Oh" he quickly let it go and said "I'm sorry. I was just caught off guard"

Kate glanced down at his chest and then looked at the pan "I'm sure"

And that glance wasn't missed by Alex. He was suddenly hyperaware of his nakedness in front of Kate. He looked at himself and the folded his arms in front of him and cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"It's okay, you don't have to apologize about your lack of clothes in your own home"

He laughed, "No, no I don't" he then held his hand out and said

"Let's do this over. I'm Alex Rogers, but I like to be addressed by my pen name Richard. Richard Castle"

She shook his hand. "Katherine Beckett, but you can call me Kate"

He smiled.

"You surely didn't come down at 3 am in the morning for a walk, was there something you wanted?"

"I actually came down for a glass of water"

"Let me get that for you, and then you can go back to sleep"

He turned around to fetch her a glass of water

"I won't be getting sleep again. Did you just return from your poker night?"

He laughed and handed her a glass of water.

"An hour ago, yes, and since I'm not going to be getting any sleep either, would you like to share a tub of ice cream with me?"

well, what do you guys think? :) Review please.