A/N: This is different then anything I've seen on here so far and that alone makes me a little nervous. I've had this idea in my head for over a year now with many different chapter ideas. Now I get the fun part of finally writing chapters that I like (and I hope you do too) Enjoy!
"Daddy how much longer?" Alexis asked bouncing up and down as they waited for the elevator. Richard Castle looked around the lobby of the apartment building satisfied that they were alone.
"A few more minutes," Rick sighed as his daughter bounced up and down. With a soft ding the elevator arrived. Rick held his hand out for Alexis to enter.
"Can I push the button?" Alexis asked looking up at her father and seeing his nod of approval down before pushing the button for their floor. The doors started to slowly slide shut.
"Wait!" A voice called out. Rick quickly stuck his foot in the way of the doors effectively pausing their mission. A brunette woman jumped into the elevator and mumbled her thanks. Alexis studied the woman before tugging on her dad's pants leg.
"What?" Rick quietly jumped looking at his daughter. Alexis's eyes widened as she stared back at him before glancing quickly at their new passenger.
"Which floor?" He asked turning towards the woman and gesturing to the buttons on the elevator wall.
The stranger looked over at the wall and smiled. "Same as you." Rick watched her with a puzzled expression. "My name is Kate. I just moved in," She quickly amended.
"I'm Rick."
Alexis looked between the two adults. "I'm Alexis!" She added in with a smile. "I'm five. Soon I'm going to be six! Right Daddy?"
Rick nodded his head at his daughter's excitement as she continued talking. "I'm going to have a special birthday party. One just for big girls."
"That sounds nice," Kate smiled at her. "What kind of party are you going to have?"
"A sleepover!" Alexis nodded and continued with her tale. "Tonight Daddy and I are going to make dinner together. It's Taco Tuesday. What are you having for dinner?"
The elevator dinged giving Kate a moment to think about the question. "I'm not sure yet what I'll have for dinner."
"Is your mommy going to make you dinner?" Alexis asked innocently.
"Actually it's just me," Kate smiled they walked down the hallway. Rick regarded her as they stopped across the hall from each other. "My mom passed away a few years ago."
"I don't have a mommy either," Alexis volunteered. Silence washed over them as no one responded.
"This is me," Kate broke the awkward silence that had descended upon them. "It was nice to meet you Rick. You too Alexis. I hope you have a happy birthday."
"Yeah, this is us," Rick nodded towards his apartment before opening the door briefly so Alexis could run inside. Once she was inside he turned back to Kate. "Sorry she was so talkative."
Kate smiled waving off his apology. "It was nothing."
Rick nodded before opening his door and going inside.
"Daddy can I go play the Wii before we start dinner?"
"You finish all your homework?" Rick asked as he sorted through the mail.
"No," Alexis said on a sigh as she walked to the table and pulled her homework folder from her backpack. Rick walked to the kitchen and started to pull out a pan to fry the taco meat. He was just about done when Alexis came into the room pouting.
"Daddy why is the homework so easy?" She asked as she held up three sheets of paper for him to look over. Rick glanced over the pages satisfied that she completed everything correctly in a few minutes time. A knock at the door interrupted his answer.
"I'll get it!" Alexis practically yelled as she ran for the door with Rick following close behind her.
"Alexis wait for me," Rick warned before she opened the door. "We never know who is on the other side." Living in New York was wonderful most of the time but raising a small child with all the dangers of the city was proving to be stressful. Looking through the peephole, he let out a silent breath of relief and turned the deadbolt. "Hello Kate," He smiled.
"Hi," Kate blushed slightly. "I was going through my mail and noticed I had some of yours by mistake," She said as she held out the few letters.
"Thank you," Rick took the letters from her.
"Do you want to eat with us Kate?" Alexis piped up from next to the door.
"Thank you for the offer Alexis," Kate stated kneeling down to be at her eye level. "But I should be heading back to my apartment now."
Alexis nodded slowly as she walked back into the apartment and gathered her homework. Rick and Kate watch her silently, each amazed at her dejected manner.
"I'm sorry," Rick offered breaking the silence.
Kate stole a glance at him perplex by the apology. "Why are you sorry?"
"Alexis," He stated as if that answered all of her questions.
"She's starting to crave female attention?"
"How did you?" He trailed off amazed.
"Maybe it's a girl thing," Kate just shrugged. "Anyway, I don't mind. She seems like a good kid."
Rick nodded and looked down at the letters in his hand. "Thank you again for this," He waved them around slightly. Kate instantly took that as her cue to leave.
"You're welcome. If you need anything at all, I'm just across the hall," She smiled before retreating to her own apartment. Rick slowly closed the door and redid all the locks all while thinking about the new neighbor across the hall.