Author: MoiraShipper

Resume: Rick goes to see his daughter and ends up meeting Kate, a patient with leukemia and they start to see each other in the hospital.

Enchanted to meet you

This night is flawless, don't you let it go
I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all alone
I'll spend forever wondering if you knew
I was enchanted to meet you

Enchanted-Taylor Swift

Richard Castle needed to know how his daughter was. The famous mystery writer had been in the middle of a meeting with his agent when his mother, Martha, had called him saying that Alexis had broken her arm and was in the hospital, making the father drop everything to see her.

The handsome blue-eyed writer had his brown hair messy for stroking it so much, while searching for the ward that his mother had told him that Alexis was, but he still looked charming, drawing the attention from the nurses there, although he wasn't paying attention, worried with his little redhead.

"Room B, room B..." He murmured, until he found the room and opened the door, saying: "Alexis dear, I was so worried and-"

The writer stopped, seeing many patients watching him. There definitely wasn't the pediatric room and a beautiful young woman stared at him, looking amused, despite her situation and sad hazel eyes.

He was in the ward of patients who were undergoing chemotherapy and had 4 beds with the patients' personal belongings, as if they had been living there for some time. The beautiful young woman was leaning on her bed, wearing a green scarf over her head and had a book in her hands, not any book, but one of his, from the Storm saga.

"Hey, what room you're looking for?" She asked, with a melodious voice that made Rick's heart race as he slowly approached her bed. She was beautiful.

"Um, I was told that the room B was the pediatrics." He said, running his hand through his hair and giving her a sheepishly smile.

She smiled, shaking her head as she closed the book, staring at the photo of the author and Rick in person. He was even more handsome in person.

"No Richard Castle, the pediatrics is in the room D."

"Thank you. I see that you are a fan." Rick said, noting that on the shelf beside her bed there were 4 of his books and the woman gave him a smirk. "What's your name?"

"Kate. Kate Beckett." She said, holding out her hand and he shook it, both feeling an electrical discharge never felt before with the touch and Rick realized that despite the thinness caused by her disease, she still had a strong grip.

"Pleased to meet you." Seeing that many patients had at least one person accompanying them, he asked curiously: "Are you alone?"

"Very curious, aren't you?" She asked, giggling softly and asked, teasing him: "Do you ask this to all the girls you meet?"

"Just the beautiful ones." He said, playing along and Kate stopped laughing, playing with the sheet bar and Rick realized she was uncomfortable and his blue eyes stopped on two frames that were there, showing Kate when she used to have long brown, wavy hair.

"Hey..." He called softly, sitting on the chair next to her and taking her hands between his, making her drop the sheet and she stared at him, sad and without knowing why, she told the fascinating strange that she'd only known from the books she loved:

"My boyfriend dumped me when I started losing my hair, said I was no longer beautiful and that his friends were talking about it..." She told him coldly. "But I don't care anymore. Beauty is not only about how my hair looks, because if so, beauty will become something superficial."

She and Josh had met in college, where he had been studying medicine and she was studying law and the young man tried to stand by her side at the beginning of her treatment, but soon lost interest, replacing her for a blonde woman and Kate swore that she would never be sad or to listen to that sort of thing, even if she'd loved her hair. Until she met Rick.

Rick felt anger at the thought of the guy who had abandoned that beautiful woman in such an difficult moment and caressed her hand, warming Kate's heart.

"What I said is true. And you are beautiful, inside and out, I can see that."

Kate felt her cheeks turn red and then said, opening a small smile:

"Shouldn't you be going to room D?"

"And I'm going." He replied, standing up and then said to her, winking: "But I'll be back. Would you like to meet my daughter?"

"You have a daughter?" Kate asked surprised and Rick nodded, smiling with pride for his daughter.

"I have. Her name is Alexis and she's 8 and my pride. She's very smart for her own age."

"I would love to meet her." She nodded and Rick smiled.

"I'll go, but I'll be back. Someone here will receive an autograph from her favorite author." He promised, waving and going to the door and Kate rolled her eyes in amusement.

"I don't know how your ego passed through that door, Rick."

In addition to her beauty, she was sarcastic too.
-

After many hugs and kisses, Rick was relieved to see that his little girl was alright. Alexis had fallen while running with her friends at school and now had her arm in a pink cast with a lot of draws and her father's name on it. Martha had oeft to do a call while Rick led Alexis to Kate and the redhead was eager to meet her new father's friend and the writer held a rose in one hand for Kate.

When they got to the beds of the room B, Rick saw a woman sitting next to Kate, probably her mother, by the similarity and the two were talking, although Kate seemed upset and her mother sighed, running a hand over her daughter's cheek.

"C'mon Katie, only two more sessions..."

"Mom, I can't stand it, it's been months of treatment!"

The two stopped arguing seeing Rick and Alexis and, although a bit shy, Alexis was the first to approach, stopping beside Kate and she smiled a little, knowing that the woman was sick and approached a little more, feeling that Kate was a good person, because she was a friend of her father.

"Hi, my name is Alexis Castle, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, Alexis, I'm Kate Beckett." The brunette replied, giving the girl a smile and squeezing her good hand and then looking at her cast. "What happened to your arm?"

"I fell while playing catch-up." The girl replied, while Johanna and Rick presented to each other. "But I won." The redhead said satisfied, making the woman laugh.

"I can see that you are very determined."

"Kate?" Alexis said quietly and Kate leaned forward to see her better.

"Yes?"

"I hope you get well soon."

Kate was touched.

"Me too, Alexis..."

As the two talked, Rick asked Johanna:

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but what is the state of Kate's health?"

"You're not intruding. In fact, your little visit seemed to have lifted her up a bit, she loves your books." The mother assured him with a small smile and Rick smiled.

"Well, Katie was diagnosed with leukemia a few months ago and the treatment has been difficult, she had just graduated in law. She had some stress crisis what caused the disease to spread faster, but the doctor is hopeful that with two more sessions, the cancer will regress. She is very strong but Kate has been so tired and upset about all this..." She finished with a sigh, sad for her daughter.

"I'm sure with the family next to her, she will get better." Rick said seriously, feeling his heart sank with what Johanna had told him and then suggested: "Can I come to visit her?"

"Sure." Johanna said, smiling. "If she agrees, of course."

"... I will bring you a scarf that I saw in a store close to home, its light pink, it's beautiful." Alexis was saying and Kate smiled, nodding and holding out her arms to give a hug on the redhead, who returned the hug.

"I will love Alexis..."

Johanna and Rick smiled to see that the two were getting along and then Johanna went to Alexis, suggesting something, so that her daughter and Rick could talk:

"Honey, do you want to go get a soda in the hallway with me?"

Alexis looked at her father, waiting for permission and when he agreed, the two left and Rick approached Kate, who raised an eyebrow at the rose, but smiled:

"To make you smile a little more."

"Thank you Rick, very subtle..." She said, but winked at him, as she smelled the rose and then deposited it on the table next to her bed and the writer sat beside her, staring at her green eyes, worried.

"And how are you? Your mother told me that you've been a little reluctant about your next session."

"You and my mother were talking about me behind my back?" Kate asked, narrowing her eyes and Rick put a hand on her shoulder, soothing her and the brunette was surprised at the touch while he was invaded by her scent of cherries.

"Hey, calm down. She just wants to see you well... So do I." He admitted, feeling his cheek blush, rare as he'd always had a way with women, but somehow with Kate it was different, she was special.

"How come? We hardly know each other." She asked confused, looking deep into his blue eyes.

How could a complete stranger, although her favorite author, captivate her so much in one day?

"I don't know Kate. But you felt that electrical discharge earlier, didn't you?"

"Yes." She admitted, biting her lip and Rick smiled.

"I felt it too Kate. And I think this may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship between us."

"You are very good with words Richard Castle." Kate said, smiling at him and Rick raised the hand that was on her shoulder to her face, caressing it.

"And you're beautiful. And strong."

Kate touched his hand that was on her face, pressing it and the two stared at each other. Rick was enchanted with her eyes that seemed greener with the scarf color and she didn't need hair to be beautiful. She exuded beauty and sensuality without trying and her personality attracted him.

Kate was lost in his beautiful blue eyes and gentle smile. She could see that he hadn't approached her for pity, but because he seemed to genuinely like her and it made her smile.

"Hey... Someone promised me an autograph, right?" Kate asked, raising an eyebrow as she released his hand and then turned to her bedside table, grabbing the last book published by the writer and that her mother had given her.

"A promise is a debt." Rick nodded amused, taking the book from her hands and picking up a pen.

To KB, this strong woman. I'll wait for you in my next book release. Love, Rick.

Kate was surprised to see what he had written, staring at the male letter with a small smile and then, seeing Alexis and Johanna entering, he asked shy:

"Kate, can I come here later? Stay with you during the session?"

"You know it won't be pretty, right? I'll probably be sick and in a bad mood..." Kate warned him, looking at him.

"I know and I still want to. Not for curiosity, but because I want to be with you and give you support."

"You are very kind Rick." Kate said, and to his surprise, she leaned over and kissed his cheek, making him blush and smile, while Alexis approached. "And you can come."
-

During the chemotherapy session, Alexis stayed at the loft with her grandma and Johanna went with Jim to the coffee shop. Kate was sitting in a chair in a small room, with Rick at her side. Despite the fatigue, Kate laughed and shook her head slightly, while Rick asked her questions and touched carefully Kate's medication bag.

"Honestly Rick, you look like an 8 year old boy, touching everything..."

Rick smiled awkwardly and Kate stifled a yawn.

"Lean on my shoulder." He suggested gently and Kate denied vehemently.

"I'm fine."

"Don't be stubborn Kate, just until the session is over."

"Okay..." She surrendered with a sigh, hating to lose an argument, and gradually leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling his scent and snuggling while Rick straightened the coat around her shoulders and deposited one kiss on her forehead, wrapping her in a protective embrace.

Seeing the small smile of Kate and the sparkle in her eyes, before closing them for a nap, Rick was sure that she would get well. Finding his daughter in the arms of Rick, Johanna exchanged a smile with the writer.
-

The weeks went by and Rick would visit Kate with Alexis almost every afternoon, and as Alexis had promised, she had brought a new scarf for Kate, who used it with a smile. Rick would always bring a rose or some sweet that Kate liked and that the nurse had approved her to eat, making Kate heart melt. Some friends of Kate, as Lanie, Ryan and Esposito would come to visit her and Rick soon became friends with them, seeing that they were like a family to her.

Kate and Rick would talk about their lives, about her plans to start a law firm and he, of his next books, sharing stories and dreams, getting closer and closer, sometimes the two would read together, or play cards, where Kate would always won or they would simply stay together. Soon they realized how much they liked each other and touches became increasingly frequent.

There was only one more session to Kate that although being tired of sickness and needles, was holding up well, especially with her family and Rick at her side and the doctor was pleased with the progress.
-

In one afternoon when Alexis had to stay home, Kate was suffering from the effects of chemotherapy and vomiting in a small buck, while her mother rubbed her back gently. Seeing Rick, she said weakly, not wanting to be caught in a fragile moment:

"Go away Rick, now isn't a good time..."

"I won't leave you Kate, vomit is part of the chemo." He assured her and Johanna smiled gratefully, as he took the glass of coconut water to hydrate her.

"Drink this." He said gently, when Kate stopped vomiting and leaned against the bed. Kate slowly drank the water, contradicted, but gradually felt better and gave a small smile to Rick, who wiped the corner of her green eye.

"Thanks Rick."

"Always."
-

One afternoon, Alexis had fallen asleep in Kate's bed, with her arms around her waist, while Rick was sitting in a chair next to them, reading one of his books. Kate smiled at the girl asleep while listening to Rick's voice. That afternoon he had brought Kate a plate of waffles, her favorite and a balloon, making her roll her eyes and say she wasn't a child anymore, but secretly she'd loved it.

Kate reached out, stroking Rick's brown hair, to draw his attention and he closed the book, looking at her curiously. She thought he was amazing, acting as a little boy and a man at the same time and Kate took a deep breath, opening a small smile and said softly, looking into his eyes:

"Rick, I like you."

A smile spread across the writer's face with her statement. That wonderful woman felt the same for him!

Rick, with his heart racing, got up, sat carefully on the bed not to wake up his daughter or hit Kate's bag of medicines and said, touching his forehead to hers and looking into her green eyes:

"I like you too Kate. And I want you to know I'll be waiting for you at the door when you get released from the hospital, to a real date."

"I know and I will hold into it."

The two stared at each other for a while and slowly, their lips were approaching in a gentle and romantic kiss. While Rick felt Kate's lips moving over his, he took his hand to her head slowly not to scare her and stroked her head over the scarf. Kate, who earlier had frozen at the touch in that, relaxed slowly, feeling his gentle touch assuring her that she was beautiful.

They broke the kiss and the couple smiled before Rick jab her a piece of waffle that were left aside and Kate laughed, accepting it, while her mother came in and smiled.
-

Four months later, it was Christmas week and Kate smiled in front of the mirror of her hospital's bed, seeing the brown hair that had started to grow again, reaching her chin. Her father was holding her bags while Johanna helped her to her feet and the three left the hospital, smiling. She the cancer had been in remission and she was ready to go and get on with her life, only needing to go to the hospital one time for month to check how was the progress.

Her mother had brought her a beautiful black sleeves dress for that night that would be special for Kate.

When they reached the door, she saw her three best friends, Lanie, Esposito and Ryan, along with Martha, Alexis and Rick, the man that had stood by her side for months, loving and supporting her. Rick wore a blue dress shirt with dark trousers and gel in the hair and Kate's heart beat fast.

Rick gave her a beautiful smile, as he approached her and Kate left her mother's arm, staying with him under a mistletoe that was there, amid the Christmas decorations and the couple embraced, feeling the heat and the scent of the other, ignoring the applauses, before kissing while a soft music played at the hospital's reception.

Rick buried a hand in Kate's soft brown hair, feeling them and using the other hand to stroke her back gently, while the brunette kept her hands over his chest, as they kissed passionately.

When they broke up, they looked at the ceiling, laughing while seeing the mistletoe and then looked at each other, his blue eyes lost in the green eyes, both shining with excitement.

"Ready for the new chapter of your life?" Rick asked, looking at her with affection and Kate nodded with a huge smile, full of love, kissing his cheek and intertwining their fingers.

That night would be their first date.

"I'm ready."

The end

Reviews, please

Kisses