Hi everyone!

Firstly, I would like to apologise for my absence! Life has been pretty crazy. I've moved more than halfway across the country and started a new job - all whilst undergoing long-term medical treatment. But hey-ho...who needs boring? So I am so sorry for the delay in this.

Secondly, I'm still quite sad that Castle is over, but please it finished whilst I was still enjoying it. If that makes sense? I would never have ben handle watching it without Stana, so I'm glad the ABC god's cancelled it. I remember the day it was announced it was cancelled and my friend and I who both love it actually celebrated. Sad times!

This is quite a short chapter, but there will be more following soon. Very soon! And I'll also be updating my other AU dic 'Piece by Piece.'

Recap: After Johanna's death, a young and pregnant Kate made the decision to step away from her fragmented relationship with her father. In the last chapter, baby Regan made her appearance and brought with her Kate's feelings about missing her own mother.

At four weeks old, Regan Castle apparently hated everything to do with sleeping. Kate was convinced of it. The only place the baby would happily sleep is in the arms of one of her parents, so they took it in turns so they could each get some sleep in between feeds. Kate loved her daughter, more than she ever thought possible, but she would do just about anything for more than 3 hours sleep at a time.

Rick had quipped that they were like the walking dead, and despite her initial chagrin at the statement she had to agree with them. Kate had always prided herself on managing to function on little sleep, and often did when she used to sneak home from Rick's place back when she was in High School in the early hours of the morning. She remembered the look her mother would give her across the table at breakfast just a few hours later, indicating she hadn't been anywhere as sneaky as she had hoped.

This was different though. Lack of sleep caused by the colicky baby currently fussing in her arms was far worse than missing her curfew by several hours because she was with her boyfriend.

"You're ok, baby girl." She whispered into Regan's hair, and her only response was a pitiful cry. She walked around the tiny apartment for what felt like the hundredth time and she rocked Regan as she sent. "I just wish you could tell me what's wrong sweetheart." She spent another five minutes repeating the hopefully soothing motion, and felt a sense of relief when she realised the baby had drifted off to sleep.

Kate walked slowly, and gently towards the bedroom where they currently kept the bassinet. They hadn't moved Regan into the nursery overnight yet. Kate was reluctant to do so, despite the room being so close to her and Rick's bedroom. She settled Regan down and walked out back to the living room as quietly as possible. She thought briefly about grabbing the monitor, but the apartment was so small she knew she'd hear crying wherever she was.

Just as she sat down on the sofa the door to the apartment opened to reveal Rick on the other side with her favourite take out in hand. He had left about 45 minutes ago to get the food because the place didn't deliver in their area. Her sweet, amazing boyfriend - who was just as exhausted as her - had offered to go pick it up for her just because she fancied it.

"The baby is sleeping." She whispered to him, her finger on her lips to indicate they needed to stay quiet.

"How did you manage that?" He whispered back closing the door behind him painfully slowly so it wouldn't make a noise. He walked over and sat next to her, placing the take out bag on the coffee table in front of them.

"I don't know really. I tried the same stuff as usual but it actually worked this time." She reached in the bag and grabbed her favourite dish and some chopsticks, whilst passing Rick some food and chopsticks of his own. "Now, lets eat this and go to bed. I'm exhausted and she won't sleep for long." She leaned back onto the sofa, and settled closer to him resting her shoulder against his. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Yes Ma'am."

Kate was startled awake, and for once it wasn't the cries of her daughter that caused it. Apart from waking four hours ago to eat Regan had actually settled for once, and Rick and Kate were taking advantage of sleeping at the same time for what felt like the first time since their daughter was born. Kate pulled herself out of her boyfriends arms and sat up. It was then she realised she was woken up by her cellphone.

"Shit." She mumbled to herself, grabbing it off the bedside table in a futile attempt to answer it before Regan woke up. Unfortunately, due to the level of her exhaustion she was more clumsy than usual and Rick startled awake just as Regan began to cry. "Damn it." She exclaimed as she answered the phone. "Can you please get her, Rick?" She then left the room and turned her attention to the person who decided calling her at 1am was a great idea.

"Hi, Regan." Rick cooed as he leant over her bassinet and picked her up. He cradled her in his arms before settling back on the bed. "The nasty cell phone woke you up, huh?" Regan's cries subsided, but she still grizzled at her father and began to root slightly at his shirt. "Ah, well I can't help you there sweetpea. Once Mommy is off the phone she can." He offered her his little finger to suckle on in the meantime, which she took gladly.

He heard Kate out in the living room, but only caught on to the end of her conversation.

"No I understand," She said, in a manner that sounded defeated. "I'll be there as soon as I can." She hung up the call as she walked back into the room and sighed as she tossed the phone onto the bed. "Is she ok?" She asked quietly as she walked towards her small family. She sat on the edge of the bed next to Rick, and looked down at the baby in his arms.

"She's hungry. I think getting woken up reminded her she was late for her midnight snack." He explained as he passed the baby over to her. Kate adjusted her shirt and helped Regan latch on. He sat next to his girls for a moment in silence, relishing in the moment. Then his curiosity peaked. "What was that about? Must be important to call this time of day."

"It was an officer from the 9th precinct." She explained softly, she moved her eyes from Regan up to her boyfriend. "My Dad is currently under arrest and I'm listed as his contact still. They want me to go down and bail him out." She scoffed.

"Kate-"

"He's drunk of course. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and apparently almost hit the officer who arrested him." She ran her spare hand across the back of Rick's head, her fingers finding the scar left over by the incident with her father a few months ago. "We know what he's capable of in that effect."

"I'll come with you." He asserted as he grabbed her hand and linked their fingers, drawing their hands to his lap.

"No, babe, you need to stay here with Regan."

"We are coming with you."

"I can't take my one month old baby to a jail to pick up her drunk of a grandfather, Rick!" She cried, tears falling onto her cheeks.

"I don't want you going there alone. You haven't seen him since he was here just after I was in the hospital. I'd feel better if I was with you." His tone was firm, and she knew that she was not going to win this one. Kate adjusted her gaze down to Regan who had unlatched herself whilst her parent's were talking. Kate readjusted her clothing and lifted Regan to burp her.

"Fine." She mumbled. Standing up to grab a burp cloth from the pile on the bedside table.

"She won't remember it, Kate." He placated, getting up after her.

"No. But I will." She retorted sadly. "Get dressed, lets get this over with."

Like I said - very short! But the next chapter with seeing Jim again will be the last, and then there is an Epilogue. I'm still planning on writing a short sequel, and some oneshots based on this universe's Kate and Rick and their relationship. That is of course if you are interested. Let me know!

Please review :)

Thanks xx