Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine I just decided to recreate their story based off an idea

She sat at high in the sky, the air filled with peanut, hotdogs and popcorn. She heard the crowd roaring and whistling as Cano Vega hit a splash homerun. Down below was the green diamond covered in orange jerseys versus blue jerseys.

She sat next to her dad who had a scorecard in his hand. He loved scoring the game as it happened instead of just watching and relying on the scoreboard. It helped keep his mind busy. Her dad had called her up the week before with two tickets to the game, she wasn't sure it was the best idea considering they aren't on the best terms, haven't been for a while now but she recognized it as an attempt to repair their broken relationship. She reluctantly said yes because all in all they're family and he is trying.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom." She got up, not waiting for a response. She had learned over the years that once the game had his attention there was no distracting him. That's probably where she got her focus from, the focus that had exceled her through the academy and put her on the fast track to detective.

"Dad! I need to go to the bathroom!"

"Okay, can you hold it until after Vega is up? He has about 2 more pitches."

"Yeah I think so." He knew he shouldn't have bought that large lemonade.

Cain through a fastball, Cano swung and connected with the ball at the perfect moment. The ball flew over the crowd and into the water. The crowd jumped up screaming and howling.

"Okay, let's go now."

When they got outside the bathroom, Castle stopped Alexis and kneeled down to talk to her. "Remember the rules? No talking to strangers, and wash your hands then meet me right back here as soon as your done. No lingering or playing with the soap."

"Dad! I know those are my rules, and besides you're the one who plays with the soap not me." He chuckled then sent her in.

He was standing outside getting more and more anxious watching people come out but none of them were Alexis. He knew the line for women's bathrooms tend to be long but she was a small girl, her bladder couldn't hold that much. He was tempted to go in or just call her name from the door when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and saw a woman standing there, she looked a little familiar but he would remember a girl like her.

Outside the bathroom she saw an anxious man trying to look in without looking in. Normally she would have scolded him for trying peek into the women's restroom but he didn't look threatening, more worried if anything.

"Sir?" She tapped his shoulder, "Are you looking for someone?"

He turned around. Oh. It was Richard Castle, the author. She took a breath to compose herself.

"Yes, my daughter went in there a few minutes ago and I just want to make sure she's okay."

"I can go check for you, what's her name? Age? What does she look like?" Her training started to kick in.

"Her name is Alexis, she's 10, red hair, blue eyes, about this tall," His hand raised to show her height.

"Okay just wait right here, I'll go check on her and be right out. I'm sure she's fine the line is pretty long most of the time."

He watched her walk into the bathroom. He knew it wasn't the smartest idea sending in a stranger to look for his daughter, but something about this woman made him trust her. He was pretty good at reading people; he saw something in this woman's eyes that wasn't threatening. They were almost sad; like they have seen things no one should see. He didn't have much time to think about it because the next thing he knew she was walking out with Alexis.

Kate went into the bathroom she was going to start calling her name when she saw the top of the redhead's hair at the sink. She walked over to the girl and crouched down to eye level, "Are you Alexis?"

The girl looked up with big bright blue eyes, Kate could tell the girl was looking at her suspiciously, "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

Oh this girl was smart, "That's right you shouldn't. Your daddy asked me to make sure you were okay, he's pretty worried."

Alexis eyed her a little more, she must have decided that Kate was okay because she rolled her eyes, "He always worries too much; it's a habit of his. He's a mystery writer; he says he gets paid to think like bad guys."

Kate laughed, "Well he's you're dad and whether you like it or not he's going to worry. My dad still worries about me when I'm at work."

Alexis looked at her confused, "Why does he worry about you at work?"

"I am a police detective." Kate told her while they walked out of the bathroom.

Kate saw the relief wash over him when he saw them walk out.

"Hey pumpkin." He turned to Kate, "thank you again."

"It's nothing really, part of my job actually."

"Your job?" He questioned, how was looking for his kid part of her job?

"She's a detective dad. She helps people, she says her dad worries about her too much also."

"A detective really? You don't look like a detective."

"Why because I don't have a hat, a coat with elbow patches and a magnifying glass? I better get going back, my dad is probably worried." She gave a wink to Alexis. She looked back up at Rick, "You probably just want to ask someone next time to check on her instead of trying to look into the women's bathroom. Another woman will get the wrong idea, and not ask why."

He chuckled, "Yeah that's probably smart. Thanks again."

As she was walking away she heard him call out, "Wait I didn't get your name!"

She turned her he head over he should, gave him a small smile and kept walking.

"You were gone a while." Jim Beckett noted when Kate came back to her seat.

"Oh yeah sorry, there was a dad outside the bathroom waiting for his daughter, so I checked on her for him," she shrugged.

Jim eyed her; he knew there was something she wasn't telling him, but he knew better then to push her information.

They sat and watched the rest of the game in silence, besides the cheering crowd. Kate was trying to focus on the game but found it difficult after just meeting Richard Castle on accident. She remembered meeting him at his book signing but he wouldn't remember that. He was different this time he didn't have on the façade of the guy she saw on page 6 this was probably because he was with his daughter. After a few more innings she finally was able to put him out her mind and focusing on the game rationalizing that it was a fluke. She wouldn't run into him again.

Rick and Alexis went back to their seats. They made up funny nicknames and made of the players on the Giants. They made of fun the player with the long hair, and the third base man, saying that his nickname as the "panda" wasn't very threatening. Rick couldn't stop thinking about the bathroom girl, it wasn't a very good nickname but he didn't know what else to call her. She looked familiar but he couldn't place where, she didn't seem to recognize him so she most likely wasn't a fan but he just couldn't figure it out.

After the game Alexis and him went to the dugout store to find her a jersey.

They were in the back looking at the kid sizes and figuring out what player she wanted on the back when he felt a tug on his arm.

"What pumpkin?"

"Dad it's her, it's the lady from the bathroom," Alexis whispered.

Jim wanted to spend sometime in the dugout store before they left. Kate saw it as just another feeble attempt to spend time together. She really just wanted to go but despite everything that has happened she conceded. She knew he was trying, he wanted to make up for everything but she just couldn't let the past go, not as easily as he seemed to. They walked around, he tried to buy her something but she just couldn't let him, she wouldn't let him try to buy her forgiveness. She was looking at the t-shirts next to the jerseys when she heard a girls voice whisper, "Dad it's her, it's the lady from the bathroom. You told me keep an eye out for her. I found her!"

Kate didn't know what to do she could turn and start "browsing" in the other direction but as much as she hated to admit it she wanted to see him again.

Well the choice was made for her, a second later he was walking towards her.

"Hi," He flashed that Richard Castle smile that she fell in love with on the back cover of his books. "I just wanted to thank you again for earlier."

"Really it was no problem, I figured if I didn't step in you were going to go in there and then I'd have to arrest you for entering the girls bathroom."

He laughed, "I'm Rick" He said sticking out his hand.

She shook his hand, "Kate my name's Kate."

"So I'm going to out on a limb here and say that running into twice you at a baseball stadium with thousands of other people must be fate. I don't want to tempt fate so would you like to go out for lunch sometime?"

She couldn't believe it Richard Castle was asking her out. She hoped her dad wasn't watching.

He saw her hesitation; "It can just be a thank you lunch if you want."

She was tempted to say no she was so busy at work and didn't really have time to date but he looked so hopeful. She looked between him and Alexis they both had their puppy dog eyes on. They were not going to take no for an answer.

"Okay, sure I can do lunch." She conceded, "But only if Alexis joins us."

He gave her this look that was almost awe struck by her. That confused her, but she didn't have time to think about it she saw her dad walking over towards them. Oh great that is the last thing she needed right now.

"I work at the 12th precinct, practically every day but if you come by I can take sometime to get lunch. Just ask for Detective Beckett," She told them quickly but not quick enough.

Jim was going to walk over when he spotted Kate but then noticed she was talking to someone, not just anyone Richard Castle. He knew that face; his wife had read his books over and over again wouldn't stop yammering on about how she wished she could've married him instead. Of course that was all in teasing fun. He let them chat for a little bit then went over there, he caught the end of the conversation, she was giving him her work address and saying something about lunch…interesting.

"Hey Katie, find anything?"

"No, I told you before dad you don't need to buy me anything."

"Okay, okay just thought I'd check."

He turned to Rick, "Hello, I'm Jim Beckett Katie's dad. You are?"

"I'm Rick Castle this is my daughter Alexis." They shook hands. Alexis also stuck out her hand for Jim.

Jim laughed and shook it, "She's not shy is she? How old are you 25?"

"No, I'm 10."

"She acts like 25 most of the time though," Castle interjected. "And you act like you're 10 most of the time." Alexis shot back.

"Watch out for this one, she's going to turn out like her." Jim pointed his head towards Kate.

She rolled her eyes, "Alright I think it's time we go now."

"I see what you're talking about Mr. Beckett. She rolls her eyes just like my daughter."

"Watch out, that becomes deadly in the teenage years." Jim warned.

"As much fun as we are having and by we I mean you two, I think it's time to go don't you Alexis?"

"Yeah I'm getting tired dad" She yawned.

"I can't believe it they're already conspiring against me," Castle said faking his shocked voice and putting his hand on chest like he couldn't believe it.

"Okay, fine I'm done Katie."

"Okay pumpkin I'll call the car and we'll head home." They were walking out when Alexis turned around and called out, "See you later Kate!"

Kate gave a wave and turned to her dad. "Okay, say it. You know you want to."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come on, just get it out so we don't have to talk about it later."

"So the little girl you went to check on in the bathroom that was her?"

"Yes it was. Anything else?"

"You're going out with him?"

"It's not a date just a thank you lunch, and Alexis will be there."

"Whatever you say Katie," He said as they left the store.

A/N: This AU, I'm keeping the characters basically the same just takes place several years earlier. However it is AU and some changes ahead therefor there will be some character differences but will all be explained in time so just stick with me. Please review!