Remember this.

A/N: New story. The second chapter has been completed, it's up to you if you want it uploaded. However, this can be read as a one shot. Reviews are appreciated.

Disclaimer: I haven't finished watching season six. Can you imagine if I was running that show?!

She walked through the kitchen with the loud noises surrounding her. It wasn't the first time she couldn't make out what they were, but with her stress level over the top and her being tired as hell, it wasn't that unusual. There should have been a someone else working tonight, but Madison had cancelled. Again.

She groaned, working and studying at the same time never paid off.

Even though she had begged her parents for the night off, they were already short staffed for tonight. Unfortunately, they didn't have the financial luxury to hire another employee, which meant that she would have to work extra shifts anyway. This explained is why she had to divide her time between college and work, for the sake of keeping their family business running.

Fun was something that she still didn't know the real definition of. She thought that maybe, just maybe, her 'wild-child' fase was just around the corner, but she was afraid she would never find out with the way life was treating her. It wasn't easy to grow up with your parents spending every single second of their life working. Even helping them was hard work - this was why she had grown up too fast, living two completely different lives at once.

At least it was a slow evening in the restaurant, which was quite nice for a change. Normally she wouldn't be too happy about it being a slow evening, she could however, really use some free time. She needed to spend her time on a phenomenon also known as: studying.

She looked around the room again. After ten minutes there still wasn't anyone who wanted to order and she took the opportunity to move to the back room where there was a staircase which lead to their apartment. She sat down at their kitchen table and read through her notes for the hundredth time that day.

''Kate. Table four please.'' She looked up to see her mother stand in front of her and nodded. She stood up from her spot and quickly walked back to the kitchen downstairs.

''Come on, Kate. You've been distracted all day, what's going on?''

''Mom, I have a huge test Monday, if I screw this one up, I will get kicked out of college.'' She snapped.

''Have a little faith would you? You have been studying for weeks, in fact, I'll be surprised if you don't get an A.'' Johanna said, straightening Kate's shirt and tucked her hair behind her ear again.

''Great! So glad there's no pressure there!'' She said sarcastically as she walked away to grab the plates.

''Would you at least smile for me? No?'' Kate turned around, plastered on a smile and then continued her walking, balancing the plates on her hands.

Johanna shook her head and laughed. It still surprised her how much her girl looked like her.

Kate walked through the door that separated the kitchen from the sitting area. Her mind was on auto-pilot as she quickly made her way over to table four, where she made small talk, told the people to enjoy their food and asked them if they wanted anything to drink. All with a smile plastered on her face, as if there was any other way to do it.

Most of the time she didn't mind working with and for her parents. However, at times like this, it was just an enormous pain in the ass and there was no other way to say it. Her parents seemed to believe that she was free from any activity besides college. Queue the sarcastic comment about not having a social life either! Even though they made her take free days and allowed her to keep the tips. As a student you need some free time and - well, to actually get that free time you would have to take the day off from work. But you see - I work with my parents so it's not like I can just say 'no.' to them. You see?

She made her way to another table and asked them if they were enjoying their food. It was pretty hysterical to see the customers struggle to swallow their food and try to answer her question - Yes, she did that on purpose. First class entertainment.

She managed to contain her laughter and continued her round, checking if everything was alright.

The door opened and a young fellow walked in who couldn't be much older than her. He looked around the place, a soft smile appearing on his face as he took it in. She made her way over to him immediately.

''Good evening, table for?''

A charming smile appeared on his face. ''Hi, I called this afternoon, table for two, the name is Rodgers.'' He said, looking her up and down. Kate pretended not to notice this as she looked through the reservations.

''Okay, mister Rodgers-'' She motioned for him to follow her.

''Rick.'' He offered, walking after her.

She turned around. ''Excuse me?''

''You can call me Rick. It's not like you are that much younger than me. How old are you? Maybe twenty something?'' He said, narrowing his eyes, a glimpse of mischief shown.

''As the matter of fact, I am twenty. However, I do believe that it is none of your business, mister Rodgers.'' She said glaring. Gosh, she had barely known the guy for five minutes and he was already getting on her nerves. That had to be a new record.

''Sorry, didn't want to make you uncomfortable.'' He said with an honest smile. He sat down at the table she had appointed and she handed him the menu once he was settled.

''Are you waiting for your company or will you be ordering right away?''

''I'm going to wait on my company, thank you.''

''Would you like something to drink while you wait?'' She said, fishing a notepad out of her back pocket.

He made a quick sweep over the menu. ''Yes please, I'd like a beer. Hertog Jan, please.''

''Anything else?''

''I don't know, your phone number might be nice.'' He stated with a smug smile, not shying away making continuous eye contact.

She blushed and quickly looked at her notepad as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. ''One beer coming up.''

She immediately walked back to the bar where her father was pouring some soft drinks. He put them on a tray and looked up to see where Kate was for her to bring them to the costumers. He smiled when she made eye contact and he pointed to the tray.

''That's for table seven.''

''I'm on it.'' She grabbed the tray. ''One beer for table three, please.''

''You got it.'' She waited for him to finish pouring the beer into a glass and was just on her way back when her mother suddenly stopped her.

''Hey. I recognize him.'' She said pointing to the guy Kate had identified as Rick. Kate stared at her mother, the horror of her mother meddling in this guys life already on her mind.

''How?''

Johanna shook her head as she couldn't place him directly. ''I don't know, he- just looks familiar somehow.'' She thought for a second. ''Did he order anything?''

''Yeah, this is his beer.''

Johanna motioned to the beer. ''Give it to me.''

She frowned. ''Sure, go ahead.''

Johanna grabbed the beer and made her way over to where Rick was sitting.

''Good evening sir, here's your beer.'' She grabbed a coaster and put the beer (plus glass) on the table.

''Thank you miss.'' He nodded politely. ''I- I thought I had the other girl as waitress.'' He asked, not very subtle.

Johanna looked up to meet his curious gaze. ''You mean Kate?'' She asked.

Kate. Yes, she did look like a 'Kate'. It fit her perfectly. He smiled. ''Yes, I guess my waitress is named Kate.''

Johanna laughed. ''She's my daughter.'' Uh oh. He swallowed. ''I figured I'd help her out, the poor girl is the only one working the floor tonight. I'll make sure she's the one who take your order later.'' She said as she winked at him.

He swallowed and tried to hide his blush. ''Thank you very much- um-''

''Just call me Johanna.''

''I'm Richard Castle. Nice to meet you Johanna. You have a lovely restaurant if I may say so.'' He shook her extended hand.

''See! I knew that I recognized you from something. I've read all of your books, the latest one is brilliant if I may say so. I think this was the first time I didn't see the twist coming.''

He smiled. ''Glad you like them. It's always nice to meet a fan who has actually read the books.''

She chuckled. ''How did you come up with those, I mean you're barely twenty-five?''

''Twenty-four, actually.''

Only a four years ahead of Kate? I can live with that. Johanna thought. ''Well, thank you for your time. I'm needed back in the kitchen. Will your company be joining you soon?''

''No problem, it was pleasure meeting you.'' He said honestly. ''I think I'd might get stood up again.'' He sighed. ''My mother should have been here half an hour ago. Must have gotten stuck at work or something again.'' Or getting laid with a co-star. He added in his mind. Rick loved his mother his whole heart - of course! She was his mother, for God's sake - but sometimes her behaviour was even less appropriate than his. And that, my friends, was something that was pretty much impossible.

''Ah, okay.'' She said with a sympathetic smile. ''Would you like to order?''

He sighed. ''Sure, why not.''

''I'll sent Kate.'' She said with a mischievous smile on her face.

Johanna walked away with a satisfied grin on her face, watching as Kate had a concerned look on her face. The girl had grabbed a towel to help her dad to dry the glasses.

''Kate.'' She looked up from cleaning the glass. ''Table three wants to order.''

Kate rolled her eyes and dropped the towel on Jim's shoulder. Jim chuckled and shook his head at his wife. Kate grabbed an empty tray that lay on the end of the bar and walked over to the table where the young man was sitting.

''Jo, what are you up to?'' Jim asked with a curious look on his face.

She grinned. ''Oh, you'll see.'' She said, pointing at the table Richard Castle was seated at.

''I thought you were waiting on your company?'' She said with a teasing smile on her face.

He immediately looked up at Kate and shrugged. ''Changed my mind.''

''Got stood up, huh?''

''Well, yeah, it seems like even my own mother has forgotten about me.''

She laughed. ''You got stood up by your mother?''

''Looks like it, doesn't it? I don't see her anywhere.'' He said, looking around the restaurant as if to look for her. Rick turned back to Kate. ''I figured that I should take her out for her birthday, but apparently she had other plans without mentioning them to me.''

Kate almost felt sorry for him, almost. ''Why don't you just call her?''

''She turned her phone off.'' He waved his phone at her, showing a number dialing, but going straight to voice-mail.

She laughed. ''That is universally acknowledged, but yes, I hate it when they do that.''

''I didn't even know she could handle the thing.'' Kate chuckled. ''Parents and technology? It's a no-go.''

''Tell me about it, we got a new register last week. Disaster isn't the word for it.'' She said, agreeing. ''I had to install the damn thing and then they made me explain it to them as well. Normally I wouldn't care so much, but my show was on-'' Why was she telling him this again?

He laughed. ''So why does a girl like you work on a Saturday evening? Shouldn't you be going out with your boyfriend or something.''

''Well, my parents own the restaurant. It's not like I really have a choice.''

''Really now?'' He tried subtly.

''Like you didn't knew that Rick, you were just talking to my mother.'' He showed his smug smile - it was almost as if it was his signature smile, not to mention that it bothered her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to slap it off his face or kiss it off. Wait. What? She cleared her throat. ''What were you two talking about though, she's wouldn't tell me.''

''Ah, nothing in particular.'' He took a sip of his beer, hiding his smirk.

She narrowed her eyes at him and he immediately took another sip.

''Why don't you sit down?'' He said, offering her the chair on the opposite of him.

''I just told you, I'm working.''

''It's not like there's so much to do. You only have two other tables, come on Kate, relax a little. I don't bite. Unless you want me to.'' He mumbled the last bit.

''Rick.'' She said, glaring at him. You know what, she wasn't even surprised he'd said it.

He laughed and held his hands up as defense. ''Sorry. Sorry, bad joke.''

Wait a second. ''How did you know my name? I didn't tell you-'' She sighed. ''Great, did my mom tell you?''

''Yeah...'' He said with a sheepish look on his face. Busted.

Kate looked back to the bar where she saw her mother watching them interact. The moment she made eye contact though, her mom was out of the door. She saw her dad laugh and continue his work, pretending that he didn't notice her looking at him. She shook her head and sat down on the chair he'd offered her. Why the heck shouldn't I?

''Why don't you just go home?'' He gave her a questionable look. ''Your mother didn't show. Why are you staying here? You could just go home and relax. We also have food to-go, you know.''

He shrugged. ''I'm having fun talking to you.''

''Besides that.''

''Do I look like the kind of person who can cook?''

She chuckled. ''Not really.''

''Well, I can cook, quite well actually. So that was kind of offending, but that's not the point.'' He rushed. Kate laughed. ''It is this or being stuck at home alone and I have to cook for myself. Now where's the fun in that?''

''So instead you go to a random restaurant, pretend you get stood up by your mother and flirt with the waitress?''

He laughed. ''No, I really did get stood up by my mother. And only when the waitress is as pretty as you, which is quite uncommon.''

''Ah, smooth move.'' She said, moving her elbows on the table, supporting her head.

He copied her move and shuffled a little closer to her. ''I know right.''

''Does this usually work on girls?'' She asked.

''Actually, it does.''

''Well, it's not working for me.'' She stood up and grabbed his empty glass from the table. ''I'll be right over there if you need me. Have a nice evening, sir.''

He sat back in his chair, loosening his tie. Oh boy. She was entirely different for what he would usually go for and it frightened him. He couldn't explain the feeling but somehow her rejecting him was the kind of thing he'd expected her to do. However, he wasn't going to give up this easy. This was Richard Castle working his magic. He watched her walk back to the kitchen, possibly to get away from him. Scrap possibly, she was trying to get away from him.

A couple of seconds later he saw her mother came out of the doors laughing loudly with a distressed Kate close behind her. Perhaps they were talking about something funny? He couldn't hear what they were saying and the hand gestures Kate was making weren't really that easy to read, it was however, clear that the girl was frustrated. Johanna wouldn't stop laughing. Kate rolled her eyes at her mom and walked over to an older gentleman, perhaps it was her father? He liked watching them interact, but he never said a word. Okay, that is definitely her dad. They actually looked like a close family. Something he'd never had himself.

Johanna walked over to who he guessed was her husband and started talking to him, much to the dismay of Kate who was angrily drying some glasses. He really wouldn't like to be the one she was angry with. After a couple of moments the man started laughing too and Kate threw her head back in a comical way.

''Oh come on Kate, loosen up a little.''

''Mom! Could you please just let it go.''

Johanna chuckled. ''I'm sorry honey, but that was just too damn funny to watch.''

''Yes, great, laugh at my miserable life.''

''He couldn't be that bad.''

''Yes, he could. And he is.'' Kate groaned. ''He's already getting on my nerves. Can't you serve him?''

''Nope, I promised him you would serve him.'' Jim was trying to catch his breath from laughing too hard. Johanna patted him on the back and he shook his head, still laughing.

She gasped. ''I can't believe how dirty you just made that sound.''

''Kate, sweetheart, your mom almost killed me when I met her. I spilled coffee all over her and I couldn't even get a sorry out of my mouth. It took me all my nerves to ask her out and she said no the first five times.''

Johanna nodded. ''Yes and after that he asked me again, with a bouquet and a sorry note. And I still said no.''

''That's kind of harsh.'' Kate replied.

''I know, but he ruined my favourite shirt.''

''But I didn't give up.'' Jim said proudly as he looked at his wife.

''No, he didn't.'' And gave him a quick peck on the cheek. She then turned to Kate. ''Much to my annoyance.'' She stage whispered.

''I heard that.'' Jim said, trying to give her a stern look but failing miserably.

''I know.'' Johanna looked around the dinner area and saw Rick signaling her. ''Looks like table three is ready to order.''

''Oh, you've got to be kidding me.'' She grabbed a tray and walked back to Rick. ''How can I help you?''

''Yes- I uh- want to apologize for being an ass.'' He said, fumbling with a napkin.

''Uh-huh. Keep talking.''

''And I was wondering if you'd want to meet up with me sometime, just for a drink- nothing special.''

She shook her head. ''I can't.''

She watched as he tried to hide his disappointment. ''Why not?'' He tried.

''First of all, you annoy me.'' He chuckled softly. At least she was honest. ''Secondly, I can't because I have my midterms coming up and school is my top priority right now. Next to that I'm working here full time.''

''That's good. Always put your education before of your social life.'' He agreed. ''How about after your midterms?''

Wow, he's trying really hard.

''We'll see about that, okay?''

His phone made a chirpy sound and he immediately reached for it. Kate waited for a s second as he read his new text message. ''Okay, well I just got a text for a party that I have to attend tonight, so I have to go...''

''I'll get you the bill.'' She said as turned around to walk away, but she got stopped by a hand on her wrist.

''If you ever do change your mind, here's my number. Call for whatever, whenever.'' He handed her a piece of paper and she put it in her pocket.

Without an answer she walked back to the bar and printed the bill. Walking back to him she realized that he was still looking at her and she looked away immediately. It was in the way he looked at her with that small smile on his face that she was slowly starting to appreciate that she realised this might be dangerous. That he might be dangerous.

She handed him the bill and grabbed her wallet. He accepted and let his hand softly brush hers while he grabbed it. Kate blushed, yes, it looked like a simple transition to other people, but she knew that he'd done it on purpose.

He gave her the requested money and stood up, shuffling the chair back to where it belonged.

''Goodbye Kate.'' He said looking her straight in the eyes, she didn't respond so he just said the inevitable words. ''It was lovely to meet you.''

''Bye Rick.'' She said with a small smile.

He looked at her one last time before collecting his jacket and making his way out of the door. She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. For someone who annoyed her, a lot, he was pretty good at getting under her skin. In a good way. Weird. She'd never met someone like that before, he intrigued her. It was something she would never admit to her mother, simply because she'd get all smug about it.

She walked back to her mother who had a satisfied smile on her face. Great.

''Looks like you just became friends with Richard Castle.''

''I'm sorry, who?''

''You heard me.''