A/N: I loved the last scene, but I just wished he would have said something else. Inspired by Fact-Fiction by Mads Langer.
Disclaimer: Just making everyone watch the last ep, so please don't sue.
When All the Stars Were Aligned
Castle watched with pride as Alexis told them how she had found the owner of the picture album. It was a credit to her caring and her smarts, which his daughter both had in abundance. He turned to Beckett, hoping to catch her eye and see if she was as impressed as he was, but instead of her smile he got her words. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her when with just a sentence or two she made the returning of a photo album something so beautiful, her honest words a true gift to his daughter's caring heart. And then, when they saw the woman behind the screen, letting Alexis deal with it, be the bringer of her own gift and see for herself the joy it brought. His admiration for Beckett and his pride for Alexis mixed and filled him until he couldn't separate the two, only love both of these wonderful, caring women. For a moment or two he simply felt that affection, following Alexis with his gaze, before he needed to express it.
"She's a chip off the old block, isn't she?" he said, while turning back to Beckett. It wasn't part of his arrogant writer-boy persona, he just wanted to share how proud he was with her, but she didn't see it. She just, with an expression of mock scoff, dismissed it, and walked away.
Her easy rejection of his words as genuine momentarily dampened his spirits and he opened his mouth to convince her of his sincerity, but he didn't know how so he let her leave. His pride returned when he looked back at his daughter though, as did his appreciation for Beckett when Alexis bounced back to him, her eyes alight, and he could almost forget Beckett's reaction. Alexis at least accepted his words of pride, glowing and throwing herself in his arms with delight when he mentioned them. But, too keyed up with happiness to sit still, she eased out of the hug after a few seconds, mentioning that she had to collect her bag from the property room before she dashed off. He stared after her.
When he heard movement beside him he looked up, seeing Beckett return with a steaming cup of coffee to get her through the paperwork. He considered her for a moment, knowing by the easy smile she shot his way that her dismissal hadn't been malicious, just truthful. He leaned towards her, drawing her attention, making her look in his eyes to see his sincerity. "You know," he said, his voice dropped to that confidential tone just above a whisper, "I hope you have kids someday; you'd be an amazing mom."
She looked at him in complete surprise, wind knocked out of her sails. He just smiled back, letting her absorb the absolute sincerity in his eyes. Then he got up. "Until tomorrow, Detective Beckett." And left her to take his daughter home.
Fine