"Live, Learn, Love and Let Go"
Winner of the 2012 Castle Fan Awards, "Judges Choice", in the fanfic category: Best Castle Family Story
XXXXXXXXXX
Hello friends! Are you ready for one last fic from me before the new season begins? Less than 3 weeks! Yay! Thank you for taking interest in my story. I'm really hoping this one is different from other finale/premiere fics that have flooded the internet this summer, because it's from Alexis' POV, but even more, I REALLY hope you enjoy it.
So before I go any farther, it's only fair to say that this fic is completely based on what we saw in Knockout and the theories of Spoilers for the new season. So if you haven't seen the season three finale or the Comic con preview video or the ABC season 4 promo, you probably do not want to read any farther than this point. You've been warned.
Also, I want to clear up that I was several chapters in BEFORE the promo aired, and although I did change some content to make it fit with what we've been seeing... there will be some differences between the fic and what we're assuming we're seeing on pics and such. In fact I'm posting this earlier than I wanted to, because so much is coming out. I feel like I'm racing the show and so I figured if I began posting what I do have written so far, I won't feel so competitive with the promos and spoilers. Although we all know there really is no competition because I'm certainly no Andrew Marlowe.
Thanks again to my Beta and friend, Teelduo, for putting up with me. You're awesome!
Disclaimer:
I do not own ABC, Castle, or any of the characters, because if I did, I wouldn't be playing around on my computer, I'd totally be on set right now fangirling like a teenager.
"Live, Learn, Love and Let Go"
Chapter 1
As the clock approached midnight, Alexis Castle sat, curled up, on the over stuffed loveseat in her living room. The book she had been reading earlier was now long forgotten, as she typed out a text to her boyfriend, Ashley. When she read his hasty reply her face flushed and a quiet giggle escaped her lips.
Her response came quickly; her fingers flew across the touch screen keyboard, but just before hitting send, a new window popped up. It was a text from her dad.
Won't B home 2nite.
She switched back to Ashley's text and sent it before answering her father.
Beckett? Hot Date? Or Hot Date w/ Beckett?
Over the last several years, this had become the standard joking reply she always gave him when he let her know he was running late or not coming home.
Ashley's next text came long before her dad's did, and since that conversation was more interesting anyway, many minutes passed before the teen switched screens to see what her father had to say.
Staying w/ Beckett if U need me. Capt. Montgomery was killed 2nite. U can tell Gram but no 1 else. We R safe, but she shouldn't B alone.
This is not what Alexis expected to see. Shock and disbelief overwhelmed her, followed by concern for her father.
OMG, What happened? R U OK?
Now Ashley's texts were forgotten as Alexis waited impatiently for more information.
Shot in the line of duty. He was alone. Physically we R fine. Emotionally, not so good.
Although Alexis didn't really know the Captain, she'd met him a few times and felt as though she knew him through her dad's stories. Several silent tears slid down her cheeks as she realized that he was gone. She hurt for his family and co-workers and she hurt for her own dad as well.
Give Beckett a hug for me. And take care of yourself. I'll C U 2morrow. Love U.
I LOVE YOU TOO.
Alexis stared at her father's word's through the glassy sheen on tears.
When her phone pulsed in her hand, she remembered Ashley again. The fun and flirty feel of the evening was gone. She told him that she just got some bad news from her dad and wanted to go to bed. He asked if he could do anything for her and when she assured him everything was OK, they eventually said good night.
Martha wasn't home yet, so Alexis left a note on her bedroom door, and shuffled into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
When she looked into the mirror she was surprised to see how red and blotchy her face really was. Turning on the faucet to produce ice cold water, Alexis washed her face in the stinging water until she saw that the rosy fresh-scrubbed glow hid the ugly tears of before.
After changing into PJs and crawling into bed, the silence of the loft shut out even the sounds of the busy street below. Sleep evaded her, as thoughts of life and death filled her busy mind. She tried to remember if her dad had ever said anything about Captain Montgomery's family. She was pretty sure he was married. Did he have kids? Did he have grand kids? How many people would be devastated by this loss?
She didn't know what she would do if she lost her dad. It didn't matter that she was almost an adult, he was still the most important person in her life and she couldn't imagine loosing him.
About an hour later, she heard her grandmother come home. She was whistling, which was a sure sign she'd had a good time. The jaunty melody grew louder as the woman climbed the stairs. Alexis knew that as soon as she read the note she'd come to check on her, and she didn't feel like talking. She turned on her side and shut her eyes just as the tune came to an abrupt stop. Only another moment passed before light from the hall flooded into her room.
Alexis could feel her Gram's stare on the back of her head. She worked to keep her breathing soft and even so that the other woman would retreat.
When the door clicked shut, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The sounds of Martha retiring for the night could be heard for a while but when all was silent, Alexis got out of bed. She wanted to feel closer to her dad, to hug him, to see him and know that he was safe. But since that wasn't possible, she'd settle for the next best thing.
Grabbing her robe before opening the door, Alexis silently headed down the stairs and straight to the office. It didn't matter if he was in there or not, she could always feel her dad's presence in that room. At first, she turned on the desk lamp and just looked around in the pale light. She walked to the bookcase and ran her fingers over the spines of his works. When her finger nail grazed the cover of Heatwave, she stopped and pulled it out.
The book opened to the dedication. "To the extraordinary KB and all my friends at the 12th". As she read the words, a lump formed in her throat and she slammed the book shut and placed it back on the shelf. She came in here for comfort, not to be reminded of the the cops from the 12th who put their lives on the line everyday while her father tagged along.
Determined to put that out of her mind, she continued to look around the shadowy study. When she found the picture of her as a little girl, holding her dad's hand at the park, she took it and sat down in his chair. Alexis studied the image closely, not remembering that exact day, but many others just like it.
People could say a lot of things about Richard Castle, but no matter what they said, whether good or bad, no one could say that he wasn't a great dad. Alexis had always come first in his life and anyone who who really knew him, knew that.
Comforted by warm memories and the security of being in his domain, Alexis' eyes grew heavy. She forced them open before actually falling asleep but when she did, another photo, one on his desk, caught her attention. It had been taken at the police station Christmas party, the previous year.
There was her dad, complete with Santa hat, in the center of the picture,with his left arm around her and his right arm around Kate Beckett. For the first time in the five months it had been on his desk, it didn't bring a smile to the girl's face. Instead, she laid the picture face down and stood to go to bed. She was more exhausted than she thought though and ended up wondering a few feet into her dad's room instead. Blessedly, she was asleep almost the instant her head hit the pillow.