Disclaimer: Don't own a thing.

Author's Note: This has been floating around in my head for a while now. I'm not too sure if it came out the way I wanted it but there will be another chapter. It's already halfway written. I just have to decide on Castle's reaction to Kate knowing his secret. Anyway, I hope you like!

"Can we work it out?

Can we be a family?

I promise I'll be better,

Daddy, please don't leave…"

-Family Portrait by Pink

Alexis Castle knelt at the foot of her childhood bed. She didn't live with her father or grandmother anymore, seeing that she was officially a college student. God, how is loved it. Between schoolwork, her job, and her friends, Alexis stayed busy.

That's why she was only just now doing this. It was time to bring her father's girlfriend in on the family secret. Kate Beckett and Alexis's father had two very happy years under their belts, ever since Kate up and quit her job as a police detective. Kate, who still had ties to the community, was also about to marry Alexis's father and was carrying her little brother or sister.

It was probably a little late for this, but it couldn't be helped. Alexis herself had only learned of the secret the day after she turned 19, or about two years ago. It had taken close to a year before Alexis could speak to her father or her grandmother. And even then, she only spoke to them again with Kate's encouragement.

Alexis signed and shook her head. That was the past. Kate had pressed her for months, trying to get to her to open up about her year of silence. But with one look from her father, Alexis held her tongue.

Kate Beckett would never learn the family secret from her almost husband.

Almost Mother-in-law on the other hand, was a different story. After the twenty year old had told Maratha about the incident, the older woman became enraged. Smirking and rolling her eyes at the memory, Alexis glanced at her cell phone.

Shit. She had about twenty minutes before Kate would be home. Setting the phone aside, Alexis pressed her hand to the bed frame, looking for the quick release for the hidden compartment she had discovered long ago. Inside held a journal or two, Monkey Bunkey, her college acceptance letter and other odds and ends from her childhood. Alexis pushed passed everything to the file folder that her grandmother had placed there. Pulling it free, Alexis closed the compartment and stood.

Was she really doing the right thing? Kate needed to know the truth, even if Alexis's father disagreed. Kate should know what she was really getting into. Her unborn child should be raised with the complete knowledge of their father, not clueless and unknowing as Alexis had been. Tapping the folder against her thigh, Alexis crossed the distance to the window. Taking a few seconds to enjoy the view of the city that she loved, Alexis slid the file into her backpack and turned away.

It was probably going to be the last time she would enjoy that particular view again.

Making sure to close the door behind herself, Alexis exited the bedroom and made quick work of the stairs. Crossing the living room and the kitchen to the front door Alexis paused before leaving. She took a moment to look around at the place, her childhood home.

This was it. Alexis's father was probably never going to forgive her for this. Last chance to change her mind and to keep on ignoring the truth about her father, about herself. Closing her eyes, Alexis willed away the happy memories and tears. Sometimes, no matter how much the truth hurt, it needed to be told. Taking only last deep breath and another look around, she said goodbye to everything that she had ever known. It was time for the ending of that chapter of her life.

Alexis Castle walked out the door.