This story has not been betaed so all mistakes are mine. This is my first Castle fic. Hope you enjoy!
Alexis plodded towards the kitchen still clad in her flannel snowmen pajamas. She yawned as she got her cereal out of the cabinet. "Good morning, pumpkin."
"What are you already doing up?"
Castle, his head buried inside the refrigerator, finding an apple closed the door. "Well, this morning my eyes just popped open and I couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to get up and see if inspiration would strike."
"And did it?"
"Not exactly. I got a little done. Apparently today is a slow crime day." Castle shrugged, walking over to the kitchen counter. "So what's on the agenda for you today?"
Alexis smiled. "Well, the winter formal is coming up. I thought if you weren't busy we would go and pick out a dress."
At that moment Castle's phone buzzed. "Hold that thought. It might not be a slow crime day after all."
Castle frowned seeing that the text was not from Beckett but from his publishing company. "It appears that I have a mandatory publishing meeting today." Castle turned the phone showing Alexis the message. "You know that I would love to go with you."
"I know, dad." Alexis turned back to her cereal slightly disappointed.
"What about Gram? Where's she off to?"
"She's got an audition today. Don't you remember?" Alexis asked, getting only a blank stare from her father. "She is trying out for the overly friendly neighbor."
Castle titled his head slightly to one side. "That explains the multiple times she told me good morning earlier.
"I hate for you to have to go and pick out your dress by yourself."
"It's okay, dad. I'll call Amanda or someone and we'll go together. Don't worry about it."
"Just dress warm okay?"
"Always"
Alexis sat at the kitchen bar now fully ready to head out, but not sure what to do. She didn't want to call Amanda or the other girls she hung out with because they would want to spend all day going from one store to the next trying on dresses. She wanted to go to her favorite store get the dress and then come back home. She looked out the window at the snow lazily falling down. This was the type of day to stay inside and watch a movie. She didn't want to wait until the last moment to get her dress either. A smile crossed her face as an idea of who to call crossed her mind.
Detective Kate Beckett sat at her desk closing the manila folder on the last case she had just closed. It had been a simple case not needed any assistance from her seemingly constant shadow, Castle. She looked over her now uncluttered desk and let out a sigh. Today was definitely starting out as a slow day. This in a way was a good thing, but meant she was probably going to be getting bored soon. She looked over at Ryan and Esposito who were now playing a game of paper football. Oh, yeah it was going to be a slow day. The sound of her phone ringing brought her out of her thoughts.
"Detective Beckett"
"Hi, Kate. It's Alexis."
"Hi, Alexis. Is everything okay?" Kate asked slightly confused.
"Yeah, everything's fine. Just wanted to know if you wanted to go dress shopping with me. Dad's at a meeting and Gram is at an audition. So, I called you."
"I'm flattered, Alexis. But don't you want to go with one of your friends?"
"No, they'll want to spend the whole day doing this. I just want to go and get it and be done. Please."
Kate looked over at Ryan and Esposito once again who were still playing. Nothing really seemed to be happening that she needed to stay around for."
"Okay, sure."
She heard Alexis let out a squeal. "Thank you. I'll meet you there."
Kate looked at the store for a moment before going in. This was not the type of store that she would normally visit for several reasons. One- it was most definitely out of her price and she was trying to remember the last time she actually went shopping for a nice dress.
She spotted Alexis already in the store browsing the aisles and entered.
"Kate, hi. I'm glad you could come." Alexis greeted her warmly.
"Thanks for asking."
"So, when exactly is the policeman's ball? I know that it is coming up sometime soon. Sorry, I know it is a hazard of being around my dad. " Alexis said beginning to look at the dresses again.
"Um, it's in two weeks but I normally don't go to it." Kate said gazing over the beautiful gowns.
Alexis turned back to Kate. "You really should. You might have fun. Will you at least try on some dresses so that I'm not the only one?"
Kate gazed at the dresses again. "I'm not very good at picking stuff like this out."
"That's okay." Alexis smiled. "I had to do this enough with my dad I'm pretty good at picking things out."
Castle smiled to himself as he entered the store. He couldn't wait to see the look on Alexis's face when he surprised her. He knew what store she would be at without even having to ask. Scanning the store, he didn't see her so he proceeded to the dressing room. He had opened his mouth to announce his arrival when he heard, "So what do you think of my dad? You don't have to sugar coat it for my sake. I know he can be a handful at times. I'm the one that has to go and bail him out, remember?"
Castle listened to Beckett laugh lightly. He really did enjoy that sound. "Well, he definitely can be annoying at times. However, the insight he has into things is really amazing. The way he won't stop thinking about a problem until he has solved it. I have to say he makes things interesting. But, don't you say a word of this to him. I don't want his head getting any bigger than it already is."
"You're secret is safe with me."
Castle smiled to himself as he quietly backed away from the dressing room for a moment before making his grand entrance.
"People of the dressing room have you seen a fair maiden about? She has fair skin and long flowing auburn hair…
"Dad?"
"Castle?"
"Beckett? You're here too?... Are you naked?"
Beckett felt a furious blush spread across her face, as she grasped tightly on the dress that she had half on very glad that Castle could not see through the floor length metal door that separated them. She narrowed her eyes at him. She knew that he was standing there with that stupid smug smile of his. What was he doing here?
"Dad?" Alexis stuck her head out. "What are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting."
"I did." Castle nodded. "I told them to pick out whatever art they wanted for the cover of the book. I didn't care and there was somewhere that I needed to be."
Alexis smiled. "Since you're here, can you zip me up?"
"Sure, sweetie." Castle stepped forward. "Oh, and if you need some help, Beckett. I am here to oblige."
"I am perfectly able of dressing myself, Castle." She said sharply still flustered from his sudden appearance.
"Just an offer" Castle said as he turned his attention back to Alexis. He gazed at the dress she had tried on. It was a royal blue gown with ice blue trim lining the top and bottom of the dress along with a row of sequins. "I think it's gorgeous. You will be the most beautiful person there. Is this the one you have decided on?"
"I think so. I thought the blue would go good with the colors they are using to decorate with."
"Yes, well you have to color coordinate with the ice icicles."
"Daad"
"Okay, your turn Beckett. Show and tell."
"I am not coming out there and prancing around in front of you." Beckett said indignant.
"No, prancing involved. Maybe a twirl. But, no prancing."
"Come on, Kate." Alexis coaxed. "Don't mind him." Alexis said as she shot her dad a look.
"What? I am being a perfect gentleman."
"Okay" Kate caved. "But, one snicker out of you Castle and I will have you arrested."
"Fine. I will be on my best behavior."
Kate cautiously opened the door, stepping out into the common area of the dressing room. She saw Castle's eye widened but no sound came out of his mouth.
"Has a miracle happened and the great Richard Castle become speechless?"
Castle was in awe. The emerald green dress was stunning. The top of the dress formed a V draping down and gathered at the waist accentuating Beckett's figure perfectly before flowing down gently towards the floor. She looked like a goddess.
"Wow" was the only thing Castle could say.
"It looks absolutely beautiful on you, Kate." Alexis said.
"Castle?"
"It is more than gorgeous, or beautiful, stunning. I don't think there is an appropriate word for it. You will light up the policeman's ball."
Beckett felt the flush return to her face. "Thank you, Castle. But, I can afford this."
"Oh, please let me, then" Castle offered immediately.
"I can't let you do that." Beckett said modestly.
"But, Kate it would be.. it would be a crime for you not to wear this dress. This dress was made for you. Please. You should get some compensation for putting up with me, right? This is the least I could do."
Kate chewed on her lip for a moment as she glanced down at the gown. She looked back up at Castle who was looking at her expectantly. "Alright."
"Yes." Castle smiled.
As Kate walked back to the dressing room, Castle asked. "So, are you taking anyone with you to the policeman's ball?"
Kate turned back around and smiled. "Well, if you are going to pay for the dress, it only fair for you to come along with it."
She watched as Castle's face went slack for a moment before he smiled. "Really?"
She nodded.