Title: One Way Or Another
Author: RebecaV
Style: Serial (still not sure how long because I haven't finished writing it)
Timeframe: Season 8. The first couple of chapters were written days after the season 7 finale aired. So, I'll be working in Kate's new job position and any other major plots, the ones I like, in the later chapters.
A/N: A few years ago, I wrote fanfic for Smallville (mostly Clois). Over the last couple of years, I've worked on original pieces, but have recently found myself with writer's block. I've always loved getting feedback and I don't get that when I'm too afraid to show people my own work. So I'm back to writing fanfic in hopes that positive feedback and constructive criticism will help break me out of my shell.
This is the first fanfiction I have written for Castle so let me know if you feel the characters are off and what I can do to improve my writing.
I love the family dynamic on Castle, but I feel like Kate is left out a lot when it comes to things. This is my way of trying to change that a little.
Summary: When Alexis asks Kate to keep a secret from Rick, she is torn between the role of good wife & cool stepmom.
Chapter One
It was rare the day Katherine Beckett got time off of work. It was even rarer that she didn't have her loving husband to spend it with. She hated that he was away, but she knew what she signed up for when she married the author. Book tours and public events were just another aspect of Richard Castle's life.
The loft was too quiet for Kate's liking. Her husband was on the other side of the country. Martha had found her own place and with her career renewing, only found herself in her old home for their weekly family dinner. As for Kate's stepdaughter, Alexis had left for her early class before she could even make a cup of coffee.
Katherine Beckett decided that rather than sitting around and waiting for nothing to happen, she would go out instead. A new coffee shop had opened up just down the street a few weeks ago. Between work and coming home exhausted from work, she hadn't found the time to check it out. Today was the perfect chance. The coffee shop was just minutes away and she had more than enough time on her hand.
The coffee shop was smaller than it appeared on the outside. There was a homey feel to the place even amongst the crazy crowd filled place that is New York City. Just surveying the room from the door, there were only a few people. She quickly placed her order and looked for a spot to sit.
That's when her eyes caught sight of familiar red hair. "Alexis?" Kate asked as she walked right over. It took her only half a second to realize she was not alone.
The last person the twenty one year old girl expected to see at the cafe was the New York Detective. "Beckett?"
"How many times do I have to tell you, just call me Kate," the older of the women said. She looked to the young man seated next to the youngest member of the Castle family. "I thought you had a class this morning."
"I thought you had your last final last week," the boy said.
Kate noticed Alexis's leg shifting underneath the table where she in a very tactical manner was telling the boy to keep his mouth shut. There was something charming about the boy. She found herself wanting to help him out. "Come to think of it, you did mention your finals," she said.
Alexis could not meet Kate's eyes. "I didn't mean to lie, I just..."
"Alexis, it's okay. You don't have to explain yourself."
"Kate."
At the sound of her name, the Detective was ready to pick up her now ready coffee. "I'll be on my way."
"Kate, wait," the red head said. She chased after her father's wife.
"Alexis, really. It's fine."
"I wasn't trying to hide this from you. I just -." She had to think of the correct words to use in order to spare everyone's feelings.
She noted that Alexis was really giving thought to the next words that left her mouth. She even looked back to see if the boy was listening to their conversation. He wasn't. Or at least he was pretending he wasn't.
"The last time I was in a relationship, dad freaked out."
Beckett was about to tell her that it was only because he loved her so much. Or because he thought she was moving too fast with Pi by moving in only a few months after knowing each other.
The young girl beat her to it. "I know he had his reasons, but I'm not ready for over protective dad mode to kick in again," Alexis said.
"You really like him, don't you?"
Alexis didn't answer the question, but instead gave Kate another one. "Would you like to officially meet him?" She was almost giddy with her question.
Kate knew she would not be able to deny Alexis. She was after all a Castle and being able to resist members of the Castle family was not in her nature. Still, she felt a bit guilty that she would be meeting the new boyfriend without her husband. "I get to meet him, but your dad doesn't?"
"Only because you're way cooler," she said. She linked her arm with her just as Kate had done after she had returned from being kidnapped in Paris. This situation was nothing like that had been. No one had been kidnapped. No one was in life risking danger. Still the two women had grown closer together since Beckett and Castle's wedding.
Joel Cahill knew he was going to meet his girlfriend's family eventually. He just hadn't expected it to be today. Nervously he smiled as Alexis came over with the woman he knew was Detective Katherine Beckett.
"Kate, meet Joel, my boyfriend."
"Hi," Joel said quietly. He offered his hand which she immediately took.
"Joel, this is Kate, my stepmother," Alexis said. Both women were taken back by what she had called her. It was the first time she had given her the title. There was nothing ugly about it, but it didn't quite fit. Kate wasn't just her stepmom. She had been so much more over the years. A counselor for guidance. An opinion during confusion. At times, even a friend. "This is Kate."
The Detective nodded along. Alexis could call her stepmom all she wanted. She just needed time to get used to it.
"Alexis has told me a lot about you. She really looks up to you, Mrs. Castle," Joel said. He grinned at both of them causing his dimples to take over a great portion of his cheeks.
Between being called Mrs. Castle and hearing that Alexis looked up to her, Kate couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips. "On the contrary, I know nothing about you. How did you guys meet?" she asked. She along with her cup of coffee joined the young couple at the table.
Alexis may see Katherine as the more tranquil one of the married couple when it came to her boyfriends, but she was still a detective at heart. She knew the mystery behind her secret relationship was one she could not resist exploring. She only hoped he would give the right answers to gain Kate's approval.
"We met a few semesters ago in a criminal justice class," Joel said. He looked to his girlfriend. She seemed pleased with his answer so far.
"You have known each other for a while then."
He nodded. "She caught my eye almost instantly, but... umm... she wasn't available at the time," he said.
They all knew he was referring to her ex-boyfriend Pi even if none of them bothered to say his name.
"You were patient and waited until the perfect time to be together," Kate said. Her mind went to the early days of her partnership with Castle. "Sometimes that's the best thing to do."
The dimpled young man smiled at the dimpled young lady. "Yeah, sometimes it is."
She wanted to know more about this Joel boy. He was a mystery, buy that did not matter. She saw the way he looked at her stepdaughter. He loved her genuinely.
For now, that's all that mattered.
When Beckett opened her door to the loft after a long day at work, the last thing she expected to see was her husband standing in the middle of the kitchen. He wasn't due back for another couple of days. What was he doing home now?
"Castle?"
"Surprised?" he asked.
No longer wanting to question why her husband was standing before her only glad he was there, she rushed to his side. "And here I thought I was going to have to order pizza and eat by myself," she said. She hugged him tighter not wanting to ever let him go. She almost hated herself for being so clingy. She didn't mind seeing him everyday all day. She never felt like it was too much time together. But then she would tell herself that he was her husband and love of her life. It was okay for her to feel this way.
"Like I would ever let that happen," Richard said. He leaned down and placed a quick kiss on his wife's lips. "I had to cancel the last two dates on the tour."
"Why?" Kate asked. She knew he hated being away from her just as much as she did, but he loved his job. He would never cancel unless it was important.
"Hurricanes," he said.
With that, she did not push any further. At least, not about the book tour. "What are you making?" she asked. She followed behind her husband as he stirred whatever was the stove. It was some kind of pasta.
"Spaghetti," he said.
"Oh," Kate said happily as her stomach growled. It really had been a long day.
"What are the chances that I would make you Italian on the same night you were thinking about ordering pizza?" he asked. He turned back to smile at her. "I'm telling you... connection."
"Conjecture," she said. She placed a teasing kiss on the back of his neck. "Nope. Definitely connection."
"Do you know what Alexis is up to tonight? I was hoping maybe she would have dinner with us," Castle said halfway into their meal.
Kate knew exactly where the red haired girl was. Or rather who she was with. The twenty one year old called her to let her know she wouldn't be home until late. She was a grown woman, but she still felt the need to check in to keep her family from worrying. Alexis knew that the homicide detective in Kate and the mystery writer in her father would panic if she didn't.
Still she was respecting Alexis's desire for privacy. "She called. She with some friends," Kate said.
"Oh, that's nice. I guess," he said. A hint of disappointment from not seeing his daughter in a few weeks, but a hint of excitement because that meant they had the place to themselves.
Kate was also having mixed feelings. She knew Alexis had every right to want to explore this new relationship without the commotion of adding family opinion to it. Yet, she felt bad not giving her husband, someone she had promised to never lie to, the whole truth.
"Should we continue this conversation in my bedroom?" he asked.
"Our bedroom," she said correcting him. She looked down at the dirty dishes laid out in front of them. "I think we should make Alexis wash the dishes."
Richard looked at her curiously. "What makes you think she'll was our dishes?" he asked.
"Something tells me we can guilt her into it," Kate said.
He stared at his wife for several seconds wonder were this new side of boldness, especially towards Alexis, was coming from. "I like the way you think," he said as he grabbed her hand and led the way.
If Alexis was going to make Kate keep secrets from her own husband, she was going to take advantage of it in her own way.
TBC
