Hi! This is just a little father daughter one shot I wrote earlier this summer but wasn't sure I wanted to post until now. I hope you like it. My opinion changes from read to read. :P As always, all I own are my words.
People were always surprised to find out that Rick Castle, the Rick Castle was a father. His second marriage and divorce had of course been very public, but he and Meredith had been together, and divorced, all before his name was big enough for their affairs to be scrawled across the tabloids.
Yes, Alexis came to book releases and signing parties and all that, but she was never formally introduced, she stayed in the background, just the way she liked it, and to be honest, just the way her father liked it. It was enough to read about his own life in the paper, his daughter didn't need to be on display like that too. It was in part due to this precious privacy that, over the years, Father's day had become one of his favorite holidays.
Not because of the years of art class creation gifts or the breakfasts in bed, those were nice and he cherished every single one, but what really made the day special was the fact that Rick was able to celebrate it; the fact that he was a father. The father of a beautiful, intelligent, compassionate young woman. He loved and appreciated Alexis every day of the year but this day was just for them and he adored it.
His mother always went out for the day and he and Alexis were left to their own devices. Every year they did something different, last year they had gone to the Bronx zoo, this year they had played tourist; ridden to the top of the Empire State building, gone to Ellis Island, eaten lunch at Katz's, taken pictures in Times Square and 30 Rock, the whole shebang. It was nice, just the two of them out enjoying the city.
Returning home after Alexis plead exhaustion, they had ordered a pizza and settled in on his bed to watch The Princess Bride; another Father's day tradition. The movie had ended 20 minutes ago and Alexis was sprawled across the bed at an angle, feet under Rick's pillow, head at the foot of the bed, sound asleep. Unwilling to wake her just yet, her father had just been sitting watching her sleep and admiring the young lady she had become. While he and Meredith were obviously not meant to be married, they sure had made an incredible girl.
Deciding it was time, Rick turned off the TV and went to wake his daughter. "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die," he whispered in her ear." Groaning and opening her eyes, Alexis responded, "Inconceivable." Laughing he held out a hand to pull her up, "Time for bed, kiddo." Slowly, she agreed and stood up, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning heavily into his side as they walked down the hall to her room. The girl climbed into bed and kissing her on the forehead, Rick whispered "Sweet dreams, baby bird." As he left the room, just before closing the door, he heard a sleepy "As you wish. Happy Father's day." Rick smiled. "I love you too, pumpkin."