A/N: This is a post-ep for 6x06 'Get A Clue'. I understand that the Castle/Alexis issue is dividing fans at present, but I felt sorry for Castle standing out on Alexis' doorstep the other night. There is fault on both sides and I've tried to use this fic to address that. It would be nice to think that Kate could support Castle and maybe even advise him in situations like this now - share the load a little. That's what this extra scene is all about.

The title is said with a little sigh and a shake of the head, because 'Families' are complicated beasts. We all have one, some of us struggle with them from time-to-time, so I'm pretty sure there is plenty to recognise here, whether you're a parent or a child.

Chapter 1 - Rick

The front door swings open almost before Kate registers the sound of the key in the lock, and it opens with such force that it barely misses rebounding off the wall behind, only being saved from doing so by a set of extra strong hinges and the long arm of the man who's overenthusiasm caused the phenomenon in the first place.

"Hey," calls out Kate in greeting. "You're home early."

She smiles brightly at Castle from her little nest on the sofa, more than pleased to see him, if the jump in her heart rate and the flutter in her stomach is anything to go by.

"Martha said you were spending the evening with Alexis. Is everything o—?"

"I need to talk to you," interrupts Castle, dumping his jacket on the back of one of the kitchen stools and heading directly towards her, his keys still in his hand.

Kate is curled up in one corner of the sofa wearing a pair of worn jeans and a grey cashmere hoodie over one of Castle's old t-shirts. She has a blanket thrown over her feet to keep warm while she lay there reading peacefully. A glass of red wine sits on the coffee table by her elbow.

"Sounds serious," she says, frowning a little as she sits up straighter, drawing her knees towards her chest to make room for him.

She marks the open page in her book with one of Castle's leftover book tour flyers, and sets it aside.

"Actually, you know what," says Castle, halting in front of the coffee table when he spots Kate's glass of wine. "I'm going to pour myself one of those. Be right back. You need anything? A top-up?" he calls over his shoulder, already sliding into the kitchen and making a beeline for the open bottle of Merlot that Kate left sitting out on the counter.

"No. No, I'm good," replies Kate, more to herself than anything, her mind already working the possibilities for his whirlwind arrival in the loft, far too early to have spent much time with his daughter.

She studies him now, much as he has always studied her. There is a lot to learn from being still and watching the person you love, she has discovered. You know so much more about their tells, their moods and their personal ticks than you think you do; about the secret signals they're sending out. Right now, Castle looks agitated, distressed even, and she hopes it has nothing to do with his visit to Alexis' apartment, hopes it has nothing to do with a certain fruit-loving boy named Pi, because Kate knows from bitter experience how that power struggle plays out.

When Castle returns, clutching the glass of wine, she can see that his brow is knit into a tight frown and his shoulders are more hunched than usual, even his hair looks as if it doesn't want to play ball tonight.

"Here. Sit," she says, patting the space on the couch next to her. "Talk to me. What happened after you left the Precinct?"

Castle sits, only he remains one cushion over, putting a little space between them so that he can see her properly for this. He deposits his wineglass on the table and immediately begins rolling up the sleeves of his burgundy dress shirt. He looks incapable of being still for a second.

"Did you know?" he blurts, while fiddling to free the second tiny cuff button.

"Did I—? Castle, what are you talking about?" asks Kate, her frown now matching his. "Did I know what?"

"The other day, when you said that Alexis sees us…sees me starting something new, I asked if you thought her…her acting out had anything to do with our relationship, and you said no. But you knew that it did, didn't you? You knew that that's exactly why she's been parading that…that hippy dippy soap dodger under my nose?"

"No, wait a second. I said that I thought she was maybe trying to figure out where she fit in. But mostly, I thought it was just about her growing up, spreading her wings. Why? Did she say something?"

"Oh, she said plenty, believe me. And I just had to stand there, out in that dingy hallway I might add, and listen."

"She…she made you stand outside and listen?" asks Kate, trying hard not to smile, because he's so steamed about this and really, in the scheme of things, of father-daughter relationships, it's nothing but a passing blip, she's sure. These two are far too close for it to be anything more than that for very long.

"Mm-hmm," hums Castle, finally finished with his cuffs, enabling him to take a swig of red wine. "Cheers, by the way," he says, clinking his glass with hers.

"Cheers," mumbles Kate, trying to figure out the best way to deal with this sensitive situation that has in fact been brewing for weeks, if not actual months.

"Look, I don't exactly feel qualified to give you advice on parenting your daughter, Castle," Kate says, finally owning up to her reluctance to weigh in on this particular subject.

"And I would never ask you to do that. But you were a teenage girl once. I think that makes you slightly better qualified than me to know what might be going on inside Alexis' head right now."

"Maybe. But…look, she and I haven't exactly been close…for a long time," points out Kate, tentatively. "And I'm in no way blaming Alexis for that," she rushes to add. "But, Castle, I might be skeptical too if I were in Alexis' shoes," she tells him, gingerly.

"Why do you say that?" he asks, warily, as if he knows he isn't going to like what he's about to hear.

Kate sighs, not really wanting to bring up the past, but then she knows what happens if you don't deal with things directly – they fester. So she bites the bullet.

"Castle, we both know what went on between us. How I ignored your feelings. I wasn't fair to you, I kept you waiting and—" Kate pauses, pushes a hand through her hair. "Let's face it, I made a mess of things. Your daughter loves you, so it's only natural that she would take your side and be a little suspicious of how quickly our relationship has developed since then."

"Kate, it's been over a year," protests Castle.

"And things have been great between us, I agree. But before that there were several years that weren't so great," Kate points out. "And Alexis was there for a lot of it, standing on the sidelines, watching you go through all of that. She's a child, so she can't help you, she can't fix it for you or take away your pain. I know what that feels like, believe me, and those memories stick with you…far more vividly than all the good times."

"Come on. You didn't exactly abuse me, cheat on me or…or deliberately set out to hurt me," Castle argues.

"No. No, I didn't. But the effect was the same. I knew how you felt about me and I…I wasn't honest with you, for a long time. I ignored the amazing gift that you were offering me, Castle. Your heart," she says, reaching out to touch his hand where it lies on top of his knee.

She looks down at her long fingers caressing the back of his hand and then he flips his over to give hers a squeeze.

"But she must see how good we are for each other now. She said she knows you make me happy, but..."

"Doesn't matter," says Kate, shaking her head. "The damage is done."

"What? So you're saying there's nothing I can do to change her mind about us?"

"No, I'm saying that it'll take time. Time for her to see what we already know – that we're both in this for the long haul. That we're planning to get married and spend the rest of our lives together. This, us, could be a flash in the pan for all she knows. And Alexis feels so responsible for you that she thinks she's going to be the one who has to pick up the pieces if things don't work out."

"And where does Pi the pumpkin-lover fit into all of this?"

"He's her me."

"He's her—are you kidding me? There's no earthly comparison," declares Castle, vehemently, and this time he does actually laugh out loud.

"Not in the flesh maybe, but—"

"Or the brain or the work ethic or the…the personal hygiene."

"Rick, don't be so literal," she scolds, scooting along the sofa so that they can snuggle up to one another because he badly looks as if he needs comforting and relaxing.

"Okay. I will keep an open mind, but only because yours is so brilliant."

"Thank you," interjects Kate, unbuttoning one of his shirt buttons and planting a soft kiss on his chest. "Hi, by the way," she whispers, reaching up to draw his mouth down to hers for a more direct, lingering kiss of welcome that is more than a distraction for both of them.

"Mm, hello to you to," he murmurs into her mouth, his lips forming a smile as Kate gently strokes his tongue with her own.

They pause briefly, just enjoying one another, kissing and touching, drifting together in the moment; close, loving and supportive.

"So, you were saying," says Kate, pulling back a little, but remaining tucked into Castle's side.

"I'm prepared to listen to this…this frankly hair-brained theory of yours, but only because you're so smart."

"Well, turn about is fair play," she smirks, grabbing his hand when he tries to tickle her in revenge for taking a pop at his own hair-brained theories.

"Pi may be the love of Alexis' life," says Kate, covering Castle's mouth with her hand when he opens it to interrupt her in protest. "Or he may be the love of her life for now. But he might also just be the one person she knew would get your attention and make you mad when she found out about us getting engaged."

"Kate, she was in Costa Rica, living her life. Am I supposed to sit at home not living mine, asking her permission to make the big decisions in my life?"

"That's kind of what you've done all along, Castle," points out Kate, gently. "You've treated her like an adult for so long that when she behaves in an age-appropriate way it actually surprises you. She's only nineteen, and she's had you to herself for most of her life and now I'm here…all the time."

"But you're a part of this family," he protests.

"Not as far as Alexis is concerned. Not yet. How did she deal with Gina?" asks Kate, changing tack.

"Ignored her, mainly. They ignored each other. Gina did her thing, which didn't really include kids, and Alexis was too young to be bothered unless something or someone took up more of my time."

"See, there you are," announces Kate.

"What? No, what do you see?"

"She just wants your attention, Castle. Your time. What did she say tonight…exactly?"

"That she heard about our engagement over the phone with my mother when she was in Costa Rica…"

"That maybe wasn't the smartest way for her to find out."

"And I apologized. But, Kate, you were there. The proposal just kind of…happened."

"Castle, you had a ring. There had to be some kind of forward planning."

"Okay, some. Yeah," he admits with a grin, and Kate steals a sloppy kiss from him when she remembers the relief that flooded through her once she realized that he wasn't breaking up with her that momentous day.

"And then you were away a lot, spending time with me in DC. You haven't been around much for her lately."

"But she was in college all last semester and I was here, at home. She rarely visited. Then she went to Costa Rica, while I did a six week book tour to earn the money that pays for her tuition, and the clothes and all the other nice things she enjoys."

"True."

"And when I come home she's moved back in already with this…this boy in tow. No phone call, no warning…nothing. And she doesn't even look like my little girl anymore," he grouses.

"Castle, I have news for you. Little girls grow up," says Kate, sympathetically, rubbing her thumb over his pouty chin to sooth him. "You should talk to my dad sometime. I'm sure he'd tell you that you've had it remarkably easy so far."

Castle falls silent for a moment, and they both sip their wine while he thinks about what Kate has just said.

"You know what worries me the most?" he asks.

"What?"

"As a little girl, Alexis was always so smart and independent, headstrong even…a trait I always attributed to her mother. She was picking out her own clothes by the time she was three - clashing colors, hideous combinations, an eccentric style I'm sure she picked up from my mother, but that's beside the point. But as I've watched her turn into a young woman, she seems far too easily swayed by the boys she falls for. Remember Ashley?"

"Yes. You thought you were losing her to Stanford," reminds Kate.

"Yeah, and she was all like, I'm taking the same classes as Ashley, dad. That way we can be together all the time. And now, with this guy, she's dropped her sophisticated, preppy look, and all of a sudden she's wearing peasant tops and letting her hair dry naturally. What happened to fifty dollar blowouts, nail bars and…and blowing her allowance at Tory Burch sample sales?"

Kate sniggers, she can't help herself.

"Castle, if all you have to worry about is a change in her dress sense…"

"No. It's not just that. I know all of this sounds trivial, but I had such high hopes for her, you know. I wanted her to achieve more than I did at her age."

"Eh, I'd say you've done pretty well for yourself, all things considered."

"But I drifted, Kate. I got lucky finding writing because failing that I was amounting to a big fat zero. I don't want that for her. She has a great brain, she's compassionate and she gets so passionate about issues and causes and…"

"And so does Pi, it would seem," Kate says gently, raising her eyebrows as she makes her point.

Castle deflates a little, absorbing the truth of Kate's observation. Maybe they are more suited than he first gave them credit for.

"I just don't want her to look back and be disappointed that she didn't make the most of this time in her life,"he admits, with a sigh.

"Hey, we said no regrets, remember? When we got together," says Kate, taking his hand. "You made me promise that we would only learn from our past, not be defined by it. So, Castle, it's only fair that you let Alexis make mistakes and then move on from them too. It's the only way any of us learn."

"I really want her to be a part of this. I…I want…no…I need her approval. Does that sound weird or…or make any sense?"

Kate nods sympathetically and pats his hand, which she now has sandwiched between her own.

"We've always been so close. It used to be just the two of us against the world. But the way she looked at me tonight, I don't think I've ever seen her so disappointed in me or so determined before. Even when I apologized she said it wasn't enough. And she made me angry, Kate…some of the things she said…"

Castle runs a hand through his hair and then lets it drop as he rubs the back of his neck. Kate can see how tough he's finding it talking about Alexis this way.

"Castle, if you want to tell me and I can help, that's good. But if you don't want to share, that's okay too. I never want to come between you two."

"I know," he says, but she can tell from the look on his face that he wants to unburden himself. He takes a deep breath. "She actually said that she doesn't know if us getting engaged is even a good idea or if you are the one. Why can she not see what I see?"

"Castle, she's not you. I know you want her to be as happy for us as we are, but you can't force her. Why does that upset you so much?" asks Kate, smoothing her hand up his forearm.

"Why? Because, Kate, she's nineteen. What does she know about relationships or what we went through to get to this point? You know she even compared my relationship with you to her five-minute flash in the pan with this boy she just met...nay, moved in with."

"Castle, see it for what it is. She misses her dad and she's spreading her wings, trying to make her way in life. At her age a two month relationship feels like forever."

"Yeah, well she has a lot of growing up to do. Believe me."

He takes another mouthful of red wine before he continues in the same vein.

"You know, sometimes I wonder if I kept her too sheltered or if I spoiled her too much. At nineteen you lost your mother, you had to deal with your dad's addiction problem, and yet you managed to turn yourself into this amazing, strong, beautiful, compassionate woman, tackling a job few people ever excel at. And you did it with so much grace and courage, Kate. You fought your way through and you won. Alexis is so innocent in comparison, and she's making these big decisions and judgment calls without knowing exactly what's out there."

"And that's wonderful. Don't you see? I wouldn't wish what happened to me on anyone, Rick, least of all your daughter."

"I know. I know," he says, dropping his head into his hands briefly, before looking up at her again. "I'm sorry. That came out all wrong. I just meant…she needs to have more respect for you, Kate. I want her to see you as I see you."

"Castle, that's never going to happen. I can work on getting her to trust me. I can prove to her that I love you, that I'm not going anywhere. But I'll never be her mother and you can't force her to love me. Best I can hope for is that we become friends."

"I just want her to appreciate what an amazing person you are. She can learn so much from you."

"And I think you'll find that she wants the exact same thing from you where Pi is concerned. As I said – he's her me. At least for now. She doesn't need you to love him. I think she just wants you to get to know him before you judge him, and give him a chance."

Castle stares at Kate for a long moment before he speaks again. He looks better than when he arrived home, as if talking this out might actually have helped a little, even though they haven't solved anything yet. He surprises her with what he says next, though the twinkle that appears in his eye should have given her fair warning.

"You know, the triplets are going to be so lucky having you for a mom," he grins, swooping down to capture Kate's protesting mouth in a long, silencing kiss.

"Triplets?" she squeaks, batting at his shoulder when she can finally squirm out from under him.

"Yeah. Remember, the guy from the future said—"

"Three kids! Castle, he said three kids. He didn't say anything about triplets," insists Kate, her eyes as wide as her smile, despite his poor joke.

"So, you're happy doing it one at a time?" he teases, walking his fingers up along her thigh, before slipping his hand underneath the hem of his old Captain America t-shirt, seeking out the warm, soft skin of her lower back.

"I think I'd be happier having one and seeing how we feel after that," she tells him, tapping the tip of his nose with her finger affectionately.

"You really want this?" he asks, a little excited, settling his hands on her hips as she straddles his lap. "All this family drama hasn't put you off? Because we haven't really talked about—"

"I think we just did," she whispers, her eyes glittering, smile wide, excited and bright.

"Now, shhh," hushes Kate, covering Castle's lips with her own, fingers gently curling around his ear and then sliding through his hair as she arches up against him. "They say practice makes perfect," she whispers against his smiling mouth, as he lowers them both down onto the leather sofa cushions and begins unfastening her jeans.

Thoughts? And please, no yelling.