"I should go." She lightly brushed a hand down his arm. "Before Alexis gets home."
He gave her a startled look. "Why?"
"I thought you'd want to talk to her without me here." His face still held a question mark so she continued. "About us."
She saw a flicker of something across his face. Relief, maybe? What did he think she meant?
"You don't want... I mean, we could tell her together."
She huffed a laugh. "Really? Don't you think that might be a little awkward for her?"
His brow furrowed a little. "Awkward for her, or for you?"
"Castle."
He raised an eyebrow slightly. He knew he was pushing but he didn't withdraw the question. He was surprised when her gaze flicked to the floor then settled somewhere on his sleeve. Did he really just win that stare down?
"Okay, so... yeah, there is potential for awkwardness all around, but that's not why I should go."
She glanced back to his face and huffed another laugh. "I know if my dad had someone new in his life I'd want him to tell me before making introductions." She cringed at the thought.
He still didn't get it. "But you already know each other. What introductions?"
"I know. Just..." She sighed. "Don't you want her honest reaction?"
He didn't know if he should be affronted. "Are you saying my daughter wouldn't be honest wi..."
"No! No, Castle."
Why couldn't she make him understand? She took a deep breath to calm herself and find a more steady tone of voice. "I'm saying that she's polite, Rick." She studied his face to see if they were finally connecting on this. "If I'm here she may feel like she has to curb her reaction to be polite to me."
"Okay. I guess I can understand that." He still looked concerned.
"But...?"
"But why do you think she won't be happy for me? For us?"
"I hope she is." She stepped closer and rested her arms lightly over his shoulders. "But Castle, that may not be her first reaction. Don't be too surprised if she has to go through a few stages to get there."
As his arms wrapped around her back, pulling her in tightly, her breath ghosted across his ear. "And Rick? It's okay if she needs me to prove myself. I'm willing to do that for her. For us."