AN: This is the third and final part of a three part Novella and if you haven't read the first two parts I would recommend that you do, before reading this, or much of it will make no sense.
The first part is called Per Adversa Ad Luce: - One:- Tenebris Procumbit - Darkness Falls; and it can be found at www period fanfiction period net /s/9758024/1/Per-Adversa-Ad-Luce-One-Tenebris-Proc umbit-Darkness-Falls
The second part is called Per Adversa Ad Luce: - Two:- Fulguris Lucem - Flashes of Light; and it can be found at www period fanfiction period net /s/9780399/1/Per-Adversa-Ad-Luce-Two-Fulguris-Luce m-Flashes-of-Light
Per Adversa Ad Luce - Through Adversity to the Light A novella in three parts Part Three: Candorem - Incandesence
Established canon up to Kate's return to the 12th, with references and possible spoilers.
Rated M - for mature themes and content
I don't own Castle - ABC Studios and Andrew Marlowe do. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while to play.
I am not making any money from this; it's just to freeshare with my ff friends.
AN - on the subject of their ages. Alexis was 15 at the start of Castle, so 3 years after the start of season 6 she will be around 23. I am putting Kevin at about 30 at the start. I know Seamus was older but with his baby boy looks he can get away with it. For this story that would make him about 38. Therefore the gap between them would be about 15 years.
definition - INCANDESCENCE: The light emitted from a hot body
"Even on the worst days, there is a possibility for joy."
Kate Beckett - Secret's Safe With Me
Chapter One: Prandium - The Lunch
August 2016
...
"Do you realize he was laughing? Really laughing. I haven't heard Ryan do that in years; not since before Jenny was killed."
"Maybe we should have gotten Alexis to talk to him before."
She turned to look at him as he sat beside her desk, playing on his phone. "Would you mind that?"
"What?"
"If they got together? Kevin and Alexis?"
He looked up at her, startled and then turned to look contemplatively at Ryan working on his computer at his desk. He was concentrating on whatever he was doing, but a smile kept stealing across his face. Castle turned back to Kate and gave a smile himself.
"Do you know, I really don't think I would. Mind, that is."
…
Kevin Ryan was bored and frustrated. Two weeks before he had been chasing down a suspect with his partner, when he had slipped, tripped and twisted his ankle. He had been out of the chase, leaving the whole thing to Esposito, and then he had been stuck on desk duty for two weeks while he rested his ankle.
It was ridiculous! His ankle had been fine, relatively, over a week ago. But Beckett and Gates wouldn't listen to him, because the stupid thing was that he couldn't even identify whatever it was he had slipped, tripped or whatever over! They wanted to make sure his ankle was fully healed and that there was no chance it would not just give way on him. Esposito had looked sympathetic and then agreed with them!
He felt totally betrayed and BORED out of his mind with the constant catch up files. Because that was the other thing; as they were one down out in the field they had decided it would make sense for him to type up and complete all the paper work… for all three of them! So here he was with his arms aching from the constant typing, his head aching from constantly staring at a monitor for days on end and… bored… did he mention bored?!
He just wanted to escape for a few minutes. Something, anything to get away for a while, and then he found his prayers answered as a soft sweet voice spoke to him.
"Detective Ryan, is my dad around?" He turned from his desk and found himself catching his breath at the vision before him. Alexis Castle, still very recognizable, but even so, quite transformed.
The last time he had seen her, she had been a child. An extremely beautiful child, but nevertheless her face and body had still retained those features. But before him now, stood a woman, breathtaking and radiant. Her features had matured, her glorious red hair lay in soft curls on her shoulders and her bright blue eyes gleamed in the harsh fluorescent lighting of the bullpen. Her figure had matured as well, and had developed into an alluring body with curves in all the right places. Wow!
There may be no romance in his future, as far as Ryan was concerned, but he was still a red-blooded male who could appreciate a beautiful woman. However, even as he replied to her, he told himself off in his head. 'Remember', he thought, 'this is still Castle's kid, even if she is all grown up now.'
"Sorry he's out with Beckett and Esposito, on a case. They only left about an hour ago, so probably won't be back for a while yet. Can I help?"
"I have a couple of appointments, but there's a gap and I was hoping to grab him for lunch. I hate eating alone, so yes you can help by coming and keeping me company. How about it?"
"Well I have these files to finish up and..." his voice trailed off as he saw the puppy dog expression on her face. Maybe she had grown up but she could still play the 'little girl lost' card very effectively.
"Please?"
"OK, but it needs to be nearby. How about the diner across the street?"
"That's fine. I've eaten there with Dad before and the food is quite good. AND they make an apple pie to die for!" Now that she had achieved her goal of a lunch-time companion, the puppy dog expression had cleared and her face was all smiles. Ryan smiled back, and shook his head slightly, then closed down his computer. They made their way to the elevator together, chatting as they walked.
…
At the diner they ordered their food, with of course the apple pie to follow, and then settled into a booth to talk and eat.
Ryan was amazed at the number of things they appeared to have in common. He had never before spent an extended amount of time with Alexis, alone at least. He had attended a couple of parties at the loft, but he had been with Jenny, there had been many other people there and Alexis had been occupied with her own friends. She may be more than a decade younger than him, but she had time-spanning and eclectic tastes in music, film and literature - probably from the influences of her father and grandmother - and many of her choices were also his.
She had musical tastes in common with her own generation, Taylor Swift for instance, but this was combined with a love of older music, the likes of Springsteen and the Beatles. Her tastes in films were similarly diverse, with modern films complemented by many a lot older, even than herself.
Currently they were having a spirited discussion on the merits of the two main male characters from the original Star Wars trilogy, with Alexis firmly on the side of the Millennium Falcon pilot.
"Han Solo was definitely the far better character. He was arrogant on the surface, but with a touch of vulnerability which made him irresistible. I never understood why Leia seemed to prefer Luke at first."
"Because Luke Skywalker was a much better character! Come on; he got to fence with light sabres. So cool! When I was growing up I really, really, wanted to learn to fence. It looked so graceful and skilful and yet deadly all at the same time. Actually although I think the first trilogy were the better films, the BEST fight was in the Phantom Menace when Obi Wan and Qui Jon took on Darth Maul."
"Well I agree with both those last points, but much as I love fencing I still say Han Solo is far and away the best. And anyway. he's played by Harrison Ford who is FAR better looking than Mark Hamil!" Ryan tilted his head and smirked at her.
"Well I'll leave that consideration to you, as I don't usually judge men by their looks. But what I will say is, don't you think Harrison Ford is a little old for you?" She gave him a pout which turned into a smile.
"Well he is now! He's old enough to be my grandfather actually, but in films he's timeless. I love Gene Kelly and Cary Grant as well and they are both dead! But Cary Grant made some of the best comedies ever and I just love to watch Gene Kelly dance. You wanted to learn to fence because of Star Wars, but my ambition from being tiny was to dance so I could dance with him. I was devastated when Grams told me he was dead!" Ryan laughed.
"So did you learn to dance?"
"Yes, I was very lucky because I had a dad who recognized when things meant a lot to me and also had the money to make them happen. So I got my dancing lessons. I don't think he spoiled me though. Some things, like the dancing, he could see the benefit; but most things I had to work for in some way. He never just handed things to me on a silver platter."
"Well that explains it then."
"What?"
"The reason you are so natural and unspoiled. There's none of the mercenary edge we often see when we're working cases involving people from wealthy backgrounds. Mind you, your dad is just the same. He never comes across as having lots of money."
"Well maybe that's 'cause he earned it by writing, instead of inheriting it."
"Yeah, there is that."
"So did you ever learn to fence?"
"No, never got the chance. Still think about it though; maybe one day."
"I could teach you, if you like?" She blushed slightly as she looked up at him. "Dad taught me and I still fence with him. We have all the equipment at the loft." He smiled at her again.
"That's very kind of you, and it's maybe an offer I could take up when I'm fully fit again."
"What happened?"
"It was stupid! I think I fell over my own feet." She gave a burst of laughter.
"What?!"
"Espo and I were chasing down a suspect and I just fell over. I think it's why Beckett is keeping me chained to a desk for so long. She's worried my legs will just give way if she lets me back out in the field." By now Alexis was laughing uncontrollably. "See you're just as bad as those three back at the office, and then there's Gates, as well. She's hiding it behind a stern face, but I think she's laughing at me too."
"Ah, you poor thing! Never mind, maybe she'll let you out soon."
"Stop mocking me, woman! I don't think I'll ever live this one down. It's even worse than the honeymilk."
"Honeymilk?"
"Never mind, that's a story for another day."
"I think I'd like that. Another lunch like this." Now it was Ryan's turn to blush as he realised what he'd just said. But before he could say anything else, the waitress appeared with their apple pies and lent a welcome distraction. He couldn't help laughing at Alexis as she practically inhaled the apple pie, although he had to agree it was excellent.
…
When Alexis' phone rang, with her hairdresser telling her she had missed her appointment, they suddenly realized they had been there nearly two hours. Ryan groaned.
"Beckett is going to kill me!"
"It's OK. I've time now to walk you back and tell them it was my fault. They can't fit me in now for at least another hour."
Ryan paid the bill, and they made their way back into the precinct. They arrived at the bullpen with both of them in fits of laughter as Ryan recounted to her the time they had been in a race to solve separate cases, and he had faced her dad down, and made the bet about wearing a dress for a week, and shaving their heads.
"So who won?" she finally asked, "'cause I don't remember Dad with a shaved head."
"It was declared a draw," he said, and then they turned to the three people waiting for them at the desks.
"Hey Dad. I came to kidnap you for lunch, but as you weren't here, Detective Ryan was kind enough to stand in for you."
"A long lunch!" Esposito observed with a smirk. Ryan blushed again
"The line was terrible. Anyway, bye Alexis. I'd better get back to work."
"Yeah. Don't forget about the fencing. I'll wait to hear from you." He nodded and sat back down at his desk, ignoring the looks from Beckett and Esposito. Alexis told her dad she needed to get to the hairdressers and he walked her out, their voices fading away.
"Fencing?" asked Esposito.
"Just something I've always wanted to learn to do. They have equipment and Alexis offered to show me, that's all."
"OK, if you say so, Bro." Ryan ignored the smirk Esposito was throwing his way, but was thankful when Beckett called his partner over to the murder board to discuss their case. He tried to get back into his discarded file, but his mind kept replaying the lunch, and he was caught in an argument with himself over whether to contact Alexis about the fencing or not.
He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so relaxed and comfortable in a woman's presence. Not since Jenny, he admitted to himself, but would seeing Alexis again be a betrayal of all he had shared with Jenny? And would it put Alexis herself at risk? He had a dangerous job after all.
Until that day he had been convinced that his future path would be alone, but he felt energized by the time spent with Alexis over the past couple of hours. On the other hand despite their similar tastes she was many years his junior, and would surely not want to be tied to a man so much older than herself. Then he reminded himself of the bottom line - Alexis was Castle's daughter, and he couldn't upset someone who had been such a good friend to him.
…
AN: A HUGE thank you to Firestar385 for beta reading, Americanizing and generally correcting this work. Any remaining mistakes are mine!
Please let me know what you think. All constructive criticism is welcomed - I haven't written in quite a while and the only way to improve is to take on board other people's comments. I hope you will enjoy the reading journey as much as I am enjoying the writing one.
Bookart for this work can be found on my tumblr blog: lsmwalls period tumblr period com [ / ] image [ / ] 65824702381
