A/N: Based on a simple challenge I read somewhere, saying it must be a Castle/Alexis moment under 500 words. Lighter than my usual stuff, but hopefully not bad.
Castle smiled warmly over his mug of coffee he cradled in his two hands, unbeknownst to his adolescent daughter before him. Her blue eyes, nearly identical to his own, twinkled with delight as she waved her arms about energetically. Alexis was certainly happy about something...
"Dad!"
"Huh?" He pulled his head back, and furrowed his brow. "What, sweetie?"
"Were you even listening?" she demanded, although her tone was light and playful. She placed a hand on her hip and looked down at him from where she stood. "Well?"
Castle placed the mug down on the table and placed his hands in his lap, deliberately giving her his full attention. "Of course I was. You know me."
Alexis rolled her eyes, but smiled nevertheless. "So that's a no, then?"
"Correct," he quipped seriously, before offering her a smirk. He gently grasped the hand on her hip and pulled her closer. "Sorry, you were saying something about..." he trailed off, and looked up sheepishly at her perked brow. "Something."
"Dad," she sighed.
"Okay, give me a hint-"
She cut him off with a laugh, and his smiled widened at the sound. At his expression, she looked down at their clasped hands and tilted her head to the side. "Everything okay, dad?"
"Everything is," he took a moment, before looking up at his nearly adult daughter. God, she was perfect. The edges of his eyes crinkled, and the dimples in his cheeks stood out, as he put everything he had into his most overjoyed smile."Everything's perfect."
Alexis seemed unsure at first, until her face reflected that of her father's, and she accepted his answer. Leaning down for a quick peck on the cheek, she enveloped her father's massive frame with her arms and hugged him as tightly as she could. "I'll always be your little girl, daddy."
"When did you get to be so smart," he murmured when she pulled away.
There was a beat, until Alexis walked away with a knowing twinkle in her eyes.
"School."
Castle could only shake his head, and take a sip of his coffee.
End.
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