The Homecoming of Alexis Castle

When Alexis Castle walked through the door of the loft apartment she stayed in she had a strange feeling, like something was different, but everything looked the same. Alexis thought her Dad would be up by now but the study was empty, and so was the living room, but then she heard movement in the kitchen. Alexis sighed, she wasn't supposed to be back yet but she hadn't wanted to stay, everything had gotten too much for her and she just really needed her Dad right now.

"Dad." Alexis said quietly as she walked into the kitchen to find the man in his dressing gown making coffee.

"Alexis!" Castle said, jumping when he saw her, "Um, you're back early, you weren't supposed to be back until tonight." He said, leaning against the counter as if to cover something up.

Alexis frowned at this strange behaviour, "Dad, are there 2 coffee mugs behind you?" She asked, trying to peer around him,

"What? No." Castle said, lying badly, "It's just me Alexis. Now, why are you home so early?" He glanced at the clock on the wall, "It's only 10am."

"I know." Alexis said as she sat down on one of the bar stools, "And I went to the after party last night but today everyone is just talking about where they want to go now and what they want to do and I don't know and it's all so confusing."

"I understand that honey." Castle said, forgetting about his cover up job as he moved to sit next to her at the bar stool, "But it's part of growing up and you still have a few weeks to make that decision, I don't want you to do something rashly and regret it."

Alexis nodded, "Do you mind that I'm back early?" She asked, glancing at the two coffee cups, "You didn't make any plans?" She asked looking at her Father suspiciously.

"I'll never mind that you're here Alexis." Castle said with a smile, "You're my little girl, I'm always happy to have you around and if you didn't want to be there then you didn't have to be."

Alexis smiled and hugged her Dad, she was about to start questioning him on the two coffee mugs again when a voice let her know she didn't have too.

"Rick, what's taking so-"

Alexis frowned and looked up at her Dad who had a sheepish look on his face, "Dad, that sounds like..." She trailed off and looked up to where Kate Beckett was standing in the doorway of the kitchen wearing only one of her Dads shirts, "Beckett!"

"Oh, um, hi Alexis." Beckett said awkwardly, "You're back early."

"Wow, wait a minute." Alexis said, jumping up and looking between the two adults, "How did this happen? When did this happen? Are you finally together?"

"How it happened isn't important right now, it just has." Castle said to his over-excited daughter, "And yes, we're together." He said as he looked to Beckett who smiled at him.

"Oh my gosh this is great!" Alexis said happily, her mood completely lifted, "I'm so happy for you both! Does Gram know?"

"Not yet." Castle said with a small smile, he was glad Alexis was taking it well, "She isn't back from the Hamptons for a week."

"Well, I'm going to call her!" Alexis said with a smile and then she went over to Beckett, "Thank you for making him happy." She said in an undertone as she kissed Beckett on the cheek and hurried up the stairs to her bedroom.

Beckett stood frozen in surprise for a moment but then she smiled, Alexis was very sweet and very smart, nothing like her Father.

"What did she say?" Castle asked, smiling at the surprised woman.

Beckett couldn't keep the smile off of her face today and she knew exactly why, "She said thank you, for making you happy."

"You've made me happier than you know Kate." Castle said sincerely, "Thank you."

"Always."

THE END