Title: Bound By Love

Author: NickyM96

Rating: K+

Summary: Fallout from the events in Target/Hunt leaves Alexis in a condition. Can Beckett leave her comfort zone and help her? Will this bring Beckett and Castle closer or drive them apart?

Spoilers: Hunt. This takes place immediately following that episode.

Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me. I'm just borrowing them for my own entertainment purpose and will return them for the next user when done.

A/N - I was super excited to write this story. I'm a big fan of what could be between Beckett and Alexis. But Squab/Quail episode kind of killed my muse. I'm getting over it and coming back to myself. But slowly. I'm afraid this story was a casualty. I'm not quite as enthused about the ending, so anything after Chapter 4 might be kind of blah. So keep that in mind ...

Chapter 1

There are certain first moments in life that every man lives for. Holding his first paycheck. Holding his first love. Holding his first child. Richard Castle has accomplished all those moments with pride. But the moment unfolding before him now is easily about to make it to very near the top of that list of important firsts.

The laughter that bubbles up across the room makes Castle smile into his glass of wine. He's heard that laughter before from his daughter, his mother, and his girlfriend, Kate Beckett. But never all at the same time. Never with Alexis lounging comfortably against Beckett, a gleam of adoration in both women's eyes. Never because his mother has just given them both good night kisses and tickles before heading off to bed. This is a moment he has to remember. This is the first moment they've felt like a family.

"Good night, Mother," Castle calls out, rising to accept Martha's hug. He notices she holds on a few extra seconds. It doesn't bother him because he feels the need to hold on a bit longer himself. Things in Paris had gotten a lot more dangerous than he'll ever admit to the woman, but somehow she can tell.

"I love you, my boy," she whispers before quickly dashing up the stairs to avoid her tears being seen.

"I think I'll go up, too," Alexis says, accepting one last hug from Beckett before running to her dad. "Thanks again for saving me."

It still chokes him up to think about what had happened, and what could have happened, so he says nothing. He just hugs her tightly before sending her on her way.

"You okay?" Beckett asks, giving him a few minutes to compose himself.

"I don't think I'll ever be okay again after something like that," he admits honestly. "Kate ... it was bad. It was close. Too close. We could have died."

Beckett tries to hide her own pain and fear, but can't quite hold back a tear that escapes.

"Can you tell me about it?"

"No yet," he shakes his head, moving to the couch to sit next to her.

She crawls in his lap and curls into his chest, breathing in the scent of him.

"I'm so happy you're okay, that you're home," she whispers. "I'm so happy you brought Alexis home."

"I wasn't coming back without her."

A jolt of fear goes through her at that thought.

"That terrifies me," she admits. "The thought of losing you. Of losing her. So I understand you doing anything to get her back, even if it meant your life."

"I love you, Kate. But she's my daughter," he says, still feeling the need to explain to her. "And at times, I have to love her more and put her first."

"Shhh," Beckett says, placing a finger on his lips. "I told you, I understand. You never have to explain your love for your daughter to me."

She replaces her finger with her lips, giving him a gentle kiss.

"It's one of the things I love about you."

Another kiss follows, this one deeper. This one, he actively participates in. Just when his hands start to roam under her shirt, she pulls herself away and stands up. She can only laugh at the look of utter desperation on his face when he reaches out for her.

"Meet me in the bedroom," she practically purrs. "It won't do for us to get caught by Martha or Alexis. I have big plans for you tonight. All night."

He watches, mesmerized, as she slinks off towards his bedroom. When she disappears from sight, he jumps to action. He all but throws the used dishes and wine glasses in the sink. He checks the locks on the front door next and makes a mental note to do something about the fire in the fireplace later. It would take too long to deal with it now and he's all out of patience. He's been days without Kate Beckett and he's ready to see what kind of welcome home she has planned for him.

By the time he gets to the bedroom, he's already started taking off his clothes. He frowns at the empty room, wondering where she could have gone. But the sounds of water running lets him know where to find her. He continues stripping down, stepping towards the bathroom.

"Don't come in yet," she says, suddenly stepping out of bathroom. She puts a hand on his chest to stop him. "I'm still setting things up."

He peeks in and sees that she's just turned off the water in the tub, the layer of bubbles just starting to skim the top. His eyes light at the thought of those bubbles barely covering her body. He wants to be patient, but ...

"It's been so long," he whines, bringing an amused smile to her lips.

"Don't be a baby, Castle. I'll make the wait worth your while," she assures him.

She pushes him towards the bed and makes him sit on the edge. She climbs onto his lap, straddling either side of his thighs with her own. He reaches up to pull off her shirt, but she lightly smacks him on the hand.

"Not yet," she teasingly scolds him, a seductive grin on her face. "Remember ... patience."

"Sorry, Baby," he says, surprising her when he flips her onto the bed. Now he's the one standing over her. "I'm all out of patience."

He reaches down and rips her shirt open, buttons flying across the room and skittering across the floor. Her slow simmering arousal slams to full boil as he attacks her mouth with a crushing kiss. Finding that she's also out of patience, Beckett reaches to unfasten his pants. She just manages to get the zipper down when they're interrupted by the door flying open.

"Richard!"

Equal parts pain, confusion, and irritation snap on his face when he realizes his mother is standing in his doorway.

"It's Alexis," she screams before he can complain. She turns and runs out the room before he can question her.

In a flash, he's out the door behind his mother. Beckett takes the time to grab her phone and her gun, not knowing what the danger is, but wanting to be prepared.

"Alexis, wake up, Baby. Alexis!"

Castle's panicked voice and a quick assessment of the situation has Beckett calling for an ambulance. After finishing the call, she goes over to Martha.

"What happened? What's going on?"

"I came to check on her," Martha cries. "I just needed to be sure she was okay. When I got in here, she seemed like she was in a daze. I couldn't shake her out of it. Then, she just passed out. Now, she won't wake up. Katherine, why won't she wake up?"

"It's going to be okay," Beckett says, grabbing the older woman's hands. "I called the EMTs. They should be here any minute. Can you go make sure they can get in?"

After Martha is out of the way, Beckett goes to Castle.

"Castle, stop!" she orders the man when she notices him shaking Alexis harder and harder. She pulls his hands away and places one on the girl's chest. "She's breathing. Feel that?"

"She's breathing," he repeats, nodding his head. "She's okay. She's just sleeping, right?"

"I don't know," Beckett shrugs helplessly. "But she's breathing right now. That's all that matters. The ambulance is on its way."

"I didn't think to call," he sobs. "Why won't she wake up?"

"Shhh," Beckett says, pulling him into her arms. "Let's just get her to the hospital. Let's wait and see what the doctors say."

The longest five minutes pass before they hear the front door opening and the paramedics running up the stairs. They load Alexis onto a stretcher and carry her out the penthouse, Castle right behind them. The two women find themselves alone again, standing underneath the 'Welcome Home' sign they hung earlier. This time, fear and worry fill their hearts instead of joy and relief. This time, they have no idea when, or if, they'll have reason to rejoice again.