A/N1: Hello peoples and WELCOME to the FIRST chapter of 'Absolution' my SECOND Castle fic titled 'Horse Riding' This story wil continue on directly from Revelations. You don't need to read Revelations to get this fic but it would probably help ha ha.

On with the show!

The following Saturday Rick woke early when Kate's cell phone alarm pierced through his consciousness.

"It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights. It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight..."

The Writer groaned loudly.

"I can't believe your alarm is the Muppet Show theme," he groaned. "God it's entirely wrong to have an alarm go off this early on a weekend."

"It's time to put on makeup. It's time to dress up right. It's time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight..."

Kate silenced the alarm and rolled over giving him a languid good morning kiss.

"Morning Mr Grumpy Bum," she said in amusement, running her nails through his sparse chest hair. "How's my favourite writer this morning?"

"Great, because he's got his favourite NYPD detective draped all over him," Rick replied in amusement as Kate cuddled up next to him one of her slender legs draped over his groin. "Wish I could go with you and Alexis, some of the best fun in my life have been going horse riding with her."

"Come with us next time we go," Kate offered. "Jackie made me promise her I would visit at least once a month and to bring you up as soon as your specialist gives you the all clear to resume normal activities. It's been two months since you broke your shoulder, by the time I'm due to go and visit Jackie again you'll be able to go riding with me."

Rick yawned.

"Sounds good," he murmured, sleepily. "Actually it's probably a good thing I don't go with you today, I can type properly now and want to make a decent go of the next Nikki Heat manuscript. I've done nothing but make notes on post its or on the recorder since I broke my shoulder and I can't write properly when you're here, your ass is too distracting."

Kate rolled her eyes.

"You have no willpower if you think my backside is too distracting," she said, dryly. "You are quite capable of writing when I'm here, don't try and snow me."

Rick laughed heartily. "I knew I wouldn't get away with that, but it was worth a try." He told her, tracing lazy circles on her back between her shoulder blades. "Not much gets by you does it?"

"When it comes to you Writer Man, nothing gets by me," Kate purred in his ear. "Now as much as I would love to laze away the morning in your arms, I do have to get up. Alexis and I have to hit the road early to be up in Lansing before midday."

Reluctantly Kate pulled away from Rick and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. The Writer rolled over and propped his head up on his hand and watched her backside appreciatively as she padded across the cream coloured carpet and made her way into the bathroom.

"I know you were staring at my ass Castle!" Kate called back, her voice echoing off the tiled walls.

"Rats," the Writer muttered. "Busted again."

A soon as Rick heard the water began flowing in the bathroom, he reluctantly left the warmth of the bed and pulled on his pyjama bottoms and robe. He slipped his feet into his well worn slippers and headed out to the kitchen where he began making a batch of pancakes which had become a Saturday morning tradition on the weekends Kate stayed over.

Alexis was the first to make an appearance at breakfast and bounced down the steps dressed in a stylish pair of black jodhpurs, matching knee high boots and a warm winter jacket with her new riding helmet in her hands.

"Morning Dad!" the redhead piped, bouncing into the kitchen and kissing her still sleepy father on the cheek.

Rick yawned. "M-morning P-pumpkin," he replied, flipping a pancake. "It's far too early to be so energetic. Looking forward to today, huh?"

"Oh yeah!" the youngest Castle replied, enthusiastically. "For two reasons, one I get to spend a whole day horse riding, something I haven't done in ages. And two, I can finally drive the prancing horse on my own, it's been the one thing I've been looking forward to since you got it and I got my learners permit."

"I have a feeling between Kate and you until you head off to college, I'm not going to drive it at all," Rick responded dryly. "Have you two forgotten it's actually my car? At least I think it is, it's been so long since I've driven it myself I'm not entirely sure. I'll have to double check the registration papers and make sure the name there is Richard Castle not Alexis Castle or Kate Beckett."

"Ha ha," Alexis responded dryly as she opened to the refrigerator to retrieve a carton of orange juice. "What are you getting up to today? Heading out or staying in?"

"I thought I might stay in and make some proper headway into the next Nikki Heat manuscript," Rick told her, placing the just cooked pancake into the stack warming in the oven. "I don't need anything on Gina's desk for months yet but I like to strike when the iron's hot. I could knock out a couple of chapters while you're out with Kate today. I've got pages and pages of notes I've jotted down since I broke my shoulder."

"So have you got a plot worked out yet?"

"Sort of, I have to get down what's in my head and notes before I set about organising it into a plot," Rick replied. "But rest assured Nikki and Rook will be having more badass adventures."

"Will Rook be breaking and dislocating his shoulder helping Nikki in the pursuit of justice?" Kate asked in amusement as she emerged from the master bedroom clad in the same make of jodhpurs Alexis was wearing.

Rick's mouth fell open as he took in Kate's figure. The jodhpurs she wore clung to her slim legs like a second skin, accentuating her thighs, hips and waist and sending a jolt to his groin. The woollen jacket she wore slightly hid the swell of her hips but the overall picture instantly made the writer want to press her up against the refrigerator and ravish her right then and there.

"Wha-? Oh ha ha," Rick replied, once he'd gathered his wits about him. "Possibly, once he awakes from the coma he's in. He's a pretty badass shadow so he would have to incur an injury like that in a similar way. I mean it would be totally out of character if he did the injury tripping over the neighbour's cat."

"Sounds like you'll have the next book written by the time Alexis and I return," Kate stated, grabbing and oven mitt and opening the oven.

"Not a whole book but there ought to be something you two can have a nosey at," Rick replied, turning off the stove and placing the last cooked pancake on the stack Kate took out of the oven. "You two girls are my sounding board. I'm sure between you, what ends up on Gina's desk won't be a load of crap."

"I look forward to whatever you come up with," Kate told him as she began serving up the pancakes. "Especially the stuff you can't have in the manuscript," she added with a whisper in his ear.

After breakfast Rick had a hot shower then made his way into the main part of the loft to see Kate and Alexis off as they got ready to head upstate.

"Here this is for your Aunt," he told Kate, handing her the signed and wrapped copies of the Heat Series. "All signed, I hope she'll like them."

Kate kissed him on the lips. "Trust me, she'll love them," she told him, sincerely. "Well we better head off. You behave yourself now won't you?"

"Yes dear," Rick replied dryly, wrapping his arms around Kate and kissing the top of her head.

"Watch it boyo," she told him.

"See you tonight Dad, have fun writing." Alexis told her father, hugging him fiercely.

"Will do kiddo, drive safe," Rick told his daughter, hugging her harder than he normally would. "I worry about you, you know."

"I know Dad but trust me, I'll be fine. I've driven the prancing horse before and Kate's with me, if I feel like I can't or don't feel like driving. She can," Alexis assured her worried father. "I've been looking forward to this moment for years. I'm not going to stuff it up."

"I just worry ya know?"

"I know you do Dad."

"She'll be fine, I promise," Kate whispered in his ear. "See you when we get back okay? I don't know if we'll be staying for dinner but seeing as I haven't seen Jackie and Graham for a while, the possibility of getting that invite is high. I'll ring if we're going to be back late, okay?"

"Okay, you girls have fun. I'm definitely coming along to the next outing," Rick vowed walking Kate and Alexis to the front door of the loft.

"See you tonight Dad!"

"Til then, kiddo."

The drive upstate to Lansing, the small rural community where Kate's Aunty and Uncle lived was a riot for Kate and Alexis. The moment Alexis slid into the driver's seat the music went on and for the entire upstate, the two women sang to every song karaoke style increasing their bond and friendship.

"We're not doing that on the way home or I'll get a sore throat," Alexis said in amusement, turning down the volume as she passed the 'Welcome to Lansing' sign. "Okay where to from here?"

"You need to take a left into Main Road by Lake Eerie Wines, that's a vineyard just over the rise here. Then a right onto Kennedy Drive," Kate directed, pointing the way. "And Jackie and Graham's place is the last property at the end of the road on the left. You can't miss it."

Half an hour later Alexis turned into Kennedy Road and drove right down to the end of the road past paddocks full of sheep, dairy cattle and horses, til they came to a property with elegantly painted white fences.

"This is it turn down here," Kate told her, pointing to the long dirty drive. "Park in front of the homestead."

Alexis turned into the driveway and drove down the path til the enormous two story homestead came into view. Even before the redhead cut the engine a mix bred mutt raced around the corner and began barking madly.

"WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!"

"ARTIE CAN-IT-Katie!"

A tall slender woman resembling Johanna, raced toward Kate and engulfed her in a hug.

"Katie Katie Katie, it's been far too long!" Jackie declared, swinging Kate around in a circle. "Oh darling you're far too thin! Are you eating?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "Yes I am eating," she said dryly, returning the hug. "I'm just skinny, oh it's so good to see you!"

"You really need to visit more often missy, we're all starting to forget what you look like!" Jackie declared, hugging Kate again and in doing so spying Alexis who was hanging back uncertainly. "Ah sweetie, you must be Alexis!"

"Yes ma'am, I am," the teenager replied, politely.

"Oh pfft with the ma'am, call me Jackie," Jackie said striding forward and grasping Alexis's hands warmly "good to meet you sweetie Katie's told me a lot about you. I hear you want to study psychology at college."

"I do but I don't know which college I'll be going to yet," Alexis replied as Jackie led her and Kate toward the homestead. "I didn't get into Stanford so I applied to Gainesville Florida, LSU, UCLA, Brown, Columbia, Yale and Harvard. The next lot of acceptance letters aren't due for another month yet, so I don't know where I'll be going."

"Well from what I hear sweetie, you're smart enough to get into any college and its Stanford's loss you didn't get in there," Jackie told her, leading the way up the steps and into the homestead. "But you shouldn't worry honey, I didn't get into my first choice of college and ended up going to Harvard and it was the best years of my life."

"Well I hope that's the case with me."

"Is Graham home?" Kate asked, sliding into one of the barstools at the kitchen bench.

"Not at the moment, he's gone down to Coopers with Jamie to get a load of lucerne." Jackie replied, switching on the kettle and taking three mugs form the mug tree on the bench. "If you two don't mind giving a hand to unload when they get back, they'll come on a ride with us."

"Jamie is Graham and Jackie's youngest," Kate explained to the teenager. "My favourite cousin, he's the same age as me only a week younger. We used to mess about a lot when we were kids. I think you'll like him."

"I look forward to meeting him."

"So how are things going with Rick?" Jackie asked Kate with a grin as Alexis slipped off her stool to play with Artie who had raced into the room to greet the new visitors. "I want to know everything."

Kate went bright red. "Things are going great," she replied, honestly. "He makes me smile and if I'm having a crummy day at the precinct, he always does something to cheer me up. And you know he constantly surprises me. Every night we're not together I get a sweet dreams text and on Wednesday night, I got home from the precinct to find two dozen roses on my doorstep with a card with 'You make me happy, love Rick' written on it. It was in his handwriting so he must've organised it when he went out for our lunch earlier that day."

Jackie swooned. "Oh that's sweet!" she exclaimed "is he the one Katie?"

"Oh yeah for sure," Kate replied, emphatically. "I feel things with him that I've never felt with anyone else, Jack. He helps me be a better cop and a better person and loves me despite all the shit that's happened to me since Mom died. He's been there every step of the way since he came to the precinct, well before we got together. He was my best friend long before he was my boyfriend. Hell I wouldn't even call him my boyfriend. He's my partner, soul mate even. Mom would've loved him. I'm a hundred percent certain of that."

Jackie's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I'm glad you're finally happy Katie, you really deserve it," she told her niece, reaching across the bench and squeezing her hand "have you taken him to your Mom's grave?"

"Yeah twice," Kate revealed, watching Alexis play tug of war with Artie. "On Christmas Day and on the anniversary of her death. Each time he's bought three hundred Jonquils, her birth flower and arranged them in the shape of a heart."

"Oh that's sweet!"

"Yeah it is," Kate replied with a happy sigh. "I'm happy with him, I mean truly happy with him."

"And what does your Dad think of him?" Jackie asked as the kettle neared boiling point.

"Oh Dad loves him," Kate assured, with a chuckle. "They talk golf and fishing all the time. When the specialist gives Rick the go ahead they've planned a golfing trip to Bethpage. Rick has a membership at the club there. They bonded a lot over Christmas."

"Well if the in-laws like the partner you're on a good thing Katie, remember that," Jackie told her, with a grin.

"Oh pfft in laws?" Kate exclaimed. "Jack we're not married. Marriage is not on the table for either of us anytime soon. Rick's done it twice before and it didn't work out. He's been scarred before and I'm guessing wants to make sure it's the right thing to do before diving into that pool again. And as for me, I'm with the right person and will be for the rest of my life. Marriage essentially is a legal document. I don't need that to be happy with Rick."

"Uh huh, just make sure I'm on the guest list when it happens, alright sweetie?" Jackie told her niece with a knowing grin as the kettle reached boiling point and switched itself off. "I saw those pictures in the paper from the Mayor's New Year's Eve party, you two looked as into each other as your Mom and Dad were. The way you looked at each other..."

"Alright alright, not that it will but IF it happens, you'll be on the guest list." Kate retorted dryly, rolling her eyes. "God if Rick was here, would you be teasing him like this?"

"Oh you bet honey, that's what family does," Jackie informed the younger woman. "I can't wait to meet him one day."

"Well he's due to have the sling off in a month and I promise as soon as his specialist gives him the go ahead to do something like go horse riding, I'll bring him up here." Kate promised her Aunt as she made their coffees.

"He wishes he could've come today but he's not allowed to do anything remotely physical til the sling comes off," Alexis said, picking up the plastic bag she'd carried into the house. "Kate told him you like his books but have never managed to get to a signing, so he thought you'd like these."

Jackie cast Alexis a puzzled look but took the bag and pulled out the three packages

"Go on, they're from Rick personally." Kate urged.

Jackie broke the tape on each package and pulled away the paper, revealing the crisp brand new copies of Heat Wave, Naked Heat and Heat Rises. Her whole face lit up as she opened them and saw the inscriptions.

'Jackie, for all those times you haven't been able to get to a signing. Next time I'll schedule one to fit into your timetable. Hope you have many hours of happy reading...Rick Castle" in Heatwave.

'Jackie, I am glad that Kate has someone like you in her life, she talks about you fondly and it will be a pleasure to meet with you someday. Happy reading...Rick Castle.'

In Heat Rises 'Jackie there's a ticket to the launch party of the next Nikki Heat book with your name on it. Happy reading...Rick Castle."

"He only signs them 'Rick Castle' to friends and family," Alexis explained as Jackie let out a squeal of happiness and engulfed Kate into a hug. "Everyone else it's 'Richard Castle'"

"Oh they're lovely, thank you!" Jackie exclaimed, hugging Alexis next. "Tell your father thank you. I'll treasure them!"

"The launch part for the next one won't be for months yet, but I'll let you know when it is as early as I can so you and Graham can come down to Manhattan for the event," Kate promised, wrapping her fingers around her mug of coffee. "The first draft of the manuscript isn't due on the editors desk til the end of April."

"And the final draft probably by the end of June or July," Alexis added. "The process for the final edit usually takes a month, and then it goes to print. The launch party usually happens about four maybe five weeks after that, so keep from the middle of September to the middle of October free."

"Oh honey, I'll do that in a heartbeat. The district court can get a fill in judge!" Jackie declared, a huge grin spread across her kind face.

An hour after Kate and Alexis arrived at the farm, the loud rumbling of a delivery truck filtered in from outside.

"Come on you two, sounds like Gray and Jamie are home," Jackie told them, placing her mug in the sink.

Kate led the way out through the back door to the stable yard where her uncle and cousin where just getting out of the truck. Jamie the youngest of the pair spied Kate and raced across the yard engulfing her in a crushing hug.

"Katie Bear!" he bellowed, picking Kate up and spinning her in a circle. "Oh it's awesome to see you cuz! Where the hell have you been? What the hell have you been up to? And why the hell haven't you been up here recently?"

"I've the hell been busy," Kate joked, returning the hug just as enthusiastically. "I'm a cop you know, we don't work nine to five on weekdays only."

"I know I know, oh its awesomesauce seeing you again! Who's that Ferrari in the drive belong to huh? Did you pinch it from the impound lot?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "No you goof, its Rick's. He couldn't come today, he's still getting over his broken and dislocated shoulder," she informed her cousin. "He lets me drive it whenever I'm at his place. Alexis finally got her full licence during the week and can drive a car like that on her own so she drove us up here."

"Hey you must me Alexis. I'm Jamie, Katie's cousin." Jamie said to Alexis, holding out his hand. "Welcome to the farm."

"Thanks, I've been looking forward to coming," Alexis replied, politely. "Need a hand unloading the lucerne?"

"Sure, any help is welcome."

"Hey doesn't your favourite Uncle get a hug first?" Graham asked Kate, striding forward and engulfing Kate in a crushing hug. "Good to see you sweetheart, you're far too skinny. Does the NYPD wage not allow you to buy food?"

Kate rolled her eyes as she returned her Uncle's hug. "I'm perfectly fine," she told him. "And yes I am paid enough to buy food. You're just jealous you're not a skinny Minnie Uncle Tubby McTubTub."

"Oooh buuuuuuuuurn," Jamie joked.

"Ha ha smartass," Graham retorted. "C'mon girls, let's get this lucerne off the truck then hit the trails."

Half an hour later the last of the Lucerne bales came off the truck and the group made their way into the barn where five horses of various shapes and sizes were stabled and ready to be saddled up.

"You still have Timber?" Kate exclaimed in surprise as she went to a stall housing a swaybacked bay gelding. "Oh wow."

"Course we have Timber. He's a family pet. He's never leaving the farm," Jackie said softly, watching the gelding greet Kate with a throaty whicker.

"He's special, I take it?" Alexis asked Jackie as Kate let herself into the box.

"Yeah, Timber was Johanna's horse," Jackie replied, melancholy. "He used to be a racehorse but was no good at it and ended up in a doggers auction. She bought him for two hundred bucks as a three year old and brought him up here. She used to come up every weekend with Katie to ride him until she died. I promised Katie he'd never leave the farm. He's twenty five now but still fiery. He's ridden every day and in the warmer weather I show him."

"Can I take him out?" Kate asked, sticking her head over the stall door.

"Sure thing Katie, he's in from the paddock because I know you'd like to take him out," Jackie answered, sweetly. "You know where his saddle is. Tack him up and we'll get going. Alexis you can take out Princess in the box next to him. I've been told you used to do quite a bit of riding when you were younger and are good to saddle up on your own, just give me a yell if you have trouble doing up the girth. Princess has the habit of sucking in a breath when it comes time to saddle up."

"Sure thing."

Kate fetched Timber's saddle and bridle from the tack room and returned to the gelding's stall, her head flooding with memories of her mother. Timber seemed to sense her sadness and touched his whiskery muzzle to her cheek, huffing out a sweet hay scented breath.

"Hey boy, you remember her too don't you?" the female detective said softly, resting the tack on the stall door and dropping a kiss on his muzzle. "Do you miss her as much as I do?"

Timber whickered and tucked his massive head under Kate's arm. Kate cuddled with the old horse for a while before giving him the grooming of his life and tacking him up. As soon as the saddle touched his back Timber 'woke up' and began bumping his chest against the stall door.

"Oi behave!" Kate scolded, giving the girth one more yank and tucking the loose straps into their keepers.

Kate double checked all the straps and buckles then put on her helmet and led Timber out into the barn aisle.

"Do you still jump him?" Kate asked Jackie, who was busy saddling up a sleek grey gelding.

"Yeah, d'you want to take him out into the sand yard and warm him up over a few?" the older woman asked. "Take Alexis with you, Princess needs the exercise. She's getting too fat."

"D'you know how to jump?" Kate asked the younger Castle as they led their mounts outside to the sand yard where four jumps of various types were set up.

"Yeah but it's been a while since I've done it, so I might try the small ones first," the teen replied, leading Princess over to the milk carton mounting block.

The two women mounted up and rode into the sand yard. As soon as Kate pushed him into a trot, Timber began to pigroot and crab step on the spot eager to get going. Kate expertly sat deeper in the saddle and drew back on the reins.

"Behave yourself Timber, you know better than that," she scolded. 'Go on git up there, hup!"

Kate spent the following five hours in the saddle, riding all over the property and surrounding trails, jumping everything in her path. She raced Alexis and Jamie through all the flat paddocks, jumping every manmade and natural jump in her path, revelling in the freedom of the wind blowing through her hair. Eventually though she trotted Timber into the stable yard sliding off the old gelding's back with a happy sigh.

"Have fun Katie?" Jackie asked with a grin as she dismounted.

"I did," Kate replied reaching under Timber's belly and loosening the girth. "I'm definitely coming back here with Rick. He would've loved racing through the buttercups."

"He would've hollered 'Whoo hoo' over every jump," Alexis said, dryly as she led Princess into the barn.

"You gotta bring this writer dude up here soon Katie, he sounds a riot," Jamie told his cousin, tying his mount up. "I want to take him out drinking."

"Oh he'd drink you under the table, Poo Bear," Kate teased, tying Timber up and pulling off his saddle. "You haven't been on a drinking session til you've been out with Rick Castle. When he and Javier took Kevin to Atlantic City for his buck's party I got 'I Love You So Much' calls and texts every three minutes. I thought I was going to have to get in the car and go and pick them up before they got arrested by the Jersey PD."

Jamie sniggered. "I'm definitely taking him out on the town," the younger man vowed. "You can come with us if you like."

"Sure, someone's got to make sure you behave yourself."

"Ha!"

After the horses had been stabled for the night activity turned to inside the house where Kate showed Alexis though all the family photos Jackie had pulled out of storage. For the hour dinner took to prepare and two hours after dessert the brunette detective gave the teenager a tour through her life before her mother was murdered. But finally the sun went down and the last of the photo albums had been closed and the two women made to return to Manhattan.

"Thanks for having us Jack but we better hit the road it's getting late," Kate told her Aunty as she engulfed the older woman in a hug. "When you're down in Manhattan next, drop by the twelfth or my apartment and we'll visit okay?"

"You got it kiddo and remember as soon as Rick's shoulder has healed, bring him up here I want to grill him and make sure he's looking after you properly." Jackie teased.

Kate rolled her eyes as Alexis giggled.

"He is looking after me, if he didn't, Dad, Javi and Kevin would rip him limb from limb," she replied, making her way out to the front of the house where the prancing horse was parked. "I would too."

"Well good, tell him I really appreciate the books, they'll take pride of place next to the picture of your Mom in my office," Jackie informed her niece, engulfing her in a crushing hug. "Don't be a stranger Katie, we don't see you nearly enough these days."

"I promise I'll come up again soon," Kate promised, returning the hug then getting into the prancing horse. "See you later."

"Thanks for having me Jackie. I had the best time today," Alexis said to Jackie as she started the engine.

"That's alright sweetie, you come back again soon too."

"I will," she replied, smiling.

Five minutes later Kate and Alexis were back on the road and making the journey back to Manhattan. A soon as they left the Buffalo city limits Kate's iPhone began ringing and 'Call from-'Rick' flashed up on the screen.

"Hey Writer Man," she answered, awkwardly pulling off her new boots.

"Hey Tulip, how's my girl?" the Writer asked.

"I'm good, great in fact. I wish you could've come today," Kate confessed. "Alexis and I spent five hours in the saddle and three hours looking at old photos of me from when Mom was alive. Jackie gave me a whole new album with pictures of me from each year of my life. I can't wait to show that to Dad, he'd love it."

"I reckon I'd love it too," Rick teased. "I'd like to see teeny tiny ickle Katie Louise Beckett in pigtails and her thumb in her mouth."

"Oh shut up, you tease me and I'll arrest you," Kate muttered, feeling her face warm. "You know better than that Richard Castle."

"Behave yourself Dad!" Alexis called shifting gears and changing lanes.

"See even your offspring is telling you to pull your head in," Kate went on with a giggle.

"I can't get away with anything with my girls," the Writer grumbled. "You two on your way home?"

"Yeah we left fifteen minutes ago. We ought to be back at the loft by midnight. We've got to stop off for gas soon or we'd be back sooner."

"Alright, well I'll leave you girls be, drive safe and I'll see you soon." Rick said.

"Love you Dad!" Alexis called.

Kate turned the speakerphone on just in time for Alexis to hear "-ove you too Pumpkin!"

"See you soon Rick, I love you." Kate told him, putting the phone back to her ear.

"Love you too, Tulip."

Kate hung up and pocketed her phone, slumping back in her seat with a happy sigh.

"Alright it's my turn," Alexis declared, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel.

"For?" Kate enquired raising an eyebrow.

"To lay a proposition on the table," Alexis explained.

"Go on."

"Dad and I go to a gym in SoHo and his personal trainer is starting up a new dance class next week," Alexis revealed. "He's a real hip hop nut and is starting a new dance based group fitness class at the gym for anyone who wants to join in. I've signed up and so have Paige and Kelsey from school. I was wondering if you'd like to come along. You're already fit, you have to be to be a cop but I thought it might be a bit of fun, something to do on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights together. And maybe Doctor Parish would like to have a go too?"

"Yeah I'll tag along sounds a bit of fun," Kate agreed, honoured that the teenager wanted to spend more time with her. "Has your father signed up?"

"Nah I tried convincing him but he told me has two left feet and that a drunken newborn foal can dance better," Alexis replied with a laugh. "He's happy to be taxi driver though."

"I doubt your father's lack of dancing confidence, he really cut the rug up at Kevin and Jenny's wedding," Kate told the teenager. "Actually he was quite the star of the show after the cake cutting. He, Kevin, Javi and Jamie-Jenny's brother serenaded Jenny and her bridesmaids with this little dance routine to the Stop remix of Crazy, the Britney Spears song."

"Oh no way, really?" Alexis exclaimed in disbelief. "Are you kidding me?"

"Nope and he was awesome," Kate declared, laughing at the memory of a very drunk Rick busting a move on the dance floor. "I think Lanie got some vision on her phone. I'll get her to text me the video and I'll send it to you."

Alexis roared with laughter. "Oh I wish I'd been there!" she exclaimed. "Grams won't believe it til she sees it. What was the reaction at the reception?"

"Oh it was very popular, they got a standing ovation and there were several calls for an encore," Kate revealed with a grin. "I think they would've considered it if they weren't all under the influence."

"If I wasn't driving and using all my concentration on the road, I would ring Dad back right this minute and start teasing him." Alexis declared.

Kate took Alexis' iPhone out of her handbag and plugged it into the car's phone cradle.

"Shall we?" she suggested with a grin, scrolling through the phone book til she came to 'DAD'

"Yeah let's!"

The two women waited until the call connected and heard the writer's voice answer. "Hello Pumpkin..."

"Hey Dad what's this I hear about you doing a Britney at the Ryan's wedding?..."

A/N2: So what did you think huh huh huh? I'm a total review whore and would LOVE for you to let me know what you think! HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE massive thanks to my beta BETA Paige who tinkered with this effort and smoothed the edges so I could give you this the final product. I hope you like it BP!