Author Note: Hey guys, I know I have two projects that need updating and I am working on them, promise, but this practically forced me to write it.

It's based on the Castle/Alexis sneak peek for 'Undead Again' so if you're spoiler free then consider this your warning. This completely disregards anything else I've seen about the episode, so there will be no involvement of zombies :P

There will be one, perhaps two further chapters to this if people like it. This was going to be a cute little one-shot but it didn't quite turn out like that, hence the reason for further chapters so I can incorporate the cuteness :')

This is a quick turnaround for me, and I haven't found any major mistakes reading through it – if there are any, I hope you can excuse them.

Lastly this fic is for CookieBearBert on twitter, whose tweet inspired this! You're awesome – and if you have twitter you should go follow guys ;D

Hope you enjoy!

-Leigh xo

Disclaimer: It goes without saying that I'm not Andrew Marlowe. I wish I had even an ounce of his talent for the creation of Castle! So yeah, now you know ;)

Hit and Miss

Chapter One

It was nearly 9pm and it was becoming something of a routine for Kate to be surrounded by half empty takeaway containers and nursing a glass of wine. Esposito and Ryan had invited her out after the shift, but she knew it was the first proper 'guys' night they'd had in a while and didn't feel right intruding. Kate didn't tell them she didn't think she could handle being on the receiving end of their knowing looks and the hints that were dropped, oh so casually into conversation. They hadn't forgiven Castle for abandoning them as readily as she had, which had led to them questioning why- and there was only so long Kate could pretend. She appreciated their concern, and it meant a lot to her that Espo and Ryan had her back but she was frustrated too. She and Castle weren't that much further forward and their speculations just seemed to make her feel worse.

Kate was brought out of her musings by a knock at the door and she glanced at her watch, frowning. She rarely got visitors at this time of night, and she'd already eaten- so that only left one person she could think of. Castle. But even that didn't make any sense – before it would have been just like him to turn up unannounced on her doorstep armed with food and a crazy theory – because that was the old Castle and though she'd seen a little more of him lately, things still weren't right between them. Placing a bookmark in the book she was reading, she rested it on the arm of the chair and padded across the floor, retrieving her gun from the dresser drawer – out of habit more than anything else – before pulling the door open. There, leaning heavily against the doorframe stood her partner, looking slightly windswept and a more than a little morose. "Hey," He said awkwardly.

"Hey Castle," She spoke tentatively, giving him the briefest of smiles. Things had been better between them since the whole drama with Slaughter, but the tension was still there and Kate still couldn't work out why. "Are you okay?"

"I – Kate, I know I've been a jackass lately, but – I'm sorry to just turn up like this," He searched his vocabulary for something to help him in his explanation, but ironically came up short. Words failed him and he petered off into silence, hovering uncomfortably in her doorway.

Kate's brow creased and she frowned at his demeanour – from their proximity she was able to detect the faint traces of alcohol on his breath. Her heart rate quickened, in the silence that followed his attempt at explaining she felt they could both hear it thudding against her ribcage, and she struggled to get the words out due to the tightness that had settled somewhere between her chest and her stomach. "Why don't you come in?" She was grateful for the steadiness of her voice, and when Castle didn't reply, she directed him inside. He was vaguely aware of Kate's hand encompassing his and as the familiarity of her cherry scent washed over him, something caught in his throat and his eyes became damp. Castle quickly ducked his head as she turned towards him, propelling him down onto the sofa and if she'd noticed the tears glistening in his expression, she didn't pass comment. "I'd suggest having a drink," She started awkwardly, inclining her head towards the bottle of wine on the counter, "But that's probably not a good idea, so how about a coffee?" Kate wasn't reprimanding him, and instead her words were laced with concern as she set about making their drinks in silence.

Their fingers brushed briefly as she handed Castle one of the two coffees, but if it affected him he didn't show it. She sat down on the couch beside him, close enough to offer comfort, but not so close that she was invading his personal space. "Do you want to tell me why you're here Castle?" When Kate spoke, it was in that same quiet tone, as if she was afraid of overstepping the mark. "Not that it's not okay - you know you're always welcome," She added hastily, not wanting to give him the wrong impression. Anxiously, her teeth sunk into her bottom lip, and she appeared interested in the contents of her cup because she didn't want to make him feel any more uncomfortable.

Castle took a gulp of the coffee, buying himself some time before he had to explain himself. Suddenly, when he was sat in her apartment his decision to come here didn't seem like such a good idea. The liquid scalded his throat as he swallowed and he let out a pained grimace at the sensation, noticing Kate roll her eyes next to him as if to say, 'of course it's hot, dumbass. What did you expect?' "Things have changed between us lately Castle, and I don't know why but I want you to know you can talk to me, we're still partners, if- if nothing else."

"It's Alexis," He replied finally, looking everywhere but at her, "I'm probably just making something out of nothing really but-" He stopped speaking and shook his head.

"Did the two of you have a fight?" Kate asked, trying to coax information out of him, as she would when questioning an uncomfortable witness. It felt awkward pushing him to speak, but he didn't seem to know where to begin so prompting him seemed like the logical thing to do.

Castle considered her words briefly, "I wouldn't exactly call it a fight," He answered with a sigh, "But it made me realize just how much my little girl has grown up, and I hate it."

Kate gave him a sympathetic glance, "Well I hate to point it out," She started hesitantly, keeping her tone light, "But it's not a change that's happened overnight."

"It's only started becoming noticeable since- since the summer," By the way he stumbled over the words and carefully avoided her gaze, Kate was able to read between the lines and it was the things he wasn't saying that lingered in the air between them. Since you were shot. He placed his mug on the table.

She could feel herself beginning to grow warm, and the blush beginning to creep up across her cheeks, "You can say it you know," Kate struggled to dispel the lump in her throat, but continued speaking regardless, "I know I'm not the only one my shooting had an effect on and you have to believe me Castle, I'm so sorry you got caught up in it."

"You know I wouldn't have had it any other way;" Castle told her firmly, his eyes finally displaying a flicker of their usual warmth even if only for a moment. "Don't blame yourself Kate, because it's not your fault." He watched her intently, eyes never leaving hers as he spoke, "There are things Alexis doesn't know, and it means she doesn't understand why I won't just walk away. She thinks it's all about the excitement, about Nikki Heat- but it hasn't been for a long time." Kate was about to speak but Castle seemed to feel he'd revealed too much, because he quickly reverted to talking about Alexis. "I was always the cool dad," He said, his voice muffled because his head now was resting in his hands, "Alexis always used to appreciate that, but now she seems embarrassed by it." He looked up, frustration clearly on his face, "It just feels like I'm getting it all wrong."

"Well I've obviously never had a teenage daughter," Kate started, injecting a note of humour into her voice and she was both pleased and relieved to see the corner of Castle's lips turn upwards. She didn't let the conversation shift faze her, nor acknowledge that she'd noticed, "But I've been one, and I can tell you – it's like everything in life – very hit and miss. As a parent, you don't always get it right, and that's okay; it doesn't matter. What matters is getting it right when it counts the most, and you have. You've done a great job with her Castle," She tentatively reached out and placed a hand on his knee, which was unconsciously jiggling but stopped at her touch, "You only have to look at her to see which parent Alexis takes after; she's a credit to you."

"But she doesn't need me anymore," The words had rolled off his lips before he could prevent them, and the harsh reality of his words felt like being hit repeatedly in the stomach. "She hasn't for a while now, but I guess I've been too wrapped up in –" He hesitated, contemplating the end of his sentence before finishing it, "too wrapped up in other things for it to sink in."

"Of all the stupid things I've ever heard you say," She started, eyeing him critically, "I think that just about trumps them all," He didn't reply, and it was only then she realised how greatly he feared this. "Of course she needs you Rick," Kate answered, looking up at him finally and seeing the sadness reflected in his eyes. Taking her hand from where it was resting on his leg, she bravely entwined her fingers with his and it was a measure of how much he needed the reassurance that he didn't push her away. "Do you really think that going out of state is going to be easy for her? It's going to be an exciting new change sure, but what about the homesickness? So she may not need you to pack her lunch, or pick her up from school, but it's going to be you she calls up every night just because she needs to hear a familiar voice-"

"But she wouldn't need to call me every day if she just stayed in New York," Castle pointed out, knowing as he said it that she'd shoot his argument down in flames, but perhaps that was what he needed. Perhaps that's why he had come here, to gain some perspective.

"But she wouldn't feel she was fulfilling her dreams if she did, and I know you want that for her," Kate countered, glancing at him knowingly. "You can't stop this from happening Rick; Alexis is independent enough to go for what she wants, but we both know she won't be happy doing it without your approval."

"She has my approval," Castle answered, choking on the words, and trying to wipe the wetness from around his eyes without it being obvious, "Always."

Kate's breath caught in her throat as she registered the use of the word and the sentiment behind it; the look in Castle's eyes was one she'd committed to memory a long time ago- because it was the same way he'd looked at her until recently. She became aware of the silence and hoped her voice wouldn't betray her when she spoke, "You'll still be her Dad, it doesn't matter where in the country she is or however old she gets and even though she might not realise or like it, she'll always be your little girl." Kate swallowed hard; she could tell her words had struck a chord with him and her own eyes had misted over, "Hell, I'm thirty-three but the way my Dad lectures me sometimes you'd think I was sixteen."

Castle was silent for a while, finishing off his drink and considering the truth to her words, "But who am I gonna beat at laser tag when she leaves?" He answered finally, pouting and instantly causing the tension that lingered to dissipate.

Kate rolled her eyes, leaning forward and placing her empty mug on the coffee table, "Well I'm not promising I'll let you win," She arched an eyebrow and gave him her trademark teasing smirk, "But I'm willing to let you try."

For a second his eyes seemed to light up and it made her smile to see it, but when she glanced back at him it had had gone, and he was looking subdued again. Kate was about to question this sudden change when Castle spoke, "Alexis told me I needed to grow up," He muttered, and for a second there was silence. When he looked up, he could see Kate fighting to hide a smile, "I'm glad you find it so amusing," He deadpanned, "But as usual she's right, I do need to and I'm going to, starting now." Their eyes met and she was taken aback by the unreadable expression on his face, "Can we talk, Kate?"