Chapter 2 – Alexis & her Dad

"Hi Pumpkin. How was the party?" Castle asks as he gives his daughter a welcome-home hug.

"Dad it was so awesome and fun and kinda sad all at the same time. I still can't believe high school is really over, I've actually graduated and in a few months I'll be starting college."

"You can't believe it. You ought to try standing here in my shoes. Seems like only five minutes ago you were crawling into my bed in those cute little pyjamas with feet in them, telling me how you had a 'vewy bad dweem Daddy'." Castle smiles as he gives his best impersonation of a three-year-old Alexis.

"How was your night?" Alexis laughs and teases, "Did you stay up all night with your X-Box and cable channels or did your advanced age catch up with you?"

"Now, now Daughter, enough with the disparaging references to my age. I'm feeling old as it is, since I'm officially the father of a high school graduate. I'll have you know I can still pull an all-nighter with the best of 'em."

"I guess all those late night crime scenes with Detective Beckett have been good practice."

The teenager notices a flicker of something she can't quite read on her father's face at the mention of Detective Beckett. She knows things weren't great between them for a while - her Dad dating flight attendants was a bit of a red flag; but just in the last week or so they were talking again, smiling at each other and her Dad had seemed happier. Until yesterday.

He had been brimming with pride at her graduation and she could see him beaming at her from the audience during her Valedictorian speech, but as the ceremony wore on she sensed the tears in his eyes were about more than just pride or her growing up and going off to college. Even though he tried to hide it he seemed really worried about something and just briefly, when he didn't know she was watching, she caught a look she'd never seen in his eyes before... defeat. There was only one person Alexis knew who could make him look like that.

"Is something wrong Dad?" Alexis asks bluntly, coming back to the present. "Does it have something to do with Detective Beckett?"

Nothing's wrong exactly," he says and Alexis can tell that he's choosing his words carefully. "But there's been some changes with Kate and I."

Alexis isn't sure what to make of that statement. Actually, she isn't sure what to make of anything to do with Detective Beckett anymore. She used to really like her, still likes her, but she just isn't sure she's good for her father. Once upon a time, she thought the detective had feelings for him - even a teenager like her noticed the way they looked at each other; but the way she hurt him by shutting him out after she was shot made Alexis so mad at her. Then when her Dad still went back to the precinct after all that, Alexis was mad at them both. She felt like her Dad was putting himself in harms way just to be close to her and she thought the detective was taking her Dad for granted. She's been worried for a long time that her Dad will get his heart broken and the way he looked yesterday made her wonder if it already was.

But right now he isn't looking heartbroken, or sad; actually he's looking kind of excited but nervous, and very tired.

"What's happened, is Detective Beckett okay?"

"She's fine sweetie. She got a little hurt at work yesterday but she's okay."

"Well I'm glad you weren't there when it happened," Alexis says, her voice thick with relief and maybe a little uncertainty. "You could have been hurt too."

"I know sweetheart." Castle says, drawing his daughter in for a reassuring hug. "We found the man who shot her and she went after him. That's how she was hurt, but I won't know the full story until I see her again later today."

"Where is she? Is she in the hospital?" Alexis asks with sudden concern, because she doesn't want anything to happen to her. She remembers how worried and horrified she felt after seeing her get shot.

"No Lex, nothing like that."

"Then how do you know what happened and how do you know she's okay?"

"Because she came to see me last night." Castle admits and sees the look of surprise on his daughter's face. Until last night, Kate hadn't set foot in the loft in quite a while. "I wasn't expecting her because we'd had a terrible argument earlier in the day."

"Ha. I knew something was wrong."

"I'm sorry I worried you Lex, especially yesterday of all days." Castle apologies, regret obvious in his voice.

"It's okay Dad. I only had suspicions that there was something going on with the two of you." Alexis confesses. "I just told myself you were a bit sad because the baby bird is about to fly the coop. Can I ask you about the argument?"

"How about you go and get ready for our lunch date and I'll tell you the whole story when we get there."

"Okay," Alexis agrees and is half way up the stairs when she asks, "What did you mean by again today? I thought Detective Beckett was here last night."

"She was Pumpkin, and she stayed the night."

"Oh." Alexis answers fairly blandly and then Castle watches as the light bulb goes on. "Ooohhhhh."

So they go to their favourite restaurant for lunch and after Castle listens intently to all the details about the graduation party, they have a very honest and open, but at times awkward conversation. Alexis reacts as teenagers often do when confronted with the idea of a parent having a sex life – with unmitigated horror at the idea that old people have sex. She's honest about her concerns that he might get his heart broken and she's curious as to what has changed that would make now the right time for them to try and start a relationship.

Castle fills her in on what little he knows about Kate going after Maddox, and explains how life and death situations can sometimes change your perspective; make you re-evaluate your priorities. He also tells her that Kate resigned.

"But she nearly died when she was shot and she didn't want you then; you didn't hear from her for months." Alexis says, some residual resentment and anger in her voice. "How is it different this time?"

"Kate doesn't let many people in. She's gone through so much in her life; more than anyone should ever have to deal with and she admits she's put walls up to protect herself from getting hurt. But she's working on changing that, Lex. She's been seeing a therapist."

"Is she okay with you telling me all this?" Alexis asks and Castle swells with pride at the fact that his beautiful, smart and unbelievably mature daughter, despite her obvious reservations about Kate, is respectful and thoughtful enough to even ask such a question.

"Telling you is her idea. She wants to be completely honest, she wants you feel like you don't need to worry about this and if there's anything you want to talk to her about or ask her, she's happy to talk to you."

"Okay." Alexis says, a little speechless that someone as private as she knows Kate Beckett is, would consent to her father divulging all this; let alone suggest it. It makes her feel relieved and a little hopeful that maybe things are different now. Suddenly she blurts, "Does Grams know?"

"Not yet." Castle responds and is just about to suggest he be the one to tell her once she arrives home from the Hamptons, but Alexis beats him to the punch.

"Dad, I might make myself scarce when you tell Grams. Whether she reacts well or takes it badly she's going to want a drink… or five. I think I'd rather talk with her about this while she's sober."

"So, you're planning on a Castle-Rogers family meeting without the senior Castle? To discuss my love life, no less."

"Is that okay?" Alexis asks with a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

"Of course it is Pumpkin. I'm glad you can talk to your Grams, but remember you can talk to me, and Kate too if you feel comfortable. This affects all of us, and while nothing is going to stop me from trying to make this work with Kate, I hope you and I can be honest with each other and that eventually Kate and I will have your blessing."

"Dad, you've already got my blessing." Alexis says as she throws her arms around her father's neck. "I might have some doubts about things, and I'd love you both to prove me wrong by the way, but you know Detective Beckett – what do I call her now? You know her better than I do and if you think the time is right, then I trust you and I'll try to trust her. I just want you to be happy, Dad."

"I love you Alexis." Castle says against her hair and then he chuckles, "And call her Kate… but just promise me you won't refer to her as the evil step mother if I decide to marry her one day."

"Dad, I think Gina deservedly earned, and despite your divorce, will forever retain the title of evil stepmother." Alexis laughs before adding seriously, "Would you get married again?"

"I would. If I can convince someone to take on an aging guy with two ex-wives and a kid."

"Yeah, good luck with that one." Alexis teases.

Castle chuckles happily but only after a sharp sigh of relief that Alexis took his poorly timed mention of marriage and Kate Beckett in the same sentence, completely in her stride. That brain to mouth filter of his...

"I'm not finished yet." Alexis adds, with a slightly more serious edge to her voice but her eyes are alight with mischief. "I kinda want you both to be happy Dad, so maybe third time will be the charm."

Castle looks at his daughter a little warily, not quite sure how to take her, or that last comment; and then she winks at him and bites her bottom lip in a way that so reminds him of Kate. He can't help but grin at some of the similarities between them, their humour, intelligence, their intensity and the ability they both have to take his breath away. He smiles a little wistfully as he remembers Beckett's 'maybe third time's a charm' comment at Ryan's wedding.

"Still not finished so get that lovesick puppy look off your face," Alexis interrupts and Castle obeys immediately. "Just so we're clear, and especially since I'm now officially aware that you currently have one... never ever, and I'm going to spell it for emphasis, E.V.E.R use the words love life or any of its synonyms or euphemisms in reference to yourself and Kate in my presence again. Okay? Eeww. Eewww. Eewwwww."

Castle laughs loudly now and reaches over to hug his amazing daughter. He has the blessing of one of the women in his life and his feelings of relief are immeasurable. Now he just needs another; his Mother's.

A/N: I know this might seem a bit short, considering the closeness of their relationship. Please don't think I've short-changed her, or you, because Alexis has more to say - to Kate!