As you can see, I upload pretty short chapters, but it's good enough for stuff that I just write on the spot when I have time. :)
Thank you guys for all your awesome reviews! That's the reason I wrote this so fast after the last update. Hopefully I will keep updating in a timely manner, but it all depends on you guys and your awesome feedback. So if you like it and want me to continue, please leave a review after you're done.
Enjoy!
A girl's father is the first man in her life, and probably the most influential.
- David Jeremiah
"Dad?" Alexis's voice rang out through the loft and they can hear her walking on the hardwood floors as she dropped her keys into the small bowl on the drawer he had close to the front door. Beckett stiffened in his arms and he rubbed a hand on her back, his eyes as wide as hers. "Your keys are here; I know you're home."
"Castle," Beckett hissed from her position on his lap, "do something!"
"Do what?" Castle hissed back, confused.
She wiggled off his lap hurriedly, grabbing the clothes that were strewn across his room. "Get your clothes on and answer her! I'll go into your bathroom and –"
"Whoa, wait a minute," Castle held his hand up to her as he sat up on the edge of the bed. "Why would you be in the bathroom?"
Silence answered him as he watched her put on her clothes, her gaze pointed towards anywhere but him.
"Kate?" he stood up, pulling on his boxers and jeans.
"Rick, it's just –" she let out a sigh as she ran a hand through her mussed hair. "Alexis and I aren't exactly on the same page right now, and I think it would be best for you and her to spend time together right now. Alone."
His brow furrowed as she walked around, finding her belongings and scooping it all into her arms.
"What're you talking about, Kate? Alexis adores you." He tried to walk up to her, but she kept avoiding his gaze.
"Dad? I thought we were having lunch today? Where are you?" His daughters voice rang out from down the hall, and he watched as Beckett's posture stiffened.
"Ka-"
"Castle, please. Just go and spend time with your daughter. She just graduated and she needs someone on steady ground right now." Suddenly, it clicked in his mind. Beckett didn't think that Alexis would want to be around someone who is broken, who nearly got her father killed several times.
"Kate, you don't under-"
"Dad? Are you in there?" The door knob rattled as Alexis tried to open the door.
Castle looked down at Beckett, who had her gaze fixated on the locked door, her lip tucked under her teeth. She met his gaze after a few moments and spoke silently with her eyes, pleading for him to just go and be with his daughter, that they would talk about this.
His right arm rose as he stepped closer to her, cupping the back of her neck, his head leaning down to capture her lips in one last kiss.
Walking towards his bedroom door slowly, Castle watched as she walked into his bathroom, shutting the door silently behind her. Putting on a smile, he unlocked his door and welcomed his daughter into open arms, placing a soft kiss on her hair.
"Come on, Alexis. Let's go feed that stomach of yours." He put his arm around her shoulders, leading her towards the front door. "Now, tell your old man all about that party you guys had last night."
