Hi there!

Finally, here's chapter 3! Sorry for the slow update. With working and training for cross country, I've been super busy. But better late than never, right?

Again, I cannot even begin to thank you all for your reviews, favorites, and follows. It means so much to know that so many of you are enjoying this story so far.

Enjoy!

Saturday mornings were Kate's favorite. It was the only day of the entire week that she let herself sleep in. She made sure all of her alarms were off and didn't even think about getting out and exercising. She checked and rechecked the blinds, making sure they were closed, no sun to wake her up earlier than she wanted to. On Saturdays, she waited for her eyes to open naturally, her body to twist and stretch itself awake, and for Alexis to tip toe into her room and snuggle under the covers until their hearts desired.

She laid there in the dark with her eyes still closed for a while, until she heard Alexis' door creak open down the hall. Kate rubbed her eyes, willing the last bits of sleep to succumb to the day.

She still hadn't opened her eyes when Alexis walked in. "Morning."

Kate opened her eyes and smiled. "Morning, sweetie. Sleep okay?"

"Mhm." Alexis pulled the covers back and climbed in next to Kate. She snuggled into her side, pulling the covers up over her shoulders. Kate flipped on the TV and turned the sound down, wanting to listen to the rain that was hitting her windows.

"What do you wanna do for breakfast?" Kate asked her, wrapping her arms around her girl.

"Pancakes?"

"Chocolate chip?"

"Now you're talkin'." Alexis smiled, holing out her fist for Kate to bump.

There was a long silence between the two, like most mornings, until Alexis spoke. "Mom?"

She had her eyes closed again. "Hmm?"

"Why aren't you and dad still together?" Her previous demeanor of craving answers vanished from last night, being replaced with a little voice, really, truly wanting to know why.

Kate froze for just a second before regaining her composure. She knew this was coming. She opened her eyes and thought about it for a second. "Things just happened."

She wasn't letting her mom off that easy. "I'm not a kid anymore, Mom, you can tell me." Alexis looked up at her from Kate's side. "And don't give me the "He's Rick Castle, writer extraordinaire!" thing. I know, I'm his daughter."

Kate laughed for a second. "Okay, okay, you're right." She paused, trying to find the right words to say. "We were in love for a long time, we really, truly were. Then we had you. We didn't have to be married just yet to know that we were a family and that we were happy. But we just started to fight a lot. He was stressed with writing, and I had just gotten into the academy. We were so caught up in everything we were doing and trying to do what was best for you that it just got hard. It was a chore almost. And then it was over." Kate wrapped her arms tighter around Alexis.

It was almost a whisper when Alexis spoke, as if she felt she was intruding. "Why?"

She sighed. "We had a fight. A big one."

"Did you want it to be over?"

She was glad she hadn't asked about the fight. It had been the worst, most heartbreaking fight she'd ever had with anyone in her entire life. "I don't know, Alexis, it's hard to say. We didn't, hadn't really worked for a while. But it's been a long time since then."

She thought back to that night that it ended. The night they had both screamed and cried and tore everything they had made completely apart. The night they went their separate ways, neither one of them strong enough to admit they shouldn't have.

Alexis spoke again, sparing Kate the details of her memories; thank God.

"Is that why you never dated or married anyone else, because you and him never really wanted it to end?"

She thought about it for a second, readjusting herself against the headboard. "I guess that could be it. I just never found anyone else. I know I always tell you it's complicated, but really it is. It's not a textbook kind of thing, you know?"

"I know." Alexis paused again. "Do you still love him?"

Of course I do. "I'll always love your father. He gave me you." She squeezed Alexis a little tighter, kissing the top of her head.

"It's just, when I see you guys together it just looks rights. Like when you're reading a really good book and the two characters fit. That's what you guys seem like."

"Think so?" Kate humored her, but she was honestly thinking about what her incredibly wise daughter had just told her. She was right, they were right, but that fight was more hurt than she'd ever experienced. It was raw and mean and so devastating. Before that, though, they had been how Alexis described them; like two characters in a really good book. They went on cute dates and wrote each other love notes. Rick would plan picnics in the park, and she would attempt to make him a dinner from scratch.

Her favorite memory was any time they would lay in bed and talk about the future. They would lay, wrapped in each other's arms, writing a story between themselves. The over the top, extravagant life that they planned always included a huge house, one with countless rooms and secret passage ways. They dreamed of an endless backyard, with all the bells and whistles that a 'ruggedly handsome, world famous author' could afford. There were always lots of little kids, and a big, golden retriever running circles around them. He was a writer and she was a cop and they were so, so happy. They had it all planned out, and then they didn't.

"I know so. And don't you think it's, I don't know, fate or something that neither of you dated anyone else, and then he ends up in the precinct and then at the door last night? The universe is pretty smart. Maybe you two should just give in and let the universe do its job."

"You know, you're pretty smart for a kid." Kate smirked at Alexis.

Alexis shrugged her shoulders and pursed her lips. "I know."

"Well now that I've had my philosophy and morality lessons for the morning, why don't we make breakfast?"

"Sounds like a plan to me." Alexis shuffled out of bed, "I'll make the coffee."

Kate called from the bedroom, folding the comforter around the mattress. "God, what would I do without you?"

"I don't know, probably die or something. I'm pretty great." Alexis shouted from the kitchen, laughing at her own joke.

Kate giggled. "You're a piece of work." She threw each pillow onto the bed as she spoke.

"I'm the product of my father, what do you expect?"

Kate inched on her slippers and walked to the door. "Nothing less, my girl, nothing less."

I know some of you will probably be asking about the fight; all in due time. ;)

Please review.

xoxo