Pointless Thursday
"I can only come up for five minutes Castle," she's warning him. She wants to go home and shower, grab some extra clean clothes.
He huffs feigning frustration, then tugs on her hand, attempting to pull her from the car over the console and through the passenger door. She just throws him a look of annoyance at his impatience and insistence. He seems too smug, like he will convince her to stay despite her protests. She knows he can't, not this evening. She needs some time to herself, she's been intruding on his time with his daughter for almost three consecutive days. Normally she limits the time she steals him from the girl. Alexis would never vocalise that she'd like some alone time with her dad, but Kate won't ever let it get that point. She knows Castle would be content to have them both all the time, but tonight he needs to catch up with his daughter.
She understands, she has a few things to do anyways. She'll wash some of her clothes, especially the ones which she keeps here – some of them she hasn't seen in her own closet for weeks. Plus it is about time she stopped wearing the same few items after she stays here. At least now she's found a legitimate reason to duck upstairs with him, spend a few moments with him in his home, find Alexis and tell the girl to have a movie night with her dad.
Except upstairs five minutes later, when she breaks free from Castle's grasp, granting him one last lingering kiss before she steps back, completely separating herself from him. "I'll be back, I have something I want to tell Alexis," she says softly, hesitates then heads slowly upstairs.
When she had pulled back it had been like a cold wind had come between them, a vast distance filled by a chill far cooler than he heat which had been radiating from her body. But then she'd given him that soft smile, brushing a few wispy hairs from her forehead and he had melted, content to let her do whatever she pleased, especially if that involved saying hello to his daughter before she slipped out the door, finding her excuse to leave.
.
"Hey," Kate says softly, not wanting to startle the girl, tapping her knuckles once on the half open door.
Alexis smiles when she tears her eyes from the notebook in front of her. "Hi," she says the smile which graces her face is apparent in her tone.
"Can I sit?" Kate has crossed to the bed and gestures at the array of books which are spread out before the girl.
"Oh, of course," she says quickly, shifting herself over, stacking the books, hastily making room.
Before Kate sits, she considers sitting at the girl's feet, but that isn't their relationship. She isn't Alexis' parent, her mother always used to sit at the foot of her bed when she had something to say, when she was in trouble as a small child, being lectured as a teenager or just when she came in to say goodnight. That memory causes her to sit beside her, put her feet on the bed and raise her knees, mimicking Alexis' position – intentionally attempting to keep them on an even playing field.
"What's up?" Alexis is asking her, eyes a little concerned it might be something serious.
"Nothing I just…" She stops speaking; it seems stupid now she's here. "I thought I'd come up and say hi before I left, tell you to have fun with your dad tonight." She gives the girl what she hopes is a reassuring smile.
"You have better plans?" Alexis raises an eyebrow, teasing like her father.
Kate laughs at the girl, leaning her head over to examine the calculus book sitting open on her lap. "No actually, and it seems yours aren't any better."
The girl screws up her face. "Yeah not really." Sneaking a glance back at her book before raising her eyes slowly, meeting Kate's gaze again. "Why aren't you staying? Dad been too annoying today?" she guesses.
"Surprisingly not," Kate keeps it light, hopes her face portrays the modest shock she feels at the realisation. "No, I actually thought you guys could do with some time alone. You know catch up without me hanging around," she says softly, slowly.
"Kate…" Alexis' tone is a little shocked. "You don't need to do that."
"I do." She nods slowly, trying to convince them both. "You need some time with your dad," she says softly.
"Actually I have a better idea," Alexis says slowly after a moment, as if the words she is about to say are meaningful.
.
Just as Castle has begun to think that Alexis has managed to convince her to stay, that or they have snuck out past him on some top-secret evening adventure he has been kept in the dark about, they appear on the stairs, speaking in soft tones, words he doesn't catch as they descend.
"Hey," he greets them both, twisting on the barstool he has perched himself on, fiddling with his phone to pass the time. The bag of clothes she had gathered earlier at his feet, so that in theory she had to come and find him before her escape.
It is his daughter who approaches him, though Kate isn't too far behind, hanging back for some unknown reason, looking a little hesitant, arms folded loosely across her chest.
"Is it okay if I go with Kate?" Alexis asks softly, her eyes hesitant.
He darts his eyes over to his partner, while she does look a little uncomfortable it doesn't seem to be about Alexis tagging along home with her, but more about Castle being left alone in his loft to his own devices. "We'll be back in an hour or so," Alexis adds quickly, her words are a rush as if she fears he will say no. he watches as his daughter turns back to Kate, looking for her confirmation. When the detective gives a small smile and nods in response he has never been more amazed by her, never more surprised. Though he is also suspicious, normally when the two of them are alone it is because one of them needs to talk, but this time he isn't sure which it is. Maybe this time there is no reason, he can only hope. But he is glad that if there is a reason for this, then they have one another.
"Of course you can, Pumpkin," he says softly, flicking his gaze between the two of them.
She hugs him, squeezes his neck. He hugs her back, but he is smiling at the detective over his shoulder.
He sighs when his daughter steps back, feigning dissatisfaction. "I guess this just means I have to fend for myself then," he teases them, prodding them for a reaction.
He sees Kate open her mouth to respond, but his daughter beats her to it.
"There are a draw full of take-out menus over there-" she gestures with her whole body, the dramatic flare running through his family,"-and see that big shiny thing?" She points to the fridge. "It is also full of food, you can find an array of items which will be to your liking. Some work well together, others… do not," she says, pulling a face in disgust.
He narrows his eyes at her and hears Kate laugh behind her.
"Have fun," he says softly, tugging his daughter into a quick goodbye hug before he kisses her forehead.
"We will," Alexis says conspicuous with her mischievous tone, giving Kate a wicked smile. The smile reassures him they both seem just fine. Alexis takes her exit then, headed for the door for shoes and her coat, he assumes.
He doesn't stand from his spot on the stool, just holds his hand out to his partner, willing her to come over and say goodbye.
After he kisses her, lingering for a second and then going back for another when she pulls away from him. She's always a little hesitant when Alexis is around, he knows it's not that she's embarrassed, its more than she doesn't want to make the girl uncomfortable. He's glad she understands the balance.
"So want to tell me what has prompted her to abandon me in favour of your company?" he asks softly, a hint of a tease in his tone to let her know he isn't serious. Although even if his daughter was deliberately abandoning him in favour of an evening with Kate he would understand completely.
"I don't know." She seems slightly concerned, her eyes widening a little. "I went up and told her to enjoy the night with you, you know, like I normally would. Then after a while she asked me if she could come back with me, she said she had something in mind, something she wanted to ask me about, something she needed my help with, promised me it was nothing to worry about, nothing bad." She is rushing, her words coming so quick he can barely catch them.
"It's fine," he assures, kissing her softly again and then she does something he doesn't see very often.
She grimaces. "What if I can't help her?" she whispers, not meeting his eyes. But he can see her face, it is not hidden by the mask of hair she often uses as a reflex to hide herself from him. He is so grateful for the way her hair is twisted against her scalp, providing her no shield from him.
"Hey," he lifts her chin with his fingers. "Whatever it is it'll be fine. You always know what to say," he offers, giving her a soft smile.
He sees it in her eyes as she nods her head and gives a soft "okay," the unwavering doubt doesn't leave her though.
"It'll be fine." He assures, picking up the bag from his feet, then guiding her toward the door with a hand at her waist.
He hands his daughter the bag, giving Kate an extra moment to slip into her coat and shoes again. His daughter tosses him a knowing look and it makes him wonder what she's up to. "I'll see you in a while," he farewells them softly, closing the door behind them.
He wonders what on earth his daughter needs advice with. The few times he knows she has called Kate in preference to him is that she felt she couldn't discuss it with him. He also wonders why Kate suddenly feels the pressure, he suspects it has to do with their relationship, but maybe it also has to do with not wanting to let Alexis down, knowing the issues she herself faced at that age, needing someone to talk to and wanting to be there, saying the right things.
He has to put them out of his mind, so he grabs the first take-out menu from the drawer and sets about deciding on his dinner. They'll be fine.
.
When they return a few hours later, laughing and joking from what he can hear, he rises from his spot on the couch in front of the television to greet them. "Hey," he says, touching Kate's shoulder before he speaks, leaning in close to press a kiss against her head. Apparently it had gone better than she expected. Her hair now hangs loose around her shoulders, he notices as she leans her shoulder back against his chest. Not vocalising his presence, still laughing with his daughter. He doesn't hear what they're saying, he doesn't need to know. His daughter smiles at them both he notices, darting her eyes between the two.
"Want a drink or something?" Castle notes how his daughter has her eyes focused on Kate.
When she shakes her head, he hums his approval. "Let's make smoothies," he exclaims over her head, eyes focused on his daughter as she beams back at him, eyes wide and excited. Then before he can blink the body of his partner has moved from in front of him, as has his daughter's. He spins on his heel to find his daughter tugging her across towards the kitchen, being met with no resistance as she explains that Kate simply has to try the fruity concoction that her dad will make them. He hears his partner agree but he stays back, watching them, unable to keep the wide smile from his face, enjoying the moment. Then Alexis is shooting him daggers across the room, beckoning him over with a furious wave of her hand, insistent that he participate.
As they make and drink their smoothies he cannot stop marvelling at the women who have returned to his apartment. Whilst it pains him to admit it, yes his daughter can now only be described as a young woman. Whatever she and Kate discussed has given a new light heartedness to their interactions, he will have to thank them both later.
When he suggests they watch a movie he doesn't miss the look they exchange, he has no clue what it means but then Kate nods in approval to his daughter. Neither of them actually addressing him, but he assumes they are obliging when they head off ahead of him into the lounge room to wait while he rinses their glasses in the sink. When he joins them he finds Kate sitting on the floor, her back against the couch as Alexis twists her fingers through her hair, bottom lip pulled between her teeth as she concentrates.
When Kate flicks a wrist at the TV, saying nothing to him, he obeys her silent command. He puts on the first DVD he sees, some romantic comedy he knows they will enjoy. When he finishes he settles in next to his daughter, his arm around her shoulder with Kate using his leg as an armrest, absently touching his knee with her fingertips.
"What're you doing?" he asks after a moment, watching them as he waits for the DVD to stop flashing messages about copyright and piracy.
"Braiding," Alexis says simply, as if this simple statement explains the complex twists she is performing in his partners hair, spinning her fingers around slowly and carefully and then her speed increases as her movements change, like it is easier now. He recognises the twist formed in the hair as a plait, what came before is a mystery to him.
"Oh," he says softly, feigning understanding. She is either too distracted to notice or doesn't care that he fails to understand. Then Kate squeezes his knee lightly, listening, a silent assurance she'll explain later. He watches them for another fraction of a second, before he begins the awaiting movie.
"Done!" Alexis exclaims about a minute into the feature and Kate reaches up, patting her head gently.
"That's better than last time." His partner seems genuinely impressed with his daughter's efforts and he beams with pride, she has always been a fast learner.
Alexis leans forward, a little closer to Kate. "Do you mind if I try again?"
"Of course not," she says with a soft laugh, tangling her fingers through her hair, unravelling the careful work of his daughter, apparently happy to repeat the process.
Castle stops watching after his daughter prods his ribs with her elbow. "Stop staring, I can't focus."
"Sorry," he says rather sheepishly. He has no idea how or what she is doing but she has caught onto it rather quickly. Then he realises, this is how Kate had her hair twisted up this afternoon. When they'd been at the precinct she'd disappear for a few minutes, going to the bathroom, or at least that direction, and returned with her hair pulled back in this way, braided as it was apparently termed. Now he thinks he might just understand.
He forces himself to stare at the movie on the screen, until Alexis exclaims "Done" again.
Except this time Kate doesn't touch her hands to her head to check. She slides across the floor, turning to face them both, sitting on his foot, his knee cradled under her arm, her hand on his thigh. "Okay new challenge, I'll teach you to braid your own hair. You can try yourself completely but that's pretty difficult first go, or I can start you off," Kate offers, there is no hint of challenge or competition in her voice.
Alexis' eyes go wide. "Sure, can you start it off for me this time?" she suggests.
Kate nods in what seems to be understanding. "Of course." Then they're swapping places, his partner snuggling against his side and his daughter against the couch between his partner's knees.
He waits until the process is started and she is distracted before he runs his hand over the skin at the bottom of her back, peeking out from beneath her sweater. When she jerks slightly in response he presses his lips to her cheek, reassuring her who it is, that she was just too caught up in her task to notice him. "This is all she had to ask?" he whispers against her skin, keeping his voice low so his daughter can't hear.
She nods and he kisses her again, gently. Then she is speaking to his daughter, guiding the girls hands, telling her that her movements are backwards to what she has been doing and that it will be much harder. "Yeah, this is it," she whispers, turning to face him.
"So there were no dramas?" He kisses her softly, tugging her towards him, selfishly stealing her attention from his daughter for a moment.
"None at all," she says softly, kissing him once more before turning her attention back to Alexis. Then she is gone again, almost completely removed from his embrace, save the hand he has left rest against her back, between her shoulder blades. She is correcting Alexis, guiding the girl's hands with her own gently.
He doesn't draw her attention back, they need this. Things like shopping trips are not on either of their radars – unless of course they have a purpose. So if they want to spend hours on end twisting their hair into tight knots then he won't deny them, though he doubts he could ever deny one of them anything, let alone the both of them. His daughter has clearly been missing this skill through her life, needed someone to show her. Sure his mother had been there, but she was never much for playing hairdresser with his daughter. He had managed to master the ponytail and pigtails, but learning to plait had taken him weeks so he had never been more adventurous and she hadn't minded, never vocalised anything to him. Then he finds himself wondering who his partner would have learnt this skill from her mother, or maybe a friend. Whoever it was has lead to his partners improved ability to form a relationship with his daughter, he wishes he could thank them. Instead he settles for pressing a kiss against the skin behind Kate's ear. The way she leans into his touch, causing him to slip his arm around her again and kiss her again, makes him realise she is more than aware his daughter has never really had someone to show her these things. He hopes she will keep sharing, fill in some of the gaps he came so close to filling.