Title: Falling Against My Will

Summary: How simple can "simple" life be with this group?

Disclaimer: Chapter 1… I own only my characters

Thank you for the reviews, follows and favorites I might hold off on the main conflict for the next chapter… we'll see what fits because some of this just had to be put in this chapter. This is mostly a filler chapter adding important points.

Chapter Four: Our Brand of Normal

The next morning Castle woke up and expected to find Beckett asleep beside him but all he found was an empty side of the bed, all kinds of images ran through his mind but mainly she got spooked and ran. He put his head down and closed his eyes trying to figure out how he was going to deal with her latest rejection. Just then he felt the bed dip. "So you thought I got up, decided this was a mistake and took off?"

He opened his eyes and saw her sitting there in his dress shirt and her shorts. "Something like that."

She laughed. "You're nuts Castle, why would I fight so hard to get you if I'm going to dump you the morning after some of the best sex of my life? Don't answer that because breakfast is ready and they're waiting on us."

"I'm going to the bathroom so I'll meet you in there."

She nodded and stood up but then moved in front of him. "Castle, I love you."

He raised his head just as she leaned in for a kiss. "I love you too Kate." He walked into the dining room to find the others at the table so he kissed his mother on the head, Alexis on the head and then kissed Beckett again on the lips. "Breakfast smells great, who cooked?"

Alexis smiled. "Kate and I fixed breakfast together, she wanted to talk to me about her basically sleeping with my dad and how I felt about it. Its fine for now but eventually you guys will have to get married, I mean what kind of role models would that be for my younger siblings?"

Kate coughed and looked over at the young girl. "Who said anything about younger siblings?"

"Well I assume dad is still young enough to father a child and well you are obviously still in your child bearing years, don't you want kids?"

Kate felt like she had to answer this trick question carefully. "I would love kids but we have you Alexis and I would never come in and do anything that would make you feel put out in any way."

Alexis smiled. "No worries, I would love to be a big sister."

Castle looked over at Martha and smiled. "So what's on your agenda for today Mother?"

"I have three classes this morning at the studio, lunch with a former director to help with some project he's working on and then more classes at the studio and home for dinner."

Alexis looked over at Kate. "So Kate I have a question about Saturday and whatever you say is fine, either one won't matter to me. I was telling Paige this morning on the phone that we are going shopping on Saturday and she wanted to know if she could go, now before you answer understand this was totally her idea so whatever you say is great. But if you say yes the only way she can go is if you can invite Lanie because I don't want it to be unfair to you."

Kate smiled. "Invite your friend Lex and I'll tell Lanie to keep Saturday open for us, we'll have a great time."

Alexis jumped up and ran over to hug Kate. "Thank you Kate, you're the best." She hugged Castle. "I'm going to get my things for school now." She took her dishes to the kitchen and then ran upstairs.

Martha smiled at Kate. "You do know that it wouldn't have mattered to Alexis if you would have said that you preferred it just be the two of you, right?"

"Yes but when you're that age friends mean so much in your world and her friend telling everyone that dad's girlfriend wouldn't allow her on a shopping trip might mean more to her later than it does now. We'll have a great time."

Martha got her dishes and stood up. "You are wonderful for her and good for Richard also."

Kate got up and took their plates as he carried their cups to the sink, when they got to the kitchen he pushed her up against the sink and kissed her. "I love you so much Kate."

"I love you too Castle. Now let's get ready to go." She started walking to the bedroom and then stopped and put her hand out. "Join me in the shower?"

They walked in the precinct and Ryan put his hand out to Castle. "Good to have you back in here with us."

She put her things down and smiled at Castle when he came back from the break room with their coffee. "Thanks Castle, I feel like I've had an entire pot of coffee so far this morning but your daughter makes really good coffee."

He smiled. "I know she's well trained and you did get up before me."

Suddenly Esposito came around the corner and smiled. "Well what do we have here, mom and dad are getting along again."

Just then Kate coughed and spit coffee out then looked at Esposito. "Do me a favor and never call us that again, before this morning it was cute but after breakfast conversation just not today."

Ryan smiled. "What happened at breakfast?"

Castle sat down and rolled his eyes. "Alexis brought up the subject of siblings this morning at breakfast."

Espo laughed. "Oh wow, you guys have been together less than 24 hours and she's already asking for a baby sister? Now that's epic dude it's like Beckett has been part of her life for years."

Kate smiled. "Well technically I have been part of her life for years but not in that capacity."

Ryan shrugged. "She's a super smart kid maybe she saw something ages ago that the two of you didn't, I mean she's no idiot." He got up. "So we're waiting to get a hit from the team looking for dirty car guy then we'll drag him in here for you guys to have a conversation."

Esposito looked up and then over at them as they heard a commotion. "Speaking of super smart teens, Castle's daughter headed this way in tears with friends."

Castle got up as Alexis approached but she went right past him into the waiting arms of Kate but he didn't act bothered by it he just went over and put his hand on her back. "What happened pumpkin?"

She looked at him. "Sorry dad, I can talk to you about anything but this is a mom handled thing." Then she looked back at Kate. "Talk to you for a few minutes Kate?"

She pulled her close. "Sure Lex, let's go in interrogation over here." As she passed Castle she rubbed her hand on his and smiled.

Castle, Esposito and Ryan took the friends in the break room while they waited. "Paige I guess you're not going to tell me what's going on?"

"I can't sir but I'm sure Detective Beckett will after Alexis talks to her about it, I can tell you that it's just an emotional hurt she's feeling right now and she'll be fine. I think she's more embarrassed that someone tricked her, that's hard to do."

Alexis and Kate sat down, Kate turned the microphones off to respect the young girl's wishes and then looked across the table. "So Alexis what happened?"

"I messed things up for you and dad, I'm so sorry Kate. Usually no one can trick me but I got so mad at things being said and I just exploded, I didn't even realize what I did until after the words were out of my mouth and now you could lose your job and dad might have to stay home all the time. I've ruined everything and you won't love me anymore."

Kate looked at her. "You aren't insecure, that's your dad so where is this coming from? Tell me exactly what happened and we'll fix it."

"This reporter has used her job in trying to get my dad's pants for years now, since the release of his first Nikki Heat book but he wouldn't do an interview with her. She went to a book signing and asked him to sign her chest but he told her that he didn't do that anymore, which was a relief to me. But it was a well-known fact that she has been trying to sleep with my dad and he has turned her down over and over again, even told her he was in a relationship about 6 months ago. So today her son was going on and on about you the detective in the Nikki Heat books, that they saw your picture and you were probably a lesbian and why he based books on you they couldn't figure it out. He said you probably couldn't get a man if you arrested him and handcuffed him because of your tough job and just things that he probably heard from his mom. I couldn't listen to him anymore so I started yelling at him to shut up that you did have a man, my dad and that you guys were together. He started laughing and pulled a micro tape player out of his pocket, he recorded everything I said."

Kate smiled. "Thank you for defending me but you didn't have to Lex, so many people look at female detectives like that but my family knows me and that's all that matters. He told her that 6 months ago huh? That's interesting because we've been together less than 24 hours so who would it have been 6 months ago?"

Alexis rolled her eyes. "It was you, he has loved you for years but now I've ruined things for you and dad here."

"No you haven't, we'll take care of damage control here and everything will be fine. You get yourself back to school and get more of those A's I'm so proud of and we'll talk at dinner tonight."

Alexis got up and walked around the table to Kate as she stood up but they didn't see the others standing outside the window. "You are going to be the greatest stepmom ever."

"Well we're not engaged just well I'm not sure but not engaged."

Alexis shrugged. "It's all technical but you will be one day, I know he plans to ask and if you knew how to search his office you would know too."

They walked out of the door but Castle didn't ask Alexis what happened, he figured he would hear it from Beckett anyway. Alexis hugged her dad. "She's a keeper dad."

"Oh I know that pumpkin. Are you going back to school?"

"Yes and if something else happens I'll call you or Kate."

Alexis and her friends got close to the doors and her friend Paige stopped her. "So are you guys still okay?"

"It's like I told you before we got here, I'm going to have the best stepmom ever."

Beckett looked at Castle. "We need to see Gates and do some damage control before this gets out, guys we'll be right back and then I'll tell you everything."

She went to the door and knocked, they went in after being granted entrance. "What can I help you with Detective Beckett? It's good to see you back Mr. Castle."

They closed the door and sat down then Kate explained. "Sir there has been a problem at the school of Castle's daughter, she told me because it concerned me more and she thought I would be upset with her when I'm actually quite proud of her for defending me. But now some damage control has to be done. A reporter has been using an interview supposedly from what Alexis says to get Castle in a compromising position and he has turned her down multiple times since the first Nikki Heat book came out. Anyway I guess her son was taunting Alexis about me and calling me a lesbian, saying the books shouldn't be based on me, I could only get a man if I handcuff him and such. I guess she listened to all she could and she just exploded and told them that her dad and I are a couple, this kid was recording it."

Gates nodded. "Well I need the reporter's name because we haven't been able to find the person that sent the fake email, it might have been her or someone she knows but the commissioner is aware so don't worry. Just be professional here at work and we'll worry about any fallout later but as of right now we go on as we have been."

Castle smiled. "Thank you sir, I'll write down all of her information for you."

Kate got up and walked out as Castle was writing down the information for her. "I know you're proud of your girl Mr. Castle."

He smiled as he handed her the paper. "I'm proud of both of my girls sir." He walked out of the office smiling. When he got out there Kate was telling the guys what happened.

Esposito looked up. "No longer sign chests bro, when did you stop doing that?"

"When Heat Wave came out, it no longer seemed appropriate."

Ryan laughed. "Well Beckett looks like you missed your chance to get his signature on your chest." They smiled at each other but didn't feel like oversharing with the guys.

That evening Alexis jumped up when the door opened and her dad walked in holding hands with Kate. "Dad you guys are home early, did you close the case?"

He smiled. "We did so the rest of the evening is for family and we need to talk about a few things, so are we ordering out?"

"No, dinner is in the oven and Grams is upstairs changing we'll work on everything else when she comes down."

Kate hugged Alexis. "Everything is taken care of at work so no worries, okay? Now I'm going to change into something comfortable and I'll be back out to help with dinner." She started walking toward the bedroom and then stopped and turned around. "Castle are you coming? I need to ask you about something."

They got in the bedroom and she put her arms around him and kissed him. "The only problem with you being at work with me is me wanting to do that all day. So Alexis told me that you claimed a relationship 6 months ago, who would that have been with?"

He smiled. "I didn't name any names but isn't that about the time you got your autograph from me, you know your own special autograph that you asked for one night at your place."

She nodded. "I guess too much wine, being too relaxed and I just let my inhibitions down and finally asked you for it after a bit of making out if I do recall properly." She pulled on her sweats and a t-shirt. "Wear something you can wear outside so we can sleep at my place tonight."

He looked over at her as he pulled on his clothes. "Are we still having that discussion with Alexis over dinner tonight?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm not going to do anything that she's uncomfortable with I didn't enter into the relationship to come between you and your daughter but to be part of this wonderful family and be with the man I love."

Alexis ran to the study door and knocked. "Hey are you guys decent?"

Kate laughed. "Sure Lex, come on in."

She ran in the bedroom and looked at them. "You have got to come and see this Jackie Pace is on the Eddy show and they announced she was going to be talking about dad when they came back from commercial."

They all went out to the living room where Martha was sitting in a chair. Castle sat down on the couch and pulled Kate down on his lap so Alexis sat down beside them. The show came back on and they sat and watched.

Eddy: So we have Jackie Pace on this evening and she said she wanted to issue a personal invitation to novelist Richard Castle, so Jackie the floor is yours.

Jackie: Some rumors have come to light recently that Richard Castle has been caught having sex with the detective he shadows to do research for his Nikki Heat books. These rumors came to light when Castle's own daughter was overheard by a classmate crying and complaining about it at school. So Richard are you game?

Eddie: Where do these rumors come from Jackie?

Jackie: Oh you know I can't reveal my sources but I personally heard the tape recording of his daughter crying saying her dad was sleeping with this detective.

Alexis looked over at her dad and Kate. "That is not what I said, I was crying because that boy upset me and I said you guys were together. They must have erased the part where I said she is going to be the best stepmom ever, oh dad you have to do this."

Kate got up and went to the bedroom so he followed her. "I'm sorry baby, now it's time to cut and run isn't it?"

She looked at him and smiled. "No, I came in here to get my phone I have to call Gates and you have to call that show so you can go on there tomorrow. We are not just having sex, well we had sex once or twice if you count what happened 6 months ago but anyway you have to go and tell the truth."

He nodded. "Call Gates and I'll reassure Alexis that you aren't upset then I'll call the show."

He went out and Alexis was helping Martha put food on the table. Alexis looked at him. "So now that seeing what being with a famous guy costs her is she done?"

"No she had to call Gates so she's not shocked at what she hears when she sees me on that show tomorrow." Then he looked at Alexis. "And yes if you want to skip school tomorrow and watch it then I'm fine with it."

"I'll just miss a couple of classes and go to the precinct, you know they're going to be watching it."

Kate came out of the bedroom just in time to hear him on the phone. "I'll be on Jackie's show in the morning so I can put some truth to the false rumors she's sharing on the show tonight. Just let me know when and where."

They all sat down to dinner and Kate looked over at Martha. "Hey Martha will you be here tonight all night and in the morning?"

"Yes dear I have no plans, why?"

"Well I have no more clothes here so we were going to stay at my place tonight but I don't want to leave Alexis home at night alone."

Alexis laughed. "I can take care of myself better than dad at times."

"I understand that Lex but if your dad stays at my place some nights I don't want you to feel shut out or abandoned by us, plus you need an adult here in case something happens."

Alexis nodded. "Okay I get it."

They were cleaning up from dinner and once the kitchen was clean Kate went to put her shoes on then came back in the living room. "You almost ready to go Castle?"

He nodded. "Sure let me finish packing for tomorrow while you give last minute instructions."

Kate looked at Martha and Alexis. "Have fun that's all I'm saying."

Alexis smiled. "Work on my baby sister tonight, that's all I'm saying."

Kate smiled as she hugged her. "I don't know if I could handle two of you that might be the thing that does me in once and for all."

Castle came out with an overnight bag and his suit bag. "Okay Alexis, mom come here. We're leaving now and Alexis the show is at 9:30 in the morning just in case you wanted to know."

Kate hugged both Castle women and then picked up her bag and started for the door with Castle right behind her. Alexis walked them to the door. "Hey I love you guys."

Kate smiled at her. "We love you too kiddo."

When they got in Kate's car instead of starting the engine she turned to Castle. "Okay Castle there is something we need to talk about before we go to my place."

"What is it Beckett?"

"See there you go assuming this is something bad and resorting to my last name to distance this, I mean what happened to honey, baby or even Kate? Now what I want to say is that we knew when we started up basically 6 months ago that it was going to be made public and I think that is why we stopped with that one night but honestly I didn't want to end with that night or end where we left it. I want to drop my lease on my apartment but if you're not ready for that then I understand I mean you were a playboy on the move with a different woman all the time."

He leaned over and kissed her. "I love you and I would love for you to drop the lease and move in with me and my family."

"I want us to be totally sure about this because if we become this family unit I will not hurt Alexis, I love her like she is my own."

"You treat her more like she is your own than her mother does, I'm positive and I don't think you know how positive I am about this. You're it for me and have been for a while now."

She nodded. "Let's go to my current place and have some awesome sex lover boy."

Kate and Castle had their wine and were sitting on her couch when he pulled her over on his lap. "So remember what happened 6 months ago?"

"Oh yes I do remember, every single moment that never went any farther than this couch and was a sexual experience I'll never forget but then when you left I cried, I felt like it was a goodbye and I knew I didn't want that."

He nodded. "I thought it was a goodbye as well until you called me a couple of days later and asked me where I was and told me to get my ass to the precinct now."

She stood up and put her hand out. "No more sex on this couch ever again, let's go to bed."

He smiled as they walked to the bedroom. "You know if we had ended 6 months ago I would have felt so cheated since we didn't actually have actual sex that night."

She started undressing and throwing clothes. "Well we are tonight so get those clothes off big boy."

TBC

Review…. Yes it was long…. Yes it was a filler for info chapter…. No I did not include a sex scene but I will because I'm waiting for the right moment and the right scene when something is revealed.