A huge thank you to DMinuet for looking over this for me. Also I want to thank everyone who has added this story to their alerts/favs etc! I started this off as a short one shot and am over the moon that it's caught so many people's attention. I, like I hope a lot of people, wish that they would give Beckett and ALexis more time other, but until we do we have to turn to fanfic to see it!

Tired, Beckett sighed and glanced at the mountain of papers that covered the front of her Crown Vic. Her partner's lap was covered in reports they picked up from the 8th and was now memorizing the sketch given by one of the pervious victims. She knew he was trying to find something that stood out, the only thing was, the man they were looking for was just ordinary. His features were plain and flat with no distinguishing marks or tattoos. He was a little above normal in height being pegged at around six two and maybe weighed 220. Just another average looking man walking around the street that could just blend with all the other New Yorkers. "Castle." Beckett reached over to close the file. "Don't do this to yourself. Believe me when I say that you're just going to drive yourself crazy."

Castle decided to deflect with humor as was the norm. "Do you think a person can die of paper cuts?" He held up his hands that had been nicked several times thanks to the paper's mess in the car.

"God I hope not, think of the paper work I'd have to do!" Beckett was pleased to see a smile cross his tired face. It definitely had been a very long day of trucking all across the city checking in with hospitals that had possible sightings of their suspect but every one of them turned out to be a dead end. All they had right now was a time frame. Their suspect attacked every Thursday and Monday between the hours of eleven pm and two am so they had two days to try to find this guy.

A whistle filled the car and Castle dug around for his cell phone. "Alexis and my mother are inviting you for a dinner in your honor." He said showing her the picture of the line of food they were already preparing. Beckett's empty stomach rumbled in anticipation of food. They hadn't eaten anything but a hot dog since they picked up around eleven. That was nearly seven hours ago. "Free food I'm there." Beckett was already hunting for her keys under all the papers as Castle started to file them away neatly. "But I wish you guys would drop this hero act. I didn't do anything speical. Alexis needed me and I was there end of story."

"That's the point." The writer pointed out drawing the detective's attention back. "You didn't have to drag your ass out of bed at 2 AM or sit by her side then take her home. You could have called me and just went back to sleep. But you didn't. You raced down to the hospital, breaking your precious rule about using the gumball for personal use, and respected my daughter's wishes by not calling me. You took care of her and sang her to sleep. You had no obligation to my daughter what so ever-."

"I didn't do it out of obligation. I did it because I care about you." The words slipped out and had Beckett back tracking, "about her and your mother. Castle, you're more than just a work partner. You're my best friend." It was the first time she had ever admitted that to him and it had his features softening into a look that had her heart melting. This would be the perfect opportunity to just spill everything, but of course Beckett skidded around it. "You trusted me enough to allow me into your family in the first place, Castle. I was reluctant at first, but it was nice to be a part of one again and I have you to thank for that. You need to know by now that I would do anything for you."

This time she didn't correct herself, just turned her attention back on the road as they pulled out into evening traffic. There was some much that Castle wanted to say but decided to keep his mouth shut. After all of his waiting, Beckett finally peeked out from behind her walls and opened up even if it was just a fraction. He really wanted to tell her that he knew she cared, it was just nice to hear her actually say it but he thought better of it.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Beckett wasn't more than two steps into Castle's loft when she found herself wrapped up in Martha's arms. This wasn't like the one that she received after the bank, happy and giddy with excitement. No, this was a rib-crushing embrace full of love, admiration and gratefulness. A hug that only a mother knew how to give. It made tears sting the back of her throat as she tried to not think about her own mother and the many times she had hugged her the same way.

"Thank you." Martha whispered and that was it.

Slightly embarrassed, Beckett drew away to put away her jacket. "It smells good in here." She announced following father and mother into the kitchen. It smelt of spice, tomatoes, onions and possibly chicken.

Alexis straightened after retrieving something from the oven that smelt suspiciously like chocolate chip cookies. "I hope you're hungry."

"Starving." Beckett looked at the array of food that was stacked on the island counter. "You could feed an army with all of this stuff."

"Well I know that you most likely haven't eaten all day. Dad says it's a bad habit of yours."

Beckett glared at her partner, "I had a hotdog today thank you very much."

"And about ten gallons of coffee." Castle added already hunting up a bottle of wine.

Martha sat down at the counter, "Kate Beckett you are my hero."

The detective's brow rose and there was a hint of suspicion in her voice. She just couldn't handle another thank you from any of the Castle family. "I am?"

"You laid in on Meredith like I've wanted to do for years. I am a bit sad that Kevin and Javier held you back. I would have loved to see the look on her face after you knocked her on her ass." Martha raised a glass in salute and took a swig.

"I should have done that somewhere a little bit more private." Beckett whispered still ashamed of her actions. But she agreed with Martha about one thing, Beckett wished she landed at least one punch on Meredith. Wanting to change the subject, she looked at Alexis, "Can I help with anything?"

"Sure."

Castle smiled when Beckett joined his daughter at the stove and they began to lapse into conversation. After a while the detective caught him staring out of the corner of her eyes and gave him a smile that rivaled the one she gave him that day in the bank. The writer found it suddenly difficult to breathe as she turned her attention back to Alexis. Beckett had done it unprovoked and uncaring of who saw it. She smiled because she wanted him to know how happy she was. It would seem like another brick from the wall of hers just came tumbling down.

0o0o0oo0

After dinner, Beckett and Alexis were sent into the living room to find a movie to watch while Martha and Castle cleaned up dinner. Beckett plopped down on the couch and was pleased when the teenager followed suit, ending up shoulder to shoulder with her. After a night to settle, the bruises on Alexis's face were a deep purple that faded into shades of blue. "In any pain?"

Alexis shrugged, "Some."

Beckett watched Alexis dig into her pocket for her ringing phone, and for the fourth time that night, took a look at who was calling and sent to call to voice message. "Your mother?"

"What?" The teenager looked confused for a moment, "Oh no. She hasn't even called."

The detective watched her face closely as she recalled a conversation she had with Castle earlier in the week. "Weren't you suppose to go on a date this weekend?"

"Dad told you about that?" Alexis asked surprise.

"He was freaking out. Reminded me of the time he stumbled upon you and Ashley." Beckett smiled at the memory. "You gave him a heart attack. I tried to remind him that you were now eighteen and were old enough to date, which of course he ignored."

"Of course he did." Alexis was pleased to know that her father shared so much with Beckett and in turn Beckett cared enough to listen as well as give advice when needed. "I was supposed to have a date with Jeremy. We've gone to school together since second grade and with our last names being so close we were always grouped together."

"And you guys are just now going on a date?"

"I guess I thought he only saw me as a friend."

"Well, it seems that some of the best relationships are those rooted in friendship. One day you look at the person and you see something that you didn't see the day before. Like a switched had been flicked somewhere." Beckett found her gaze traveling of its own accord to seek out Castle, "And suddenly the person you saw as just a friend is suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with."

Alexis kept looking down at her hands even if she was aware of where Beckett's gaze had wandered. "We've grown close the last couple months of school. We bounded over our rejections of our first choice schools and the fact we both got into Princeton. He was there for me after I broke up with Ashley."

"He seems like he's been waiting for you." Beckett pointed out, "For a long time."

"He asked me out after graduation and I took a chance by saying yes. We had lunch yesterday and it was great."

"Are you avoiding him because of what happened last night."

Alexis shook her head, "I don't want him to see me like this."

"Why?"

"Because he's going to take one look at me and see a helpless woman. Once he sees that there is no way he could ever look at me the same way."

"Look at me." Beckett softly demanded, "You're not weak, you will only be weak if you allow this to take over your life. Take it from someone who has been chasing after shadows for nearly half her life. Don't let this one moment define who you're going to be for the rest of your life because you're so much more then it. You fought back, Alexis. Remember that because to be that shows how strong you are, not how weak."

"This will stay with me for a while and he shouldn't have to deal with that type of burden. He's already helped me deal with the scar that Ashley left on my heart. How can I ask him to help me deal with another one?"

Beckett really wanted to meet this boy because to her he sounded like the one for Alexis. 'He waited for you." She reminded, "This boy, if he cares about you, he'll take you scars and all."

"Okay movie time!" Castle called out to announce his presence because he didn't want to come in on their conversation. He trotted into the living room with a plate full of Alexis's homemade cookies, "any room for me?"

Laughing, Beckett shifted to the far side of the couch to make room for the writer. "Only because you have cookies." She insisted snagging one off the plate. "Martha you're not joining us?"

The older woman stopped halfway up the stairs, "Not tonight, Kiddo. I've got an early morning tomorrow but I'll see you for dinner."

"Okay." Beckett answered without really thinking which caused both father and daughter to smile.

"You look beat, Beckett." Castle pointed out as she was struggling with the task of keeping her eyes open.

She waved him off and helped herself to another cookie, "I'm fine. What movie are we watching?"

"A classic." Castle settled in on the couch more than happy to be sandwiched between two our of three of his favorite ladies. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

"On second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place." Beckett tried to use her best king Arthur voice and failed, but it got them to laugh so it was mission accomplished anyway.

"One more layer of the Beckett onion was just peeled away.' Castle pointed out.

Beckett fought a yawn, "Oh Castle there are still so many layers you have left to uncover!" The detective passed out before the opening credits even started.

Alexis smiled as the detective nodded off with her head on her father's shoulder. She watched her father look down at the woman and was allowed a glimpse of the love that he had. How Beckett couldn't see it was a mystery. "Dad you need to tell her." Alexis whispered causing him to frown. "If you wait any longer it might cause damage that can't be repaired."

Castle pressed his lips to Beckett's brow, "I know."

Yes I borrowed the wisdom of Dana Scully, but I think it fits Beckett and castle so much. Hope you guys enjoyed this little bit of fluff!