Alexis had planned what could have been described as the perfect shopping trip for them. After all, any time she went shopping on 5th Avenue street had been whether it was with her friends or her mother, not that she was really ever around. So as per tradition she was expecting to have a wonderful day and hoping Kate would have one too.
When they arrived they made their way to one of Alexis' favourite shops as Kate had recently found out courtesy to Castle and according to him, his bank statements. "Are you looking for dresses to fit an amazing party, Alexis?" Kate asked. As she saw the girl's eyes make their way over to that section.
"Well you know I am at Collage now and there's a party at some frat house pretty much every weekend. I got to have at least a couple of dresses to impress." Alexis added with a wink.
"I don't think your dad would be happy with that"
"No he wouldn't. Don't worry Kate I'm not going to do anything that would put me in harms way or make any stupid decisions." She hesitated a bit before continuing, "I just after me and Ashley broke up, it has been slightly hard to move on."
"Oh Alexis, listen to me I know it's hard but dressing to impress other people is not worth it. Buy a dress you like and dress to make yourself and only yourself to feel good."
"Thanks. So are we going to find a dress for you or one for my dad?" Alexis asked with a huge smirk on her face.
"You just get funnier and funnier, don't you Miss Castle?"
"I must get that from my dad." She replied laughing.
They made casual conversation after that, random talks. Alexis spoke about her subjects, the courses she was taking and what she was hoping to achieve from her studies. Beckett spoke on some of her cases; the ones that stuck emotionally, the hardest ones and the strangest cases. She even mentioned some of Castle's crazy theories; Alexis smiled at those knowing full well how crazy they could get. Needless to say they both bought quite a lot of outfits and accessories matching them. Alexis suggested they'd have lunch before going home, they spent a good three hours shopping and she was starving. Kate too was hungry and she suggested they go and have Italian and not Chinese for once. New York is full of Italian people opening their restaurants there and a new one had just opened.
As they got in the restaurant and found a table in the corner, it was also good for they could but their hefty bags full of clothes next to them. The waiter didn't take long to come over to their table to take their drinking order and hand them the menus. Both incredibly tasty ordered water. Kate knew exactly what she wanted she had been craving it for a while now so as she waited for Alexis to order she examined her surroundings. She noticed the small pieces of old looking Mediterranean furniture the place had to give it an Italian style. The place looked very cosy, the owners made a good call to make it look unique in its own way. A traditional place like this in the heart of New York city would be hard to fine. She then noticed Alexis staring at her, "What? She asked in a soft tone almost smiling at the young girl.
"Nothing I was just wondering what you were thinking." she replied.
"I was just admiring the place. It is quiet you know, if the food is good I would definitely want to come here again, it's different." She said whispering her thoughts to Alexis.
"I know what you mean. Sometimes the places are so modern it looks like you're eating at the same place all over again."
Just then the waiter came to take their order. "Hello my name is Marco and I'll be your server, if you need anything just ask. Are you ready to order?" he said smiling as he bowed his head slightly trying to show politeness to them.
"Hi, I would like to have the Spagetti alle vongole please" Beckett said as she smiled at the young waiter.
He then looked at Alexis, suggesting with his eyes that he was waiting for her to order too. "Oh yeah, I'll have what she's having." She said with smiling to him as he nodded in her direction and murmured a thank you to them and left.
Kate looked at Alexis with a smile as she noticed that the girl was still looking at his direction. "Someone has a crush." She said in a whisper which made Alexis blush.
Alexis looked in Kate's direction with a glance. "What? He's a good looking guy." She expected Kate to say something back and when she didn't she continued. "So what do you want to do after we have lunch?"
"Well firstly we should go home to put these bags down. Don't want to go all over New York with them. We could do something you'd like, I don't mind."
"I agree on the first part. Well I have an idea but I don't know if you'd like to do it..."
"Well, tell me anyway and I'll see what I can do"
"I was wondering if it were possible if you took me to the shooting range and taught me how to shoot. I'm legal to and I know how to shoot the nerf ones thanks to dad but I thought it would be useful if I learnt. You don't have to if you don't want to"
Kate hesitated a bit before answering. Not because she didn't want to teach Alexis but because of what Castle might think if she agreed to this. "If it's okay with your dad then sure" she said smiling at the younger girl.
Content with that answer Alexis smiled, "Thanks."
After a while the food came. Both ate in silence, peaceful to their own thoughts. As they hoped the food was delicious. After they ate Alexis asked for the bill to get a chance to talk to Marco. Kate kept smiling at that not saying anything that would make the girl blush more than she was. However she thought more about the situation and she thought maybe Alexis did need a little push. So when Marco came back to hand them the bill Kate spoke up and said, "Marco I was just wondering, are you Italian?"
Alexis started at Kate killing her in her mind for asking him in reality such a simple question. "Technically I was born here in New York but my dad is Italian so I got a dual citizenship like a year ago just in case I want to go work in Italy and with that Europe." He replied all smiles. Obviously he didn't mind being asked questions on the job, looked like he got used to it.
"Work huh?" Kate asked surprised.
"Yeah well I'm studying to be a doctor so you know I wanted to keep as many options I could open."
"Smart thinking, Alexis here goes to Columbia. Where do you go?
"I got a scholarship to NYU. When I found out it was one of the greatest achievements in my life." He said smiling as he looked at Alexis seemingly glad to finally know her name.
Kate handed him back the bill. "Well it was nice meeting you and the food was wonderful but we should get going. Good luck with your studies if we never meet again and keep the change" she finished off.
"Thanks Mrs...?"
"Beckett"
"Mrs. Beckett Alexis thank you. Hope to see you again."
As soon as they were out of the restaurant and hailed a cab Alexis turned to Beckett and asked her, "Why were you questioning him?"
"Cause you like him and I know you well enough to know you wouldn't have done anything about it. I just thought I'd get him to notice you more the next time we go eat there." She said with a smirk to Alexis.
They said nothing then on and just got home where Castle was obviously waiting for them patiently. "Where were you two? Why didn't you answer any of my calls?"
"Sorry Castle we were busy" she said laughing it off at his reaction.
"Well I regret to inform both of you that I have to go and fly over to L.A because Gina not only needs me to finish the book but I have to take meetings for the film and other interviews and I'm afraid I have to go tonight." He said clearly frustrated and pissed off at the thought that he would have to leave.
"It's okay Castle I understand it's your job. You don't have to worry about us." She said as she looked at Alexis who nodded in agreement. "There was something though I wanted to ask you... I wanted to teach Alexis how to shoot a gun but I wanted your permission first. Is that okay?"
"A gun, why?" he said slightly shocked.
"She asked, I thought it would be a good 's never a bad thing to learn self defence."
"Alright then, if you think it's a good idea then I trust you know what you're doing. I don't know if either of you have plans but could we maybe stay at home and watch a movie before I have to leave to the airport?"
Kate and Alexis looked at each other both knowing exactly what the other was thinking. Both of them knew they were meant to have other plans. Alexis was the first to speak, "No we weren't thinking of doing anything. Movie it is dad and today I'm letting you pick." As she saw him leave excitedly to choose a movie she turned to Kate and whispered, "Sorry but I couldn't tell him. You don't mind do you if we went to the shooting range another day?"
"No Alexis of course not, I would have done the same thing."
And with that they ended their conversation as Castle came with a classic movie everyone loves, The Sound of Music. So all three of them sat on the sofa, gathered together in front of the television and sang when the songs cued in until the movie finished and it was time for Castle to go to the airport.
Both of them decided to go along as Kate insisted the most she could do for him was drive him there and that's what happened.
How do you wonderful readers like my story so far? Please tell me...reviews are always important to any aspiring writer and I have my A levels next week, this story helps keep me going through tough, boring subjects..haha yaay for Castle!
Also if I take long to upload the next chapter, its because I have exams like after each other. So, it is going to be hard to write something good for you to read. I apologise in advance for the wait :)
