We've passed the half-way mark. We've also gone over a hundred followers. Thank you so much. I'm really surprised at the response to this because I have a very strategic order in which I uploaded and in my opinion, the last couple of chapters will be the best by far. The rest are just kind of... blah. But I like this one. It's sweet.
"Thank you, Kate, for coming over for Christmas Eve Dinner."
"Thank you for having me, Martha" Beckett replied.
"Well, I'm sorry I can't stay. Are you sure you don't want to join me? These two usually stay up pretty late for their movie marathons and I don't want you to be bored."
"Oh, no, I'll be fine. I'll have my book," said Beckett. "You have fun."
"Yeah, Gram," said Alexis, hugging her, "but don't stay out too late."
"Don't come back to early, either," said Castle when it was his turn to embrace his mother. "I don't want you to get all boring on me."
"I assure, you, that will never happen kiddo. Well, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."
"Are you sure you're ok staying in?" Castle asked. "I'm sure Lanie would be more than happy to -"
"Castle, I'm fine. I'll be waiting for you. You guys have fun, ok?"
"We will, Detective Beckett,"Alexis assured her. "Goodnight!"
"Good night," Beckett smiled, kissing Castle on the cheek and heading off to his room.
"Yeah... goodnight," said Castle.
"I feel kind of bad for not inviting Detective Beckett to watch with us," Alexis confessed later as they started the first movie.
"Don't. You don't have to feel obligated to include her in everything just because we're seeing each other. I mean, this has always been our thing. It might be a little too early for that. Maybe next year."
"Next year?"
"Yeah, assuming we're still together then."
Alexis nodded slowly.
Castle tried to stifle a yawn. "Ok, Dad, time for bed."
"Is the marathon over already? It's only midnight!"
"It's over for you. Come on, off to bed."
"Ok, goodnight, Pumpkin."
"Hey," said Beckett peering up from her book as he entered.
"Hey," he yawned, kicking off his shoes and climbing into bed next to hr. "Listen, I know we had plans for tonight, but I'm a little tired."
"Hey, we had plans to spend the night together. We never went in to details about how we'd spend it." She put her back down, turned off the light and snuggled up to him. "This is enough for me."
"You're sure?"
"Positive," she whispered.
It didn't take long for him to fall asleep. Beckett, on the other hand, was having a bit of trouble, so, she went out to get something to drink and found Alexis still up, watching a movie.
"Hey," said Alexis.
"Hey. Couldn't sleep. You're Dad doesn't seem to have the same problem."
"I'm sorry for keeping him up. I probably tired him out."
"It's ok – hey, Finding Nemo!"
"Uh, yeah. Do you like it?"
"Who doesn't? Oh, Dory, I love Dory!"
Alexis smiled in amusement. "Do you want to watch it with me?"
"Oh, I don't want to intrude - "
"It's fine. The annual Castle Father-Daughter Christmas Eve Movie Marathon is officially over. Dad's asleep."
"Well, maybe just for a few minutes."
Alexis watched Beckett in fascination as she sat down and sang along to "Just Keep Swimming".
She had never seen her quite like this before. Less Detective Beckett and more... Kate.
It wasn't long before Beckett noticed her staring.
"Sorry," she said quickly.
"No, it's ok," said Beckett. "That look on your face reminds me of your dad when he's watching me. It's..." she smiled fondly, "...sweet. And slightly less creepy when you do it."
"You... really care about him, don't you?"
"Yeah," she said sincerely. "I really do."
"Do you... see this going somewhere? With my Dad, I mean."
"Well... finger's crossed. I mean, I'd like to. I obviously don't want to come between you two - "
"Oh, I know."
"But yes, Alexis, I would like to have a future with him and... it seems like we might have a chance. Is... that ok?"
"Yeah," she said slowly. "It's just gonna take some getting used to. At first, I didn't think much would change at all – I mean you're already such a big part of his life. But I guess I didn't realise until I'd moved out how much of my Dad's life used to be mine."
"It still is."
"Yeah, I know, but... I realised that you two aren't just adding one extra thing to your relationship. You've created essentially a new relationship. You probably stay over more than I do, and you come over for Christmas... I'm not saying I have a problem with it; it's just gonna take some getting used to."
"I get it. I mean, I'm still getting used to it myself. Your Dad's still getting used to it. It's an adjustment. But it's... worth it."
Alexis smiled.
Castle awoke refreshed, energised and aroused. Unfortunately, Beckett was not there. He came out very surprised to fin Beckett and Alexis watching Finding Nemo and quoting the film in unison.
"I shall call him Squishy, and he will be my Squishy."
He raised his eyebrows. "Hey."
"Hey, Castle."
"Hey Dad. You're up."
"Yeah. Kate... you comin' back to bed?"
"Uh... as soon as the movie's over, Castle."
"But - "
"Shh, Dory's about to get stung!"
What surprised him was that it was Beckett and not Alexis that said this.
"Uh, ok. I'll see you after the movie."
"Mm-hmm."
Castle occupied himself by writing a bit. After a while he looked at the clock. The movie would be over by now.
He came back out to find they had both fallen asleep. Alexis's head was resting on Beckett's shoulder.
Castle smiled warmly, his heart growing three sizes, because frankly he had been a bit grumpy in his sex-deprived state – but this was so much better than the evening he'd had planned.
He returned the DVD to it's jacket, turned off the tv and softly draped a blanket over them, kissing them both softly on the temple.
It was a beautiful moment that was ruined about two minutes later when Martha stumbled through the door drunk and woke them both up.
