Author's note: I don't own anything. If I did own the rights to Castle, ABC would be upset with me for taking this long to update. Also I'm going to try to wrap this up as soon as possible because it was just a set up for a sequel that I've been drafting. Keep with me.
Castle walked into his apartment with a spring in his step and a Cheshire grin. He passed his mother sitting at the kitchen counter with a long glass of white wine in one hand and a script in another. "How are you Mother?" Castle asked Martha.
"I'm doing quite well Richard." Martha said smugly. "do You remember that little bet you had with Beckett?" she asked.
"Yes mother. I'm quite familiar with my own life. What makes you ask?"
Martha sighed and put down her script, making direct eye contact with her son. "It's not my place to interfere, but since that apparently no longer matters in this family" She paused to let her son work up a good scowl. "I thought you should know that your losing. Jim came to her at the latin festival the other day. Alexis is seeing him tonight, and from the sound of it, I think he's in her head. She hasn't told me about a boy who struck her fancy like that since Ashley."
Castle rolled his eyes went to the fridge and poured himself a glass of chianti. "Why would a rough and tumble guy like Jim be her type. Alexis is smart, and sweet, and obeys the rules. Why would she want anything to do with a guy like him."
A coy smile curled at Martha's lips. "Because dear several reasons. One, he's an alpha male who can obviously have his pick of any girl, so Alexis is impressed that he chose her. He's tall and handsome and well built, so it may be simple biology. But also I think the biggest reason, he's not like Ashley. He's brash, he's tough, and He's driven towards a career that takes toughness and grit. An adult's career. Son, your girl is growing up, and she wants a young man, not a boy."
Castle rolled his eyes and took a massive sip of his wine. "I have a hard time imagining an adult man going to rock concerts, getting into fights, and stealing girls on dates."
"Boba fett in the bathroom, following a girl around like a giddy schoolboy, getting caught up in the glamour of a gangbuster. Alexis has grown up seeing a peculiar idea of what grown men do."
Castle rolled his eyes. "You're yanking my chain." He told his mother.
"Go upstairs and check. Leave your nose open. You'll realize immediately that she's taken with the boy."
Castle did just that. And quickly he realized his mother was right. The smell of Alexis's favorite perfume was one that Castle knew well. It was a little known scent from an expensive boutique favored by his mother. It was called sweet dreams, a perfectly engineered blend of floral scents with a heart of dark chocolate and sweet vanilla. It was very sweet and more than a little bit sensual, something that occasionally annoyed Castle. Thankfully she only wore it on special occasions, and when she especially wanted to gain control of a young man's mind. Castle walked into his daughter already in a little black dress and messing with her make up, wearing blue eye shadow that matched her eyes and glossy pink lip stick. "Hey dad. What's up?"
"Not much. So I hear you have a date with Jim Walker."
Alexis nodded. "Yep."
"What do you see in him? you've barely talked. You spent a night dancing and then he beat someone up in front of you."
Alexis shrugged. "I guess I just felt safe around him. and he seemed interested in me, and sweet. Also not to gross you out, he's kind of handsome."
"Not a problem. Where are you going?"
"Q3" Alexis answered.
Suddenly it clicked in Richard Castle's mind. Beckett must've gotten them the reservation, she's been coaching him the whole way through.
The door bell rang. Alexis shot up from her make-up mirror. "Dad could you go entertain him for a few minutes while I get my shoes on."
If she wears those spike stilettos her mom got her I'm going to have to kill the boy. Castle mused. "Sure thing sweetie."
Castle went down the stairs, but to his surprise Jim was already talking to Martha. Jim was wearing a well tapered black suit with a crisp white shirt and a thin black tie. Castle slowed down his descent to listen as Martha interrogated the young man.
"When will you get back?"
"Around eleven assuming the subway is on time and the dinner doesn't run late."
"will you be going anywhere besides the restaurant?"
"No ma'am."
"what are your prospects after graduation."
"I plan on going straight into the police academy and hopefully work my way up to homicide detective."
"What cologne are you wearing?"
"Tim McGraw something."
Castle was surprised, but Jim seemed completely calm while being grilled by his date's grandmother, too calm. Castle did not like a boy who wasn't properly scared of him.
Castle strolled up to the two. "Alexis will be down in a minute."
Almost as if the universe was bent on proving him wrong castle heard a quick snapping clunk. He looked behind him and saw, sure enough, Alexis wearing the black spike strappy stilettos her mother had bought her. Castle turned from his daughter to her date, then back to his daughter and back to her date. His daughter was smiling, the date was smiling. She was glowing, and the date was all but drooling.
Jim walked over. Smiled at Alexis "You look amazing."
"Thanks. You too." Alexis turned to her father. "We'll be back later." And then the two sashayed out the door.
"Have a good time." Castle remarked, using all his acting skills to keep cool.
Martha sighed. "Beckett was right. She wanted something different and this boy fit the bill."
Castle just ignored her and went for his phone. He pressed the speed dial.
The phone rang twice before Castle heard the familiar answer "Beckett."
"Hey detective. Want to go to dinner?"
"Um. We aren't dating. But sure, where?"
"Q3?" Castle said.
"How the hell will we get in?" Beckett asked over the phone.
"Oh we'll get in." Castle answered.
Martha just rolled her eyes. What is going through that man's head right now?
