Alexis looked up as she heard a noise and smiled as she saw Emily standing in her doorway. "Hey." She greeted the younger girl.

"You like Kate right?" Emily asked coyly.

Confused, Alexis frowned a little. "Yeah sure, why?"

"What's your mom like?" Emily asked, deflecting the question and moving to sit down on the floor. Alexis was perched on her bed and lay down, sticking her face next to Emily's head.

"My mom? She's...well, full of life might be a good description?"

"What's that mean? I mean, do you see her a lot?"

"Mostly we talk." Alexis said. "She visits when she can, I love her but...she's a bit much to have around all of the time."

Emily seemed to think over Alexis' words, remaining silent for a while. Alexis was about to speak up again, but Emily twisted around and looked up at her. "You like Kate right?" She repeated her question.

"I already said yes and asked why, which by the way you never answered."

Emily smirked and dropped her chin onto the edge of the bed. She didn't often act like a little kid, but in that moment, Alexis thought she looked her age and smiled back at her. "Your dad is in love with her." Emily stated calmly. "And she's in love with him." Emily waited, trying to gauge Alexis' reaction. When the redhead didn't say anything, and her facial expression showed nothing, Emily pressed on. "I think they should get together and I was wondering your opinion on it."

"You...you want to get them together?"

"Yeah. I've done a bunch of shitty things and I figure this can be my good karma. Plus it's like a thank you for letting me crash here for a while."

"Don't swear." Alexis scolded lightly. "And I don't think you can force two people to be together. They're adults, if they want to be together then they will or they won't."

"But do you object to the idea?" Emily asked. "Of having Kate as a step-mother or whatever? I mean regardless of what history and fairy tales imply she doesn't seem like the evil type."

"You sound like Dad." Alexis exclaimed. She had noticed that Emily had been picking up Castle-esque phrases as of late, but it was a little hilarious when you weren't expecting them. Emily only smiled and shrugged. "And...not really I guess, I've never really thought about it. I mean, I know he loves her, and I think she likes him too, but I never really thought of them marrying each other."

"But would you be okay with it?" Emily prodded.

Alexis shrugged. "I guess if it would make him happy."

Emily's face broke out into a grin and she jumped up. "Great, then you are my partner in crime. We're gonna need code names, and a game plan. I've got a couple of ideas, but they could use a little work. I was thinking that..."

Alexis cut her off by covering her mouth with her hand. "Hold on there, like I said, if they want to be together, they will. They're adults Emily, we can't force anything on them, that's not how love works."

Emily huffed and stood up. "They're being idiots. That's why they're not together. If you don't want to help me fine." With that she stamped out of Alexis' room and slammed the door closed behind her, leaving Alexis baffled and alone.

Castle heard the slamming door and sighed. Alexis came downstairs a few moments later and announced she was going to the morgue to work with Lanie. Castle, bored and wanting some company, went up to find Emily. "Knock, knock." He said at her bedroom door. "Want to go get some ice cream?"

"You have some in the fridge." Emily said without looking up at him.

"Ah yes, but not soft serve twist."

Emily lifted her head up from her pillow and let out a small grin. She hopped off the bed and followed him silently out the door. They began to walk down the sidewalk, enjoying the sunshine. Castle was itching to talk, but Emily was adamant about remaining quiet. They ordered their ice cream and continued on their walk, neither paying much attention or caring where they ended up. Hearing sirens faintly caught the attention of both of them and they turned to watch as the cars pulled to a stop a block ahead of them. Emily was about to take off running and see what was going on when Castle's phone rang. He caught her with one hand and answered the phone with the other, dropping the last little bit of his ice cream.

"Beckett?"

"Hey Castle, we've got a body..."

"Yes, I believe I'm already here." He said cutting her off. She was a little shocked but said she was en route and would be there in about a minute or two. Hanging up with her, he got a better hold on Emily, who was still trying to see the commotion. "Not a chance." He said.

"Oh come on!" She protested.

"No way."

Kate, Ryan and Esposito pulled up and all looked a little shocked to see Emily along with Castle. Kate instantly walked over to them and placed her body in between Emily's and the crime scene. "What's going on Castle?" She asked.

"We were out for a walk, ice cream." He explained.

Emily held the last bit of her melting cone up to Kate. "Want some?" She asked with a smile.

Kate made a face at her. "Thanks, I'm good though. Why don't you go hang out in my car and we'll be back in a minute." She said, directing Emily forward without giving her a chance to protest. Emily shot a look back to Castle as a last attempt, but he shook his head and pointed to the car. Reluctantly, she climbed into the passenger seat and pouted.

The four of them walked up and met Lanie, Castle was grateful that Alexis wasn't there as well. One kid at a crime scene was bad enough. They surveyed the scene – a man who's head was chopped clear off – and questioned the woman who found him. Esposito was the one who noticed Emily trying to sneak back onto the scene and quickly ran over and pulled her away, just as she got a small glimpse of the body.

"His head is gone!" She yelled in shock, catching Kate's attention who was closest. She glared as she saw Esposito pulling her away.

"Yeah, and that's exactly why you're not supposed to be here kid. Castle's gonna kill you." Esposito said, somewhat amused.

"Rick? I doubt it." Emily scoffed.

"Yeah, well, she might." Esposito pointed as Kate quickly walked over to them, the frown on her face deepening the closer she got. Emily backed up slightly, pressing her body into Esposito's as Kate advanced. Emily would be lying if she wasn't a little afraid of the woman.

"What part of stay in the car didn't you get?" She asked. Castle was rubbing off on her too much.

"His head is gone." Emily announced instead of answering.

Kate took a deep breath and looked up at Esposito. "Go help Ryan, tell Castle to get his ass back here so we can head back to the precinct."

"Can I come?" Emily asked excitedly. The glare Kate shot her shut her up instantly. The older woman didn't say a word, but looked back up to Esposito as he nodded and left. "I'll bet it was a ninja assassin." She offered as Kate took her arm and pulled her firmly but gently away from the crime scene.

Kate pursed her lips and stopped herself from saying anything as Castle approached. "Dude! I said stay in the car!" He yelled at them. Emily only smiled and tried to step forward but was stopped by Kate's grasp.

"I told Kate it was probably a ninja assassin." She said to him. It took everything Kate had not to roll her eyes as Castle's gleamed excitedly.

"That's what I said!"

Kate cleared her throat.

"But, you should not have been over there, stay in the car was the instruction." He said, growing a little angry himself. Emily simply shrugged and ducked into the car, leaving Kate and Castle behind her. They shared annoyed looks and climbed in as well. "We'll drop you off at home, Mother is there I just got off the phone with her." He announced from the back. Emily had climbed into the passenger seat, much to his annoyance.

"What? No, why can't I come to the precinct with you guys?"

"Because you're eleven." Castle said. "And Mother is going to teach you how to act. She's pulled out all her old dvds, Sunset Boulevard, All About Eve, you're in for a real treat."

Emily whipped her head around and glared at him. "You sound like you'd rather have your eyes poked out than do that." She accused.

"That's because I would. But you like movies, you'll have a great time."

"You like movies too." Emily spat back.

"Not when I watch them with my mother."

Emily narrowed her eyes at him. Kate watched through the rear view mirror as they were waiting at a stop sign. Neither Castle nor Emily looked like they were going to back off. Kate cleared her throat and Castle looked forward with one last glare to Emily. The little girl huffed and turned around in her seat angrily. Kate hid a smirk. Emily was adorable when she was angry, but she didn't think it would help much to say that.