A/N: Sorry this took me so long! I always think I'm going to have more time to write when the semester ends, but it never seems to work that way. Ohh well. Short and uneventful though this chapter might be, at least it's an update. Just a very fluffy update. Enjoy!

Alexis heard the door the first time the bell sounded but let it go, figuring that her dad would get it. As predicted, he'd passed on accompanying Beckett to the precinct for a half-day filled with paperwork, and had barely emerged from his study all morning. But if Alexis was sure of anything, it was that he'd still want to see Kate at some point today, especially if she was coming over, so she assumed he'd answer the door. But after the third bell she gave up on that assumption and answered herself.

"Hey," she greeted the detective, who looked a little tired, but was smiling. "Sorry. I thought my dad was gonna get the door."

She nodded. "How's he feeling today?" she asked, a teasing edge in her voice.

"Rather dramatic, I assume," Alexis said, rolling her eyes. "I'm positive he's been more hung-over than this and probably recently. But he's been hiding in his study all day. Want me to get him, or can you...?" She didn't have a very good idea of how comfortable Kate was here. Apparently fairly, since she'd been in the office by herself just the night before, but she still figured she'd ask.

"Come with me," Kate suggested, nodding toward the doorway. "We'll just pop in and say bye before we go. Double team him."

Alexis smiled. "Sounds good." She led the way to the room. She had to cover her mouth to suppress a giggle when she opened the door to find her father asleep in the chair in front of his laptop, with his head lulling back and his jaw hanging open in a rather unattractive but hilarious fashion.

She looked at Kate, who grinned and pressed a finger to her lips to warn Alexis to keep quiet. Without making a sound, a skill she might've developed as a cop, she managed to go to Castle's desk, take a pen from the cup on its surface, and draw a ridiculous googly-eyed face on his forehead. She was just finishing up the mouth when he woke with a start that forced her pen to make an awkward line jutting out to one side.

"Hey," he grumbled, looking confusedly from his girlfriend to his daughter. "What're you doing?"

"Oh, nothing," Kate said, looking at the ceiling with mock-innocence and hiding the pen behind her back. Alexis giggled.

"I fell asleep?" He moved the cursor on his laptop to see the time. "For almost two hours?"

"Apparently," Alexis laughed.

"Getting a little old to be partying like that," Kate teased.

"Not old," Castle answered quickly, apparently waking up. "Never old."

"You do have a daughter in college now," Alexis contributed. "That's pretty old."

"Whose side are you on?" he asked her unhappily. "Aren't you two supposed to be going somewhere?"

"Yeah, we are," Kate told him. "Just wanted to say hello."

"Hello." He beckoned her closer with one finger, and she obliged. They shared a quick kiss, and then he waved her away, a silly smile on his face that almost matched the one on his forehead. "Have fun," he said.

Alexis started to go, but he stopped her. "Hey," he called, "come here. You're not exempt."

He didn't seem very interested in getting up, so Alexis made her way over to his desk as Kate started for the door and allowed him to kiss her on the cheek. "Okay, you can go now," he said, dismissing them both. "Be safe."

Kate rolled her eyes. "You watch me chase down bad guys every day and you never tell me to 'be safe'."

He frowned. "It's implied," he told her. "And you don't have my daughter with you when you're chasing bad guys."

"Well, no bad guys today," she promised. "Just some girly fun."

"Even better." He smiled. "Get to it."

Alexis followed Kate out of the study. "So you said you had something in mind?" she asked her.

Kate nodded. "Yeah. Sort of, anyway. Have you been outside yet today?"

Alexis frowned and shook her head. Grinning, Kate led her to the nearest window and drew the blinds open. Alexis felt a matching grin spread across her own face as she saw the reason for Kate's question. A sparkly white blanket that hadn't been there the night before now covered the city. "God, I love snow," she breathed.

"Good," Kate smiled. "That's what your dad told me. I do too."

Alexis looked at the detective, surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah," she laughed. "Always have. What?"

"No, nothing. I just figured you'd be like my dad and my grandma. Admire it from afar, too cold up close."

"No way. The closer the better. So I figured we'd go down to the park and check out the snow and the decorations, and then maybe go ice skating if you're up for it."

Alexis beamed. "That sounds amazing. Really?"

"Yeah, absolutely."

"Okay. Just let me put on some warmer clothes and we'll go."

"Perfect." She sat down on the couch and made herself comfortable. "I'll be here."

"So how was work this morning?" Alexis asked, making conversation as they got out of Kate's car and started down the sidewalk toward the park.

She shrugged. "Boring. Esposito and Ryan called off, and your dad didn't show, not that I expected him to, and paperwork isn't too exciting to begin with. And then of course the captain wanted to know why the rest of my team decided not to come to work, and I didn't think she'd take your dad's party as an excuse, so I had to cover for them."

Alexis laughed. "They both called off?"

Kate nodded. "Wimps. I'll bust 'em for it tomorrow." She smirked. "Might as well get something out of it."

She grinned. "Good plan."

Fluffy snowflakes were still coming down as they walked, giving Alexis a giddy feeling that only this kind of snow was able to provide. It made her feel like a little kid again, but in the best possible way. Like everything bad in the world had vanished in a sparkly puff of white. The fat flakes settled on her jacket and melted against her exposed skin. They stuck to tree branches and signposts, and made everything look softer. Even the detective beside her seemed to have regressed a few years. Alexis watched her catch a snowflake on her tongue and then look around briefly, hoping no one had noticed, and suddenly she couldn't figure out why this woman had ever seemed threatening.

"It really is pretty down here," she observed. "I get around a lot for work, but I'm always so concentrated I never really get to just admire the scenery. I've been looking at these decorations for years, I'm sure, but it's been a long time since I've really noticed them."

"It is pretty," Alexis smiled. "And even prettier with the snow."

"Mm, definitely. Christmas decorations just don't look right sitting in the grass."

"Right?" She looked at the detective. "So what was it you said about ice skating?"

"Oh." Kate smiled a little shyly. "Just an idea. We can go if you want."

"I'm not very good," Alexis warned. "But it sounds like fun."

"Yeah? You know, I haven't been skating in years, so I might not be very good anymore either. But I used to love it. Think we should give it a try?"

"Sure. Let's do it."

"Okay, great." Kate grinned, obviously more excited by the prospect than she'd been letting on. "Let's go."

A/N: So, just some character development and a bit of preview for coming attractions. Annnd that's pretty much all this chapter was. But oh well. It happens. Hopefully you liked it anyway.

Quick question. I'll take your opinions if you have them. :) I could either actually write the Kate/Alexis skating scene, which would probably be another chapter of uneventful fluff, or I could sort of skip over that part to some things that might actually advance the plot. The skating scene would probably have to be its own chapter, so it would mean that the Kate/Alexis bonding outing will be extended over three chapters, which will mean it'll take me longer to get to Christmas. So, fun fluffy but probably uneventful skating chapter, or skip that in favor of some actual plot development and the possibility of actually finishing this story before the end of the month?

Thanks for reading, even if nothing actually happens. :) And reviews are always welcome! You're awesome. Have a great Christmas if I don't update before then! But hopefully I will.