He always called. Now she was looking at the reason he didn't call. Kate Beckett; She noticed the matching Batman t-shirts. It only added to her fury. Her face was beginning to match her hair color.

Alexis rushed here after her finals, ready to calm and comfort him; this is what she walks in on. 'P-lease!' She turned around and headed upstairs to her bedroom, she paused; she needed to see how much damage control she was in for. She retraced her steps and headed toward the master bedroom; checking the rooms located by the Master first. There wasn't any sign they were being used. She went into the Master and froze.

"This is worst than I thought." The ginger haired daughter noticed Kate's things all over her Dad's bedroom. She stood in shock, her eyes opened wide. Alexi's mouth gaped as she noted the Sleeping arrangements. (She had little doubt that sleeping was the only thing going on) This was bad. There wasn't enough ice-cream in the world to heal her Dad's broken heart after this. How would she ever help him pick-up the pieces? "Dad what have you done?"

Kate woke up, she sensed something was off. She listened. She sat straight up when she noticed the suitcase. "Castle wake up!"

"Again, all ready?"

"Castle someone is here!" Kate pointed at the suitcase.

"That's belongs to Alexis, Castle started to doze, and he sat straight up. "Alexis!"

Castle looked at the scene. They were lying together, very comfortable. "Shit" He wanted to explain to Alexis the change in relationship status. (He wasn't about to post it on Facebook.) He wanted her to hear it from him, not have her walk in on them. This was bad. He jumped off the couch. "I'll go to talk to her."

Castle was cursing under his breath as he headed upstairs. Would they ever catch a break? Fate may have brought the two together, but the universe was trying to keep them apart. Think! He'd focused only on talking to Kate; he wanted more time, just the two of them. He'd planned on talking to Alexis when he returned to the City. This wasn't going to end well. He checked her room, it was empty, and he went to his Mother's room. Empty. He was starting to panic. "Oh, God please no, No, NO! He raced down the stairs. He was just in time to see Alexis tear into Kate.

"Haven't you hurt him enough? Will you not stop until you've killed him? He won't survive you running away, not after this….Alexis pointed to the couch. She knew they'd past the just "Partners" stage. "You're not the one who's left behind to pick up the pieces. It's bad enough he follows you around at work. He's not a cop. How many more chances will he have before he doesn't come home anymore? He's all I have. Alexi's fury was unbridled and unmasked.

Kate was listening, she wanted Alexis to vent; voice her frustration, concerns. Kate knew Lil' Castle was guarded with her emotions around her. She knew she was more likely to hear her true feelings while she was angry, and unguarded. She felt she deserved to hear how her actions affected Castle's family; she was still discovering how her actions affected Castle. It was painful, but she needed to face it. It was the only way to heal. (Dr. Burke taught her that.)

"Alexis!" Castle was angry. He was angry at himself as well as his daughter. He couldn't deny he'd put his family through the Beckett roller coaster ride for the last three years. What they didn't realize and he'd only recently discovered. Kate suffered too. She'd been on the same ride, that he'd been on, and she'd been riding alone.

Castle came down the stairs, he headed toward Kate. He didn't feel a need to choose, they were both family. He knew Kate needed his comfort right now. He also needed Alexis to see that things were different.

Castle embraced Kate. When he let go Kate reached for his hand. She held it.

"Rick, it's okay. Alexis has every right to voice her options." Kate paused "I want to hear what she has to say."

Castle held up their entwined hands and placed a kiss. "I agree with you, but in this house we do not discuss things at the top of our voice." He looked at Alexis.

Alexis saw the disappointment in her Dad's face. She wasn't used to seeing him look that way because of her. She went and sat down in the chair dejectedly.

"Dad, when you didn't call, I was worried. You always call or text….I thought something was wrong." Alexis spoke in a quieter voice.

"Alexis, as I said; Kate and I had important issues to discuss. I'd planned on calling you when we'd completed our discussion."

Alexis cut her eyes around the room. It didn't look like much "Discussing" was going on. She smirked.

Kate saw the smirk. Lil' Castle knew they'd been intimate.

They were all quiet, the silence was uncomfortable.

Kate spoke first. "Alexis, first I'd like to… I want to apologize. My actions were hurtful to your Dad. I never intended to hurt him. I've handled…

"Yea, well you did." Alexis spat out. She couldn't believe she'd interrupted Beckett. She wasn't like this! She wasn't able to contain her emotions. It was so unlike her. Her anger erupted like a volcano, burning everything in its wake. She couldn't stop it.

"Alexis!"

"What? Dad! Are you going to sit there and act like you didn't try to drowned your sorrows in a bottle of scotch, I remember hearing you cry yourself to sleep…. You would sit and stare at your computer screen for hours, while you should be writing bounced around on the screen. All because of Beckett and your (Alexis used her hand to air quote) relationship with her." You came here to get over her. Alexis glared at him, she wanted him to try to deny that little fact.

"Alexis, it is true I came to the Hampton's because I was upset. I've, we both have realized we've made mistakes. We are working thru that now."

"So, I see." Alexis crossed her arms across her chest. The eruption was over, but she wasn't feeling very good about it.

Kate closed her eyes, this was not going well. She was trying to find the words to explain. She opened her eyes when she heard Castle speak; she knew the words were from his heart.

"Alexis, I love you. I understand this is difficult for you to process, rather than acting like a spoiled child, open your eyes and your heart. No one is running. Kate & I have spent the last two days, talking and healing. We have both made mistakes. Kate is part of this family, she isn't going anywhere. I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I have forgiven her for any wrongs that happened in the past; some of which I'd only imagined. Some I caused. I never realized the hell she'd faced. I pray she has forgiven me. I'm not the only one who's suffered. We are moving forward, as a couple. An exclusive couple."

Castle squeezed Kate hand.

"I shadowed Kate at first because I was attracted to her. It has evolved into so much more. Sometimes there is danger, but Kate puts herself at risk to keep me safe. She's asked me numerous times to stay back. I may not have a badge, but I am a member of a team. (A team that holds the highest closure rate in the city.) I've earned admission, and I won't give that up.

Kate tears were falling. She couldn't stop them. She didn't want to stop them. His words went straight to her heart.

Castle wiped the tears from Kate's face. He kissed her tenderly.

Castle turned, and looked Alexis in the eyes. "I know you have seen me…at some of the lowest points in my life, I can't say that I'm proud of...my actions. I'm your father, and I have made mistakes. I ask that you trust in what I'm telling you, I know what I'm doing. While I appreciate your support, I don't need you to protect me, or defend me. I'm standing on my on two feet from now on."

Alexis was stunned, she'd never seen Kate cry. She was always tough, scary even. Seeing her vulnerable and open defused some of her anger. For the first time ever, she'd seen her Dad protect someone other than herself and Gram. It hit her. Their love was real, for both of them.

"I think I will go up to my room." Alexis grabbed her bag, she didn't waste time heading up the stairs. She closed her door and lean against it. Her back slid down the door, when she reached the floor, the tears started falling.

"Are you Okay?" Castle ran his fingers across Kate's tear-stained face.

"I am." Kate nodded and managed a weak smile. "I am glad Alexis voiced her concerns and frustrations."

"I think that was more of a melt down." Castle chuckled. "She will come back down when she is ready to talk."

"I remember once when she was five or six. She was so upset she held her breath until she passed out. ….scared me to death. I didn't let her know I was scared. When she woke up. I calmly ask if she'd had a good nap. It's a good thing I inherited some of my mothers acting ability's…. Of course later I researched to see if there were any lingering side effects."

Castle sighed. "She has always been independent. I felt sometimes she raised herself, I was only along for the ride."

Kate touched Castle's arm. "You're a wonderful loving Father. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with you. Alexis needs you. She relies on you; that's one of the reasons she is scared."

Kate fingers caressed his arm. "When I was 17 I was so excited to head off to Stanford. I couldn't wait to get out of the house. I thought I was so grown-up, then I realized when I was there alone, I missed home. Even though I was an independent child, I missed being my Dad's little girl."

Kate looked up at Castle, "Should we get dressed?"

"No." Castle shook his head. I think we continue doing exactly what we were doing. (Except …have sex outside the closed bedroom door,) but other than that, this is us. I think it will help Alexis to see us together as a normal couple. That being said it's my turn to pick a movie." He headed over to pick out a DVD. He selected An unfinished life. Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Jlo, and a bear. It was a story about a family and forgiveness.

The couple settled under the blankets and watched the movie. They both sniffled a couple of times.

"I'm hungry; do you want to order in?" Castle stretched and yawned.

"Actually I'd like to cook." Kate's eyes twinkled.

"As you wish my beautiful moose."

Kate rolled her eyes.

They walked arm in arm to the kitchen.

Castle was grating cheese for the lasagna, and Kate was holding a spoon to her lips tasting the sauce, when Alexis walked into the kitchen.

The first thing Castle noticed she was wearing an Elektra T-shirt and leggings. He smiled. The second thing he'd noticed, she'd been crying.

"Is their anything I can do to help?" Alexis was trying to sound brave, but the quiver in her voice gave her away.

Kate turned and spoke up, "We need a salad, or the noodles need to be cooked."

"I'll make a salad." Alexis turned to retrieve the items, she was grateful to have something to do.

Castle began to sing a song from the Little mermaid. He'd gotten the movie when a kid from school teased Alexis about her red hair. It became one of her favorites. (Castle loved it too)

Castle imitated Sebastian's voice

[Percussion, strings, winds, words]

Castle sang:

There you see her
Sitting there across the way
She don't got a lot to say
But there's something about her

Alexis sang:

And you don't know why
But you're dying to try
You wanna kiss the girl

Kate sang:

Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
Possible she wants you to
There is one way to ask her

Castle and Alexis smiled, Kate knew the song! And she had a lovely voice.

Castle sang with more gusto

It don't take a word
Not a single word
Go on and kiss the girl

[Sing with me now] Castle imitated Sebastian's voice

They all sang:

Sha la la la la la, my oh my
Look like the boy too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl

Sha la la la la la, ain't that sad
Ain't it a shame, too bad
He gonna miss the girl

They all laughed. The mood was a little lighter.

Castle went over and kissed Alexis on the top of her head. "I love you Pumpkin" then he went over to Kate. He enveloped her in his arms and kissed her passionately. She kissed him back; when they began to make noises.

Alexis chimed in "Guys you might want to keep this rated PG." she was smiling.

Castle broke free from the kiss and said "I'm never going to miss an opportunity to kiss the girl ever again. I love you Kate Beckett."

"I love you Richard Castle." Kate was still holding the spoon. "Oh! the sauce." She stirred it and prepared the noodles. Once the lasagna was prepared and in the oven. They all went into the living room.

Kate set an alarm on her phone. The kitchen was along way from the living room, she didn't trust she'd hear the timer on the oven alert when dinner was finished cooking.

Castle grabbed a bottle of wine.

"Alexis, it's your turn to select a movie."

The red-head didn't hesitate she loaded The Little Mermaid. She turned around; she glanced at the sofa before she headed to the chair.

"Alexis there is room for you; come and sit with us." She paused, and then joined the couple on the couch.

They sang the songs. Alexis and Castle recited the words along with the characters.

Kate's phone chimed. "Dinner is ready to take out of the oven" Kate excused herself and headed for the kitchen. Castle offered to help; she encouraged him to stay with his daughter. She would call them in when everything was finished.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I behaved like a spoiled brat. Detective Beckett is going to hate me." Alexis paused "She is different; open…I've never seen her cry before. I can see she loves you. I shouldn't have said all those things."

"I love you Alexis; you'll always be my little girl. He kissed the top of her head. I think you need to speak to Kate. Things are different for us. We are in a good place. She was worth the wait.

Kate came and called them to dinner.

Kate studied their faces during dinner, she was relieved to see the tension between Castle and Alexis dissipate. She was thankful. The journey had been long and harsh, but she'd arrived on the other side with her partner, her lover, and one day in the not so distant future her husband. The healing process had begun, it was about time. Kate looked at Castle and smiled; then she took a sip of wine.

What did you think? This one was hard to write.