Hey all! Well, since I decided to go with what I had originally written...I had everything ready to post so I figured I might as well :). Hope you enjoy!


Alexis had been released from the hospital right on schedule, there having been no complications. Kate took the first 2 days Alexis was home off from work to spend with them and they camped out in the living room both days and had their movie marathon. She stayed at the loft; reasoning she was planning on being there anyway since Martha was gone. Rick had called Martha and the actress had said she would come home right away, but Rick assured her he was there now and she only had a few more days of her show and he managed to convince her to stay. However, he couldn't stop her from showering Alexis with gifts when she got back. When her grandmother returned, Alexis was presented with a gift basket full of new books and movies and all her favorite snack foods (which she could thankfully have now). Meredith had called briefly the day after she got home, telling her the same old story: I love you, so sorry I can't be there, important work, call more when I can…Alexis hardly listened anymore.

It had been 6 days since her surgery and Alexis was sitting at the kitchen counter desperately trying to catch up on all her make up work her teachers had sent home. Her father was at a black pawn meeting until about 8:00 that night, but Kate was there, cooking dinner and helping her with her homework—just like a few weeks before.

Kate was stirring the pasta when Alexis suddenly slammed her pencil down. She quickly turned to the girl who had a frustrated expression on her face and raised a questioning eyebrow. "I am never going to finish all this Kate! I've been working on the same thing for over an hour and I haven't even made a dent!"

Kate gave her a sympathetic smile, set the stirring spoon on the stove, and walked over to her, looking over the math work she was doing. She did a quick scan and determined the work was correct. She rubbed a hand over Alexis' back, "But all of this is right. You're doing a great job."

"Yeah, I'll just never be done with it!" Alexis exclaimed putting her head in her hands a rubbing her forehead, "I can't do anymore right now."

Kate squeezed her shoulder, "Then take a break sweetie, you've been working for hours. Take a break and help me cook, or go take a shower or something. Then come back with a clear head."

Alexis nodded. "Yeah, ok," she sighed, "your right…that sounds good. Mind if I go shower?"

Kate smiled and motioned for her to leave, "I suggested it silly! Go shower—try and relax. Dinner should be ready when you get out ok? We can eat and then you can tackle a little more."

Alexis wrapped Kate in a hug, "Thank you, Kate."

Kate hugged her tight, "Anytime, kid." She turned Alexis around and pushed her toward the bathroom, "Now go—shower!"

Alexis laughed, "yes ma'am!" She fake saluted.

When Alexis walked down 20 minutes later, now freshly showered and in pajamas, she heard Kate arguing with someone. It didn't take her long to figure out who it was. She quietly walked down, but stayed out of sight behind the wall to listen.

"What do you mean 'why do I want to see her?' She's my daughter detective."

"And I am not going to let you hurt her again!"

"Who do you think you are telling me what I can and cannot do when it comes to my own daughter?!"

"Who am I?" Kate scoffed, "I'm the one that was there to comfort her when she was crying after she had surgery because her mother was too busy to even call her. I'm someone who stayed home with her for days when she was recovering, watching movies and playing games and getting her whatever she needed. I'm someone who got up at night to keep her company and hold her hand when she couldn't sleep because she was in pain from the surgery. I'm someone who has been here, helping her get caught up on her homework. I'm someone who loves her and will do anything to protect her. And I'm someone who isn't going to let you see her if you're just going to hurt her again. I am done letting you hurt her!"

"Why you really are a…"

"So," Kate interrupted before the woman could go off on her, "Tell me, who are you Meredith? Who are you that you keep getting to hurt her?"

"I'm her mother!"

"No you're not!" both women turned around when they heard the sudden yell. Alexis was standing there, fuming, "You are not my mother!" Alexis continued yelling, "At least not in the whole sense of the word. That…what Kate just said, that's a mother! You? What have you ever done for me? I have surgery and you're too busy to even call me. It's been like a week and now you come?"

"Alexis…" Meredith tried to interrupt but Alexis was on a roll. Kate just stood there, shocked. She had never heard Alexis talk this way to anyone. She turned around and slipped her phone out of her pocket to send a quick 911 text to Rick telling him he needed to get home,

'Meredith is here and Alexis is yelling. You need to get home-now!'

A few seconds later she got his reply,

'Oh God…I'm on my way. Lex ok?'

Kate turned to the red head who was still fuming and yelling at her mother. She sighed and sent a quick 'no' to Rick before shoving her phone back in her pocket and walking over to Alexis, who was starting to look really pale, except for the red flush on her cheeks from getting so worked up. "Ok honey you need to calm down," Kate said gently, putting a light hand on her shoulder, "you're still recovering and getting this upset isn't going to help. You are getting really pale." Kate said, putting a hand on her forehead and then her cheek. She was warm, but she figured that was from being so worked up.

"I'm her mother," Meredith spat, "I'll check on her! Leave her alone." Kate glared at Meredith as the woman started walking toward Alexis.

Alexis took a few steps back, "Mom…stop. Please… just…just leave."

"What?! I thought you wanted me here?"

"Yeah I did, after I had surgery! To help me and be there for me."

"Well I'm here now…"

"I don't need it now! I'm recovered, I don't need the help. Where were you a week ago? Or like a month ago when you said you would come for a girls weekend huh? You don't come when I need you—you only show up when it's convenient for you! Well guess what…I don't need you anymore! I have Grams and I have dad and I have Kate—so you can leave and go back to what's really important to you." Kate gripped Alexis shoulder in support but didn't say a word; she knew the young girl needed to get this all out.

"Alexis Castle! I am your mother; you do not talk to me that way! And I can't believe…didn't we talk about what was going to happen when Kate and your father…"

"No." Kate interrupted before Meredith could finish. Alexis looked over at Kate and her eyes went wide. She hadn't ever seen Kate this angry. She felt Kate's grip on her shoulder tighten before she let go to head for Meredith.

Alexis grabbed her hand to stop her, "Kate, I know. It's ok." She tried to assure her.

"No it's not." Kate said sternly, looking at her. She then turned back and walked towards Meredith, happy she had her heels on so the woman had to look up at her slightly, "It is not ok and I am telling you right now Meredith, you and I are going to have a longer conversation about this when Alexis is not here." Kate seethed and got right in Meredith's face, "You have some nerve coming in here and saying that right in front of my face and I promise you, if you say it again you will be sorry. And just so you know…Rick and I have been together for about 3 weeks. I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere." She lowered her voice to a deadly whisper, "They're mine now, and you do NOT get to say that do you understand me?" Meredith just nodded, obviously intimidated, "Good. Now get out and leave her alone."

Meredith found her voice, "This isn't your house detective, you can't kick me out."

Before Meredith said the last part of that sentence Rick practically ran through the door, shutting it quickly behind him, "Well I can Meredith. Leave!"
Meredith crossed her arms in defiance, "No, not before we talk."

Rick took a deep breath to try and calm his anger at his ex-wife. "Fine, my office," he said quickly and he and Meredith walked silently into the office, loudly slamming the door.

When the door slammed Alexis jumped. They immediately heard yelling from the office and Kate turned to look at Alexis. Before she could say anything Alexis ran up to her room. "Alexis!" she called after her but the young girl didn't turn around." Kate ran a frustrated hand through her hair. She quickly walked up to Alexis' room and found the young girl on her floor bent over and clutching her stomach. She ran to her, "Alexis! What happened?" she asked quickly as she kneeled in front of the girl and put a hand on her arm. She had been worried Alexis was going to overdo it because she was upset. Running up here was definitely not good.

"I'm fine" she said through gritted teeth, "I just stretched my stitches, that's all."

"Ok honey, I need to make sure you didn't rip them…" Kate said, worried.

"Kate I'm fi…"

"Alexis, that wasn't a question." She interrupted, "I'm afraid you may have ripped them, now lie down and let me look." Kate said sternly. She knew the girl was frustrated and she didn't want to upset her more, but this was important.

Alexis let out a frustrated sigh but complied, lying on the floor and scrunching her face in pain. As soon as Kate lifted up her shirt she saw blood pooling under the bandage. She lowered the top of the pajama pants slightly so she could lift up the bandage. 'Oh thank God.' She thought. The stiches pulling had caused some bleeding, but they weren't ripped. She quickly went to the bathroom to get some gauze and a new bandage.

"Kate, why is it bleeding? I thought it was healed enough, it's been like 6 days."

Kate walked back into the room, "It was healing…but it wasn't healed enough to jet up the stairs honey. Thank God it was healed enough to not rip open…but the pulling caused it to bleed." She took the bandage all the way of and gently wiped away the blood.

"It was just up the stairs! How…ahh oow Kate that hurts!"

"I'm sorry sweetie. I'm almost done."

Alexis hit her fist against the floor, "Damn it. I'm so stupid. I shouldn't have…I just."

"I know Lex, I know. And you're not stupid honey. Ok all done. Why don't you go lay in your bed."

Alexis nodded and winced in pain as Kate helped her up and into bed, "It really hurts Kate."

Kate pushed the hair back from Alexis' forehead, "I know sweetie. Do you want a pain pill?"

Alexis nodded, "But I don't know where dad put them and mom is with him and I just…I can't deal with her right now Kate, I don't want her to come up here and..."

Kate ran a hand over her forehead, "It's ok. I'll go and ask your dad where the pills are, she won't come up here alright? Just relax." Alexis nodded and Kate gave her a kiss on the forehead before she ran downstairs to get Rick.

She knocked on the door to the office and she didn't even wait for a 'come in' to enter. "Detective, this is a private conversation," Meredith yelled, "I want you out of here."

"I don't really care what you want Meredith! It isn't all about you."

Meredith scoffed, "Why you little…I can't believe you would just barge in and…"

"Look," Kate interrupted just short of yelling. She got in Meredith's face again, "Trust me Meredith; you do NOT want to mess with me right now because I am about this close to…"

Rick grabbed Kate's hand to stop her when he noticed her raising her arm, "Kate…" he said gently, "Everything ok?"

"No actually, it's not," she shook her head and glared at Meredith before taking a step back and turning to Rick. She took a deep breath. "Alexis ran up the stairs and pulled her stitches."

Ricks eyes went wide, "What!?"

"She didn't rip them," she assured him, "but she pulled them enough that they bled. She's in a lot of pain so I was going to get her a pain pill but I don't know where you put them."

Rick went to leave but Meredith stopped him, "We are in the middle of something Richard."

"Oh my...is she serious right now?" Kate asked Rick and then turned to Meredith, "Did you not hear me?! Your daughter is in pain."

Meredith turned to Rick, "Are you going to just let her come in here and interrupt our conversation?"

Rick glared at Meredith and Kate felt his hand tighten around hers in frustration, "I don't care about our conversation Meredith! I am going to go check on my daughter. Now just leave and let me take care of her!" Before Meredith could argue Rick ran out of the study and up to Alexis' room.

Kate turned to Meredith, fully ready to make sure the woman left. Alexis had told her she didn't want Meredith there right now and if she was only going to make Alexis worse, Kate didn't care how it sounded—she would make sure she wasn't there. Before she could say anything, however, Meredith stormed out of the office and ran out the front door, slamming it as loud as she could. Kate immediately went up to Alexis room to find Rick handing her a pill and a glass of water.

"Is she gone?" Alexis asked after she took the pill and handed the water back to her dad to set on the nightstand.

"Yeah honey, she left." Kate answered as she sat at the foot of Alexis' bed.

Rick sat on the side of the bed next to Alexis, "Alexis, what were you thinking running up stairs like that? You could have really hurt yourself." He said gently.

Alexis sighed, "I know dad I just…you and mom were fighting and I was so angry and mad and I just…I didn't really think about until it started really hurting."

Rick kissed her forehead, "I'm so sorry pumpkin."

"It's not your fault dad"

"I'm sorry we were yelling. I just got so mad because she upset you…"

Alexis smiled softly, "I know daddy."

After a few moments of silence Rick spoke up, "Are you ok sweetie?"

Alexis nodded and closed her eyes, "Yeah, I am. I promise. I'm just tired now. And those pills really make me sleepy."

"Yeah, they do that," Rick chuckled, "Why don't you get some rest ok?"

Alexis nodded, not opening her eyes. Rick gave her a kiss and Kate squeezed her leg before they quietly made their way out of the room. Once the door was shut Kate spoke, "You really lit into Meredith."

"Me?" Rick asked amused as they walked down the stairs, "I thought you were gonna hit her!"

"Me too…" Kate mumbled. She honestly had almost hit the woman, and she wasn't ashamed to admit it.

Rick laughed at that and they went to sit on the couch. "Thank you for taking care of Alexis." He said earnestly.

Kate shook her head, "You seriously need to stop thanking me for loving your daughter."

He smiled, "Ok."

"So how was your meeting?" she asked as she leaned back into him and he wrapped his arms around her middle.

"Ehh…same ol' same ol'. Gave them the outline for the next few chapters, they set up deadlines…yada yada." Kate chuckled. "How long was Meredith here before I was able to get home?"

"Oh just about 15 minutes…you got here surprisingly fast."

"What happened?"

"Rick, it doesn't…"

"It does matter Kate."

"Fine," she sighed, "Well, she came…wanted to see Alexis. I asked why, she got mad. I said I wasn't gonna let her hurt her; we got into the whole 'who do you think you are' thing. Alexis came out—she started yelling. Meredith repeated what she told Alexis about us getting together—I got in her face, said she'd be sorry if she ever said that again. She said she understood, I said you guys were mine now—told her to leave. She said I couldn't make her leave because it wasn't my house…you walked in, and…you know it from there. When Rick didn't say anything after she was done she turned around in his arms to look at him and saw her just staring at her, mouth agape. "What?" she asked confused.

"I…you…" he stammered, "What did you say to her"

"When?"

"After…after she told Alexis what she said about us dating."

"Uhhh…she'd be sorry if she said that to Alexis again?"

"No, no after that."

She looked at him, bewildered, "I told her to leave?"

He grumbled, "No! Before that!"

"I…" she started, still puzzled. But then it dawned on her and her eyes widened. Well crap, she hadn't meant to tell him that part—his ego was big enough. Man, the gloating she was setting herself up for. She looked away, desperately trying to avoid his gaze, and mumbled, "That you guys are mine now."

"What was that?" Rick asked, a cocky smile plastered on his face.

She finally met his gaze and glared at him, "You know, smug really doesn't…"

Her words were cut off as he brought her to him in a searing kiss. When they broke apart he started trailing kisses down her neck, "You know, you getting all territorial and jealous? So hot."

She let out a gasp as his hand found its way underneath her shirt, stroking her skin, "Yeah?"

He smiled against her neck, "Oh yeah." He kissed his way back up her neck and found her lips again.

"How hot, exactly?" she breathed between kisses.

He pulled back slightly, "Well I would be happy to show you, my dear detective."

She leaned in until her lips touched his ear, "Then show me." She whispered, teasing his lobe with her lips before she pulled back to look at him. He didn't waste any time and suddenly scooped her up bridal style, "Rick!" she squeaked out. He quickly made his way to his bedroom and she giggled as he attempted to shut the door with his foot, finally succeeding on the third try.


Ok two things...one, of course, is what did you think!?

Second is...this story is almost done. I have one more chapter that ties everything together and then that's it. So, I thought about writing something else (and finishing something I already have started) but I wanted to get ideas from you guys. Since you are the ones that are reading this...I figured I would see what you would want to read? Anyone have any fun concepts/prompts that they might like to see written? I'm of course gonna keep thinking on it and see if I can come up with something fun...but I wanted to see if you all had any thoughts also.

Thank you reading and reviewing and favoriting and all that good stuff! It means a lot to me and makes me smile!