Authors Note: Thanks for all the lovely comments/reviews. Much appreciated. I figured no one would read after I took such an annoying break. That being said, this is a long chapter but the words kept flowing and after so many months of writer's block, I let them! I think it sets up things nicely moving forward.
She knows it's silly she feels so uncomfortable about this entire thing but she can't help it. She does.
Parents Weekend for summer session freshman at Columbia is probably meant for actual parents. Not dad's with knocked up girlfriends.
But Castle insists Alexis wants her to come. Although it didn't help his case that Alexis has been over at the loft a few times in the past week to grab random items and never once mentioned to Kate about parents night.
So she can't help but be hesitant that it's more Castle who wants her there than Alexis.
Not that the two of them don't get along. It's always friendly and cordial. But they won't be setting any records for closest girlfriend and boyfriend's kid anytime soon.
"I think it's this way according to the map...are your feet ok?"
Castle is leading her along with his hand laced in hers.
He's giddy with excitement and it's pretty adorable. She thought he'd handle this two-week dorm retreat much harder than he is and she's pretty sure that he didn't read the part of the summer session booklet that said if students wanted to stay in the dorms past the retreat, they were allowed.
"Oh there it is! Furnald Hall! Don't you feel like we're back in college being on a campus like this?"
She glances down at the basketball protruding from her black maxi dress and Castle shrugs.
"Yea, maybe not..."
The dorm is an ornate brick and concrete building looking over an expanse of green grass in the middle of campus. Since it's only summer session and it's a first year dorm, there's just a few students scattered on the lawn with blankets.
They enter into the main lobby, a beautiful wood-paneled room with various couches and televisions and study nooks.
"Hi! Welcome to Furnald Hall Parents Night! Can I have you sign in here and just fill out name badges with your first name and relation to the student living here and then I'll point you in the right direction..."
Kate swears the kid working the registration desk cannot possibly be in college. He looks to be 16. Is she really that old? Didn't she look older in college?
Castle signs them in on a list and scribbles his name on a name badge, "Rick, Alexis' dad" and hands the pen off to Kate.
Obviously her name comes easy but then she's stumped. Rick's girlfriend? Alexis'...friend?
She glances up at Castle and he's thinking the exact same thing as she is. Which only makes it more awkward so she drops the pen and leaves off the title altogether.
She's already majorly regretting this decision to attend.
Castle slides his hand at the small of her back and presses a kiss to her forehead.
"Oh Alexis Castle's parents! Welcome! I'm Patrick, Alexis and I live on the same floor...my parents live in Phoenix and couldn't make it out..."
Rick shakes his hand and Kate offers up a smile, letting the Alexis' parents comment slide.
Just as the boy...Kate refuses to call him anything other than that...is about to point them to the elevator. Kate spots a laughing, squealing burst of red hair run into Rick's arms.
"You found it! Isn't it great?! It's the best freshman dorm assignment on campus!"
Castle sweeps her up in a big hug like he hasn't seen her in ages. In Castle time, a week without Alexis is practically ages.
"Oh my god, how is it possible you look older? It's only been a week!"
She grins and turns to Kate, hugging her softly.
"Wow...you've gotten so big!"
Kate's pretty sure the look on her face is not one of excitement with that comment and Alexis backtracks immediately.
"OH my gosh, I didn't mean BIG...just...growing ya know!...Agh...sorry...but I'm glad you could make it!"
Kate laughs it off and squeezes her hand in reassurance. She's on a personal secret mission to win over Alexis because she knows she isn't quite on board with them yet.
"So this is the lobby...it also a study area but there's a really amazing study lounge on each floor so this is used for more social stuff and hanging out...come on, I'll show you my room! Thanks for signing them in Patrick!"
She offers up a cheerful wave and they follow her to the elevators. It is like a flashback to college stepping in and seeing the posters on the elevator wall announcing tutoring sessions and clubs to join.
"Laundry is down in the basement but there's not many units so a lot of kids drop off laundry at the wash and folds around campus OR...their parents come and grab it for them if they live in the city!"
She nudges Castle and winks and he groans.
"I'll pay for the wash n fold if that's my only way out of hauling your laundry around the city twice a week!"
Alexis' hallway is filled with 12 or 15 single rooms, doors all swung open and dry erase boards on the outside with the name and hometown of all the residents.
"So this is the girls side, there's 15 of us and on the other side of the lounge is the boys side with another 15 single rooms! This is one of the only dorms on campus where so many Freshman get singles, which is kind of nice..."
Jackie from Chicago is showing her parents around her room as they pass and Alexis' room is nestled at the end of the hallway beside a Carrie from Boston.
"Carrie is my neighbor and she's awesome! She went to meet her parents outside but she's really funny and she's a bio major like me so we're going to have a lot of classes together. And Lee, across the hall from me is from Santa Barbara and her dad is a plastic surgeon and she's a microbiology major!"
Castle is taking in all of the details and excitement from Alexis and Kate is taking in his sweetness and focus. He's an amazing dad. Not that she didn't know it before but this just confirms it.
"Oohh Casa Alexis...well I would think $60,000 a year would buy you a little more real estate but it's great sweetie! It'll be nice being in the corner! And right by the Resident Adviser so I can rest easy knowing you won't be throwing any keg parties."
Her room is small but it contains a bed, desk, long dresser and shelving units on the walls. It looks almost identical to NYU's and Stanford's dorms of Kate's past.
Kate checks out the view of the quad and other campus buildings.
"It's a great view Alexis. It looks like you're really close to everything?"
The girl nods and points out a few buildings for her.
"Yea this is by far the best location for freshman so I'm really lucky. There's the main lecture hall where there's like, 500 students in a lecture and the bio labs are behind that. The cafeteria is that building with all the windows and the book store is right next to it!"
Kate smiles at her excitement. To be so young and getting to experience something like this for the first time, she forgot how amazing it can feel.
"We'll have to do some major shopping when you get home. They gave you a list of things right? Maybe Kate can help pick out some stuff with you because if you take me, we'll end with all Star Wars themed stuff."
Castle is rummaging through the closet and drawers., Checking the sturdiness of the shelves and door lock.
"Yea they gave me a list and I've checked out some Sophomore's rooms on the upper floors and they gave me advice on what to buy too..."
Kate can see by the look on her face that there's more to offer up. And she knows it's the announcement that she isn't coming back for the summer. But Castle seems oblivious.
"So there's cookies and punch in the lounge...there's a few other parents here and I want you to meet Carrie and Lee...oh and this girl Amanda lives a few doors down and she's kind of a huge fan of yours so sorry if she attacks you..."
Castle grins widely. There's nothing he loves more than being adored.
"Kate are you feeling OK? Do you want to rest or anything?"
Alexis hangs in the doorway and Kate shakes her off.
"I feel great! Let's get some cookies!"
Castle offers her up a thankful smile and they follow Alexis around the corner, she points out the bathrooms and shared showers. Something Kate doesn't miss at all from college days. Just the idea makes her shiver.
The lounge is small but there's a few tables and study nooks with a couch and a few chairs at one end of the room.
It's decorated with a Welcome Parents banner and there's cookies and punch spread out on a table. There's about 20 parents in the room and just as many college students. A parentless bunch is gathered in the corner laughing and looking at their cell phones.
"Dad this is Lee...Lee this is my dad Rick and his girlfriend Kate...and these are Lee's parents, Dr. and Mrs. Juang..."
Lee is a sweet looking girl about Alexis' height with short brown hair and rimmed glasses. Her and Alexis immediately start chatting about a few things and Rick and Kate shake hands all around.
They are soon joined by another set of parents, Gabby from Michigan is their daughter, an engineering major with seriously blonde spiky hair and a nose ring.
It doesn't take long for a bubbly, squealing girl with blonde curly hair to find Castle and flail appropriately. Alexis nearly collapses into the floor in embarrassment but Castle is in his element.
"I'm an English major...I want to specialize in Creative Writing but we can't declare that until sophomore year and it's a really competitive application process but...you are one of my favorite authors Mr. Castle...and OH MY GOD, You're her! You're Nikki Heat right?!"
Kate feels her face grow red and nods with a shy grin.
"I saw on Page Six that you're like, an item now and having a baby, which is...obviously true and SO PERFECT!"
Castle laughs and engages her in more conversation about writing, saving Kate from the Nikki Heat fangirling, which she plans to thank him for endlessly tonight. She slips over to grab a glass of punch while she has a chance.
Alexis follows her, helping her with a glass and napkin.
"Do you want something to eat? There's just cookies here but I have some things back in my room?"
She appreciates the sweetness of Alexis and thinks maybe she's been the one being uncomfortable with the situation the entire time.
"No I'm fine, we had a big lunch and this baby doesn't leave much room for food!...So are you having fun? You look like you're loving it?"
She nods enthusiastically.
"Kate, I love it. I know it won't always be this fun but we have a bunch of social activities and we've just been getting to know one another. Today our RA had a city-wide scavenger hunt for us to do and it was so much fun!..Do you want to go back to my room with me? I have some questions about what I should buy?"
Kate couldn't be more grateful to have this bonding opportunity with Alexis and she hands off the punch to Castle and follows her without question.
"We'll be right back..."
She trails her fingers lightly across his shoulders and feels him track them with his eyes but lets them go, Kate can hear him explaining to Amanda about story arc.
Alexis grabs a list titled dorm supplies and hands it off to Kate.
"So they gave us this list and then upperclassmen gave us their opinion but everyone has something different and I don't know if I really need all of this and the room is pretty small ya know.."
Kate sits on the bed and looks it over, grabbing a pen from Alexis.
"You definitely need a microwave...not that I'm encouraging you to eat Easy Mac for every meal but it's going to happen...and a coffee pot right? I think you probably just need a desk lamp and maybe one of those that clip onto your bed? For reading?"
Alexis settles next to her and nods, giving input from time to time.
"Do you think I need a laundry hamper? Or ironing board?"
"Just get a laundry bag and hang it in your closet. That way you can just carry it all to the wash and fold when it's ready?...We can get a mini ironing board, you might have a few meetings or presentations where you'll want to iron your shirt and pants?"
They go through section by section and within a few minutes both of them are laughing and picking out color schemes.
Kate even sketches out a few organization options with rubbermaid containers and tote boxes for the shelves on the wall and they decide on a few extra things they need that weren't listed.
"Maybe we can go to Bed, Bath and Beyond this weekend? Do you think?"
Alexis is giddy at the idea and since the girl doesn't seem to want to bring it up herself, Kate feels comfortable enough to mention it.
"That sounds great, I'd love to help...But can I ask if you want to go this weekend because you're not coming home at the end of the retreat...I read in the program booklet that it's an option?"
She knows instantly by the downward shift of her eyes that she's correct.
"Alexis, you need to tell your dad..."
She nods and Kate can see the emotion crawling up her face.
"It's just, he had all these things planned for this summer and I don't want to disappoint him. But I'm having the best time. And everyone else is staying since they are from out-of-town. And there's even a summer bio club that I joined and I think it'll be a great way to get to know some of the professors!"
She's justifying the argument to Kate, even though there's no need.
"Alexis, I think it's great! Your dad is going to be sad because he loves you and is crazy about spending time with you...but he's also a reasonable guy, he'll understand."
She chews her lip hard and Kate knows it can't be an easy decision for her.
"I just think with you and dad now...and the baby...it'll be nice for you guys to have some time alone and get things set up ya know..."
The idea that Alexis would at all feel pushed out by her presence breaks her heart and she forces herself to swallow back the emotion.
"Alexis, if you want to stay at Columbia because your new friends are and you want to enjoy the opportunities, that's great! But if you are staying here because you at all feel like there's not a place for you at the loft, that's not the case at all and I don't want you to think that..."
The redhead shakes her head and raises her hands in defense.
"No, I'm not saying that! Really, I'm not. And I don't feel that way!...In the beginning I was nervous because I didn't want my dad getting hurt but now, i've never seen him so happy and I'm really excited to meet my brother or sister...but I'm also ready to move on to my next chapter ya know? Especially now that I'm here and enjoying it."
She remembers her own parents packing her up for college. They flew as a family to California and her and her mom drove to a local store to buy all of her dorm supplies. She cried for a solid week when they flew back but then she settled in and barely called home on account of having so much fun.
"It sounds cliché but these are going to be the best years of your life. You deserve to enjoy them! They will go so fast and you'll long to have them back. Your dad will understand but you've always been honest with him and you need to make sure that continues, even when you're not at home. He'll respect you for it."
She's nearly overwhelmed by emotion as Alexis wraps her in a tight hug, burying her face in Kate's hair and squeezing tightly. It's not like their usual light hugs. This one is wrapped in emotion and connection.
They stay that way for a few extended moments, Kate even reaching up to smooth down Alexis' hair the way that her mother used to when she was upset and needed comfort.
They are interrupted by the clearing of a voice in the doorway.
"Wow, I feel like I'm walking into a funeral...everything OK?"
Kate smiles up at Castle and offers up her hand. He pulls her off the bed and she presses her lips to the side of his mouth gently.
"I'm going to go to the restroom and grab some punch...find me when you're done?"
She knows that look in his eyes, one of confusion and fear about what comes next but he nods and she squeezes his hand.
As she rounds the corner she can hear Alexis start in on "There's something I want to tell you..."
_
