And the secret is out! Let me know What you think, ok? :D
Kate was biting her lip, nervously holding her beer, sitting on one booth at the Old Haunt, unable to take her eyes from the door. Lanie was sitting next to her, and Ryan and Esposito were right across them. They were talking and laughing, but she wasn't paying attention.
She didn't know if she felt relieved or more nervous when she saw Castle coming into his bar with his mother and daughter, each on one side of him.
"Hey, Mr. Castle!" greeted the bartender. "Looking good tonight!" he signaled to the women.
"The finest ladies in New York" Castle greeted back, and Martha and Alexis laughed. The young one then left her father's side to greet the people on the booth, sitting next to Esposito. Martha signed for Castle to sit first, so he could sit next to Kate. She then sit next to them. Castle caught Kate's hand under the table, and squeezed it.
Martha ordered a drink and Alexis asked for a club soda, as Castle ordered a new round of beer for everyone at the table. They joined in the conversation, and Kate had to pretend she was paying attention. Castle felt her hand was cold and sweaty, and they exchanged glances, she telling him clearly with her eyes that she was nervous.
The waiter brought the drinks and when he left Castle interrupted the conversation, calling their attention. He tried to bring both his hands to the table, but Kate didn't let him release hers.
"Okay, fellows. I'm glad to see everyone here. It's always great to be surrounded with friends and family once in a while in a good place such as this."
They all rolled their eyes to his speech, and Kate noticed it wasn't going to take long. She released Castle's hand and took over.
"so, guys. There's something I want to tell you. Something very important." Esposito and Ryan looked worried to her, but Lanie only chuckled, and so did Alexis and Martha.
"What is it, Beckett?" asked Esposito.
"Well…" Kate pondered all the ways she could say it, and then remembered she's not the words person, she's the actions person. So she took suddenly turned right and got Castle face in her hands, giving him a sudden kiss that startled everyone, even him.
Screams of "Hallelujah!" and "finally" and "I knew it" filled the atmosphere, but they just kept kissing between smiles.
"Oh, God, get a room!" said Martha, and they parted laughing. Beckett then turned to her smiley friends and laid her head on Castle's shoulder. She then noticed Alexis was trying too hard to look happy, and she realized she would have to have a private conversation with the girl. Castle noticed his daughter's face too, and asked.
"What is it, Alexis?"
"No, it's fine." She said, fiddling with the straw on her drink. She then looked down and took a sip.
"No, it's not fine. What is it? Aren't you happy for us?"
"Yes, I'm happy for you, dad. It's just…" and she sipped her soda again.
"What?" Castle now slightly raised his voice. Beckett patted his arm, soothing him.
"It's okay, Rick. Alexis, I think we should talk, right?"
The girl raised her eyes to Beckett, and noticed the honest worry on the detective's face. She only nodded and forced a smile, that then became a bit more honest and she noticed her father's disappointment. She didn't want that. She was really happy for them, and it's not like she didn't know that was bound to happen. It's just that, with all the things that had happen those last years, she was worried about how involved he would be in danger now that he was truly involved with Beckett. She excused herself and went to the bathroom.
Everyone at the table looked now worried with Alexis' reaction, but Beckett calmed everyone and went after her.
Alexis was looking at the mirror, trying to convince herself there was no reason to fell that way. She knew Beckett, and knew how important and good she was for her father. She liked the detective, and they were friends. It's not like this was one of his crazy bimbos. It was Beckett.
She took a deep breath as she noticed Kate was behind her through the mirror, and then turned around, leaning at the sink and folding her arms.
"Alexis, look, I understand if you don't like the idea of your father with me. I know I'm not your favorite person in the world right now since I was shot."
"It's not you. I was so afraid for you. It's just that it could've been him!" she said, unable to hold her tears. Kate rubbed her hands gently on the girl's sides.
"I know, and that scares me too. More than remembering that I was hit, it's remembering how close everybody was, and he was." Kate said, and they looked into each other's eyes. Alexis could see she truly loved her father, and she was glad.
"Look, I promise you I'll keep him out of trouble. Now more than ever I worry about him just as much as you do and I know how his meddling can get him into problems."
Alexis remembered the board on his father's study with information on Beckett's mother's murder, and wondered if she knew about it. She thought it was best not to mention it. She held Kate's hands and smiled, a lot more honestly now.
"Look, I love your father, I really do. I've never loved anyone like I love him. But I would hate to have you as an enemy, okay? It would feel wrong to go on without your approval."
"No, Beckett, don't. I.. I'm sorry, I just worry too much about my dad. I approve you. Really." Her smile bigger now.
"Really?" confirmed Kate.
"Yeah. Yeah!" Alexis then held Kate on a big and honest hug, and Kate wiped a tear of relief from her eye.
"Oh, that's so good, Alexis. And hey, it's Kate!"
"Ok, Kate"
"Let's go back?"
"Yeah, let me just wash my face and I'll met you there"
"Okay" Kate gave the girl a kiss on the cheek, and then left the bathroom.