So….ahem, apparently my computer got a little annoyed with me last night so this morning when I woke up it decided to crash so I spent the majority of today doing that so I couldn't even start a new chapter until right now (9:48 EST). But I hope, despite all that, you will enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter Fourteen

When Kate and Alexis returned to the loft, it was past six PM and Castle was just setting up the table for dinner. He smiled up at them when they walked in. "There you are!" he exclaimed. "I was about to send out a search party. Did you get a lot of nice clothes, Pumpkin?" He kissed Alexis as she sat down at the table, having discarded her shopping bags in the living room.

"Yeah!" Alexis said, beaming up at him. "I got enough to fill my whole closet and yours!"

"Wow, that's gonna be a punch to the wallet, eh?" Castle joked, taking back his credit card from Kate. Their fingers brushed as the card transferred hands and they shared a quick look before Castle averted his eyes to look at his daughter as she spoke.

"Kate and I also got our nails done!" Alexis told him, excitedly, showing him her nails. "See?"

Castle smiled. "I do see! And how much did that cost?" he wondered, looking up at Kate.

"Nothing for you," Kate said, shaking her head, "I covered it."

"Oh, Kate, you didn't have-"

"It's fine, Castle," Kate insisted. "I was getting my own nails done, anyway; hers cost next to nothing because her fingers and toes are just so tiny." She said the last part to Alexis, in baby-voice, tickling her side, making the little girl giggle.

"Thanks again, Kate," Alexis said, reaching up and hugging Kate around the waist. Kate smiled down at her and ran her fingers through her hair.

"No problem, Lex," she said, kissing her forehead. "Now why don't we go put all those bags away before dinner and change you out of my shirt and into one of your own?"

Alexis shrugged. "Alright," she said, jumping down from her seat and rushing into the living room to get her bags.

Castle took this chance to kiss her quickly on the cheek before Alexis could see. "Thank you," he whispered before Kate responded, "for taking her out, today, I mean. And for paying for Alexis to get her nails done. And for just…being there. Thanks."

Kate smiled at him, then looked over at Alexis, who was struggling with her bags so much that she actually toppled over, giggling wildly. Kate and Castle smiled at her. "It was my pleasure," Kate said, not taking her eyes off the silly little girl, "really."

Castle smiled softly at her, before he noticed something. "Hey, did you do something to your hair?"

Kate blushed. This guy was so perfect. Why did he have to be my boss?

When Kate and Alexis had finally managed to get upstairs and sort out their new clothing (all of Kate's had been bought by herself, save for a couple of pieces she was saving for a very 'special' occasion) and get rid of all the clothes that were either too small or too damaged to repair. All the small clothes were to be given to charity while all of the damaged clothing was to be given to Mrs. Hopper, who lived two floors down and worked from home as a seamstress. She was always saying how she could use the extra fabric.

When they were finally sat down to dinner, Kate was surprised at how good it smelled. "Mmm," she said, taking a deep whiff of the concoction that Castle was spooning out onto a plate for Alexis, "this smells great, Castle; what is it?"

Castle smiled. "It's my very special Spaghetti Bolognaise; it's one of Alexis's favorites." He smiled at his daughter as he placed the plate down in front of her. Alexis eyed him, suspiciously.

"What did you do now?" Alexis demanded.

Castle's eyes widened. "Wh-what?" he asked. "What do you-"

"The last time you made one of my favorite dishes, you told me my goldfish died. The time before that you shrunk Monkey Bunkie in the washing machine. And the time before that, Mommy moved to California. So what is it? Is Kate leaving?"

Castle was alarmed at how quickly her eyes filled with tears at the thought of losing her beloved nanny. Kate reached over and squeezed her hand. "No, Alexis," she said, soothingly. "I told you; I'm not going anywhere."

"Yeah," Castle said. "Kate's not leaving, Pumpkin. I am. Well, actually, I mean, I'm going away for a few days."

"Where?" Alexis asked, a bit relieved that Kate was not going anywhere. She still held her hand, tightly.

"Austin," Castle answered, "in Texas. I finished my manuscript and I have to go down there to deliver it to her."

"What's she doing in Texas?" Alexis asked.

"Terrorizing some poor cowboy about violating his contract, probably," Castle deadpanned. "Point is I have to go down there to hand-deliver it because she's going to be down there for a month and she's the one that reads all my manuscripts, so I really have no choice."

Alexis pouted. "Can't you just give it to Dave or Annie or somebody else to read?"

"Not if you want your father to keep his head intact and maybe a few siblings," Castle responded, without thinking. He kicked himself when Alexis gave him a quizzical look.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes wide with confusion.

Castle looked to Kate for help and she rolled her eyes at him, squeezing Alexis's hand to get her attention. "Your father just means that he really has to get this manuscript to Gina or else she'll be really mad. I've met Gina and I don't think you want her to get mad."

Alexis shook her head, solemnly, knowing exactly what she meant. Then she turned to her father. "How long are you going?" she asked him.

"I'll be gone for two days, maybe. Three, tops. I'll be back before you even know I'm gone," he grabbed her other hand, the one that Kate wasn't still holding.

"When?" Alexis asked.

"Friday," Castle informed her, "so I'll be here for Thanksgiving. Okay?"

"Okay," Alexis said, nodding. "Will Grams be here?"

"On Friday, she will be," Castle said, "but she and that new boyfriend of hers have big plans this weekend so she'll be gone by Saturday. You'll have Kate, though." Alexis smiled up at Kate.

"Okay," she said. "Now can we eat? I'm starving!"

Castle and Kate laughed as they both let go of her hands and Castle served them each a plate of food. They ate in companionable silence for the rest of the meal, Kate and Castle looking at each other when they thought the other didn't notice.

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