Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing and reading! Enjoy!
Alexis Castle woke to the sound of her phone vibrating. She reached over and grabbed it, sitting up in the bed as she did so. She looked at the screen and seeing that she had five missed calls from her father. She sighed to herself and wiped her face.
The door to the bathroom opened emitting steam and revealing a refreshed Cross.
"Hey. You're up." He said as he met her eyes with a smile.
"Yea. Why didn't you wake me?" She said getting out of his bed.
"You looked peaceful and I didn't want to wake you till necessary." He said buttoning his dark purple shirt.
"Necessary?" She asked standing, walking over to meet him in front of the mirror.
"Yea. Necessary when I take you to your dorm to change for the day because I don't really think you want to have to explain to everyone why you're wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Now, which tie?" He asked holding up a black and grey with black stripes.
"The black one." She sated grabbing the tie, flipping his collar, and tying the tie for him. Finishing by pulling him in for a kiss, pulling away quickly. "Come on, let's go. I have to be at work by eight and so do you."
The drive to Alexis's place was peaceful. They stopped for tea and bagels on their way there and they snuck peaks at each other form time to time. Alexis led him into her dorm room and sat him down on her bed while she grabbed clothes and got ready in the bathroom.
Cross took his chance to look around the room. Pictures were everywhere of her father, friends, what must be her mother and grandmother, and a group picture of the team at the Old Haunt. He then proceeded to look at her bookcase which were stacked full with textbooks and her father's works. He took a copy of Heat Wave of the shelf and plopped down on her bed. He was almost at chapter 3, when Alexis came out of the bathroom looking dazzling in a blue sweater with red pants.
"What are you reading?"
"Heat Wave. It's not that bad. I like that Jameson guy." He said with a smile, getting up and putting the book away.
"You can always take it with you."
"Why would I do that? It gives me an excuse to come see you." He leaned in for kiss but was stopped by a finger on his chest.
"Hold up casanova. We have to get to work." She stated grabbing her purse and opening the door.
They pulled into the precinct parking garage and sat there and rode the elevator up in silence.
"What are you doing? You missed the morgue."
"My dad has been calling me none stop and I need him to know that I…I am an adult. He can't keep treating me like a child." She said angrily.
"Hey, hey, hey." He said grabbing her shoulders. "Maybe, you should go downstairs, take a deep breath and calm down. He's your dad. He's just worried about you. I wouldn't take it so seriously."
"Yea, but…"
Cross interrupted her,"But nothing. He's your Dad. He os behaving like a father should. You're lucky that you have someone that cares that much about you. Now, you're going to go upstairs but, only to show him that you're ok."
"Fine." She said getting of the elevator. "Dad!" She called her father out of the break room.
"Alexis, I've been trying to call you." He said rushing to meet her at the threshold.
"I know, Dad. I'm sorry for not returning your calls. I got up late this morning and I thought why not just come and tell you myself…"
"I was so worried about you. Getting a ride to the lecture with a stranger is not very settling."
"Dad!" Alexis yelled.
"No, he's right. I am a total stranger." Cross stated factually stepping closer into Castle's space. "Are there any other adjectives to describe me?"
"Stay away from my daughter or dead will be one of them." Castle said his usual childlike personality gone and his serious.
Alexis realized that the situation was about to get too heated. She stepped in between the two men. Putting a hand on both of their chests separating them. Cross looked down in that single moment and saw the pain and fear in her eyes. He backed away slowly and stepped into the stairwell.
"I have to go. I'm late." Alexis said walking to the elevator going down one floor. She got off and went to the stairwell.
"Hey." She said putting her hand on his shoulder as he leaned his head on the wall.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
"For what?"
"For…putting you in that position. You having to step in between your father. I don't want to do that to you. I know how much family means to you. And, I would never ask you to choose between your family and me." He stated grabbing her and putting her in between him and the wall, looking straight into her eyes.
"So what does that mean for us?"
"I don't know how to do this." He said while she traced his jawline with the tips of her fingers. "But, I'll be damned if I don't try."