Hi guys. I'm back from my trip and with a new chapter. Sorry to keep you waiting, I hope you enjoy this one.
Please review and let me know what you're thinking.
Castle gets to the loft to find the place in complete silence, he was right, Alexis is probably still sleeping. He takes the time to get a cup of coffee and instantaneously the smell of the dark drink brings back the memories of last night. It's only now starting to sink in, after four years, four long, troubled years, he finally got his chance with Beckett. He remembers the first case they ever worked together, how immediately she got his attention, he would have gone out with her right then if she would have taken his offer but now he's glad she didn't. It was all just a game back then, getting every girl, one night stands, no feelings involved, no commitments, he never thought we would say this, but now he's glad she said no. They were meant to have something bigger, something special and that would probably never had happened if they had slept together four years ago. Sure, back then he was already attracted by her strength, and power and beauty, but that was about it, because even though he could tell there was much more of this woman than she allowed people to see he couldn't have a clue about the deepness of her soul. Those four years gave them both time to get to know the real side of their personalities, Castle was more than a womanizer, he was someone that care about people, that respected women, an amazing father, Beckett very soon realized and someone that, just like her, treasured family more than anything. Kate on the other hand, little by little had revealed that behind those walls and tough detective number was an incredible warm and emotional person, who just needed the right push to unveil all the things she had been hiding from the world.
Castle is lost in the memories of their relationship when Alexis approaches him – "Your home" – she states surprised.
- "Good morning, honey" – he greets her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
- "I thought you would go straight to work" – Alexis admits, not meeting her father's eyes.
- "We agreed it would be better if I came here to talk to you first" – Castle says. Waiting for her reaction, he sits on the high stool in front of her.
- "We"? - Alexis inquires annoyed – "after one night of sex you are already referring to you as we?" – she mocks him.
- "Hey!" – Castle reprehends her – "Watch your mouth!" - he advises, in a tone that very rarely he used with her.
Alexis shrugs – "Wasn't it what happen?" – the teenager questions, not giving it too much credit.
- "You know it's not like that" – Castle tells – "you know Kate and I have… a history."
Alexis shrugs again and stands up – "If you say so. I hope it was worth the wait" – the girl tells him before heading to the stairs.
- "Alexis!" – Castle calls, making her stop – "I'm not done yet, come here" – he asks. The red hair approaches the kitchen counter again and stands across her father, waiting for him to continue – "So, what do you feel about it?"
- "About you and detective Beckett having sex?" – the girl asks actually making him blush.
- "About us being together" – the writer corrects her.
- "It's none of my business" – the girl deflects, pretending not to be interested.
- "I'm really sorry you found out the way you did…" – Castle starts to justify, but Alexis cuts him off.
- "It's fine dad, you're an adult, it's not like you owe me any explanations."
- "So, you're fine with it?" – he insists to be sure.
- "Yeah, if you're happy, I'm happy" – the teenager lies – "now, I really have to go" – Alexis says giving Castle a quick hug before running to her bedroom.
As soon as she leaves Castle reaches for his smartphone to call Beckett.
- "Have you talked to her?" – it's the first thing he hears from the other side.
- "Jeez Kate, relax!" – he laughs – "Yes, I did talk to Alexis, and like I told you, everything is fine."
- "You sure about that?" – the detective asks uncertain – "She seemed pretty upset last night" – she worries.
- "She was surprised, that's all" – he devalues – "even the people that were rooting for us kind of lost their hope after all this time" – he jokes.
- "Yeah" – Beckett agrees, hoping that Castle he's right about Alexis, but having a feeling that she'll have problems with it later on.
- "Listen, I have a meeting with my publisher at 10 am, so I'll meet you for lunch afterwards, ok?" – Castle plans. The detective agrees and this last part of the conversations is overheard by Alexis, who immediately changes the plans for her morning for something bolder.
Kate is sitting at her desk when Alexis storms up through the precinct. The detective is caught by surprise by the teenager – "Detective Beckett!" – she shouts.
- "Alexis, hi" – Beckett offers warmly.
- "You can drop the act" – Alexis retorts aggressively – "I don't need your pity, plus you already got what you wanted anyway, so no need to pretending" – the girl starts the conversation with strong accusations.
Beckett's smile disappears right away and immediately she shifts to her detective mode, standing up in front of Alexis she interrupts her, her voice firm and steady – "If you want to talk, I can certainly take some time to do it" – she offers – "however, this is my work place, so unless you're here to discuss your case we're going to have to take this conversation somewhere else" – the detective informs her, moving into one of the interrogation rooms and giving the girl no choice but following her.
Once they're both inside the small room Beckett closes the door and takes a deep breath – "Maybe we should start this again" – she suggests. She knew that Castle was wrong when he had told her everything was fine, but she wasn't really expecting Alexis to do a scene at the precinct.
- "There's nothing to start" – Alexis disagrees – "I just came here to let you know that you don't have to keep helping me anymore" – she says ironically – "I thought you were different, but you just like all the others" – the teenager accuses her.
- "Alexis, what are you talking about?" – Beckett inquires starting to get a bit confused. She's trying to remain calm, keep control of the situation. The detective approaches the girl and reaches a hand to touch her shoulder – "Talk to me, Alexis" – she asks.
- "Leave me alone!" – the girl shouts – "You don't know me, you don't know anything about me! I thought you care, but you were just trying to get in my dad's good graces. Well, you've made it, you had sex with him!"
- "Alexis" – Beckett called, trying to calm her down.
- "Stop! I don't want to hear any of your lies. You got what you wanted, so you can stop pretending now, ok? I'm not stupid, nor I am a child anymore, so you don't have to play these games with me. I really thought you were different, but you're just like any of the other sluts my dad used to sleep with!" – Alexis accused her.
- "That's enough!" – Beckett finally interrupts, her voice firm even though she is breaking inside. She really thought she had created a bond with Alexis during the past week, but obviously she was wrong. Alexis tries to continue, but Beckett doesn't let her – "You've came here with insults and accusations and I've listened to what you had to say, now it's my turn to talk" – the detective demands and she's so determined that Alexis doesn't dare to challenge her – "I understand that you're not happy about how you found out about your dad and I. I even understand that you're not happy with our relationship" – Alexis laughs at the expression "relationship" but Beckett pretends not to notice – "but you have no right to come here and disrespect me. I'm not asking you to like me, you have every right not to, but I have never treated you with anything but respect and I demand the same from you" – Beckett concludes. Alexis shrugs and starts to walk towards the door – "Alexis" – the detective calls, and even though Alexis really hates her right now, she can't help but look back – "You say you're not a child, but you're acting like one, you're acting like a spoiled brat, when you're really ready to have an adult conversation come back, I'll be more than glad to talk this over with you" – the detective manages to say before the girls heads out murmuring a simple "whatever". Once she's alone Beckett lets her body slide down the chair as she takes a long deep breath. After disappearing for three months the past summer she could imagine Alexis wasn't her biggest fan, but she had never imagined her reaction would be this bad.
