Enjoy!

-d-d-d-d-

"I'm being wheeled out now," Alexis spoke into her phone. "I'll see you tonight when you drive up with Kate, right?"

"Take it easy today," Kevin advised her, "We'll be there as soon as we can."

"I know," Alexis smiled. "Make sure Kate drives safely."

"I will," Kevin smiled fondly on his end. "Text me when you get there."

"We will," Alexis assured him, catching sight of her children waiting eagerly for her just outside the hospital doors.

"Hang up already," Rick advised.

"Bye, Kevin. Love you," she said softly.

"Love you too," he replied.

"Mommy!" Maggie exclaimed while running towards her mother.

Rick maneuvered around his daughter and caught Maggie, "Didn't we talk about the right way to greet your mommy when you saw her?"

"Be gentle," Maggie recited, not really knowing what that meant.

"Right, and I guess we should've gone over what the means," Rick smiled. "It means no jumping on Mommy for a while."

"Can I give Mommy a hug?" she asked.

"Yes, but you have to be careful, okay?"

"Dad, stop being such a dad," Alexis giggled.

"I missed you, Mommy," Maggie reached up to hug her mother around the shoulders.

"I missed you, too, Baby. I got your picture. Thank you," Alexis returned the hug and added a kiss to her forehead.

"Are you all better now?" Maggie asked.

"I'm getting there," Alexis nodded. "I hear you were a very good girl while I was sick."

"Yep, I was a very good girl," Maggie beamed, "Wasn't I, Grandpa?"

"You were indeed, Miss Maggie," Rick smiled.

"Boys? Do I get a hug?"

Hunter and Cade immediately went to give her a hug.

"I missed you guys," Alexis hugged them tightly.

"We missed you too," Hunter replied, "How do you feel?"

"Better now that I've had my hugs," Alexis replied, "Is everyone ready for a weekend of sand and sun?"

"We get to go to the beach," Maggie cheered.

"Yes, we do," Alexis replied.

"Let's get going then," Rick ushered his family to the car where Alexis's siblings were waiting.

"Hey, guys," Alexis greeting her siblings while gingerly climbing into the SUV her father had rented for the weekend.

"Are you better, Lex?" Jo asked her big sister.

"I am now," she smiled at her.

"Good," Jo smiled. "Will you help us build a sand castle?"

"Absolutely," Alexis nodded. "But I can't go in the water because of my stitches."

"Okay," Jo replied

"Mommy, Grandpa says Sarah Grace is coming up," Maggie said.

"She is," Alexis nodded.

"Can she help us build a sand castle too?" Jo asked.

"I bet she can," Alexis nodded. "I remember her loving the beach."

"Is it a long drive?" Maggie asked.

"Remember when we'd drive to see Grandma in Alabama?" Alexis asked.

"It takes that long?" Maggie moaned.

"No, but it takes a while," Alexis shook her head.

"Are there going to be any stops along the way?" Maggie asked.

"Maybe we can talk Grandpa into stopping for breakfast," Alexis smiled.

"Is everyone hungry?" Rick stated up the vehicle.

"Yes," everyone chorused.

"We'll stop along the way," Rick replied, "I know just the place."

=d=d=d=d=

Alexis was sitting outside, looking up at the moon.

"How's my girl?" she heard in her ear.

"Hey, how long have you guys been here?" Alexis jumped a little in surprise.

"About fifteen minutes," he sat down beside her.

"It took you this long to find me because?" she leaned in against him.

"Had to put our things away and deal with Rick's evil eye until Kate distracted him."

"The fresh air feels so good," Alexis inhaled deeply when Kevin's arm came around her shoulder, "I was cooped up in that sterile hospital for too long."

"Yeah, I imagine it does," Kevin smiled as his arm tightened around her a little, "This feels better."

"How was the drive?" she asked.

"Seemed to take forever," Kevin nuzzled into her neck, "I was a bit anxious."

"How are you doing?" she tilted her head away to give him better access.

"Better now that you're out of that sterile place," Kevin replied.

"I saw the newspapers. Jenny took a deal?"

"Amazingly enough she didn't want to put her daughter through the agony of a trial," Kevin nodded.

"She may hate us, but she does love her daughter," Alexis said. "It's a good thing."

"Now we just need to work on the divorce," he sighed heavily.

Alexis shifted so she was between his legs and leaned back against him, her head finding a home on his shoulder.

"Are you warm enough?" he thought he felt her shiver slightly.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Do you remember the weekend we came out here by ourselves?"

"I can account for every minute we had together," he smiled into her neck.

"That was when I first realized you knew how to play the piano," she recalled. "It was also the first time we used the piano for another reason besides making music."

"I hope that's a secret you've kept to yourself," he chuckled.

"I have. I just hope Kate and my dad have never used it for that reason… The first time we were ever together, I wouldn't let it happen on the couch because I'd walked in on them far too often."

"Too much information," he groaned.

"Oh come on," Alexis giggled. "You had to have caught them on their way to being intimate a few times."

"None which I want to remember," Kevin replied.

Alexis turned her head to look at him, "I want you."

"I want you, too," he groaned, "Sadly, I'm pretty certain that doctor of yours put you on restrictions that don't allow for such activities."

"Unfortunately," Alexis nodded. "I'm also blaming my absolute lack of filter on the medication. I think it's kicking in. I should get inside and to my bed before I pass out."

"Did you want some help?" he offered, "I can tuck you in."

"How about you help me up and see me to the door like a gentleman? I have a feeling I might fall over if I don't have some help."

"Anything for you," he helped her to her feet and allowed her to lean on him on the way back inside.

"Everything okay?" Rick asked when Alexis and Kevin appeared.

"My medication's kicking in. Kevin's just seeing me to my room."

"I'll help you upstairs," Rick stepped in next to her.

"Dad, remember our discussion?" Alexis asked.

"I'm offering help," Rick countered, "It's what a father does."

"I've got help," Alexis leaned her head on Kevin's shoulder. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Alexis," Rick kissed her forehead before turning to address Kevin, "I'm timing you."

"Yes, Warden," Kevin walked Alexis to her bedroom door.

"Tuck me in?" she batted her lashes.

"Your father's timing me," Kevin reminded her.

"What's he going to do to you?" she slurred her words slightly.

"Make me sleep on the beach," Kevin snorted.

"Kiss goodnight?"

"Always," he leaned in, "Sleep well, Lex."

"Love you," she smiled sleepily after a kiss.

"Love you too."

She slipped into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Kevin's forehead pressed against the door for a moment before heading down to the living area was Rick was surely waiting.

"Well, that took you long enough."

"Give it a rest, Castle," Kate scolded him, "They're in love."

"I wasn't up there long enough to disobey the doctor's orders," Kevin said.

Rick muttered under his breath before disappearing outside to cool off at his Kate's urging.

Kate sighed and rubbed her forehead, "I love you, Kevin, but you have got to be just a little more sensitive."

"I can't help how I feel about Alexis," Kevin responded defensively, "We tried to fight it."

"I know, I know. If anyone knows what it's like to fight feelings it's me," Kate reminded him. "But Rick's still getting used to the idea that not only did Alexis lie to him, but so did you."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Kevin nodded.

"So you'll be a little more subtle about things?"

"I'll try."

"Good," Kate smiled and then looked at her watch. "I'm tired."

"Yeah, me too," Kevin glanced at the clock.

"I set some blankets on the sofa for you," Kate added, "Sorry, rooms are all claimed."

"It's fine," Kevin smiled. "Go up to bed."

"Nite, Kevin," Kate smiled.

Kevin waited until Kate went upstairs and then headed out to the beach.

"Hey," Kevin announced himself when he found Rick on the beach a few yards from the house.

"Everyone asleep?" Rick inquired as he sipped from his glass of scotch.

"Yeah. Kate just went up. I think she knows it's pointless to wait you out. She hasn't forgotten how stubborn you can be."

"Needed some peace and quiet," Rick replied.

Kevin took a deep breath, "You haven't said much since we got here."

"Still trying to wrap my head around all of this," Rick admitted.

"Castle, I can't be sorry for a lot of things to do with me and Alexis, but I am sorry that I never told you."

"I don't want an apology," Rick growled, "I want to go back in time and have you keep your hands off my daughter."

"Then Hunter wouldn't exist," Kevin pointed out.

"Don't go justifying this with Hunter," Rick snarled, "You slept with my daughter, repeatedly. I don't care how you justified it in your own mind. You betrayed me."

"I did," Kevin agreed. "And I am sorry for that."

"I don't want your apology."

"Then what do you want from me?"

"I want to know why? Why did you go and sleep with my daughter?" Rick asked. "She was a child."

"She was twenty-two, Rick. She wasn't a child."

"She was a child when you met," Rick replied, "You should have known better. No matter how unhappy you were with Jenny, you should have known better."

"I fell in love with her," Kevin said. "I tried like hell not to, believe me, but I fell in love with her. I couldn't stop."

"Did you think about me or Kate? Did you consider our feelings at all?" Rick asked.

"It was why we fought it for as long as we could," Kevin stated.

"How did it happen?"

"I left the precinct one night and instead of going home, I went to the loft. It'd been a bad day. Our only witness in a murder had been shot by the suspect, but we couldn't prove it. Alexis was the only one I wanted to talk to. You and Kate were visiting her aunt for the weekend. That was the first time we slept together."

"So you just showed up at the loft without any preamble, and just slept with my daughter?"

"No," Kevin shook his head. "Trust me, sleeping with Lex was not in my mind when I showed up that night. I just wanted to talk, and she was the first person I thought of."

"How do we get from the first time you met her when she was fifteen to sleeping with her at the age of twenty-two?" he gulped down the amber liquid.

"Castle, dammit, I screwed up, okay? I admit it, but I am in love with her," Kevin said. "I'm sorry if you can't accept that, but it's the truth."

"Reverse positions, Kevin. You're standing here listening to someone you've trusted for close to fifteen years telling you that they had an affair with Sarah Grace while he was married to someone else."

"I'd want to tear his guts out," Kevin clenched his fist, "Quite frankly I expect you to do just that."

"I promised Alexis and Kate I wouldn't," Rick said quietly.

"I won't tell if you don't," Kevin replied.

"What do we tell them when you show up at the breakfast table with a hole the size of my fist?"

"So maybe you don't tear out my guts. Take a shot," Kevin said motioned towards his chin. "Deck me."

"It's not going to change things," Rick shook his head.

"I just want to know that we can still be family after this," Kevin said. "You're my son's grandfather. I want to marry your daughter one day."

"You want me to process this, you have to stop saying things like you want to marry my daughter," Rick replied.

"I wanted to marry her eight years ago. I was a coward. I should've gone after her the minute I knew where she was."

"We've all made a thousand mistakes that we want to take back. I should have sent her to an all girls school upstate, then we wouldn't be in this situation."

"No, we'd still be standing here," Kevin smiled. "I would've met her eventually."

"Inevitability," Rick sighed.

"I'm sorry, Castle," Kevin stated, "I'll say it until I'm blue in the face, but it's not going to change anything. I still love her, and I will continue to love her whether you can find a way to accept it or not."

"I know you love her, Kevin," Rick admitted. "The way you look at her? You never looked at Jenny like that."

Kevin smiled at that and then turned serious, "I know you liked Christopher, and I know he made her happy."

"Yeah, I did and yes, he did, but he would want me to be okay when Alexis found someone else."

"Yeah," Kevin's head bobbed.

"I'm not ready to give my blessing, but I'm not going to wring your neck every time I see you together," Castle stated, "But if you hurt her…"

"That's not in my plans. That was never in my plans," Kevin insisted.

"I need a refill," Rick looked to his empty glass.

"Come on," Kevin motioned. "Kate's waiting for you."

"Go in," Rick looked towards the stars, "I need a few more minutes."

"Alright. Just don't sit on the couch. Remember I'm sleeping there."

"I'll keep that in mind," Rick smirked, "Night, Kevin."

"Night," Kevin walked back to the house. He got to the deck just before his cell phone rang. He picked it up and saw a beautiful redhead that he was quite fond of on the screen, "I thought you went to sleep."

"I wanted to make sure he didn't pummel you," she smirked.

"Bruise free," Kevin smiled. "Though I did give him a chance."

"Playing with fire, aren't we, Detective Ryan?"

"That's what I do whenever I get near you," he smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Still sore and a little foggy from the medication," she admitted.

"Does this feel weird to you?" he asked.

"Sleeping in the same house but not the same room," she posed. "A bit. I think it's for the best right now. I don't think any of our kids are ready to see us with someone who isn't their mom or dad."

"Yeah, you're right," Kevin nodded, "I'd hate for Castle to make good on the threats of ripping my guts out."

"I'd protect you," Alexis promised.

"God, I wish I could kiss you right now," he groaned as he looked toward Castle only a few steps away.

"Me too," Alexis agreed.

"I should hang up. Your dad's almost to me," Kevin said reluctantly.

"Sweet dreams, Kev," Alexis smiled.

"Sweet dreams, Lex," he replied.

"See you in the morning," Alexis said before she hung up.

"Night," he hung up the phone. Then he went through the sliding glass into the living room and laid down on the couch.

It was several minutes before he heard Castle reenter the house and trudge up the stairs to his bedroom.

-d-d-d-

"Thanks for not hurting him, Dad," Alexis said from her doorway.

"You're welcome. Go to sleep, Alexis."

"Dad," she called out to him.

"Yes, sweetie," he turned towards her.

"It was my choice as much as his," she reminded him.

"I know," Rick nodded. "But you're still my daughter."

"He is still one of your best friends."

"I don't get it, Alexis," he replied, "I don't understand how this all started. There were so many great guys out there for you."

"I think I found one of the best ones in the world," Alexis smiled.

"That's up for debate," Rick snorted.

"Dad, he's an amazing man that made a mistake."

"Does he make you happy?"

"Yes," Alexis smiled. "Even when I am having the worst day, he makes me happy."

"What else could a father want for his daughter?"

"Night, Dad."

"Goodnight, Sweetie."

-d-d-d-d-