This is a longer chapter and thank you for all the reviews you guys have sent. I really appreciate the words you have on this story.
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I'm sitting in my favorite chair as Dad and Kate well Mom now sit curled up together on the coach. I admit I use to hate to see my dad kiss or do anything with a girl, but Kate; Kate was part of the family before her and Dad got together. Kate makes Dad happy and he makes her happy too; you can see it when they are together and they never do anything to over the top to make me un-conferrable. They kiss and the cuddle, but its different then the other girls. I actually love to watch them like this all curled up in each other's arms as we talk and watch movies and eat dinner. "Dad, Mom?" I ask.
"Yeah." They say at the same time and I smile at how much they do that.
"Mom, Meredith called me today and she wants to do lunch tomorrow and I don't really want to go alone because I don't want to get dragged off the Paris again, so I was wondering if you would come with me, Kate. " I saw her start to talk but I stopped her. "It'll be on Mother's Day but like I said you're so much more of a mom to me and I really wanted to spend the day with just you, but mom called and…"
"Alexis breath." I did as Kate asked and she continued. "I'd love to go with you, but after lunch do you mind going to visit my mom with me? Your dad has met her and I'd like for her to meet you too." Kate asked me.
I didn't know what to say to the request so I jumped off my chair and lunge into her lap and hug her. "Of course. Oh my god what am I going to wear, I have to make sure I look good for your mom. I want her to like me you know" I smile at Kate and notice the smile on her face.
"Well she liked this doof so I'm sure she'll love you." Kate said reassuring me and teasing Dad.
"I'm sorry you lost your mom and she can't be here. I wish I could have met her, from what I've heard from you, Dad, and Grandpa Jim she was so cool." I tell her and hug her as I see her eyes water a bit.
"I wish you could have met her too Lex, she would have loved you." Kate says and hugs me tight.
"Girls if you keep this up I'm going to cry." Castle says making me and Kate laugh and pull away from each other. I move to sit on the other side of Kate. She leans back into Dad and he wraps an arm around her shoulders and I decide to lean on her. She smiles at me and we both get comfy and finish watching the movie.
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I'm looking through my closet and I can't find anything suitable to wear to lunch and then to go to the graveyard with Kate. I peek my head out of my room and yell for Kate. She comes up the stairs fast with Dad behind her and they looked alert.
"What, what is it." Kate asks in her Detective voice.
"I don't know what to wear and I was hoping you could help. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you guys." I tell them my cheeks flushing for making them panic.
"It's okay pumpkin. You two go ahead and get ready." Dad walks over to me and kisses my head and then kisses Kate on the lips. "I'm going to do some writing so come let me know you'll be leaving and have fun." He walks back down the stairs and I turn to Kate.
"Mom I don't know what to wear at all." I can tell my voice sounded stressed.
"Alexis, it's just lunch and a visit to my mom. Don't worry too much, this is the last thing you should be stressing about, Okay?" I nod. Kate walks over to my closet and starts going through it. "Okay, these grey skinny jeans and I have the perfect pink top for you." Kate hands them to me.
"Are you sure you want me to wear one of your shirts?" I ask her.
"Of course what are daughters for." She smiles and I smile back as she calls me her daughter for the first time.
"Could you umm help me pick shoes and jewelry too?" I ask her hesitantly.
"As long as you help me when you're done getting dressed." She smiles at me.
"Deal." I hug her.
"Alright, I like the nude heals and the silver heart necklace." Kate said handing them to me.
"Thank you Kate; I'd be lost without you." I smile.
"I'll be in my room when you're done." She tells me and I quickly get dressed. I basically run through the hallway to her and Dad's room. I slip through the open door and see Kate standing in front of her side of the closet. Here is the shirt I was talking about.
The shirt had an empire waist and had thick straps. "I don't think I've ever seen you wear this." I tell Kate as she hands me the tank top.
"That's because I haven't, You can have it I've had it for a year and have never even put it on."
"Really?" I ask excited.
"Of course." Kate says.
"Wow thank you, I love it." I smile and hug her.
"Go ahead and change in the bathroom and then you can help me." She says pointing to the master bathroom.
I quickly change and walk out. "What do you think?"
"You look beautiful Alexis." Kate says and brushes a piece of hair from my face.
"Thank you, now your turn." I look at the close hanging in her closet and turn to her. "Mom, where are those skinny jeans you wore to our lunch date last week I love those." I ask excited to be helping her pick her outfit.
"They should be in there." She gets up and looks through her jeans before pulling out the deep dark washed skinny jeans. "Found them." She says.
"Okay and I like the olive green tank top with the braided straps, the one Dad loves on you." I tell her as I find it and pull it out.
"Okay now all I need I shoes and jewels." She winks. "I'll go change and you can go through my shoes and jewelry." She walks into the bathroom and I pick the same shoes as she had picked for me. We both got a pair when we went to lunch and saw them in a store on our way back to the loft. I opened her jewelry box and found her moms ring on the chain and I gently picked it up and held it tightly in my hand. She came out and I handed it to her and she smiled.
"Thanks Lex." She says and hugs me.
"I thought it would be the best since it is Mother's Day." I smile and give her the shoes. " I hope you don't mind but I thought we could both wear these."
"I don't mind at all Alexis; in fact I think it's sweet. Now, I think I'm just going to let my hair stay curly and down; what about you?" Kate asks.
"I'm just going to leave it down too." I tell her.
"Alright let's go downstairs before Meredith shows up." We walked down the stairs and sat in the living room.
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Meredith was supposed to be at the loft at noon it is now 12:30, she was late and Alexis was not even surprised. Finally at 12:45 there was a knock at the door. "Finally." I said and forced a smile.
"Oh Alexis I am so sorry I'm late I got stuck in a meeting and just couldn't get away in time."
"It's okay. Mom, remember to tell Dad we're leaving and then we can go." I yell to Kate. I hear her voice and Dad's carry out to me and Meredith.
"Rick, we're leaving now." Kate's voice floated to us.
"Okay, let me walk you guys out." I hear Dad say.
I see Kate and Dad and I can hear Kate protest. "Rick, we can walk our self out."
"Mom, let him win at least once." I laugh at the banter between them.
Kate looks at Dad as he pouts and then to me and back to Dad. "Fine, come on." Kate grabs her purse and hands me mine as we turn to the door.
I notice the look on Meredith's face. "What?" I ask her.
"You called her mom." She says.
"Yeah, Kate and Dad are getting married." I tell her.
"Married? You're forcing her to call you that?" Meredith asks Kate anger in her voice and on her face.
"Never." Kate said but I cut her off.
"Kate would never do that. It was my idea, I love her." I tell Meredith angry.
"Alright ladies, it's Mother's Day let's not get at each other's throats, okay?" Dad said.
"Yes, let's go have a good lunch." Kate says offering her arm as her eyes ask if I still wanted to go.
I nod. "Let's go." I smile and take her arm and follow Meredith with Dad behind us.
We ride the elevator down and I see Dad take Kate's hand and squeeze it. He kisses her temple and smiles at me. I smile back and lean into Kate's side.
Meredith gets a cab and Dad hugs me. "Have fun pumpkin and tell Johanna that hi for me." He says smiling at me and Kate.
"You got it." I smile and hug him back. I go and stand next to Meredith and watch Kate and Dad.
"Bye Katie." I hear him say quietly. I smile at the nickname he uses only when he thinks no one can hear him.
"Bye Castle." She smiles at him. He wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her close and gives her a quick kiss.
"Oh my god get a room." Meredith says.
I turn and glare a habit I picked up on from Kate. "It was just a kiss mom, leave them alone." I tell her as Kate walks over to us.
"Don't be too long I'll miss you guys." Dad says with a pout.
I roll my eyes. "I swear you two have been spending way too much time together. Your eye rolls were even at the same time."
Kate turns to me and winks. "We're just to cool." Kate says as we got into the cab.
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"So you and Rick are engaged?" Meredith asks.
I see the smile form on Kate's face and I smile too. "Yes I am." Kate says as she glances down to the ring on her finger as she fiddles with it.
I lean into her side and she wraps her arm around me and kisses my head. "I take her left hand and play with her ring just as she was.