"Sweetie you have to tell your father," Beckett said as she held onto Alexis's ankles at the foot of her bed, both feet propped up on Beckett's lap.

"Kate he's gonna flip, that's why I told you first." Alexis simultaneously threw up her hands in frustration and slapped them over her face, pulling her cheeks down to meet her chin. Beckett laughed a little, before crawling up next to her to lie down too. She didn't respond just yet, staring sideways to wait for a better response. "What do you think he'll say?"

Beckett looked at her and smiled first, as if that communicated the answer completely. Alexis just sighed in response. "He's not unreasonable. He might consider it if he sees how badly you want this. It just takes some convincing—which you've become astute in doing so." They both looked at each other and eventually Alexis broke her suppressed grin, playfully nudging into Beckett before they hooked arm in arm.

"What do you think about it?"

"Me? I think it's great. I do. You want to assert your independence, and there's nothing wrong with that. What I'm worried about is you being alone. It's a lot to take on, especially while going to school. You don't want someone else there to share the load of bills?"

"I mean…my whole life, dad's always taken care of me without problem. And I'm so grateful, but I want to know what it's like to support myself. I'll still be in the borough, but far enough that I can't run home at the first sign of trouble."

"You're sure?"

"I thought about it a lot. I wanna do this. I really wanna do this, Kate."

Beckett breathed out before sitting up in bed. She looked right at Alexis who fashioned some thoughtful eyes lost in the premise of her plans. "You talk to him, okay? If I need to push him or do damage control, I will."

Beckett inched herself off the bed, starting to walk out, but she stopped when Alexis called her name.

"Thank you," she said. Beckett walked back over to her to lock her arm around Alexis' neck and kiss her head.

"For you—?" Beckett left it in the air. Alexis knew what she meant. She didn't have to say anything more.

•••

Beckett had fallen asleep on the couch watching marathons of Temptation Lane after dinner. She stayed back after suggesting Castle take Alexis to go out for some ice cream and bring back more for her. Beckett had eyed Alexis just before they stepped out, encouraging her to open up to him, but she saw the dead in her face. Whatever happened would happen, but she would wait until something did, and rest well in the meantime.

Less than half an hour later she woke up to the front door opening and slamming shut, immediately facing a set of frustrated blue eyes and irritated blue eyes, both moving separate ways when they entered the loft. She wiped down her face and focused her eyes on Alexis, who looked back apologetic.

"I'm sorry," Alexis managed with some softness. Her eyes flicked back at her father and back at Beckett before she ascended the stairs. "But, I was right." Beckett closed her eyes and heaved out before turning her head to face him. She gave him a look and he looked the same back.

"You knew? She told you?" He asked, almost hurt. She walked towards him and he turned to go into their bedroom as she followed. "She told you before she told me?"

"I'm astounded that it's a surprise to you given how you're reacting right now," she said in a low voice. She had to ease to him the right way—she knew how flared he must've felt.

"She's still in school, and she's only twenty-two. She should not be living on her own."

"She just wants to be a little more independent. Why is that so terrible?" She took his hand and set him down on the bed, easing up his shoulders, resting her face on his clavicle. She let a few breaths pass by, trying to bring him down to a better state. "Do you really believe she's not ready, or are you not ready?" She asked. He didn't respond right away, holding onto the thought for as long as he could while she ran a hand over his head.

"I just don't see the point. She has a home here—"

"Yes, where she's secure, she's safe, where she's sheltered. But do you think that maybe that's not what she wants anymore? That maybe she's ready for a different kind of challenge in her life?" He pursed his lips and furrowed his eyebrows, clearly focused on the words she said. He knew she was right. She knew he knew too. When he didn't respond she walked in front of him and bent down, grabbing and cradling his hands in hers. "If this was anyone else in the world I would agree that maybe it's not the time. But remember who we're talking about here. She's a brave, wise, tough girl…just like her dad." He made eyes at her and they both let out a snicker or two. "I know you believe in her like I do. You're just scared of what could happen or if she'll somehow get hurt. I fear that too, but you can't teach her that her wants should submit to her fears. And she wants this, Castle. Not to leave you, or start a life without you. Just to build onto her world."

She let the words sink in for several minutes. He looked different ways, contemplating on the idea. When she finally saw a release in his face, she took her hands to his cheeks and laid a kiss on his head as she stood up. He just rubbed her back with his hands before he nodded towards the door, a signifier for them to go talk to her. He motioned Beckett out and they walked to the room, knocking first before going in together.

"Can we talk?" Beckett started, functioning almost like the mediator. Alexis nodded and they walked in, Castle stood by and Beckett sat on the bed, helping them ease into it. "So your dad has something to say to you." Beckett looked up at him as if giving him the floor to speak, but he took his time. He moved his hands around and opened and closed his mouth before finding the right words to say.

"You are to distribute two keys to us, so we and grams can share. We will also accompany you in the search of finding said apartment and I personally, will need copies of the complex's blue prints. Unless you have a roommate, no one aside from us is allowed to access your apartment by themselves." He paused for a moment thinking of other conditions. "And a dog," he said snapping his finger.

"A dog?" Alexis asked with some alarm. "If I'm getting a dog it won't be some guard dog, it'll be my dog dog."

"Babe he basically just said yes, and I know I said you're a good persuader but do you really wanna go that route—" Beckett intervened. Alexis shook her head with a smile and plunged forward to attack her dad with a hug. She kissed his cheek with a thousand thank you's to follow, to him and then Beckett.

"I love you guys," Alexis said with a warm smile. Castle started to look around, his face contorted in a musing state as he scoped out the room.

"You know we could do so much with this room…we could fill it with all my gadgets we had to stick in storage when you moved in—" Castle started. He stopped himself when both girls looked at him with eyes glimmering with disapproval, coupled with folded arms to complement. "That looks like a no, is that a no?"

"You know I might just need my own key to crash with you some days."

"Mmmmhm," Alexis agreed.

Castle's face turned to innocence for aid. "What?"

•••

"You did good today," Castle said as he pulled back the sheets of the bed. He was looking over at Beckett still dressing into her night clothes, who exchanged a gleeful grin back at him.

"Yeah? You think so?"

"I do. You showed me up. Not bad for your first serious run. Compared to me at least."

A laugh escaped her effortlessly, like she were exhaling. She joined him in bed as she responded, "Oh, trust me, mama Castle's got a lot stored up for future runs. It makes it easier when your girl is so good," she said. He brought her to him lying on her stomach, rested her propped arms on his chest as she looked straight into his face.

"Ours," he said, dragging out the word happily. "Our girl is so good." She held it back, but a set of tears peeked out under her eyes in her bottom lid, right before she dove to steal away a kiss. When she let go, he flipped her over, hovering her as he brushed her hair with his fingers. "I should probably thank mama Castle, huh?" He teased.

"You're thankful are you?" She asked.

Almost immediately after, he went for her neck, making his way down to her chest so swiftly. She smiled as the breaths escaped her, and she held onto his head. "Oh I'm very thankful, believe me," he said breathing over her skin. "Let me show you how thankful I am."

He maneuvered in such a way that triggered a choke in her breath, but it was muffled against the I love you's he sang in her mouth for the rest of the night.