Longest Chapter Yet... Booyah. Hi Guys, Sorry it has taken me so long to update. You know how it is, life gets in the way and you loose track of time. Hopefully you will enjoy this chapter. I was planning on including Beckett's point of view in this chapter but I really wanted to get this one up ASAP for you guys so that will happen next chapter with a few other events. I will shut up now so that you can read what I have written. Just remember to leave a review once you've finished reading :)


Chapter 6

After spending 10 minutes searching for Beckett, Castle decided that she must not want to speak to him after the stunt he pulled in the interrogation room and left. The elevator ride down was slow and quiet, leaving him too much time to think which is never a good thing. Getting into the cab to head home it suddenly dawned on him, 'shit, the two way mirror. I really hope those other Detectives left when Kate started winding down the interview and didn't see what he had done.' Then his thoughts strayed to 9 years ago when she walked out. He must have been in deep thought because the next thing he knew the taxi was pulling up to his building and the driver was looking over to be paid. Handing him a few bills, Castle got out, greeted his doorman and headed towards the elevator to bring him up to his loft hoping Alexis and his Mother got home safely.

Walking into the loft he could hear that his mother was most definitely home and she bought someone with her. The strange male was sitting at the beautiful grand piano in the corner of the room playing while Martha was singing along to the theatre tune. Closing the door and walking down the hallway with a fake smile plastered on his face he heard "I'm just a gal that can't say no. I'm in a terrible fix. I always say come on, let's go. Just when I order…." Dancing, if you could call it that, she turned around and saw him.

"Hey Kiddo.. I'm just showing Burt here how we did it at the palace" Martha called. Clearly she was way past tipsy.

"Does he know it's your theme song?"

"Ahaha.. oooo" Punching the air lightly at her son she turned back to Burt.

"Ready to bring it home ducky?" he called from behind the piano and they both clicked themselves continuing the song.

Deciding it was his time to leave, Castle when in search for his daughter, who was sitting at the kitchen bench wearing her pyjamas with cotton balls in her ears studying.

Pulling one out, he surprises her "You're missing the late show" as he then walked around to look in the fridge.

"I saw it on previews" Alexis replied whipping her head around to follow her dad's movements.

Opening the fridge and grabbing out a can of whipped cream "Looks like we've got a new lead"

"His names Burt, he's magic" came Alexis' sarcastic reply.

"Let's hope he disappears by morning" sitting down and raising the whipped cream can to squirt some in his mouth he asks his daughter "so how come your up after midnight, it's a school night. Don't you turn into a pumpkin or something?" Waiting for a reply he continues to squirt a little cream onto his tongue.

"Not when your dad's been escorted away by cops; How was the slammer, anyone make you their bitch?"

Surprised at Alexis' statement he just looked at her, then held the whipped cream can above her head

"Baby Bird"

"Already Brushed"

"Your Loss" Squirting more cream in his mouth. Getting up from the bench to put the whipped cream away Alexis got his attention.

"Hey Dad" He knew with the way she stretched out his name she wanted to ask something important but didn't know how to ask.

"Yes Pumpkin"

"The female detective, what was her name… Be. Becky. Beckett" she stumbled out trying to remember what the name was. "Beckett, uhhh, Kate. Why did it seem like she knew me? I don't remember her, but Grams thinks I should, and she obviously remembers me. But I have no Idea who she is. Who is she, Dad. Why does she know me but I don't know her"

Rick was taken aback by his daughter's question. Did she really not remember Kate? Alexis was attached to her 24/7 when they were all living together.

"Uhh, you don't remember Kate, sweetheart?"

"Would I be asking you this if I remembered her Dad" she looked at him with a look that said 'duh' "Now please will you tell me who she is and what she is meant to mean to me… us… and what we or I mean to her?"

"Kate was the one that got away, pumpkin. We fell in love and dated for over 2 years. It was 9 years ago, she was 20, I was 28 and you were 4 when we started dating in March. When I introduced you to her in November, you immediately took to her, it actually surprised me. She became a big sister to you and then eventually a mother figure, which surprised me even more with her being so young, and as I recall you even wanted to start calling her mum but I told you to wait at least until I proposed."

Alexis sat on the kitchen stool just listening to her father's story about his lost love and a person that was clearly special to herself. Now that she thinks back to it she does remember someone living with her for her year in preschool and then for a little bit in grade 1. She also remembers her Grade one teacher, Mrs McCleary, pulling her into her lap giving her hugs and kissing the top of her head trying to calm her down while she was bawling her eyes out but couldn't remember why she was upset that day.

"Dad, was I really upset the day that Kate left? I remember something from grade 1. I remember being really upset and Mrs McCleary comforting me while I was crying."

"You were devastated sweetie. You wouldn't talk to me or Grams for a couple of weeks, you just wanted Kate back."

"What happened? Why did she leave?" Alexis asked with childlike innocence.

"That's a complicated story, pumpkin. I promise I will tell you another time but right now it is after midnight and you have school tomorrow. I think it is bedtime."

"Okay, Dad."

He got up and started walking down the hallway towards the study. When he heard Alexis get up and start running up behind him. Once she caught up, she grabbed onto his arm and allowed him to pull her, her sock clad feet skating across the hardwood floors.

"But on the way tell me what happened tonight or do I need to look it up on the fan sites?"

"Nope, we had a deal. Search all the internet you want but stay off the fan sites."

Castle pulled her round in front of him and started pushing her down the hall, again her socks making it easy for her to slide.

"Seriously, Dad. Are you in some sort of trouble?"

"Despite all my best effort, No, they want my help on a case." Castle let go of his daughter and jumped through the door into the study making Alexis smile and follow him.

"A case?" she asked in disbelief.

"Apparently, someone's been killing people the way I do in my books."

"That's horrible"

"Yeah"

"How many" her voice starting to gain a gloomy tone.

"Two so far" Getting down on his knees Castle started to look through his large bookcase for something while Alexis sat on a chair behind him.

"Are you okay" she asked, wanting to make sure that her Dad wasn't to 'bummed' about it.

"Yeah, it's just so senseless" he replied, now sounding as equally depressing as the red head sitting behind him.

"Murder usually is"

Castle got up from the ground holding two of his books; the two that the killer had mimicked his murders from and turned around to face his now intrigued daughter.

"No, Murder usually makes a great deal of sense. Passion, Greed, Politics. What's senseless here, is the books that the killer chose. 'Hell Hath No Fury' and 'Flowers for Your Grave' my truly lesser works. Why would a psychotic fan pick those?"

"Maybe because he's psychotic" Alexis answered with another 'duh' look on her face and shaking her head. Grabbing the books out of her father's hands and moving to get of the seat she looked at him and he at her

"Come on, like you said, it's bedtime. You can figure it out in the morning"