Rick felt himself cringe as his ex-wife hurled herself into his arms. "Meredith," he put on the fake smile usually reserved for Gina. "Why are you here?"

"I was . . . in the neighborhood and decided to stop by." She explained, still hanging off of Rick. Then she turned to Kate. Rick wanted to run very far away when this went down, and he knew that his soon to be wife could hide the body on her own.

"Kaitlyn, I wish to offer you congratulations on the wedding, and condolences because it won't last long." Meredith put a hand over her breast, tilted her head back and let out a fake laugh.

"My name is Katherine." Kate said.

"Oh," Meredith rolled her eyes as though correcting her was a sin. "Anyway, I came to spend some time with my," cue a glare at Kate, "daughter." Meredith wrapped an arm around Alexis, who squirmed away.

"I'm going to a party tonight, Mom!" She protested. It's not like she didn't love her mother, it's just that Alexis knew that Meredith hadn't come to spend time with her, she had come to bother Rick and Kate.

"Well, I can help you get ready." Meredith smiled.

"Actually, Lanie and I figured that out last Saturday when Ben asked me to go with him."

"Who's Lanie?" Meredith asked.

"She's my best friend." Kate cut smoothly into the conversation. Rick would have wandered away if his daughter wasn't still in the clutches of the evil witch.

"Then I'll definitely need to help you get ready." Meredith let out another fake laugh.

"Would you stop being so mean to her?" Alexis suddenly snapped at her mother, pushing herself out of Meredith's arms. "Kate's not a bad person, actually she's a great person, and as much as you have said things about her, she's never said a bad thing back. Knock it off!" Alexis turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, fuming. Who knew her mother could be such a . . . a bitch? Alexis entered the bedroom and slammed the door.

Rick looked in awe after his daughter. He had never seen her go after anyone that way. She had been mad at him once for checking up on her violin teacher but that was nothing compared to how she chewed up and spit out her mother.

Kate felt uncomfortable with all of the tension in the room. She felt bad for coming between Alexis and her mother. She didn't know what to do, stay and attempt to do something, go for a walk (Kate didn't like the idea of running away from the problem since it would probably be here when she got back, but maybe Meredith needed some time to talk to her daughter and ex). "I'm going to the store," Kate slipped out the door. She went downstairs and half ran onto the street. As it was, she ran into Alexis.

"Sorry," They both apologized before realizing who it was they had run into.

"I'm going to the store, wanna tag along?" Kate offered.

Alexis glanced up at the apartment building. "Yes!" There was silence as the two made their way down the street before Alexis said, "I don't know why she's here, or why she's acting this way. Mom is a little crazy, but she's generally not mean."

"Maybe she's just being protective of you. Maybe she thinks that I'm trying to take her place." Kate suggested, holding the door open for the younger girl.

"Thanks. And you think? Mom should know better, she really should. She's my Mom, and although you're great, I don't love you in the same way I love her."

"Maybe you should tell her that, reassure her that you're always going to be her little girl, and no matter what woman Rick brings into his life, it will always be that way."

Alexis grabbed the can of whip cream off the shelf and they continued down the aisle. "You know you sometimes remind me of a fortune cookie."

Kate raised her eyebrow. The comment was something Rick would usually say, not his daughter. "A fortune cookie?" She just had to ask.

"Well you always have such great advice. It just seems a fitting title." Alexis explained with a shrug and a smile.

Kate reached over and snagged a bag of gummy worms off the shelf. "My weakness," she explained to Alexis. "And if you ever tell your father about the fortune cookie thing you will find yourself one stuffy short of a collection."

Alexis looked horrified, "No! Not my children! Mercy, please, mercy, I'm sworn to secrecy." They were both referring to, of course, the collection of stuffed bears, ranging in colours and patterns, that sat on a shelf above Alexis' bed. She'd been collecting since she was a baby and only needed one more bear to complete the collection, unfortunately, not even her father had been able to track said white and purple-polka dotted bear down.

"Relax Alexis, he won't be harmed, just held hostage." Kate winked, and Alexis allowed herself to laugh, all drama with her mother, momentarily, forgotten.

***

"Meredith, what are you doing here?" Rick demanded.

"Well, I was going to come out in the next few weeks anyway, so I decided to come a little early to spend some more quality time with Alexis." Meredith swirled her hair around one finger and winked at him.

"Right." Rick said, nodding.

"Why don't you believe me?" Meredith whined, stamping her foot.

"Because I know you, and you usually have an ulterior motive." Rick explained, reaching for a bottle of Martha's favourite wine.

"Oh, so I'm not allowed to see my daughter?" Meredith demanded.

"No, that's not it. You know I would never try to keep Alexis from you."

"Do I Rick? Because you're acting like I came here to torture everybody. I just want to spend time with my daughter." Meredith pleaded. Well, for now, Alexis is top priority, let's see what she knows about this wedding.

Rick chugged the wine, if Meredith really was only here to spend extra time with Alexis, which he still somehow doubted, then there wouldn't be any point in arguing with her.

"Okay, I believe you." Rick agreed, admitting defeat. "What hotel are you at?"

Meredith bit her lip and adopted a sad expression. "Well, I spent most of my money on the plane ticket, and I can't afford one."

"I can, just pick one out." Rick offered, but he should have guessed her next words.

"Oh, Ricky, I couldn't let you do that. Can't I just stay here?"

Meredith put on puppy dog eyes.

Rick knew that it wouldn't be a good idea, he should just force her into a hotel, but what harm could she do? And this way he could keep a closer eye on her. "Fine, there are to small guest rooms at the end of the hall, take the one on the right."

Meredith grinned and threw her arms around her ex. "Thanks, Ricky, you're the best!"

I know that Meredith probably isn't this big of a bitch, but for the story's sake, let's pretend she is. I don't own Castle. Hope you lke it enough to review.

Happy holidays!

~DI4MGZ~