A/N: Sooooo...I finally understand why people say REVIEW REVIEW! It's such a rush to see people post to your story. Reviews are like crack. Good times. Anyway, thanks for all those who posted. I'll keep it coming fast, since it's mostly done anyway. This chapter wasn't edited as many times as the others, my apologies for any mistakes. They're all mine and mine alone.
I hope Alexis wasn't too juvenile in this chapter. There were a couple of places she seemed a touch OOC...I'm going to chalk it up to – well, nothing, I have no excuse for it. Enjoy.
"I – uh...we um – well, the water..." Kate sputtered for a moment before Martha floated in to rescue her.
"Aris, my dear we're so glad you could come!" the older woman exclaimed, effectively changing the subject. She hugged her briefly. "Now, I know she answered the door, but let me give you a proper introduction," Martha craned her head around to find her granddaughter. "Alexis, come here and meet your Aunt Aris."
Alexis crept over to her grandmother, her anxiety apparent.
"Why is she so nervous?" Beckett whispered to Castle.
"She has zero 'extended family' experience," Rick replied. "Considering that her mother and I are only children, and her other grandparent's are not very...warm, shall we say, I think she's genuinely afraid that she might not like Aris."
As they conversed silently, Martha had introduced Aris and Alexis. Rick stopped talking in time to hear Alexis' attempt at small talk.
"Hey, our names both begin and end with the same letters," she said brightly before her face crumpled in humiliation. "What a stupid thing to say, sorry," she whispered.
Aris' face lit up in a huge smile and she actually laughed out loud. "I was – no joke – thinking the exact same thing! Right when your grandmother said 'Alexis, Aris'."
The Castle teen looked hopeful but leery. "Really you were?"
"Yes, hand to the Bible I was! Isn't that uncanny? I'm going to take it as a sign that we are definitely related," Aris assured Alexis. She waited a beat before asking, "Can I give you a hug?" Alexis looked surprised, nodded a little, then practically fell into her aunt's outstretched arms.
"I was so afraid you wouldn't like me," the teen confessed, her tone betraying her nerves again.
"Alexis," Aris admonished, a quaver to her own voice, "I liked you before I met you! You are my family!"
Beckett turned a bemused expression to Castle, who just shrugged. "Wouldn't like her, wanted to like her...meh, who understands the female mind?"
That comment earned him a punch in the arm, which brought everyone's attention, and cleared the air of the weighty emotion.
"Hi Rick, hi Kate," Aris said timidly, "thanks for inviting me for dinner."
"You're welcome, we're glad to have you," Castle answered, and Kate had to give him credit – he sounded completely sincere.
"Richard?" Martha broke in. "Didn't I hear the oven timer go off? Are we ready to eat?"
Her question brought the group to a sense of purpose. Alexis took her aunt's jacket and purse, and Castle and Beckett put dinner on the table. After everyone sat down, Rick raised his glass of wine – already almost empty from his pre-dinner intake.
"To family," he toasted.
Dinner was a peaceful event. Aris had a knack with Alexis, drawing her out and helping her open up in new and interesting ways. Even Rick learned some things about his daughter as everyone conversed over the meal. She also kept the conversation flowing effortlessly, keeping all involved – even Kate.
Everyone learned more about Aris as well. For starters, her father put her in year round boarding school once he became her legal guardian. From the time she was 11 until she left for college, Aris lived at The Hudson River School for Girls. She spent holidays with Mrs. Baker and occasionally Gio took her on a vacation. But mostly she just went to school.
The Castle's, and Kate, were all excited to hear that Aris and her husband would be getting some kids to foster the next day. She needed to be back in Connecticut by noon the next day to pick them up – two preteen girls and an 8-year-old boy, all from the same family.
"But isn't your husband still on his business trip?" Kate asked. "How will you handle three kids on your own?"
"I wouldn't," Aris joked. "Mrs. Baker will help me."
"Your dad's housekeeper?" Alexis asked, obviously puzzled.
"Well, she's my housekeeper now," Aris explained. "Although she's more like family than help."
Castle had a funny look on his face. "Wait, wait, wait. How old is Mrs. Baker? I had this picture in my head of you showing up at Gio's house like Mary at Mistlethwaite Manor to an old, crabby housekeeper...I suppose she wasn't that?"
"Way to be stereotypical Castle," Kate teased as everyone laughed at the mental image the author conjured for them.
"You're not even close," Aris clarified with a smile. "Mrs. Baker was in her late 30's when I showed up on Gio's doorstep. She's now almost 60. She could have retired when Gio died, but her own husband had just passed away and her two sons are in the army – so she decided to keep working and keep her mind and hands occupied. I invited her to come and live with me and my ever-changing family. She's great with all the foster kids we get...doesn't take a bit of flack from any of them. She's a good example of how to run a tight ship."
"Which you'd have to do with all those children coming and going," Martha remarked.
"Yep, my husband and I joke that she should have joined her sons in the army – she would have been a general before she knew it."
Dinner wound down followed by leisurely dessert and coffee. Finally, Alexis yawned and Aris, catching the signal, looked contrite.
"I'd better get going, I've stayed way too long," she said.
"No, you haven't," Castle insisted, "I've had more fun tonight than I've had since...well, quite a while."
"I had a wonderful time too," Aris replied. She stood up and walked to Alexis, giving her niece another hug. "I would love to see you again, if you want to," she said to the teen.
"I would love that too," Alexis answered a big smile unashamedly adorning her face.
Aris squeezed Alexis a little harder for just a second more. "I'm so glad," she sighed. Turning to Kate, she hesitated only a moment before wrapping her arms around the detective also.
"Thanks for coming tonight Kate," she whispered to the surprised detective. "I couldn't have done this without you."
"You're welcome," Kate answered softly. Aris stepped back with a smile and moved to hug Martha, leaving Kate slightly embarrassed at the attention. She'd been quiet most of the dinner – trying to be a calming presence with out interfering in the family's moments. But Aris seemed to suck everyone into her – make everyone feel like they belonged unequivocally. The feeling simultaneously thrilled and frightened Beckett. She didn't want to dissect it right now – or ever – so she tried to tamp it down.
Rick, Alexis and Martha argued over who should take Aris down to the lobby. Finally, Rick won out, mostly because Martha caught Alexis' eye and they both allowed him to walk his sister to the doorman downstairs.
As Rick and Aris exited the apartment, Martha turned to Alexis to explain her actions.
"Don't worry, I get it Gram," Alexis said. "Dad needs this chance to talk to Aris – really talk to her. Say meaningful things that we don't always say around a dinner table."
Martha smiled at her granddaughter. "Exactly kiddo. You are so insanely smart."
Kate smiled too, reveling in the camaraderie and peace that filled this home this night.
Rick continued chatting with his sister as he went with her to the lobby. He expressed excitement over meeting her husband and the foster kids they'd have. She gushed about Alexis and complimented him on raising such a lovely daughter. When they got to the front doors of his building, they lapsed into silence.
"I hope you – "
"I should probably say – "
Laughing at the awkward start, Rick indicated that Aris should speak.
"I was going to say that I hope you're okay with me seeking you out," she said. "I want you to know that I debated this long and hard. And if you don't think this is a good thing for you and your family, I completely understand."
Castle cleared his throat. "I was going to say that I think this is a wonderful thing fate has done. I didn't ever meet Mr. Miron, and I don't wish to speak ill of the dead, but giving you a reason to come and find me might be the best thing he ever did for both of us."
"Hand to the Bible," Aris smiled and said softly, "I've thought the exact same thing all day. Now I know we're related." She leaned in and gave Rick a brief side hug then walked out to the curb to get a taxi.
"Talk to you soon Aris," Rick called after her. She turned and smiled brightly, nodding her acknowledgment.