A/N: Hey guys! So... I'm alive? I'm sorry for being MIA for so long, but school's started again and I'm busy and honestly I'm supposed to be writing something compeletly different, not fanfiction. But here I am! This chapter is a filler for 5x03, Secret's Safe With Me. This takes place right after the episode and it's really just Kate/Alexis bonding because I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to see more of that on the show. So, I hope you like it and please, if you do, let me know in the form of reviews! Happy reading! -S

'So, are you sure you're okay?' I ask again, knowing Castle doesn't like to admit to feeling vulnerable, much like myself, but I know his first night without Alexis there must be harder on him than he's letting on.

'Yes, I'm okay Beckett, don't worry.' I hear his reply at the other end of the line.

'Okay, I'm just checking.' I say, changing the phone's position against my ear.

'I know. And I appreciate it, I do. I just... Knew that this day was coming. And now it's here. And I'm dealing with it. My baby doesn't need me anymore.' He sighs dramatically.

'That's not true and you know it. Stop being so dramatic.' I reply when suddenly hear a knock on my front door. 'Uh, I gotta go, someone's at the door. I'll see you tomorrow?'

'Of course. And I'll be fine, really.' He replies.

'I know you will be.' I respond with a smile.

'Until tomorrow, Kate.' I can hear a smile on his voice too.

'Night, Rick.' I reply before ending the call and placing my phone next to me on the couch. I get up and make my way to the door and pull it open, expecting it to be one of my neighbors. Turns out I'm wrong.

'Alexis?' I ask, kind of shocked. The last person I expected to be at my door at 7:30 pm, is my boyfriend's daughter, who's supposed to be spending her first night at college.

'Hi.' She says gently, pushing some hair off of her face. 'Can I come in?'

'Of course.' I reply, stepping aside so that she can make her way into the apartment.

She shakes her coat off and lays it down on the arm of the couch. And says nothing.

'So,' I decide to start the conversation. 'What brings you here tonight? Is everything okay?'

'Oh, yes, everything's fine.' She's quick to assure me. 'I just.. Wanted to talk to you.'

That makes me nervous. All Castle has been talking about lately, along with his daughter going to college, is how weirdly she took the news about our relationship. Alexis has always made me nervous. Knowing how close of a relationship she has with her father has always made me feel like I need her approval. And now it seems like it might not be that easy to get. Not that I can exactly blame her.

'Okay.' I reply with an unsure tone in my voice.

Alexis seems to be looking for the right words so I decide to speak up first.

'Look, Alexis, I know you didn't exactly jump for joy when your dad told you about... Us, and I completely understand that. I just want you to know that I value your opinion, I really do. And though it might be hard for you to believe, I've changed a lot in the past year. I care about your dad a lot, and for what it's worth, I promise not to make the same mistakes again. I never wanted to hurt him and I'll work harder to not do it again. I promise.' I take a deep breath, anxiously anticipating her response. She stares at me for a moment and then, finally, speaks up.

'Dad didn't talk to you about what we talked about today, did he?' She asks.

I furrow my brow. 'What do you mean?' I ask.

'This is what I wanted to talk to you about since I already talked to dad. I don't hate you, detec- Kate.' She says gently, yet with a serious tone. 'I admit, I wasn't your biggest fan during the most of the last year, but I don't hate you. And I don't want you to think that I do. I was pissed at you, I really was. The way you treated my dad was not okay. But I now know how much you were actually hurting too. If dad's happy, then I'm happy. And I want to trust you to not hurt him like that again. If he trusts you, I trust you. He seems happy. Happier than in a while actually, and I want that for him. So, I'm okay. And I like you, Kate, I do. You made a mistake, I'm not going to hold it against you forever. I know my dad's made his share of mistakes too. I've forgiven you. I hope you can forgive me for being so rude to you.' Alexis finishes her speech with a questioning look. She wants me to forgive her? After everything I've put her family through?

'You have nothing to apologize for, Alexis. You had every right to be mad at me. I know what I did was wrong, but I was too focused on my own pain and insecurities. I know better now.' I explain to her.

'I know. And I'm glad you're better. But I want to apologize to you nonetheless. I've always admired you, Kate. And I've always considered you as someone I can trust. I'd like to keep it that way.' She says, almost shyly.

'I will do my best to be worthy of your trust.' I reply sincerely.

'I know you will. You're a good person, Kate. And I'm glad you're with my dad. It's been a long time coming, right?' She says with a slight, teasing smile on her face.

'I, uh..' I laugh nervously. 'I suppose it has been.'

She laughs too. 'I'm glad you're both happy. He makes you happy too, right?'

'Yeah, he does.' I reply honestly, blushing slightly and looking down at my feet.

'Good. That's good.' She replies. 'I just wanted to make sure you knew I was okay with this.'

'I'm glad to hear that, Alexis. I know how much your approval means to your dad too.'

Alexis smiles in response and then looks around the room quietly.

'Do you have to get back to the campus soon? It's getting kinda late.'

'Uh, yeah, I should probably get going soon.' She replies, yet makes no effort to leave. She looks around and plays with the strings on her hoodie. I can tell something's bothering her.

'So, how does it feel? Being a college girl?' I ask and watch Alexis' face fall slightly.

'Oh, you know. Awesome.' She replies, not so convincingly.

I examine her face for a moment. 'Are you terrified?' I ask her.

She quickly lifts her gaze from her shoes, where it had been since our conversation took this turn, and looks at me with a puzzled expression.

'Cause I was.' I continue. 'I was so excited to get out from under my parents' roof, but when the actual moment arrived, I started second guessing every decision I made. I mean, it's a huge change isn't it?'

'It is.' She whispers, looking back down at her shoes.

'Yeah. But you know, college ended up being one of the greatest experiences of my life. Did it take some time to get used to the dorm and my roommate? Yeah, believe me, it did. Was I broke for most of those four years? Oh yeah. And sleep-deprived! Man, I lived on caffeine, even more so than now. But I wouldn't change that experience for anything. I made friends I still talk to. For the first time, I felt as independent as I'd always wanted to be. And every time I felt homesick, I called up my parents and they managed to make me feel better and remind me of why I was so excited to move out in the first place, all in about 30 minutes.' I laughed at the memory. Alexis laughed too, finally looking at me.

'So I get why you might feel scared, but trust me. It's gonna be great. You're gonna feel homesick from time to time but you know how much your dad will love hearing from you, any time of day, and will certainly drop everything to come and see you. If anyone, you can definitely rock the college thing. You'll be fine.' I give her a smile and she smiles back.

'Thank you, Kate.' She whispers. 'I actually needed to hear that.'

'My pleasure.' I smile. I escort her to the door and open it for her. She steps out and then turns around.

'So, if I happened to need some advice about this whole college thing...'

'You can call me. Any time.' I answer her unfinished question. She looks relieved.

'Thank you, Kate.' She says. She looks torn for a moment and then takes a step back inside the apartment and wraps me in a hug. I immediately, though a bit taken aback, hug her back.

'I guess I'll be seeing you around more now, huh?' She says after pulling away from the hug.

'I guess so.' I reply.

'Good.' She says and gives me a smile.

'Good.' I smile back, relieved to know, even after the talk we had, that my presence in her life, especially in her home, wouldn't bother her.

'I would love it if you came with dad to see me sometime. You need to see my dorm. It's tiny.' She laughs.

I laugh too. 'I would love to.'

So, did you like it? Please, do leave a review! -S