Right before they leave, Meredith enters the library with Alexis in tow.
When he sees her, Castle closes his eyes in dread and Beckett gives him an amused look.
Meredith, loaded up with shopping bags, is trying to push her way into the library through the crowd. Alexis is behind her, trying to disappear in a shame spiral. Meredith spots him and waves. "Richard! Over here!"
"Meredith, what a surprise" how did he ever think getting in contact with his ex-wife was a good idea? This is all probably karma biting him in the ass for trying to have a good time after he had already had too much of a good time.
"I know. Isn't it great?" she says oblivious to Castle's annoyance. "You're taking us out to dinner" she doesn't really leave room for arguing.
"Of course…" why not? It's not like he has been humiliated enough today.
"The restaurants here are unbelievable" Meredith tells Beckett as if she didn't have an idea of how great LA is. "Don't you just love this town?"
"More and more by the minute" she has to admit she's enjoying seeing Castle cringe. "Let me help you with that" she takes a couple of Meredith's bags.
"Shall we get going?" Meredith says.
They leave to her apartment. Beckett drops the bags on the table and stands around awkwardly while the rest start getting ready to go out. She's not sure if she's invited.
"Beckett" Castle comes out of his room wearing a nice blue shirt and struggling with the cufflink. "Aren't you going to get ready?"
"I… I didn't think I was invited"
"Well, you are"
"Oh" she nods. "But I'm not wearing the dress" It was nice and all, but she's in the job after all. She'll be more comfortable in her regular professional attire.
"Alright" he smiles.
Before she starts getting ready, she thinks about helping him with his cufflink. "Do you want me to-" right when she's about to step closer to him, Meredith steps out of the room, turns him around seductively and helps him.
"Thanks" he smiles. "What were you saying?" he turns around to look at Beckett.
"Never mind" she shakes her head and starts gathering her clothes to change.
An hour later, they're sitting in a round table at a fancy restaurant. Castle has Meredith on one side and Alexis in the other. They've already ordered and now they're waiting for their food.
"So, how's the writing going?" Meredith asks the writer before taking a sip from her wine.
"It was going a little slow, but lately I've been… Inspired" he throws a sideways glace at the bodyguard, who doesn't seem to notice.
He was having trouble writing until she got into his life. For some reason words have been flowing ever since.
"Oh" Meredith nods. "You know" she confides to Beckett. "I was his inspiration once"
"Were you, now?"
"Still am from time to time" she smiles devilishly. "Right, kitten?"
"Kitten?" Beckett smirks and tries not to laugh while Castle tries to disappear into thin air running his hand over his face.
"I had this dream once, only I was naked and far less embarrassed"
Of course, Beckett rolls her eyes. Honestly, she's enjoying seeing someone pushing his buttons for a change, given how hell-bent he seems to be on pushing hers.
The rest of the evening goes by smoothly – except for Castle's ego, which ends up badly bruised, and that doesn't seem to bother anyone but him, especially not Beckett who actually enjoyed the evening.
The next day, starts pretty much the same as the previous one. Alexis stays with Meredith and Castle takes Beckett to the signing.
By lunch time, the writer and his bodyguard are at a diner eating. At some point he starts making phone calls, to which she doesn't really pay attention to, until it's time to pay and get back to the signing and he's still on the phone.
"What are you doing?" she asks once he hangs up.
"I'm calling in some favors. Like I told you, I can't have Meredith back in New York"
She looks at him disapprovingly but he ignores it. He pays the check and they head back to the library.
While Castle is signing books, Beckett spots Meredith once again making her way into the library – this time without the shopping bags – basically dragging Alexis behind her. She narrows her eyes wondering what they're doing here again. She decides to join them, instead of them coming and interrupting Castle's signing.
"Oh, Beckett" Meredith says when she sees the bodyguard. "Can you take care of Alexis? I have a meeting to get to"
"Sure…" she can barely manage to say before the woman is already rushing outside. "Hey" she greets Alexis.
"Hey…" she says shyly. She knows her mother's a piece of work.
"Come on" Beckett puts her arm over the teen's shoulder and they walk towards where Castle's signing. The teen gets a book and finds a seat.
The writer notices his daughter and gives her a smile which she mirrors, before getting back to his fans. He's a little confused as to why she's there, but he's not complaining.
A while later they're back at Meredith's apartment gathering their stuff to leave.
When Beckett's almost done with her luggage, Alexis comes out of her room and goes into her father's.
The teen finds Castle folding some stuff and putting them in one of his suitcases. "Dad?"
"Yeah, sweetie?" he lifts his gaze to meet hers after he closes the valise.
"Hypothetically... Is it okay to love someone, but not want them around all the time?" she plays with her fingers nervously. She feels like such a terrible person for thinking like this.
"You mean mom?"
"I love her, I do" she says quickly.
"I know you do. And I'm glad you do" he doesn't push. He's pretty sure he knows where she's going though. He's been there.
"But, dad... She drives me crazy" she decides to be honest.
"Yeah. That's what moms do" he smiles. He's got one just like that.
"But if she moves back to New York…" her eyes widen, begging him to so something to stop her.
They hear the door open. "Richard? Richard? Alexis?" Meredith calls them.
Alexis makes a pained expression and Castle chuckles. She really does feel terrible. "Your secret's safe with me" he smiles reassuringly.
Alexis makes a huge sigh and Castle steers her into the living room. Beckett steps into the bathroom when they come out of the room, partially because she doesn't want to intrude.
"You will not believe what happened" she tells them excited. "I got a call from my agent. I've been offered a huge role in a new indie film"
"Wow. Mom, that's awesome" Alexis smiles.
"It is. But, here's the bad news, sweetie" she pauses to let her terrible news sink in. "I'm going to have to put my plans to move back to New York on hold" she sighs.
"That's okay, Mom" Alexis is a little too quick to say. "It sounds like a huge opportunity"
"It really is" Meredith is a little disappointed, but she can always visit them.
Alexis is visibly more relaxed. She really does love her mother… from a distance.
"Oh, well" Castle sighs in faux-disappointed.
"I'm sorry" Beckett interrupts. "We should probably get going" she looks at her boss. They have to get on the road soon.
"Right" Castle and Alexis head back to their respective bedrooms and take their luggage out.
Meredith moves to hug Alexis once they're at the door. "There's so much fun stuff we didn't get to do. But I'll visit soon, I promise"
"I know. I love you, Mom. Thanks for taking me shopping" though that's pretty much all they ever do together. Meredith hugs Alexis again.
Beckett is the first one out the door, then Alexis and finally Castle, but Meredith takes his hand before he leaves. "You know I always hate to see you go"
"Yeah, well. You know you can always visit" they kiss.
"Bye" she waves before closing the door.
"Okay dad, spill" Alexis says as they're rolling their luggage to the elevator. Beckett smiles at the girl's spot-on analysis of the situation.
"What?" Castle asks innocently.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing" he answers, but she looks at him knowingly. "Oh, my business manager called with an excellent investment opportunity. A small, artsy independent feature"
Alexis shakes her head but smiles.
"Eh, she's perfect for the role" he justifies himself. "I'm doing them the favor... I think" he looks at Alexis as they step out of the elevator. "I hope you don't mind" Beckett made him doubt with their conversation of the day before, but he's still pretty sure he made the right decision.
"Raising one parent's hard enough. I don't know what I'd do if I had to raise two" she grins.
Castle smiles. He loves his girl so much! He pulls her into a hug while Beckett hails them a cab.
The bodyguard throws them a sideways glance and smiles at how that little unconventional family is so functional.
They get to a car-rental agency where they get a car to drive to San Diego that same evening.
Sometime during the two-hour drive to San Diego, Castle becomes restless so he decides to try some conversation with his bodyguard.
"So, Beckett. Was it as painful for you as it was for me?"
"What?" she narrows her eyes wondering what the hell he's talking about this time.
"Reliving my first marriage"
"Oh" she nods. "It was actually pretty entertaining" she smirks.
"I'm glad my misery makes you happy" he says in mock indignation. He's actually glad to see that she was actually enjoying herself, barring the fact that it was because of his suffering.
"So, you've only been married twice?" she knows both his ex-wives, and she wouldn't be surprised if there were more of them.
"Isn't that enough?" he's actually not exactly sure how he managed to get himself into those situations. "How 'bout you?"
"Me? No. Never been" she hasn't really had the time. Or the interest, for that matter.
"Really?" such an intelligent, smart woman surely has at least a couple guys trailing behind her.
"Yep"
"You'd be good at it. You're both controlling and disapproving. You should really try it" he jokes.
She rolls her eyes. "I'm not an 'if at first you don't succeed…' kind of a girl, Castle. When it comes to marriage, I'm more of a 'one and done' type" you can't just jump into marriage with the first guy you see. It has to mean something. You have to be able to picture the rest of your life with them, and not being able to see yourself without them.
At least that's what she thinks.
"Hmm" of course she's that kind of girl. "Any serious candidates?" there certainly must be a few.
She briefly gives him a sideways look. "That's enough sharing for today"
"Come on" he pushes further. He's already gotten a couple tidbits; he can get a few more… Or not. She throws him a look that tells him that he should probably back off.
She quickly focuses back on the road. Actually, no, she doesn't really have anyone in her life at the moment and that's okay. But telling him… They've already pushed enough boundaries. She'd like to keep her private life exactly that way.