A/N: I really hope you believe I tried to stay true to the characters. It's one of my biggest concerns. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Andrew W. Marlowe, though they have found their own way into my heart.

Half an hour later, showered and dressed, he sat at his desk; bed made, room tidy. He'd been staring at nowhere trying to figure out how and what to tell Alexis. He had no idea how she would react, and that worried him. During the first couple of years, Alexis had been very fond of Kate. She had looked up to her, admired her, and had even trusted her with secrets and sought her advice. But after last year's shooting at the graveyard, having seen her dad try to take a bullet for Beckett, and the…

He startled at the sound of the front door.

"Dad! I'm home!" Alexis called happily. Taking a deep breath, he stood up and came out to the living room to meet her.

"Hi pumpkin!" he greeted her, opening his arms.

"Hi!" she dropped her bag on the floor and wrapped her arms around him. He placed a kiss on top of her head.

"Did you have fun?" he asked.

She pulled back to look at him. "Had a great time, but I'm exhausted. Barely slept," she yawned, "a couple of hours."

"You still want to go out for lunch? Or should I make us something here," he asked her.

"You mind if we stay in?" she yawned again.

"Not at all." He kissed her forehead, "what are you hungry for?"

"I don't know. Anything you like," she answered.

"Pasta sound good?" he smiled.

"Carbonara?" he nodded. "Sounds great," she smiled.

"Alright! I'll get right started," he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead. She picked up her bag and headed for the stairs.

"I'm gonna bring this to my room."

Alexis chatted happily about graduation and the party over lunch. With a smile on his face, Castle listened and laughed with her.

"Uff…that was delicious!" she pushed her dish aside and placed an elbow on the counter, resting her head on her hand.

"So…ice cream?" he asked, placing the dishes in the sink.

"No thanks," she patted her stomach, "I'm full." Grinning, he filled a glass with water and gulped some down.

"So, how was last night, dad?" He spat out the water in his mouth. Shocked, he tried to mask his reaction with a cough.

"Are you alright?" she said, straightening up.

He coughed again. "Yes," he choked out. "It went down the wrong way. You sure you don't want some ice cream?" he cleared his throat and took another sip of water. She shook her head. He rounded the kitchen and sat next to her.

"So, uhm, pumpkin, what do you think about Kate?" he asked nervous.

"Detective Beckett?" she arched an eyebrow. He nodded. "What about her? I've known her for four years," she looked a bit confused.

"Well…, something's kind of happened…" he said slowly.

"What happened?" she asked wary.

"We… kind of… worked things out. We, uhm, her and I are…" he sucked in a deep breath.

"Wait! You mean you two are together now? Like together, together?" her eyes flew wide open.

"Yes sweetie," he smiled shyly. Her mouth dropped.

"When did this happen?" She exclaimed shocked.

"Uh…, yesterday?"

"Yesterday?" she screeched.

"Last night," he placed his hand on top of hers but she shook it off. He was about to say something, but she interrupted him.

"Dad!" she jumped off her stool and started pacing. "What were you…how…God! I can't believe this!" she groaned and turned to face him. "After everything she's done…" she threw her arms in the air, frustrated. He tugged at her wrist.

"Alexis, sit down." When she had, he loosened his grip and took her hands in his. She was looking away. "Alexis, look at me." She sighed and shifted her gaze to her father. "I know you're worried. I understand you feel scared that things may change, but you have to believe when I say that you will always be my girl, no matter what. Nothing is going to come between us. I promise." He watched her intently, seeing how a half dozen emotions showed on her face.

"Dad, I just don't want to see you get hurt anymore," she whispered with watery eyes.

"I know sweetie, but it's not like before, it won't be like this past year. This wasn't just…a one night thing. We've talked it out, we've put all the cards on the table, and we know what we want. We, Kate and I, we want to be together." He let his words sink in, then continued, "I can't live without her no more than I can't live without you." Alexis looked down. He gently lifted her chin so their eyes would meet. He cupped her face with his hands. "I love her, and… she feels the same way," he smiled, feeling his own eyes fill with tears.

"How do you know?" she asked guarded, worry written all over her face.

"I just… I know. I can see it in her eyes," he answered confident.

"Has she told you?"

"Not in so many words." She was about to protest, but he spoke first. "No. Alexis, everything is going to be okay, I promise." She looked deep into his eyes, ice blue meeting fire blue. For a very long time, she pondered. Her dad seemed really happy, his eyes shone full of love and joy. She decided to push her doubts aside, for now. She relaxed her face and the corners of her lips turned up into a small smile.

"When is she coming over?" she asked softly.

"Uh…she's not? We haven't planned anything. This has all happened so fast. She, I mean, the two of us thought that I should bring the news gently on you. Kate was worried for your reaction. She only wants the best for you, as do I."

"Right," she agreed.

"Do you need some time to think this through? Let it sink in? I know it's something big. What do you wanna do pumpkin?" He gently stroked her hair.

She pushed away from the counter and started towards the staircase. Pausing at the bottom step, she turned to him.

"I'm gonna take a shower and a nap." His face fell.

"Okay honey" His gaze followed as she started climbing up the stairs.

"And dad?" she looked down with a sweet smile on her face. "I think you should invite her over for dinner." He grinned in surprise. She stopped at the top step. "I gotta see it with my own eyes," she said before disappearing down the hallway.

She hadn't been able to stop smiling since she had left him at his loft. Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped herself in a towel, and padded towards her bedroom. Her mind kept replaying the events occurred during the last twelve hours. It felt so right. She didn't understand why she had not taken this step before. She felt like a teenager in love. But she had to get a grip on it and try to school her features. If Lanie caught a glimpse of the lovey-dovey smile she was now wearing, she was so busted. A knock on the door made her jump. "Coming!" she called as she walked to the front door. Hair dripping, a hand on the handle, she took a moment before she opened the door and greeted her best friend.

"Hi Lanie," she smiled. Lanie stormed in past her and stood in the middle of the room.

"What were you thinking?" Lanie yelled. "How could you do this? Go after a trained killer, almost getting killed, and then resign? Are you out of your senses! And I had to find out from Esposito! Do you know just how worried I was? I stopped by this morning, you didn't answer the door. I called you like a dozen times and you didn't pick up! God, girl! I could just kill you!" she spoke so fast, Kate almost lost a few words. Lanie tossed her purse on an armchair and sat on the couch. Kate came to sit down next to her.

"I'm so sorry Lanie. Really," she apologized.

"Kate what happened?" Lanie whispered, taking Kate's hand.

Sighing, Kate rubbed her other hand across her face. "I don't know. It's my mom's case and my shooting… I just… I wanted to catch this guy so badly..." she closed her eyes and pinched her nose. "I lost control," she breathed out and looked at Lanie.

"Oh, honey," Lanie murmured, reaching up and tugging a strand of hair behind Kate's ear. Her eyes shifted and focused on Kate's neck.

"What's that on your neck?" Lanie said furrowing her brows.

"They're just some bruises, from the fight with the sniper. It's nothing," Kate said casually.

"That is no bruise," Lanie leaned in to take a better look. Her eyes opened wide. "That's a hickey!" Lanie shrilled. "Katherine Beckett, have you been naughty?" she laughed.

"What?" Kate asked nervous.

"Who did it!" Kate blushed a deep red. "No way! Writer boy?" A smirk appeared on Lanie's face. Kate bit down her lip, smiling, and nodded. "OMG! Girl!" Kate shook her head lightly, grinning. "So…how many times?" Lanie asked boldly, wiggling her brows.

"Lanie!" Kate stuttered. Her friend just waited, a smug on her face. She then motioned her hand in a 'give it to me'. "Twice," Kate answered coyly and blushed again.

Lanie squealed and laughed, almost jumping and bouncing off her seat. "OH. MY. GOD! Details! I want details! How, when?" Lanie urged Kate.

"Fine!" Kate gave in. "Last night, at his place." She continued with the details until Lanie's curiosity was satisfied.

"Oh my god! Finally!" Lanie looked astonished, and Kate couldn't stop smiling. "And look at you. You're glowing!" she exclaimed.

"God, Lanie. It feels so…right. He… he makes me feel home," Kate smiled widely.

Lanie laughed, "Well girl, you know what they say, 'My Castle is my home'" She laughed again. "I'm so happy for you, honey."

So? ;)