Sorry to leave you with a cliffhanger, guys! The juicy stuff's all here now, I promise!

Here's where the story earns its M rating guys, so all you kiddies better leave the room! Yes, that means you, sneaky teens. If you're under sixteen I want you reading this with your eyes closed.

Disclaimer: All I own is my story – the characters I'm only borrowing. Pity.

This chapter is dedicated to the awesome Vesja!

"Four years?" Alexis' brain appeared to have fried several vital circuits while kissing Emmett, because she was having a very difficult time thinking of anything other than him.

Emmett nodded, a little bashfully. "I, uh, noticed you in freshman year, after you helped Benny get a good grade in Biology. She pointed you out to me and I, um, well… I just kind of… I thought you were the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. It just kind of got worse from there."

"Worse?" Alexis giggled. She never giggled. She must have it bad.

"Yeah." He grinned, stroking the corner of her mouth with his thumb. "Real bad."

"How bad?" Alexis asked, quirking her eyebrows.

"This bad." Emmett leaned in and kissed her again, feather-light, scattering them all over her jaw, her cheeks, her lips, her eyes that had closed in bliss…

Alexis made a mewling sound in her throat and arched toward him, silently begging for more. Emmett kissed her fully on the lips then, and she eagerly opened her mouth for him, drawing him back in.

"Why… didn't… you say anything?" She managed to choke out.

Emmett started kissing her neck, and he chuckled, sending vibrations through her pulse point and radiating through her entire body. "Are you kidding me? Me, the rebellious kid, talking to the biggest good girl in school? And one of the most popular, I might add. Yeah, that doesn't really add up, Shortcake."

He did have a point. Alexis wouldn't have seen the intelligence or the passion in him – only the snarky comments and attitude. Not to mention at the time she'd been enamored with Ashley…

"And, of course, you had that wimpy boyfriend…" Emmett said, working his way back up her neck to tug gently on her earlobe.

"He's a nice guy…" Alexis gasped out.

"I never said he wasn't. But he's all intellectual, no life or spunk. He's watered down. You need someone he can match you." Emmett pointed out.

"Someone like you?" Alexis teased. She decided that it wasn't at all fair that Emmett was having all the fun, so she slipped her hands under his shirt to run them all over his chest, delighting in how his muscles contracted when she did so.

Emmett groaned, and Alexis, encouraged, moved to straddle his lap. "Yeah… like me…" Emmett managed to moan.

Alexis grinned. "You think you have what it takes, then?" She purred, grinding against him. Emmett eyes nearly rolled into the back of his head.

"Shit, babe, you can't…" He trailed off when Alexis did it again, burying his face into her neck. Alexis giggled again. She loved this.

Then Emmett growled, and his hands slipped up her shirt, trailing along her stomach, teasing the outlines of her bra, and it was Alexis' turn to gasp. She threw her head back, and Emmett seized the opportunity to begin lavishing attention on her exposed collarbone and top of her chest. Alexis rested her head against the wall and felt a surge of wet heat shoot through her when Emmett slipped his fingers under her bra.

Suddenly, Emmett pulled back and stood up, slipping Alexis off of his lap. She missed his heat immediately, and felt a craving for him that she was sure was dangerously similar to the one crack addicts felt.

"Alexis…" His voice was hoarse and nearly cracked, and his eyes were dancing with hunger, but his clenched fists told her he was holding himself back. "Babe, if you don't want this… I mean, I want to make sure…"

Of all the times for him to turn into a gentleman. Alexis stood up and walked up to him, swaying her hips. Emmett swallowed hard, and she loved the reaction she had on him. Slowly, she trailed her fingers along the edge of his pants before slipping them under his shirt and pulling him to her. She grabbed his hand and put it so that it was cupping her pants in between her thighs. There was no way he could not feel how wet she was.

"I'd say I want this, wouldn't you?" Alexis asked, trying to sound husky and seductive instead of needy, because putting his hand there was making her insane.

It must have worked, because Emmett practically dove for her, their mouths crashing against one another as they pressed themselves together. Alexis hooked one leg around Emmett's waist and he pushed her up against the wall, sliding a knee in between her legs. Alexis moaned.

She'd been turned on before. She'd had make-out sessions before. And, while she had to agree with Emmett about Ashley, he had been fairly talented. But nothing, nothing she had ever imagined or fantasized or experienced, could match this. This was like white-hot fire was coursing through her, replacing her blood with liquid flame, and her nerves and skin cells were made of electricity, tiny electrical sparks, that zapped and zinged with pleasure every time Emmett touched them…

Their hands were everywhere, all over, touching every place that they could get, and she realized that she was now grinding against him, her leg wrapped around him pushing her closer into her, and oh God she was going to come and they didn't even have their fucking clothes off yet…

When it was all over, Alexis would never admit it, but she came very, very close to murder then, because at that moment Benny rolled over and muttered something in her sleep.

Emmett froze, and although Alexis tried to grind against him, because she was sitting there dripping wet and on the edge and why the fuck wasn't he moving Emmett had her pinned firmly against the wall, and unless he moved she could get no leverage.

"Shit." Emmett's voice was strangled with regret and frustration. "Benny…"

Alexis groaned. "Please…" She whispered, once again trying to get some space to grind against him.

Emmett practically whimpered at hearing the pleading in her voice. "If she wakes up…" He muttered, glancing over at his sister, who was sleeping only a few feet away.

In all honesty, Alexis had forgotten about Benny, and she would prefer to go back to forgetting about her and finish what they'd started.

"Emmett… can't we just…" Alexis was ready to sob with sexual frustration.

Emmett shook his head. "It shouldn't be like this." He said, and Alexis could see he was just as frustrated as she was. "I can't take you up against a wall."

Alexis rested her head on his shoulder, but Emmett took her chin gently in his hand and raised her head so that she was looking right into his eyes. Despite the darkness, she nearly flinched with the emotion she saw there.

"I don't want it hard and fast, babe. That's not what I waited four years for." Emmett whispered. "I want this to matter to you, to us. I want it to be something we can look back on as special – not in some filthy anonymous basement with my sister sleeping next to us."

She hated it, she really did, because she wanted him more than she'd ever wanted any boy before, but he was right. She liked Emmett, and she was sure that when morning came and they were out of this mess she'd thank him for it.

Of course, it would be a very hot and very physical thank you, but it was the thought that counted, right?

Alexis nodded, and Emmett lowered his knee. She unhooked her leg from where she'd wrapped it around his waist, and Emmett stepped back. Alexis stepped forward, closing the distance between them again. Emmett started to protest but then she grabbed his hand and slowly sat down along the wall, pulling him with her.

Once they were both seated she curled up into him, resting her head on his shoulder and snuggling into him. Emmett wrapped his arms around her, stretching his legs out.

"Next best thing, Shortcake." Emmett assured her.

"The moment I get you alone…" She warned him, wiggling her butt. Emmett laughed.

"That's very naughty, Miss Prissy." It was amazing how he could make that word sound like a caress.

"Hmm…" Alexis hummed as her eyes slid closed. She would have never expected it, since she was so charged up and horny a minute ago, but she was sleepy. She supposed this was why people traditionally went to sleep afterwards – it was exhausting.

And they hadn't even gotten to the main event that time.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

They had the information. They had the identities. They had the interviews (with the witnesses and the parents of Benny and Emmett). In short, they were ready to go… except for one tiny, insignificant little detail…

They didn't know where the hideout was.

Beckett ran a hand through her hair before tucking it behind her ear. They had everyone on high alert for any sightings of the suspects, but until they found where the perps were they couldn't go after them and get Alexis back.

She was ready to scream with frustration. It had only been 24 hours, and they were farther along by now than most people were a week into the investigation, but it didn't matter. Alexis was still in the hands of those bastards and until she was safe at home with Castle, Beckett wasn't going to have any peace.

Part of what scared her was the professionalism. Yes, raving lunatics or hateful villains were all well and good, but you expected that. You could handle it. When these people did things for money, cold, hard cash, and they were so utterly cold-blooded and detached… when it was just another day at the office for them… it was frightening. It scared her because she knew that they were doing what they did, and they would do anything else they had to, and they wouldn't even think about it. It was like filing papers to them; casual, normal, and utterly heartless.

She had to get Alexis out of there.

"You might want to brace yourself." Castle warned her as he walked over to join her on the couch. "Espo just text me and apparently Gates has figured out something's up. She's probably going to call you."

Beckett held back the growl of frustration. Montgomery would have been just as hard on her in this case – this was a kidnapping after all, not a homicide – but it was easier to get angry at Gates. Beckett still didn't like the woman, and it wasn't just because of her demeanor or leadership strategy. Gates didn't like Castle, and she wanted him out. Beckett was not about to let that happen.

"Any sightings called in yet?" Castle asked.

Beckett shook her head. She was calling in so many favors on this one she was practically burying herself alive. She was certain she'd have tons of work to do in the future when it was her turn to return those favors, but she didn't care. This strange determination had possessed her, this all-consuming drive to get Alexis back, and until that happened, nothing else mattered.

"We'll find something – I have them canvassing like there's no tomorrow." Beckett assured him.

Castle nodded and paced for a moment. Beckett watched him out of the corner of her eye. That look of worry still hadn't left his face. She was beginning to worry that it would be stuck there permanently.

"Castle…"

He turned, looking at her. Beckett gestured helplessly with her hands, unsure of what to do but knowing that she had to help him, somehow. She stood up and went to him, wrapping her arms around him. After a moment, Castle responded, pulling her flush against him and holding her tight.

"We have to get her back." Castle whispered, bringing one hand up to play with Beckett's hair.

"We will." Beckett assured him, nuzzling his neck gently. "We'll get her back and make them pay."

They stood there like that for a while, oblivious to the march of time, until Castle murmured something.

"Hmm, what?" Beckett pulled her mind out of the gutter and tried to listen to what he was saying.

"It's snowing." Castle repeated, and she felt him nod towards the large window.

Beckett smiled. She loved the snow. But then snow reminded her of Christmas, which reminded her of family, which reminded her of Alexis…

Castle must have been thinking the same thing because she felt his chest contract, as if he was holding something in… like a sob.

It was like a trance came over Beckett, because she pulled away slightly, just enough to cup Castle's face with her hands and pull him to her, kissing him softly. After a moment – or perhaps an eternity, her sense of time was going haywire – she pulled back. The look on Castle's face was one of such shock and love that she nearly cried.

"We're going to fix this." Beckett promised him. "We're going to find her. We'll – you'll be a family again."

Castle nodded, and Beckett marveled at his inability to speak. If she'd known this was all it took to shut him up, she would have done it long ago. If he'd noticed Beckett's slip, he had the tact not to mention it.

To be honest, she was sure where the slip had come from. She'd never really thought about a family, about a husband or kids, because it was too painful. But now… now… she'd been thinking about it, about having those kids, and that husband. And when she did, the kids all had very familiar striking blue eyes.

Now it appeared that she already thought of Castle, and Alexis, as family. Okay, so Castle wasn't that much of a shock – she could admit, at least to herself, that she was deeply in love with him. And if that thought wasn't scary enough, she suspected that she loved Alexis, too, loved her more than a sweet girl, or as a friend; but as a daughter.

"Beckett…" Castle seemed to have recovered enough to both speak and form coherent thought. "Did you just…"

"Yes." Beckett said firmly. She didn't want him thinking this was a mistake, or a dream, or that she was only doing this to comfort him. She was, but she was also doing it because she'd wanted to for years, and because she loved him. "And before you say a word, I'm not going to regret it."

Castle looked relieved, which left her off-guard for when he pulled her back in and kissed her again, his mouth devouring hers with a hunger that lit a fire ablaze in her belly. They battled, first one then the other controlling the kiss, exploring each other with a possessive ferocity that defied any fantasy she'd ever had of them together.

When the need to breathe finally made itself known, even though Beckett was fairly certain that it was more of a luxury than an actual need, they broke apart. She was breathing hard, and she knew that her cheeks were just as flushed as Castle's were. His hair was sticking up at odd angles from when she'd run her fingers through it.

Before any of them could say anything or do more than just stare at each other, Beckett's phone rang. Tearing her gaze away from Castle, she picked it up and answered.

"Beckett." She said automatically. Castle was still staring at her with a look of admiration, adoration, and lust. Beckett tried to ignore him and listen to the person on the other end of the phone.

"Uh-huh… okay, we're on our way. Thanks Stewart – I owe you one." Beckett hung up and turned to Castle. "We've got a location."

His face transformed, all other thoughts wiped away as a mixture of fear and fury warred for dominance on his face. Beckett felt the same way; they were going in, they were going to get her. She could only pray that they weren't too late.

As she moved to get her things, checking to make sure that her gun was in its holster at her hip, Castle grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him.

"We're not finished with that." His voice was deeper than usual, and Beckett had to smile.

"Let's go get Alexis." Beckett said, turning so he wouldn't see how wide her grin was.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Alexis was finding it near-impossible to think of anything other than Emmett. How his skin had felt, feverish with arousal and deceptively smooth beneath her hands. How he'd tasted, his unique flavor. How his mouth had felt, how his tongue had invaded her and driven her wild. How his hands, able to paint or work a spray can, had turned out to be very talented in other areas as well. The color of his eyes; the feel of his hair; the sound of his voice; every passing moment provided her with a new thing to look at, to consume her thoughts.

But, knowing that it was far from wise to be thinking about Emmett like that right now, Alexis had settled for finding a distraction. After flitting from subject to subject (every train of thought inevitably led back to him), she'd found herself thinking about Beckett.

Why was she angry with her? Why did Alexis feel just as abandoned by Beckett as her father had? She didn't have a right to feel that way… did she?

Alexis thought back on all the times she'd spent with Beckett. She'd always felt happy when Beckett was around… happy and safe. She'd gone to Beckett with things that she couldn't go to anyone else with. She trusted Beckett. She loved…

No.

No, she didn't. She couldn't.

Did she love Beckett?

Alexis tried to be objective, examining the thing from all sides, the way she would a painting at a museum or a complicated math problem or a debate subject. Looking at every angle, trying to find the different spots, the angles, looking for something that would make it all click for her.

But this wasn't a painting, or a geometry equation, or a debate over immigration. This was Beckett. Intelligent, caring, tough, beautiful, amazing Beckett, the person that Alexis admired most in the world (apologies to Susan B. Anthony, Mother Teresa and Agatha Christie). Alexis had felt close to Beckett.

And then it was all taken away when Beckett vanished for four months.

Did she not get it? Did she not see the people that she was hurting? Not just her dad, although that was obvious, but the people at the precinct, too. Alexis had been hurt, and she hadn't even realized it. She'd thought her anger at Beckett was only the anger at two people in love who wouldn't admit it, but now she realized she was angry at a mother who'd abandoned her child.

Alexis didn't have a mother. Meredith was no mother – she was a frivolous, shallow woman that Alexis visited once or twice because she could be fun in minute doses. Gina had never really worked out, although Alexis had to give her credit for trying. But Beckett… apparently, Beckett had taken that spot in Alexis' heart and neither of them had even realized it.

Mentor, friend, support, safe place… mother.

Every single word applied to Beckett in Alexis' mind.

So there it was. Beckett was a mother to Alexis. Of course, you don't get the perfect grades in one of the best schools in the world without learning something, and Alexis knew that this would take time. They wouldn't just be buddy-buddy all of a sudden. But admitting it was a start. The moment she got out of this kidnapping mess, she was scheduling a lunch date with Beckett, hitting up a museum with her, maybe do some shopping. First thing, she was dealing with this.

Well, first thing after she got Emmett alone.

And now she was back to Emmett again.

Clearly, she and Beckett would have a lot to talk about on their lunch date, which would be happening come hell or high water or body drops thank you very much.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Alexis…"

No response. She was staring blankly at the wall, still lost in her reverie.

"Shortcake?"

No answer.

"Yo, 5.0!"

Alexis blinked slowly. Was someone talking to her?

"Try another one." Benny suggested.

If Alexis had seen Emmett's grin, she would have been concerned.

"Hey, sexy!"

Alexis whipped around, looking over at Emmett and Benny, who were seated on the mattress. Benny treated both her brother and friend to a confused look, while Alexis glared at the still-grinning Emmett.

"What?" She asked, trying to diffuse the situation before Benny got it into her mind to ask what all the meaningful glances were for.

"I have a plan." Emmett said.

"Actually, I had a plan, but you didn't like it so we changed it." Benny reminded him.

"That's because your plan made next to no sense." Emmett snorted. He turned to Alexis. "Look, we have to get out of here. Next time the two guys come in with food, I say we tackle them."

Alexis was alarmed. "What? Are you insane? We'll be killed."

Emmett shook his head. "No, we won't. See, if one of us hides behind the door, that person can jump on the guy with the gun and catch him by surprise. The short one doesn't have a gun, making it easier. If we get both of them, we'll know we have two down, which is better than having one down and knowing there's at least one more out there."

"This is five different kinds of stupid." Alexis warned him.

"I think it's the only chance we have. Before long, if our parents haven't paid the ransom or the police haven't found us, they're going to start hurting us. And I'm not going to let those fuckers touch either one of you girls." Emmett said, his voice dipping into a growl at the last part.

"Down, boy; don't be manly and impulsive." Benny quipped.

Emmett looked up at the light coming through the slats. "They should be coming down soon to give us breakfast."

"I really hope it's from that place they went to yesterday. Those croissants were to die for!" Benny cleared her throat when she saw Alexis and Emmett staring at her. "Um, I mean, we'll need something to eat for energy while we run for our lives, right? Good carbs and all that?"

Alexis had to laugh. It was clear that, short of sewing her mouth shut, nothing would keep Benny from saying exactly what was on her mind.

Okay! That's all for now, folks! I'll hopefully be posting another chapter shortly. Only one or two more chapters to go before the end!

Oh, and be sure to tell me how you liked the sex scene. I always get so nervous that I'm going to make it sound totally ridiculous and all. Leave a review by clicking on that beautiful blue link below. Thanks!