Author's note: Friday night bonus chapter, coincidentally also set on a Friday night. Enjoy the weekend.

Castle pulled his phone from his pocket and read the message.

On my way. Kx

He blinked. That's a first. She's never signed off before.

Alexis slid a casserole dish filled with lasagne into the oven and then glanced over at him.

"Is that from Detective Beckett?" she asked, her voice casually neutral.

"She's on her way," he replied, watching his daughter's face carefully.

They had spent the last two hours just lounging around the loft and catching up. Alexis had been delighted when he returned earlier than she was expecting, and the girl had pointedly watched the door as he came in, to see if anyone was with him.

Castle hadn't mentioned anything about the events of the last couple of days to his daughter, because truthfully he wasn't sure what to say. He also knew that Beckett was still on slightly shaky ground with her.

He wondered for the tenth time if inviting Beckett over for dinner was a bad idea, but he knew that, if this new aspect of their relationship was going to continue, they had to heal a lot of wounds – and that included with his family.

And I want to just… see, he thought.

A part of him wondered if she would withdraw into herself around his family, and then he wondered what it would mean if she did. It was just a normal family dinner, but he knew that it was also a trial by fire for Beckett.

Even so, he couldn't very well just not see her tonight, after the conversation they'd had earlier at her apartment. Nor did he want to miss dinner with Alexis and his mother again. He'd felt incredibly isolated over the past week or two, mostly by choice, and his emotions had taken a beating. He just wanted to be around his loved ones. He'd deal with anything else that happened as and when it became necessary.

"Is it OK that I invited her over?" he asked, and Alexis's vivid blue eyes locked with his again.

"Of course," she said, with a small shrug. "She's been here plenty of times. She's your work partner."

"I mean is it OK with you," he said, and she looked away for a moment before meeting his gaze again.

"If it's OK with you, it's OK with me," she said, and he raised an eyebrow at her. She sighed.

"Look, it's just… sometimes you seem really unhappy, and usually it's…"

"Because of her?" he prompted, and she tilted her head. "It's not that simple, Alexis. But I do know what you mean."

He walked the few steps to stand in front of her, and drew her into his arms, bending to rest his chin on top of her head.

"I just want you to be happy," she said, and he smiled, pressing a kiss onto the top of her head.

"I know that," he replied. "And I am. I've got you, and grams. You make me happy."

Alexis hugged him fiercely, then pulled back to look up at him. "Does she?"

He sighed, considering his words carefully.

"Sometimes," he said at last. "I think… she wants to."

Alexis huffed slightly, and he tightened his arms around her.

"I think she wants to have her cake and eat it too," she muttered, and he gave a small laugh. "It's not funny, dad."

"I know, I know," he said, dropping a kiss onto her forehead this time. "But things have changed. Maybe. They're maybe changing."

"How?"

He could see the worry in her eyes, and hear it in her voice. He felt a prickle of resentment at the fact that his daughter was feeling this way, but he pushed it aside.

We've both made mistakes, he thought. At some point, we have to move forward.

"We had a talk today," he said. "A big talk. It was about a year overdue, and it's been coming for longer than that, but we talked."

"What did she… well, that's none of my business. But… a good talk?"

He nodded. "I think so."

She searched his face as she processed this new information. After a few moments she leaned her head against his chest once more.

"So what's happening now?" she asked, her voice partly muffled by his freshly-pressed burgundy shirt.

"Now, we're all having dinner together," he said. "And… we'll see."

He paused for a few seconds before continuing.

"Can you give her one more chance? For me?"

Alexis didn't respond, and he gently lifted his hands to her shoulders, pushing her just far enough away to see her face.

"She's had a lot of chances," Alexis said quietly, and he gave a sad smile.

"True," he said, "and this is the last one from me."

Her eyebrows lifted at his statement. "Well… good," she said, unsure how to reply.

"I care about her a lot. More than anybody in a long time."

"She doesn't deserve–"

"Alexis," he said gently, and she sighed deeply.

"I've decided I'm going to try, one more time," he continued. "We talked, and she asked, and that's what I'm going to do. I think things have changed, and you don't know about everything that's happened. But you're the most important person in the world to me, and if you're not on board, then I'll walk away. Nobody will ever come between you and I."

She moved fully into his embrace again, and then shrugged.

"I guess, if it's what you want…" she said, and he smiled at the note of warmth and indulgence in her voice.

"Thank you," he said.

"It's just because I love you, y'know."

As usual, the magnitude of the emotion he felt for his daughter was almost enough to knock him off balance, and he tightened his arms around her.

"I know," he replied, speaking into her red hair. "And I love you too, pumpkin."

She squeezed him one more time before releasing him, and then she folded her arms, appraising him.

"Well, you're looking really nice," she said, with just a hint of a grudging tone. "I'm sure she'll be pleased."

She gave him a smile, showing that the remark wasn't meant sarcastically, and he nodded in gratitude.

"Now I have to do the salad," Alexis said. "Go and get wine. And call grams."

"Already here, darling," Martha said, sweeping elegantly down the staircase and walking over to the kitchen area. "What can I help with?"

Around fifteen minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Castle said, pushing away from the kitchen countertop where he'd just finished slicing some crusty bread. He exchanged a look with Alexis, and the girl smiled at him.

He walked over to the entranceway, glancing briefly in the mirror out of habit, and opened the door.

Beckett stood there, clutching her purse in both hands.

"Hey," she said, a little breathlessly, and he smiled at her.

"Hey. Come on in."

He could see that she was uneasy, and she hovered near the door once she was across the threshold.

"Hi, Detective Beckett," Alexis called across the loft, waving, and Beckett smiled at her.

"Oh, hi Alexis," she replied. "Something smells amazing."

Alexis smiled back, and then returned to what she was doing.

"Take your coat?" Castle asked, and Beckett froze for a moment before laughing nervously.

"Thanks," she said, quickly shrugging off her jacket which Castle lifted from her shoulders and hung on the coat rack just inside the door.

She was wearing brand new navy slacks, low heels and a soft pink silk blouse, with a delicate ruched detail across the chest. It was a very feminine look for her, and his eyes wandered over her in appreciation.

"Told you it'd be fine," he said quietly, and she looked up at him and nodded quickly. After a moment, her expression softened.

"I missed you," she said, then her cheeks flushed.

"Been a whole… two and a half hours," he said, with the barest hint of a grin.

She shrugged, unknowingly imitating Alexis's recent gesture, and his grin became more pronounced.

His gaze moved down to her lips, and she felt her pulse quicken, but then he met her eyes again.

"Let's get you a drink," he said, gesturing towards the kitchen, and they walked across the loft together.

Martha appeared from the direction of his office, holding a couple of small candles, and smiled at her.

"Good evening, Katherine," she said courteously, and Beckett smiled at her.

"Hello, Martha. It's good to see you."

"Likewise, dear. Why don't you help me with these?"

Beckett glanced quickly at Castle, who nodded, then she quickly walked across to Martha, taking one of the candles from her hand.

"It's been some time since we've all eaten together," Martha said. "No harm in adding some ambience."

Castle busied himself with pouring wine while the two women lit the candles and suitably positioned them on the dining table.

Alexis brushed past him just as he was pouring the last glass, and he heard her whisper "She looks a little nervous. That's new."

"Wants to make a good impression," he replied, matching her tone. "Go easy."

Alexis rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, and he smirked.

"Drinks, anyone?" he said, at a normal volume, and Martha and Beckett came over to join the two of them, each taking a glass. Beckett stood right beside him, her arm in contact with his, and he saw Alexis noticing the proximity.

"To good food and good friends, and enough alcohol to enjoy either one in the absence of the other," Martha announced theatrically, and Beckett laughed.

They all clinked their glasses against each other's, then took a sip. Castle felt Beckett relax slightly against him.

The oven timer buzzed loudly, and Beckett flinched, barely avoiding spilling her wine. Her other hand instinctively twitched towards his, and he caught it.

Martha placed her hand over her chest and shook her head. "I do hate the noise of that thing," she said. "I can't tell you how many times it's startled me too, dear."

Beckett smiled gratefully, as Alexis and other woman busied themselves starting to serve dinner.

"If you two could set the table, we can sit down in just a few minutes," Martha said.

Beckett squeezed his fingers and then released his hand, and walked over to the cutlery drawer.

"Dinner was amazing, Alexis – thank you," Beckett said, and the girl smiled at her.

"You're welcome," Alexis replied.

They were all sitting in the living room area now, and the dishwasher was quietly churning away in the background. The TV was on, showing an episode of Temptation Lane with the volume low.

Martha sat at one end of the large, L-shaped leather couch, with Alexis beside her near the centre. Castle and Beckett sat side by side on the other section, and four varyingly depleted wine glasses stood on the coffee table.

"Dessert in a little while, if anyone's interested," Castle said, and Beckett glanced at him. "Or in a… longer… while?" he offered, and she grinned.

"Don't let me stop you," she said. "I might just stick with the wine. I'm watching my figure."

"Me too," he quipped immediately, and he was surprised and amused to see that she blushed and looked down at her wine glass.

"It's tiramisu…" he said, taunting her, and she looked up at him again with one raised eyebrow.

"Mmm," she replied. "Well… maybe. If other people are."

"I definitely am," Alexis said, and Castle grinned across at his daughter.

"I've taught you well," he said.

"OK, you talked me into it. In a while," Beckett said, and nodded.

"Deal," Castle replied.

She looked at him for a long moment, unaware that Alexis was watching the two of them, then she toed off her heels and curled her feet up underneath her, taking the opportunity to lean into him. After a brief moment, she laid a hand on his thigh.

He half-turned his head to look at her, and she smiled softly up at him. They didn't break eye contact for several seconds.

Feels right, he thought.

He lifted his hand across to cover hers, and their fingers interlaced. He gave her a tight-lipped smile, then glanced briefly at his daughter before returning his gaze to the TV.

A moment later, he felt Beckett's head come to rest against his shoulder.