Author's Note: So, when I first wrote this chapter, Kate abruptly had a random epiphany. I've been stuck in this story because it just wasn't believable; it wasn't true to the characters (though I'm not sure this is much better!). I'm going through and rewriting the parts that seem awkward to me and trying to make the story better. So, no epiphany here, but she is getting used to living with Rick and adjusting to the idea of him in her life. New stuff mixed with the old from here on out, though I'll be keeping the dinner scenes, they'll just come later. I'll let you know what's new and what's old so you can skip it if you like.
The next night, there was a light tap on Kate's bedroom door, and knowing the sound of that particular tap now, Kate said, "Come in, Alexis."
The teen entered, looking uncomfortable. "I just wanted to apologize," she began.
"For what?" Kate said, confused though immediately on alert.
"I can't believe I passed out on you like that. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
Kate smiled, relieved. "If I were uncomfortable, I would have moved," she assured the girl.
Alexis smiled back and continued, "My dad usually doesn't leave me alone like that, and I thought I'd be okay, but I guess I'm used to having company, like, all the time. Thank you for spending time with me."
"I actually had a lot of fun, too," Kate assured.
"I'm glad," Alexis practically beamed. "So, I also wanted to ask, did you want to watch a movie with me again tonight?"
"Sure," Kate said instantly, honestly pleased to have another night with the teen.
"Do you want to pick the movie this time?"
"I liked the one last night. You actually have really good taste in movies. I'll let you pick again."
Alexis smiled, then skipped out of the room. As she was closing the door behind her, Kate heard her yell down the stairs, "Dad, Kate said I get to pick the movie tonight, so there!"
Kate froze. The way Alexis had invited her to watch the movie, Kate had assumed it would just be the two of them. Kate would much prefer it were just the two of them.
She took several minutes preparing before heading down the stairs, trying to come up with plausible excuses why she needed to back out of movie night, but when she finally stepped downstairs, Alexis skipped over to her, smiling happily, and wrapped her arms around Kate's arm, leading Kate into the sitting area.
"Dad and I couldn't agree, so we're gonna watch two movies," Alexis said, as she sat Kate on one end of the couch, herself in the middle, and her dad on the other end. "We're watching The Spirit first, then Dad wants to watch Serenity," she said, using a teasingly annoyed tone for the last movie.
Kate didn't mind having the teen inches from her side, she didn't even mind when the girl grabbed the popcorn bowl, and leaned against Kate's shoulder so they could share. What she minded was the man on the other side of Alexis, sharing popcorn with them, and making the scene feel much too domestic.
Kate squirmed until half way through the movie, still trying to think up excuses of why she needed to leave. And though she was obviously distracted, Rick and Alexis asked her questions throughout the movie, trying to include her in their conversation. Her answers were short, though, her mind on her excuses.
She thought she had come up with a really good one, so she finally turned to watch the father-daughter pair as they watched the movie, waiting for an opportune time to interject. But they never stopped talking. They commented on the graphics, the actors, and the acting. She hadn't really been listening up till now, but focusing on their conversation, she realized they were just like any loving family, their banter teasing, but love underlying every thing they said. And they were still working to include Kate, even though she had fought them on it.
Kate noticed as Castle gave his daughter a look and nodded his head in Kate's direction. Kate frowned in suspicion, but Alexis turned to face her and asked, "What do you think, Kate?" The older woman tipped her head in question, but before she could ask, Alexis added, "does Cap'n Mal look anything like Dad? I don't think so, but he swears they could be twins."
Kate frowned at Castle for a moment, then at the TV. Before either could conclude that she wasn't going to answer, but just long enough that they started to doubt, Kate turned back to smile at Castle and let out an un-lady-like snort. "Cap'n Mal is a sexy space cowboy. The most exciting thing your dad does is shadow a lady cop and hold her purse when she needs to take down a murderer."
Castle looked affronted, but when his daughter laughed and even conceded, "True!" he looked downright insulted.
When the women stopped laughing at him, Castle said, "I didn't want to play this card, but you two forced my hand." He pointed a finger at Kate and accused, "I saved your life. Twice!"
Kate rolled her eyes and denied, "My bathtub saved my life."
"I used my own body to knock down your door and get to you through fire and raining explosion debris." Kate opened her mouth to deny again but Rick spoke over her. "And! Most impressive of all- knowing me as well as you both do- I didn't even peek when I noticed you were naked."
Both women finally looked sufficiently impressed, though Kate was also a little embarrassed, if her bright blush was anything to judge by.
"Dad!" Alexis cried, "You never told me any of this!"
Castle also looked a little embarrassed now, too. "I brag about a lot of things, but not… not this." He looked up at Kate. "I'm just glad you're safe, Kate." He smiled impishly, "Though I was rather impressive, wasn't I?"
Kate smiled that smile Rick's youthful charm always managed to wring from her, the one she always tried to fight, but couldn't completely suppress. It was the first time she had smiled at him in weeks, even if she did shake her head, too, and Rick was elated. He was also distracted enough that he didn't see the pillow she held until it was flying toward his head. Castle was glad he hadn't totally given up on her and resolved all over again to include Kate in his family- as long as she lived with them- as often as he could.
And Kate began to think. As they all turned back to the movie, Kate looked back over her recent behavior and was ashamed to say that even to herself, she looked like a spoiled brat. Rick and Alexis had opened their home to her. They had done everything they could to include her in their family and when she had rejected them, they still continued to ensure she was at least comfortable. I am a spoiled brat, she concluded.
"Not anymore," Kate muttered to herself, along with a silent promise to at least try to repay the kindness her hosts had never ceased to show her.
"What did you say, Kate?" Alexis asked.
She hadn't meant to speak aloud, but she quickly thought of something to say. "Now that you mention it, Mal does look a little like Castle. Although Mal's eyes are an incredible blue."
"My eyes are bluer than that guy's!" Castle exclaimed.
Both women laughed at him, Alexis recognizing the setup for what it was: Kate was teasing her dad again. The teen smiled happily at the realization, relieved that Kate finally seemed to be relaxing. Alexis just wanted this woman she admired so much to be comfortable and maybe even happy while she was stuck at her home. Even though she knew Kate didn't really want to be there.
And Kate watched her hosts in turn. She noticed the happy- even relieved- smiled on Alexis's face and felt guilty as she realized how her behavior had obviously been affecting the girl.
Kate fully joined the conversation then, her excuse to leave totally forgotten. When they started the second movie, the Castles began debating the skills of the actors on screen.
"I think that Sand Seraf is the best actress in the movie," Castle was saying.
Alexis gasped. "No way, she's totally lame. Morgenstern is way better than her."
Kate jumped in at that point. "Morgenstern is definitely the best actor in the entire movie."
"I don't know," he teased. "I kind of like Eva Mendes."
"Oh, come on, Dad," Alexis said, her eyes never leaving the screen. "I agree with Kate. Morgenstern is the coolest. Don't you think she kind of looks like Kate?"
"You got a pretty smart daughter there, Castle," Kate replied, really smiling at him for the first time in forever. "You should really listen to her more often."
Author's note Part II: I haven't seen The Spirit, though I've seen clips, so I have no idea who should get credit for 'best actor' in that particular movie. I guessed based on the fact that Stana Katic is obviously our favorite actress here. I did see Serenity, though and I thought it was great! And I agree with Castle here, Mal was the best part of the movie.