Ok so…since I already have all of this written I might as well post it right? I also thought I should post it soon because maybe it would make Alexis' reaction make more sense…and clear it up a little. I don't really think Meredith would be this mean…and I know Alexis probably wouldn't overreact like that…but for the purpose of my story…it works. The more I thought about it…the more I realized that her reaction probably was a bit extreme…but I had fun with it. I am, however, very grateful for the review that made me think about it…because you were right and it actually caused me to make a few changes to this chapter that tied things in better and I feel like it makes much more sense now (even though it still may be a little unrealistic). And thank you for the honesty—I love being able to improve through nice constructive thoughts! Keep them coming

Steph

When Kate finally got to the loft she heard Rick and Alexis talking upstairs. She followed the voices and stood outside the door to Alexis' room. She could hear Alexis screaming. "No dad! I'm not talking to her! I'm never talking to her again!"

"Great…" Kate mumbled to herself. She walked back downstairs. Hopefully Rick would be able to get through to her. She knew Alexis would probably calm down and listen to her eventually but she was so furious with Meredith. She saw Rick's phone on the couch and without a second thought she picked it up and scrolled through his contacts until she found Meredith's number.

She paced the living room until Meredith finally picked up, "Rick I told you…"

"No Meredith," Kate interrupted, "It's Kate Beckett."

"Oh, Detective. What can I do for you?"

"What can you do for me? What did you say to Alexis?"

"My conversation with my daughter is none of your business."

"Meredith, what did you say to her? Did you tell her I was just using her?"

"Well…not in those exact words but…come on Detective. We both know what you are doing...you're trying to get to Rick…"

"So that's what you told her?! That I'm just trying to get to Rick?"

"Yes, I told her the truth. She denied it because she didn't want to hear it…but she needed to know. The longer you pretend, the more you are going to hurt her."

"I am NOT pretending. And I am not the one hurting Alexis! You are!"

"You're the one acting like you care."

"You are so wrong Meredith. I DO care about Alexis. I love her, and that has nothing to do with Rick."

"Oh please Kate…"

At this point Rick and Alexis were coming down the stairs, Rick having finally convinced Alexis to talk to Kate. When they heard Kate talking they stood there listening. Kate's back was facing the stairs and she was too upset to notice them.

"Meredith…"

"No Kate. I know what you're doing….and it's smart."

"How dare you!? I love that girl. I care about her and I am there for her—which is more than I can say for you!"

"Why you little…"

"Before you finish that sentence Meredith let me ask you a few questions. Who was the one out with Alexis yesterday cheering her up because you ditched her…AGAIN? Who was the one helping Alexis get ready for her date last night? Who was the one holding her last night when she was upset because she doesn't know what was wrong with her and why her own mother doesn't love her."

"You are out of line Detective!"

"No YOU are out of line Meredith. And I don't ever want to hear that you told Alexis anything like this again. If you want to hurt your daughter I, unfortunately, can't stop you but I'll be damned if I let you tell her I don't care about her!"

"You really stick to your guns. Why don't you just sleep with him already."

"Because I'm not trying to sleep with him! He's my best friend and that girl is the most amazing kid and if you can't get that through your head that's your problem."

"Oh please…just get it over with Kate."

"Get it over with!? Wow…"

On the stairs, Rick had had enough. "That's it." He said as he stepped forward and grabbed the phone from Kate, startling her. "Meredith I do not want to hear from you. Do not call until I tell you to. And don't you EVER imply Kate is something for me to just get over." He hung up the phone before she could respond and Kate looked at him shocked. The both turned to Alexis to see the girl walking to the kitchen.

Kate ran a frustrated hand through her hair, "How much of that did you hear."

"Enough. I'm so sorry."

Kate shook her head, "Wasn't your fault. I just…I just wish Alexis would talk to me. She told me she never wanted to see me again." She finished in a whisper.

"I talked to her Kate, and she does want to talk to you. She's just upset."

"I know…"

"But after what she just heard…"

Kate let out a sad chuckle, "Maybe she'll believe me now."

Rick took her hands, "She always believed you. She knew Meredith is full of crap. It's just…it was still said. And…after what she said to you…she's afraid you'll hate her."

"I could never hate her Castle."

He smiled, "I know that. And you know that. But I think," he said, gesturing to the kitchen, "there's someone who could use some reassurance."

"I don't know what I could do Rick…"

"You don't have to do anything—just be you."

Kate smiled, "Ok."

When she walked in to the kitchen she saw Alexis scrubbing the dishes from breakfast. She walked up to her but Alexis kept her gaze on the pan she was washing. "Alexis? Hey…Alexis?" Kate said softly, putting a hand on her arm. Alexis just looked the other way and started scrubbing harder, taking her hurt and confusion out on the pan, and Kate could tell she was fighting tears, "You know it's ok right?" Alexis just shook her head as tears started falling. She threw the sponge in the sink and wiped her hands on the dishtowel beside the sink, then gripped the counter. "It's ok" Alexis turned and wrapped her arms around Kate, who held her tightly. "It's ok sweetie, it's ok." she soothed as she ran a hand through her hair. "

"I'm so sorry Kate. I am so so sorry. Please don't hate me."

"Alexis," she said pulling back to look at the girl. She gripped her shoulders tight, "I could NEVER hate you. Never. I love you. Nothing is gonna change that."

"So…so even if you start dating dad…"

"It's not true Alexis. I promise you it's not true. I don't know what I can do to prove it to you but please trust me. It's not true. I'm not gonna leave…I'm not just trying to get to your father. I love you, and that has nothing to do with your dad. No matter what happens or doesn't happen between your father and , I will love you."

Alexis took a deep breath considering her. "She…she said you probably didn't even like me."

"What?"
"My, my mom," she sniffled, "When I told her she was wrong and that you loved me for me, she told me you probably didn't even like me."

"Oh Alexis."

Alexis continued with silent tears running down her face, "She said I was naïve if I believe you really cared about me because why else would you spend time with me if it wasn't to get to dad. She said no one would do that."

"No Alexis that's not…that is so wrong. You know that right?"

Alexis shook her head, "Yeah, I know….and I knew. I knew it wasn't true. I knew it but I still…I don't know. I just couldn't believe she was saying that and I didn't know what to think and I just…I just got mad and upset and I…instead of just talking to you and telling you want she said I just kind of overacted… I'm sorry Kate."

"Honey, you have nothing to be sorry about. Just…just don't forget how much I love you okay? Don't ever doubt that."

Alexis smiled at Kate, "I won't anymore."

"Good," Kate said, hugging her close again. When she pulled back she squeezed Alexis' shoulders, "Now…as your father is no doubt hovering outside the door, why don't we put him out of his misery."

Alexis laughed, "Dad, what did I tell you about eavesdropping," she said loudly so he was sure to hear.

"Castle entered shyly, "Oh…come on Lex cut me a break." He said walking over to her and pulling her into a tight hug, "You ok?"

"I am now." Alexis smiled.

"I love you pumpkin. I'm so sorry."

Alexis pulled back and looked at her dad, "I love you too, dad. And it's ok. Really. I'm ok now." She said, looking at Kate, who smiled back at her.

"Good. So, how about I take my two favorite girls out for lunch, then we can grab some ice cream. I think we've all earned it."

"Sounds great dad. You can come, right Kate?" Alexis asked, looking hopefully over at Kate.

"Wouldn't miss it," Kate smiled.

Alexis smiled back, "Awesome. Ok let me go grab my shoes and throw my hair up real quick. Be right back," she said and then ran up the stairs enthusiastically.

Rick shook his head, "You never cease to amaze me."

"Wha…what?"

"One minute she's sobbing and one talk with you and she's skipping up the stairs. You…you're amazing Kate."

"Well…" she said jokingly, "the word 'extraordinary' has been used."

Castle laughed and wrapped her in a hug, "You are extraordinary." He whispered in her ear. "And thank you."

"You have nothing to thank me for Rick."

He hugged her tighter, "Extraordinary." He whispered again.

Kate felt the butterflies in her stomach let loose at his words but before she could respond they heard Alexis bounding down the stairs. All for the best, she thought. She didn't know how she was going to respond with the lump in her throat.

They went to their favorite pizzeria and then got some frozen yogurt. Afterward Alexis announced that she really wanted to go to the zoo, so on a whim, they decided why not and spent the afternoon there. When the trio walked through the door that evening at 6:30 they were all tired out from the day.

"I am beat," Alexis exclaimed, "I am so glad we don't have school tomorrow! Thank God for teacher inservice days." Kate and Rick both laughed. "Do you think we could order in Chinese for dinner dad?"

"Sure pumpkin, that sounds great."

"Ok cool. I'm gonna get some comfortable clothes on—maybe we could watch a movie after dinner."

Alexis happily walked up to her room and when Castle heard her door close he turned to Kate, "Stay for dinner and a movie?"

"Thanks Castle but I really should go home and…"

"Kate, please. I know for a fact we don't have any cases at the moment. You're on call and only have to go into the precinct tomorrow if we get a case." He knew the only reason she had been ok all day was because she had been too worried about Alexis to think about her dad. He also knew as soon as she got home and was alone it would hit her, and he didn't want her to leave before they had a chance to really talk about it. "So please, stay."

"Rick, I need to get home."

"Kate you are going to have to talk to me eventually. We have to talk about this eventually."

"No we don't," she said grabbing her keys from the counter, "We don't have to talk about it. I don't want to talk about it. I…I can't talk about it. I…"

When she started getting upset Castle went to her and put a hand on her shoulder, "Okay...hey its ok. We don't have to talk about it right now." Kate breathed a sigh of relief, "But Kate, you asked me to not let you run, and I'm not. I told you I wasn't going anywhere and I'm not. I'm not letting you push me away. Just please…stay for dinner…"

Alexis heard 'stay for dinner' as she was coming down the stairs, "Kate's staying for dinner? Awesome!" she said excitedly, "I'll go call in the Chinese." Alexis grabbed the phone and went to the kitchen to order the food.

Kate glared at Rick, "Oh that is playing dirty Castle." Now she had to stay.

He chuckled, "Hey she did that to you on her own." He saw the hesitancy in her eyes. "I'm keeping my promise Kate, I'm not letting you run."

Kate didn't know what to say so she just nodded.

Turns out Alexis ordered enough food for about 10 people and they soon found themselves sitting in front on a spread of egg rolls and lo mien and garlic chicken, along with numerous other dishes. After dinner they decided on watching enchanted, wanting something light and funny after the events of the last few days. By the end of the movie Alexis was falling asleep, her head resting in Kate's lap and her feet over her dads lap. She sat up and yawned, "I'm beat, I'm gonna go to bed. Night Kate," she said, giving the detective a hug, "thanks for staying," she whispered in her ear.

Kate squeezed her tight, "I love you honey. Sleep tight."

"Love you too," she smiled and gave her dad a hug, "Night dad, Love you."

"Love you too Lex. Sweet dreams."

Once Alexis was upstairs he turned to Kate, "Want to watch another movie?"

Kate bit her bottom lip. She really shouldn't, but she didn't want to go home—if she went home she would be along. She would be alone to think about her dad and her…she would have Rick…and the distraction of a movie… "On one condition…"

Rick sighed, knowing what was coming, "Tonight we just watch a move. We will talk. We will." He added again when she lightly shook her head, "But tonight I promise, just a movie."

Kate gave him a light smile, "Then okay."

He smiled back, "You grab the pillows and I'll get the blankets?"

"Sounds good."

5 minutes later they had reclined the couch and were settled down with lots of pillows and blankets. For the first 15 minutes Kate laughed and mocked the first Star Wars with him. After 20 minutes he noticed she got quiet. After 30 minutes he felt her lean against him. Slowly looking down he noticed she was fast asleep. He pulled the blankets up a little more to cover her. After 40 minutes he was asleep too.

So…does that help a little bit? I hope everything makes a little more sense and that you all enjoyed this chapter—some sweet Caskett…can't go wrong!