I don't own Castle - ABC Studios and Andrew Marlowe do. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while to play.

I am not making any money from this; it's just to freeshare with my ff friends.

AN: The second snapshot requested by CBurns1995 - Lanie and Alexis talk, the day after the dinner at the Castle loft:

"Well, frankly, I prefer strip because even when you lose, you win."

Martha Rodgers: Ghosts

The coffee date

September 2016

...

After seeing Ryan off to work, nearly making him late with lingering kisses and loving touches, Alexis started to collect her things together to go home to the loft in order to prepare for her job interview that afternoon. Her cell rang just as she was going to the door to leave his apartment and she paused in the doorway to answer it.

After her appointment had been rescheduled to the following week, she debated what to do. She could stay and wait for him or still go home and call him later as they had planned. Or… she could fly out to Los Angeles that day and find out what her mother wanted sooner rather than later. Now that she was starting a relationship with Kevin, she wanted to get back to him as soon as possible.

As she was practically passing the Twelfth on her way home to the loft to pack and book a flight, she decided to drop in and let him know what was happening, rather than call. Not knowing when she would see him next, she wanted an opportunity to say goodbye.

…

Her goodbye had been all too brief as Kevin was called out onto a case just after she arrived. The elevator being full, she didn't descend with the partners and waited for the next car. As she waited she was preoccupied staring at the door key Kevin had placed into her hand. His words and the sentiment behind them had brought a lump to her throat, and she was amazed how much trust and commitment he had already given her. So great was her preoccupation she didn't even register the person behind her until she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around.

"Lanie!"

"Hey girl. What are you doing here? I didn't think your dad would be in today with Kate in court."

"I came to see Ke… Detective Ryan."

"Oh.. yeah.. " Lanie said slowly, with a smirk. "The big date was yesterday?... The day before?..."

"The day before. But we've kinda been together ever since."

Lanie raised her eyebrows and gazed at her with pursed lips.

"Oh, do tell? Let's hit the coffee shop across the road. I've time for coffee."

"Well I have to get home to pa…"

"Oh no, Girl. You cannot drop a tidbit like that and then run away. I need details! Just half an hour. You can spare that surely."

"Well, OK, but only that. I really have to get home. I'm flying out to LA to see my mom."

"S'ok. It won't be longer. I have to get back downstairs myself."

…

Settled in the coffee shop, coincidentally in the same booth Alexis had sat in with Kevin for their lunch, Lanie took a sip of her coffee and gazed at Alexis expectantly.

"So! A couple of days with Ryan and already you're running home to mommy. But isn't LA a little excessive?" Alexis burst out laughing.

"That's cruel, Lanie. I'm going to miss him terribly. I'm going to LA because my mother has demanded my presence. She's having some kind of surgery apparently. Needs me to hold her hand."

"Now that is cruel, girl. Not like the sweet Alexis I know. It might be something serious."

"No, it's not. Like I told Kevin, my mother is a drama queen, and if it was serious we would all know about it. And Dad agrees with me."

"OK then. Now tell me about you and the delectable Kevin Ryan. Still have that crush going, do we?"

"Well it was a crush all those years ago. One I moved on from. But I think there were real feelings underlying it because as soon as I spent time with him, he was all I could think about. It's only two days and terribly fast I know, but I really think we have a shot here."

Lanie tilted her head and gazed softly at her. "That fast? How can you know so quickly?"

"I just do… NO… We just do."

"And what does your dad think? Do you know? Have you even seen him since you left for the date?"

"Yes. We have. Both of us. We went for dinner with Dad and Kate and Grams and a friend of hers last night, at the loft. Dad cooked. And he seems to be happy for us. At least he didn't have a problem when I left with Kevin after dinner. He may have expected me home after the date, but he certainly didn't expect it last night."

"And you think Ryan feels the same?"

"Oh yeah. Look what he gave me when I came to tell him about going to LA today." She pulled the key from her purse and showed Lanie, who raised her eyebrows again.

"Well, that does seem pretty serious."

"Yes it does, doesn't it? He told me he was in it for keeps and that what is his is mine now." Alexis blushed and gave her a shy smile. "I love him, Lanie."

Lanie was nodding slowly at her. "Yeah, girl; I think you do."

And then Alexis smirked and said, "Besides he has one hot body and the things he can do in bed are pretty impressive!"

Lanie's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline at that, but she gave an evil smirk back and said, "Oh! Details, girl, I need details." But Alexis had glanced at her watch and was starting to collect her things.

"I can't, Lanie. I really have to go."

"Now that is just borderline torture. You cannot leave me hanging like that!"

"I have to or I won't make a flight. We'll have coffee again when I get back. Just don't tell Kevin."

"I'm gonna hold you to that."

"I know, gotta go." And then she gave a parting shot with an evil smile. "But I hope you realize that I will expect reciprocal information on Esposito."

"Alexis!" Lanie shook her head as she watched her leave. "Mm-hmm. That girl has sure grown up!"

…

A HUGE thank you to Firestar385 for beta reading, Americanizing and generally correcting this work. Any remaining mistakes are mine!

Please let me know what you think. All constructive criticism is welcomed - I haven't written in quite a while and the only way to improve is to take on board other people's comments. I hope you will enjoy the reading journey as much as I am enjoying the writing one.