A/N: hey guys SO sorry for the long delay on this. Hope you like it :)

"Since when does that bother you," Beckett replied teasingly. He had broached the subject of something serious and she had taken it as a reason to laugh at him. Not that he blamed her he struggled to remain serious most of the time. "You are always doing something stupid!"

"This time, it involves Alexis," he confessed.

She had his attention.

"Go ahead…" she urged.

"I caught Alexis crying, she'd been in her room, and when I asked her what was wrong she didn't say. It made me crazy… not because she had a secret, but because I couldn't help her. I didn't know what it was, and she wouldn't tell me."

"Kids get like that, it's the nature of growing up," she assured him.

"I know," he nodded running a hand through his hair. "But when she was out of the house, I went into her room. I didn't even know what the hell I was looking for, except some evidence of why she was so depressed."

"You ransacked her room?" Beckett snapped. "CASTLE! It's an invasion of her privacy. No matter what she does or doesn't tell you, the LAST thing you do is go through her personal property. It's a reason NOT to trust you."

"I know," he looked at his feet as the shame washed over his face. "I felt like a real jerk…"

"You ARE a real jerk," she insisted.

Castle nodded. "The thing is… I found something."

"I don't want to know!" she held out her hand as a defense. "I want NO part in this, Castle. I like Alexis and she seems to trust me, I don't want her finding out I knew things that she didn't want to share. Keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear it," she turned to walk away, but he seized her arm. He was desperate. His baby girl was pregnant and he needed help. He couldn't talk to his mother. Not about this, and none of his one-night-stands would be of any use. His ex-wife, Meredith would hit the roof and lose perspective before fleeing the country to distance herself from the issue.

Castle had no one else.

"Let go of me," she ordered.

"PLEASE help," he was close to a break down and she could see that in his eyes.

She sighed heavily, weighing up the options. Her loyalties landed with Castle. "Alright, Castle… what did you find?"

"A pregnancy test… it was positive."

The look on Beckett's face was shock horror. No one would have seen this coming no one would have fathomed the situation to be as bad as this, no where Alexis Castle was concerned. She was a good kid. Straight A, smart, mature, she made the right decisions. She was the adopted sister of RORY GILMORE before she'd met Logan.

"Are you sure…" she choked.

"Yes," he nodded.

"But-"

"I found the test hidden in her trash can. I don't- I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. She was always the adult, she looked after me… what do I- what do I do, Beckett?" he wanted someone to tell him, he needed someone to tell him. This was a situation he didn't know how to handle.

"Calm down, for a start," she urged. She took a breath, pondering over the choices in her head. He waited. "You need to talk to her, be honest, tell her what you did and tell her what you found."

"She'll hate me…" he looked worried about that.

"No, she won't," Beckett insisted. "She'll be mad and yell and curse and run out the door, but when she calms down she will be okay."

"But what-"

"Before she runs, you need to tell her that she has your support, whether she keeps the baby or not, she needs to know that you are there for her, and as long as she knows that, she will be okay."

Castle nodded. It sounded like a hell of plan, but one that actually just might work.

"Take the rest of the day off…" she suggested. "I can hold it here. Talk to Alexis."

"Thanks Kate… Detective Beckett," he corrected.

Beckett nodded.

Castle dragged his feet out of the precinct and headed home.

Like I said, sorry for the delay. Next chapter coming soon… if you review and let me know you want it of course :)