Hi everyone? How are you all dealing without Castle? I'm reading your fics and loving that you're reading mine.

Here's the next chapter. Some Kate/Rick, but mostly Kate/Alexis. Enjoy!

Chapter 25 – Share you with me

"Alexis!" Kate looked at the girl in surprise, but she pulled open the door, inviting the girl in.

"Hi Kate," Alexis said, walking past her with a confidence she didn't feel. She stepped into the apartment as Kate closed the door behind them. Alexis glanced around the room. On the counter, to her left were three bouquets—two in vases and one propped in an ornate looking beer stein. At her feet was a large lilac bush and, on the coffee table, was a big, beautiful arrangement.

Alexis suddenly worried she was interrupting something. She hadn't given any thought to the fact that Kate might have company. But it didn't seem like anyone else was there.

"It's not your birthday," Alexis said. Kate wondered at the statement—it wasn't a question, and Alexis didn't even sound like she was wondering about the flowers. She sounded oddly…flat.

"No, no it's not." She said walking past Alexis with an uneven smile, pointing at the flowers as she spoke. "Lanie. Friend slash apology. Josh. My dad. Probably also half apology. Your dad." Kate turned to the other two. "Your dad. And your dad."

Alexis simply nodded. She glanced to the flowers in the box. "Would you like me to put those in water for you?"

"Uh, sure." Kate walked over to the cabinet by her table to find a vase. When she returned, she handed it to Alexis who was already at the sink with the flowers. She'd scrimmaged around for Kate's kitchen shears, and was running water over the stems.

Kate sat on the stool at her counter watching Alexis, who kept all her attention focused on the flowers.

"Lex?" Alexis paused in her work—rearranging the flowers again, but didn't look up. "You want to talk about it?"

Alexis shook her head. "No."

Such composure. Forget the detective skills, if Kate weren't so skilled at passing off her own emotions in noncommittal fashion, she might have missed the tiny quiver in that short syllable. Kate didn't say anything and knew she didn't have to. Alexis wanted to talk, even if she didn't think so.

"I…It's just," Alexis started. "It's not important anyway. And I don't have a right to be upset. Everyone knew this was going to happen, even if they didn't say so. Gram. Dad. Probably even you."

"Well, I hear you come from a long line of mind readers. But me? Not so much."

"You really want to know?"

Kate nodded.

"Fine. Meredith ditched me at dinner. Simple. End of story."

"Why do I get the feeling there's more to the story than that? Come on. You're your father's daughter. Tell me the tale."

"Well, technically she didn't ditch me. Apparently her meeting with the producer went well. He introduced her to a casting director, Keith Leary—who coincidentally lives in L.A. She didn't want them to think she wasn't and I quote 'totally interested and devoted' to the role, so she invited Mr. Leary, and the producer and his wife to dinner."

"To the dinner you planned?"

"Yup. They showed up to Asiate 30 minutes late, and of course, I'd made reservations for two, so then she made a fuss until they finagled a table for five. You think 3rd wheel is bad? Try 5th wheel with people you don't even know—talking about things you don't care about."

Alexis looked over to Kate, hating that she sounded caustic.

"I left around the third course, right about the time Meredith was explaining to Mr. Leary how much she enjoyed learning more about what's 'behind the scenes' and maybe he'd like to come up later and go-over that with her?"

"Oh, Alexis. So she did—"

"No, it's okay. Don't feel bad for me. I'm not a complete carpet. I left. In a huff, I admit. But, I didn't make a scene or anything.'

"I didn't think so. You're much too gracious and respectful of the other diners to do that."

"Well. It wasn't their fault. And I had my purse, so I could leave. But, I left my key card in the room before dinner thinking I'd just go back with her after dinner. I was supposed to be staying with her while Gram got the loft to herself tonight."

She looked to Kate with some trepidation.

"I'm sorry I came here. I just knew it was going to be loud and crazy at home. And I didn't really want to go to Paige's or Ashley's or any of my other friends' places. I just…didn't want to interrupt their Mother's Days." Or see them with their moms.

Kate got off her stool to go hug Alexis, but the girl didn't budge from her place at the counter, so Kate wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "Don't apologize for coming here," Kate whispered in her ear. "I'm honored that you chose me."

She made a more assertive effort to pull Alexis into a hug, wrapping both her arms around the girl's shoulders. She felt Alexis' arms curl around her back and cling to her shoulders as the girl's body folded in on itself until she was supported mostly by leaning into Kate.

"Why doesn't she like me, Kate?" Alexis asked in a harsh, strangled plea. The tears she fought to hold back for so long were escaping now, and her body twinged with anger, hurt and relief at having voiced her worry.

Kate had no idea how that could be true. No answer at all. Nothing more than a warm, steady embrace and hand to stroke her hair, but as Alexis relaxed into her, she began to feel that nothing more was needed in that moment.

It didn't take Alexis long to regain her composure. Nothing like Kate had done in her father's arms a few days earlier. Alexis leaned back from Kate swiping at her eyes, grimacing and telling Kate with her frown that she was sorry for crying all over her.

"You know what the worst part is?" she said, trying to lighten the situation. "I paid for the stuff tomorrow, but Dad arranged for our dinner tonight to be billed to him. So…he's paying for dinner for Meredith's new hot-shot slimeball friends."

"Well, let's just hope they're not ordering a bottle of vintage Madiera," Kate replied with trumped up whimsy.

Before Alexis could start to feel awkward, Kate tried to pull her into some normalcy.

"Well," Kate said fixing Alexis with a pointed look, "what I've learned tonight is that you did not get dessert."

"No…looked good, too."

"Well, I don't have a fancy tray of lemon soufflé or crème brulee," she smiled to see that her corniness drew a smile from the girl. "But, I do have Vanilla Bean Mocha and Triple Chocolate ice cream. Join me?"

"I'd say some Triple Chocolate sounds like soul food right about now."

"Watch a movie with me, too?"

Alexis nodded.

"Okay. I'm going to go change into something more comfortable. I'll find you some pajamas, too. And I'm going to call your dad, let him know you're here."

"Kate—"

"Lex, I have to tell him."

"I know. I wasn't going to say we shouldn't. Just—he's gonna be mad."

"Not without reason, Lex. I'll talk to him, then you can, 'kay?" Alexis nodded, so Kate headed to her room. "Why don't you pick out the movie? Nothing foreign tonight…oh, and nothing sad."

Kate found herself some lounge pants and a tee. For Lex, she grabbed her silky pajama pants with the matching top. She picked up her phone, debating what to say to Castle. Alexis was right, for all his foreboding, Castle was going to be regretting that he left for the Hamptons this weekend.

Castle picked up mid-way through the second ring.

"Do you miss me, Detective?"

"You're hard to miss."

"Cuts like a knife."

"Listen…" Her tone made Castle sit up a bit. Beckett changed her mind. Better to ease him into this. "Earlier…when we talked?"

Castle murmured "hmm."

"I invited Madison for our girl's night out on Saturday. She wanted to go, but had tentative plans with Todd and didn't want to leave him hanging. I mentioned that you guys had poker night planned…and he thought that sounded—"

"Hey, the more the merrier." Castle was grinning, probably at her obvious discomfort. But he didn't tease her.

"You sure?"

"Of course. But, if he ends up being a total shark, you're going to owe us big time."

"Owe you what?"

"I'm thinkin' something embarrassing."

"Like what?"

"Ooh, I know. He takes all our money, you have to wear a dress to work."

"Castle, you've seen me in a dress before."

"Not at work."

"Deal."

"Really?"

"Todd's not the brightest in the box."

"You underestimate my willingness to throw the game."

"Good thing you're not the only one playing."

"You know Ryan and Espo are susceptible to coercion—especially if it results in Beckett in a dress at work. I can see it now…" Castle closed his eyes, smiling at the memory of Beckett's body dipping down to the beat, hand in her hair. "How 'bout that number you wore when we went undercover?"

"Even if I lose this deal—which, I assure you, won't happen—I'm their boss, and trust me, they don't want to spend their days dumpster diving. And, in case you're forgetting, Castle, I'll be with their women." Her voice dropped to a seductive tease. "All. Night. Long."

"Where you going?"

"Like I'd tell you."

"Is Josh coming, too?"

"It's a girl's night out, Castle. What do you think?"

"I meant to poker."

"Oh. No." Damn, why's he have to sound so sincere? "Conference in Nevada. Recruiting for Doctors without Borders."

"Well, at least it's in the states, right?"

"Yeah, I guess." Awkward.

"Listen, Castle…that's not really the reason I called."

"No?"

"Where are—what are you doing right now?"

"Oh, how I'd love to lie! I was sitting in my office imaging how Heat would clear half a dozen rooms with no backup, but then I answered the phone, and now I'm talking to you, Detective."

"No knives? No letter openers?"

"Beckett, what's going on?"

"Rick, Alexis is here."

"What?"

"She's not bleeding or broken or otherwise injured—well, at least not physically, but she was a bit upset."

"What the hell happened?"

"Well, apparently Meredith showed up late to dinner with her producer, his wife and another guy in tow, and it went downhill from there. Alexis left and came here. You know? Your loft was…busy and I'm guessing she didn't want her friends feeling bad for her."

"I'm sorry, Beckett. I'll be down as soon as I can. Three hours max—there was construction on the way here."

"No, Castle. That's not why I'm calling."

"I can be there. We'll get a hotel." Castle had a sense of urgency in his voice.

"Castle, it's already getting late and she's fine here."

"But, you need—"

"We are going to watch a movie and you are going to stay in the Hamptons. She's fine here. I promise I'm not going to screw her up overnight." Beckett's irritation was beginning to show through. She hated being told what she needed. She didn't know when she'd decided she wanted—really wanted—Alexis there. Maybe she'd been missing company all day?

"Look, Beckett, I'm not trying to insult your…competence or whatever. It's…I just…I know you like your privacy, and then there's, well, tomorrow…and I know that's hard for you. And you shouldn't have to deal with my mess of an ex-wife on top of everything else."

"Trust me, I know what tomorrow is." Kate said softly, her frustration disappearing at Castle's concern.

"So, I'll come get her?"

"Rick, please just let me keep her." Rick heard the plea in her voice. She sounded oddly like a little girl begging her father to let her keep the kitten she'd found.

"Kate, I—"

"Look, I know she feels bad, but for the first time all day, I feel…" She couldn't explain how she felt.

"How about I let you talk to Alexis? She can tell you what happened and all that. And if she wants you to come get her, then come. But, otherwise, just come back tomorrow like you planned. And, Castle? Please don't go making her feel guilty for coming here because, honestly, knowing that came here, that she trusts me…" Kate paused. "My cup runneth over."

Kate's voice was low and etched with emotion, and even though Castle was worried that her emotion came from a heavy heart, he could hear the sincerity in her voice.

"Okay, Kate. If you're sure? She probably needs your woman's perspective and expertise as daughter-extraordinaire more than she needs me right now."

"I'm sure."

"Give her a hug for me, okay? That's all I could really do for her anyway. Probably better that I stay here because top of mind for me right now is giving Meredith a piece of mine."

"Yeah. Good thing you're in the Hamptons and I'm off duty," Kate joked humorlessly. "Thank you, Rick—for everything."

"It is I who should be thanking you. Take care of my girl, okay?" He'd be telling Alexis the same thing.

"I will. Goodnight."

"Night, Kate."

Kate traded places with Alexis and pointed out the jammies she'd laid out on the bed. She closed the door behind her to give Alexis some privacy and set about scooping ungodly amounts of ice cream for herself and Alexis. She was just returning to the couch with a pillow and extra blankets when Alexis reentered the living room, actually smiling. She stopped right in front of Kate before wrapping her arms around her and squeezing her in a tight hug. Then planted a kiss on Kate's cheek.

"That's from Dad." She said smiling.

Kate chuckled. "Sneaky." Figures he'd use Alexis, Kate thought amused.

"But this one's from me." And she hugged Kate again, more warmly. They plopped together like that on the couch and cuddled together under a blanket through their movie. Barely awake when it ended, Kate wished Alexis sweet dreams, before putting the peonies in the fridge as Castle had suggested and grabbing Castle's other arrangement before shuffling off to bed.

Kate awoke the next morning, with tears already escaping from under her eyelids. She hadn't even had a conscious thought, and already she was crying. She lived and breathed in her mother's absence, but she was seldom more aware of it than today. She turned to her nightstand where she'd placed the flowers and a picture of her mother. Sometimes she worried she'd forget what her mother looked like, how her voice sounded, how it felt to be wrapped in her hug. She reached out to touch the petals of the peonies wondering how often her mother had done the same thing. God, Mother's Day sucks.

The funny thing? Or would Castle say 'ironic'? Mother's Day hadn't really been a big deal to her mom. They made her breakfast—whatever she requested—and gave her their gifts. But beyond that, they just spent time together. No special traditions. The traditions didn't come until after her mother was gone. Kate would wake up alone. When she felt ready to face the world, she'd wander around the city, eating breakfast or lunch at whatever pit stop appealed to her—if any did. She'd find a flower shop or stand—not hard to do on Mother's day, and then she'd make her way to the cemetery. From there, it was back home, then to her Dad's for the rest of the night. But today, with her dad in Atlanta with Sheryl and her kids, she was on her own.

Then she remembered Alexis. For whatever pain she had, she felt bad for Alexis. Her best "mom" moments, it seemed, were thanks to Mr. Mom. Kate had no doubt that Castle took on that role with relish because he'd do anything for Alexis, but it's not the same as having a mom around. Kate missed her mom like hell—had even given her mom hell for a few years in high school, but at least she knew her mother's unconditional love. Alexis didn't have that from the one woman from whom the emotion should have been ingrained and unrestrained.

Kate heard the toilet flush and Alexis' feet padding back into the living room. Deciding it was time to check on Alexis, Kate made her way to her own bathroom before making her way to the living room. Alexis sat, legs drawn up to hold her pillow between her knees and her chest. Her forehead rested on the pillow and Kate noted toilet paper scrunched in her hand. Why didn't I think to leave the tissues out here? She hadn't thought that far ahead.

Alexis lifted her head to give Kate a sad smile. Kate didn't say anything, she just walked over and put her arms around Alexis and tucked her cheek onto Alexis' hunched over shoulder. Alexis reciprocated, snaking her arm around Kate's back and hugging her tightly. They stayed like that for a while, each lost in her own thoughts. After a few moments, Alexis stirred and placed her hand over Kate's, planning to stand.

"I should get going. I don't need to be in your hair—especially today of all days."

"Oh, no, Honey. You're not just going to leave me here," Kate said, pulling Alexis back to her spot on the couch. "What did you have planned for today?"

"Well, I wanted to go to the museum. That costume exhibit I told you about? But I didn't think Meredith would like that so much, so…spa and then shopping. But, I don't have to worry about that now. I still have to go to the brunch though…can't really skip out on something I helped plan. How 'bout you?"

"No plans really, other than visit my mom's…gravesite, find her flowers. But your dad took care of that part already." Gravesite is still so hard to say, Kate thought.

Alexis looked questioningly at her.

"That's what the lilac bush is for. And the peonies. And he sent the tools—even instructions for planting it—which is kinda funny because I'd have wondered. I don't think I've ever planted anything. Not even a bean in school."

"We volunteer at community gardens sometimes…I mean sometimes through NHS or one of Dad's projects."

"That's good, because, um…," Kate was a little nervous now. "Well, I was thinking that, uh, maybe today I'd, um…share my mom with you? You know? If you share you with me?"

Alexis' eyes brightened. "Really?" she asked. But then doubt immediately invaded. "Are you sure you don't want to be alone?"

"I thought I did. I normally do. But now, I can't think of a way I'd rather spend the day than with you. We could compromise. You come with me? I'll go with you? Museum though because that sounds great. Can you cancel your spa reservations?"

"Are you sure you'd want to come with me? Even to the brunch?"

Kate nudged Alexis. "Geez, Girl. Between you and your father I've never been asked if 'I'm sure' so often. Do I strike you as indecisive or compulsive?"

Alexis shook her head 'no.'

"Good, because, unless you'd rather go by yourself, I'd love to go. It'd give me a chance to meet the friends I hear so much about, right? Is Ashley going to be there?"

Alexis smiled and nodded.

"So, when is this shindig?"

"Ten-thirty to noon. I have to be there by ten."

"So, brunch, cemetery, museum?"

"Sounds good to me. But I have to run to the hotel. Get my bag…and things."

No way was Kate going to let Alexis face Meredith alone.

"I'll go with you. We can get coffee on the way. I need my coffee." She exaggerated that last bit, making Alexis laugh.

Hope you like this bit. Sorry it took a while to get it to you, but review please?