Ok so for some of you, this isn't Monday but in my defence my internet went down just as I was about to post this at half 11. But that doesn't matter anymore because here is the chapter.

I have no idea when the next chapter will be but I don't plan on making you wait too long.

Enjoy!

The morning passes quickly with little trouble and Castle is about to suggest lunch when Kate stands.

"I'm going to go see Lanie; you stay here with the boys. Don't cause any trouble while I'm gone. Understand?"

Before he can respond her phone goes and she answers it with a smile on her face,

"Hey Lex,"

Castle's curiosity is immediate and he moves closer to try and listen in. Kate laughs at his actions, pulling a face she moves away from him and begins walking away while Castle strains his ears to listen to her end of the conversation.

"Your dad says hi."

Giggling erupts from the phone causing Kate to sigh.

"I'm on speaker aren't I?"

"Yeah, sorry should have warned you, he's trying to listen in isn't he?"

"He was but I made him go play with the boys."

"You make them sound like kids."

"Half the time they act like it. I'll go back later and they'll be having some sort of competition or betting on something."

"You do realise that they've probably gotten a whole set of pools started about the competition."

"Yeah, I'm going to see Lanie later to find out all about them."

"Cool, I'll make dad tell me. But anyway that's not why I'm calling. I've put you on speaker so that I can tell you at the same time as everyone else. You may want to make sure Dad isn't trying to spy on you."

"He isn't, so go on tell me."

"Brian asked me out, and gave me roses."

"Oh that's amazing, tell me more."

Kate can hear the excited squeals from the girls on the other end of the phone and her own heart soars as Alexis tells the story.

"He'd asked me to meet him after class and when I did he was standing there holding the flowers and he said that when he heard what had happened the other day he realised that as much as he loves our friendship he wanted to more.

"He actually went down on one knee and asked me to date him. He kissed me and there were fireworks and now I'm just so happy. "

"Awe Lex that's brilliant, just how are you going to tell your dad though?"

"I was kind of hoping that you could. Please. He's just so protective and if you tell him then he doesn't need to hide his reaction for my sake. He'll understand, won't he?"

"Fine, I will tell him but I think that the most grief you'll get will be because you told me before him."

"He'll recover. Just say something about us bonding and he'll go all mushy. You can handle him better than anyone."

"Ok. I best go now, before someone gets hurt. Which one will I find injured today?"

"I don't know, I'd say Esposito but it's never him."

Kate's walking back to the bullpen now; she keeps an eye out for her co-workers and sighs in relief when they all seem to be working. Confused at their behaviour, Kate watches Castle slowly as she finishes her conversation with his daughter.

"Well today it's no one. They're working, it's almost scary. But anyway that is brilliant news; I'll be by later so maybe see you then?"

"Yeah, I'm in all night tonight, will you have dinner with us?"

"Maybe, depends on your dad. If he's being annoying I might come just to save you from him."

"I can't wait. Good luck telling him. Bye."

"Yeah I'll tell you his reaction later, bye Lex."

Hanging up the phone, Kate is now even more puzzled than before. Speaking she decides to try and find out what's happened.

"So I never made it to see Lanie, Lex had some big news for me."

Castle doesn't respond so she elaborates.

"Her crush asked her out, gave her roses and everything."

Still no reply.

His face set as he fidgets with a pen. Kate's had enough, something is wrong when he doesn't respond to such news.

"Castle, Rick. What's wrong?"

"The man that attacked you escaped. They caught him trying to get in here. He wants us both dead now."

"Castle, everything is fine. He's been caught again so he can't hurt anyone else. Now did you register Lex's news? She has a boyfriend."

"What? How? She hasn't told me!"

"I know, she told me on the phone, same time as she told her friends. She kind of asked me to tell you. She thought it'd be best. This way you can show your reaction without having to suppress it for her."

"Really?"

"Yeah, she really likes this guy and he sounds like he's good for her. A romantic too. I was so distracted I forgot to go see Lanie. I'll see her later. Lax wants me to come for dinner. I said that depended on how annoying you're being."

"Huh and how does that fit in to accepting dinner?"

"If you're in one of those annoying moods then I said I would come to rescue her from your insanity."

"Really and did my child defend me?"

"She thanked me and seemed to take that as a yes."

"Well now you have no choice, I'll cook; can't live on take aways if we want to win now can we?"

"So who are the other pairs from here?"

"What makes you think that I know?"

"It's you. Who is it?"

"No one knows about the fourth but officer Jones paired with Demming while you were on the phone."

"Demming! As in Tom?"

"Yeah, we'll still win right?"

"Totally, what's the reaction to our pairing?"

"For now it's just in the precinct and people pretty much expected it. The amount of betting pools has tripled."

"I thought they might; probably best to warn you that Alexis plans on getting all the details from you. Don't let her bet on too many ok?"

"Sure, although isn't it me that should worry about that?"

"I'm just reminding you, I know what you're like when you're excited. Come on its lunch time and you've been ordered to buy me food."

"Ok, usual place. We can talk costumes."

"No we can't. You're not getting to know until the day. I shall be having that conversation with your daughter."

"I have no reply to that, come on let's go before we have to take the boys with us."

Laughing they walk into the elevator and as the doors close the camera catches Kate putting her arm through Castles.