Kate was at the school five minutes before the end of the day. She had walked there, trying to think of what she could tell Alexis and trying to guess what she wanted to talk about. Now that she was in front of the school, she didn't know what to do. Maybe she should wait by the door. Maybe she should wait further, after all Alexis was not five, and maybe she didn't want her friends to see her with Kate. Finally, she sat on a bench which was close to the parking lot. Not too far, not to close. As the students started to pour out of the school, she tried keep an eye for Alexis. She had sent her a text to tell her she was going to be there, but not where. As she scanned the groups of teenagers, she couldn't help but notice some of the boys looking not so subtly at her, some sending her knowing smiles, one even started to walk to her when she spotted Ashley and called him.

"Oh hi Detective Beckett" he said, his remark making the most daring of the boys turn around and walk away "you're looking for Alexis?"

"Yeah, do you know where she is?"

"I know she has French for last period and she usually has a ton of questions to ask the teacher before she leaves. I'm sorry but I have a bus to catch and …"

"Of course! Don't miss it for me" she laughed "thanks again"

"Sure, have a nice evening detective" Ashley said before running to get his bus.

A few minutes later, Alexis came out of the building, walking to her.

"I'm so sorry Kate. I just got your text. I turned my phone off because I had a test and the teacher was talking to me and …

"Alexis it's ok, don't worry" Kate laughed. "Your dad said you wanted to talk to me?"

"Yeah. Do you mind if we go for a coffee or something?"

"No no, it's fine. But don't you have any homework you need to do?"

"Everything is already done"

"Wow, you're efficient! I could never do my homework until the very last moment. My dad was maaaaaaaaad" Kate laughed, remembering her high school years.

"Oh I have to call him tonight. My teacher gave us the test back and I got an A- ! I've never had that in chemistry in my whole life!"

"Well, about that… my dad invited us to go to his house for the weekend so … if you want to come, you could thank him in person."

"Oh that would be great. You told dad?"

"Yeah. What do you think? Want to come?"

"Of course! I can't wait to see how your bedroom was when you were little" Alexis laughed

"What is it with you Castles and bedrooms? Really, you're strange!" Kate said, trying not to laugh. "What do you want to drink?" she asked when they arrived to the coffee cart.

They took their drinks and went to seat on a bench in a small park that happened to be there.

"So …" Kate started tentatively, "what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you something for school but, after what happened yesterday I … I don't know."

"You can tell me anything Alexis, you know that right? And I swear, if you don't want your father to know something I won't tell him … unless it's dangerous for one of you of course"

"I know. And that's the difference between you and my mother. I've known her for nearly 18 years, I don't know anything about her and she doesn't know anything about me. I've known you for about three years and I feel closer to you than to her. Does that make me a bad daughter?"

"No Alexis, it makes her a bad mother."

"The thing is … I don't know how to act when I'm with her. I mean … we don't have much in common. Sure I like shopping but not for a whole week! And I know she doesn't like it when I study when I'm at her place but … I need to study for school, and I like to study, to learn new things, and it doesn't mean that I'm not interested in anything else you know? I mean … I have Ashley and my friends and …"

"Alexis, it's ok" Kate said, stopping her rambling. "She doesn't understand who you are and it's her fault, not yours. And don't try to change for her, if she cannot understand you, who you are and what you like, she does not deserve your trying to change for her."

"I know but it makes me feel … I don't know … kind of useless. I mean if even my mother is not interested in me maybe I don't …"

"Don't even go there Alexis" Kate said, rising her voice. "She's not worth it. You are the most interesting person I've met in years ! and your love for studying is one of the main reasons. You know so many things that you can talk about everything. You always have an opinion and it's good. If she doesn't get that, it's her loss "

"Thanks Kate, it really means a lot to me. I just don't like how I feel right now" Alexis said, trying to smile to erase the worry from Kate's face. "I feel like I hate her. I don't want to hate my own mother!"

"I know, I know" Kate said, putting her arm around the girl's shoulders. " Maybe you should just ignore her or what she said for a while. I mean, I know what it is to live without a mother and it's really not pleasant. Maybe if you don't speak to her for a while, you'll have time to see how you want to act with her, but please don't hate her. I could do the hating thing for you if you want…"

"I'd like that" Alexis laughed. "She just cannot get out of this as if anything happened. She said it like it's the most natural thing in the world. And she looked like she really meant it … I think it's the worst!"

" I know … she's really a horrible woman! I'm glad you didn't turn out to be like her" Kate laughed. "So, what did you want to talk to me about, before your mother stormed in our lives?"

O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O

When they got back to the loft, Rick was not there. They had brought back food with them and were waiting for him. They had decided to go to the movies after dinner and wanted to make sure he understood he was NOT invited. Alexis was upstairs in her room and Kate was watching TV when he came back. She turned towards him to say something but stopped when she saw him. She just stared at him. He had clearly gone for a run. He took his T-shirt off as he passed the door of the loft. He was there, standing only in his running shorts, when he noticed her. He smiled to her and went to move to the bedroom when he saw her follow him with her eyes.

"Enjoying the view detective?" he asked, smirking as he got closer to her.

"mmm" she said, her eyes still glued to his chest.

"Was that a yes or a no?" he asked, getting even closer. He was now standing in front of her. He bent over, making her back against the back of the couch. Putting his arms on both sides of her head to support his weight against the couch, he repeated his question "so? Yes or no?"

"I can't think right now" she whispered, finally looking at his face "you're just too …"

"Handsome? Gorgeous? Wonderfully well …"

"You smell" Kate said, getting more turned on with every passing minute

"Really?" Rick asked, straddling her. "And what could I do about it?" he continued, kissing her neck.

"don't know, don't care" she whispered before taking his head between her hands and kissing him passionately.

Rick quickly turned them over, trapping Kate between his body and the couch. Her hands were already roaming on his chest and back.

"You're sticky and you smell" Kate whispered in his neck as he was passing his hand under her shirt.

"Maybe a shower would be good?"

"Oh God yes!" Kate exclaimed in response to both his question and caresses.

"Do you want to come?"

"I would love to" she said, kissing him one last time "but I can't. I'm going to the movies with Alexis in a few minutes"

"Too bad … I'm gonna have to take care of it by myself"

"Take care of what?" Kate asked as she got up.

"Of THAT" he answered, getting up and pulling her flush against him.

"Oh … THAT. Well, maybe, if you're patient enough, I could take care of it for you when I got back" she whispered in his ear, hearing Alexis get down the stairs.

"What are you going to see?" Rick asked his daughter, putting his arm around Kate's waist.

"It's a re-run of Titanic" she answered, going in the hallway to take her coat and shoes.

"What? Four hours?" Rick whines, turning to Kate

"There's dinner in the fridge. See you later, Ricky!" Kate said, pinching his butt before leaving with his daughter.